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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004146 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07/25/06 
 
 
INDEX: 
(1)  Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, post-Koizumi race, 
Yasukuni Shrine issue, North Korea's missile launches 
 
(2)  Probing into developments leading up to Fukuda's decision not 
to run in LDP presidential race 
 
(3)  Missile defense system and its efficacy: Question raised about 
intercept capability 
 
(4)  Rush of overseas trips by cabinet ministers, but with few plans 
involving Africa, developing countries, showing lack of strategic 
policy 
 
(5)  Town meeting shows signs of system fatigue in its fifth year to 
promote reform 
 
(6)  Poll finds 64 PERCENT  of men in twenties living with parents 
in 2004 
 
(7)  Successors to secretaries to prime minister 
 
ARTICLES: 
(1)  Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, post-Koizumi race, 
Yasukuni Shrine issue, North Korea's missile launches 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 25, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. Bracketed figures denote 
proportions to all respondents. Parentheses denote the results of 
the last survey conducted June 24-25 unless otherwise specified.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Koizumi cabinet? 
 
Yes  43(45) 
No  40(41) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)    36(35) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)  16(20) 
New Komeito (NK)       3(3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)    2(2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)  1(1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)  0(0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)   0(0) 
Liberal League (LL or Jiyu Rengo)    0(0) 
Other political parties      0(0) 
None          35(33) 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K)    7(6) 
 
Q: The LDP will elect its new president in September. Are you 
interested in this election? 
 
Yes  54(59) 
No  43(39) 
 
Q: Who do you think is appropriate to become the next prime 
minister? Pick only one from among Diet members excluding Koizumi. 
 
Shinzo Abe   36 
 
TOKYO 00004146  002 OF 010 
 
 
Yasuo Fukuda   7 
Ichiro Ozawa   5 
Taro Aso    3 
Sadakazu Tanigaki  1 
Other politicians  2 
N/A+D/K46 
 
Q: What would you like the next prime minister to prioritize in 
particular? (One choice only. Parentheses denote the results of a 
survey conducted May 20-21.) 
 
Improve Japan's foreign relations  14(14) 
Economic stimulus measures   18(21) 
Fiscal reconstruction    16(14) 
Low birthrate countermeasures   24(25) 
Correct economic disparities   23(21) 
 
Q: What type of person do you think is appropriate to become the 
next prime minister? (One choice only) 
 
A tough person   28 
A cooperative person 67 
 
Q: The focus is now on whether Prime Minister Koizumi will visit 
Yasukuni Shrine during his term, which ends in September. Would you 
like him to do so? 
 
Yes   29 
No   57 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes") Would you like him to visit 
Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of the end of World War 
II, or would you like him to do so on another day? 
 
Aug. 15   39(11) 
Another day  45(13) 
 
Q: Would you like the next prime minister to visit Yasukuni Shrine? 
(Parentheses denote the results of a survey conducted Jan. 28-29.) 
 
Yes    20(28) 
No    60(46) 
 
Q: The late Emperor Showa (Hirohito) is said to have made a 
statement voicing his displeasure with the enshrinement of Class-A 
war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine. The then imperial household grand 
steward, in his recently discovered notebook, quoted the late 
emperor as saying: "That's why I've never been to Yasukuni Shrine 
since then. That's my heart." How much do you weigh this statement 
when thinking about the propriety of a prime ministerial visit to 
the shrine? (One choice only) 
 
Very much    24 
Somewhat    39 
Not very much   21 
Not at all   12 
 
Q: In early July, North Korea launched seven missiles, including 
Rodong and Taepodong-2 missiles, and the launched missiles landed in 
the Sea of Japan. Do you feel a threat from North Korea with its 
missile launches this time? (One choice only) 
 
Very much    38 
 
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Somewhat    39 
Not very much   16 
Not at all   6 
 
Q: The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a 
resolution condemning North Korea for its missile launches and 
calling on North Korea to stop its missile development. Do you 
appreciate this? 
 
