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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 004217 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07/28/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Banned US beef breaks BSE barrier: 
4) Ministry of Health and Labor: If risky materials again found in 
US beef shipments, full stoppage of imports 
5) US pressure reopened market to US beef, but consumers remain 
distrustful of product safety 
6) Restriction that only fresh meat carry country of origin sticker 
 
7) Pre-inspections showed 27 cases in half-year of violations 
involving non-removal of risk materials at US processing plants 
slated to ship beef to Japan 
 
Aso diplomacy: 
8) Talks at ASEAN ARF reveal differences on North Korea between US, 
Japan on one side, China, ROK on the other 
9) Foreign Minister Aso in bilaterals with Chinese, South Korean 
counterparts, finds foreign ministers Li, Ban a little more 
agreeable than in previous contacts 
 
10) Foreign Ministry selects Sakaba as its new spokesperson 
 
LDP presidential race: 
11) Tokyo Shimbun poll of political awareness finds 30% still 
support Fukuda for prime minister, but Abe has the lead with 50%; 
Public against Yasukuni visits 
12) Three out of four respondents in Tokyo Shimbun poll favor 
expanding Chidorigafuchi into full-fledged war memorial cemetery 
13) Mainichi survey of LDP prefectural chapters finds Abe the 
overwhelming choice for party president, but many disappointed at 
Fukuda for quitting race 
14) Abe has a huge lead in Yomiuri survey of Diet members 
15) Chief Cabinet Secretary to start stumping campaign across the 
country 
16) Finance Minister Tanigaki throws hat into ring in LDP 
presidential race, campaigning on hiking consumption tax, no 
Yasukuni visits 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Mizutani Construction found to have paid money to lawmaker's 
secretary; Investigations continue by Tokyo prosecutors and National 
 
SIPDIS 
Tax Agency officials 
 
Mainichi: 
Survey on 48 karoshi and suicide cases by Labor Standards 
Supervision Office: 60% were left to decide own working hours 
 
Yomiuri: 
Survey on LDP presidential race among lawmakers: Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Abe holds a commanding lead, receiving broad support from 
 
SIPDIS 
various factions 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Health Ministry outlines health insurance premium for people aged 70 
 
TOKYO 00004217  002 OF 011 
 
 
or above, setting the minimum burden at 900 yen per month; Will 
reduce burden for low-income persons in three stages 
 
Sankei: 
LDP presidential campaign about to kick off; Finance Minister 
Tanigaki announces his candidacy, criticizes visits to Yasukuni 
Shrine, plans to hike the consumption tax to 10% 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Internet panel poll: More than 50% support Abe; Majority oppose 
prime minister's visits to Yasukuni Shrine 
 
Akahata: 
Basic Education Law - Spirit: Students changed school rules at 
Tatsuno Senior High School in Nagano Prefecture 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) LDP presidential race: We want to see candidates' determination 
 
(2) Attacks on Lebanon: Immediate cease-fire needed 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) LDP presidential race: Heated debate instead of lukewarm one 
(2) Re-resumption of US beef imports: Japanese and US officials need 
to strive to win consumer confidence 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Finance Minister Tanigaki's announcement of his candidacy: 
Policy debate to start shortly 
(2) Resident Register Network: More convenient use needs to be 
considered 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Discord between US, Europe causes delay in Lebanon cease-fire 
(2) Area of origin of US beef should be shown to consumers 
 
Sankei: 
(1) LDP presidential race: Real debate expected 
(2) Decline in language ability: Rethinking the power of kanji 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) LDP presidential race: Continuing or changing Koizumi's approach 
should be made clear 
(2) US beef: Do not ease oversight 
 
Akahata: 
Resumption of US beef imports: Roots of anxiety lie in government 
prioritizing the US 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 27 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 28, 2006 
 
10:56 
Met at Kantei with Finance Minister Tanigaki. 
 
11:20 
 
TOKYO 00004217  003 OF 011 
 
 
Met Asian Development Bank President Kuroda in the presence of 
Finance Ministry International Affairs Bureau Director-General Ido. 
 
14:24 
Met LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Nakagawa, followed by LDP 
reform headquarters chief Ota. 
 
15:10 
Met MOFA Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau chief Yoshikawa, 
followed by LDP Secretary General Takebe. 
 
