VZCZCXRO6225
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5740/01 2750755
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 020755Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7002
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/COMPATWING ONE KAMI SEYA JA
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 0814
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 8266
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1631
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 7987
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 9349
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4375
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0497
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2097

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 005740 
 
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 10/02/06 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
(2) Prime Minister Abe's policy speech: Task will be implementing 
program to provide second chances 
 
(3) Profile of State Minister in charge of abduction Issues Yasuhisa 
Shiozaki; Former Bank of Japan official; Right-hand man versed in 
policy matters 
 
(4) Interview with economic ministers part 2: Agriculture, Forestry 
and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka; Expansion of exports 
through aggressive agricultural policy 
 
(5) Patriot equipage arriving in Okinawa for deployment 
 
(6) US Consul General Maher voices concern about China's military 
expansion 
 
(7) In Okinawa gubernatorial election, Itokazu concludes agreement 
with five political parties 
 
(8) Last year, 1,600 US troops dispatched from Yokota to support 
global-scale war against terrorism 8 
 
(9) Government at UN in 1999 criticized criminalization of 
conspiracy because did not fit Japan's legislative system 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 28, 2006 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
Yes                  67       (45)       63       69 
No                   16       (37)       20       14 
Not interested       14       (16)       14       14 
 
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 
       10              11       9 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's 
leadership 
       17              17       17 
Because there's a young, fresh image about the prime minister 
       54              56       54 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 
15                     16       15 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
 
TOKYO 00005740  002 OF 010 
 
 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 
       19              22       16 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
       24              26       22 
Because the prime minister is inexperienced, weak 
       13              11       15 
Because I'm opposed to the prime minister's policies 
       39              33       45 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
       T       P       M       F 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
       42       (32)       43       42 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
       16       (17)       22       13 
New Komeito (NK)       5       (5)       6       5 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 
       4       (4)       3       4 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 
       2       (2)       2       2 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 
       0       (0)       --       0 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 
       --       (--)       --       -- 
Other parties 
       0       (0)       0       0 
None 
       28       (37)       23       32 
 
Q: Do you support the prime minister's appointments to cabinet 
ministerial and LDP executive posts? 
 
           T       P       M        F 
Yes       49              47       51 
No        29              35       26 
 
Q: Do you think the prime minister was affected by factional 
pressure from within the LDP and considered opinions in the LDP? 
 
                     T       P       M        F 
Very much           19              23       16 
Somewhat            53              50       55 
Not very much       10              10       10 
Not at all           2               2        1 
 
 
Q: What would you like the Abe cabinet to pursue first? 
 
                                     T       P       M        F 
Constitutional revision              5               8        2 
Educational reform                  15              13       17 
Fiscal reconstruction               15              16       14 
Social security reform              27              26       28 
Economic stimulus measures          13              13       12 
Social divide correction             9               8        9 
Asia diplomacy reconstruction       10              11       10 
 
Q: The prime minister visited Yasukuni Shrine in April this year 
when he was chief cabinet secretary. The prime minister has not 
clarified whether he visited the shrine. Do you support this? 
 
           T       P       M        F 
 
TOKYO 00005740  003 OF 010 
 
 
Yes       46              46       46 
No        46              47       45 
 
Q: Do you think Prime Minister Abe should visit Yasukuni Shrine 
while he is in office as prime minister? 
 
           T       P       M        F 
Yes       39              44       35 
No        48              44       50 
 
Q: Do you support the former Koizumi cabinet? 
 
                        T       P       M        F 
Yes                    57              55       57 
No                     28              31       26 
Not interested          9               8       10 
 
(Note) Figures shown in%age, rounded off. "0" indicates that the 
figure was below 0.5%. "--" denotes that no respondents answered. 
"No answer" omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the results of 
the last survey conducted Aug. 15-16. The previous rate of support 
for the cabinet is the approval rating for the Koizumi cabinet. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 26-27 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 1,041 persons. 
 
(2) Prime Minister Abe's policy speech: Task will be implementing 
program to provide second chances 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Full) 
September 30, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a policy speech delivered on Sept. 29 
clarified his stance of attaching importance to economic growth, 
stressing: "I will bring new vitality to the Japanese economy 
through the power of innovation and openness (promotion of 
investment by foreign companies)." However, if the government 
provides subsidies to those who want a second chance or for 
technological innovation, pork-barrel politics will return, 
imperiling fiscal reconstruction. Abe insists that there can be no 
fiscal reconstruction without economic growth. It remains to be seen 
whether such a policy will really lead to economic growth. 
 