Yes   85 
No   8 
 
Q: The government called on the UNSC to adopt a resolution imposing 
sanctions on North Korea. However, China and Russia opposed 
sanctions on North Korea. Then, Japan and these two countries made 
concessions and concurred on a soft-toned resolution that condemns 
North Korea. Do you appreciate this Japanese diplomacy? 
 
Yes   55 
No   32 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted July 22-23 across the 
nation over the telephone on a computer-aided random digit dialing 
(RDD) basis. Respondents were chosen from among the nation's voting 
population on a three-stage random-sampling basis. Valid answers 
were obtained from 1,898 persons (57 PERCENT ). 
 
(2)  Probing into developments leading up to Fukuda's decision not 
to run in LDP presidential race 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
July 25, 2006 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, 70, has announced that 
he will not run for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency. What 
prompted him to withdraw from the race? 
 
"I hear that North Korea will launch missiles, so July is going to 
be bad," Fukuda said to LDP Lower House member Taku Yamamoto over 
the dinner table on the night of July 3. Yamamoto planned to back 
Fukuda in the upcoming presidential election. The two belong to the 
Mori faction and put high priority on China. Yamamoto wanted to hear 
firm resolve from Fukuda that night. 
 
But Fukuda kept talking about North Korean missiles. It was two days 
before Pyongyang test-fired missiles into the Sea of Japan. 
 
Fukuda must have obtained reliable information from the US 
government, Yamamoto thought. The topic gradually turned to 
politics. 
 
"When I was serving as chief cabinet secretary, views different from 
mine emerged from persons close to me, and I hated that." 
 
During his tenure as chief cabinet secretary under Prime Minister 
Koizumi, Fukuda often locked horns with then Foreign Minister Makiko 
Tanaka. Discord with then Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinto Abe, 
51, was also evident over the abduction issue. Although Fukuda did 
not name names, he clearly had these two in mind. Fukuda went on to 
say: "So, I will keep my mouth shut, leaving government affairs to 
Mr. Abe." 
 
Abe's stance toward North Korea was sterner than Fukuda's. Fukuda 
 
TOKYO 00004146  004 OF 010 
 
 
feared that objecting to Abe's approach would cause him to overreact 
and make an erroneous decision as a result. 
 
Objecting to Abe might also be taken as an attempt at revenge to 
turn the presidential race in his favor, and Fukuda could not stand 
such development. 
 
Remaining mum on diplomatic policy, Fukuda's forte, meant abandoning 
policy debate with Abe and effectively giving up his candidacy. 
 
Fukuda explained that he had no intention to run in the race from 
the beginning. But that cannot be taken at face value. 
 
From early spring through June, Fukuda visited a number of 
countries, met key foreign government officials, and had drinks with 
fellow lawmakers in the vicinity of Nagatacho. All those events 
pointed to his eagerness to throw his hat in the ring. 
 
Although he did not echo Abe's views on North Korea and the Yasukuni 
issue, Fukuda was ready to conduct a fair policy debate with Abe. 
 
His rising support ratings in various opinion polls from April 
through May also added fuel to his quiet fighting spirit. 
 
But Pyongyang's missile launches instantly resulted in an atmosphere 
that would not allow calm debate on North Korea policy. 
 
On July 20, a memorandum showing Emperor Showa's (Hirohito) 
displeasure with the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at 
Yasukuni Shrine came to light. This made it even more difficult to 
conduct a rational discussion on Yasukuni. 
 
In Fukuda's view, there was a clear distinction between "not 
running" and "saying he won't run." He thought there was no need for 
him to make a statement given that he did not say he would run in 
the first place. 
 
But people around him took his silence as a signal of his eagerness 
for the party presidency. A frustrated Fukuda avoided the media and 
cancelled meetings. 
 
On July 20, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, head of the Mori 
faction, advised Fukuda on the phone: "As a responsible lawmaker, 
you should send some sort of message at some point." Over 20 days 
had passed since Mori informally learned of Fukuda's intention not 
to run. 
 
On July 21, Fukuda told Mori at his office that he would send out a 
message. 
 
Shortly After 9 p.m. on July 21, a smiling Fukuda said before the 
television cameras at his residence that he would not run in the 
race because of his advanced age. 
 
