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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 005325 
 
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 09/15/06 
 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
 
2) Editorials 
 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) Japanese charge's car shot at in Baghdad but no one hurt 
 
5) Prime Minister Koizumi meets Nigerian president 
 
6) Japan to make new proposal for nuclear-weapons control to IAEA 
but US, Europe, Russia may not buy it 
 
7) New sanctions on North Korea could be in place by Sept. 19 
 
8) Net being tightened around North Korea by new sanctions 
 
9) Yomiuri poll gives Prime Minister Koizumi a 56 PERCENT approval 
rating for his over 5 years in office 
 
10) Mainichi poll: 64 percent positively evaluate Koizumi's long 
tenure as prime minister 
 
11) Long, 81-day extraordinary Diet session planned for the fall, 
with ruling camp aiming to pass amended Basic Education Law 
 
12) LDP candidate Abe outlines 10-point plan to make Japanese 
education system "the best in the world" 
 
13) Opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) plans to use the 
upcoming Diet session to relentlessly attack the ruling camp 
 
14) With Kanzaki announcing retirement, New Komeito ready to install 
Ota as party head, Kitagawa as secretary general 
 
15) Abe calls opposition to Yasukuni Shrine "a bit strange" 
 
16) LDP presidential candidate Tanigaki and former LDP Secretary 
General Koichi Kato criticize Abe's perception of history 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
Asahi: 
Salmonella detected in 25 percent of egg farms 
 
Mainichi: 
Poll: 64 percent give Koizumi credit for his five years in office 
 
Yomiuri: 
Health Ministry compiles first draft guidelines on terminal care 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Brazilian state-run oil company to buy Japanese oil refinery firm 
 
Sankei: 
National Police Agency to introduce CT scans and drug-detection kits 
to rapidly, accurately determine cause of death 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Government to invoke financial sanctions against North Korea, 
 
TOKYO 00005325  002 OF 010 
 
 
possibly on Sept. 19 
 
Akahata: 
66 percent of principals opposed to revision of Basic Education Law 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
Asahi: 
(1)LDP presidential election: Finances under new administration 
worried 
(2)Violent children: Schools, parents should jointly tackle the 
problem 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)Quake-resistance measures for power plants: Erase concerns 
through full investigations with latest technology 
(2)LDP presidential election: Come up with measures to rebuild 
collapsing education system 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)Take harsh measures against violent students 
(2)Confused political situation in Taiwan may affect entire regional 
security 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)2006 LDP presidential election: Develop a creative diplomacy 
toward Asia 
 
Sankei: 
(1)Historical views: Japan, China should recognize difference 
(2)Mixi's TSE debut: Key lies in whether it can keep quality of 
information 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)Economic circles should dig "well" to improve strained political 
relations between Japan and China 
(2)G-7 conference: Remain alert to economic slowdown 
 
Akahata: 
(1)LDP presidential election: Abe's ambiguous remarks show his real 
intentions 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 14 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
10:27: 
Inspected the Patent Agency, accompanied by Minister of Economy, 
Trade and Industry Nikai. 
11:15Met with Nihon Keizai Shimbun President Sugita at Kantei. 
14:00: 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
15:05: 
Met with LDP Secretary General Takebe. 
16:00: 
Met with Middle East Cooperation Center Chairman Nemoto, and later 
Todaiji Temple Steward Morimoto. 
17:05: 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. 
18:30: 
 
TOKYO 00005325  003 OF 010 
 
 
Met with Nigerian President Obasanjo at his residence and hosted a 
dinner party for the president. 
 
4) Shot strikes envoy's vehicle in Baghdad 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 15, 2006 
 
A shot fired in Baghdad struck a vehicle carrying Takashi Ashiki, 
the charge d'affaires ad interim at the Japanese Embassy at around 
1:50 p.m. Sept. 14 (6:50 p.m. the same day, Japan time), the Foreign 
Ministry announced. One of the several shots struck the vehicles' 
windshield, cracking it. Although the vehicle carried Ashiki, his 
driver, and security personnel, no injuries were reported in the 
incident. 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry and other sources, Ashiki was on 
his way back to the embassy from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. A 
four-vehicle convoy driving ahead of Ashiki's car fired warning 
shots at a parked vehicle when it tried to cut into the convoy and a 
stray bullet from them struck the envoy's vehicle. 
 
A ministry official denied the shot was aimed at the senior Japanese 
diplomat. "Judging from the circumstances, it is unlikely that a 
terrorist had a hand in the incident," he said. 
 
