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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 004830 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/23/06 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, post-Koizumi race, 
Yasukuni homage, consumption tax, US beef 
 
(2) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, Yasukuni Shrine 
 
(3) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, Yasukuni Shrine 
 
(4) Discussing the 2006 LDP presidential election with Koichi Kato 
 
(5) DPJ's Okada restarts 
 
(6) Crime syndicate smuggles in M16, AK47, grenades to arm itself 
with military-level weapons 
 
(7) Russia fires at Japanese fishing boat in violation of secret 
accord with Japan on safe fishing operations 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, post-Koizumi race, 
Yasukuni homage, consumption tax, US beef 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 22, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in%age, rounded off.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Koizumi cabinet? 
 
Yes                                            42.8       (43.2) 
No                                             40.1       (40.4) 
Don't know (D/K) + Can't say which (CSW)       17.2       (16.4) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)                 40.0       (40.3) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)    16.5       (19.1) 
New Komeito (NK)                                3.8        (4.0) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)                  2.3        (2.8) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)       2.1        (1.7) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)      0.2        (0.2) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)         0.1        (0.1) 
New Party Daichi (NPD or Shinto Daichi)           0        (0.1) 
Other answers (O/A)                             0.7        (0.9) 
None                                           33.2       (28.5) 
D/K + Can't say (C/S)                           1.4        (2.5) 
 
Q: Who do you think is most appropriate for post-Koizumi 
leadership? 
 
Taro Aso                6.7        (5.6) 
Shinzo Abe             46.9       (45.6) 
Sadakazu Tanigaki       9.4        (9.3) 
O/A                     8.4       (11.2) 
None                   21.5        (---) 
D/K+C/S                 7.3       (15.8) 
 
Q: Who would you like to become the next LDP president? 
 
Taro Aso                2.9 
 
TOKYO 00004830  002 OF 013 
 
 
Shinzo Abe             75.6 
Sadakazu Tanigaki       1.7 
O/A                     2.0 
D/K+C/S                18.0 
 
Q: What do you think will be the primary point at issue in the 
post-Koizumi race? 
 
Foreign policy, national security            19.9       (18.8) 
Economic disparities                         13.3       (16.5) 
Economic policy                              11.6       (14.2) 
Consumption tax, other tax issues             9.6        (---) 
Administrative reforms                        6.4        (---) 
Pension, other social security systems       19.9       (25.0) 
Education, low birthrate                      5.2        (8.3) 
Yasukuni Shrine                               4.2        (---) 
O/A                                           4.7        (4.3) 
D/K+C/S                                       5.4        (3.3) 
 
Q: Which one do you think is appropriate for prime minister between 
Abe, who is said to be the most likely post-Koizumi candidate, and 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa? 
 
Abe           58.7       (58.1) 
Ozawa         25.2       (25.7) 
D/K+CSW       16.1       (16.3) 
 
Q: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi paid homage at Yasukuni Shrine 
on Aug. 15. Do you support it? 
 
Yes           41.4 
No            44.6 
D/K+CSW       14.1 
 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes") Why? Pick only one. 
 
Because he kept his word 
10.3 
Because he showed a resolute attitude to foreign countries 
23.8 
Because he mourned for war victims 
62.4 
Because I support the prime minister 
2.1 
D/K+C/S 
1.5 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no") Why? Pick only one. 
 
Because he was inconsiderate of foreign relations 
50.3 
Because Class-A war criminals are also enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine 
 
25.1 
Because the sitting prime minister should not pay homage at Yasukuni 
Shrine 
14.8 
Because I don't support the prime minister 
5.9 
D/K+C/S 
3.8 
 
 
TOKYO 00004830  003 OF 013 
 
 
Q: Do you think the next prime minister should pay homage at 
Yasukuni Shrine? 
 
Yes           26.9       (22.9) 
No            47.4       (57.0) 
D/K+CSW       25.7       (20.2) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Koizumi cabinet's policies over the past 
five years and a half? 
 
Foreign, security policies 
Yes           39.2 
No            43.3 
D/K+CSW       17.5 
 
Economic policies 
Yes           34.5 
No            48.8 
D/K+CSW       16.7 
 
Administrative, fiscal reforms 
Yes           39.5 
No            39.2 
D/K+CSW       21.3 
 
Social security policies 
Yes           16.5 
No            64.9 
D/K+CSW       18.6 
 
Political approach 
Yes           45.0 
No            36.6 
D/K+CSW       18.5 
 
Administration on the whole 
Yes           52.9 
No            36.0 
D/K+CSW       11.2 
 
Q: Do you think it would be unavoidable to raise the consumption tax 
for fiscal reconstruction and other purposes? 
 
