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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004948 
 
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 08/30/06 
 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) Foreign Ministry's opinion poll: 63% of Americans see relations 
with Japan as "good" 
 
5) Prime Minister Koizumi in Uzbekistan urges democratization 
 
6) Russians to release two Japanese crewmen today, but keep fishing 
boat captain in custody 
 
Foreign Ministry's (MOFA) programs: 
7) MOFA requests budget increase to add 312 to its personnel staff, 
build 10 new mission buildings overseas 
8) MOFA seeking 12% increase in official development assistance 
(ODA) budget for fiscal 2007 
 
9) LDP's Koichi Kato claims, "US-Japan relations have grown cold" 
 
Defense and security issues: 
10) Ready to intercept North Korean missiles, Navy's Aegis ship 
"Shiloh" arrives at Yokosuka Navy Base, its new homeport 
11) Stormy meeting of Futenma relocation council opens in Tokyo 
12) Futenma relocation council postpones hard issues until after the 
fall gubernatorial election in Okinawa Prefecture 
13) Government's budget request includes 1.2 billion yen to fight 
cyber-terrorism 
 
Political agenda: 
14) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) objects to decision to hold 
special Diet session on Sept. 22 
15) Campaign-boosting party for Shinzo Abe attracts 38 freshmen 
lawmakers 
16) Abe proxy to offer prayers at Iwate shrine for candidate's 
success in election 
17) Right-wing boss arrested for torching Koichi Kato's house and 
office 
 
18) Zenshoku restaurant chain starts public relations campaign to 
boost US beef menu 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Companies to pay total of 7 billion yen annually to asbestos 
victims 
 
Mainichi and Nihon Keizai: 
Aeon to purchase Marubeni's 10% stake in Daiei to form tie-up 
 
Yomiuri: 
Oji bid for Hokuetsu fails 
 
Sankei: 
US decided not to ask for Japan's financial assistance for Iraq war 
three months before going to war 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Police issue arrest warrant for 19-year-old classmate in slaying of 
 
TOKYO 00004948  002 OF 010 
 
 
Yamaguchi technical college student 
 
Akahata: 
88-year-old woman on welfare unable to attend brother's funeral 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Information disclosure essential for improving product safety 
(2) Greater awareness necessary to eliminate drunk driving 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Paloma ordered to recall products: Consumer safety must come 
first 
(2) Giving thought to Koizumi era: Reform not yet complete 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Japan must rebuild resource diplomacy 
(2) Increase product safety based on Paloma's lesson 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Oji's failure will not stop corporate restructuring trend 
(2) Information disclosure essential to safe products 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Ozawa's candidacy: Policy debate essential 
(2) Punishing Social Insurance Agency staffers not enough 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Special interest rates will not eliminate gray zone 
(2) New developments will follow Oji's failed bid 
 
Akahata: 
Abe's plan goes against Constitution and global trends 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 29 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
August 30 
 
Morning 
Left the Rixos President Hotel in Astana, Kazakhstan. Offered 
flowers and planted a tree at the national memorial park. Darted 
from Astana International Airport on government plane. 
 
Noon 
Arrived at Tashkent Airport Uzbekistan. 
 
Afternoon 
Held informal meeting with accompanying reporters at 
Intercontinental Hotel in Tashkent. 
 
Evening 
Photo session. Welcoming party. Meeting with President Karimov. 
Signing ceremony for joint statement. Press conference. 
 
Night 
Dinner party hosted by the president at the palace. 
 
4) MOFA poll in US: Record 63% see ties with Japan as good 
 
TOKYO 00004948  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday released findings from its 
recent public opinion survey conducted in the United States. In the 
survey, respondents were asked if they thought Japan-US relations 
were in good shape. In response to this question, "yes" accounted 
for 63% among the general public and 85% among experts, both marking 
an all-time high. Respondents were also asked to pick America's most 
important partner in Asia, and Japan stayed at the top. However, 
China closed the gap. 
 
