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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 006638 
 
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 11/21/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Abe diplomacy: 
4) Prime Minister Abe in Hanoi stresses need to restart 6-party 
talks on North Korea and "correct action" from that country 
5) Text of Prime Minister's press conference at the close of APEC in 
Hanoi 
6) Business leaders accompanied Abe to Hanoi to launch 
"government-private sector diplomacy" 
 
Defense issues: 
7) Yomiuri poll: 80% of public back three no-nuclear principles, but 
public split on issue of debating possession of nuclear weapons 
8) Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki: Government to review Fukuda 
statement on not allowing Japan to use MD in connection with 
collective self-defense 
9) JDA chief Kyuma reluctant to consider changes in runway plan for 
Camp Schwab shore area 
10) Kyuma to meet with local representatives in Okinawa later this 
month 
11) Government-prefectural council in Okinawa to restart next month 
but fate of current Futenma relocation plan unclear 
12) Futenma relocation: Gov't mulling local development measures 
 
Aftermath of Okinawa gubernatorial election: 
13) Government eyes submission of US force realignment bills to 
regular Diet session next year, taking Nakaima victory in Okinawa 
gubernatorial election as good chance 
14) Ruling camp's candidate Nakaima, who won Okinawa governorship, 
even took towns that house US bases 
15) Only one out of every ten eligible voters voted absentee and 
mostly went for Nakaima for Okinawa governor 
16) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), stung by candidate's loss 
of Okinawa race, ends Diet boycott, but some members blame Ozawa' s 
methods for loss 
17) Diet session to normalize tomorrow with chastened Minshuto's 
return to deliberations 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Keio University, Kyoritsu University of Pharmacy to merge in the 
form of establishing faculty of pharmacy in Keio University 
 
Mainichi: 
Miyazaki governor suspected of bribery via bid collusion; Police 
investigation to start 
 
Yomiuri: 
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to conduct in next fiscal year 
a follow-up survey of 2,000 test-tube babies from birth to 
elementary school 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Chubu Electric Power will buy electricity from Osaka Gas in effort 
to secure a stable supplier 
 
TOKYO 00006638  002 OF 012 
 
 
 
Sankei: 
Lay-judge system: The question of establishing a "partial verdict 
system" being considered by Legislative Council 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Osaka labor committee orders Victor to respond to collective 
bargaining with individual contractors, noting, "Individual 
contractors are workers of the company" 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Japan-China relations: It's important to maintain positive 
momentum 
(2) Revisions to Labor Law: Unpaid overtime must be eliminated 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Recognition as abductee: Every effort should be made to see 
whether Matsumoto is alive 
(2) Reducing government bond issues: Need to set 20-trillion-yen 
target quickly 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Return to Diet deliberations: Minshuto chastened? 
(2) Extension of copyright protection: Ideas necessary to avoid 
hampering distribution 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Tax on reserves must be abolished 
(2) Industrialized nations must take the lead in stopping global 
warming 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Banks' positive earnings: Too early for high praise 
(2) Expansion of agricultural imports: No future in protection 
alone 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Recognition of new abductee: Likely more than 17 abductees 
(2) Revenue for road construction should be put in general account 
budget as part of fiscal reform 
 
Akahata: 
Japan-US summit: Strengthening the military will not contribute to 
peace 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, November 20 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
(Local time) 
Morning  Laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi. Made 
courtesy calls on Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet and Vietnam 
Communist Party Secretary General Nong Duc Manh. Attended a meeting 
of Japanese business leaders, including Japan Business Federation 
Chairman Mitarai, and Vietnamese economic ministers at Melia Hotel. 
Held a press conference in Hanoi Tower. 
Afternoon Hosted a reception at Melia Hotel. Visited Thang Long 
 
TOKYO 00006638  003 OF 012 
 
 
Industrial Park. Departed from Hanoi airport on a government plane. 
 
