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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 006749 
 
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 11/29/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
North Korea problem: 
3) Dates for the restarting of six-party talks on North Korea still 
not set but US, DPRK delegates are still talking directly 
4) US, North Korea gap remains wide over issues of DPRK scrapping 
nuclear weapons, US removing financial sanctions 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
5) Bill upgrading JDA to a ministry expected to pass the Lower House 
tomorrow 
6) Okinawa's northern part to receive economic package conditioned 
on relocation of Futenma to Camp Schwab under USFJ realignment plan 
 
7) As part of compensation for USFJ realignment, local communities 
housing US bases will received grants to sponsor local events and 
the like 
 
Minshuto policy: 
8) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) sets policy platform that 
would allow limited use of collective self-defense, make high school 
compulsory 
9) Minshuto finally has a full set of foreign and security policies 
 
10) Text of Minshuto policy platform 
 
11) Japan, Indonesia reach general agreement on EPA 
 
Diet agenda: 
12) Education reform bill slated to pass the Diet this session after 
all 
13) Postal rebels reinstated in the LDP are satisfied, but party 
itself is in disarray over the move 
14) In money terms, the postal rebels bring in a lot more money to 
the LDP than do the freshmen lawmakers known as "Koizumi's children" 
 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Bills amending basic education law likely to pass Diet 
 
Mainichi: 
NHK to use summary court to collect viewer fees from 33 households 
 
Yomiuri: 
Three Japanese firms to tie up on LPG wholesale business 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
NTT DoCoMo, four other broadcasters to jointly develop TV content 
for mobile phones 
 
Sankei: 
Mutual aid pension to be abolished in 2010 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Welfare Ministry mull reduction in insurance rate for unemployment 
 
TOKYO 00006749  002 OF 010 
 
 
benefits to 1.2% 
 
Akahata: 
Tokyo Governor Ishihara come under heavy fire for deluxe official 
overseas trips, etc. 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Minshuto must come up with concrete policies to fight ruling 
coalition 
(2) Ruling in tuition fees refund case leaves something to be 
desired 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Abolishment of Japan Finance Corporation for Municipal 
Enterprises: Reserves should be returned to government 
(2) Continue to appeal for sustainable tuna fishing 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Minshuto policy platform insufficient to deal with realities 
(2) Illegalities by pro-Pyongyang group come to light again 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Agreement on EPA between Japan, Indonesia leaves tasks 
(2) Patience also needed until recovery of tuna resources 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Unification of pension systems: Cut into favorable treatment to 
public servants 
(2) Judgment in tuition fees refund case merits appreciation 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Railway companies urged to strengthen safety measures 
(2) China's views of Japan should be improved through exchanges in 
media 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Deployment nuclear aircraft carriers: Decision should be made 
through referendum 
 
3) US, DPRK hold direct dialogue, but when to resume six-party talks 
not yet fixed 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 29, 2006 
 
Seiji Nishioka, Beijing 
 
Of the member nations of the six-party talks to discuss the North 
Korean nuclear issue, the United States, China, and North Korea 
yesterday afternoon held an informal meeting at the Diaoyutai in 
Beijing and exchanged views on how to promote discussions once the 
six-party talks are resumed as well as specific goals. A bilateral 
dialogue between the US and the North was also held. The six-party 
talks, which have been suspended since November of last year, are 
likely to be restarted possibly in mid-December, but Chinese Foreign 
Ministry Deputy Press Officer Jiang revealed the timetable for the 
six-party talks to be restarted has yet to be set, telling the 
press: "The concerned nations are now engaged in consultations." The 
trilateral meeting among the US, China, and North Korea, and a 
bilateral one between the US and North Korea will continue today. 
 
TOKYO 00006749  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
The ongoing three-way talks of the chief delegates from the US, 
China, and North Korea followed the ones in which the three nations 
had agreed to resume the six-party talks. 
 
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Gwan arrived at Beijing 
Airport yesterday morning. There, he stated he would attend talks as 
a nuclear power standing on an equal footing with the US. 
 
