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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 005744 
 
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 10/03/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Diplomatic schedule: 
4) Prime Minister Abe receives support from British Prime Minister 
Blair on Japan emerging from postwar system 
5) Prime ministerial adviser Koike to travel to Washington today for 
consultations 
6) Vice Foreign Minister Yachi is off for the US for consultations 
 
7) Abe to set final stage today for summit meeting in China on Oct. 
8 
8) Prime Minister avoids being shut out of China diplomacy by 
traveling to Beijing 
 
9) Lawmaker Hiranuma to travel today to Taiwan 
 
Iran issue: 
10) Iran may lower Japan's investment in Azadegan oil-field project 
if it does not start construction work soon 
11) Iran negative about further extending deadline for wrapping up 
deal on Azadegan oil project 
 
Diet interpellations: 
12) Text of Prime Minister's replies on historical view, Yasukuni 
issue, collective self-defense, and constitutional revision 
13) Abe to honor Murayama statement on war responsibility, but 
skirts Yasukuni issue in Diet replies 
14) Abe coyish, too, about responsibility of Class-A war criminals 
 
 
15) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) fights for major changes in 
proposed criminal conspiracy bill 
 
16) Latest list of party strengths in the Diet 
 
Okinawa issues: 
17) Full-scale clashes between ruling and opposition camps mark 
gubernatorial election in Okinawa 
18) LDP alarmed about the Okinawa base issue 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi and Yomiuri: 
Police to arrest former skating federation chairman today for 
alleged breach of trust and embezzlement 
 
Mainichi: 
Samawah after SDF withdrawal (Part 1): Japan's "gift" left 
abandoned 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Prices of imports from China rise for ninth consecutive month due to 
rising labor costs and stronger yuan 
 
Sankei: 
Prime Minister Abe to decide to visit China today for talks with 
 
TOKYO 00005744  002 OF 011 
 
 
President Hu on Oct. 8 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Mizutani Kensetsu padded price of purchased land to provide funds to 
firm run by brother of former Fukushima governor 
 
Akahata: 
1,524 firms ordered by Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to 
compensate workers for unpaid overtime worth 23.3 billion yen in 
fiscal 2005 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Deeper historical perception required 
(2) Live organ transplants need solid rules 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Prime minister must not obscure debate 
(2) Live organ transplants require clear rules 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Conduct constructive Diet debate 
(2) Strong measures necessary to prevent organ trade 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Prime minister's Diet reply on historical perception acceptable 
(2) Having vitality for reform essential for sustainable growth 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Deepen Diet debate on "beautiful country" 
(2) Well-meaning donors can save the lives of patients 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Diet debate insufficient 
(2) Live organ transplants must be reduced 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Abe clearly aims to develop obedient populace 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 2 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
09:52 
Met with New Komeito head Ota and Secretary General Kitagawa, 
attended by LDP Secretary General Nakagawa, in the Diet building. 
 
10:04 
Met at Kantei with Supreme Court Chief Justice Machida, followed by 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura. 
 
13:02 
Attended Lower House plenary session. 
 
15:50 
Met at Kantei with Supreme Court Justice Shimada. 
 
16:12 
 
TOKYO 00005744  003 OF 011 
 
 
Met with Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. 
 
17:00 
Attended LDP board meeting. 
 
17:17 
Returned to Kantei. 
 
18:51 
Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yachi. 
 
19:30 
Had telephone call from British Prime Minister Blair, joined by 
Koike and Seko, special advisors to Prime Minister Abe. 
 
20:41 
Arrived at his private residence in Tomigaya, Tokyo. 
 
4) British Prime Minister Blair hails Prime Minister Abe's plan to 
put end to "postwar era" during telephone dialogue 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Abe yesterday evening talked with British Prime 
Minister Blair over the phone. The two leaders agreed to hold a 
summit at an early date. During the talks, Blair expressed his 
support for Abe's plan to break free of the "postwar era" and for 
Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security 
Council (UNSC). 
 
According to Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Public 
Relations Hiroshige Seko, Blair called Abe, and the talks lasted for 
about 15 minutes. Blair noted, "I support Prime Minister Abe's 
position that it is now time for society to break free of the 
postwar setup." 
 