16:28 
Met Administrative Reform Minister Chuma. 
 
17:33 
Presented structural reform special zone and regional revitalization 
certifications. 
 
18:06 
Returned to his residence. 
 
4) Government decides to end US beef import ban; Imports will be 
totally suspended in event of discovery of SRM in shipment, says 
minister of health, labor, and welfare 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Following the formal decision by the government to resume US beef 
imports, Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki yesterday 
held a press conference. During the press conference, he indicated 
his intention to totally suspend imports in the event of a 
recurrence of the inclusion of specified risk materials (SRM), such 
as vertebral columns, in a shipment, which occurred in January this 
year. 
 
The US has criticized Japan's stance of suspending imports from all 
meatpackers, rather than just the one that shipped the product in 
question. It is expected to counter the statement by Kawasaki. 
 
He stressed his determination, noting: "If the same thing occurs 
again, despite the fact that Tokyo and Washington have decided to 
reinstate beef trade after six months of negotiations, I will be 
held accountable." He continued: "I hope there are no problems, and 
it should be possible to move forward without any. But if there is 
one, the person at the top has a job to do." Regarding a response to 
a possible recurrence, the MHLW has thus far taken the position of 
not totally suspending imports, provided that the problem occurs 
after the US has observed import conditions for a certain period, 
noting, "Our approach will depend on the length of time that the US 
has observed import conditions." However, Kawasaki indicated his 
view that a total ban could be reimposed regardless of the length of 
time that the US has observed import conditions. 
 
5) Government decides to resume US beef imports; US pressure raises 
distrust of consumers 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
July 28, 2006 
 
The government yesterday decided to resume US beef imports six 
months after a total embargo was placed this January. In the 
 
TOKYO 00004217  004 OF 011 
 
 
meantime, with mid-term elections approaching in November, the US 
government and Congress made a barrage of pressure statements in an 
effort to force open the Japanese market. This act has upset 
Japanese consumers, sparking distrust in the safety of US beef. A 
perception gap will likely remain after the resumption of imports. 
 
Following the government decision to open the Japanese beef market 
to US products, Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki 
told a news conference: "(In the event of the discovery of 
violations of export conditions), it is our country's risk 
management organization that will decide whether to suspend all 
imports or just products from the plant in question. To be honest, 
in my view, this is not a matter in which Japan would follow US 
instructions." He thus checked the US, which has strongly urged 
Japan not to totally suspend US beef imports again. Kawasaki thus 
played up his intention to place an overall ban on imports in the 
event of a recurrence of the inclusion of specified risk materials 
(SRM) in shipments. 
 
When SRM were found in a shipment on January 20, the US offered 
profuse apologies. However, as the total ban became prolonged and 
the mid-term elections drew near, voices dissatisfied with Japan's 
response began to build in the US. In bilateral negotiations held 
shortly after imports were suspended, the two countries looked into 
the possibility of setting up rules to deal with possible problems, 
such as violations of import rules. However, the idea came to 
nothing, as it was rejected by the US. 
 
6) Country-of-origin labeling required only for fresh meat; New law 
needed 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
July 28, 2006 
 
The government has decided to resume US beef imports, ending a 
six-month ban. US beef will soon become available at supermarkets 
and restaurants. However, only some US beef will carry 
country-of-origin labels. Chances are that consumers might buy and 
eat US beef without knowing it. 
 
Though the ban on imports of cuts of beef and internal organs has 
been removed, processed goods, such as minced beef and beef jerky, 
are still banned. Tourists to the US must be made aware that they 
are not allowed to bring back those products to Japan. How will beef 
that has cleared customs be handled? 
 
US beef products sold by retailers, such as supermarkets, will carry 
"US beef" labels as mandated under law, as is the case for domestic 
and Australian beef. 
 
7) US beef: 27 violations in half-year of non-removal of risk 
materials at plants scheduled to ship beef to Japan, pre-inspection 
report reveals: Absurdity of resuming imports 
 
AKAHATA (Page 14) (Excerpt) 
July 28, 2006 
 
It was learned yesterday from the report that the ministries of 
health and labor, and agriculture presented to a meeting of the Food 
Safety Commission (FSC) that at US meat-processing facilities slated 
to ship beef to Japan, violations of the requirement to remove 
BSE-related specified risk materials (RSM) occurred during 2006 
 
TOKYO 00004217  005 OF 011 
 
 
repeatedly. In a half-year, such violations rose to 27 cases, of 
which two cases were unresolved with warnings having been issued (by 
USDA). According to the ministries' report, 51 cases of such 
violations occurred over the entire year 2005, so the violations are 
occurring at about the same pace as before. 
 