Selective investment 
 
Abe has come up with a new policy called "Innovation 25." This is a 
strategy of designating selected areas in such fields as medicine, 
engineering, and information technology from a long-term perspective 
through fiscal 2025. Ryutaro Kono, a chief economist at BNP Paribas 
Securities Services, supported Abe's policy, but cautioned: "It is 
impossible for the government to spot promising industries and 
companies. There is, thus, the danger of the fiscal situation losing 
ground if government expenditures snowball and the economy fails to 
grow." 
 
Abe underscored the importance of "bringing new vitality to the 
Japanese economy through the power of innovation" and "openness." 
The strategy is to bring growth to the economy by making up for 
negative factors, such as the falling birthrate, through mutual 
market opening among Asian countries. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005740  004 OF 010 
 
 
However, a number of experts noted that if Japan opens its market, 
some domestic companies will lose out to foreign rivals, meaning 
that the number of jobless people could increase, leading to a 
corresponding increase in the number of those who want a second 
chance. The future challenge will be how to reflect "openness" in 
specific policies. 
 
Another challenge is how to establish a system of providing 
assistance to those who want a second chance. At present, the 
government has only one point of contact related to second chances 
at the Cabinet Secretariat. State Minister in Charge of Second 
Chance Programs Yamamoto is now considering expanding the 
organization. However, one senior official in the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry stated: "All government agency want a 
budget, but I am sure none of them want to provide personnel or 
offices." 
 
No originality on tax and fiscal administration 
 
30-trillion-yen framework 
 
Abe has come up with a number of brand-new phrases in the area of 
growth strategy, including "Innovation 25" and "Asia Gateway 
Initiative," which looks to strengthen international airports. 
However, the contents of the speech pertaining to tax and fiscal 
administration lacked originality. 
 
What was relatively visible was that he declared that the amount of 
the issuance of new government bonds in fiscal 2007 should be below 
fiscal 2006's 29.973 trillion yen. 
 
However, many took the view that since tax revenues are expected to 
increase in fiscal 2007 due to the economic recovery, it would not 
be difficult to attain the 30 trillion yen cap, as one LDP lawmaker 
put it. 
 
Regarding a hike in the consumption tax, Abe noted, "(I will work on 
the issue of the consumption tax with the stance of) neither running 
away from it nor seeking refuge in it." Attention is also being paid 
to whether he will be able to set a clear-cut direction for fiscal 
reconstruction. 
 
(3) Profile of State Minister in charge of abduction Issues Yasuhisa 
Shiozaki; Former Bank of Japan official; Right-hand man versed in 
policy matters 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 27, 2006 
 
He is three years older than Prime Minister Abe. Since he has always 
worked together with Abe, he apparently is his closest aide. WIth a 
background of having worked at the Bank of Japan (BOJ), Shiozaki has 
a field of specialization in financial and economic matters. He 
graduated from Harvard University graduate school in the US. He 
distinguished himself in the so-called financial Diet in 1998. He 
drafted a set of financial revitalization bills with Nobuteru 
Ishihara and others. Their efforts drew attention and earned them 
the nickname "new policy breed." 
 
First elected to the Lower House in 1993, following the retirement 
of former Economic Agency Director General Jun Shiozaki, his father. 
Prime Minister Abe and Takumi Nemoto, an assistant to the prime 
minister, were elected to the Lower House the same year. Joined 
 
TOKYO 00005740  005 OF 010 
 
 
later by Ishihara, they formed a policy group called "NAIS," 
consisting of junior lawmakers. The name of the group was the 
combination of the initials of the members. The prime minister 
places deep trust in Shiozaki. He acted an advisor to Abe in the 
drafting of a manifesto for the LDP presidential election. 
 
Shiozaki served as the executive director of the LDP Reform 
Implementation Headquarters chaired by Abe, and cooperated for the 
introduction of the public recruitment system for national 
elections, a project promoted by the Headquarters, and the 
establishment of an LDP think-tank. Once served as chairman of the 
Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee and deputy foreign minister, 
Shiozaki is expanding experience on the policy front, as well. 
 
He has a unique background of serving as an Upper House member for 
seven years due to the situation in his home constituency and being 
elected to the Lower House in 2000. He started off his political 
career at the Miyazawa faction, but gave up his affiliation with any 
faction after the so-called Kato Rebellion. He became a member of 
the Niwa-Koga faction affiliated with the Miyazawa-faction last 
year. 
 
