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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 006241 
 
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 10/26/06 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Abe administration marks one-month anniversary today: Kantei-led 
system gradually exhibiting originality; Trial and error to end 
bureaucracy-oriented politics 
 
(2) Q&As on debating a nuclear option for Japan: US concerned about 
nuclear domino effect 
 
(3) No clear answer to question why the Basic Education Law should 
be revised; Lower House panel resumes discussion of bill 
 
(4) US military dependent arrested for wounding foreign male; US 
Marine on the run 
 
(5) Efforts underway to explore new market by developing Western 
cuisine using whalemeat 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Abe administration marks one-month anniversary today: Kantei-led 
system gradually exhibiting originality; Trial and error to end 
bureaucracy-oriented politics 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
October 26, 2006 
 
The cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will mark its one-month 
anniversary today. Abe has had a good start during his first month 
as prime minister, making surprise visits to China and South Korea 
and swiftly responding to the North Korean nuclear issue. Encouraged 
by the Liberal Democratic Party's victories in the Oct. 22 Lower 
House by-elections, Abe aims to accelerate his reform policy course. 
That hinges on whether or not he can realize politics led by Kantei 
(Prime Minister's Official Residence). Abe has now nearly completed 
appointing his lineup of officials and launching panels reflecting 
his policy agenda. Abe's true worth will be tested during budget 
compilation in December. 
 
The Kantei has changed since Abe assumed office. Access to the prime 
minister by administrative vice-ministers and other bureaucrats has 
been markedly reduced. This is ascribable to the new rule: Only the 
cabinet ministers can see the prime minister in person with the 
exception of the cabinet intelligence director and the vice foreign 
minister associated with classified information. The prime minister 
often sees lawmakers posted at the Kantei, however. "The cabinet 
ministers should take leadership in implementing policies," a prime 
ministerial aide explained. Comparing views with the prime minister 
is essential in determining important policies. The process helps 
narrow down the number of intermediaries between government agencies 
and the prime minister and elevate the positions of cabinet 
ministers. 
 
?Abe did not allow anyone from the Finance Ministry and the Economy, 
Trade, and Industry Ministry to accompany him to China and South 
Korea. 
 
?The Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Ministry 
was not able to grasp an overall picture of the Education Rebuilding 
Council. 
 
There are plenty of episodes illustrating a psychological distance 
between Prime Minister Abe and Kasumigaseki. To push ahead with a 
 
TOKYO 00006241  002 OF 007 
 
 
growth strategy, deregulation, educational reform, and other themes 
unfettered by bureaucratic sectionalism, the Abe administration has 
come up with the basic approach of letting the Kantei map out 
policies in outline by defining the ministries and agencies as 
enforcement offices. 
 
Abe's predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, demonstrated strong leadership 
with his unique personality. Abe aims at a solid Kantei-led system. 
He devoted his efforts to achieving that over the last month. After 
appointing five advisors and publicly recruiting Kantei staffers, 
Abe has established many experts' councils, including the Education 
Rebuilding Council, the Innovation 25 Strategic Council, and the 
Asia Gateway Initiative Experts Council. 
 
Abe reportedly calls in cabinet ministers in charge and advisors 
daily to give them instructions and homework. Abe has also requested 
Osaka University Prof. Masaaki Honma, who shares his growth-oriented 
policy course, be appointed new head of the government tax 
commission. 
 
Looking back on the last month, Abe said to reporters at Kantei 
yesterday: "This one month felt like a whole year. I was able to 
start many challenges I had promised at the beginning." 
 
But with the Upper House election coming up next summer, there still 
remain many factors that could stall Abe's reform drive, such as 
growing expectations in the LDP for more spending on public works 
projects. "The prime minister needs an approach of taking advantage 
of bureaucrats instead of alienating them," one said. Trial and 
error is likely to continue before Abe can realize Kantei-led 
politics. 
 
Experts' views 
 
Gakushuin University law professor Takeshi Sasaki: Clear path to 
policymaking nowhere in sight 
 
Prime Minister Abe seems to be following the Koizumi 
administration's legacy of strong leadership. But preoccupied with 
the challenge of building a Kantei-led system, his administration's 
decision-making mechanism has yet to come in sight. Abe needs to 
transform himself into a team player by growing out of Koizumi-style 
individualism. 
 
How is he going to run Team Abe? If everyone thinks he is the 
closest to the prime minister, the team will not function. The key 
is whether he can pick one who will work as coordinator among the 
chief cabinet secretary, the five advisors, the cabinet ministers, 
and others. 
 
