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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 005033 
 
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 09/05/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Visit of Assistant Secretary Hill: 
4) Assistant Secretary Hill arrives in Japan to discuss six-party 
talks with North Korea 
5) Assistant Secretary Hills meets with MOFA Asia-Pacific Bureau 
Director General Sasae 
6) Hill, Sasae in Tokyo talks urge North Korea to constrain itself 
on nuclear program 
 
Asian affairs: 
7) Abe, as prime minister, may have summit meetings with ROK, 
Chinese leaders at APEC conference in November 
8) No progress in first day of Japan, South Korea talks on EEZ issue 
 
9) Japanese Communist Party leader Shii visiting South Korea  a 
first for JCP official 
10) JDA chief, Canadian defense minister agree on need to resolve 
North Korea issue 
 
Defense issues: 
11) Miyazaki City accepts US aircraft training relocation to local 
base 
12) Raising JDA status to ministry will be a priority for "Abe 
Cabinet" in fall Diet session 
13) Abe decides to revise LDP draft Constitution to allow collective 
self-defense 
 
Political agenda: 
14) Faced with opposition party resistance, Prime Minister Koizumi 
not insisting that Sept. 22 be the opening date of the extra Diet 
session 
15) Abe when elected will give top priority in this fall's Diet to 
passage of education reform bill 
16) Abe willing to let some postal rebels back into the LDP 
17) LDP's Machimura appearing in TV backs Abe on Yasukuni Shrine 
visits 
18) Former LDP rebel Hiranuma may link to Ozawa's Minshuto to fight 
in the next general election 
19) Former LDP rebel Kamei may cooperate with Minshuto in next 
general election 
20) Ozawa visits US as part of grass-roots exchange 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Supporters of Fukushima governor arrested on suspicions of managing 
rigged bidding 
 
Mainichi & Yomiuri: 
Supreme Court rejects the paternity of a child born from frozen 
sperm 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Nippon Steel Corp. to expand business relationship with South 
Korea's POSCO 
 
TOKYO 00005033  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
Akahata: 
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare issues notice to resolve the 
disguised contract practice to each prefectural labor bureau and 
plans to impose administrative penalty 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Livedoor trial: Did Horie lead the scheme or was he merely a 
billboard? 
(2) Mentally disordered persons: True treatment toward them 
necessary instead of early discharge from hospital 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) First trial of Livedoor's ex-president Horie: Problems the 
market has faced should also be resolved 
(2) Kickback money scandal in Gifu Prefecture: Why has former Gov. 
Kajiwara not mentioned anything? 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Livedoor trial: What will Horie tell in face off with 
prosecutors? 
(2) Frozen sperm: Supreme Court's judgment points out the need for 
legislation for reproductive medical technology 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Japan should strategically engage in IMF reform 
(2) Livedoor trial: We expect for intensive trial 
 
Sankei: 
(1) First trial of Livedoor's ex-president Horie: Can he win by 
simply insisting he is totally not guilty? 
(2) Permanently closed railroad crossing should be resolved 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) LDP presidential election: We want to listen to visions about 
how to develop Japan 
(2) Truant junior high school students: Close communications with 
elementary school teachers are necessary 
 
Akahata: 
Budget request: It's strange to cut in social welfare budget but 
spend much money for US forces 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 4 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
10:58 
Met with LDP Secretary General Takebe at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei). 
 
11:42 
Met with the wife of Japanese Business Federation Vice Chairman 
Miki. 
 
12:00 
Met with General Insurance Association of Japan Chairman Ishihara. 
 
TOKYO 00005033  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
14:45 
Met with Vice Minister Uchida of the Cabinet Office and Decoration 
Bureau Director General Katsuno. 
 
15:00 
Met with Foreign Ministry Foreign Policy Bureau Kono. 
 
16:35 
Met with Sawai, chief of the Central Urban Area Revitalization 
Headquarters. Assistant Makino and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Saka were present. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
17:00 
Met with Japan Post Corp. President Ikuta. 
 
17:56 
Attended a seminar "Think Tank 2005, Japan" at the LDP 
Headquarters. 
 
18:38 
Had a haircut at a barber at Capital Tokyu Hotel. 
 
21:03 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
4) US Assistant Secretary of State Hill arrives in Japan to exchange 
views with Japanese leaders on six-party talks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Kenichiro Sasae 
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs late yesterday met with US 
Assistant Secretary of State Hill in Tokyo. The two leaders agreed 
to strongly work on North Korea to implement the United Nations 
Security Council resolution seeking a freeze on missile launches. 
They also confirmed that they would work together to prevent North 
Korea from nuclear testing and discussed additional sanction 
measures against North Korea. 
 
