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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000321 
 
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 01/24/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Abe diplomacy: 
4) Tokyo alarmed about Washington's new flexible stance toward North 
Korea in the six-party talks 
5) Foreign Minister Aso, Secretary of State Rice confer by phone on 
Lebanon, North Korea 
6) First strategic dialogue between Japan, Russia aims to build 
environment for territorial negotiations; Russian premier to visit 
Japan Feb. 27 
 
Defense and security issues: 
7) SDF troops to be dispatched to Nepal for PKO, the first such 
since international contribution became a main duty 
8) Government in disarray as Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki, State 
Minister for Okinawa Takaichi differ on using original government 
plan for Futenma relocation 
9) Prime Minister Abe: Original agreement on Futenma relocation will 
be followed 
10) LDP's Yamasaki and other lawmakers to visit Guam to tour site 
planned for relocation of Marines from Okinawa 
 
Political merry-go-round: 
11) Survey reveals 27 governors, or half the prefectures, accepting 
support from construction companies involved in public works 
projects 
12) So-called "scandal Diet" to convene tomorrow with sparks 
expected to fly between LDP, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
over "politics and money" 
13) Minshuto head Ozawa's fund management group, Rikusankai, owns 1 
billion yen in property, holdings that would not be in compliance 
with political rules 
14) Upper House Vice President Tsunoda, denying money-scandal 
charge, refuses to quit post, causing consternation in his party, 
Minshuto 
15) Minshuto decides to put off decision on whether to support 
constitutional referendum bill 
16) Controversial conspiracy bill to be put off until at least the 
fall Diet session 
 
17) Prime Minister Abe to propose comprehensive 
environment-protection strategy as part of his energy diplomacy 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Japanese ova bank begins operating 
 
Mainichi: 
Nine ministers, including agriculture minister, report unaccounted 
for political funds of 10 million yen or more in 2005 
 
Yomiuri: 
Kansai Telecasting cuts president's pay, reprimands officials over 
fabricated program 
 
 
TOKYO 00000321  002 OF 011 
 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Cross-shareholding deals multiply as firms worry about takeovers 
 
Sankei: 
Bird flu in Miyazaki again? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
156 lawmakers used offices in Diet members' building as fund 
management offices; 620 million reported as office expenses in 2005 
 
Akahata: 
Article 9 of the Constitution effective for world peace 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Upper House vice president: Fed up with such explanation! 
(2) Construction firms' bid-rigging practices: Management 
responsibility being questioned 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Bid-rigging over subway project: Managers, too, are responsible 
 
(2) Tax Commission Chairman Kosai: Debate on drastic reform should 
be started immediately 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Regular Diet session: Points at issue in polls need to be 
clarified 
(2) Science and technology-oriented country: Can Japan become a 
country that produce many Nobel Prize winners? 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Need for framework to apply brakes on space arms race 
(2) Urban gas companies should return to the starting line 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Regular Diet session: Erasing distrust in politics is important 
(2) Guidelines for new type of flu: Effective guidelines urged 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Upper House Vice President Tsunoda should realize weight of 
responsibility 
(2) Start of spring wage offensive: Wage hikes will boost the 
economy 
 
Akahata: 
Office expenses issue: Shed light on allegations! 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 23 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
09:32 
Executive meeting at the party headquarters. 
 
10:05 
Cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Then met with Agriculture Minister 
Matsuoka and Vice Agriculture Minister Kobayashi. Then met with 
 
TOKYO 00000321  003 OF 011 
 
 
Environment Minister Wakabayashi. 
 
11:04 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Shimomura, Suzuki and 
Matoba. Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki joined. 
 
15:03 
Met with Saudi Arabian Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister 
Naimi. Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ando and Resources 
and Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki joined. Then met with 
Finance Minister Omi and Vice Finance Minister Fujii. 
 
16:16 
Met with Public Security Intelligence Agency Director General 
Yanagi, followed by Senior Vice Foreign Minister Asano and 
Parliamentary Secretary Matsushima. Then met with former Prime 
Minister Mori. 
 
18:07 
Summit meeting with Mozambique President Guebuza. Then signing 
ceremony for grant aid cooperation. Then dinner meeting hosted by 
Prime Minister Abe and his wife. 
 
20:29 
Returned to the official residence. 
 