Japan Research Institute chief economist Kenji Yumoto: Budget 
compilation a test for Abe's structural reform policy 
 
The Abe administration has made a smooth start. His appointment of 
growth-oriented individuals in the administration deserves high 
scores. The lineup of new economic ministers and the Council on 
Economic and Fiscal Policy brushed aside wariness about the Koizumi 
structural reform drive backsliding. But there has been no specific 
debate on economic policy. To what extent can his administration 
inject funds into growing policy areas in budget compilation in 
December? It is going to be a test for Abe's reform policy. Whether 
or not his administration can avoid the pork-barrel practice of past 
administrations also remains to be seen. 
 
TOKYO 00006241  003 OF 007 
 
 
 
Merrill Lynch Japan Securities Co. chief economist Jesper Koll: 
Planned tax system reform deserves positive assessment 
 
His administration is trying to reform the tax system in real 
earnest instead of just advocating the economic growth policy 
course, and this merits a positive assessment. I expect the 
consumption tax hike-oriented debate will subside and a review of 
corporate taxation will move forward under the new government tax 
commission. Although the previous administration won high marks from 
foreign investors, it did not tamper with tax reform. The North 
Korean issue has exposed the administration's strong 
"crisis-management diplomacy." The administration is also urged to 
step up its "economic diplomacy" to benefit investments and 
corporate earnings. 
 
Kyoto University Graduate School Prof. Hiroshi Nakanishi: Settling 
outstanding issues a challenge for Abe diplomacy 
 
Although Abe's visits to China and South Korea have helped find a 
lead to improved relations, there still remain many longstanding 
issues. The government's response to North Korea's announcement on 
its nuclear test was appropriate, but there are no bright prospects 
for settling the nuclear development issue. The administration has 
yet to achieve any concrete results on the diplomatic front. 
Relations with the United States have been good, but the inner 
workings of the Bush administration have changed, exemplified by 
departures of Japan exerts. A failure to abide by the US force 
realignment agreement may chill bilateral relations. I am closely 
watching the Okinawa gubernatorial race in November. 
 
(2) Q&As on debating a nuclear option for Japan: US concerned about 
nuclear domino effect 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 26, 2006 
 
Takuji Nakata 
 
North Korea's nuclear test has provoked a series of remarks by 
senior officials seeking debate on the question of Japan's nuclear 
option from key officials in the governmQGu"Q_8Q}troversy below. 
 
Q: Foreign Minister Taro Aso and the Liberal Democratic Party's 
(LDP) Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa have 
referred to the question of Japan's nuclear option. What are they 
actually asserting? 
 
A: Mr. Nakagawa sparked the controversy. Appearing on a TV program 
on Oct. 15, he stated: "There is an argument that a nuclear option 
(possession of nuclear weapons) is a matter of choice. We need to 
debate that." Likewise, Foreign Minister Aso has stated in Diet 
replies and on other occasions: "Debate is necessary." 
 
Q: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, meanwhile, has emphasized, "I won't 
shift the three nonnuclear principles." 
 
A: The prime minister also has made it clear that "the LDP has no 
intention of formally debating the question." He is trying to quiet 
down the controversy. 
 
 
TOKYO 00006241  004 OF 007 
 
 
Q: What are the three nonnuclear principles in the first place? 
 
A: They are the policy of: not possessing, not producing and not 
permitting the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan. Prime 
Minister Eisaku Sato announced the policy in a reply at the Lower 
House Budget Committee session in December 1967. In 1971, that 
policy was approved in the Diet as an additional resolution 
accompanying the pact on the reversion of Okinawa to Japan. 
 
Q: Well, why have remarks like the one made recently by Mr. Nakagawa 
cropped up one after the other? 
 
A: A few politicians, though their number is small, are in favor of 
debating the question of a nuclear option for Japan. According to 
the results of a survey of all lawmakers conducted in June by the 
Mainichi Shimbun, 17% answered, "(Going nuclear) should be 
considered, depending on the international situation." Given the 
collection rate of some 50% , the ratio of lawmakers favoring 
considering nuclear option is likely to be much lower. In 2002, when 
the Koizumi administration steered the country, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Yasuo Fukuda remarked in 2002, "The Japanese public may 
 
SIPDIS 
call for (nuclear option) should the international situation 
intensify." This remark sparked controversy later. 
 
Q: Aren't there any possibilities that the three nonnuclear 
principles will change? 
 