Afterwards Kim headed for the Diaoyutai and there, he exchanged 
views with US Chief Delegate Christopher Hill, assistant secretary 
of state, and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister4 Wu Dawei, who chairs 
the six-party talks, while having lunch. Later, the US and North 
Ko24Qlement, the lifting of America's financial sanctions against 
North Korea, and a timetable for resuming the six-party talks and 
other matters. 
 
After the bilateral dialogue with the North, Hill referred to when 
to restart the six-party talks and stated it is planned to resume 
them in December, but that for that, progress is necessary. Japan's 
chief delegate, Kenichiro Sasae, director-general of the Japanese 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Bureau late yesterday implied 
that consultations on when to resume the six-party talks ran into 
difficulties, noting: "At this point, I can't say anything." 
 
Earlier in the day, Sasae met with South Korean Chief Delegate Chun 
Young Woo, director of the Diplomatic Policy of South Korea's 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and reportedly he confirmed 
bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Sasae initially 
planned to return home on Nov. 28, but he extended his stay in order 
to look for a way-out of the abduction issue. He intends to try to 
make contact with his North Korean counterpart. 
 
4) US-DPRK dialogue: Major gap over scrapping nuclear programs; 
North Korea seeks removal of US financial sanctions 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 29, 2006 
 
By Shozo Nishioka in Beijing 
 
Informal talks started in Beijing yesterday between the United 
States and North Korean delegates to the six-party talks, with 
discussions apparently focused on how to make actual progress in the 
talks, once they are restarted. However, North Korea, which has 
carried out a nuclear weapons test, seemed to have stressed a stance 
of it now being a "nuclear power," and at the same time, its 
delegate pressed the US for removal of financial sanctions. The gap 
between the DPRK and the US, which unconditionally demands the 
scrapping of the North's nuclear weapons programs, remained as wide 
as ever. 
 
 Although the contents of the meeting were not revealed, the US 
delegation sought to confirm the DPRK's intention regarding 
scrapping its nuclear programs, and apparently asked the North to 
carry out the following steps leading to such: 1) halting and 
dismantling the nuclear facility at Yongbyon; 2) accepting IAEA 
inspections, etc. 
 
The US side has been showing signs of a flexible position following 
 
TOKYO 00006749  004 OF 010 
 
 
the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections, with such 
statements by President Bush as, "If North Korea abolishes its 
nuclear programs, we can officially declare the Korean War is over." 
The US side has also pointed out that in order to restart the 
six-party talks this year, "We sense an urgency that we cannot let 
any more time be wasted" (source related to the talks). 
 
In response, North Korea, having carried out a nuclear test, has 
been calling itself a "nuclear power" and taking a stance of seeking 
disarmament talks with the US. 
 
5) Enactment of bills elevating JDA status likely in current Diet 
session 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
November 29, 2006 
 
Bills upgrading the Defense Agency (JDA) to ministry status are 
likely to pass the House of Representatives tomorrow and be enacted 
in the current Diet session. The ruling coalition plans to take a 
vote on the bills in a meeting of the Lower House Security Council 
and a plenary session both to be held tomorrow. If the bills are 
enacted, the JDA will be transformed into a defense ministry 
possibly next January. 
 
Senior Lower House Security Council members from the Liberal 
Democratic Party and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) decided 
yesterday to take a vote on the bills after intensive deliberations 
on the three nonnuclear principles tomorrow morning and send the 
bills to a plenary session to be held in the afternoon. Foreign 
Minister Taro Aso and others will attend the deliberations. 
 
The JDA is an external agency of the Cabinet Office, but the agency 
is elevated to a ministry, it will become possible to present bills 
independently. Overseas operations by the Self-Defense Force (SDF) 
will be upgraded from an ancillary mission to a main one. 
 