4) Six-party talks: Government concerned about flexible stance of 
the US; Japan, China to meet today to discuss when to resume talks 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General 
Kenichiro Sasae, chief delegate from Japan to the six-party talks, 
will today meet with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, 
chairman of the talks, in Beijing to discuss a schedule for resuming 
the talks. Chances are that such a schedule can be set as early as 
within this week, because concerned nations have already agreed that 
the talks be resumed at an early date. Following the defeat of the 
Republican Party in the midterm elections in the US, Washington is 
beginning to show a flexible stance toward Pyongyang. Some Japanese 
government officials are now alert to the emergence of a situation 
in which other participants in the six-party talks urge Japan to 
shift to a flexible policy. 
 
Foreign Minister Aso during a press conference after a cabinet 
meeting yesterday noted, "It will be meaningless to hold talks 
unless holding denuclearization talks becomes a concrete deal." He 
thus checked a flexible approach to North Korea. The US is pursuing 
substantial talks with North Korea, such as experts' meetings to 
discuss financial sanctions the US has imposed on the North, and 
bilateral talks in Berlin. Given this situation, some Japanese 
government officials take the view that Japan should dissuade the US 
from switching its approach to the North from pressure to dialogue, 
with one source noting: "Depending on how the US will respond, a 
flexible approach could provide the North with incentives for its 
nuclear test. Settling the abduction issue will become more 
difficult." 
 
The six-party talks broke up last December without substantial 
discussions with the North insisting that it would refuse to discuss 
the nuclear issue unless the financial sanctions were lifted. The US 
 
TOKYO 00000321  004 OF 011 
 
 
and North Korea have started coordinating a schedule for talks in 
Berlin. Related countries are taking the move as meaning that 
Pyongyang would make certain concessions. 
 
5) Aso talks with Rice over telephone 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso held talks with US Secretary of State Rice 
over the telephone yesterday evening. Rice expressed her gratitude 
for Japan's aid to Lebanon. Aso told Rice that Environment Minister 
Masatoshi Wakabayashi would participate in an international 
conference to be held on Jan. 25 for Lebanon. Aso and Rice also 
agreed to continue close cooperation on the North Korea problem. 
According to a New China News Agency (Xinhua) dispatch, Rice had a 
telephone conversation yesterday evening with Chinese Foreign 
Minister Li Zhao Xing, too. Rice and Li exchanged views over the 
Korean Peninsula's nuclear issue and US-China relations. 
 
6) First strategic talks between Japan, Russia 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Fumiyoshi Kendo, Moscow 
 
The governments of Japan and Russia held the first strategic talks 
of their foreign vice ministers in Moscow on Jan. 23. Both sides 
confirmed the need to accelerate efforts to implement the 
Japan-Russia action program worked out in 2003. They aim to 
establish a reciprocal relationship that will benefit both sides. A 
decision was also made for Russian Premier Fradkov to visit Japan on 
Feb. 27. Japan expects to give priority to expanding bilateral 
exchanges in the economic and security areas and pave the way for 
breaking the impasse in the stalled negotiations on the Northern 
Territories. 
 
In the meeting, First Vice Foreign Minister Denisov told Vice 
Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi: "Promoting relations with Japan is 
one of the top priority issues for Russia. We would like to 
accelerate work to build a partnership." Yachi replied, "We want to 
discuss in a serious manner what should be resolved in order to 
improve bilateral relations" 
 
The main aim of the strategy talks is to deepen ties by accumulating 
layers of talks between the two countries. In its first round, both 
sides' confirmation of implementing the Japan-Russia action program 
reflects Japan's regret that the Koizumi administration's excessive 
eagerness for a settlement of the territorial issue only heightened 
the Russian government's sense of alarm. 
 
In the economic area, the vice ministers agreed that the two 
countries would cooperate in developing oil fields in East Siberia 
and constructing a Pacific pipeline. They reportedly also exchanged 
views about Japan's expansion of investment in Russia. 
 
7) Government eyes dispatch of several SDF officers to Nepal on PKO 
mission 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00000321  005 OF 011 
 
 
 
The government yesterday started looking into dispatching several 
Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops to Nepal on a planned UN 
peacekeeping operations (PKO) mission as ceasefire monitors under 
the PKO Cooperation Law. If realized, this will be the first 
dispatch of SDF troops overseas since international PKO was 
designated as a main mission for the SDF when the Defense Agency was 
upgraded to defense ministry status. 
 