(Japan time) 
21:39 
Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
 
22:17 
Arrived at his private residence in Tomigaya. 
 
4) Prime Minister Abe: North Korea should take concrete steps to 
abandon its nuclear programs 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Takehiko Yabe, Hanoi 
 
Referring to the six-party talks to be resumed next month at a press 
conference in Hanoi on the morning of Nov. 20 (on the afternoon same 
day, Japan time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed his intention 
that Japan along with the United States and other members of the 
six-party talks would urge North Korea to abandon its nuclear 
programs. He stated: "Resuming the six-party talks is not the goal. 
North Korea needs to take concrete steps to give up its nuclear 
weapons. The North must respond sincerely." 
 
Regarding specifics, Abe said: 
 
"I exchanged views with the leaders of the United States, South 
Korea, and China. I want to refrain from referring to the contents 
of the summits. Japan, the US, and South Korea were able to 
coordinate differences in views." 
 
As to the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals, the prime 
minister stated: 
 
"I emphasized the importance of resolving the abduction issue as 
early as possible. US President Bush and leaders of other nations 
expressed their support for my view. I think various counties have 
deepened their understanding of the issue and increased their 
understanding for Japan's position." 
 
Referring also to calls for a nuclear option for Japan, Abe stated: 
 
"Our country is the only country that has suffered from nuclear 
bombs. Japan must lead the drive to eliminate nuclear weapons from 
the world. We have abandoned a nuclear option. The formal 
organizations in the government and the Liberal Democratic Party 
will never debate whether Japan should possess nuclear weapons." 
 
5) Main points of Prime Minister Abe's press briefing 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Jiji 
 
The following are the main points of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
remarks made during a press conference yesterday. 
 
North Korean nuclear issue 
 
 
TOKYO 00006638  004 OF 012 
 
 
It is very significant that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
(APEC) summit conference chairman issued an oral statement 
expressing strong concern over North Korea's nuclear test. North 
Korea needs to heed objections from the international community with 
sincerity and respond to them faithfully. 
 
The six-party talks, once they are resumed, need to achieve specific 
results leading up to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 
Japan, the United States, and South Korea in our summit talks were 
able to coordinate views (on how to respond to North Korea) to a 
considerable extent. Japan and China, as well, in our summit 
meeting, coordinated views considerably. In the sense of aiming at 
denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, China's position is the same as 
ours. 
 
Abduction issue 
 
The abduction is gravely important. I emphasized the need to resolve 
the issue as quickly as possible through international cooperation. 
US President Bush and other countries' leaders stated their support 
for our position. I believe firmly that Japan's position has now 
been understood and supported more widely. 
 
Nuclear-arms debate in Japan 
 
(Japan) must lead the movement for the elimination of nuclear 
weapons from the world. We have renounced the choice of nuclear 
possession. No nuclear-arms debate will be held in any official 
arenas in the government and the Liberal Democratic Party. 
 
6) Business leaders accompany Abe to Vietnam; Public-private 
diplomacy launched 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) dispatched more than 
130 members to Vietnam on Nov. 19-20 in conjunction with Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe's official visit to that country. In many 
European countries, the government and business circles have made 
joint efforts to boost domestic businesses. Japan has also launched 
a public-private diplomatic approach for the first time. The next 
challenge for Japan is how to take this approach to such big markets 
as China and India. 
 
During a seminar for companies sponsored jointly by the Vietnamese 
Planning and Investment Ministry and Nippon Keidanren, Vietnamese 
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed Keidanren members' visit to 
his country, saying, "I highly appreciate Japanese companies' 
interest in investment in Vietnam." In response, Abe proudly said, 
"The visit by more than 130 business leaders represents an eagerness 
to strengthen relations between Japan and Vietnam." 
 