(3)  Missile defense system and its efficacy: Question raised about 
intercept capability 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
July 21, 2006 
 
The United States announced a plan yesterday to deploy the Patriot 
Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3), an intercept missile of the 
ground-based type, to the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture. 
 
TOKYO 00004146  005 OF 010 
 
 
A missile defense (MD) system shielding Japan against ballistic 
missiles is now about to enter the stage of acquiring the capability 
of intercepting missiles. With North Korea's recent missile 
launches, MD is now becoming an object of public attention. The 
question, however, is if the MD system will really work well. The 
Mainichi Shimbun clears up the points at issue. 
 
Q: The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) is now preparing to deploy the MD 
shield system. How will the system work? 
 
A: A ballistic missile, once launched, passes through three stages. 
The first stage is called boost and post-boost phase, which is right 
after the missile is lifted off with boosters. The second stage is 
called midcourse phase. When reaching this stage, the missile's fuel 
burns out. And then, its warhead is separated off and passes into 
outer space in a parabolic curve. The third stage is the terminal 
phase. After reaching this stage, the missile's separated warhead 
reenters the atmosphere to head for its target. The MD system 
planned for the SDF is two-staged with the sea-based and 
ground-based deployments of intercept missiles. At the first stage, 
an Aegis-equipped destroyer of the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
(MSDF), which is on stage at sea, fires its sea-based Standard 
Missile 3 (SM-3) missiles to intercept a ballistic missile in its 
midcourse phase. Should the SM-3 miss that missile, the ground-based 
PAC-3 system destroys it in its terminal phase. 
 
Q: Is it already possible to intercept a missile? 
 
A: The SDF plans to deploy ground-based PAC-3 missiles at the end of 
the current fiscal year and plans to deploy sea-based SM-3 missiles 
by the end of next fiscal year. In other words, the SDF is still 
totally incapable of intercepting ballistic missiles. For now, the 
SDF can only engage in warning and surveillance activities to pick 
up and track ballistic missiles with Aegis ships and ground-based 
radar. 
 
Q: That means US Forces Japan (USFJ) will be the first to acquire 
the capability of intercepting ballistic missiles, doesn't it? 
 
A: That's right. The PAC-3 at the Kadena Air Base will be 
operational in December of this year. The US Navy will also deploy 
the USS Shiloh to Yokosuka in August. The Shiloh is an 
Aegis-equipped cruiser loaded with the SM-3. 
 
Q: Is it possible for the SDF's PAC-3 system to defend all over 
Japan? 
 
A: The Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) plan to deploy the PAC-3 to its 
air defense missile groups at Iruma base in Saitama Prefecture, 
Hamamatsu base in Shizuoka Prefecture, Gifu base in Gifu Prefecture, 
and Kasuga base in Fukuoka Prefecture. But the PAC-3's range is 
about 20 kilometers. Accordingly, the PAC-3 is only to intercept 
missiles targeted to hit urban areas in the Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai 
districts and in the northern part of Kyushu. The PAC-3 at the US 
Kadena Air Base is to cover Okinawa only. 
 
Q: Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga stated before 
the Diet that the government would consider deploying the MD system 
earlier than scheduled. 
 
A: The Defense Agency is thinking to move up the MD deployment. But 
it seems difficult to do so. The Defense Agency has had plans to 
expedite the MD deployment. However, manufacturers cannot increase 
 
TOKYO 00004146  006 OF 010 
 
 
their productivity at once. If the government substantially 
increases defense spending, things would be different then. However, 
the government is now in dire fiscal straits and not in a mood to 
say it will make an exception for MD only. 
 
Q: Will the SDF and USFJ operate MD together? 
 
A: In any case, the SDF must work together with USFJ. Only the US 
military has early warning satellites with infrared sensing to 
detect a source of heat. So it's only the US military that can sense 
missiles just at the moment they're launched. The SDF is in a 
position to ask for intelligence. 
 
Q: Some people wonder if it's possible to intercept ballistic 
missiles with MD. 
 
