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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1598

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 004598 
 
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 08/15/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
Prime Minister's daily schedule: Took Monday off 
 
August 15: 
 
Kyodo: Prime Minister Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine, leaving his 
residence in a limousine around 7:30. He was dressed in a formal 
tailcoat. 
 
3) Prime Minister Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine 
4) Prime Minister to visit Yasukuni Shrine today on 61st anniversary 
of the end of the war 
5) Ruling and opposition camps issue statements on August 15 
anniversary of end of war 
6) ROK President Roh ready to "strongly protest" if Koizumi visits 
Yasukuni today 
7) LDP's Koichi Kato again urges Koizumi to stay away from Yasukuni 
 
 
LDP presidential race: 
8) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe standing before his father's grave 
expresses his desire to run for LDP president 
9) Abe to make constitutional reform a key campaign pledge 
10) LDP's Taku Yamasaki, now out of the race, to back Finance 
Minister Tanigaki for party president 
11) LDP faction leader Mori already speculating about who will be in 
Abe's cabinet and party lineup 
 
12) Ruling parties' secretaries general leave for Australia and 
other stops in international junket 
 
13) METI learns from Chinese government that production has not 
started yet in controversial gas field in EEZ 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Labor shortage at legal rescue center to be launched in October; 
Twenty attorneys secured, but plan is to assign 300 lawyers 
 
Mainichi: 
Ten consumer credit companies found to have taken out life insurance 
policies on all borrowers 
 
Yomiuri: 
Internet distribution of TV programs: Communications Ministry 
looking into possibility of adopting copyright registration system 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. to cut overseas production bases 
50%; Selective guidelines to be introduced to strengthen earning 
power 
 
Sankei: 
Tokyo area blackout: Accident near upstream part of power supply 
grid escalates damage -- TEPCO reprimanded for delay in service 
restoration 
 
TOKYO 00004598  002 OF 007 
 
 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Prime Minister Koizumi determined to visit Yasukuni Shrine today, 
61st anniversary of end of World War II 
 
Akahata: 
Revision of Basic Education Law for the worse: Education ministry 
sending senior officials to teachers' training sessions and PTA 
conferences for campaign 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Thoughts on nationalism: What should be done to calm things 
down? 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Control nationalism: Break Koizumi's spell 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Anniversary of end of World War II: Questioning responsibility 
for "Showa War" 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) We want to console the souls of the war dead quietly and thing 
about war and the postwar era 
(2) Major power outage raises questions about protecting 
infrastructure 
 
Sankei: 
(1) August 15 should be a quiet day for the deep repose of the souls 
of the war dead 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Thoughts on the anniversary of the end of World War II: Pacifism 
is Japan's pledge 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Anniversary of end of World War II: We should make best use of 
determination for peace 
 
3) Prime Minister Koizumi visits Yasukuni Shrine 
 
YOMIURI (Website, 8:18 am, top story) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
On August 15, the anniversary of the end of World War II, Prime 
Minister Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. 
 
Koizumi had pledged during the race for the LDP presidency in 2001 
that he would visit Yasukuni on August 15, but in the face of strong 
criticism from China and other countries, he had previously avoided 
this date while making his annual visit. With Koizumi due to step 
down in September, he showed a strong determination to fulfill his 
pledge to visit on this date. This is the first time for a sitting 
prime minister to go to Yasukuni on August 15 since then PM Nakasone 
did so in 1985. 
 
This is Koizumi's sixth visit to Yasukuni, the first since October 
¶2005. 
 
Clad in a formal morning coat, Koizumi made his way into the 
 
TOKYO 00004598  003 OF 007 
 
 
shrine's main hall and signed his name in the guestbook as "Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi." He paid the 30,000 yen for flowers out 
of his own pocket. 
 
Speaking on August 9 about his pledge to visit on the 15th, Koizumi 
stated: "The pledge is still valid, and I think it should be kept." 
On the 10th, he refuted criticism of his Yasukuni visits, saying: 
"There is no reason for Japan's prime minister to be criticized no 
matter what facility he decides to visit. After reflecting on the 
war, Japan has developed as a peaceful nation that has not gone to 
war even once in the ensuing 61 years." 
 
In July, it came to light that a former high-ranking official in the 
Imperial Household Agency had written a memo documenting the late 
Emperor Showa's (Hirohito) displeasure with Yasukuni's enshrinement 
of Class-A war criminals (in 1978). Soon afterward, public opinion 
turned more cautious about the prime minister visiting Yasukuni. As 
this will be Koizumi's last visit to the shrine during his term in 
office, doing so on August 15 indicates his strong opposition to any 
compromise on the matter. 
 
When he visited the shrine in April 2002, Koizumi released the 
following comment: "Insisting on visiting on or around August 15, 
raising concerns and tensions both within and outside Japan, is not 
my intention." 
 