Hill, who will also visit China and South Korea starting tomorrow, 
told the press: "I have no fresh proposals. I don't have any 
intention to propose any rewards for North Korea if it returns to 
the (six-party) talks." 
 
5) Hill, Sasae discuss how to get North Korea return to six-party 
talks 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, chief delegate to the 
six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear issue, held talks with 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau Director-General 
Kenichiro Sasae, Japan's chief delegate, on Sept. 4 in Tokyo. The 
two discussed ways to prompt the North return to the six-party talks 
and the need to dissuade Pyongyang from taking provocative acts, 
such as launching another set of missiles. Touching on chances of 
the North conducting a nuclear test, Hill said ahead of his talks 
with Sasae: "North Korea must practice caution before resorting to a 
provocative act." 
 
TOKYO 00005033  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
6) Japanese, US officials urge North Korea to refrain from 
conducting nuclear test 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Kenichi Sasae, director general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs 
Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, and Assistant Secretary of State for 
East Asia and Pacific Affairs Christopher Hill, chief delegates from 
Japan and the US to the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear 
issues, on the evening of Sept. 4 met in Tokyo. The two agreed to 
work on Pyongyang to refrain from conducting a nuclear test -- there 
is information that that nation is preparing such a test, noting 
that the international community cannot accept an underground 
nuclear test by North Korea. Sasae and Hill also reassured their 
continued cooperation for an early and unconditional return of 
Pyongyang to the six-party talks and a settlement of the issue of 
Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents. 
 
After the meeting, Sasae told reporters, "Japan and the US will work 
on Pyongyang in concert not to launch missiles again and refrain 
from conducting a nuclear test, while cooperating with other 
participants of the six-party talks." 
 
7) 2006 LDP presidential election: Abe looking for ways to repair 
relations with China, ROK; summit meetings likely to occur in 
November 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Naoyuki Inukai 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe in his policy platform for the 
upcoming Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential election has 
mentioned the need to strengthen ties with China and South Korea. If 
he is elected as president, he would likely meet with the top 
leaders of China and South Korea on the sidelines of the 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting in Vietnam 
slated for November. An aide to Abe is looking for ways for Abe to 
visit China and South Korea by the end of the year, but Abe has not 
denied the possibility of visiting Yasukuni Shrine even after 
assuming the post of prime minister. So whether reciprocal visits 
will be resumed remains to be seen. 
 
"Relations between Japan and China and between Japan and South Korea 
are extremely important. I think it is necessary for both sides to 
make efforts in order to resume summit talks." Abe made this remark 
during a press conference on Sept. 1, when he formally declared his 
candidacy for the LDP presidential race and indicated his enthusiasm 
to improve relations with those two countries. On the question of 
whether he would visit Yasukuni Shrine, Abe has stated, "I will not 
mention whether I will visit it or not." Abe is apparently trying to 
handle the Yasukuni issue and summit talks with those two countries 
as two separate matters so that he can rebuild relations with them. 
 
Meanwhile, China has since the start of this year made clear its 
stance of moving to improve relations with Japan once Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi steps down. Even in its statement of protest 
against Koizumi's visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, China 
emphasized the need to bring the currently strained Japan-China 
 
TOKYO 00005033  005 OF 010 
 
 
relations back on a normal track. Expectations for Japan and China 
to improve their bilateral ties after Abe establishes his 
administration are thus growing. 
 
Recently, however, it was revealed that Abe had secretly visited 
Yasukuni Shrine this past April. He has not openly admitted making 
this visit, so China has not openly criticized such a visit by Abe, 
perhaps out of consideration for him. But South Korea has insisted 
Abe should declare he would not visit the shrine, citing is as a 
condition for that country to accept a summit meeting with Japan. A 
difference in attitude toward Japan between China and South Korea is 
thus emerging. 
 
8) Japan, South Korea make no headway in first day of EEZ talks 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Seoul, Hiroshi Minegishi 
 
Japan and South Korea began yesterday the 6th round of negotiations 
on the boundary of exclusive economic zones (EEZ). Since both sides 
did not change their claims over the ownership of the Takeshima/ 
Dokdo islets, the discussion went nowhere yesterday. The talks will 
be continued today, as well. 
 