6) Gov't to repackage economic incentives for Okinawa's northern 
districts; Progress in Futenma talks a precondition 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 29, 2006 
 
The government decided yesterday to resume its package of economic 
development measures-which was once abolished in this May's cabinet 
decision-for Okinawa Prefecture's northern districts in connection 
with the planned relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in the central Okinawa city of Ginowan to Cape Henoko in the 
island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago, a focus of the 
realignment of US forces in Japan. The government plans to repackage 
abolished projects for the remaining three years, making it a 
precondition to see smooth progress in its Futenma relocation talks 
with Okinawa's base-hosting localities. To begin with, the 
government will earmark 10 billion yen to budget projects for next 
fiscal year. Minister of State for Okinawa Takaichi met with Okinawa 
Governor-elect Hirokazu Nakaima yesterday at the Cabinet Office and 
told him that the government would make positive efforts to 
repackage economic development measures. Okinawa Governor Keiichi 
Inamine also attended the meeting, in which they confirmed that the 
government would resume its consultative body's suspended talks with 
Okinawa's prefectural and municipal governments. 
 
 
TOKYO 00006749  005 OF 010 
 
 
However, the Defense Agency, which took the initiative to call off 
the economic package, is still strongly dissatisfied with Okinawa's 
local governments because there was no progress in the relocation of 
Futenma airfield despite its budgetary spending of 70 billion yen 
from fiscal 2000. A senior official of the agency admitted that the 
government would continue to budget the package in fiscal 2007. 
However, the official added, "There's no guarantee of implementation 
for fiscal 2007 and 2008 if there's no progress in the relocation 
talks." 
 
In addition to the package of economic development measures for 
Okinawa's northern districts, the Defense Agency is planning a new 
subsidization system for next fiscal year to allocate incentive 
subsidies for Okinawa's base-hosting localities according to 
progress in the Futenma relocation. 
 
7) DFAA mulls subsidizing local events to proceed with US military 
realignment 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 29, 2006 
 
The Defense Facilities Administration Agency is planning to 
subsidize base-hosting municipalities in the process of realigning 
US forces in Japan, officials said yesterday. The newly planned 
subsidization system is intended not only for hardware projects like 
constructing facilities but also for local events and other software 
projects, according to the officials. The DFAA will subsidize 
base-hosting localities according to progress in the planned 
realignment of US forces in Japan. In addition, the DFAA will also 
consider other local-requested software projects, thereby urging 
base-hosting localities to cooperate in the US military 
realignment. 
 
8) DPJ okays collective self-defense in part 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
November 29, 2006 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) 
yesterday released its governing policy plan ahead of next summer's 
election for the House of Councillors. In the area of foreign and 
security policies, the DPJ policy paper, referring to Japan's right 
to self-defense, says the DPJ will not stick to past arguments about 
the concepts of individual self-defense and collective self-defense. 
"Japan will only exercise its right to self-defense if and when 
there is an imminent incursion directly threatening Japan's peace 
and security," it says. With this, the DPJ came to approve an act 
that has been taken as exercising the constitutionally prohibited 
right of collective self-defense. 
 
9) Minshuto drafts unified diplomatic and security policies; Ability 
to implement them remains unknown 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
November 29, 2006 
 
The major opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
unveiled yesterday draft "administrative policy," which was compiled 
based on the so-called "Ozawa vision" presented by President Ichiro 
Ozawa during the September party presidential campaign. "Producing 
the party's basic policy has been our goal since the party was 
 
TOKYO 00006749  006 OF 010 
 
 
established," a senior Minshuto lawmaker said. It was significant 
that the party was able to reach a certain conclusion to its 
diplomatic and security policies, which have long lacked 
consistency. But to what extent the party, which aims for a change 
in government in collaboration with other parties, can implement 
this policy remains to be seen. 
 
What is particularly noteworthy about the draft policy is that the 
party eyes allowing the country to partially exercise the right to 
collective self-defense. Minshuto, long dubbed a hotchpotch party, 
can be said to have made a pragmatic policy decision at long last. 
 
Behind that decision lay the need for the party to overcome its 
weakness with the Upper House election coming up next summer. For 
next year's election, Ozawa's strategy has been to make a clear 
distinction between his party and the government and the ruling 
coalition. But there is no denying that the party has been slighting 
its own unique policy because of such a strategy. 
 