It also became known recently that Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, 
considered the most likely candidate to replace Koizumi, visited 
Yasukuni this April. Some observers are of the opinion that 
Koizumi's homage on August 15 was intended in part to lay the 
groundwork for the next prime minister to continue visiting 
Yasukuni. 
 
Both China and South Korea are opposed to the prime minister 
visiting Yasukuni, with Beijing and Seoul refusing to hold summits 
with Tokyo since April 2005 and November 2005, respectively. Koizumi 
argued in response: "It's strange to refuse to hold a summit just 
because opinions are different on one issue." A summit in the days 
before Koizumi steps down appears unlikely. 
 
It also appears that Yasukuni will become an issue in the LDP 
presidential race, with the debate extending not just to whether or 
not the prime minister should visit but also the enshrinement of 
Class-A war criminals and the idea of turning Yasukuni Shrine into a 
nonreligious corporation. 
 
When he visited Yasukuni on August 13, 2001, Koizumi stated: "I 
carefully took into account the domestic and international 
situations and decided on my own to avoid August 15 in making my 
visit." Koizumi later visited the shrine on April 21, 2002; January 
14, 2003; January 1, 2004; and October 17, 2005. 
 
4) Prime Minister Koizumi determined to visit Yasukuni Shrine today, 
61st anniversary of end of World War II 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi yesterday decided to visit Yasukuni 
Shrine on August 15, the 61st anniversary of the end of World War 
II. Koizumi has visited the shrine five times -- once a year -- 
since becoming prime minister in April 2001. However, this will be 
 
TOKYO 00004598  004 OF 007 
 
 
the first time for him to visit Yasukuni on August 15. China and 
South Korea are bound to oppose his visit, if he carries it out. 
 
Campaign pledge for LDP presidential election to be implemented 
 
After attending a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence starting 10:00 a.m., the prime minister will offer flowers 
at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery. He will then attend a 
national memorial service for the war dead at the nearby Budokan 
Hall. He is expected to visit Yasukuni either before or after these 
official events. 
 
Koizumi pledged to visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 during a 
campaign for the LDP presidential race on April 2001. However, 
meeting opposition from China and South Korea, which make an issue 
of the enshrinement of Class-A war criminals there, he visited the 
shrine on August 13 that year. Since then he has visited it during 
the spring or autumn festivals, avoiding the anniversary of the end 
of World War II. 
 
5) Ruling, opposition parties issue statements in commemoration of 
day marking end of WWII 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Ruling and opposition parties issued statements in commemoration of 
the day marking the end of World War II. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party: Japan must positively develop 
peace-oriented diplomacy through international cooperation based on 
the Japan-US alliance. It is also necessary to deepen friendly 
relations with neighboring countries and play a role as a 
responsible member of the international community. 
 
New Komeito: It is important to create a facility where all the 
people can pay homage to the war dead without any hesitation and 
pray for peace, in order to demonstrate to the world that Japan is a 
peaceful country, 
 
Minshuto: Blindly following the United States, the Koizumi 
administration has taken a stance that has led to undermining the 
achievements and confidence in East Asia and the rest of the world. 
We would like to renew our resolve to do our best to create peace 
under global cooperation and make utmost efforts to that end. 
 
Japanese Communist Party: Japan will inevitably find itself isolated 
in Asia and in the world as long as (the prime minister) continues 
to visit Yasukuni Shrine. We are determined to defend the 
Constitution drawn up on the basis of reflection on Japan's past 
military aggression. 
 
Social Democratic Party: A person in a position of leadership must 
pay attention so as not to fan parochial nationalism. 
 
6) South Korean premier: "Government will lodge strong protest" if 
Prime Minister Koizumi visits Yasukuni 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Hiroshi Minegishi, Seoul 
 
TOKYO 00004598  005 OF 007 
 
 
 
Amid speculation that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will visit 
Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the day marking the end of World War II, 
South Korean Prime Minister Han Myeong Sook said yesterday: "The 
prime minister's Yasukuni visits have undermined future-oriented 
relations between South Korea and Japan." He thus tried to 
discourage Koizumi from visiting the shrine on that day. He added 
that if Koizumi visits the shrine, "The South Korean government will 
lodge a strong protest," according to the Yonhap News Agency. 
 
7) LDP's Kato calls on Prime Minister Koizumi to refrain from 
visiting Yasukuni Shrine 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President Taku Yamasaki 
said yesterday on a TBS program: "I think (the prime minister) will 
pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine (on Aug. 15) in order to keep his 
campaign pledge." Former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato, 
appearing on a Fuji TV program, called on Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi to cancel his planned visit to Yasukuni (on Aug. 15), 
stating, "Although the prime minister says his visit is a matter of 
the heart, he should consider it from diplomatic, domestic and 
historical viewpoints." 
 