Yes          57.8 
No           36.0 
D/K+CSW       6.3 
 
Q: Do you support the idea of using the consumption tax for social 
security? 
 
Yes           60.8 
No            27.4 
D/K+CSW       11.9 
 
Q: If the consumption tax were to be raised in the future, to what 
extent would it be acceptable? 
 
Up to 7%           36.7 
Up to 10%          39.1 
Up to 15%           4.7 
Over 15%            1.6 
Unacceptable       15.7 
D/K+C/S             2.3 
 
TOKYO 00004830  004 OF 013 
 
 
 
Q: The government has resumed US beef imports. Would you like to eat 
US beef? 
 
Yes                      16.1        (13.2) 
Will wait and see        19.6        (23.3) 
No                       62.1        (61.3) 
D/K+C/S                   2.3        (2.3) 
 
Q: Do you think you are one of the so-called unaffiliated voting 
population? 
 
Yes          58.2 
No           36.6 
D/K+CSW       5.3 
 
(Note) Parentheses denote the results of an FNN survey conducted 
July 29-30. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted by the Sankei Shimbun 
and Fuji News Network (FNN) on Aug. 19-20 over the telephone on a 
computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, a 
total of 2,000 persons were sampled from among males and females, 
aged 20 and over, across the nation. 
 
(2) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, Yasukuni Shrine 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 7, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you support the Koizumi cabinet? 
 
                      T         P         M        F 
Yes                  45       (44)       44       46 
No                   37       (40)       39       35 
Not interested       16       (15)       16       17 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the above question) Why? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 
 
12       (12)       14       11 
Because something can be expected of Prime Minister Koizumi's 
leadership 
29       (27)       27       30 
Because new policy measures can be expected 
12       (16)       8       14 
Because the nature of politics is likely to change 
45       (41)       49       42 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 
 
10       (8)       11       9 
Because the prime minister compromises too much with the ruling 
parties 
15       (15)       18       13 
 
TOKYO 00004830  005 OF 013 
 
 
Because I can't feel there is an economic recovery 
55       (57)       51       58 
Because the prime minister is reluctant to take action against 
political scandals 
11       (12)       11       12 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
32       (31)       33       31 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
17       (19)       20       15 
New Komeito (NK) 
5       (4)       5       5 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 
4       (3)       4       3 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 
2       (2)       2       3 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 
0       (0)       0       -- 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 
--       (--)       --       -- 
Other parties 
0       (1)       0       1 
None 
37       (38)       34       40 
 
Q: Prime Minister Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the 
anniversary of the end of World War II. Do you support this? 
 
           T       P       M        F 
Yes       50              49       50 
No        46              48       45 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes") Why? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
Because he fulfilled his public pledge when he came into office as 
prime minister 
13              12       14 
The prime minister's shrine visit is needed to mourn the war dead 
 
54              49       58 
Because he didn't cave in to pressure from China and South Korea 
 
31              37       27 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no") Why? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
He was inconsiderate of China and South Korea 
42              39       44 
He went against the constitutional separation of religion and state 
 
15              18       13 
It's inappropriate for the prime minister to visit the shrine where 
Class-A war criminals are enshrined 
39              38       39 
 
Q: Would you like the next prime minister to visit Yasukuni Shrine 
as well? 
 
 
TOKYO 00004830  006 OF 013 
 
 
           T         P         M        F 
Yes       42       (33)       41       43 
No        47       (54)       51       45 
 
Q: Do you support the idea of unenshrining Class-A war criminals 
from Yasukuni to separate them from the war dead enshrined there? 
 
           T         P         M        F 
Yes       62       (63)       63       61 
No        24       (23)       27       22 
 
Q: Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine on April 15 
this year. Do you support this? 
 
           T       P       M        F 
Yes       43              41       45 
No        47              50       45 
 
(Note) Figures shown in%age, rounded off. "0" indicates that the 
figure was below 0.5%. "--" denotes that no respondents answered. 
"No answer" omitted. Parentheses denote the results of the last 
survey conducted July 22-23. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Aug. 15-16 over the 
telephone with the aim of calling a total of 1,000 voters across the 
nation on a computer-aided random digit sampling (RDS) basis. 
Answers were obtained from 1,051 persons. 
 