The draft plan is intended to make clear the party's policies, which 
have been left unaddressed to some extent. On the domestic front, 
the plan lists such steps as keeping the same consumption tax rate 
and creating child and multi-occupancy allowances that are likely to 
strike a chord with the public. But the plan stops short of 
mentioning specific means to raise funds for such measures. 
 
The draft plan will serve as the basis for the party's manifesto 
(campaign pledges) for the next Upper House election as well as the 
foundation for its policy course in the event it grabs power. 
 
10) Gist of Minshuto policy platform 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 29, 2006 
 
Education 
 
7 Abolish the current system, in which educational administration is 
conducted by boards of education, and create a system, in which 
local heads will pursue educational administration in a responsible 
manner. 
7 The state will guarantee the status, respect, and treatment of 
teachers. 
7 Raise the educational spending to a level above the average of 
advanced counties (5% of GNP). 
7 Raise compulsory education to include high school. 
 
Social security 
 
7 Create "multi-occupancy allowances" for households with parents. 
7 Create "child allowances." 
7 Keep the consumption tax rate at 5% and spend all the tax income 
for pensions (basic portion). 
7 Unify all the pension programs to into a single program. 
 
Diplomacy, security 
 
7 Build a relationship of trust between Japan and the United States 
to make Japan America's equal partner. 
7 Make every effort to forge relations of trust with Asian 
neighbors, including China and South Korea. The country will 
exercise the right of self-defense in limited situations, in which 
 
TOKYO 00006749  007 OF 010 
 
 
an imminent transgression directly threatens the peace and security 
of our country, in conformity with Article 9 of the Constitution on 
the basis of the principle of exclusively defense-oriented policy, 
without dwelling on the history of discussions on whether it is 
individual or collective self-defense. 
7 The country will actively join UN peacekeeping activities. 
 
Agriculture 
 
7 Establish an income compensation system to pay the difference 
between the production cost and the market price to growers. 
 
Decentralization, autonomy 
 
7 Abolish individual subsidies in principle and provide local 
governments with subsidies including tax grants, in a package, as a 
revenue source. 
 
 
Politics, administrative reform 
 
7 Correct the disparity in the value of vote. Lower the voting age 
to 18. Promote Internet use. 
7 Prohibit bureaucrats from attending Diet deliberations. 
7 Review the special corporations, independent administrative 
organizations, and related special accounts with the aim of 
abolishing them all. 
 
11) Japan, Indonesia agree in principle on EPA 
 
ASAHI (Page 11) (Excerpts) 
November 29, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Abe yesterday met with visiting Indonesian President 
Yudoyono at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei). Both leaders 
agreed in principle to sign an economic partnership agreement (EPA) 
on imports and exports of agricultural products and acceptance of 
Indonesian nurses. Abe stressed, "I will extend further cooperation 
for an early enforcement of the pact." Yudoyono responded, "We must 
make efforts for a final agreement next year." He also expressed a 
positive stance toward a possible extension of the contract for 
Indonesia to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Japan, which is 
to expire in 2011. Indonesia is Japan's 7th EPA partner. 
 
Stable securing of natural resources aimed for 
 
The EPA, on which the governments of the two countries agreed in 
principle, incorporated an arrangement on energy for the first time. 
The aim is for Japan to secure a stable supply of energy through the 
establishment of a regulation that values a long-term import 
contract. In response to intensifying competition to secure natural 
resources, the Japanese government is accelerating its resources 
diplomacy using EPAs. The agreement with Indonesia will likely set a 
model course for this strategy. 
 
Indonesia is the largest LNG suppler to Japan, commanding one-fourth 
of its total LNG imports in fiscal 2005. However, the nation now 
finds it difficult to secure sufficient amounts for exports due to 
an increased domestic demand and outmoded production facilities. At 
present, six Japanese companies, including Kansai Electric Power and 
Osaka Gas, are under long-term contract with Indonesia's state-run 
company. However, the company has fall short of supplying the 
 
TOKYO 00006749  008 OF 010 
 
 
contracted amounts. It has even suggested the possibility of cutting 
supply by 50% with the renewal of the contracts close at hand in 
2010 and 2011. 
 