8) Abe announces candidacy for LDP presidency to father at family 
grave 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe yesterday announced his candidacy for 
the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election in September to 
his father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, at the family 
grave in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Abe, accompanied by his 
wife Akie, placed his hands together in prayer before his father's 
tomb. Later, he told reporters: "I am now in a position of being 
expected by many people as a prime ministerial contender. I am 
determined to brace myself and make efforts to tidily perform duties 
for the sake of the nation." 
 
Speaking before about 100 residents, Abe said: "In the memorial 
service held by the community for my father 15 years ago, children 
sang the school song Furusato or hometown. In this song, there are 
these lyrics: "I will return to my hometown sometime after 
accomplishing my aim." With this feeling, I would like to do my 
best." 
 
9) Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe intends to include constitutional 
revision in manifesto for LDP presidential race 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe will release a manifesto for the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election on Sep. 1. It 
was learned yesterday that his manifesto will include revising the 
Constitution. The specific wording has yet to be determined. 
However, Abe intends to have his manifesto mention the LDP's stance 
and the need for legal consolidation for constitutional revision, 
based on the fact that enacting an independent constitution has been 
 
TOKYO 00004598  006 OF 007 
 
 
the LDP's policy since its formation. With Abe, the front-runner in 
the race to replace Koizumi, coming up with a stance favoring 
constitutional revision, it will likely become a campaign issue. 
 
Since he was elected in 1993 for the first time, Abe's political 
conviction has been to establish an independent constitution. When 
the LDP drafted a new constitution, he spearheaded the work as 
acting chairman of the preamble sub-committee of the drafting 
committee. 
 
10) LDP's Yamasaki, Kato to support Tanigaki for LDP presidency 
 
NIHION KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
The expectation is that Taku Yamasaki, head of a Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) faction, and Koichi Kato, who belongs to no faction, 
will back Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki in the LDP presidential 
election. Yamasaki and Kato failed to field a candidate from the 
anti-Koizumi forces after Yasuo Fukuda announced he would not run in 
the race. The two veteran lawmakers have determined that Tanigaki, 
who has pledged that he will refrain from visiting Yasukuni Shrine, 
is their best choice for the next LDP president. 
 
In the form of responding to questions from reporters in his home 
constituency of Fukuoka Prefecture, Yamasaki formally announced that 
he would not run for the presidency. He said of Tanigaki: "I have a 
good feeling toward him." 
 
Kato, who headed the predecessor of the Tanigaki faction, has said, 
"Mr. Tanigaki is a former associate, and his views are similar to 
mine." 
 
11) Former Prime Minister Mori: Nakagawa, Koga, Kyuma, Nukaga would 
be suitable persons to become next cabinet secretary 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Appearing on a TV Asahi program on Aug. 13, former Prime Minister 
Yoshiro Mori, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) member, revealed his 
prediction about the lineup of the next cabinet on the premise of 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe becoming the next prime 
minister. 
 
As suitable persons to serve as the next secretary general, who will 
take charge of the next summer's House of Councillors election, Mori 
mentioned the names of LDP policy chief Hidenao Nakagawa, former 
Secretary General Makoto Koga, General Council Chairman Fumio Kyuma, 
 
SIPDIS 
and Defense Agency chief Fukushiro Nukaga. Mori said, "A person who 
can talk frankly with Upper House LDP Chairman Mikio Aoki and 
Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama is appropriate." 
 
SIPDIS 
 
12) Takebe, Fuyushiba off for Australia, Cambodia and Vietnam 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe and 
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, secretary general of the LDP's coalition partner 
New Komeito, left last night for a trip to Australia, Cambodia and 
Vietnam. In Australia, the two ruling party secretaries general are 
 
TOKYO 00004598  007 OF 007 
 
 
expected to meet with Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign 
Minister Alexander Downer. They will exchange views with the 
Australian leaders in an attempt to have Pyongyang return to the 
six-party talks at an early time. 
 
13) METI quoting reply from Chinese government: China has yet to 
start production in Chunxiao gas field 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
August 15, 2006 
 
Takuya Sumikawa from an Asahi Shimbun helicopter 
 
China is preparing to develop the Chunxiao gas field near the 
Japan-China median line in the East China Sea. China National 
Offshore Oil Corp. indicated the other day that China has already 
started production, but seen from the above, there are no signs of 
production as of now. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 
(METI) said yesterday it has obtained through diplomatic channels a 
reply from the Chinese government saying that China has yet to start 
production. 
 
In the Chunxiao gas field, situated about 400 kilometers northwest 
of the mainland of Okinawa, the construction of an offshore rig is 
considered to have already been completed, but no flame atop the rig 
was visible. 
 
But exploitation work has already started on the Duanqiao gas field, 
located about 18 kilometers north-northeast of Chunxiao, with a 
Chinese flag fluttering atop a rig and an orange flame visible. 
 
SCHIEFFER