A: US forces say they have made it in their intercept tests. 
However, their MD tests were conducted under quite different 
conditions unlike actual deployment. We don't know how much they can 
be sure to shoot down ballistic missiles. There's no clear-cut 
numerical data to show this. One says it's generally possible to 
shoot down, and another says the chance is about several percent. 
Since there's no other choice, MD deployment is needed. This is the 
government's position. 
 
Q: MD needs a large-scale system. Then, how much will it cost? 
 
A: Japan started to introduce the MD system in fiscal 2004. The 
government has budgeted about 350 billion yen for three years. 
According to the current plan, Japan will generally complete its MD 
introduction in fiscal 2011. Its total cost is estimated at 
approximately one trillion yen. In the future, however, the cost of 
MD introduction is highly likely to increase with the introduction 
of new systems. In addition, Japan and the United States have been 
working together to develop a new SM-3 missile of the 
next-generation type. Japan has promised to outlay 1.0-1.2 billion 
dollars (approx. 117-140.4 billion yen) for nine years. 
 
(4)  Rush of overseas trips by cabinet ministers, but with few plans 
involving Africa, developing countries, showing lack of strategic 
policy 
 
SANKEI (Page 6) (Excerpts) 
July 25, 2006 
 
The rush of overseas trips by cabinet ministers is going on under 
instructions by the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) as part of the 
nation's diplomatic strategy. But some of these travels are not 
based on any strategic policy. Ahead of Prime Minister Koizumi's 
planned departure from office in September, some of these trips have 
been hurriedly arranged, according to a Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) official. 
 
In an informal ministerial meeting in May, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Shinzo Abe asked cabinet ministers to visit or to instruct senior 
vice ministers or their aides to visit on a priority basis countries 
or regions where (1) few influential government officials, including 
cabinet ministers, have visited, but with which (2) there are key 
policy challenges for Japan. 
 
According to Abe, cabinet ministers' overseas travels are part of 
the nation's strategy of "developing Japan's foreign policy on a 
global scale in a strategic and planned manner." But behind the 
 
TOKYO 00004146  007 OF 010 
 
 
Kantei's call is Japan's failure to obtain support from African and 
other countries for its plan to reform the United Nations Security 
Council (UNSC). Japan submitted it last year in a bid to acquire a 
permanent seat on the UNSC, but the plan was killed. 
 
In response to the Kantei's instructions, overseas trips by cabinet 
ministers started after the adjournment of the regular Diet session. 
As of July 24, a total of 22 cabinet ministers have made overseas 
trips. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is also scheduled to visit 
Mongolia in early August and Central Asian countries, including 
Kazakhstan, in late August. 
 
Despite the Kantei's expectations, though, there are few travel 
plans involving African or developing countries. 
 
According to informed sources, one cabinet minister was asked to 
travel to a certain developing county in the southern hemisphere but 
declined, citing the long travel time. It was apparent that this 
cabinet minister planned to go overseas for personal purposes, so 
administrative officials reportedly told the minister to give 
priority to domestic duties. 
 
Overseas trips by cabinet ministers cost a great deal. A visit to 
China by Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister Kazuo Kitagawa 
(July 11-15) cost 8.3 million yen. In the case of a visit to Brazil 
by Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Heizo Takenaka (June 
28-July 2), 11 million yen was spent. However, most government 
agencies have refused to disclose the details of their ministers' 
overseas trips, including the cost and the number of attendants. 
 
(5)  Town meeting shows signs of system fatigue in its fifth year to 
promote reform 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
July 25, 2006 
 
A meeting was held in Tokyo yesterday to commemorate the 5th 
anniversary of the town meeting, a venue for direct dialogue between 
Koizumi cabinet ministers and private citizens. The participants 
included Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shinzo Abe. Although the meetings have contributed to 
 
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promoting Prime Minister Koizumi's structural reform drive, they are 
often criticized as having fallen into a rut these days. Finding new 
attractive themes and hosting meetings in collaboration with private 
groups may help them recover public interest. 
 
Looking back on past town meetings, Prime Minister Koizumi said 
yesterday: "The events have been helpful to draw public attention to 
politics." Abe also noted: "Town meetings will remain vital as long 
as the Liberal Democratic Party stays in power." 
 