Asked if they think Japan is a reliable friend, "yes" accounted for 
69% among the general public and an all-time high of 91% among 
experts. Those thinking Japan and the United States share values 
accounted for 78% among the general public and 96% among experts. 
The figures were as high as those in last year's survey. 
 
In addition, the Japan-US Security Treaty was also highly 
appreciated. Respondents were asked if they thought the security 
pact has contributed to peace and stability in Japan and the Far 
East. In response, "yes" accounted for 71% among the general public 
and 82% among experts. 
 
Respondents were further asked to name the country that is the most 
important partner of the United States in Asia. Japan topped all 
other countries at 45% among the general public and 47% among 
experts. However, both figures were slightly down from last year. 
China stood at 33% among the general public, up 7 percentage points, 
and 43% among experts, up 5 points. China closed in on Japan among 
experts in particular. 
 
MOFA believes this reflects the rise of China and its rapid economic 
growth. 
 
The survey has been conducted almost every year since 1960. This 
year's survey was carried out over the telephone by a US 
private-sector pollster from February through March. For the survey, 
a total of 1,500 persons were chosen from among US citizens aged 18 
and over and another total of 254 from among experts. 
 
5) Koizumi in summit urges Uzbekistan to promote democratization, 
agrees to cooperate in developing uranium mines 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
Makoto Miyazaki, Tashkent 
 
In a meeting with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, 
the capital of Uzbekistan, on the evening of Aug. 29, Prime Minister 
Koizumi urged that nation to pursue democratization and improve the 
human rights situation. The two leaders agreed to cooperate in 
developing natural resources, including natural uranium. 
 
The two leaders issued a joint statement stressing the need for 
closer cooperation in economic and environmental areas. 
 
Last May, many citizens were killed when the government put down 
riots in Uzbekistan, drawing criticism from the United States and 
European countries. 
 
TOKYO 00004948  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi told Karimov: "Uzbekistan should step up 
efforts to promote democratization, protect human rights, and to 
achieve an economy based on market principles. Enriching people's 
lives through such efforts will contribute to preventing radicalism 
from spreading across the nation and to bringing about stability." 
Karimov replied: "We will continue to pursue democratization and a 
market economy." 
 
On the development of uranium mines, both agreed to promote the 
exchange of information at the public and private levels. They also 
affirmed the need to steadily implement the action program on 
measures against terrorism and narcotics agreed on in the foreign 
ministerial meeting of Japan and Central Asian countries this June. 
 
The president expressed his support for Japan's bid for a permanent 
seat on the United Nations Security Council. 
 
6) Russia to release two crewmembers caught in shooting incident 
today 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
Toru Kaneko, Moscow 
 
The Russian Foreign Ministry notified to the Japanese Embassy in 
Moscow at noon on Aug. 29, local time, that it was ready to release 
two crewmembers on the 30th. The two were captured in the recent 
incident in which a Russian Border Coast Guard patrol vessel fired 
on the Japanese fishing boat Kisshin Maru No. 31 in waters near the 
northern territories. 
 
The two are Akiyoshi Kawamura, 29, and Haruki Kamiya, 25. Captain 
Noboru Sakashita, 59, will not be released with them, since he will 
be indicted in court in the Southern Kurile District on Kunashiri 
Island for border violation and poaching. The seized boat is also 
unlikely to be returned this time. 
 
According to Russian government sources, coordination is underway on 
a plan for Russia to hand Kawamura and Kamiya over to a fisheries 
patrol boat of the Hokkaido government from a Russian patrol boat on 
the sea in the Nemuro Strait, located between Hokkaido and 
Kunashiri, around noon on Aug. 30, local time. Foreign Ministry 
officials will also board the fisheries patrol boat. 
 
The Japanese government will continue to ask the Russian government 
to release the captain and return the ship. 
 
In the incident that took place on the morning of Aug. 16, another 
crewman, Mitsuhiro Morita, 35, was shot and killed. 
 