Shiozaki is known as a policy expert. In the virtual LDP 
presidential election some junior LDP members conducted on the 
Internet, he was elected prime minister, beating Abe. However, he is 
not that popular in the party. Since the post of chief cabinet 
secretary requires the capability of coordination between the party 
 
SIPDIS 
and the Diet, his skills in managing political situations will also 
likely be called into question. He was in the same class with 
Ryuichi Sakamoto, a musician, at Shinjuku High School, Tokyo. They 
are still in close touch. He enjoys mountain climbing and swimming. 
He has a wife and two sons. 
 
(4) Interview with economic ministers part 2: Agriculture, Forestry 
and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka; Expansion of exports 
through aggressive agricultural policy 
 
YOMIURI (Page 10) (Full) 
September 29, 2006 
 
-- What is your view on the future of Japanese agriculture? 
 
"I am sure there is a big future because Japan's agricultural 
products are second to none in the world in terms of quality and 
taste. They can be likened to Rolls Royces in terms of automobiles 
or diamonds in terms of jewelries. I believe we can make Japan the 
world's preeminent agricultural power with such strong weapons." 
 
-- What will be your specific approach to accomplish that? 
 
''My approach will consist of there three policy measures, starting 
with a massive expansion of agricultural exports. I want to prepare 
export conditions, making aggressive agriculture policy a basic 
policy. Second, I will expand biomass energy-based production, such 
as producing ethanol from sugar canes. This will contribute to not 
only helping settle the global warming issue but also diversifying 
agriculture and improving farmers' income. Third, I will concentrate 
my policy on core farmers. I want to extensively boost productivity 
with a focus on these farmers." 
 
-- How do you see the fate of the new multilateral trade talks (Doha 
Round) at the World Trade Organization, now under suspension? 
 
 
TOKYO 00005740  006 OF 010 
 
 
"I cannot predict, but US moves after the midterm election will 
serve as a major yardstick, because the US was the major cause of 
the halt of the talks." 
 
-- What policy is necessary in pursuing WTO agricultural talks? 
 
"Japan's basic stance up until now has been to protect its 
agriculture against foreign agricultural products. Now we must face 
the talks from the perspective of give-and-take-type reciprocity. We 
will pursue trade talks in a manner of aggressively taking whatever 
we can and accepting whatever we should. Likewise, I want to pursue 
free trade agreement talks in a positive manner." 
 
-- The US is calling on Japan to ease conditions for importing its 
beef. What is your view on that? 
 
"In essence, our decision on whether to ease such conditions will 
depend on the wishes of the people. However, since it is only two 
months since the resumption of beef imports, we must first make sure 
that no problems will occur under the current trade resumption 
conditions." 
 
(5) Patriot equipage arriving in Okinawa for deployment 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Top play) (Full) 
September 30, 2006 
 
Japan and the United States have now reached an intergovernmental 
agreement to deploy the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3), a 
state-of-the-art ground-to-air guided missile, to the US Kadena Air 
Base in Okinawa Prefecture. Meanwhile, the first shipments of PAC-3 
missiles and relevant equipment will arrive at US military port 
facilities on Okinawa's main island and will be carried to the base, 
US Forces Japan (USFJ) sources revealed yesterday. 
 
A civilian carrier, believed to be loaded with PAC-3 components, was 
berthed in the Naha military port yesterday at around 11:30 p.m. The 
carrier's mouth on the bow was wide open, and a large number of 
military vehicles on board were confirmed. There were three 
uniformed US servicemen on the bow, where they were on the watch. 
 
The carrier had an overall length of about 200 meters. Its 
organization is unknown, but its body was painted with a sign 
reading "AMERICAN." 
 
The PAC-3 was initially scheduled to be deployed by the end of 
December in conformity with the Japanese and US governments' 
agreement incorporated in their final report on USFJ realignment. In 
July, however, North Korea fired seven ballistic missiles. USFJ 
appears to have moved up the shipment schedule, with an eye on the 
situation in North Korea. 
 
According to the US military's account, the shipments of large-size 
vehicles and other components for the US Army's air defense 
artillery battalion, which is tasked with PAC-3 operations, will 
arrive this morning at the Naha military port in Naha City. Those 
shipments will be carried on about 500 military vehicles to the 
Kadena airbase through Route 58, a national highway running through 
Okinawa's main island, for four or five days from Oct. 2. 
 
PAC-3 missiles and launching platforms will also be unloaded at a US 
military pier in Uruma City. USFJ has not revealed when to carry 
them in for security reasons. 
 
TOKYO 00005740  007 OF 010 
 
 
 
Danny Johnson, a chief public affairs officer of the 18th Wing at 
the Kadena Air Base, explained: "We will carry them using the 
national highway during the early hours of each day when the traffic 
is lightest. We want to minimize impact on local residents." 
 
