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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004486 
 
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 08/10/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) Imports resumed, US beef now being sold in some supermarkets 
3 
 
War responsibility issue: 
5) Prime Minister Koizumi still firm on visiting Yasukuni, most 
likely on Aug. 15 
6) 69 religious organizations ask Koizumi not to go to Yasukuni on 
Aug. 15 
7) Foreign Minister Aso gets cautious response from Yasukuni on 
private proposal to secularize the shrine 
8) Former chief priest of Yasukuni in speech rejects Aso plan that 
would remove institution's status as Shinto shrine 
9) Prince Mikasa expressed apology to China in 1998 for 
Sino-Japanese war, violence committed 
10) Yasukuni Shrine in 1959 asked that its enshrinement of B and 
C-class war criminals not be publicly revealed, according to 
government records 
 
Defense and security issues: 
11) Foreign Minister Aso in magazine article details the tussle over 
Chapter 7 wording in recently passed UNSC resolution on North Korea 
missile issue 
12) Japan asks US for early deployment of MD-related missiles with 
North Korea threat in mind 
13) Except for Taepodong, North Korea's recent missile launch tests 
were highly accurate: deputy chief cabinet secretary 
14) Abe considering setting up US-modeled NSC under him if he is 
elected prime minister 
 
15) Japan may postpone controversial planned marine survey near 
disputed Takeshima Islands out of consideration to EEZ negotiations 
with ROK 
 
Political agenda: 
16) Nukaga to shelve plan to run in LDP presidential race, but Abe 
will announce his candidacy on Aug. 31 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Social Insurance Agency to step up efforts to ensure part-time 
workers' admission to social insurance system 
 
Mainichi: 
Less than 20%  of fertility treatment hospitals fulfill standards 
 
Yomiuri: 
Tsushima faction to give up fielding Nukaga in LDP presidential 
 
SIPDIS 
election 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
M&A market boosts to 7.8 trillion yen in Jan.-July period 
 
Sankei: 
 
TOKYO 00004486  002 OF 010 
 
 
Bird flu resurges in Southeast Asia 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
If elected prime minister, Abe would introduce open-recruitment 
system for administration staff 
 
Akahata: 
World Conference against A&H Bombs in Nagasaki ends: Urges treaty 
banning nuclear weapons 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) CPAs found guilty: New system needed to sever collusion 
(2) Comparison of lifetime wages also needed between company 
workers, civil servants 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Excessive reaction unnecessary to pause in US interest rate 
hikes 
(2) Walking and chewing food well to prevent metabolic syndrome 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) CPA-client collusion must be ended 
(2) Fed rate decision: Uncertainly looming over US economy 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Attention focused on whether US economy can make soft landing 
after Fed decision 
(2) Prime minister's Mongolian visit expected to deepen bilateral 
ties 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Work out measures to rectify gap among young people in 
cool-headed manner 
(2) Akita murders: Prefectural police headquarters must respond to 
criticism 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Income gap among the young: Government urged to map out 
countermeasures 
(2) DPJ must not forget to do its homework 
 
Akahata: 
(1) 2006 World Conference against A&H Bombs: Let's move 
international politics, starting with grass-roots activities 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 9 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
08:04 
Left Haneda Airport on JAL flight 1841. 
 
09:24 
Arrived at Nagasaki Airport. Greeted by Nagasaki Gov. Kaneko and 
others. 
 
10:34 
 
TOKYO 00004486  003 OF 010 
 
 
Attended memorial service for the 61st anniversary of atomic bombing 
of Nagasaki. 
 
12:24 
Arrived at Nagasaki Airport. 
 
13:46 
Met with Nagasaki Vice Gov. Tateishi and Deputy Mayor of Nagasaki 
City Uchida. 
 
14:07 
Left Nagasaki Airport on ANA flight 666. 
 
