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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 004565 
 
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 08/14/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
Opinion polls: 
 
1) Yomiuri poll: 80% of Japanese fear safety of US beef, 45% don't 
want to eat it 
2) Koizumi Cabinet support rate slips below 40% line for first time 
in a year: Jiji poll 
3) 39% of public think Japan should have capability to strike enemy 
bases, 80% see need for new law to block financial flows to North 
Korea: Yomiuri poll 
4) Jiji poll: Half the public affirmative about Japan possessing 
capability to strike enemy bases 
5) Survey of 47 heads of local LDP chapters finds high support for 
Shinzo Abe as presidential candidate but expectation of debate on 
Yasukuni Shrine issue 
 
Foreign policy agenda: 
 
6) Under new ODA plan, Philippines, too, will received patrol boats 
from Japan, another exception to the ban on weapons exports 
7) Then Ambassador to China Anami last summer sent telegram to Prime 
Minister Koizumi urging him to halt visits to Yasukuni Shrine 
8) When Keidanren business leader Okuda met China's President Hu 
last year, he delivered a conciliatory message from Prime Minister 
Koizumi 
 
9) Local heads near SDF's Tsuiki base where US forces to train under 
realignment pact voice opposition in meeting with LDP's Taku 
Yamasaki 
 
LDP presidential campaign: 
 
10) LDP presidential candidate Abe trying to distance self from 
Koizumi policies in election campaign, stressing local needs 
11) Abe wants give voters a fresh image of him in LDP presidential 
campaign, focusing for example on educational reform 
 
Articles: 
 
1) 80% of Japanese have misgivings about US beef; 45% don't want to 
eat it, according to Yomiuri poll 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 12, 2006 
 
In a nationwide poll that the Yomiuri Shimbun carried out on Aug. 
5-6, 80% of the respondents answered that they felt "greatly" or 
"somewhat" anxious about the safety of US beef, imports of which 
have just been restarted. Only 19% felt no qualms about the safety 
of the US product. 
 
Moreover, when the public was asked about whether they wanted to eat 
US beef, 45% said they had no desire to eat it, while another 43% 
said they would "wait awhile and see the situation before deciding." 
Thus, about 90% of Japanese are negative about eating US beef. Only 
10% are willing to eat US beef. 
 
US beef is already being sold in a few large-scale mass merchandise 
outlets, and the outlook is for expansion of product availability in 
the future. However, the polls shows Japanese consumers as a whole 
have misgivings about the safety of US beef, and a trend toward 
 
TOKYO 00004565  002 OF 009 
 
 
constraining their purchases of the product. 
 
Regarding the government decision to restart imports of US beef, 59% 
or a majority of the public said they either did not approve of it 
or tended not to support it, far more than the 37% who said they 
supported the government's decision. 
 
However, even among the 37% who supported the government's decision, 
60% felt anxiety about the safety of US beef.  In addition, the 
question was asked whether it should be obligatory to require 
place-of-origin labeling on processed foods and even restaurant 
menus so that people would know if they were eating US beef. 
Ninety-two% agreed, revealing a strong sense of alarm that US beef 
might be mixed into the food Japanese are eating. 
 
2) Jiji poll: Koizumi Cabinet support rate slips below 40% line 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2006 
 
According to the results of an opinion poll for August compiled by 
Jiji Press on August 12, the Koizumi Cabinet support rate slipped 
2.2 points to 39.4%, the first time it has fallen below the 40% line 
in a year. On the other hand, the non-support rate rose 3.6 points 
to 42%, making this the first time in a year and a half for public 
disapproval to outweigh the approval rate. With only two months left 
until Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi leaves office, it appears 
that the public's attention is focused instead on the race to pick 
his successor. 
 
The poll, carried out on August 4-7, surveyed 2,000 adults on 
face-to-face interview basis. The effective response rate was 70% . 
 
In terms of party support, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) was up 
a point to 24.9%, while the main opposition party Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) slipped 0.8% to 10.2%, the second month 
in a row for support to recede. 
 
The New Komeito had a support rate of 3.4%, unchanged from last 
month. The Japanese Communist Party had a 1.9% support rate (up 0.2% 
), while the Social Democratic Party had 1.1% (down 0.1% ). The New 
Japan Party had 0.1% (up from zero last time). The People's Party 
had no support. 
 