In November 2003, two Japanese diplomats - Katsuhiko Oku and 
Masamori Inoue - were shot dead by unknown attackers. 
 
At present, Ambassador Hisao Yamaguchi and several other officials 
are serving at the Japanese Embassy in Iraq. 
 
5) Koizumi to Nigerian president: I would like to make efforts to 
strengthen bilateral ties even after stepping down 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi met with Nigerian President Obasanjo at the 
Kantei last night and told him: "You are the last foreign prominent 
figure whom I will meet before the Liberal Democratic Party 
presidential election on Sept. 20. Even after stepping down as prime 
minister, I would like to do my best to strengthen relations between 
Japan and Africa, as well as between Japan and Nigeria." They also 
agreed that their two countries would continue to make efforts to 
achieve United Nations Security Council reform based on the view 
that now is the best time to do so. 
 
6) Japan to propose new nuclear fuel provision plan to counter 
monopoly by US, Europe, and Russia 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2)(Abridged slightly) 
September 15, 2006 
 
The government has decided to present to the International Atomic 
Energy Agency (IAEA) a new vision to create a multinational nuclear 
fuel provision guarantee system for countries that have abandoned 
developing nuclear weapons with the aim of promoting the peaceful 
use of nuclear energy. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Shunsuke 
Kondo will announce the plan at a session after the IAEA meeting, 
scheduled to open on Sept. 18. 
 
 
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Japan has come up with this proposal called the "nuclear fuel supply 
registration system" as a counterproposal to the nuclear fuel supply 
insurance system, presented by six countries, including the United 
States, European nations, and Russia, at the regular IAEA Board of 
Governors meeting in June. The plan designed to allow the six 
countries that presently monopolize the provision of uranium fuel 
for power generation to control the management of nuclear materials 
has drawn fire from developing countries. Japan's proposal, on the 
other hand, is designed to allow a wide range of countries, 
including developing countries, to join the supply side. 
 
Under Japan's plan, every country will be required to register its 
ability and technology for supplying nuclear fuel, with the IAEA 
serving as a coordinator. The IAEA will assign tasks to each country 
in providing nuclear fuel to countries that have abandoned enriching 
uranium and reprocessing plutonium. 
 
In registering themselves, countries will be classified into three 
groups - those capable of producing fuel domestically, those who 
have exported fuel on a commercial basis, and those who have 
exportable reserves - in such fields as uranium mining, enrichment, 
and fuel processing. 
 
The nuclear fuel market is expected to generate attractive business 
opportunities, as many countries are expected to introduce more 
nuclear power plants to combat global warming. For Japan, which 
already has enrichment technology and is eager to develop overseas 
markets, the plan produced by the six countries is difficult to 
accept, necessitating the drafting of a counterproposal. 
 
Because of its active cooperation with the NPT framework, Japan has 
been the only non-nuclear-weapons state allowed to commercially 
enrich and reprocess uranium. Japan's "special privilege," however, 
has incurred international envy. Tokyo intends to increase its voice 
internationally by demonstrating its eagerness to create a new 
system. 
 
7) Japan to impose financial sanctions on North Korea as early as 
Sept. 19; remittances effectively banned 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
The government yesterday began final coordination to get cabinet 
approval as early as Sept. 19 for financial sanctions on North Korea 
in accordance with the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 
resolution adopted against the North for its recent series of 
ballistic missile launches. Lying behind this move is Tokyo's 
judgment that additional sanctions will be necessary given that 
Pyongyang has refused to return to the six-party talks, an item 
mentioned in the resolution. All this was revealed by a few 
government officials. 
 
Japan will impose sanctions under the Amendment to the Foreign 
Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Law, as the UNSC resolution calls 
for measures to prevent the transfer of technology and materials 
relating to North Korea's nuclear and missile development. 
 
Specifically, the sanctions will include monitoring the flow of 
money through bank accounts of organizations and individuals 
suspected of having connections to Pyongyang's WMD development. 
Remittances to bank accounts in North Korea, as well as to North 
 
TOKYO 00005325  005 OF 010 
 
 
Korea-related bank accounts in third countries, will effectively be 
prohibited with the introduction of an approval system until after 
it is proved that those bank accounts have nothing to with weapons 
development. Japan is also considering freezing assets held by North 
Korean government officials and others in Japan. 
 
Behind the government's move to impose sanctions is its intention to 
call on the rest of the world to step up pressure on North Korea by 
showing its tough stance on the eve of the United Nations General 
Assembly. 
 