15:37 
Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
 
16:36 
Met at Kantei with Vice Foreign Minister Yachi, followed by Kumiko 
Hashimoto, wife of the late Prime Minister Hashimoto, Lower House 
member Gaku Hashimoto. 
 
17:23 
Met with LDP policy chief Nakagawa. 
 
18:17 
Had haircut at barbershop in Capital Tokyu Hotel. 
 
19:11 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) US beef now back in store cases 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Following the resumption of US beef imports, Costco Wholesale Japan 
Inc., a membership-based US general merchandize store, yesterday 
started selling imported US beef products at its three outlets in 
the Kanto region, such as the Makuhari store in Chiba, ahead of 
other stores. It will soon start selling at two other stores outside 
the Kanto region as well, such as the Amagasaki store in Amagasaki 
City, Hyogo Prefecture. 
 
It is the first time in seven months since an import embargo was 
placed following the discovery of specified risk materials (SRM), a 
BSE risk material, in a shipment this January that US beef has 
become available to consumers. 
 
At the Makuhari store, 100 grams of chuck eye role sold for 95 yen 
and 100 grams of steak for 249 yen. Many customers rushed to the 
store, because the prices were slightly lower than the pre-ban level 
in January, according to a store spokesman. A skeptical view about 
the safety of US beef is deep-rooted in the market. Leading 
supermarket chains have no plans to sell US beef for the time being. 
However, if import amounts increase, boosting trading among 
retailers, the incidences of consumers eating US beef at restaurants 
without knowing the country of origin will likely increase. 
 
Gregory Haynes, representative of the US Meat Export Federation 
(USMEF) in Japan visited the Makuhari store yesterday and noted, 
"Since a bad image is spreading about US beef, we would like to play 
up its safety some more." 
 
TOKYO 00004486  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
5) Prime Minister Koizumi adamant about keeping "campaign pledge" to 
visit Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15; China, South Korea focusing on 
Abe 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has stated his intention to visit 
Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15. Though he has given a certain level of 
consideration toward China and South Korea. However, he apparently 
intends to keep his campaign pledge while he is in office, judging 
that his Yasukuni visit would have a limited impact on the next 
administration's diplomacy. China and South Korea are nervous about 
the "next visit to Yasukuni" by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, 
considered as the front-runner in the post-Koizumi race. A vigorous 
debate will be carried out in order to come up with specific 
measures, including unenshrinement of Class-A war criminals, to 
resolve the Yasukuni issue. 
 
Koizumi said on Aug. 6, "I can go anytime." "My promise is still 
valid," he said on Aug. 8. "The pledge should be kept," he said 
yesterday. He has recently looked for public reaction, while 
expressing little by little his eagerness for a visit on Aug. 15. 
 
In the past five years, Koizumi was unable to visit the Shinto 
shrine on Aug. 15. Before assuming the prime minister's post, he 
pledged that he would definitely go to the shrine on Aug. 15, but he 
has avoided the Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of World War II. 
 
The reason why Koizumi sticks to keeping his campaign pledge is 
because he thinks that China and South Korea will criticize Japan 
even though he caves in on Yasukuni. Beijing has sounded out the 
prime minister several times since this spring about the resumption 
of summit meetings with the condition that Koizumi not visit 
Yasukuni while in office. Tokyo judged that if Koizumi gave up his 
Yasukuni visit, it would give the impression that he conceded to 
China's demand. Therefore, secret contacts was suspended in late 
June. 
 
6) Shinshuren submits opinion paper opposing Yasukuni Shrine visits 
by prime minister and cabinet ministers 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
The Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan (Shinshuren), 
consisting of 69 religious organizations, such as Rissho Kosei-kai 
and Church of Perfect Liberty, yesterday submitted to Yoshio Yatsu, 
chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Party Organization 
Headquarters an opinion paper addressed to Prime Minister Koizumi, 
opposing visits to Yasukuni Shrine by the prime minister and cabinet 
ministers, noting such visits are contrary to the Constitution's 
principle of separation between state and religion stipulated under 
Article 20. 
 