(3) Poll on Koizumi cabinet, political parties, Yasukuni Shrine 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 17, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in%age. Parentheses denote the results of the last 
survey conducted July 7-8.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Koizumi cabinet? 
 
Yes                                      49.2       (46.8) 
No                                       39.5       (41.8) 
Don't know (D/K) + no answer (N/A)       11.3       (11.4) 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the previous question) 
What's the primary reason for your approval of the Koizumi cabinet? 
Pick only one from among those listed below. 
 
The prime minister is trustworthy 
14.3       (10.7) 
Because it's a coalition cabinet of the Liberal Democratic Party and 
the New Komeito 
3.6       (3.1) 
The prime minister has leadership ability 
16.9       (18.1) 
Something can be expected of its economic policies 
4.5       (2.7) 
Something can be expected of its foreign policies 
1.6       (6.2) 
Something can be expected of its political reforms 
14.0       (10.9) 
Something can be expected of its tax reforms 
1.9       (1.9) 
Something can be expected of its administrative reforms 
 
TOKYO 00004830  007 OF 013 
 
 
8.5       (9.5) 
There's no other appropriate person (for prime minister) 
32.5       (33.9) 
Other answers (O/A) 
0.7       (1.2) 
D/K+N/A 
1.5       (1.8) 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the first question) What's 
the primary reason for your disapproval of the Koizumi cabinet? Pick 
only one from among those listed below. 
 
The prime minister is untrustworthy 
11.9       (10.5) 
Because it's a coalition cabinet of the Liberal Democratic Party and 
the New Komeito 
2.9       (4.1) 
The prime minister lacks leadership ability 
2.2       (3.3) 
Nothing can be expected of its economic policies 
27.6       (18.9) 
Nothing can be expected of its foreign policies 
16.4       (18.4) 
Nothing can be expected of its political reforms 
8.6       (9.0) 
Nothing can be expected of its tax reforms 
7.8       (13.5) 
Nothing can be expected of its administrative reforms 
9.1       (8.1) 
Don't like the prime minister's personal character 
11.1       (7.4) 
O/A 
0.9       (4.5) 
D/K+N/A 
1.5       (2.3) 
 
Q: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 
¶15. What do you think about his visit to Yasukuni Shrine this time? 
Pick only one. 
 
It's good                             51.5 
He shouldn't have visited there       41.8 
D/K+N/A                                6.7 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "it's good") Why? Pick only one. 
 
Because he pledged to visit there on Aug. 15 
7.7 
Because it's only natural that the prime minister console the 
spirits of the war dead 
34.0 
Because shrine visits should not be affected by foreign countries 
 
56.6 
O/A 
1.1 
D/K+N/A 
0.6 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "he shouldn't have visited there") 
Why? Pick only one. 
 
Because Class-A war criminals are enshrined there       26.4 
 
TOKYO 00004830  008 OF 013 
 
 
Because the prime minister's visits to the shrine are against the 
constitutional separation of state and religion       17.0 
Because the prime minister's visits to the shrine affect friendly 
relations with China, South Korea, and other countries       55.4 
O/A           0.9 
D/K+N/A       0.3 
 
Q: Do you think the next prime minister should visit Yasukuni 
Shrine? 
 
Yes            39.6 
No             44.9 
D/K+N/A        15.5 
 
Q: Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine in 
April this year. However, he has not admitted to his visit to the 
shrine, reasoning that the shrine has become a diplomatic and 
political issue. What do you think about this? Pick only one. 
 
If that's true, he should make it public       37.8 
He doesn't have to make it public              30.3 
Can't say which                                30.7 
D/K+N/A                                         1.2 
 
Q: Do you think it would be better to unenshrine World War II 
Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine? 
 
Yes           60.4 
No            28.1 
D/K+N/A       11.5 
 
Q: The late Emperor Showa (Hirohito) was displeased with the 
enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine, according 
to recently discovered notes. How much do you take it into 
consideration when thinking about the prime minister's visits to 
Yasukuni Shrine? Pick only one. 
 