Facilities with a BSE non-compliance record, based on spot 
inspections by the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and 
Inspection Service, reached 15 out the 35 meat-processing plants 
inspected. One of the facilities had a repeat record with 5 and then 
4 violations. 
 
The specific details of the BSE violations are not recorded in the 
report. At the request of the US government, the names of the 
facilities were not revealed. 
 
8) Gap in views toward North Korea expanding between Japan, US, and 
China, South Korea, and Russia; Eight-country foreign ministerial to 
be held 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Jiro Otani, Kuala Lumpur 
 
An eight-country foreign ministerial will be held in Kuala Lumpur to 
discuss the North Korean nuclear and missile issues. Japan 
originally eyed a meeting of the foreign ministers of six countries, 
including North Korea, but China and South Korea objected to it. The 
gap is expanding between Japan and the United States, which want to 
apply greater pressure on North Korea in order to bring it back to 
the negotiating table, and China, South Korea, and Russia, which 
want to avoid excessively irritating the North. 
 
Japan's scenario was to drag North Korean Foreign Minister Paek Nam 
Sun out to the foreign ministerial meeting, which ranks higher than 
the six-party talks to pave the way for the six-party talks. "It 
would have been a good chance for North Korea to lower its fist," a 
Foreign Ministry official explained. 
 
But the North did not show any signs of softening its stance. US 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice commented during his trip from 
 
SIPDIS 
the Middle East to Malaysia, "We are ready to open the six-party 
talks, but the North apparently does not have any intention to do 
so." 
 
As a result, Foreign Minister Taro Aso in his talks with Chinese 
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing suggested a five-country foreign 
ministerial excluding North Korea. But Li at first rejected the 
idea, saying, "A five-nation session is not good, It would irritate 
the North and make the process of the six-party talks difficult. We 
are open to any approach other than that." He thus showed a positive 
stance to a meeting of countries, including Australia and Malaysia. 
 
9) Japanese, Chinese, South Korean foreign ministers search for ways 
to improve relations 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Toyofumi Amano, Kuala Lumpur 
 
 
TOKYO 00004217  006 OF 011 
 
 
Bilateral foreign ministerial talks took place on July 27 in 
Malaysia between Japan and South Korea and between Japan and China. 
In the talks, China and South Korea exhibited their eagerness to 
find a lead to improving their relations with Japan with a 
post-Koizumi era in mind. 
 
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing announced Beijing's willingness 
to discuss the abduction issue in the six party talks on the North 
Korean nuclear issue, reversing its previous stance of focusing only 
on the nuclear issue. Touching on the UN Security Council's adoption 
of a resolution on North Korea following a conflict between Japan 
and China, Li said: "We give high marks to the flexibility exhibited 
by the Japanese government." 
 
South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon stated regarding 
North Korea policy: "We need to handle the matter carefully so that 
(the difference) in positions between Japan and South Korea will not 
be portrayed greater than reality." Ban also announced Seoul's 
willingness to study a system to notify each other in advance of 
conducting a maritime survey around Takeshima/Dokdo, on which both 
Japan and South Korea have claimed sovereignty. South Korea has 
apparently softened its previous stance of not recognizing the need 
for such a system. 
 
Touching on Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni 
Shrine, Li said: "A political obstacle has not been removed." Ban 
said: "We hope that the issue will not disturb relations between the 
two countries any further." The three countries are still faced with 
mounting challenges, such as the developments of gas fields in the 
East China Sea and talks on the exclusive economic zones of Japan 
and South Korea. 
 
10) Sakaba to be foreign press secretary 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso decided on July 27 on personnel actions at 
his ministry, including the appointment of Deputy Foreign Minister 
Mitoji Yabunaka as chief of the International Cooperation Bureau to 
be established in August. Yabunaka will double as bureau chief. 
Press Secretary Yoshinori Katori will become an ambassador. Katori's 
post will be filled by Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau 
Director-General Mitsuo Sakaba. Economy, Trade, and Industry 
Ministry Trade Policy Bureau Deputy Director-General Akira Miwa, who 
is now seconded to METI, will replace Sakaba. Public Relations and 
Cultural Affairs Department chief Masaki Okada will be assigned to a 
diplomatic mission abroad. Ambassador in Charge of International 
Counter-Terrorism Cooperation Tadamichi Yamamoto will replace Okada. 
The appointment will take effect on August 1. 
 