A: There are few politicians agreeing to Mr. Nakagawa and Mr. Aso. 
Japan is the only country that has suffered nuclear attacks in the 
world. Our country has ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 
(NPT). Nuclear possession wouldn't be allowed in view of public 
sentiment. In addition, the perception that under the Japan-US 
Security Treaty, Japan is protected by America's nuclear umbrella, 
and so Japan does not have to have nuclear arsenals underlies the 
attitude of the government and the ruling parties. But there are 
some critics who point to Japan's contradiction: though protected 
under America's nuclear umbrella, Japan insists on being 
nonnuclear. 
 
Q: The controversial remarks have been played up abroad. 
 
A: After North Korea's nuclear test, President Bush expressed 
concern about a rise in calls in Japan for nuclear option. His 
concern is a nuclear domino effect among Asian countries. At a time 
when Pyongyang declared it would conduct a nuclear test, major US 
newspapers indicated anxiety about Japan going nuclear in 
succession. It seems that the US government and its Congress do not 
have a correct understanding about the fact that politicians 
favoring discussing a nuclear option are a minority in Japan. 
 
Q: How do you think the debate will unfold in the weeks ahead? 
 
A: A senior Foreign Ministry official made this analysis about 
Foreign Minister Aso's recent controversial nuclear remarks: "He 
might have made them upon his calculation that the US and China 
would become more serious to block North Korea from possessing 
nuclear arsenals if they think 'Japan may possess nuclear weapons.'" 
The nuclear remarks have come out at a bad timing, when the 
international community has begun harboring concern about Japan. 
Defense Agency Director-General Fumio Kyuma made this critical 
comment: "(If debate took place), I hope to see it held in an 
atmosphere free from causing any misunderstanding and in a quiet 
fashion." 
 
TOKYO 00006241  005 OF 007 
 
 
 
(3) No clear answer to question why the Basic Education Law should 
be revised; Lower House panel resumes discussion of bill 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
October 26, 2006 
 
The House of Representatives Special Committee on Revision of the 
Basic Education Law resumed yesterday deliberations on a bill 
revising the Basic Education Law. Since the committee spent about 50 
hours for debate on the bill at the previous regular session of the 
Diet, ruling coalition committee members have said that some 20 
hours would be enough for the discussion during the ongoing session. 
However, the government has given no clear answers to the 
fundamental question why the law, which has never been changed since 
being promulgated in 1947, should be amended. The panel will launch 
a question-and-answer session on Oct. 30. 
 
Lawmakers from the ruling and opposition camps repeatedly questioned 
at the previous sessions, "Why is a revision of the law needed now?" 
Then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi responded, by saying, "The 
reason is that there have been changes over the 60 years since the 
establishment of the law." Then Education Minister Kenji Kosaka also 
replied: "In order to respond to new challenges, we have to create a 
new legal structure, adding a new vision." They, however, failed to 
point out the defects of the law. 
 
Shogo Ichikawa, professor emeritus at the Center for National 
University Finance and Management, has classified the reasons why 
the law should be reviewed that were raised in discussions so far 
into five categories: 1) The Basic Education Law was established 
under the US Occupation when Japan's sovereignty was limited; 2) 
there are ambiguous descriptions in the present law; 3) the reason 
for the recent series of phenomena of educational deterioration 
stems from the fact that the present education law does not 
stipulate the need for patriotism and model consciousness which were 
written in the Imperial Prescript on Education; 4) the law should be 
meet the changes of the times; and 5) the law should be revised 
based on the premise of constitutional reform. 
 
The Central Education Council submitted a report recommending a 
revision of the Basic Education Law to the government, but Ichikawa 
objected to the report even though he was a temporary member of the 
council. 
 
At deliberations at the Diet, a committee member from the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) explained the reason for the necessity of the 
amendments: "The real reason must be that it is necessary to revise 
the law established under the US Occupation because it lacks 
descriptions about Japanese spiritual backbone." The ruling and 
opposition parties tried to bring out "the meaning" of the need for 
revisions. 
 
Kosaka stated, however, representing the government: "The United 
States imposed on us a law that does not meet Japan's needs." 
 
He admitted, however, that such problems as school truancy and 
falling academic standards would not automatically be resolved even 
if the law was revised. 
 
A committee member from the main opposition party Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) stated: "I don't understand the thinking 
that the law must be completely revised but the principles of the 
 
TOKYO 00006241  006 OF 007 
 
 
law would be taken into a new law." 
 