7) Former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest cautious about Aso proposal 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Tadashi Yuzawa (76), a former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest, 
 
TOKYO 00004486  005 OF 010 
 
 
yesterday gave a speech at the Diet Members' Office Building of the 
Upper House. Regarding Foreign Minister Aso's personal view calling 
for turning Yasukuni Shrine into a non-religious corporation, he 
noted, "If Yasukuni Shrine becomes secular, it will lose its nature 
as a shrine established by the Emperor Meiji. We cannot accept such 
a proposal that easily." He also said, "It is impossible to remove 
Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni." 
 
Touching on proposed legislation that would have had the state 
maintain Yasukuni Shrine, which was killed in 1974, Yuzawa said, 
"Under that legislation, the object of worship enshrined at Yasukuni 
Shrine would have been made a remembrance and the Shinto priests 
there would have left. Only the name Yasukuni would remain." He 
pointed out that there is a similar concern about the Aso plan. 
 
Regarding a memorandum that noted the displeasure Emperor Showa 
remarked about the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni 
Shrine along with the war dead, he said, "I was also astounded to 
know that the emperor made such remarks. At first, I thought I 
should take the remarks solemnly, but now I doubt the propriety of 
the release of such a memo." 
 
8) Former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest negative toward idea of 
turning the shrine into a nonreligious corporation, saying, "The 
shrine will lose its essence" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Tadashi Yuzawa, a former Yasukuni Shrine chief priest, yesterday 
made a speech in Tokyo. In the speech, he indicated a negative view 
toward a proposal for turning Yasukuni Shrine into a nonreligious 
corporation. Commenting on that proposal, he stated: "It would lose 
its substance as a shrine and end up one in name only. We cannot 
easily go along with this." Regarding the idea of unenshrining 
Class-A war criminals, a proposal made by Makoto Koga, chairman of 
the Japan War-Bereaved Association and former secretary general of 
the Liberal Democratic Party, and others, Yuzawa said: "The souls of 
2.46 million war dead are enshrined together. It is, therefore, 
impossible to separate the Class-A war criminals. There is nothing 
good about this for the shrine." He thus once again stressed the 
shrine's position that it is impossible to remove Class-A war 
criminals from Yasukuni Shrine in view of Shinto beliefs. 
 
9) Prince Mikasa expressed apology over Sino-Japanese War to Chinese 
President Jiang in 1998; "I saw assaults by Imperial Japanese Army" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Jiji, Beijing 
 
Prince Mikasa, 90, a brother of the late Emperor Showa, told 
visiting then Chinese President Jiang Zemin during an imperial 
banquet in 1998 regarding the Sino-Japanese War: "I have felt guilty 
about it all along. I would like to offer an apology to the Chinese 
people." This came to light yesterday from a Chinese official 
document. 
 
Jiang's book titled In Order to Make the World More Beautiful, a 
foreign travelogue, was published in late July, which included an 
episode that Prince Mikasa had witnessed assaults by the former 
 
TOKYO 00004486  006 OF 010 
 
 
Imperial Japanese Army during his service as a military staffer in 
Nanjing in Jiangsu Province. 
 
According to a Chinese source familiar with relations with Japan, 
Prince Mikasa voluntarily walked up to President Jiang to talk to 
him. Prince Mikasa, who was critical of the Sino-Japanese War, 
apparently wanted to convey his feelings directly to Jiang on the 
occasion of the imperial banquet. 
 
It has never come to light that a member of the imperial family with 
experience in the war had expressed an apology - a sentiment 
stronger than regret - to a top Chinese political leader, though it 
was not an official statement. The revelation is likely to have an 
impact on Japan's views on history, which China has repeatedly 
criticized. 
 