3) Yomiuri poll: 80% agree law restricting financial transactions 
with North Korea is "necessary"; 39% feel that Japan "should have" 
capability to strike enemy bases 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 13, 2006 
 
In a nationwide opinion survey taken by the Yomiuri Shimbun (August 
5-6, face-to-face survey), 79% of Japanese thought that is was 
"necessary" to have a law restricting designated financial 
transactions with North Korea, as being considered by the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), for the purpose of shutting off illegal 
funds flowing to that country. Only 13% thought that such 
legislation was unnecessary. The poll showed that most Japanese want 
new legislation to strengthen pressure against North Korea. 
 
When asked whether the planned missile-defense system to intercept 
incoming enemy missiles should be speeded up, 62% answered 
 
TOKYO 00004565  003 OF 009 
 
 
affirmatively, while 33% did not think such should be done. 
 
In addition, in answer to the question whether Japan should have the 
capability of striking enemy bases that were attacking Japan with 
missiles, 55% did not think so, but 39% agreed. Looking at the views 
of supporters of the three major contenders in the LDP presidential 
election, 43% of the supporters of Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe were 
positive about Japan having such a capability, but 52% were 
negative. Of those supporting Finance Minister Tanigaki, 38% 
approved; 59% disapproved; while Foreign Minister Aso's supporters 
were split, 48% for and against. 
 
On the other hand, 86% of the public gave high marks to Japan's 
proposed United Nations Security Council resolution critical of 
North Korea that passed unanimously. Only 9% did not appreciate it. 
Asked about the UNSC resolution and the chairman's statement of the 
G-8 Summit that included language calling on North Korea to freeze 
its missile program and the like, 77% praised the role that Japan 
had played. 
 
4) Jiji poll: Over 50% of Japanese affirmative about Japan 
possessing enemy-base strike capability 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
August 13, 2006 
 
A Jiji Press poll compiled on August 12 found that 50% of the public 
would give positive consideration to Japan having the capability of 
attacking enemy bases that house missiles and the like. On the other 
hand, a majority of Japanese said they could not approve of Japan 
having a preemptive strike capability, assuming a situation that an 
enemy attack on Japan was imminent. 
 
The survey was carried out August 4-7 on a face-to-face basis of 
2,000 adults nationwide. The effective response rate was 70% . 
 
Although only 21.8% answered that they thought Japan should possess 
the capability of striking enemy bases, if the 29.2% who said Japan 
"should consider" such a capability is added, the total of those 
responding affirmatively reaches 51.0% . In contrast, 34.8% said 
they thought Japan should not possess such a capability, and 53.5% 
did not approve of Japan possessing a preemptive strike capability, 
even if an enemy attack was judged imminent.  Only 26.4% approved. 
 
5) Poll of senior members at LDP prefectural chapters on 
presidential race: Many call for debate on Yasukuni issue; Abe far 
ahead of other candidates 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
August 12, 2006 
 
The Yasukuni Shrine issue is certain to be a central issue of the 
campaign for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential 
election in September. The Asahi Shimbun interviewed senior members 
at the 47 LDP prefectural chapters on the Yasukuni issue, of whom 
only seven praised Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe's keeping mum on the 
propriety of the prime minister's visits to the shrine. Foreign 
Minister Aso recently released his personal proposal, and Finance 
Minister Tanigaki has said: "I will refrain from paying homage at 
the shrine." Of the 47 representatives, 24 did not express support 
for any of the three, and many of them called for a thorough debate 
on the Yasukuni issue, the representative of the Toyama prefectural 
 
TOKYO 00004565  004 OF 009 
 
 
branch remarking: "A national debate is necessary." 
 
In the interviews on Aug. 4-11, Abe left Aso and Tanigaki far behind 
in terms of party support. However, in response to a question about 
the three candidates' views about the Yasukuni issue, 11 supported 
Aso's thinking. Even though some expressed doubts about the 
feasibility of the Aso proposal, they praised his stance of trying 
to prod discussion, as the representative of the Wakayama chapter 
said: "His stance of trying to search for a solution is the most 
positive among the three candidates." 
 
Tanigaki won support from five representatives on his stance toward 
the Yasukuni issue. Many cited this kind of reason: "It is better 
for the prime minister to forgo a visit to Yasukuni in order to 
maintain relations with neighboring countries," said the 
representative from the Yamanashi chapter. Among those favoring 
Abe's stance toward Yasukuni, the representative from the Fukui 
chapter stated: "Paying homage at the shrine is a personal matter, 
and it is up to the individual to decide on whether to visit the 
shrine." 
 