The plan for a visit to Vietnam by business leaders cropped up 
during a welcome party for the visiting Dung on the night of Oct. 
¶19. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki conveyed to Keidanren 
Chairman Fujio Mitarai Prime Minister Abe's desire to have business 
leaders accompany him to Vietnam. Mitarai immediately took action 
and formed a delegation of representatives from about 60 companies. 
The delegation arrived in Hanoi by charter flight. 
 
When European leaders visit foreign countries, they often bring 
 
TOKYO 00006638  005 OF 012 
 
 
business leaders with them. In many cases, business leaders 
accompanying state heads successfully arrange deals for large-scale 
projects, such as railway construction or sale of aircraft. When 
leaders from France, Germany, and other countries visited China, 
they received orders for large projects. Sumitomo Corporation 
Chairman Kenji Miyahara said, "Japan also should take a step 
forward." 
 
In this sense, the visit to Vietnam provided a good opportunity for 
Prime Minister Abe to make an appeal. The Canon plant that Abe 
visited on the afternoon of Nov. 20 exports printers and other 
products. The ratio of exports by Japanese manufactures in Vietnam 
account for 2.3% of Vietnamese total exports. 
 
7) Poll: 80% support 3 nonnuclear principles; Public opinion split 
over nukes debate 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a face-to-face nationwide public 
opinion survey on Nov. 11-12, in which respondents were asked if 
Japan should keep up its self-imposed three nonnuclear principles of 
not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons into the 
country. In response to this question, a total of 80% answered 
"yes," including "yes to a certain degree." Meanwhile, a total of 
18% would not mind if Japan changed the triple nonnuclear policy. 
 
In the wake of North Korea's nuclear test, some in the government 
and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party are saying Japan may debate 
whether it should go nuclear. Asked whether they support this 
argument, public opinion was spilt, with "no" totaling 51% and "yes" 
accounting for 46%. 
 
Broken down by gender, affirmative answers outnumbered negative ones 
among males, respectively accounting for 52% and 46%. Among females, 
negative answers topped affirmative ones at 56% and 40%. 
 
Among LDP supporters, "yes" totaled 51%, with "no" accounting for 
46%. Among those who support the leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto), however, "no" totaled 56%, with "yes" reaching 
42%. 
 
The six-party talks over the North Korean nuclear issue are expected 
to resume. In the survey, respondents were asked if they could 
expect the issue of North Korea's nuclear development to be 
resolved. In response, "no" accounted for 74%, with "yes" at 20%. 
 
8) Gov't may change Fukuda doctrine over collective self-defense: 
Shiozaki 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki, meeting the press yesterday, 
indicated that the government could review a statement released in 
December 2003 by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda over missile 
defense. In connection with case studies regarding collective 
self-defense, Fukuda stated that Japan would limit its missile 
defense to defensive purposes only. 
 
"We're going to discuss what the (Fukuda) statement really means," 
 
TOKYO 00006638  006 OF 012 
 
 
Shiozaki said. "Whether to review the statement depends on the 
outcome of discussions," he added. With this, he suggested the need 
for the government to study whether Japan would be allowed to 
intercept missiles launched at the United States. 
 
The government, in its conventional constitutional reading, takes 
the position that intercepting missiles launched at other countries 
could fall under the category of collective self-defense. When the 
government made a formal decision to introduce a missile defense 
system, Fukuda negated Japan's participation in collective 
self-defense, stating that Japan's missile defense system is 
intended to defend Japan and will not be used to defend third 
countries. 
 
9) Futenma relocation: Kyuma cautious about retouching V-shaped 
airstrips plan 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Defense Agency Director General Kyuma indicated yesterday that it 
would not be realistic to make substantial changes to the 
government's plan to lay down a V-shaped pair of airstrips in 
Okinawa Prefecture as an alternative to take over the heliport 
functions of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the island 
prefecture. Meanwhile, Hirokazu Nakaima, who won Okinawa's recent 
gubernatorial election, has said he cannot agree to the current 
relocation plan. Kyuma, however, raised a question about the Okinawa 
prefectural government's stance. "I wonder what plan (the Okinawa 
prefectural government has)," Kyuma said to an Asahi Shimbun 
reporter. "Even if the prefectural government agrees (to a retouched 
plan), environmental groups and others may oppose it, so we may not 
be able to go ahead with that plan. We must be careful about whether 
it's feasible," he added. 
 
Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi has also 
indicated that it would be difficult to reopen negotiations with the 
US government about Futenma relocation. "This is not a matter we 
intend to change in the future," Yachi told a press conference 
yesterday. 
 
Nakaima will visit Tokyo this month to meet with Kyuma and other 
government officials and ruling party executives. The government has 
not held talks with Okinawa's prefectural and municipal governments 
since August, so Nakaima will exchange views with Kyuma to resume 
talks within the year. The Defense Agency wants to hold informal 
talks with the Okinawa prefectural government before Dec. 10 when 
Nakaima is set to become governor. 
 
The government initially intended to map out a new airfield 
construction plan in late October. The Defense Agency is expected to 
reach an agreement with the US government on it within the year and 
will explain it to Nakaima for his understanding. 
 
10) Defense chief to discuss Futenma relocation issue with Okinawa: 
"Like the governor, I also want to see progress on relocation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fumio Kyuma yesterday gave an 
interview to Tokyo Shimbun, in which he revealed that his agency 
 
TOKYO 00006638  007 OF 012 
 
 
would hold pre-consultations on the relocation of the US Marine 
Corps Air Station Futenma late this month as the ruling parties' 
backed candidate Hirokazu Nakaima won Sunday's gubernatorial 
election. 
 
Upon revealing his intention to resume discussions between the 
central government and relevant municipalities in Okinawa on the 
Futenma issue next month, Kyuma stressed the need for 
pre-consultations, stating: 
 
"Soon after (Dec. 11, the new governor's first day of work at the 
prefectural government, both the central and prefectural 
governments) start the work of compiling the budgets for next fiscal 
year. During that period, we should negotiate behind closed doors." 
 
Asked about the fact that Nakaima has opposed the central 
government's Futenma relocation plan, Kyuma responded: "Mr. Nakaima 
has strong hopes for progress on (relocation). We have the same 
view." 
 
11) Government aims to resume negotiations on Futenma relocation 
issue next month 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Following the victory of ruling coalition-backed candidate Hirokazu 
Nakaima in Sunday's Okinawa gubernatorial election, the government 
yesterday began coordination to steadily implement its plan to 
relocate the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma (in Ginowan City) 
to the coastline of Camp Schwab (in Nago City). In order to push 
forward with full-fledged consultations, the government plans to 
hold a second meeting in December with the Okinawa prefecture and 
four relevant municipalities. No meeting has been held since 
August. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki called Administrative Vice 
Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya and Cabinet Office Deputy Director 
General (for Okinawa affairs) Munetaka Takeda in the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and ordered them to quickly 
pave the way for consultations with Okinawa on Dec. 10 when Nakaima 
assumes the governorship or later. The consultations will focus on 
the formulation of a concrete construction plan for the V-shaped 
runway plan in Camp Schwab, as well as on coordination on national 
funding the prefecture gets for promotion measures. 
 
Shiozaki revealed at a press conference yesterday that the 
government would reflect Okinawa's views in compiling at the end of 
this year a state budget for next fiscal year. He stated: "Since the 
government will compile in December the budget for next fiscal year, 
I want to closely communicate with Mr. Nakaima." He repeatedly said, 
"I want to discuss the matter in a polite manner," implying 
consideration to Okinawa. Nakaima will exchange views with the heads 
of relevant municipalities, including the mayor of Nago City, this 
week. He plans to meet next week in Tokyo with Prime Minister Shinzo 
Abe and cabinet ministers concerned. 
 