7) MOFA requests increase in personnel by 312, new construction of 
overseas diplomatic establishments 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday firmed up the 
specifics of its general-account budget requests for fiscal 2007. 
With the aim of strengthening Japan's diplomacy, it has decided to 
ask for the new construction of 10 diplomatic missions in such 
 
TOKYO 00004948  005 OF 010 
 
 
countries as Lithuania, Malawi, and Botswana and an increase in the 
number of its personnel. Following the suicide of an official at the 
Consulate General in Shanghai, 904 million yen, an increase of 62% 
over the previous year, has been appropriated to strengthen 
intelligence and defense. For official development assistance (ODA), 
530.5 billion yen, up 12%, has been earmarked. MOFA's 
general-account budget requests total 764.9 billion yen, up 10.7% 
from the previous year. 
 
Backed by the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) special committee to 
strengthen diplomacy (chaired by former Prime Minister Yoshiro 
Mori), launched on August 8, MOFA has characterized the fiscal 2007 
budget as the first step toward realizing such targets as boosting 
ministry personnel by 2,000 over the next 10 years and increasing 
the number of embassies from the current 117 to more than 150. 
 
However, in compliance with the plan to streamline the number of 
national public servants, adopted by the government at a cabinet 
meeting last October, MOFA has to cut approximately 250 officials 
over the next four years. In general-account appropriation requests, 
it will seek an increase of 312, while slashing 280 for 
streamlining. Chances are that the net increase in the number of 
MOFA officials will be no more than around 30. 
 
8) Fiscal 2007 budget: MOFA makes bullish request of 12% increase in 
ODA; New construction of 10 diplomatic missions abroad also 
requested 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Almost Full) 
August 30) 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday decided to set 
appropriations for official development assistance (ODA) at 
approximately 530 billion yen, up 12.1% from the current year's 
level, in its general-account budget request for the fiscal 2007 
budget. It will also seek money for the construction of 10 new 
mission facilities abroad. MOFA is visibly taking a bullish stance 
under the rubric of promoting strategic diplomacy. However, it is 
unclear to what extent its requests will be met under the 
government's austere fiscal policy. The Defense Agency (JDA) also 
intends to increase its budget request in missile defense-related 
areas. 
 
MOFA will brief the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) on its 
general-account budget requests at today's joint meeting of the 
LDP's foreign affairs-related divisions. Its requests total 764.9 
billion yen, up 10.7% from this year's level. The ODA budget (in 
general account terms), which commands approximately 70% of MOFA's 
budget appropriation requests, has decreased for the sixth 
consecutive year since the fiscal 2001 budget. MOFA, however, will 
seek a substantive boost in order to strengthen Asia diplomacy. 
 
To strengthen its foreign missions, MOFA will ask for approximately 
25.6 billion yen to be used mainly to increase the fixed number of 
diplomats by 312, establish new consulates general in Gingdao, 
China, and Bangarole, India, and strengthen MOFA's intelligence 
protection system. 
 
Regarding ODA policy, the government in May established the Overseas 
Economic Cooperation Council (chaired by Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi) at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). The 
panel, under the leadership of Koizumi, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
 
TOKYO 00004948  006 OF 010 
 
 
Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu 
Tanigaki, has been in charge of mapping out a system of strategic 
planning. Abe, the front-runner in the LDP presidential race who 
attaches importance to foreign and security affairs, appear to be 
behind MOFA's bullish stance. 
 
National defense-related divisions of the LDP at yesterday's joint 
meeting authorized JDA's general-account budget requests totaling 
approximately 4.86 trillion yen (up 1.5% from the current year). 
Within that framework, the appropriation request for 
missile-defense-related areas were increased 50%, based on 
consideration being given to the North Korean missile launches in 
May. There was general understanding of such an increase, with one 
lawmaker noting, "The public is concerned about the imminent threat 
from North Korean missiles. 
 
