VZCZCXRO6752
PP RUEHFK
DE RUEHKO #5471 2650542
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 220542Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6635
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8148
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1503
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4262
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1253
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0385
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2018
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS TOKYO 005471 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, 
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; 
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; 
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; 
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; 
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION Q NEW PM DESIGNATE ABE - TOKYO 
 
 
LEAD STORIES: Most Friday morning papers front-paged the 
finding by the Board of Audit that a Tokyo-based 
consulting firm embezzled 100 million yen worth of ODA 
funds through the Japan International Cooperation Agency 
(JICA) from 2000 to 2004. 
 
¶1. "Can Abe Use Overwhelming Victory in LDP Presidential 
Election to Manage the Government?" The top-circulation, 
moderate Yomiuri editorialized (9/21): "Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Abe was elected president of the ruling Liberal 
 
SIPDIS 
Democratic Party (LDP) Wednesday by an overwhelming 
majority. Abe will be elected prime minister at an 
extraordinary Diet session to be convened Tuesday. He 
will become the first prime minister born after the end 
of World War II.... The biggest factor behind Abe's 
victory was his public popularity, as shown by opinion 
polls.... 
 
¶2. "Abe has served in only a handful of key posts, 
including party secretary general and chief cabinet 
secretary. One cause for concern is the fact that he has 
 
SIPDIS 
never directly managed the nation's economic policies. In 
this regard, Abe will have to appoint talented people to 
assist him in economic policy.... Abe needs a strong team 
to deal with both the issues left over from the Koizumi 
administration and those that will emerge in the future." 
 
¶3. "The Launch of an Uncertain Government" An editorial 
in the liberal Asahi commented (9/21): "...Tony Blair 
became the British prime minister at the age of 43, while 
Bill Clinton moved into the White House at 46. In this 
respect, Abe, who turned 52 Thursday, is not a 
particularly young leader.... In terms of his political 
agenda, Abe has proposed breaking from the 'postwar' 
system and revising the Constitution, an idea that was 
held by his late grandfather, former PM Kishi. 
 
¶4. "Although he was born after the war, Abe employs 
rhetoric suggesting that he rejects the course that 
postwar Japan has taken.... While his popularity with the 
public is his biggest weapon, it is also a source of 
concern. Abe's popularity began with his strong remarks 
to North Korea and China over the Yasukuni and abduction 
issues and then rode a wave of growing nationalism.... It 
is true, however, that some people grow in office. We 
hope that Abe will appoint talented people to his 
administration and change our concern into hope." 
 
¶5. "Abe Must Fulfill His Pledges" An editorial in the 
business-oriented Nihon Keizai noted (9/21): 
"...Diplomatically, it is imperative that Abe improve 
Japan's relations with China and South Korea. Abe has 
expressed his enthusiasm for an early summit with the 
Chinese leader, suggesting that moves are already afoot 
behind the scenes to make this happen. 
 
¶6. "The change of premiership represents a golden 
opportunity for Japan to rebuild its stagnant Asia 
diplomacy. Former PM Nakasone visited Seoul immediately 
after taking power in order to improve Japan's relations 
with South Korea. It is important for Abe to move quickly 
to realize his pledge to strengthen Japan's ties with 
neighboring countries." 
 
SCHIEFFER