According to the book, Prince Mikasa said during the banquet hosted 
by the Emperor and Empress on the night of November 26, 1998: 
 
"I was stationed in Nanjing as a former Imperial Army officer. I saw 
assaults by the Imperial Japanese Army. I have felt guilty about 
them all along. I would like to offer an apology to the Chinese 
people. I must work hard to pass historical truth on to young member 
of the imperial family members in order to realize friendly 
relations between the peoples of Japan and China transcending 
generations." 
 
10) Yasukuni Shrine asked welfare ministry not to let public know 
that Class-B, Class-C war criminals had been enshrined 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
In April 1959, Yasukuni Shrine enshrined Class-B and Class-C war 
criminals for the first time. Right before that, however, the shrine 
asked the then Health and Welfare Ministry to withhold this fact 
from the public, the Asahi Shimbun found from an in-house document 
of the ministry. In 1978, the shrine also enshrined Class-A war 
criminals in private. In those days, the war criminals were being 
evaluated in various ways in society. For this reason, the shrine 
attempted to enshrine the war criminals behind the scenes. 
 
The Class-B and Class-C war criminals are military personnel and 
civilian employees accused of ordinary war crimes, such as abusing 
prisoners, in the war court of the Allied Powers. War leaders 
accused of crimes against peace, such as planning and carrying out a 
war of aggression, were tried by the Tokyo War Crimes Trials 
(International Military Tribunal for the Far East) and called 
Class-A war criminals. 
 
The document is titled "Office Memorandum No. 7," dated April 4, 
1959, in the name of a Health and Welfare Ministry official in 
charge of historical records in the Demobilization Division of the 
Repatriation Relief Bureau. At the request of Yasukuni Shrine, the 
official wrote the memo to the division director. In this memo, the 
official states his views regarding the enshrinement of Class-B and 
Class-C war criminals. The memo is sealed with a "HANDLE WITH CARE" 
mark. Yasukuni Shrine reportedly enshrined a total of 353 Class-B 
and Class-C war criminals in a spring festival about the middle of 
that month. 
 
The memo notes that disclosing the enshrinement of Class-B and 
 
TOKYO 00004486  007 OF 010 
 
 
Class-C war criminals could cause "grave misunderstandings and could 
result in interfering with future enshrinements." "Yasukuni Shrine 
is very careful about this matter," the memo says. It also says, 
"They hope we will not make it public and we will instead let things 
continue with the changing of the times." 
 
Furthermore, the memo states the official's own view on how to 
respond if and when there were inquiries based on misunderstandings 
like "even war criminals are being enshrined." The memo also points 
to the purport of Yasukuni Shrine, noting that those war criminals 
were enshrined as persons who "died while conducting state affairs." 
In this regard, the official writes that he wants this point to be 
well understood in responding to such inquiries. 
 
In 1952, the Diet first resolved in its lower and upper chambers to 
call for releasing Class-B and Class-C war criminals. In June 1953, 
after Japan's restoration of its independence, the Japan Federation 
of Bar Associations petitioned the government to release war 
criminals. A signature-collecting campaign started across the 
nation. Meanwhile, in the fall of 1957, Shiragikukai, an association 
of war criminals' families, asked Yasukuni Shrine to enshrine the 
war criminals. That gave rise to arguments for and against 
enshrining the war criminals, and public opinion was split. 
 
After that, on Oct. 17, 1978, Yasukuni Shrine enshrined 14 Class-A 
war criminals as "martyrs in the Showa era" at the decision of 
Nagayoshi Matsudaira, the then guji or chief priest of Yasukuni 
Shrine. In April 1979, newspapers and news agencies reported the 
enshrinement of Class-A war criminals. Yasukuni Shrine, in its 
official bulletin issued late that month, referred to the 
enshrinement of Class-A war criminals. On its sidelines, the 
bulletin also revealed that Yasukuni Shrine had gradually enshrined 
Class-B and Class-C war criminals as well after the San Francisco 
Peace Treaty was inked, and that the shrine had already completed 
its enshrinement of Class-B and Class-C war criminals in 1970. 
 