9) JCP Chairman Shii during his planned visit to South Korea to 
demonstrate that his party is open 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chairperson Kazuo Shii 
will make a six-day trip to South Korea starting today in order to 
take part in the 4th International Conference of Asian Political 
Parties to be held in Seoul. This will be the first visit to that 
nation by a JCP leader. In order to expand the party strength, he 
also intends to demonstrate that the JCP is an open party, by 
bolstering the impression among domestic and foreign audiences that 
his party is attaching importance to Asia. 
 
Shii is expected to meet with pro-government Uri Party Chairman Kim, 
Grand National Party Floor Leader Kim, senior officials of the 
ruling and opposition parties and government officials. They will 
exchange views on the North Korean issue and the situation in East 
Asia. 
 
Shii also plans to visit Pakistan for the first time in the middle 
of this month and meet with Prime Minister Aziz and officials of the 
government, ruling and opposition parties. Since then Tetsuzo Fuwa 
(chairperson at the time) visited Southeast Asian nations, including 
Malaysia, in 1999, the JCP has been eager to develop relations with 
Islamic nations. 
 
The Central Committee chairperson has been exclusively responsible 
for party diplomacy, but some JCP members have credited Shii for 
having contributed to expanding exchanges with Pakistan. The JCP 
wants Shii to be place his policy imprint on party diplomacy through 
talks with key officials, including Aziz. 
 
10) Nukaga, Canadian defense minister agree on need to resolve North 
Korean missile issue 
 
TOKYO 00005033  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Defense Agency Director-General Fukushiro Nukaga held talks with 
visiting Canadian Defense Minister Gordon O'Connor at the Defense 
Ministry on Sept. 4 and reached an agreement to urge China to 
improve the transparency of its military capabilities. Touching on 
the ballistic missiles launched on July 5 by North Korea, Nukaga 
said: "North Korean missiles are a direct threat to Japan. We need 
to press the North to dismantle its nuclear and missile ambitions 
(through the six-party talks)." In response, O'Connor said, "We 
condemn the North's missile launch as it threatens peace." The two 
leaders thus agreed to continue to work on North Korea through the 
six-party talks and other venues. 
 
11) Miyazaki City to conditionally accept plan for US fighter 
training 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Miyazaki City, which is adjacent to the Air Self-Defense Force's 
Nyuutabaru Base (Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture), indicated 
yesterday that it would conditionally accept a plan for the transfer 
there of US fighter training. The plan is part of the ongoing 
realignment of US forces in Japan. Shintomi-cho, which hosts the 
base, as well as its neighbors - Seito City, Takanabe-cho, and 
Kijou-cho - have also indicated a willingness to accept the 
training. All five municipalities were initially opposed to the 
plan. 
 
12) Abe unveils a plan to enact bills to make conspiracy a crime a 
crime and to upgrade Defense Agency to ministry status in next 
extraordinary Diet session 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 4, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe in an LDP Tohoku bloc convention 
held in Morioka City on Sept. 3 announced a plan to enact three 
bills -- one is to amend the Basic Education Law, another is to 
amend the Organized Crime Punishment Law to make it a criminal 
offense to conspire to commit a crime even if it is never carried 
out, and the last is to upgrade the Defense Agency to ministry 
status -- in the next extraordinary Diet session in the fall. They 
have all been carried over from the previous ordinary Diet session. 
 
Abe said: "It is important to amend the Basic Education Law (in the 
upcoming extraordinary Diet session). There are also (bills) to 
upgrade the Defense Agency to ministry status and amend the criminal 
law (Organized Crime Punishment Law) to prevent terrorism." 
 
Touching on the plan to amend the Organized Crime Punishment Law, a 
domestic step required for ratifying the Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crime, adopted by the United Nations in 
2000, Abe said: "Britain was able to thwart a terrorist plot. Japan 
must improve its law as a responsible signatory of the treaty." 
 
13) Abe plans to review preamble to LDP-drafted constitution to 
allow government to exercise collective self-defense right 
 
 
TOKYO 00005033  007 OF 010 
 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
September 4, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has decided to draft a new set of 
constitution by reviewing the one drafted by the Liberal Democratic 
Party last October once he is elected new LDP president on Sept. 20. 
Abe is expected to revise the preamble to the LDP-drafted 
constitution to allow Japan to exercise the right of collective 
self-defense. He intends to issue an order before year's end for 
making preparations for launching a constitution-drafting panel 
before the Upper House election next summer. 
 