9) LDP's Kato says, "Japan-US relationship may cool" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 30, 3006 
 
Koichi Kato, former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP), delivered a speech yesterday at the Foreign 
Correspondents' Club of Japan. In it, he pointed out the possibility 
of Japan-US relations cooling after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 
steps down from office. He stated, "President Bush might change his 
stance toward Japan after Prime Minister Koizumi leaves office." 
 
Kato criticized the Koizumi government's economic policy, saying, 
"Placing much emphasis on the market economy, the government gave 
little consideration to communities and people's livelihoods." 
 
10) Shiloh arrives in Yokosuka to counter North Korean missiles 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The US Navy's Aegis-equipped cruiser USS Shiloh arrived yesterday at 
the US naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. 
 
The 9,950-ton, 172.8-meter-long cruiser carrying 360 crewmembers is 
loaded with sea-based Standard Missile-3 interceptor missiles 
capable of shooting down North Korean Rodong mid-range ballistic 
missiles. 
 
The USS Mustin, a US Navy destroyer equipped with an advanced Aegis 
ballistic missile guidance system, and other warships are already 
deployed at the Yokosuka base. With the deployment of the Shiloh, 
the missile defense setup planned by the US administration is now 
almost fully operational. 
 
11) Gov't, Okinawa officials start talks over Futenma in a tempest 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The government yesterday launched consultations with Okinawa's 
prefectural and municipal governments over a plan to relocate the US 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa 
Prefecture, to the island prefecture's northern coastal city of 
Nago. However, Okinawa prefectural and municipal government 
officials previously had decided to skip the first meeting of the 
 
TOKYO 00004948  007 OF 010 
 
 
consultative body as they were discontent with the central 
government's reluctance about Okinawa's request to continue 
state-sponsored economic development programs for the island 
prefecture's northern districts in return for cooperating on the 
airfield's relocation. 
 
"We will not directly link northern development and base 
relocation." With this, State Minister for Okinawa Issues Yuriko 
Koike persuaded Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine yesterday morning over 
the telephone to attend the meeting. Inamine changed his mind as he 
confirmed that view from Koike. However, such a view cannot be 
called a positive commitment of the government. 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga stressed in the 
meeting that the government would promote economic development along 
with Futenma relocation. Meanwhile, Koike also stated before the 
House of Representatives Special Committee on Okinawa Issues and 
Northern Territories in its meeting yesterday afternoon that the 
government would steadily implement economic development programs 
while facilitating consultations over Futenma relocation. Yet, the 
opposition bench raised a question about her statement. 
 
Okinawa had asked Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe to sit on the 
consultative body in expectation for a political decision. However, 
Jinen Nagase, one of Abe's deputies, attended the meeting. "It's 
appropriate that cabinet ministers concerned handle specific 
matters," Abe said in a press conference. Abe added, "I haven't 
heard that Okinawa are troubled." With this, Abe distanced himself 
from the Okinawa issue. 
 
12) Futenma talks kick off, but issue sidestepped 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The Japanese government yesterday held the first meeting of its 
consultative body with Okinawa's prefectural and municipal 
governments over a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the island 
prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. The Okinawa prefectural 
government had once decided not to attend the meeting, but the 
prefectural government later changed its mind. The central 
government wants to expedite the planned relocation of Futenma 
airfield to the cape of Henoko in Nago. Meanwhile, Okinawa wants the 
central government to continue its economic development programs for 
the prefecture's northern districts. As it stands, Tokyo and Okinawa 
agreed to hold the first meeting of their consultative body. 
However, there is a gulf between Tokyo and Okinawa, with both Prime 
Minister Koizumi and Okinawa Gov. Inamine soon stepping down. The 
issue will likely be carried over to their respective successors. 
 
In May this year, the government made a cabinet decision to 
discontinue its policy-based package of economic development 
measures for Okinawa's northern districts. Okinawa asked the 
government to continue the economic package apart from its 
acceptance of the government's plan to build an alternative facility 
at Henoko, while the Defense Agency was linking Okinawa's acceptance 
of the government's plan to a new package of economic development 
measures. So Tokyo and Okinawa were squaring off with each other. 
 