Coordination is underway to let prime ministerial secretary Koro 
Bessho lead the International Cooperation Bureau after Prime 
Minister Koizumi steps down in September. The International 
Cooperation Bureau will be established by absorbing the Economic 
Cooperation Bureau and part of the Multicultural Cooperation 
Division. The new bureau will be responsible for planning for 
official development assistance (ODA) 
 
Mitsuo Sakaba: Entered the ministry in 1973 after graduating from 
Yokohama City University; served as consul general at Chicago and 
became Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau director-general 
 
TOKYO 00004217  007 OF 011 
 
 
in April 2004; native of Tokyo; age 57. 
 
11) Poll: Support for Abe tops 50% 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Abridged) 
July 28, 2006 
 
With the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election set 
for this September, the Tokyo Shimbun conducted a public opinion 
survey on the Internet to probe into public attitudes toward 
politics and tabulated its results yesterday. In the survey, more 
than half of all those who responded to the survey picked Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe as a politician they support in the LDP 
race. Former CCS Yasuo Fukuda has now decided not to run in the 
race, and more than 30% of those who picked him in the last poll 
backed Abe. Respondents were also asked if they thought Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi should visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, 
the anniversary of the end of World War II. In response to this 
question, 5.5% answered "yes," with 29.8% leaving the matter to the 
prime minister's decision. Those accepting his Aug. 15 visit to 
Yasukuni Shrine totaled no more than 35.3%, with 52.3% opposing it. 
 
A total of 500 persons were chosen as political monitors for the 
Internet survey, and they were polled July 22-25. Answers were 
obtained from 400 persons or 80%. 
 
The same monitors were polled late last month, and the survey taken 
this time is the second poll on the web. 
 
In the latest survey, 51.5% wanted Abe to become LDP president. He 
topped all others. In the last poll, he stood at 35.6%. Among other 
politicians, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki garnered 13.0% (4.7% 
in the last poll), Foreign Minister Taro Aso at 8.8% (4.0% in the 
last poll), Senior Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono at 7% (3.0% in 
the last poll), Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano at 
4% (3.2% in the last poll), former LDP Vice Minister Taku Yamasaki 
2.5% (1.0% in the last poll), and Defense Agency Director General 
Fukushiro Nukaga at 1.3% (0.2% in the last poll). 
 
12) Poll: 3 in 4 favor new memorial for war dead 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
July 28, 2006 
 
In the Tokyo Shimbun's latest Internet political poll of monitors, 
52.3% answered that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi should not 
visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the anniversary of the end of 
World War II. 
 
Meanwhile, a total of 35.3% favored an Aug. 15 visit to the shrine, 
saying he should do so or leaving it to his decision. Those in favor 
of his visiting the shrine on days other than Aug. 15 accounted for 
no more than 7%. Among those who support the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party, however, the proportion of those in favor of an 
Aug. 15 visit to the shrine is 59.3%. 
 
The LDP is discussing the idea of building a new memorial for the 
war dead. In the survey, 74.3%, or about three-fourths, favored the 
idea. However, opinion was split over whether the new memorial 
should be an alternative to Yasukuni Shrine, with affirmative 
answers accounting for 38.0% and negative answers 36.3% 
 
 
TOKYO 00004217  008 OF 011 
 
 
13) Poll of LDP's local execs: Abe leads post-Koizumi race 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Ahead of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's upcoming presidential 
election, the Mainichi Shimbun conducted a questionnaire survey of 
the LDP's 141 local executive officers in the posts of secretary 
general, executive board chairman, and policy board chairman for the 
party's prefectural federations. In the survey, 68 persons or nearly 
half of all those polled picked Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, 
51, as a politician appropriate to become the next prime minister. 
Abe ranked top with a substantial lead over all others including 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso, 65, who was picked by 15 persons. Yasuo 
Fukuda, 70, one of Abe's predecessors in the CCS post, has now made 
up his mind not to run in the race. Consequently, Abe now holds the 
top position among the LDP's local chapters as well, adding further 
momentum to his unchallenged lead. Meanwhile, 80 persons or more 
than half of those polled wanted Fukuda to run against Abe. 
 