The Japanese and US governments announced in July that USFJ would 
deploy PAC-3 missiles to Kadena and its on-base ammunition depot 
area and that some PAC-3 missiles would go operational by the end of 
December in accordance with a final agreement reached between the 
two governments on USFJ realignment. The US Army has already 
redeployed about 200 US servicemen from Fort Blis in Texas to Kadena 
and will complete its redeployment of 400 other servicemen in two 
months, according to the officer. 
 
The assemblies and heads of municipalities hosting or neighboring 
the Kadena base are opposed to the planned PAC-3 deployment to the 
base, maintaining that it would lead to a buildup of base functions. 
A large number of US military vehicles will pass through a local 
road, so local backlash is expected. 
 
(6) US Consul General Maher voices concern about China's military 
expansion 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
September 30, 2006 
 
ISHIGAKI-US Consul General in Okinawa Kevin Maher responded to a 
Ryukyu Shimpo interview yesterday while visiting the island of 
Ishigakijima. In the interview, Maher voiced concern about the issue 
of the Senkaku islets and the present situation in the area around 
the Yaeyama Islands where there are tensions reportedly between 
China and Taiwan. Maher said: "China has increased its defense 
budget, and the result has been the creation of a force structure 
that lacks transparency and the bringing about of instability." 
Referring to tensions over the Taiwan Strait, Maher insisted on the 
necessity of a "peaceful" solution. He stressed: "It's childish to 
think it's possible to deter a dispute without being armed. The US 
military presence on Okinawa is a deterrent." 
 
In 1996, China fired several missiles into the Taiwan Strait as a 
warning. This event heightened military tensions at a stroke. The 
Yaeyama Islands, which are situated near the Taiwan Strait also 
became tense. Fishermen on the island of Yonagunijima could not go 
fishing. 
 
In August this year, Taiwan carried out naval training exercises in 
waters near Yonagunijima. There are still military tensions between 
China and Taiwan. 
 
Concerning the heightened military tensions over the Taiwan Strait, 
Maher underscored the United States' view that there is "one China" 
and suggested the need for China and Taiwan to resolve the problem 
peacefully. However, he also noted that China has increased its 
annual defense spending by 15% over the past several years and has 
created a force structure that lacks transparency. "The United 
States has provided Taiwan with defensive weapons and services to 
defend itself," he explained. 
 
Touching on the Yaeyama Islands situated near Japan's border, Maher 
remarked that the area is as important as other areas of Japan. He 
underlined the necessity of improving the deterrent capabilities of 
US forces and Japan's Self-Defense Forces for stability in the 
 
TOKYO 00005740  008 OF 010 
 
 
region and in Asia as a whole. "Japan and the United States should 
conduct more joint training exercises," he stressed. 
 
(7) In Okinawa gubernatorial election, Itokazu concludes agreement 
with five political parties 
 
AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2006 
 
House of Councillors member Keiko Itokazu, who announced her 
candidacy in the Okinawa gubernatorial election, yesterday concluded 
an agreement with five political parties, including the Japanese 
Communist Party. The following is a gist of the agreement in 
preparation for the Okinawa gubernatorial election. 
 
(1) Aim at realigning, reducing, and removing US military bases in 
US force realignment talks, without allowing US base functions to be 
strengthened, the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to be 
relocated to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, as well as new military 
bases to be constructed. Address such issues as use of the sites 
vacated by US military bases and new jobs for Japanese employees at 
such bases. Seek a bold revision of the Japan-US Status of Forces 
Agreement. 
 
(2) Step up efforts to grow the local economy and industries that do 
not rely on the presence of military bases while making use of the 
special nature of Okinawa. Take measures to promote tourism, 
traditional local, agricultural and fishery industries, and to 
foster small businesses in a bid to strengthen the base of Okinawa's 
economy and to increase jobs for young persons. 
 
(3) Make efforts to preserve and recover the irreplaceable nature 
and environment by stopping disorderly land development and natural 
destruction. 
 
(4) Abide by Article 9 that provides for the peace principle in the 
Constitution and make good use of the principle in prefectural 
politics and the livelihood of the prefectural people. Aim to carry 
out prefectural politics open to the populace. 
 
(5) Prevent the Fundamental Law of Education from being rewritten 
into one that would bring on war by imposing "patriotism," and to 
promote a democratic education that would nurture the spirit of 
being autonomous, independent, and considerate. 
 