Yoshikazu Suzuki, chief of secretariat of the Council on Revision of 
the Basic Education law of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, 
pointed out: 
 
"It is a weak argument that the law should be revised just because 
there are problems at schools. The government has not explained the 
reasons in a way that ordinary people can understand easily. It 
should at least give explanations about how other education-related 
laws would be revised and how the school system would be improved." 
 
According to the bill, a new law would not include the expression 
that education assumes responsibility for the entire public, which 
is stipulated in the present law. Regarding how this would have an 
impact on school, Suzuki commented, "I doubt that this has been made 
clear at the previous Diet debate." 
 
Pointing out that there was not sufficient discussion on an 
education promotion basic plan incorporated in the bill, Ichikawa 
commented: 
 
"The point that the government will make a decision on the basic 
plan means the education administration authority will be 
transferred from the Education Ministry to the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei)." 
 
It is said that education is a major long-term plan for the future 
of the nation. Suzuki stressed: "The government and ruling coalition 
should not force through the vote due to political and party 
reasons." 
 
(4) US military dependent arrested for wounding foreign male; US 
Marine on the run 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 3) (Full) 
Eve., October 26, 2006 
 
In the case of the throat of a foreigner (22) in Urama City being 
slit by two other foreigners on Oct. 25, the Uruma police this 
afternoon arrested for assault and robbery as suspect, Darian 
Preston Daniels (TN: phonetic), an unemployed male (29) living 
inside the US Marine Corps' Camp Foster. According to the Urama 
Police Department, the suspect is a military spouse. Another person 
involved in the crime, a Marine male, is being sought as a fugitive, 
and the Urama police are working with US military authorities to 
track down his whereabouts. 
 
According to the investigation, Daniels and the other suspect around 
10:00 pm on Oct. 25 pinioned down the victim and slit his throat 
with a knife-like object, robbing him of his wallet containing $100 
in cash, his watch, and portable phone. They then fled the scene. 
The male victim was invited into a car by Daniels and the other, 
driven to the scene of the crime and, when he was exiting the car, 
was assaulted by the two. The wound will take a couple of weeks to 
heal. The victim said that he knew the two suspects. 
 
(5) Efforts underway to explore new market by developing Western 
cuisine using whalemeat 
 
NIKKAN KOGYO SHIMBUN (Page 21) (Full) 
October 26, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00006241  007 OF 007 
 
 
Efforts are now underway in the public and private sectors to boost 
whalemeat consumption. The Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR) 
(based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo) under the Fisheries Agency has 
cooperated with a chef's association in sponsoring events to promote 
a Western cuisine using whalemeat. An LLC (Limited Liability 
Company) that was established with the backing of the Fisheries 
Agency and the ICR is also stepping up efforts to sell whalemeat 
mainly to companies providing meals, lunch boxes, and daily dishes. 
Although the amount of whalemeat supplied is increasing as a result 
of a growing number of whales caught under the nation's research 
whale program, whalemeat consumption remains sluggish and the volume 
of stocked meat is piling up. The LLC is eager to find a new market 
in an effort to overcome the current situation. 
 
The ICR, in cooperation with the Tokyo Cooks Association (Minato 
Ward, Tokyo) and cooking schools, has sponsored classes across the 
nation teaching how to cook whalemeat, with the aim of promoting a 
Western cuisine using whalemeat. Whalemeat has so far used mainly 
for Japanese dishes. The institute also held a large-scale event to 
taste western-style meals using whalemeat by inviting about 80 chefs 
from hotels and restaurants. The ICR prepared carpaccio, steak, 
pot-au-feu, and other foods using whalemeat to flavor them and 
advised participants to add these dishes to their menus. 
 
Geishoku Labo (Whale Food Lab) (Minato Ward), which was established 
May, sold whalemeat for about 16,000 dishes to Nikkoku Trust 
(Chiyoda Ward), a leading caterer, as the first whalemeat supply to 
a food-service company. The dishes of deep-fried breaded cutlet of 
whalemeat (Katsuretsu) and deep-fried pieces of whalemeat 
(Tatsutaage) have been served in worksite cafeterias it operates on 
consignment until Oct. 27 on a trial basis. 
 
Geishoku Labo President Hiroshi Nakata said, "Since food-service 
companies procure materials within a certain level of budget, (using 
whalemeat) is expensive, but the fact that it is whalemeat may be 
their sales point." He then indicated that the company would try to 
call on the company to continue using whalemeat. The lab is also 
willing to sell the product to manufacturers of ready-made dishes, 
such as box lunches and prepared meals, in an effort to meet the 
company's goal of selling 1,500 tons of product annually. 
 
SCHIEFFER