Very much           16.1 
Somewhat            39.6 
Not very much       25.8 
Not at all          11.6 
D/K+N/A              6.9 
 
Q: Do you think the Liberal Democratic Party should focus on the 
issue of visiting Yasukuni Shrine in its upcoming presidential 
election? 
 
Yes          25.5 
No           67.5 
D/K+N/A       7.0 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)                 41.6       (42.7) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto)    22.8       (19.4) 
New Komeito (NK)                                3.0        (3.8) 
Japan Communist Party (JCP)                     2.7        (3.7) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto)       2.0        (2.6) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto)      0.2        (0.1) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)         ---        (0.1) 
Other political parties, groups                 ---        (---) 
None                                           25.2        26.3 
D/K+N/A                                         2.5        (1.3) 
 
TOKYO 00004830  009 OF 013 
 
 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted by Kyodo News Service 
over a period of two days, Aug. 15-16, on a random digit-dialing 
(RDD) basis. Among those randomly generated telephone numbers, those 
actually for household use with one or more eligible voters totaled 
1,473. Answers were obtained from 1,001 persons. 
 
(4) Discussing the 2006 LDP presidential election with Koichi Kato 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 22, 2006 
 
¶Q. On August 15, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited Yasukuni 
Shrine and your home and office were set on fire after you 
criticized the visit. 
 
¶A. I do not know whether the arson was committed by a group or an 
individual. Nevertheless, I think the incident happened in the midst 
of a recent mood of excessive nationalism. It has become difficult 
to make comments casually. However, I have no intention to change my 
stance. 
 
¶Q. Will you continue to voice your opinions? 
 
¶A. Yes. Although this incident happened, I think Yasukuni Shrine is 
a problem, so I will continue to express my thoughts. 
 
¶Q. How do you see the current situation in which Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shinzo Abe has overwhelming support in the LDP 
 
SIPDIS 
presidential election, even from the forces that have a different 
stance on Asia diplomacy. 
 
¶A. The LDP has kept its majority by gathering together wide-ranging 
opinions from across the spectrum. It is very much like the LDP to 
engage in active discussions that could divide public opinion. 
Therefore, I am concerned about the party leaning over to one side 
regarding policy matters and its impact on the future elections. 
 
¶Q. In the LDP, the atmosphere makes it difficult to be "anti-Abe," 
right? 
 
¶A. I think the LDP members are moving toward supporting Mr. Abe 
because they are concerned about the formation of the cabinet after 
the presidential election. Once the personnel appointments are over, 
I think the LDP members will hold discussions freely, as though they 
were released from some kind of spell. Depending on who becomes the 
secretary general, the LDP members could be treated 
 
SIPDIS 
disadvantageously when the party nominates candidates (like the time 
of postal election). Moreover, everyone fear somewhere in their 
heart that an assassin will be sent to their election districts. 
There are candidates who engage in policy debates even they knew 
they would lose in the election, but their supporters hold back. 
Moist firewood will not burn. 
 
¶Q. What is the question that should have been asked? 
 
¶A. The debate should have been about Asia diplomacy, as Japan's 
relations with China and South Korea have been particularly damaged 
by the Yasukuni issue. Mr. Koizumi's shrine visits are literary and 
intuitive, but Mr. Abe rejects the Tokyo Trials and is a stronger 
believer. The Tokyo Trials were directed by the US, so scholars can 
say what they wish, but the premier has to think about the impact of 
his comments on Japan-US relations. 
 
TOKYO 00004830  010 OF 013 
 
 
 
¶Q. How do you think Prime Minister Koizumi's six shrine visits have 
influenced Mr. Abe? 
 
¶A. Mr. Abe may not be able to step back from the behavior of Mr. 
Koizumi. Essentially, Mr. Abe's statements are stronger (than 
Koizumi's), so I am concerned. 
 
¶Q. How would you respond to Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who 
was once your comrade? 
 
¶A. We have similar views, so I would like him to do his best. 
However, in the first place, he must have the power to gather 
together 20 lawmaker signatures on his own. I think he can achieve 
that goal on his own, but I'll think about what I can do if he is 
just short of that number in the final stages. 
 
¶Q. What is your aim for forming a study group on Asia diplomacy with 
former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki? 
 
¶A. The debate on Asia diplomacy has suddenly lost momentum because 
of former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda's announcement that 
he would not run in the presidential race. I fully understand that 
Mr. Abe has the advantage. That is exactly why I think it is 
important for this country to form a group to discuss Asia diplomacy 
after the presidential election. 
 