11) Aso's Chuo Koron article: Japan gave up reference to Chapter 7 
several hours before UNSC adopted North Korea resolution 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
In an article written for the September issue of the monthly 
literary magazine Chuo Koron that will go on sale today, Foreign 
Minister Taro Aso revealed an inside story on the recent adoption of 
a North Korea resolution by the US Security Council. He wrote that 
only several hours before the adoption of the resolution was when 
Japan gave up insisting on including reference to Chapter 7 of the 
UN Charter that would have served as grounds for economic sanctions 
and the use of armed force. 
 
China and other countries were opposed to a draft resolution 
presented by Japan, the United States, and other countries. But it 
became clear late at night on July 15, the day before the resolution 
was adopted, that China would accept the draft resolution if a 
reference to Chapter 7 was dropped. In the early hours of July 16, 
Aso discussed the matter with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 
on the phone, and they agreed to eliminate the reference. 
 
Aso was proud of himself: 
 
"I continued giving instructions to New York that Japan must not 
 
TOKYO 00004486  008 OF 010 
 
 
back down or wrap things up. I was unwavering with the aim of 
adopting a strong resolutions quickly." 
 
The article also introduces an episode that in his telephone 
conversation with Rice, Aso half jokingly said, "You might have 
realized once again that it's important to make Japan a permanent UN 
Security Council member," to which Rice responded favorably 
 
12) Japan asks US to move up MD deployment 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
In the wake of North Korea's firing of ballistic missiles on July 5, 
Japan and the United States held intergovernmental talks in 
Washington on Aug. 7-8, with senior officials for foreign and 
defense affairs attending. In the talks, the Japanese government 
asked the US government to cooperate in Japan's deployment of a 
missile defense system earlier than scheduled. The US government 
answered that it would consider the request. The two governments 
also agreed to discuss problems that became clear regarding 
bilateral intelligence sharing and joint operations when North Korea 
fired the missiles. 
 
Japan asked the United States to frontload the ground-based 
deployment of PAC-3 intercept missiles. Japan plans to purchase 
PAC-3s from the United States in order for the Air Self-Defense 
Force to deploy them at its Iruma base in Saitama Prefecture by the 
end of next fiscal year. So the Japanese government asked the US 
government to move up the PAC-3 introduction timetable. In addition, 
the US Navy plans to deploy the USS Shiloh, an Aegis-equipped vessel 
loaded with SM-3 intercept missiles, to Yokosuka this month. 
However, Japan asked the United States to consider whether other US 
naval vessels based in Hawaii can be staged near Japan if and when 
there are signs of an imminent missile launch. 
 
13) Deputy chief cabinet secretary: Six North Korean missiles 
accurately landed in zone 30 to 40 kilometers square 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji Suzuki, delivering a speech in 
Nagoya yesterday, revealed that of the seven ballistic missiles 
North Korea launched on July 5, six Rodong and Scud missiles with 
the exception of a Taepodong-2 had splashed into a sea zone 30-40 
kilometers square in the Sea of Japan. Of the six missiles, Suzuki 
said: "They all accurately landed in an area 30 to 40 kilometers 
square." 
 
14) Abe mulls Security Council reform 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
August 10, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, who is expected to run in the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, will set 
forth his political platform featuring a plan to establish a body in 
charge of Japan's strategy for its foreign relations and national 
security modeled after the US National Security Council (NSC). The 
planned body will have a security assistant to the prime minister 
for decision making without delay under the prime minister. Its 
 
TOKYO 00004486  009 OF 010 
 
 
secretariat will also be expanded in its staffing. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
The new body, according to Abe's plan, is to be made up of the prime 
minister, the chief cabinet secretary, the defense chief, the 
finance minister, and the prime minister's assistant for national 
security. It is also expected to include the director for cabinet 
intelligence and the Self-Defense Forces' Joint Staff Office chief. 
Abe would like it to meet on a daily basis to talk about various 
diplomatic issues. 
 