The survey was conducted July 20-26, with 106 persons or 75% 
answering the question about a politician appropriate to become the 
next prime minister. Fukuda was excluded from the list of 
politicians to be chosen in the questionnaire. Last month, the 
Mainichi Shimbun conducted a similar survey of the LDP's 47 local 
chapter secretaries general, with 43% of them responding. In the 
latest survey, the response rate increased to 66%. The LDP's local 
executives are now showing their stances. 
 
Above all, Abe stands out among all post-Koizumi candidates. 
However, 35 persons did not respond to the survey. Still, Abe will 
likely to keep the upper hand of his opponents even if all these 35 
persons support other candidates. Aso is garnering support in the 
Kyushu bloc. Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 61, who announced 
his candidacy yesterday, is supported by 6 persons. Former LDP Vice 
President Taku Yamasaki, 69, and Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister 
Kaoru Yosano, 67, were on a par with two persons each. 
 
14) Survey of LDP presidential race among lawmakers: Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Abe holds a commanding lead, receiving broad support from 
 
SIPDIS 
various factions 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Almost full) 
July 28, 2006 
 
A survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) presidential election slated for Sept. 20 among LDP 
lawmakers found that Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, 51, garners broad 
support. It seems highly unlikely that Finance Minister Tanigaki, 
61, and Foreign Minister Aso, 65, would be able to reverse the tide, 
even if interviews earlier conducted by this newspaper as well as 
the outcome of a survey conducted in June toward LDP members are 
taken into account. Yesterday, Tanigaki made an official 
announcement of his candidacy for the LDP presidency, while Abe hit 
the road for nationwide campaigning as part of his activity for the 
government's council on giving people a second chance to try again. 
Contenders for the LDP presidency are now gearing up for 
full-fledged campaigning. 
 
The survey was conducted toward 403 LDP lawmakers from mid-July to 
July 27, and responses were obtained from 310 lawmakers. As to the 
question of whom they would support as a presidential candidate, 83 
 
TOKYO 00004217  009 OF 011 
 
 
lawmakers cited candidates by name, with Abe favored by the largest 
number -- 38 lawmakers -- followed by Tanigaki, named by 11, and 
Aso, named by 10. Of the lawmakers supporting Abe, 24 are members of 
the Mori faction, to which Abe belongs, and 14 are members of other 
factions. Support for Abe is widening beyond factional bounds. 
Tanigaki and Aso have ensured support from the factions they 
respectively belong to, but they have yet to garner support from 
other factions. 
 
There is a move to put up Defense Agency Director-General Nukaga as 
a presidential candidate. Nukaga and former Education Minister Kunio 
Hatoyama, 57, who has shown enthusiasm about running in the 
presidential race, each received support from three lawmakers. 
Former Vice President Taku Yamasaki, 69, who does not rule out the 
possibility of running in the presidential race, received support 
from two lawmakers, and Senior Vice Justice Minister Taro Kono, 43, 
received support from one lawmaker. 
 
In addition to this survey, the Yomiuri Shimbun interviewed 
lawmakers. The results of the interviews show that the 86 members of 
the Mori faction are certain to line up behind Abe as former Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda declared days ago that he would not 
run in the election. Most of the Ibuki faction with a membership of 
32 and the Komura faction with a membership of 15 are considering 
backing Abe. Of the lawmakers of other factions who did not make 
clear their attitudes in the interviews this time, many voiced their 
support for Abe. Of the newcomer lawmakers who do not belong to any 
faction, 25 remained undecided, but most of them are likely to give 
support to Abe. 
 
In a survey conducted in June toward the LDP members by the Yomiuri 
Shimbun, a majority indicated support for Abe. 
 
Given these results and when the 403 votes from lawmakers and 300 
votes from the LDP members at large are combined, Abe has already 
garnered more than a majority of votes of 352. If no candidate wins 
a majority in the first tally, a runoff among LDP lawmakers will be 
carried out between the two top candidates. But at this point, Abe 
is most likely to win a majority in the first vote. 
 