Even among those who stopped short of expressing support any of the 
three, many called for debate to be conducted. The representative 
from the Iwate chapter said: "This issue cannot be put on the back 
burner." The representative from the Yamagata chapter remarked: 
"Since Yasukuni Shrine and Class-A war criminals have not been 
properly discussed, confusion has been caused." Meanwhile, the 
representative of the Okayama chapter stated: "The prime minister 
should visit Yasukuni Shrine in a dignified manner." 
 
In the interviews, asked for views about the consumption tax, 21 
were in favor of the view proposed by Tanigaki, who said: "I would 
raise the tax rate to 10% by the middle of the next decade." The 
representative of the Hyogo chapter stated: "That is a brave 
statement. A raise in the tax rate will be unavoidable in the 
future." 
 
Asked to name the candidate most favored by chapter members, 34 
chapters cited Abe. Those who picked Aso were only Fukuoka, his 
electoral district, and Iwate, which came up with this reply: "Abe 
and Aso are neck-and-neck." No prefectural representative named 
Tanigaki. 
 
6) Government to provide patrol ships to the Philippines as part of 
ODA; Exception to three arms export principles 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 14, 2006 
 
The government has decided to provide two or three patrol ships to 
the Philippines as grant aid from the official development 
assistance (ODA) program. It will shortly send a survey mission to 
that nation to determine the number and size of ships needed. Once 
that process is completed, it will provide vessels by next March. 
The Philippines is the second recipient of patrol ships as grant 
aid, following Indonesia in June. The government will regard the 
provision of vessels to the Philippines as an exception to the three 
arms export principles. 
 
The government has refrained from extending large-scale ODA loans to 
the Philippines for the past several years due to the unstable 
political situation there. However, it has decided to resume ODA 
 
TOKYO 00004565  005 OF 009 
 
 
judging that conditions for ODA have now been met, following the 
lifting of a declaration of a state of emergency by the Philippine 
government in March. 
 
The Export Trade Control Ordinance under the Foreign Exchange and 
Foreign Trade Control Law defines patrol ships as military vessels. 
Providing patrol ships without permission infringes on the three 
arms export principles. For this reason, the government will make 
the provision of such vessels to the Philippines an and exception to 
the three arms export principles, by exchanging a note that calls on 
its government to limit the purpose of the use to cracking down on 
terrorists and pirates, and not to transfer them to a third party 
without a prior consent by the Japanese government. 
 
Maritime terrorism by pirates and Islamic militants is active in 
waters off the Philippines. Vessels to be provided to that nation 
this time will therefore be used to crack down on pirates. For 
funding, the government intends to use a framework for grant aid for 
anti-terrorism cooperation, etc., (approximately 7 billion yen), 
established under the fiscal 2006 ODA budget. 
 
7) Former Ambassador to China Anami sent cable to prime minister 
last summer, asking him to forgo Yasukuni Shrine visit out of 
concern about deteriorating relations 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
August 12, 2006 
 
It was learned yesterday that then Ambassador to China Koreshige 
Anami sent an official cable to Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 
last summer before the August 15 anniversary of the end of World War 
II asking him to forgo a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. He presumably did 
this out of concern over deteriorating relations between Japan and 
China. According to a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MOFA), it is unusual for an ambassador to give advice to 
the prime minister in such a manner. The cable was sent to the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) through MOFA. However, 
Koizumi made his fifth visit to the shrine on Oct. 17, rejecting 
Anami's advice. 
 
Having served as director general of the MOFA Asian Affairs Bureau 
and other posts, Anami is a leading figure in the so-called China 
school, which attaches importance to relations with China. He is 
also known as the son of late War Minister Korechika Anami, who 
committed suicide in opposition to Japan's acceptance of the Potsdam 
Declaration. He was enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine. Koreshige is, 
therefore, also a member of a bereaved family. 
 
Anami has refrained from making any specific comment on the cable to 
the media. Though exactly when he sent the cable is not clear, he 
did so presumably around July last year. The cable runs several 
pages, asking Koizumi not to Yasukuni, noting: (1) 2005 is a 
commemorative year for China, which marks the 60th anniversary of 
the victory in the war against Japan; and (2) anti-Japanese 
sentiment in China is surging, as can be seen in frequent 
demonstrations. Since the telegram was addressed to the prime 
minister, MOFA sent it to Kantei as is. 
 