Inamine and other Okinawa leaders came up to Tokyo on the evening of 
Aug. 28 and asked the government not to link economic development 
 
TOKYO 00004948  008 OF 010 
 
 
and Futenma relocation to Defense Agency Director General Nukaga's 
remarks. However, there was no answer from the government. Inamine 
therefore decided early yesterday morning to skip the meeting. 
 
After 8 am that morning, State Minister for Okinawa Issues Koike, 
who was at the prime minister's office, called Inamine. She told 
Inamine over the telephone that the government would not touch on 
Nukaga's earlier remarks that linked economic development and 
Futenma relocation. So Inamine made up his mind to attend the 
meeting. 
 
"I'd like to create an environment that will make it possible for us 
to carry out the relocation of Futenma airfield and the economic 
development of northern localities," Nukaga said in the meeting. 
Okinawa, which gives priority to economic development, and the 
Defense Agency, which wants to push ahead with Futenma relocation, 
took Nukaga's remarks there as "convenient" to them. 
 
Inamine and other Okinawa leaders are looking ahead into this 
November's gubernatorial election. "If we can only hold the first 
meeting, we'll do the rest after the gubernatorial election," said 
an Okinawa prefectural government official close to Inamine. This 
official also said, "If pave the way to talks with the government, 
we can hand over this issue to the new governor." 
 
13) Government to request 1.2 billion yen for cyberterrorism 
surveillance system 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The government decided yesterday to establish an anti-cyberattack 
office in the Cabinet Secretariat in fiscal 2007 to monitor all 
central government ministries and agencies around the clock to deal 
with cyberattacks. The government will request 1.21 billion yen for 
the system in its fiscal 2007 budgetary request. The government has 
strengthened measures against cyberterrorism in cooperation with the 
private sector, establishing the Information Security Center in the 
Cabinet Secretariat in April 2005 to prevent cyberattacks on central 
government agencies and data leakage. 
 
On the night of Aug. 27, the National Police Agency's website became 
inaccessible for three and a half hours after receiving a large 
volume of data. There seems to be no end to cyberattacks. A security 
information survey found that of all the government agencies, only 
the Fair Trade Commission's web server has taken necessary measures, 
such as steps to deal with cyberattacks at all times. Computer 
terminals at the 16 ministries and agencies were also found to be 
ill equipped. 
 
The emergency anti-cyberattack office, staffed with 20 experts, will 
be placed under the Information Security Center. They will monitor 
data leakage and site defacing around the clock. Once a cyberattack 
is detected, they will notify the relevant agency and offer advice 
to deal with the situation. 
 
14) Minshuto opposes convocation of extra Diet session on Sept. 22 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
The main opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
 
TOKYO 00004948  009 OF 010 
 
 
confirmed yesterday in an executive meeting that the party would 
oppose the plan to convene a special Diet session on Sept. 22. Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Kozo Watanabe criticized the government 
and ruling coalition, saying, 
 
"Minshuto will decide who we will elect as prime minister at the 
(extra Diet session) at the Sept. 25 party convention to elect our 
party's president. It is extremely regrettable to ignore the 
position of the largest opposition party." 
 
15) 38 freshman LDP lawmakers participate in pep rally for Abe 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
Likeminded first-time House of Representatives members of the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) held a pep rally for Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shinzo Abe at the Diet building. Of the 82freshman LDP 
 
SIPDIS 
lawmakers, 38 gathered and 13 sent their proxies. It has now clear 
that many of the so-called "Koizumi's children" support Abe. 
 