Nakaima took a flexible stance toward the replacement facility plan, 
though calling for changes. He told reporters, "Even though there 
are differences the government's plan and our scenario, we should 
push ahead the plan if such leads to reducing the excessive burden 
on Okinawa." He is at odds with the government on details. 
 
TOKYO 00006638  008 OF 012 
 
 
 
12) Futenma relocation: Gov't mulling local development measures 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Now that Hirokazu Nakaima, backed by the ruling coalition of the 
Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito, has won Okinawa 
Prefecture's gubernatorial election, the government yesterday set 
about its full-fledged study of economic development measures for 
Okinawa's base-hosting localities in an aim to accelerate the issue 
of relocating the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan 
City. The government will hold a meeting of its consultative body 
with Okinawa's prefectural and municipal governments in mid-December 
to talk about the planned relocation of Futenma airfield. The 
government wants to have Okinawa's local views of economic 
development reflected in its budget for fiscal 2007. 
 
In addition, the government will also present a US force realignment 
promotion bill to the Diet in its ordinary session next year, 
incorporating a new subsidization plan to fund local economic 
development according to the progress of Futenma relocation. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki yesterday called in 
Defense Agency Administrative Deputy Director General Takemasa 
Moriya to the prime minister's office and directed him to accelerate 
preparations for talks with Okinawa. "The important thing is that 
revitalizing Okinawa's local economy is a matter of primary concern 
to Okinawa Prefecture's population," Shiozaki told a press 
conference later in the day. "I hope that we will be able to hold 
sincere talks about issues regarding Japan's national security as a 
whole and about measures to alleviate Okinawa's base-hosting 
burden," the government's top spokesman added. 
 
Nakaima reiterated yesterday that he would conditionally accept the 
proposed relocation of Futenma airfield within Okinawa Prefecture. 
"If the government's plan differs from our idea or scenario, but if 
the government will make efforts to alleviate Okinawa's overly heavy 
burden of hosting US military bases, then I hope that we will be 
able to make headway," Nakaima said. 
 
The Defense Agency will present a package of local economic 
development measures in a consultative meeting and will seek 
Nakaima's understanding on the government's plan to build a V-shaped 
pair of airstrips that Governor Inamine has opposed. 
 
13) Government eyes submission of US force realignment bills to 
regular Diet session next year, taking Nakaima victory in Okinawa 
gubernatorial election as good chance 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
The government yesterday started discussing the possibility of 
submitting bills related to the realignment of US forces in Japan to 
the ordinary Diet session next year. Officials take the victory of 
Hirokazu Nakaima in the gubernatorial election on Nov. 19 as a good 
chance to push ahead with the agenda, seeing Nakaima indicated 
yesterday a flexible stance toward the government's plan to relocate 
the US Marine Corp's Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp 
Schwab. The government intends to resume negotiations at the Council 
on Futenma Relocation with Okinawa and other local governments 
 
TOKYO 00006638  009 OF 012 
 
 
involved in the plan possibly in mid-December. Whether sufficient 
economic incentives will be included in the bills is likely to be 
the key in an effort to sway the local communities into endorsing 
the plan. 
 
During the election campaign, Nakaima had expressed opposition to 
the government's Futenma relocation plan. But he indicated a 
flexible stance toward the plan yesterday, saying before reporters 
in Okinawa, "Even if the plan is slightly different from our 
scenario, we should move ahead with it as long as the plan will lead 
to reducing our burden." 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa 
Shiozaki stressed the government's willingness to forge ahead with 
negotiations. 
 
The government has worked out two related bills: One pertaining to 
grounds for Japan to foot the bill for relocating US Marines from 
Okinawa to Guam; and another designed to provide local communities 
with state subsidies in accordance with the state of progress in 
construction work, with atomic power plant projects as a model. 
 
The government plans to offer subsidies to Okinawa, as well as to 
communities that will be pressed with a heavier base burden as a 
result of US force realignment. The Defense Agency and the Finance 
Ministry have already started coordination to submit the bills to 
the regular Diet session. 
 