In response, Abe indicated his intention to conduct education reform 
modeled after Britain's. 
 
5) Special Advisor Yuriko Koike off to US today to emphasize 
importance of bilateral relations 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's special advisor on national security, 
Yuriko Koike, will leave today for the United States to meet with US 
National Security Adviser Steve Hadley, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Yasuhisa Shiozaki said at a press conference yesterday. The purpose 
of Koike's US trip is to establish a stronger pipeline between the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and the White House. 
Another aim is to demonstrate to audiences at home and abroad that 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attaches importance to the Japan-US 
alliance, by sending Koike prior to his visits to China and South 
Korea, which are now under coordination. 
 
Prime Minister Abe said during his telephone talks on Sept. 27 with 
President George W. Bush that he would send Koike to Washington 
soon. 
 
Koike is expected to meet with her counterpart at the White House on 
 
TOKYO 00005744  004 OF 011 
 
 
the afternoon of Oct. 3 (US Eastern Time). She will explain Abe's 
policies to Hadley and exchange views on bilateral relations and the 
international situation as a whole. She also plans to tour the 
National Security Council (NSC), which gives advice to the president 
regarding foreign and security policy. 
 
The NSC, an advisory body to the president, is composed of the 
president, vice president, secretary of state, secretary of defense, 
secretary of the treasury, and national security adviser. Abe is 
 
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considering setting up a Japanese version of the NSC in order to 
strengthen the policy-making function of the Kantei in the areas of 
foreign policy and security. Koike, therefore, intends to inspect 
similar organs in European countries. 
 
6) Vice Foreign Minister Yachi to leave for US tomorrow 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi announced 
yesterday that he would make a five-day trip to the United States 
starting tomorrow. He is expected to meet with Deputy National 
Security Advisor Jack D. Crouch and relevant officials from the 
State and Defense departments to exchange views on Japan-US 
relations and the situations of Asia and the Middle East with an eye 
on a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. 
 
7) Prime Minister Abe to decide on his China tour today; President 
Hu willing to meet with Abe on Oct. 8 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's confirmation of his intention 
to visit South Korea on Oct. 9, final coordination is underway for 
him to travel to China on Oct. 8. Abe will consult with Foreign 
Minister Taro Aso and other government officials on these trips 
possibly today and will make a final decision. A couple of 
government sources revealed these movements, which have come as both 
China and South Korea have indicated their willingness to accept 
Abe's early visits to their countries. However, some aides to Abe 
still remain cautious about holding a Japan-China summit, because 
China may in effect demand that the prime minister stop visiting 
Yasukuni Shrine. Japan and China continued behind-the-scenes 
coordination up to the last minute through a meeting between 
Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi and Chinese 
Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi in Tokyo yesterday and other occasions. 
 
Abe's visit to China, if realized, would be the first China trip by 
the Japanese prime minister since October 2001. A Japan-China summit 
would follow the one held in Indonesia in April 2005. 
 
According to several sources familiar with Japan-China relations, 
during the recent Japan-China vice foreign ministerial dialogue held 
in Tokyo on Sept. 23, Japan floated a plan for the prime minister to 
visit China on Oct. 8. In response to this proposal, China told 
Japan to assure that Abe would not visit Yasukuni Shrine while he is 
in office. Japan turned down this request. Then China indicated 
flexibility, stating, "It is all right for the foreign minister and 
the chief cabinet secretary to visit the shrine." Despite that, 
Japan refused to accept China's request, asserting, "Visits to 
Yasukuni Shrine should not be made a condition for the resumption of 
 
TOKYO 00005744  005 OF 011 
 
 
a summit meeting." Japan then urged China to reconsider its 
request. 
 
Afterwards, Japan withdrew its plan on the prime minister's China 
visit on Oct. 8 and instead sounded China out on a late October 
visit plan. On the other hand, on Sept. 30, China suggested a plan 
for Abe to meet with President Hu Jintao on the afternoon of Oct. 8 
and later meet with Premier Wen Jiabao during a dinner party, 
sources said. 
 