Last July, a fierce battle over a set of postal privatization bills 
was going on, and the bills were narrowly adopted at a Lower House 
plenary session. Amid the growing prospect of the bills being voted 
down in the Upper House, some observers thought that Koizumi might 
 
TOKYO 00004565  006 OF 009 
 
 
visit Yasukuni on August 15 and bring his tenure as prime minister 
to a close by fulfilling his campaign pledge. This is presumably 
part of the background that prompted Anami to make that move. 
 
Upon leaving his post this March, Anami sent to related sources a 
report that indirectly criticized Koizumi's Yasukuni visits, noting: 
"The Yasukuni issue has been politicized. Changing how it is visited 
will not resolve the problem. The premier either goes or does not." 
 
In the meantime, Koizumi after visiting the shrine last year 
indicated to reporters his displeasure toward China and other 
countries: "Others should not interfere in a matter of the heart. 
This is not an issue on which foreign governments can tell us what 
we cannot do." 
 
8) Keidanren Okuda in secret meeting with Chinese President Hu last 
year relayed message from Koizumi: "I am pro-Chinese" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 13, 2006 
 
It has been revealed that Japan Business Federation (Nihon 
Keidanren) Chairman (then) Hiroshi Okuda had secretly met with 
Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Sept. 30 of last year. 
According to informed sources, more than half of the meeting was 
devoted to the issue of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to 
Yasukuni Shrine. Okuda relayed a message from the prime minister to 
the president, but President Hu criticized the prime minister's 
shrine visits and asked Okuda that business circles urge the prime 
minister to forgo a visit to the shrine. Hu also proposed that the 
details of the meeting not be released. On Oct. 4, Okuda informed 
the prime minister of the details of the meeting, but the prime 
minister visited the shrine on Oct. 17, the first day of the great 
autumn shrine festival. He had visited the shrine in formal attire 
until the previous year, but last year, he was dressed more 
casually. 
 
Participating in the 40-minute meeting with Hu were Matsushita 
Electric Industrial Co. Chairman (then) Yoichi Morishita, Nippon 
Steel Corporation President Akio Mimura, Sumitomo Corporation 
Chairman Kenji Miyahara, and others, in addition to Okuda. Prime 
Minister Koizumi had not visited Yasukuni Shrine for 21 months since 
the New Year Day in 2004 until then, but in August 2004, he 
declared: "I will visit the shrine next year." 
 
Okuda told Hu: "Prime Minister Koizumi won an overwhelming majority 
in the House of Representatives election, so he had a free hand. But 
he seems to be experiencing inner conflict over a visit to Yasukuni 
Shrine. The prime minister told me to relay to you that 'I am 
pro-Chinese'." Some were also quoted as saying that Okuda passed 
along a personal letter from the prime minister. 
 
President Hu replied, remembering the two meetings he had held with 
Koizumi until then: 
 
"I clearly said (to Prime Minister Koizumi) that paying homage at 
Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines the souls of Class-A war criminals, 
hurts the feelings of the Chinese people. ... I want the prime 
minister to refrain from visiting the shrine from the position of 
assuming responsibility for the state, the people, and history as 
the leader of Japan." 
 
 
TOKYO 00004565  007 OF 009 
 
 
He then asked Okuda to urge the prime minister to make a political 
judgment. Okuda reportedly answered: "I will convey your words to 
the prime minister. The business world wants to make utmost efforts 
to return (relations between Japan and China) to their former good 
shape." 
 
The Okuda-Hu meeting was announced on Oct. 22, just after the prime 
minister's visit to Yasukuni Shrine last fall. In a regular press 
held by Keidanren immediately after the meeting, a barrage of 
questions about the meeting came from reporters, but Okuda did not 
disclose the details of the meeting, just saying: "I went to China 
privately, and not as a special envoy." In a press briefing last 
December, Okuda said, in reference to the prime minister's Yasukuni 
visit in a casual suit: "Mr. Koizumi made the best choice at that 
time. But nobody understands it." 
 