(8) Last year, 1,600 US troops dispatched from Yokota to support 
global-scale war against terrorism 
 
AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2006 
 
About 1,600 members of the US Air Force were dispatched from Yokota 
Air Base (in Tokyo) to the Southwest Asian region last year to take 
part in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to 
the Sept. 8 edition of the Fuji Flyer. 
 
The organ newspaper of Yokota Air Base reported that about 70 troops 
stationed at the Yokota base were dispatched to various locations in 
Southwest Asia on Sept. 4 to support operations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan for a period of about four months. The dispatched troops 
belong to the headquarters or the rear-echelon support unit of the 
374th Air Transport Wing stationed at the Yokota Air Base. They were 
sent to Baghdad International Airport in Iraq or Al Udeido US Air 
 
TOKYO 00005740  009 OF 010 
 
 
Base in Qatar. 
 
The newspaper said that the troops were dispatched to join the Air 
Expeditionary Force (AEF) set up by the US Air Force. The paper 
added: "About 1,600 airmen were also sent to join the AEF and 
support the global-scale war against terrorism only last year" 
 
There reportedly are about 3,000 troops deployed at the 374th Air 
Transport Wing, of whom more than half have been dispatched to the 
Southwest Asian region. 
 
From Yokota, Kadena Air Base (Okinawa), and Misawa Air Force Base 
(Aomori) each, 100-300 Air Force members, mainly rear-echelon unit 
members, have been sent to Iraq, Afghanistan, and their neighboring 
areas since the Iraq war in 2003. The dispatch of 1,600 troops from 
Yokota Air Base last year shows that the base has been constantly 
incorporated in the "global-scale war against terrorism," which has 
nothing to do with Japan's security. 
 
(9) Government at UN in 1999 criticized criminalization of 
conspiracy because did not fit Japan's legislative system 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
October 2, 2006 
 
The government has said that in order to ratify the Convention 
against Transnational Organized Crime, it is indispensable for Japan 
to legislate conspiracy as a criminal offense. This newspaper 
learned yesterday, however, from inquiries by the main opposition 
party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and the Japan Federation 
of Bar Associations (JFBA) that Japan had tried not to adopt the 
convention, insisting that making conspiracy as a crime would not be 
suited to Japan's legislative system. All the more because the 
discovery of this fact can fundamentally shake the government's view 
calling for legislating conspiracy as a criminal offense, it is 
inevitable that opposition parties will severely pursue the 
government regarding this issue at the extraordinary Diet session. 
 
The largest opposition party and JFBA have found out this factual 
background through their analyses of an official telegram of the 
Foreign Ministry passing along UN deliberations on the issue. 
Article 5 of the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime 
stipulates the criminalization of conspiracy and participation in an 
organized criminal group. The Japanese government interprets that 
the article obligates criminalization, while some countries do think 
so. It is said that the criminalization of conspiracy is compatible 
with British and US law, while the criminalization of participation 
in an organized criminal group matches civil law in Germany and 
France. The narrowest meaning of the criminalization of 
participation is the criminalization of association under which just 
being a member of an organized criminal group is made a crime. The 
draft proposal urged adoption of the criminalization of both 
conspiracy and participation in an organized criminal group. 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry's official telegram, the Japanese 
government criticized the draft proposal of the convention for not 
being suited to the Japanese legislative system, and the government 
urged a revision so that not only the US, Britain, France and 
Germany, but also other countries would be able to adopt a revised 
one. Japan demanded that the wording "following the principles of 
domestic law" and "involvement in an organized crime group" be 
inserted in the draft. Japan's request was accepted. Moreover, Japan 
called for changing the definition of the criminalization of 
 
TOKYO 00005740  010 OF 010 
 
 
association to the criminalization of participation in an organized 
criminal group with knowledge of the aim of the group and 
contribution to it. Part of Japan's such request was accepted. The 
Japanese government submitted to the UN a final resolution after 
consulting with the United States and other countries. 
 
Since Japan has made the instigation and support of a crime a 
criminal offense, it is viewed that Japan would be able to ratify 
the present convention if the criminalization of participation in an 
organized criminal group is taken under the broad meaning of the 
terms. 
 
A JFBA official said: 
 
"It is now clear that the government made changes in the draft 
resolution so that Japan would be able to ratify the convention 
without changing Japan's legislative system. It is the crucial proof 
of the fallacy of the government's view that it is necessary to 
legislate conspiracy as a criminal offense." 
 
Minshuto and other parties will likely grill Prime Minister Abe, who 
is eager to pass the legislation, on this issue. 
 
DONOVAN