This sudden change in China's attitude came, "following Hu's firm 
order," a source familiar with Japan-China relations said. 
 
In China, Hu's power base has been further solidified after the 
occurrences of such cases as the dismissal of Chen Liangyu, who is 
close to former General Secretary Jiang Zemin of the Communist Party 
of China (CPC) and is a member of the Shanghai Clique, from his post 
of secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPC due to 
his involvement in a corruption case. The above source gave this 
analysis about China's counterproposal: "It would be a message by 
the Hu government implying that it wants to improve relations with 
Japan by taking advantage of the inauguration of the Abe 
administration." 
 
8) China, ROK avoid "shutting door" to Japan, set summits with 
Japanese prime minister 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
A summit between Japan and China has been set for Oct. 8 and one 
between Japan and South Korea for Oct. 9. Japan has now agreed in 
principle with China, and South Korea on timetables for Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe's trips to those two countries. Beijing and 
Seoul have deemed it necessary to meet at least once with Abe, who 
has expressed enthusiasm about improving relations. But a sense of 
apprehension about these summit talks cannot be ruled out, because 
the gaps over visits to Yasukuni Shrine and historical perceptions 
have yet to be removed. 
 
Katsuhiko Iino, Beijing; Hiroshi Minegishi, Seoul 
 
The Chinese and South Korean governments have decided to resume 
summit talks with Japan, presumably because they are conscious of 
how they will be viewed by the rest of the world and also because 
they want to avoid giving the impression that they "shut the door" 
on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has just inaugurated his cabinet. 
It is therefore not the case that the two countries have dropped 
their call for a halt to visits to Yasukuni Shrine. Rather, their 
agreement to hold summits is intended to prod Abe not to visit 
Yasukuni Shrine while he is in office. 
 
The Chinese government expects Abe not to visit the shrine for the 
time being. A source familiar with Japan-China relations commented: 
"Japan approached China with a plan for the prime minister's tour of 
China. Given this, once the visit is realized, Tokyo will not behave 
in a way to make China lose face." This source conjectured that 
China's acceptance of Abe's trip would pressure Abe. 
 
President Hu Jintao and other Chinese officials have reiterated that 
they place emphasis on Japan. South Korea's move to accept a visit 
by Abe also had a favorable effect (on China). While former Prime 
 
TOKYO 00005744  006 OF 011 
 
 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi brushed off (China's) repeated call on 
him to refrain from visiting the shine, Abe has stood firm in not 
saying whether he will visit the shrine. So what China is concerned 
about is that it may leave the international community with the 
impression that it is China that is negative about improving 
relations. 
 
South Korea was sensitive to a shift in China's stance. These two 
countries have been at odds with Japan over historical issues. 
"Rapid movement toward improved Japan-China relations forced South 
Korea to decide to hold a summit with Japan," a source familiar with 
Japan-ROK relations said. When the Japan-China comprehensive policy 
dialogue of vice foreign ministers was held late last month, South 
Korea asked Japan many times what Chinese officials had said in the 
session, according to the source. 
 
South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun remains unable to produce any 
good results. "He can fan the flames of anti-Japanese nationalism, 
but if Japan-China relations turn for the better now, he could be 
exposed to criticism from the public and opposition parties for his 
diplomatic failure," an expert commented. 
 
9) Hiranuma to visit Taiwan 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
The Japan-Republic of China Parliamentary Discussion Council, a 
nonpartisan group of lawmakers headed by Takeo Hiranuma, will visit 
Taiwan on Oct.8-10. The delegation is scheduled to meet President 
Chen Shui-bian and former President Lee Teng-hui. Hiranuma and other 
about 10 members will also attend a ceremony marking the National 
Foundation Day on Oct. 10. 
 
10) Azadegan oil field: Iran may lower Japan's capital subscription, 
Iranian news agency reports 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
A news agency run by Iran's Ministry of Petroleum yesterday reported 
that if INPEX fails to decide to start up development of the 
Azadegan oil field in southwestern Iran, to which Japan has given a 
stake, at an early date, the Iranian government might lower the rate 
of capital subscription by INPEX. The company has obtained the right 
to develop the Azadegan oil field under a condition that it will 
shoulder 75% of the entire project cost. 
 