The Council on Futenma Relocation is composed of the central 
government and such relevant local governments as Okinawa and Nago 
City. A decision was made in a cabinet meeting this May to set up 
the panel, and the panel held its first meeting in August. But since 
then, no session has been held, given the gubernatorial election. 
 
In the planned session of the council, the government is willing to 
discuss these three themes: (1) a specific construction plan; (2) 
measures to remove risks and protect the environment; and (3) local 
economic incentives. The government anticipates that even if 
negotiations face difficulty over the coastal plan, dialogue will be 
continued on economic stimulus measures. 
 
According to the government's plan, the transfer of Futenma is 
completed in eight years, with three years for assessing the 
environmental impact and five years for construction work, and the 
government aims to complete the project by 2014. To attain this 
goal, it is necessary to start the environment assessment next year. 
The government hopes to obtain understanding toward its coastal plan 
at an early date by preparing subsidies as the "carrot." 
 
14) Nakaima collected more votes than Itokazu in base towns like 
Ginowan and Kadena 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
November 21, 2006 
 
In the Nov. 19 Okinawa gubernatorial race, Hirokazu Nakaima backed 
by the ruling coalition defeated Keiko Itokazu backed by the 
opposition bloc. In the race, votes for Nakaima outnumbered those 
for Itokazu in 31 of the 41 municipalities in the prefecture. 
Included in them were Ginowan, home to Futenma Air Station, Kadena, 
home to Kadena Air Base, and many other municipalities bearing heavy 
burdens for US bases. 
 
TOKYO 00006638  010 OF 012 
 
 
 
In the 2004 Upper House election in which Itokazu won a seat, votes 
for her outnumbered those for the LDP candidate in the great 
majority of those municipalities. Experts think Itokazu's anti-base 
message did not resonate in those municipalities this time. 
 
A conservative Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) member took the 
following view about Itokazu's campaign pledge to immediately close 
down Futenma Air Station to move it out of Japan: "The unfeasible 
campaign pledge did not collect votes. The conventional anti-base 
message was rejected in Okinawa, where reformist views run deep." 
 
15) 10% of eligible voters cast ballots before Nov. 19 Okinawa 
gubernatorial election; 70% of those votes went to Nakaima 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 21, 2006 
 
In the Nov. 19 Okinawa gubernatorial election, 110,606 people, or 
10.5% of the total eligible voters, cast ballots before election 
day. In other words, one in every six actual voters went to the 
polling stations before Nov. 19. Some experts ascribe this 
phenomenon to calls for early votes by the Liberal Democratic Party 
and the New Komeito, which backed the winner Hirokazu Nakaima. 
 
The previous 2002 gubernatorial election marked a little over 50,000 
absentee votes. The number of absentee votes doubled due in part to 
the simplified advance ballot system. 
 
The Nakaima camp took a strategy of encouraging solid supporters to 
go to the polls before Nov. 19 in order to focus on less 
enthusiastic municipalities. A senior LDP member took this view: "I 
think 70% of the advance votes went to Nakaima. The votes on Nov. 19 
might have been even between Nakaima and Itokazu." 
 
16) Opposition bloc softens stance on Diet following defeat in 
Okinawa race; Ozawa's approach under fire 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
November 21, 2006 
 
The Diet moved toward the point of normalcy yesterday following the 
Okinawa gubernatorial race, in which the ruling and opposition camps 
clashed head on. Defeated in the race, the opposition has begun 
showing some flexibility. The Liberal Democratic Party has also 
begun undertaking full-fledged coordination for the question of 
reinstating the so-called postal rebels, which has been frozen 
during the Okinawa election campaign. 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the Japanese Communist Party, 
the Social Democratic Party, and the People's New Party decided in 
yesterday's Diet chiefs' meetings that they would: (1) comply with 
the ruling bloc's request for a Diet chiefs' meeting on Nov. 21; (2) 
demand the government and the ruling coalition put an end to the 
town meeting fake question issue and the compulsory school 
curriculum requirements evasion problem as prerequisites for their 
return to Diet deliberations. 
 