On July 5, when North Korea launched ballistic missiles, the 
government banned the North's cargo-passenger ship Man Gyong Bong 
from entering Japanese ports under a special law. On financial 
sanctions, the government established a working-level task force 
after the UNSC adopted the resolution and discussed who would be 
subject to such sanctions. 
 
8) Japan to put more pressure on North Korea by imposing financial 
sanctions 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
The government has decided to impose financial sanctions on North 
Korea. The aim is to increase pressure from the international 
community under the lead of Japan and the US in order to prevent 
future missile launches and a possible nuclear test, as well as to 
push Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks. By taking even 
tougher measures while Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is in 
office, Japan also wants to lay the groundwork for the next 
administration to have two options against North Korea: relaxation 
of sanctions and further pressure. 
 
Following North Korea's recent ballistic missile launches, the 
government has prompted the rest of the world through the United 
Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution and statements issued by 
such conferences as the Group of Eight summit conference (in St. 
Petersburg, Russia) and the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit Conference to 
join hands to surround North Korea. 
 
North Korea, however, has not shown any signs of returning to the 
six-party talks. So some in the government have loudly insisted on 
the need to impose additional sanctions on that country. 
 
China, which has been friendly with North Korea, has begun to voice 
its opposition to Pyongyang's missile launches and continuing 
nuclear development. Now that there is movement toward resuming 
summits between Japan and China, some believe that sanctions would 
have more impact if imposed in cooperation with other countries. 
 
The US government in recent weeks has called on UN members to impose 
sanctions as quickly as possible, hoping that China and South Korea 
will follow Japan in strengthening sanctions. Washington intends to 
hold multilateral talks on North Korea without the participation of 
Pyongyang in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly 
starting on Sept. 19. 
 
The US has asked Vietnam, Russia, and other countries near North 
Korea to investigate monetary flows, such as money laundering by 
North Korea-related bank accounts. According to English-language 
newspapers and other sources, banks in China and several other 
 
TOKYO 00005325  006 OF 010 
 
 
countries have responded to America's request and have now frozen 
North Korea-related bank accounts. 
 
9) Poll: Support rate for Koizumi cabinet averages 56 PERCENT 
(since April 2001 launching), second highest on record 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
September 15, 2006 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted its last opinion survey on support for 
the Koizumi cabinet on Sept. 9-10. In the nationwide face-to-face 
survey, the rate of support marked 53.0 percent, up 1.9 points from 
last month. The average rate of support (excluding telephone-based 
surveys and large-scale polls before national elections) since the 
Koizumi administration was launched in April 2001 is 56.0 PERCENT 
-- the second highest following the Hosokawa cabinet's 67.2 percent 
under the current polling system that started in March 1978 during 
the Fukuda cabinet. 
 
The Koizumi cabinet also marked the second highest following 
Hosokawa's 55.1 percent in the support rate in the closing days of 
the cabinet. Considering the fact that Hosokawa was in power for 
less than nine months, Koizumi's rate was unusually high for a 
cabinet that lasted over one year. 
 
10) Opinion poll on Koizumi administration's five year record: 64 
percent give praise, 51 percent say it was good that abductees were 
returned to Japan, and 28 PERCENT  call reform of social security 
system a mistake 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
September 15, 2006 
 
In a nationwide opinion poll (face-to-face interviews) carried out 
by the Mainichi Shimbun (Sept. 1-3), 64 percent of the public 
"appreciated" the accomplishments of the Koizumi administration over 
the last five years and five months, while another 34 percent 
expressed a negative evaluation. The fact that approximately 
two-thirds of the Japanese public highly evaluate the Koizumi 
administration seems likely to have a not-insignificant effect on 
the political management of the country by the next prime minister, 
centering on whether to continue the Koizumi policy line and other 
aspects of his administration. In the policy area, the public gave 
high praise to the prime minister's two trips to Pyongyang that 
resulted in returning to Japan some of the victims of abductions by 
North Korea. However, there was little praise for Koizumi's social 
security policy and for his dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to 
Iraq. 
 
 On the specific policies of the Koizumi administration, the 
question involved seven choices with the options being "I think it 
was good," or, "I think it was a mistake." In the "good" category, 
1) 51 percent lauded the return to Japan of some victims abducted by 
North Korea; 2) 18 percent chose postal privatization; and 3) 9 
percent selected disposal of the non-performing loans of banks. 
Koizumi received the most praise for his two sudden trips to 
Pyongyang that resulted in the return of some abductees and their 
families. 
 