Iran and INPEX have been continuing talks on the timeline to start 
up the project since Sept. 30. The news agency quoted a remark made 
by a source involved in the talks, "If participants in the meeting 
fail to reach an agreement, INPEX will be able to take part in only 
a small part of the project." 
 
INPEX and the Iranian side also held talks on the 2nd. National 
Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Managing Director Nozaris told the news 
agency the same day that Iran would not agree to once again extend 
the deadline to decide whether to start up the project or not as 
sought by INPEX. 
 
Commenting on the talks between Iran and INPEX, Trade and Industry 
Vice Minister Takao Kitabata yesterday stressed the government 
 
TOKYO 00005744  007 OF 011 
 
 
stance of calmly observing the talks on the private sector-level, 
noting, "The government will not send a high-ranking official." 
 
11) NIOC Management Director negative toward Japan's proposal for 
extending deadline for Azadegan oil talks 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Talks between Japan and Iran on development of the Azadegan oil 
field in southwestern Iran, in which Japan has a 75% stake, are 
going on in Tehran. Iran's Fars News Agency yesterday reported that 
National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) Management Director Nozaris 
indicated a negative view toward the idea of extending the deadline 
for the negotiations for a month, noting, "If no agreement is 
reached with Japan, Iran will not set a new deadline." 
 
12) Abe's Diet replies in answer-and-question session on Oct. 2 
 
YOMIURI (Page 15) (Excerpts) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Historical perception 
 
As was shown by the Aug. 15, 1995 Murayama statement and the Aug. 
15, 2005 Koizumi statement, the government's perception of the last 
major war was that Japan, through its colonial rule and aggression, 
caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many 
countries, particularly to those of Asian nations. There are a 
variety of views on the responsibility of Class-A war criminals as 
state leaders, and I regard it inapproproate for the government to 
make a specific judgment. 
 
Paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine 
 
I have indicated, "I do not intend to say whether I will go or 
whether I visited the shrine." And that is my personal view. 
 
Collective self-defense right 
 
Based on such factors as changes in the international situation, 
evidenced by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and 
missiles, the war on terrorism, progress in weapons technology, and 
expectations on Japan's international contributions, we will study 
specific cases to determine what cases will fall in the exercise of 
the right of collective self-defense, which is prohibited under the 
Constitution, so that the Japan-US alliance can function effectively 
and peace can be maintained. We will conduct the study based on 
discussions at the Diet and other venues, as well. 
 
Constitutional revision 
 
A constitution speaks of visions and shape of the country. The 
Constitution of Japan, which was established nearly 60 years ago 
under the deep involvement of the Occupation forces, is out of touch 
with the times. It is necessary for us to draft a new constitution 
that contains the ideal image of Japan and has a vision suitable for 
the 21st century. 
 
I hope the ruling and opposition camps will deepen discussion in 
order to come up with a clear direction. To begin with, I expect an 
early enactment of a national referendum bill specifying a set of 
 
TOKYO 00005744  008 OF 011 
 
 
procedures for constitutional revision. 
 
13) Abe pledges that in meeting with Chinese leaders he will honor 
apology expressed in Murayama statement 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
October 3, 2006 
 
In the summit meeting with the Chinese leader expected to be held on 
Oct. 8, Prime Minister Abe is likely to pledge to honor "the apology 
and remorse" for Japan's colonial rule and aggression expressed in 
the Murayama statement in 1995 and the spirit in the Koizumi 
statement issued on the day marking the end of WWI in 2005 by 
previous Prime Minister Koizumi, according to informed sources 
yesterday. The governments of Japan and China are now in the final 
stage of scheduling the meeting between the Japanese and Chinese 
leaders. But Abe has decided not to accept China's demand that he 
should pledge not to visit Yasukuni Shrine and to stop short of 
mentioning whether he has visited the shrine. 
 
