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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 004301 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2016 
TAGS: PGOV JA
SUBJECT: LDP HOPEFULS TAKE THE STAGE AT TOKYO CONVENTION 
 
REF: TOKYO 4231 
 
Classified By: Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer.  Reason: 1.4 (b)(d). 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary.  The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
drew huge crowds of supporters to its July 28 Tokyo bloc 
convention, the first in a series of 11 policy discussions to 
be held across Japan in the run up to September leadership 
elections.  The low-key debate between Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Sadokazu Tanigaki, and 
 
SIPDIS 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso did nothing to change the 
prevailing view that the race is Abe's to lose.  What the 
convention lacked in substance, however, it made up for in 
dramatic flourishes, as the LDP did its best to put on a good 
show for members of the local chapter.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) The Tokyo bloc of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) hosted on July 28 the first of 11 regional bloc 
conventions, drawing an overflow crowd of LDP supporters to 
what was widely billed as a policy debate between candidates 
for the top LDP leadership post.  The event featured Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Finance Minister Sadokazu 
Tanigaki, and Foreign Minister Taro Aso answering a series of 
questions posed by LDP Tokyo chapter President Nobutera 
Ishihara.  Of the three, only Tanigaki has formally announced 
his candidacy for the September 20 election.  Aso 
participated via taped remarks from Kuala Lumpur, where he 
was attending the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).  State Minister 
for Economic and Fiscal Policy and Financial Services Kaoru 
Yosano joined Abe and Tanigaki on stage as a representative 
of Tokyo chapter LDP members. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The regional bloc conventions are an innovation 
introduced by party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe as a 
means for the LDP to reach out to the various proportional 
representation blocs across the country.  Takebe started the 
evening with a call for serious policy debates in the run up 
to next summer's Upper House elections as a means of earning 
the trust of LDP members and the public.  As he concluded his 
remarks, the lights dimmed, lightning bolts flashed across a 
large video monitor, and thunder rumbled through the hall. 
Just when the incidental music reached an ear-splitting 
crescendo, the back wall of the stage rotated out to reveal 
Abe, Tanigaki, and Yosano seated side-by-side at small 
tables.  Ishihara, serving as moderator, proceeded to ask 
Abe, Tanigaki, Aso, and Yosano to describe their views on the 
future of Japan, the role of the younger generation, and 
foreign policy.  The panelists answered in very general 
terms, avoiding direct debate.  Their answers provided few 
surprises, as Abe, Tanigaki, and Aso attempted to highlight 
their relative strengths in domestic, fiscal, and foreign 
policy, respectively. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Abe, the clear front-runner in the LDP presidential 
race, spoke of the need for "innovation" in the use of 
technology and "openness" with regard to trade in order for 
Japan to overcome the effects of a declining birthrate and an 
aging population.  He also called for serious discussion of 
constitutional reform.  Tanigaki, as expected, used his time 
to emphasize the need for Japan to adopt more austere fiscal 
measures, including an increase in the consumption tax, to 
avoid burdening future generations with debt.  Aso in his 
taped answers focused on the need for Japan to take a more 
active role in international affairs, citing Japan's 
diplomacy at the United Nations in response to North Korea's 
July 5 missile tests as a good example.  He stressed the 
importance of using foreign relations to nurture a nation in 
which people can enjoy affluence and peace.  All three 
panelists spoke to the central role of family, community, 
education, and a good work ethic in overcoming societal 
problems and emphasized the need for Japanese people to 
believe in themselves and the greatness of their nation.  All 
three acknowledged the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance. 
 
¶5.  (C) Comment.  This is the first time the LDP has 
organized regional bloc conventions in the run up to an 
election and no one really knew what to expect.  In the end, 
however, speculation over the identities of the panelists 
provided the only real excitement of the evening.  The crowd, 
which was heavily skewed toward an older demographic, clapped 
 
TOKYO 00004301  002 OF 002 
 
 
and cheered in all the right places, but did not seem 
particularly caught up in the proceedings.  The lack of 
enthusiasm may have been due in part to the format, which did 
not encourage any sort of debate among the panelists, all 
current cabinet members.  In fact, the only remotely 
contentious exchange occurred when Tanigaki offered veiled 
criticism of the current administration for Japan's troubled 
relations with China and Korea.  Abe quickly countered by 
placing the blame squarely on Japan's neighbors for allowing 
the Yasukuni issue to strain relations. 
 
¶6. (C) Comment (cont.).  While Abe's dominance in the race 
reduces these regional bloc conventions to nothing more than 
political theater, the performances of the prospective 
candidates at these events may well determine who is still in 
the race come September 20.  Of the three possible 
challengers to Abe sharing the stage, Tanigaki came across as 
the most forceful campaigner, although Aso may have been 
hampered by having to tape his answers in advance and Yosano 
appeared distinctly uncomfortable.  Abe, meanwhile, showed 
his mettle as a steady, if not electrifying, campaigner, 
looking very much like the man to beat. 
SCHIEFFER