The LDP adopted a new constitution, drafted by a committee chaired 
by former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, last October as a project 
commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the 
party. Former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone said on the 
LDP-drafted constitution on a Fuji-TV program on Sept. 3: "(Mr. Abe) 
said that once he was elected new LDP president, he would consider 
drafting a second set of constitution. He also said: 'The first set 
is insufficient. It has many problems, such as the question of the 
right of collective self-defense.' I think he intends to revise the 
preamble, as well." 
 
The new constitution drafted last year specified Japan's possession 
of the self-defense military (Jieigun) by totally revising the 
controversial paragraph 2 of Article 9 of the Constitution to allow 
the government to interpret it in a way allowing it to exercise the 
right of collective self-defense. But the words "the right of 
collective self-defense" did not make the draft resolution, and some 
LDP members are unhappy with that. 
 
14) Prime Minister Koizumi no longer insisting on convening extra 
Diet session on Sept. 22 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
The government and ruling coalition are carrying out final 
coordination on plans to convene an extra session of the Diet on 
Sept. 22 in which the next prime minister will be elected. With this 
regard, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters yesterday: 
"We should decide on it after listening to the view of Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan). Since the first Diet session under the 
new government, I think the (ruling and opposition parties) should 
discuss the matter well before arriving at a conclusion." He 
indicated that he is not insisting on opening the extra session on 
Sept. 22. Koizumi seems to have given consideration to Minshuto head 
Ichiro Ozawa, who has expressed strong opposition to the plan to 
convene the extra Diet session before his party's presidential race 
on Sept. 25. 
 
15) Shinzo Abe to give priority to amending Basic Education Law in 
extraordinary Diet session; Social Insurance Agency Law also to be 
revised 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe has revealed his intention to 
give top priority to passing a bill amending the Basic Education 
Law, which has been carried over from the previous regular Diet 
session, in the autumn extraordinary Diet session, if he takes 
 
TOKYO 00005033  008 OF 010 
 
 
office as prime minister. He made this statement at a Tohoku bloc 
conference of the Liberal Democratic Party held in Morioka City. 
During the speech, Abe stressed: "Since the extraordinary Diet 
session will be held only on a limited number of days, we must 
intensively tackle agenda items. Amending the Basic Education Law 
is, above all, important." 
 
The features of a bill amending the Basic Education Law include: (1) 
mentioning that the target of education is to cultivate an attitude 
of loving our nation and local communities; (2) deleting the 
provision that the duration of compulsory education is nine years; 
and (3) adding an article concerning lifelong learning and private 
schools. Abe is placing emphasis on educational reform, and this 
will be the first set of his educational reform. However, the 
extraordinary Diet session to be convened on September 22 will 
likely run only until early December. Though the ruling camp expects 
support from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto), the 
deliberation schedule is going to be tight. 
 
16) Three LDP presidential candidates positive about letting former 
LDP rebels rejoin the party; "If they head same direction, 
cooperation is possible," Abe says 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
Three Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential candidates took a 
positive stance yesterday the LDP Kyushu regional convention toward 
the view of allowing former LDP members who left the party after 
defying the party and voting against the postal-privatization 
legislation last year to rejoin the LDP. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Shinzo Abe stated: "Some members worked hard for the LDP for a long 
time. If they are heading in the same direction as us, we should 
consider ways to cooperate with them." Foreign Minister Taro Aso and 
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki agreed with Abe. 
 
While stressing, "The purpose is not to win the Upper House 
election," Abe said, "We should let persons of excellent caliber 
take part in our work of building an ideal country." Aso stated: 
"Basically it was excessive that we forced them to leave the party. 
If the prefectural chapters approve, it is not wrong for them to 
rejoin the party." Tanigaki said, "I totally agree with Mr. Aso." 
 
17) Sept. 3 Episode of "Hodo 2001": Machimura defends Abe's view on 
Yasukuni 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 4, 2006 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President Taku Yamasaki, 
former Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura, and former Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) Acting President Hirohisa Fujii 
discussed the LDP presidential election and China policy. 
 
-- Should Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe become prime minister, 
do you think a settlement will be brought to Yasukuni and other 
historical issues? 
 
Machimura: That depends on whether China would use (the historical 
issue) as a bargaining chip toward Japan. Once we recognize that 
China holds the key, things will become easily comprehensible. The 
next prime minister should think about it in a cool-headed manner 
 
TOKYO 00005033  009 OF 010 
 
 
and determine (what response should be taken). 
 
-- Mr. Abe has yet to clearly speak about his visit to Yasukuni 
Shrine this April. 
 