15) Government likely to put off radioactivity survey in waters near 
Takeshima islets, with eye on EEZ negotiations 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 10, 2006 
 
The government yesterday started looking into postponing the planned 
radioactivity survey in waters near the Takeshima/Dokdo islets, over 
which both Japan and South Korea have claimed sovereignty. This 
decision reflects a judgment that since Seoul has begun to express 
understanding for Japan's proposal for creating a system of prior 
notification on maritime research, it would be better to take time 
and watch its moves with an eye on the negotiations on EEZ 
boundaries scheduled for September. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official stressed no change in the 
government's plan on the survey, but he added: "There is no need to 
immediately undertake it. Our top priority is to create a 
prior-notification system." The official thus indicated the 
government's willingness as part of efforts to avert a conflict with 
South Korea to give priority to creating a prior-notification 
system. 
 
Even so, since research is difficult in the winter when the Sea of 
Japan is choppy, Tokyo hopes to complete the system at an early 
date. 
 
South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon said in 
a meeting with Foreign Minister Taro Aso on Aug. 8: "It is necessary 
to maintain maritime order in an amicable way," revealing that South 
Korea is working out specifics about the new system. South Korea had 
initially indicated an unwillingness to hold talks on a system to 
deal with territorial issues, but "Seoul seems to have become a 
little bit positive," according to the ministry official. 
 
In response to the revelation that the former Soviet Union had 
dumped radioactive waste in the Sea of Japan, Tokyo and Seoul began 
surveys of radioactivity in 1994. Just after South Korea carried out 
research on ocean currents on July 5, Japan conveyed to the ROK its 
plans for the survey. 
 
16) LDP's Tsushima faction to give up fielding Nukaga in party 
presidential race; Abe may announce candidacy on Aug. 31; Battle 
among Abe, Tanigaki, and Aso highly likely 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged) 
August 10, 2006 
 
The Tsushima faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided 
in an executive meeting yesterday to give up fielding Defense Agency 
Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga, 62, in the Sept. 20 LDP 
presidential election. The decision was made since support for 
 
TOKYO 00004486  010 OF 010 
 
 
Nukaga is not expected to expand. With this decision, the 
expectation is strong that the presidential race will be contested 
by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, 51, Foreign Minister Taro 
Aso, 65, and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 61. If Nukaga 
decides not to run, most of the Tsushima faction members will likely 
support Abe, making Abe's advantage in the race clear. Abe may 
formally announce his candidacy on Aug. 31. 
 
A senior Tsushima faction member will inform Nukaga, who will return 
from Indonesia as early as today, of the faction's decision not to 
field him due to circumstances within and outside the faction. As 
the faction has decided that it is impossible to run Nukaga as its 
candidate for the presidency, it is highly likely that he will not 
run. 
 
The executive meeting was attended by six House of Representatives 
members, including Chairman Yuji Tsushima; Vice Chairman Takashi 
Sasagawa, former science and technology minister; Secretary General 
Hajima Funada, chairman of the LDP Research Commission on 
Constitution; and Toshimitsu Motegi, former state minister in charge 
of Okinawa and northern territories affairs. 
 
At the meeting, Sasagawa said, "We should not make him a second 
Yasuo Fukuda," referring to former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo 
Fukuda, who did not make his position clear as to whether he would 
run or not, although many in the LDP hoped he would. Sasagawa then 
demanded an early announcement by Nukaga that he would not run in 
the race. Others agreed that the faction should keep Nukaga in 
reserve as a future presidential candidate. 
 
Motegi, however, insisted that the faction should field Nukaga to 
give party members a wider choice and demonstrate that the LDP is a 
party of depth. Tsushima concluded the meeting, saying, "I will tell 
Mr. Nukaga that he is in a difficult position." 
 
SCHIEFFER