9) Municipality heads around Tsuiki Air Base say in meeting with 
Yamasaki, Relocation of US military training "unacceptable" 
 
AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2006 
 
Taku Yamasaki, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's Security 
Research Commission and former LDP vice president, met on Aug. 11 
the mayor of Yukuhashi City in Fukuoka Prefecture, and the Chikujo 
town head to seek their understanding for the relocation of US 
military training to the Air Self-Defense Forces' Tsuiki Air Base, 
as decided by the government under the USFJ realignment pact. 
 
The mayor said, "I fully recognize the need for the Japan-US 
security alliance," he stressed. But he added, "I find it hard to 
accept that only residents living around certain bases will be 
affected." Yamasaki replied: "I will ask the government to fully 
respond and give consideration to the additional burden imposed on 
the local residents." 
 
10) 2006 LDP leadership race: Abe finding ways for distancing self 
from Koizumi's influence, stressing stance of attaching importance 
on voters in regional areas in Upper House election 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 13, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has begun to seek ways to 
separate himself from the influence of Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi, slightly correcting his position as a successor to 
Koizumi's reform drive. He is now focused on an upcoming standoff 
with the Ichiro Ozawa led Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in 
next summer's House of Councillors election. Before his supporters 
in his home constituency of Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 
Abe has declared he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
leadership race He expressed consideration for local areas, stating, 
"We must give people working in agriculture, forestry and fisheries 
areas back their dreams. I want to aim at creating a primary 
industry in which income would increase." 
 
In a rally on Aug. 12, Shimonoseki Mayor Shigeru Ejima expressed his 
hopes for Abe's policy change from Koizumi's political approach, 
saying, "I think an Abe cabinet would support regional areas that 
once failed to development. The next cabinet should first praise the 
Koizumi reform drive, but Mr. Abe should correct part of the Koizumi 
reform that was wrong." 
 
TOKYO 00004565  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
Some LDP members have criticized Koizumi, saying, "The Koizumi 
reform program is focused only on economic growth and it is cool to 
local areas." 
 
Abe underscored in the rally that though he would keep the flame of 
reform going, he also pledged that he would do his best to 
revitalize regional areas where many people feel income disparity. 
 
Abe's stance of trying to separate himself from Koizumi's policy 
influence is also clearly shown in his argument about the need for 
more public works projects. 
 
11) LDP presidential race in 2006: Abe to show own policy imprint in 
campaign pledges, making clear his differences from Koizumi 
policies 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 13, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe intends to make educational 
reform a main campaign pledge in his bid for the September Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) presidential post, aiming at bringing out his 
policy differences from the government of Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi, which prioritizes such administrative reforms as 
postal-privatization and reform of the Japan Highway Public 
Corporation. He will show his own policy imprint in his campaign 
pledges. He apparently wants to conduct politics by placing 
importance on Japanese traditions, culture and virtues. 
 
In a speech delivered on Aug. 12 in the city of Shimonoseki, 
Yamaguchi Prefecture, Abe reiterated the need for "nation-building," 
stating, "We, the postwar generation, should put our efforts into 
making the nation a better place." 
 
Abe regards education as one of important policy areas in making the 
country better. He thinks that the present educational policy should 
be changed, citing that the history education in elementary and 
junior-high schools is "masochistic" and has a strong tendency of 
rejecting Japanese traditional values. 
 
The Central Education Council, an advisory panel to the education 
ministry, decides educational policy. The council, comprising mainly 
of intellectuals, takes a long time -- from several months to years 
-- to arrive at a conclusion. Persons close to Abe are critical of 
the panel, citing that speedy educational reform will not be 
implemented as long as the council is in charge of the matter. Abe 
intends to vow during his campaigning the establishment of an 
education reform promotion council under the direct control of the 
prime minister. 
 
After the Hashimoto government had promoted educational reform as 
one of his six reforms, the Obuchi and Mori governments implemented 
educational reforms such as a review of the so-called pressure-free 
education system, the introduction of a school-choice system, and 
reform of the university system. 
 
However, no educational improvements have been seen under the 
Koizumi government. In particular, the LDP and its coalition partner 
New Komeito formulated this year a bill revising the Basic Education 
Law, but Koizumi was reluctant to run it through the Diet. As a 
result, the bill has been carried over to the next Diet session. 
 
TOKYO 00004565  009 OF 009 
 
 
Many in the ruling camp have criticized Koizumi for having no 
enthusiasm for educational reform. Therefore, the timing is right 
now for Abe to show his differences with Koizumi in the upcoming LDP 
leadership race. 
 
SCHIEFFER