Yamasaki: That is an ambiguous strategy, and it is not like him to 
take such an attitude. 
 
Machimura: He deemed it improper to turn Yasukuni into a diplomatic 
issue, and his judgment was proper. He believes that keeping silent 
on (whether he visited the shrine) is in the interest of the nation 
and will contribute to improving bilateral relations. He has no 
intent of obscuring historical issues. 
 
-- What do you think are the chances for a meeting between the 
Japanese and Chinese leaders in the future? 
 
Machimura: We have obtained information that the Chinese government 
is now willing to review its policies toward Japan and North Korea. 
There is a high possibility (that a summit will be held by the end 
of this year). 
 
-- How do you evaluate Mr. Abe's policy platform? 
 
Machimura: Although Prime Minister Koizumi hardly touched on such 
issues as constitutional revision and educational reform, Mr. Abe 
has laid out a clear vision on these issues. 
 
Fujii: The policy platform reminds me of Prime Minister Koizumi's 
view that better relations between Japan and the US will serve to 
resolve problems between Japan and other countries like China. 
Things are not so simple. 
 
-- Abe is ready to study a change in the government's interpretation 
of the Constitution to enable Japan to use the right to collective 
self-defense. 
 
Yamasaki: It is impossible to allow (the exercise of) the right to 
collective self-defense by changing or expanding the interpretation. 
That would mean a denial of the basic view of successive LDP 
administrations. To allow the exercise of the right, the 
Constitution should be revised. 
 
18) Takeo Hiranuma implies possibility of cooperation with Ichiro 
Ozawa in Upper House election 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 5, 2006 
 
House of Representatives member Takeo Hiranuma, who bolted the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after voting against the government's 
postal-privatization bills, delivered a speech in a study session 
yesterday of the group called "Isshin Kai" made up of junior 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) lawmakers, who are close to 
party head Ichiro Ozawa. In the study session held in Hakone, 
Kanagawa Prefecture, Hiranuma stated, "Chances are strong that the 
next summer's Upper House election will lead to changing the 
political situation." 
 
Regarding the possibility of cooperation with Ozawa, citing People's 
New Party deputy head Shizuka Kamei, who has expressed his support 
for Minshuto, Hiranuma said, "I understand his feelings." 
 
TOKYO 00005033  010 OF 010 
 
 
 
Prior to yesterday's study session, the group had held a session in 
Shizuoka Prefecture, in which Lower House member Makiko Tanaka gave 
a speech. Tanaka, referring to Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe 
becoming premier, said, "He will not last long." She criticized 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, noting, "The public was at first 
surprised by him. Now five years later, we must think about what he 
did." 
 
19) People's New Party to cooperate with Minshuto (Democratic Party 
of Japan), says Kamei, in waging campaign battle against LDP, New 
Komeito in Upper House election 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
September 4, 2006 
 
Shizuka Kamei, the president of the People's New Party (Kokumin 
Shinto), appearing on a TV Asahi program on Sept. 3, predicted that 
in next year's Upper House, "The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and 
New Komeito will lose their majority." In addition, he was positive 
about cooperation with President Ozawa of Minshuto (Democratic Party 
of Japan); "We will join forces. We will give it our best shot in 
the next (Upper House) election. After that, we will hound them into 
dissolving (the Lower House)." He took a clear confrontational 
stance toward the LDP. 
 
20) Ozawa to engage in grassroots exchanges in US 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 4, 2006 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa left for 
the United States by ANA from Narita yesterday. He will attend the 
16th Japan-US Grassroots-level Summit Convention in Colorado on 
Sept. 5 and exchange views with participants. He will return to 
Japan on Sept. 7. Ozawa is scheduled to travel to China in October 
for a Japan-China exchange program called the "Great Wall Program." 
Through these overseas trips, he aims to promote grassroots 
exchanges energetically. 
 
While in the US, Ozawa has no plans to meet US government officials 
but instead plans to meet private citizens. The annual grassroots 
summit is held under the sponsorship of the John Manjiro Whitfield 
International Grassroots Exchange Center, a foundation chaired by 
Ozawa himself. The convention is alternately held in Japan and the 
US. About 200 Japanese will attend. While staying with American 
families, they will take part in a variety of exchange programs. 
 
In the 14th four-day session of the Great Wall Program this year 
starting on Oct. 26, Ozawa plans to attend a dinner party at the 
Great People's Hall, tour the Great Wall, and do sightseeing in 
Beijing. 
 
DONOVAN