On historical views, an issue over which China has expressed 
concerns, Abe intends to remark that the Murayama statement and the 
Koizumi statement are historical statements expressing at home and 
abroad the government's views about Japan's war time history." He 
then will stress the need for the two countries to make efforts to 
construct a future-oriented bilateral relationship. 
 
He will also emphasize that "frankly reflecting on its past conducts 
that caused great damage inside and outside the nation, Japan made 
efforts and built a peaceful country." 
 
14) Abe in first Diet reply: "It is inappropriate for the government 
to make a judgment" on the responsibility of Class-A war criminals 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
October 3, 2006 
 
In a House of Representatives plenary session yesterday afternoon, 
Prime Minister Abe replied to questions from party leaders for the 
first time after assuming office. Asked for his view about the 
responsibility of Class-A war criminals, Abe said: 
 
"There are various views in the debate as to the responsibility of 
war leaders. I believe it is not appropriate for the government to 
make a specific judgment." 
 
Regarding the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, in 
which the Allied Powers judged Class-A war criminals, Abe stated: 
 
"Based on the San Francisco Peace Treaty, our country accepted the 
judgments handed down at the trials. In view of state-to-state 
relations, Japan is not in a position to express an objection to the 
judgments." 
 
15) Minshuto to demand conspiracy charge be dropped from bill 
amending Organized Crime Punishment Law 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) has decided to demand that the 
conspiracy charge be removed from a bill amending the Organized 
 
TOKYO 00005744  009 OF 011 
 
 
Crime Punishment Law. This decision came after it was found through 
investigations by Minshuto and the Japan Federation of Bar 
Associations that the government argued in a meeting of at the 
United Nations in 1999: "Criminalizing conspiracy does not fit the 
Japanese legal system." 
 
The government cites as the reason for its eagerness to create a 
conspiracy charge "the need to ratify the International Organized 
Crime Prevention Convention (focusing on antiterrorism measures)." 
But Minshuto asserts that it should be possible to ratify the 
convention even without a conspiracy charge. The opposition party 
submitted to the last ordinary Diet session its own bill that 
included stricter conditions for the charge than those in the 
government's bill. 
 
In the current session, Minshuto intends to submit a revision bill 
calling for dropping the conspiracy charge. 
 
16) People's New Party, New Party Nippon dissolve parliamentary 
group 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
The People's New Party submitted yesterday the notification of 
dissolving the joint parliamentary group with the New Party Nippon 
to the secretariats of both houses of the Diet. The reason is that 
the New Party Nippon did not punish Hiroyuki Arai, the party's 
secretary general, who had voted for Shinzo Abe in the prime 
 
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ministerial election in the Diet, disobeying the group's decision 
(to vote for People's New Party President Watanuki). Since only two 
lawmakers -- one from the House of Representatives and the other 
from the House of Councillors -- belong to the New Party Nippon, 
they will become independents. 
 
Party strengths in the Diet 
 
House of Representatives 
 
Liberal Democratic Party                                     292 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) & Independent Club      113 
New Komeito                                                   31 
Japanese Communist Party                                       9 
Social Democratic Party & Citizens' League                     7 
Peoples' New Party & Independent Group                         5 
Independents                                                  21 
Vacant                                                         2 
 
House of Councillors 
 
Liberal Democratic Party                                     110 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) & New Ryokufu-kai        83 
New Komeito                                                   24 
Japanese Communist Party                                       9 
Social Democratic Party & Pro-Constitution League              6 
People's New Party                                             4 
Independents                                                   5 
Vacant                                                         1 
 
17) Okinawa gubernatorial election: Ruling, opposition parties to 
face off over USFJ realignment 
 
 
TOKYO 00005744  010 OF 011 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Okinawa Prefecture will hold a gubernatorial election on Nov. 19, as 
Governor Keiichi Inamine's term of office is due to expire. The 
ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito 
has decided to field Hirokazu Nakaima, 67, former chairman of 
Okinawa Electric Power Co. (OEPC). Meanwhile, the Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto), the Japanese Communist Party, the Social 
Democratic Party (Shaminto), and the Okinawa Socialist Masses Party 
(Shadaito) will back Keiko Itokazu, 58, a member of the House of 
Councillors. The election will likely be a one-on-one duel 
reflecting the standoff between the ruling and opposition parties in 
the Diet. The issue of realigning US forces in Japan is certain to 
become a focus of the election campaign. Moreover, the election is 
to take place after this year's Oct. 22 by-elections for the House 
of Representatives, when the Diet is about to enter crucial stages 
in its extraordinary session. The ruling and opposition parties are 
both considering the forthcoming gubernatorial election as important 
as a national election. 
 