Minshuto Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshiaki Takagi said in a 
press conference: "We are not happy about boycotting deliberations. 
We, too, are hoping for talks with the ruling bloc (to break the 
impasse in the current situation)." The party had conditioned its 
 
TOKYO 00006638  011 OF 012 
 
 
return to Diet deliberations on a remand of the basic education law 
revision bill to the Lower House. But in yesterday's press meeting, 
Takagi said, "If the conditions are met for advancing Diet 
deliberations, we will have to withdraw (our demand for the bill's 
pass-back)." Minshuto's posture was visibly flexible. 
 
The ruling bloc had planned to begin Upper House deliberations on 
Nov. 21 independently without the opposition parties. But it has 
changed the plan in deference to the opposition. "It's not wise to 
drive the opposition bloc into a tight corner," a ruling party 
member said with confidence. 
 
The softened stance of the opposition bloc is mainly ascribable to 
its defeat in the Okinawa gubernatorial race that robbed it of 
momentum. One opposition member even took this view: "Boycotting 
committee sessions had a negative impact on our election strategy. 
We should quickly return to Diet sessions in order to question the 
government and the ruling coalition there." 
 
The JCP has been dismissive of boycotting Diet sessions all along. 
"If this situation persists, the JCP might return to committee 
sessions independently, causing discord in the opposition bloc," an 
opposition lawmaker noted. 
 
Some Minshuto members have begun questioning President Ichiro 
Ozawa's responsibility for leading the boycott strategy. 
 
A mid-level member not close to Ozawa said yesterday: "Nowadays, 
boycotting sessions is out of line with public opinion. It was 
inappropriate to link the Okinawa race to Diet affairs." 
 
17) Diet to return to normal possibly tomorrow, with opposition 
parties looking for ways to rejoin deliberations in wake of defeat 
in Okinawa gubernatorial race 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
November 21, 2006 
 
Four opposition parties that have boycotted deliberations in both 
chambers of the Diet on the bill amending the Basic Education Law, 
following their backed-candidate's defeat in the Okinawa 
gubernatorial election, began looking for ways to return in earnest 
to the deliberations as a source concerned with Diet affairs of the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) stated, "Now is the time 
to do so." Minshuto President Ichiro Ozawa, as well, late yesterday 
met with Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and other party members 
and essentially allowed the party to rejoin the deliberations. The 
Diet is expected to return to normalcy as early as tomorrow after 
talks today between the chairmen of both the ruling and opposition 
parties' Diet Affairs Committees. 
 
Four opposition parties -- Minshuto, the Japanese Communist Party 
(JCP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the People's New Party 
-- yesterday held a meeting of the chairmen of their Diet Affairs 
Committees. In the meeting, they decided to respond to talks with 
the ruling bloc's Diet affairs committee chairmen. On the other 
hand, the ruling parties, heeding the opposition bloc's now softened 
attitude, yesterday delayed the start of the deliberations at the 
Upper House Special Committee on the Basic Education Law. 
 
As a condition of returning to the deliberations, Minshuto called on 
the ruling bloc to have intensive deliberations at the budget 
 
TOKYO 00006638  012 OF 012 
 
 
committee and other committees on such problems as school bullying, 
the failure of schools to teach compulsory subjects, and 
"bureaucrats-prearranged questions" for the government's town-hall 
meetings. The ruling camp responded: "It would be fine to have 
deliberations at every committee." Minshuto is now showing a more 
flexible stance to this response, with an opposition senior Diet 
Affairs Committee member saying, "We don't have to stick to the 
formalities." If intensive deliberations at the Lower House 
Committee on Education, for instance, is ensured, the opposition 
parties may return to the deliberations. 
 
SCHIEFFER