The town meeting system was launched in June 2001 at the proposal by 
then Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Heizo Takenaka (currently 
internal affairs and communications minister). Yesterday's meeting 
marked the 167th session. A total of 64,864 people have attended the 
meetings in total. The government used the town meeting to get the 
public on its side to advance highly controversial reforms, such as 
postal privatization and reviewing the road revenues. 
 
Similar programs involving the general public have taken root in 
political circles and at the local level. 
 
But in its fifth year, the town meeting has begun showing clear 
 
TOKYO 00004146  008 OF 010 
 
 
signs of system fatigue. In fiscal 2001, 52 sessions took place, 
drawing a total of 18,734 people. But the attendance dropped 
gradually, and in fiscal 2005, only 7,896 people attended the 23 
sessions. Themes are no longer confined to structural reform. In 
fact, the topic for the session held in Sendai on May 27 was 
measures against earthquakes. 
 
Such efforts as setting themes flexibly, hosting events jointly with 
private organizations, and having celebrity guests are planned for 
the town meeting in the month ahead. 
 
(6)  Poll finds 64 PERCENT  of men in twenties living with parents 
in 2004 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 22, 2006 
 
The average number of family members per household dropped to a 
record low of 2.8, according to the 2004 household trend survey 
conducted by the National Institute of Population and Social 
Security Research. The survey also found that the number of 
so-called parasite singles who continue living with their parents in 
order to save on rent and avoid doing housework has been on the 
increase. 
 
The survey is carried out every five years. In the 2004 survey, 
10,711 households replied. 
 
The size of the household has shrunk. The average number of family 
members was 3.1 in 1994 and 2.9 in 1999. Of all households in the 
nation, the ratio of families of two increased 3.1 percentage points 
from the 28.7 percent marked in a previous survey, while the ratio 
of families of four decreased 2.0 points to 18.1 percent. Single 
households accounted for 20.0 percent, almost the same level as that 
in the previous survey. 
 
The ratio of adults living with their parents, though, has been on 
the rise. Among men aged 25-29, 64.0 percent live with their 
parents, up 5.7 points over the previous survey. The figure for 
women this age was 56.1 percent, up 4.8 percent points. The survey 
results also showed that even among people aged 30-34, 45.4 percent 
of men and 33.1 percent of women live with their parents. Many of 
them seem to be so-called parasite singles. The research institute 
makes this analysis: "In addition to the recent tendency to marry 
later or remain unmarried, there may be many young people who have 
no choice but to live with their parents for economic reasons even 
if they want to become independent." 
 
Meanwhile, the ratio of elderly parents living with children dropped 
below 50 percent for the first time. The ratio of people aged at 65 
or older living with children was 58.3 percent in 1994 and 52.1 
percent in 1999, but it was 48.1 PERCENT  in the latest survey. 
 
(7)  Successors to secretaries to prime minister 
 
Bungei-Shunju August, 2006 
 
Among secretaries to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Political 
Affairs Secretary Iwao Iijima, Secretary Yasutake Tango (entered the 
Finance Ministry in 1974), Secretary Koro Bessho (entered the 
Foreign Ministry in 1975), and Secretary Hideichi Okada (entered the 
former Ministry of International Trade and Industry = MITI in 1976) 
have continued to support him ever since he came into office. Now 
 
TOKYO 00004146  009 OF 010 
 
 
that Koizumi is to step down in September, the bureaucracy at 
Kasumigaseki is riveted to the future posts of the four and who will 
replace them. That is because government agencies second competent 
officials who are future candidates for vice ministers as 
secretaries to the prime minister. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Tango is expected to become a future vice minister. Though the 
personnel changes of the Finance Ministry this summer do not 
coincide with the end of Koizumi's tenure, it is believed that Tango 
is certain to eventually become a Budget Bureau director general and 
then an administrative vice finance minister. Koichi Hosokawa 
(entered the Finance Ministry in 1970), who became vice minister 
after serving as a secretary to former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, 
indirectly asked Koizumi about his next post. Koizumi jokingly said, 
"I will return him to your agency as senior vice minister." In the 
Finance Ministry there is Kazuyuki Sugimoto, deputy vice minister 
for policy planning and coordination of the Minister's Secretariat, 
who entered the ministry in the same year as Tango. As such, there 
is a rumor among ministry officials that both of them might be 
appointed vice ministers. 
 