However, he did not receive much public endorsement of his national 
security policy, with only 3 percent approving of his "strengthening 
the Japan-US alliance by such means as the agreement to realign US 
 
TOKYO 00005325  007 OF 010 
 
 
forces in Japan," and 4 percent approving "the dispatch of the SDF 
to Iraq." 
 
On the other hand, in choosing the "mistakes" in Koizumi's policy 
choices, heading the list with 28 percent of the public was his 
"reform of the social security system, including medical care and 
pensions." This selection indicates a deep sense of anxiety among 
the public toward the future. Next, 18 percent of the public chose 
the Iraq dispatch of the SDF as a "mistake," and 17 percent thought 
his annual visits to Yasukuni Shrine was a "mistake." Even postal 
privatization received 11 percent disapproval. Evaluation of his 
policies shows the nation to be divided. 
 
11) Extraordinary session to last 81 days; LDP aims at revising 
Basic Education Law 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
The new administration to be launched following the Liberal 
Democratic Party presidential election will have its first showdown 
with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ = Minshuto) in an 
extraordinary Diet session. Prospects have now become strong that 
the session will run as long as 81 days from Sept. 26 through Dec. 
¶15. Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, who is believed certain to win the 
presidential race, wants to get key bills, including one amending 
the Basic Education Law, passed into law before year's end, by 
securing the longest possible Diet session running until immediately 
before the year-end budget compilation. Another aim is to take the 
initiative in the Diet so that he can make his leadership felt 
quickly with an eye on the Upper House election next summer. 
 
The LDP proposed this schedule at a meeting of chief directors of 
the Lower House Diet Steering Committee on Sept. 14. Minshuto has 
decided to agree with this schedule. The LDP is determined to secure 
Diet passage of a bill upgrading the Defense Agency to ministry 
status, as well as a bill amending the Basic Education Law. It will 
submit a set of bills reforming the Social Insurance Agency after 
modification. Chances are, however, that deliberations on those 
bills could be postponed until the regular session, along with an 
amendment to the Organized Crime Punishment Law designed to create 
the offense of conspiracy and a national referendum bill in relation 
to constitutional revision. 
 
In the meantime, Lower House by-elections will take place in the 
Kanagawa No. 16 Constituency and the Osaka No. 9 Constituency on 
Oct. 22. Minshuto is gearing up to harshly pursue Abe over his view 
of wartime history right from the beginning of the session. Debate 
on an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which 
expires Nov. 1, will likely focus on the right of collective 
defense. The upcoming extraordinary Diet session will likely be a 
full-fledged session in which the ruling and opposition camps clash 
head-on. 
 
12) Main themes of educational reform council envisaged by Abe: 10 
items, including raising academic performance to best in the world; 
20 private citizens, including schoolteachers, to be picked as panel 
members 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Almost Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
 
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe, now running in the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) presidential race, intends to set up an educational 
reform promotion council, once he becomes prime minister. Main 
themes for the envisaged panel to tackle and its line-up were 
generally decided yesterday. The council will likely tackle at least 
10 themes, including strengthening basic academic performance to 
bring Japan to the top level in the world, as well as requiring 
students to engage in volunteer activities in the period between 
high school graduation and the start of university courses, which 
would involve changing the start of the school year at national and 
public universities (from April) to September. 
 
The envisaged council is being characterized as an educational 
equivalent to the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. It will 
likely be launched in October as a private advisory organ reporting 
to the prime minister. 
 
Abe will chair the panel, and its membership will include about 20 
private citizens, such as college professors, schoolteachers, and 
business leaders, as well as the minister of education, culture, 
sports, science and technology and a prime ministerial assistant in 
charge of education. 
 
Proposals for the main themes to be handled by the panel included: 
(1) the introduction of a voucher system, under which students 
select schools and pay fees using vouchers distributed by their 
local governments; (2) a system by which the central government 
evaluates each school's academic level and educational situation; 
and (3) a teaching license renewal system. Other ideas included 
making full use of authorized facilities for children by combining 
kindergartens and day-care centers. Once specific policies are set, 
related bills would be submitted to next year's Diet session at the 
earliest in order of those that require revisions of related laws. 
 