(5) DPJ's Okada restarts 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 22, 2006 
 
Katsuya Okada, who suffered a crushing defeat in the general 
election that he campaigned for as the Minshuto (DPJ = Democratic 
Party of Japan) President, has been making "pilgrimages" to local 
regions to "recharge his batteries."  Now, he restarted his 
activities, and he has been gaining attention inside the Minshuto. 
On 18 August, he began posting on his website a serial article 
entitled, "Five years with Koizumi politics."  The articles examine 
the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) politics through Diet debates. 
He will launch today a Diet members' league on the promotion of 
nuclear disarmament, with a membership of approximately 40 Minshuto 
lawmakers. He will chair the league.  As an opposition party member, 
he apparently plans to confront the government and ruling parties 
based on policy issues. 
 
After his resignation from the party president's post, Okada has 
visited about 20 prefectures.  He visited the hometowns of former 
Diet members who lost their seats in the last general election and 
vowed there to make a come back.  He also visited the hometowns of 
junior members to give advice on elections, such as guidance on 
street-corner speechmaking. 
 
In the serial article "Five years with Koizumi politics," he 
discusses policy issues that will be taken over by the post-Koizumi 
administration. 
 
Historical perceptions and Yasukuni Shrine issue are the themes of 
the first installment of articles.  He approves to a certain degree 
the Prime Minister Koizumi's recognition of Class-A war criminals as 
war criminals during Diet deliberations.  On the other hand, he is 
hard on the candidates who would like to succeed Koizumi. 
Commenting on Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe and Foreign Minister Aso, 
 
TOKYO 00004830  011 OF 013 
 
 
Okada said: "I sensed they are both sympathetic toward the Class-A 
criminals."  Regarding Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, who has 
kept his comments in reserve, (Okada says): "He had an opportunity 
to talk about his viewpoint that is different from the other two 
(Abe and Aso).  I was a little disappointed." 
 
The series of article will be posted about 10 times until the day of 
the LDP presidential election.  It is said the articles in their 
entirety will amount to the size of a book. 
 
Ten DPJ members crossing generations and groups, including Upper 
House member Satsuki Eda, added their names to the list of promoters 
for the Diet members' league on promotion of nuclear disarmament. 
"While there are nuclear issues of North Korea and Iran, and an 
increasing danger of nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists, the 
government lacks enthusiasm for nuclear disarmament policies."  His 
goal is to conduct a survey and research on his own.  Moreover, 
Okada has been holding study groups with junior members to learn 
about the political reform after the "1955 system."  He also has 
launched a Diet members' league supporting NGOs that provide 
overseas aid. 
 
Nonetheless, since Okada strongly claims that the factions are 
unnecessary, not many view that he is making a "move to create an 
Okada faction."  He has been emphasizing his do-things-my-own-way 
attitude to those around him, saying "I want to recharge my 
batteries to last the next five years." 
 
(6) Crime syndicate smuggles in M16, AK47, grenades to arm itself 
with military-level weapons 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full) 
August 23, 2006 
 
 
(Military weapons confiscated by police in a raid on a gang 
associated with the Inagawa-kai) 
 
A number of persons, including a senior member of the Matsuda-gumi 
group affiliated with the Inagawa-kai crime syndicate, have been 
arrested on suspicion of smuggling arms into Japan. The confiscated 
weapons have been found out to be extremely destructive, according 
to the Metropolitan Police Department Organized Crime Control Bureau 
4th Division, the Honjo Police Station, and other sources. The MPD 
is highly alarmed at crime syndicates arming themselves with 
"military-level weapons" that might cause, if used on streets, 
collateral damage against ordinary citizens. "I wonder how many 
weapons the crime syndicates have; they may be hiding some more," an 
expert said warily. 
 
The confiscated weapons included 23 handguns, tunnel explosives, a 
US-made M16 automatic rifle, its grenade launcher, three grenades, 
and an AK47 automatic rifle. The MPD believes the automatic rifles 
came from persons connected with the Philippine military and other 
sources. 
 
The cylindrical launcher that goes beneath the barrel must be loaded 
each time with a 4-centimeter-diameter grenade. 
 