There is a strong possibility of Tango's successor being picked from 
among those who entered the Finance Ministry in 1979. In that case, 
one of the following two will be selected. 
 
One is Shunsuke Kagawa, director general of the Budget Bureau 
Coordination Division, and the other is Yasushi Kinoshita, director 
general of the Policy Planning and Research Division of the 
Minister's Secretariat. Among those who entered MOF, they are elite 
career-track officials and lead in the race to be promoted to vice 
minister. Kinoshita served as a secretary to Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Mikio Aoki during the Obuchi administration. Kagawa served as a 
secretary to Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ichiro Ozawa during the 
 
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Takeshita administration. Senior MOF officials, including Hosokawa, 
have Kagawa in mind. However, since it is said that Kagawa still has 
connections with Ozawa, now head of the Democratic Party of Japan, 
Kinoshita might be picked, if Shinzo Abe becomes the next prime 
minister. 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has yet to 
choose from two potential candidates for the next vice minister: 
Norihiko Ishiguro (entered METI in 1980), director general of the 
Policy Planning and Coordination Division of the Ministry's 
Secretariat, and Tsuneyoshi Tatsuoka, director general of the 
 
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General Policy Division of the Agency for Natural Resources and 
Energy Director General's Secretariat. Tatsuoka served as a 
secretary to MITI Minister Shunpei Tsukahara during the Ryutaro 
 
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Hashimoto administration. Ishiguro, who is a student of Vice 
Minister Hideji Sugiyama (entered METI in 1971), served as director 
of the Industrial Revitalization Division when Sugiyama was the 
bureau director general of the Economic and Industrial Policy 
Bureau. 
 
Bessho of MOFA has damaged his reputation since he became a 
secretary to the prime minister. He has gone ahead of others who 
 
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entered MOFA in the same year, serving as director of the Northeast 
Asian Affairs Division and director of the Coordination Division 
Policy of the Foreign Policy Bureau. However, he has been unable to 
be involved in the key policy-making process, such as the dispatch 
of Self-Defense Forces personnel to Iraq and USFJ realignment. 
Iijima has cut himself out of decisions. Chikao Kawai (also entered 
MOFA in 1975) is now director general of the North American Affairs 
Bureau. He is bound to become vice minister. Bessho will return to 
 
TOKYO 00004146  010 OF 010 
 
 
the International Cooperation Bureau, which is to be reorganized 
from the Economic Cooperation Bureau, as director general. His 
five-year-and-a-half absence from MOFA is great. Hidekazu Ishikawa 
(entered MOFA in 1975), director of the Policy Coordination Division 
of the Foreign Policy Bureau, is almost certain to be assigned as a 
secretary to the next prime minister. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Hiroto Yamazaki (entered the National Policy Agency = NPA in 1976) 
from the NPA (under Director General Iwao Uruma, who entered the NPA 
in 1969) served as a secretary to the prime minister for a short 
period of time. He will return to the NPA as a councilor of the 
Director General's Secretariat. Shigeru Kitamura (entered the NPA in 
1980), director of the Foreign Affairs Division of the Security 
Bureau Foreign Affairs Intelligence Department and a protg of 
Hideshi Mitani (entered the NPA in 1974), the former director 
general of the Foreign Affairs Intelligence Department who was 
recently picked as a director of the Cabinet Intelligence, is viewed 
as the most likely candidate to replace Yamazaki. Some in the NPA, 
however, prefer Kiyotaka Takahashi (also entered in the NPA in 
1980), director of the Security Guard Division. 
 
Iijima is openly proclaiming that if Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe 
becomes prime minister, he might remain in his present post. 
However, rumor has it that Yoshiyuki Inoue, who has been a secretary 
to Abe since he was deputy chief cabinet secretary, would serve as 
his political affairs secretary. Some are wondering about Iijima's 
motives in making such a statement. 
 
SCHIEFFER