For this reason, in reaching the agreement this time, the two 
leaders confirmed that if the Indonesia government puts a restraint 
on exports of LNG in the future, it will notify the Japanese 
government of its decision and make sure it will give consideration 
so that the decision will have no impact on the existing contracts. 
The two leaders also agreed to press ahead with efforts to create an 
environment in which Japanese companies finds it easier to invest in 
natural resources-related facilities. Such efforts will include 
enhancing the transparency of a foreign capital regulation. 
 
12) Bill amending Basic Education Law to secure Diet passage; Ruling 
camp gearing up voting on bill next week 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
November 29, 2006 
 
It is now certain that a bill amending the Basic Education Law, the 
top-priority issue for the Abe administration, will go through the 
current special Diet session. Firming up a policy of aiming for a 
roll call on the legislation at the Upper House Special Committee on 
the Basic Education Law next week, the ruling camp yesterday 
proposed to the opposition parties holding local public hearings. 
The opposition camp is calling for continuing deliberations on the 
legislation. However, since the ruling camp is determined to extend 
the Diet session if the deliberations on the bill are not over in 
time, the bill is now certain to secure Diet approval. The revision 
of the law is the first since 1947. Education will take on a 
stronger flavor of being controlled by the government with emphasis 
being shifted from individuality to public nature. 
 
Government involvement will likely be strengthened 
 
The amendment incorporates as goals of education items that attach 
importance to its public nature, such as "cultivating an attitude of 
loving the nation and one's hometown," "nurturing rich sentiment and 
moral," and "cultivating an attitude of contributing to the 
development of society, based on public spirit." Education Minister 
Ibuki during yesterday's Upper House Special Committee meeting said, 
"We want to change local communities, teachers and homes, based on 
these goals." 
 
The Special Committee is deliberating the bill almost every day for 
six hours a day on average. It will hold intensive deliberations 
tomorrow on such issues as the prearranged questions for 
government-hosted town meetings, omissions of required subjects at 
high schools and school bullying. Deliberations are expected to 
exceed 70 hours, which the ruling camp regards as the target needed 
before taking a vote. 
 
For this reason, senior Diet policy officials of both chambers of 
the Houses, including LDP Diet Policy Committee Chairman Toshihiro 
Nikai, yesterday confirmed a policy of voting on the bill after 
general deliberations at the Upper House Special Committee with the 
presence of Prime Minister Abe on Dec. 7 so that it can be enacted 
at the Upper House plenary session on Dec. 8. The directors of the 
Upper House Special Committee of the ruling camp yesterday sounded 
out the opposition camp about the possibility of holding public 
hearings in four cities, such as Niigata and Tokushima, on Dec. 4. 
 
TOKYO 00006749  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
13) LDP now in stormy internal situation with postal rebels' return 
to the party 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
November 29, 2006 
 
Of the 11 postal rebels who defected from the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) in opposition to the postal privatization bill last 
year, became independents, and have now been allowed to return to 
the party, six lawmakers, including Kosuke Hori, yesterday met the 
press apparently at the request of the party leadership. At the 
press conference, they explained that they had "not been opposed to 
privatization per se." Keiji Furuya stated that he had turned around 
to support the bill after the Lower House election, noting, "I've 
thus registered my accountability with the voters." Most of them 
commented that they would be able to obtain public understanding 
about their return to the LDP. On the other hand, during an LDP 
General Council session, criticism erupted of the conditions set by 
Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa for postal rebels to return to 
 
SIPDIS 
the party. The party is still in a stormy situation caused by the 
return issue. In fact, a group was officially formed by junior 
lawmakers opposed to their return to the party. 
 
Those postal rebels insist that the problem of their opposition to 
the postal privatization bill was settled at a time when they turned 
around to favor the bill during the special Diet session in the fall 
of last year. 
 