According to military commentator Kensuke Ebata, this type of 
equipment has been around since the Vietnam War and was used widely 
during the Iraq war. The automatic rifles, which have a range of 50 
to 200 meters, are often used to target unarmored vehicles and 
 
TOKYO 00004830  012 OF 013 
 
 
trucks and foot solders and to destroy buildings to make 
breakthroughs. 
 
Atsushi Mizoguchi, a nonfiction writer knowledgeable about crime 
syndicates, noted: 
 
"A number of organized crime groups experienced internal dissension 
recently, and I think they are arming themselves with heavy arms in 
order to have peace of mind. Firearms from the unstable Middle East 
and other parts of the world may have become readily available, as 
their prices have collapsed." 
 
(7) Russia fires at Japanese fishing boat in violation of secret 
accord with Japan on safe fishing operations 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
August 22, 2006 
 
The governments of Japan and Russia signed an accord to ensure safe 
fishing operations in 2000. But the Russian Coast Border Guard 
disregarded this agreement and fired on a Japanese fishing boat in 
waters off Nemuro, Hokkaido. In the agreement, Japan promised to 
cooperate with Russia on its efforts to crack down on illegal 
fishing operations. 
 
Proposal from Russia 
 
Just after the Soviet Union collapsed, Russian fishing boats were 
often spotted illegally fishing in Russian-claimed waters. Upset by 
the situation, the Russian government asked Japan to cooperate with 
its crackdown operations. 
 
Japan has not prepared domestic law to deal with unidentified ships 
intruding into its territorial waters, unlike Russia, South Korea, 
and China. 
 
Under such a situation, it was impossible for Russian vessels to 
take action toward a Russian poaching boat that intruded into 
Japanese territorial waters. 
 
The crabs and fish illegally caught by Russian fishing boats in 
Russian-claimed waters are brought into Japan. In order also to 
protect Japanese fishing boats from being shot at and seized by 
Russian patrol boats, the Japanese government asked the Russian 
government to promise not to open fire at Japanese boats in exchange 
for its cooperation for Russian crackdown efforts. When President 
Vladimir Putin visited Japan in 2000, both sides agreed that the 
Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and Russian border guards would not shoot at 
the other side's boats when such boats are captured. 
 
To implement this agreement, both sides signed a memorandum. They 
reportedly decided not to sign an official document, with the aim of 
avoiding mutual intervention in the other side's domestic affairs. 
 
Agreement observed 
 
After the agreement was signed, Russia seized more than 20 Japanese 
vessels up until the recent shooting incident, but there were no 
shooting incidents reported during this period, although there were 
cases involving poaching boats from countries other than Japan. This 
means that Russia had abided by the agreement. 
 
Japan also cooperated with Russia's crackdown efforts, with JCG 
 
TOKYO 00004830  013 OF 013 
 
 
patrol boats sending off a Russian boat that intruded into Japanese 
territorial waters after fleeing from Russian patrol boats' pursuit 
and informing Russian authorities of its location. 
 
Over the decade up until 2004, Russia had seized 42 Japanese fishing 
boats, while Japan had captured 7 Russian boats. 
 
Black market for crabs 
 
Crabs are not popular in Russia, so there had been few crabbers. 
After learning that crabs fetch a good price in Japan, however, 
Russian poaching boats began to appear more than 10 years ago. 
 
In the case of Russian poaching boats, they deliver the marine 
products they catch directly to Japanese boats at sea. Dissatisfied 
with being unable to collect taxes from the Russian poaching boats, 
Russian authorities decided to enforce more stringent regulations. 
 
In the days of the former Soviet Union, Japanese fishermen were 
allowed to catch crabs in the sea near the northern territories in 
return for providing the former Soviet Union with defense-related 
articles in Japanese newspapers, photos of JCB patrol boats, and 
electric appliances. Some of them are now brokers who illegally 
import crabs captured by Russian poachers or are still continuing 
illegally fishing in the Russian-claimed waters. Informed sources 
said that the marine products taken by such poaching boats are sold 
on the black market through brokers, with the proceeds going to 
gangsters. 
 
In connection with the recent shooting, the Russian government has 
claimed that the Japanese government has not taken satisfactory 
measures to prevent illegal fishing. Some observers view the 
incident as part of Russia's efforts to secure foreign currency by 
tightening anti-poaching measures. 
 
As part of efforts to prevent a similar incident, the Japanese 
government is likely to discuss how to treat the agreement on safe 
fishing operations with the Russian side through unofficial routes. 
 
DONOVAN