The gubernatorial election will be held with the end of Inamine's 
term of office after having served two terms for eight years. The 
LDP and the New Komeito, which are the ruling parties in Okinawa 
Prefecture's assembly, wanted Inamine to stay on. However, they 
found Inamine firmly resolved to retire. The ruling camp then 
singled out Nakaima in the local business community in an aim to 
continue the Inamine regime with backing from the local business 
community. 
 
In the meantime, on Sept. 1 the opposition parties almost gave up on 
fielding one candidate. However, they decided to field Itokazu, who 
garnered about 320,000 votes in the 2004 Upper House election. The 
gubernatorial election is now going to be a showdown between the 
ruling and opposition camps. The opposition bench asked Itokazu time 
and again until early this September to run in the gubernatorial 
election, but she firmly declined each time. However, Itokazu made 
up her mind to run if she could contribute to the joint struggle. 
 
The election campaign will inevitably focus on the issue of 
relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma airfield. In October last 
year, Japan and the United States reached an intergovernmental 
agreement to relocate the airfield's heliport functions to Camp 
Schwab's coastal area off Nago City's Henoko district in Okinawa 
Prefecture. However, there has been no progress in the Japanese 
government's local coordination. Inamine has been squaring off with 
the government while insisting on the idea of creating a temporary 
heliport. In January this year, Nakaima advised Inamine to avoid 
getting into trouble with the government. However, Nakaima 
completely changed his attitude when he announced his candidacy on 
Sept. 5, saying, "We will need to coordinate with the local 
communities and the prefectural government (over the planned 
relocation of Futenma airfield)." Inamine is popular in Okinawa, so 
the ruling camp wants to survive the race with an imprint of Nakaima 
as Inamine's successor. 
 
The opposition camp is using the realignment of US forces in Japan 
as a tailwind. "We will never let them build any more bases (in 
Okinawa), and that's the biggest point. All the opposition parties 
must be pulled together, or we can't win." With this, Itokazu 
explained why she made up her mind to run in the race. In her 
election campaign, she will focus on the issue of realigning the US 
 
TOKYO 00005744  011 OF 011 
 
 
military presence in Japan. 
 
18) LDP growing critical, DPJ confident in joint struggle 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 3, 2006 
 
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, 
meeting the press yesterday, noted that the US Marine Corps' Futenma 
airfield in Okinawa Prefecture was dangerous. "We wonder if it would 
be better to leave it as is," Nakagawa said. "We will help Okinawa 
with its further development on our own responsibility," he added. 
He also said: "We want to make clear the point at issue in the 
gubernatorial election campaign. That's also for us to carry out the 
realignment of US forces in Japan for Asia and the world." With 
this, Nakagawa indicated that it would be a categorical imperative 
for the ruling parties to win the gubernatorial election in order to 
strengthen Japan-US relations. However, the LDP does not want base 
issues highlighted unnecessarily, so the LDP's campaign strategy, 
according to an LDP officer, is to give indirect backing (to its 
candidate) while showing consideration for local business 
communities. 
 
Meanwhile, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), headed by Ichiro Ozawa, will struggle together with 
other opposition parties in next summer's election for the House of 
Councillors, aiming to block the LDP and its coalition partner, the 
New Komeito, from retaining a majority. For the DPJ, the upcoming 
gubernatorial election in Okinawa Prefecture will be a test run. The 
DPJ and other opposition parties are now ready to field a single 
candidate. "Okinawa Prefecture's local residents are dissatisfied 
with the ruling coalition over the issue of realigning US forces in 
Japan, so we can win the election," one DPJ officer said. 
 
DONOVAN