13) LDP unofficially asks Minshuto for 81-day extraordinary Diet 
session, with aim of early passage of key bills 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party has unofficially asked Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) for an 81-day extraordinary Diet session 
to open Sept. 26 and last until Dec. 15. By holding a long session, 
the LDP aims to enact as many key bills on the agenda as possible. 
Behind the LDP request is also speculation in the LDP and New 
Komeito that it is undesirable to deal with bills on which the 
public or support groups are split in the regular Diet session to be 
convened just before the unified local elections and the House of 
Councillors elections next year. Minshuto intends to basically 
accept the LDP request. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe has revealed that he would give priority 
to passing these four bills in the extraordinary Diet session: (1) a 
bill revising the Fundamental Law of Education; (2) bills related to 
upgrading the Defense Agency to ministry status; (3) a bill amending 
the Organized Crime Punishment Law to create a new charge of 
conspiracy; and (4) a national referendum bill governing procedures 
for constitutional revision 
 
To extend the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law beyond its Nov. 1 
expiration date, the government and the ruling parties also plan to 
revise the law in order to allow the Maritime Self-Defense Force to 
 
TOKYO 00005325  009 OF 010 
 
 
continue providing fuel to US-led coalition forces in the Indian 
Ocean. 
 
Minshuto, though, has demanded that all bills be carefully 
deliberated, playing up a confrontational stance. Given this, many 
in the ruling camp anticipate that it will be difficult to pass all 
the key bills during the extraordinary Diet session. 
 
14) New Komeito names Acting Secretary General Ota next chief; 
Kitagawa informally selected as secretary general 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
New Komeito informally decided to designate Acting Secretary General 
Akihiro Ota to succeed outgoing party chief Kanzaki and replace 
Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba with Minister of Land, 
 
SIPDIS 
Infrastructure, and Transport Kazuo Kitagawa. It has already asked 
the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to have Fuyushiba either replace 
Kitagawa as the head of MLIT or the minister or a health, labor, and 
welfare in the new administration. The LDP intends to agree to 
accept Fuyushiba as a cabinet minister. Ota will declare his 
candidacy for the party presidential election at a national meeting 
of prefectural representatives as early as Sept. 16. 
 
Kanzaki during yesterday's meeting of the permanent board of 
directors stated, "I will announce my decision to step down at the 
national meeting of prefectural representatives on Sept. 16." The 
party will accept candidacies for the presidential election on Sept. 
¶26. However, since no other candidate will run in the election, Ota 
will be picked as the new leader of the New Komeito at the party 
convention on Sept. 30. 
 
Regarding who should succeed Kanzaki, some have called for the 
appointment of Toshiko Hamayotsu, acting head of Soka Gakkai, who is 
popular in the lay Buddhist group that serves as New Komeito's 
support base. In the end, however, Ota was chosen given the view 
that the party head will likely face difficult coordination with the 
LDP over constitutional revision. Final coordination is now underway 
to replace Policy Research Council Chairman Yoshihisa Inoue with his 
deputy Tetsuo Saito and have Acting Secretary General Yoshio 
Urushibara succeed Diet Policy Committee Chairman Junji Higashi. 
 
15) Abe calls anti-Yasukuni group "a little strange" 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe participating in a debate among 
candidates for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election 
held at party headquarters sharply criticized those who oppose prime 
ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine, saying, "Those people who 
oppose (the prime minister's paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine) are a 
little strange." Regarding his reason for not making it clear 
whether he would visit the shrine or not should he be selected prime 
minister, he repeatedly stressed, "(It is because) it would be used 
as a diplomatic and political issue." "For some reason, those people 
who oppose the visits are asking me to clearly state my position," 
he said, adding, "That is the same as asking me to say something 
that will irritate China and South Korea." He stressed the 
contradiction in the position of those opposing Yasukuni visits. 
 
 
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16) Tanigaki, Kato see Abe's view of history as "problematic" 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 15, 2006 
 
Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki yesterday met with Koichi Kato in 
the Diet, and both termed "problematic" Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Shinzo Abe's recent remark on the process of normalization of 
diplomatic ties between Japan and China, as he said that "there was 
no document" indicating that the Chinese distinguished between 
Japan's war leaders and the general public. Tanigaki emphasized: 
"Historical perceptions are important in dealing with other 
countries. We must keep in mind the process through which Japan was 
allowed to return to the international community." Kato pointed out 
that if Abe assumes the post of prime minister, "His (historical 
awareness) will be made an issue in the extraordinary Diet session." 
Kato told Tanigaki: "You are the best in terms of policy ideas and 
composure. You're already a leader." 
 
SCHIEFFER