Yet, many LDP members responded to the survey, "I remain undecided," 
and a lineup of candidates has yet to be confirmed. So uncertainties 
still remain. 
 
In the survey among the lawmakers, this newspaper asked them what 
would be the major campaign issues and obtained answers from 190 
lawmakers. Of them, 62% -- the largest figure -- cited "Fiscal 
reconstruction." 
 
15) Abe begins nationwide campaign; Gives consideration to growing 
social gap in Iwate Prefecture 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe yesterday visited Iwate 
Prefecture and listened to views of farmers there. The trip to Iwate 
was his first attempt to reflect regional voices in the government's 
measures to create a society in which failed entrepreneurs can try 
again to reenter the market. The Iwate visit was the start of a 
nationwide stumping tour in a bid to win the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) presidential election. He experienced farm work by 
 
TOKYO 00004217  010 OF 011 
 
 
cutting gentians (blue flowers) in a work suit and rubber boots. 
After that, he had an informal meeting with about ten residents at 
the community center. The farmers attending the session voiced the 
following views: "The government should consider preferential tax 
treatment for the expansion of the scale of farm land;" and "Since 
agriculture is important, highly-motivated people should be engaged 
in this business." 
 
After the meeting, Abe told reporters, "There are various problems 
before one can start agriculture, timber industry and fishing 
operations. Eliminating those problems will lead to a society 
providing people a second chance." 
 
Abe intends to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural 
reform policy line. However, since there is a growing complaint that 
Koizumi's reform drive has widened the income gap and social divide 
between urban and rural areas, Abe aims to show consideration to 
regional views. Abe's aides are keeping the next general election in 
mind. Since the LDP is expected to fight a fierce battle with the 
main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in the 
House of Councillors election in the summer next year, many LDP 
members hold high expectations that the next president should have 
strong character to use in that election. 
 
Abe seems to have chosen Iwate Prefecture as the first stop in his 
stumping tour to show a stance of fighting in the future election. 
 
Abe plans to visit Tachikawa City in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka until 
early August. He is expected to hear views from managers of small 
businesses and women who are finished raising their families. 
 
16) Tanigaki announces candidacy for LDP presidential election; 
Criticizes Koizumi's Yasukuni visits; Vows to hike consumption tax 
to 10% 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
July 28, 2006 
 
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 61, yesterday formally announced 
at party headquarters his candidacy for the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) presidential election to choose a successor to Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi. He pledged that if he became the next prime 
minister, he would raise the consumption tax to 10%. He criticized 
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Meantime, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shinzo Abe, 51, who is expected to declare his candidacy 
 
SIPDIS 
for the race in late August, has begun a nationwide stumping tour, 
visiting yesterday Iwate Prefecture. Foreign Minister Taro Aso, 65, 
indicated that he would announce his candidacy around Aug. 20. 
Campaigns for the LDP presidential election in effect have already 
started. 
 
In yesterday's press meeting, Tanigaki expressed strong enthusiasm 
for policy debate, stating, "I cannot look with optimism at (my 
support rates in opinion polls). I would like to make efforts for 
policy debate so that I will gain support from the public and party 
members." 
 
The dominant view is now that with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo 
Fukuda's announcement that he will not run in the election, Abe is 
far ahead of other candidates. Public support rates for Tanigaki 
have remained at the three% level. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004217  011 OF 011 
 
 
In a bid to fill the gaps between Abe and him, Tanigaki has been 
determined that he must display his own policy imprint. His strategy 
is to make clear his differences with Abe, who is believed to follow 
Koizumi's reform drive and foreign policy line. 
 
Tanigaki pledged that if he became the next prime minister, (1) he 
would have dialogues with the leaders of China and South Korea, (2) 
he would hike the consumption tax to 10% by early in the 2010s for 
the purpose of covering social security expenditures, and (3) he 
would do his best to revitalize regional areas. 
 
He criticized Koizumi's Yasukuni visits. Asked about the argument 
calling for separating the Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni 
Shrine, he responded, by saying, "The ball is on the Yasukuni side. 
My view is close to the view calling for the disenshrinement of 
Class-A war criminals from the Shinto shrine."  He is seeking to 
check Abe on the issue. 
 
Tanigaki also underscored his differences with Abe on the 
consumption tax issue, saying, "The next prime minister should look 
for concrete ways to resolve the issue." 
 
SCHIEFFER