Tadayoshi Nagashima, who belongs to no faction, proposed the rally 
and it was planned, centering on new lawmakers belonging to the Mori 
faction. Those attended were 12 first-time lawmakers from the Mori 
faction; two each from the Tsushima, Niwa-Koga, and Ibuki factions; 
one from the Yamasaki faction, and three from the Nikai group; and 
16 lawmakers with no factional allegiance. No lawmakers and no 
proxies attended from the Komura and Tanigaki factions and the Kono 
group. 
 
Another group of new lawmakers belonging to no faction who are 
headed by Jiro Ono held a meeting yesterday, to discuss whether to 
support Abe. Ono's view was that the group should take a concerted 
action since the LDP mostly backs Abe now, but it failed to reach a 
consensus on Abe because following views were raised: 
 
"If we will support Mr. Abe like other factions, we will be viewed 
as a faction," said Hideki Makihara. "That is different from our 
original purpose," said Yukari Iijima. Toshio Ukishima has already 
submitted his withdrawal notice, objecting to the policy proposed by 
Ono and others. The group, therefore, has put off making a 
decision. 
 
Lawmakers, who raised objection to reaching a consensus on Abe, are 
not necessarily "anti-Abe," as seen in Makihara giving a speech at 
the pep rally. As it stands, many freshman lawmakers support Abe. 
 
16) Abe's younger brother prays for victory in LDP presidency at 
ancestral shrine in Iwate Prefecture 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 30, 3006 
 
An event will take place today at Iwa Shrine in Oshu City, Iwate 
Prefecture, to pray for a victory of Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo 
Abe in the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential 
race. Abe is known as a descendant of Abeno Muneto, a local ruling 
family in the Tohoku region in early 11th century. House of 
Councillors member Nobuo Kishi, Abe's younger brother, will attend 
the event to offer encouragement to him. 
 
Former defense chief Tokuichiro Tamazawa, a member of the Mori 
 
TOKYO 00004948  010 OF 010 
 
 
faction, who fails from Iwate Prefecture, will host the event. 
 
17) Senior member of rightwing group arrested for setting fire to 
Kato's home 
 
ASAHI (Page 35) (Excerpts) 
August 30, 2006 
 
Yamagata Prefectural Police yesterday arrested Tadashi Horigome, 65, 
on suspicion of arson and trespassing in connection with the fire at 
the home and office of former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary 
General Koichi Kato on the day marking the end of WWII. Horigome, a 
senior member of a rightwing group, was found in front of the house 
with stab wounds in his abdomen. He reportedly has admitted to the 
charges. 
 
Kato has made statements critical of Prime Minister Koizumi's visits 
to Yasukuni Shrine. The police are questioning Horigome, believing 
that there was some ideological motive behind the incident. 
 
The police have already searched two offices of the rightwing group 
and Horigome's home in Tokyo. It has also questioned others in 
connection with the case. The police now believe it is unlikely that 
the group was involved in the incident. 
 
18) Zenshoku president carries out public-relations campaign for US 
beef 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 8) (Full) 
August 30, 2006 
 
Zenshoku (located in Ibaraki City, Osaka), a restaurant chain, 
yesterday evening put dishes using US beef back on its menu at its 
57 outlets of the barbecue restaurant chain "Den" across the 
country. Customers were able to enjoy US beef after the long 
embargo. 
 
Zenshoku President Oishi held a press conference prior to opening 
the stores and stressed, "I went to the US myself and checked the 
safety of all beef we have purchased. I would not sell it if it were 
not safe." 
 
Four types of beef -- chucks, short ribs, outside skirts and boned 
ribs -- were served. Prices were set at almost the same level as 
those of Australian products - 390-550 yen per dish. US flags were 
put on dishes so that customers could distinguish the country of 
origin. 
 
As soon as the Hashiramoto store in Takatsuki City, Osaka opened at 
5:00 p.m., a number of customers visited it and ordered US beef 
dishes. A company employee (23) from the city was eating US beef 
with a smile: "It is soft and good. The inspection is strict. I 
trust the safety of US beef." US beef is being sold at Zenshoku 
restaurants in Osaka, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hyogo. 
 
DONOVAN