Instead of attending the press conference, Seiko Noda, one of the 
postal rebels, responded to questions from reporters while making 
her way through the Diet. She said: "During the special Diet session 
last year, I judged I must engage in political activities in a way 
to be flexible enough to accept public opinions. It was not a high 
hurdle for me to (vote for the privatization bill)." Hori, too, 
commented: "I think I passed a 'test of loyalty to the party,' for 
after the (Lower House) election, I said in an interview, 'I'll vote 
for the bill.'" 
 
One condition set by Nakagawa was for postal rebels to "obtain 
public understanding about their return to the LDP" through press 
conferences or on other occasions. Shunichi Yamaguchi, who attended 
the press conference, stated: "There was little resistance in (my 
electoral district) about my declaration of favoring the 
privatization. Voters have understood my position." Hiroshi 
Moriyama, as well, indicated that he obtained public understanding 
in his constituency, noting, "I've strived to obtain understanding 
from voters by holding mini-meetings in my electoral district." 
 
Both sides critical of the party executives 
 
At an LDP General Council meeting, criticism was centered on 
Secretary General Nakagawa, who had set the strict conditions for 
 
SIPDIS 
postal rebels to return to the party. One participant argued: "I had 
thought trouble could occur if much time was taken." 
 
House of Councilors member Mahito Nakajima, elected in the Yamanashi 
Constituency where two lawmakers have defected from the LDP, 
snapped: "The secretary general did such a thing simply out of 
consideration for the media." Another attendee, as well, leveled a 
harsh criticism at Nakagawa over the case of Takeo Hiranuma, who did 
not submit a written pledge and is not being allowed to return to 
 
TOKYO 00006749  010 OF 010 
 
 
the LDP: "I can't understand the secretary general's attitude. 
Because of his dictatorship, Mr. Hiranuma was forced to leave the 
party." 
 
At a press conference after the meeting, General Council Chairman 
Yuya Niwa emphasized, "The important thing is to manage the party 
without leaving any ill feelings among the party members." But 
another attendee who has served in the three top party posts made 
this comment: "The prime minister, too, tarnished his image. Should 
his approval ratings drop, the party's unity would become loose." 
 
In contrast to the General Council, one-term lawmakers directed 
their criticism at the party executives' decision to allow postal 
rebels to return to the party. 
 
The inaugural meeting of the Forum to Think about Postal Rebels' 
Return to the LDP was attended by 17 freshmen lawmakers. The 
criticism voiced in the meeting was that: "There is the gap in 
sensibility between the party executives and us. If we leave this 
situation unattended, we'll be given up by the public." 
 
The return of 11 postal rebels to the party in a way was in a way an 
established conclusion. One attendee grumbled: "I'm afraid that the 
inaugural meeting may end up as the last meeting...." 
 
14) Postal rebels collect far more political funds than "Koizumi 
children" candidates in 2005 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 29, 2006 
 
The average income of the 82 "Koizumi children" candidates in the 
general elections last year was 40,04 million yen, far lower than 
the 62.32 million yen in average income earned by all the 
lawmakers. 
 
In the House of Representatives election last year, former Posts and 
Telecommunications Minister Seiko Noda engaged in a fierce battle 
with Yukari Sato, who was sent in the Gifu No. 1 District by the LDP 
as an "assassin" candidate to take on Noda, who had voted against 
the postal bill. Noda won the election but was forced out of the 
party. Following this, the LDP Gifu Prefecture First District Branch 
Office was dissolved, so its income decreased by more than 8 million 
yen below the previous year to 38.37 million yen. But Noda collected 
59.4 million yen owing to significantly increased donations from 
individuals to the fund management organization. This figure is four 
times more than the previous year. 
 
Meanwhile, in the case of Sato, who won a seat through the 
proportional representation segment, her fund-management 
organization reported no income for 2005. At the LDP branch office, 
33.02 million yen was collected, but 20 million yen came from the 
party as subsidies and 10 million yen from the Yamasaki faction and 
others as donations. 
 
SCHIEFFER