The UN Security Council plans to adopt a resolution shortly calling 
for supporting the political process in Nepal and request countries 
to dispatch their personnel there. Upon receiving such a request, 
the government plans to work out an action program that would 
specify the number of troops to be dispatched and their duty. 
 
The ceasefire monitoring team is to be joined by military officers 
from each country. Such officers will not be unarmed. In Nepal, the 
government and the Nepal Communist Party Maoist Group signed a 
comprehensive peace treaty last November, bringing an end to the 
civil war that lasted for more than 10 years. 
 
8) Gov't in disarray over Futenma relocation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
The government is getting out of step over the issue of relocating 
the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa 
Prefecture. Japan and the United States have concurred on relocating 
Futenma airfield to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island 
prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago, and the government is 
seeking local understanding on this coastal relocation plan. 
However, Sanae Takaichi, state minister for Okinawa and the Northern 
Territories, insisted that the government should also discuss a 
revised plan presented by Nago. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa 
Shiozaki ruled out this possibility at once, but the government 
seems to be in disarray 
 
Takaichi, when she called on Shiozaki at the Kantei on Jan. 22, 
suggested the need for the government to consider Nago's proposed 
revision to the relocation plan in a meeting of its consultative 
body with Okinawa's prefectural and municipal governments on Futenma 
relocation. After that, Takaichi told reporters, "I think he 
(Shiozaki) is positive." In her press remarks yesterday, Takaichi 
insisted on her opinion, saying, "It's important to listen well to 
the earnest voice of local communities in a consultative meeting." 
 
Concerning Takaichi's assertion, Shiozaki, meeting the press 
yesterday, stated that the government would like to push ahead with 
Futenma relocation based on the coastal relocation plan as agreed 
between Japan and the United States. Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma 
also stressed that the government's basic posture would remain 
unchanged. Takaichi's standpoint is therefore likely to be taken as 
intra-cabinet disunity. 
 
9) Abe stresses Futenma accord 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed again yesterday that the 
government would push ahead with its plan to relocate the US Marine 
 
TOKYO 00000321  006 OF 011 
 
 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture to (a coastal area 
of Camp Schwab in the northern Okinawa city of Nago) as agreed 
between Japan and the United States, even though Nago City has been 
asking for a revision of the plan. "I have told them to explain the 
government's stance in a sincere manner," Abe said. He was replying 
a question from reporters at his office. Meanwhile, Sanae Takaichi, 
state minister for Okinawa and northern territories, have said the 
government should consider Nago's revised plan. Asked about her 
remark, Abe indicated that there were no inconsistencies in his 
cabinet. "It's only natural to state various opinions in a 
consultative meeting," Abe said. 
 
10) Yamasaki, other LDP lawmakers to visit Guam next month 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Taku Yamasaki, chair of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 
security affairs panel, will visit Guam on Feb. 3-4 with former 
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura and former Defense Agency 
Director General Fukushiro Nukaga, party sources said yesterday. 
Guam is where US Marines will be redeployed from Okinawa Prefecture. 
In Guam, they will see the local situation for Marine relocation. 
 
11) 27 governors admit to receiving election backup from industrial 
circles; 31 stress "no problem" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
January 24, 2007 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a questionnaire survey of local 
governors in the wake of bid-rigging and payoff scandals recently 
exposed over public works projects. As a result, it became known 
yesterday that 27 governors have received election backing from 
industrial circles deeply related to public works projects. In the 
survey, 25 governors, including 14 of these 27 governors, said such 
election backup could lead to political corruption. However, 31 
governors, or nearly 70% of all those surveyed governors, answered 
that there was "no problem" with their receiving of such industrial 
support. This survey reveals that gubernatorial elections often 
depend on industrial circles. 
 
The survey was conducted with all prefectures from late last month 
through the middle of this month, excluding Miyazaki Prefecture, 
which had no governor due to a bid-rigging case involving its 
governor. All governors responded to the survey. 
 
In the survey, they were asked if they have ever been funded by 
construction or other industries for their election campaign, 
including campaign staffing and office offering or recommendation. 
In response to this question, 27 governors, or 59% of all those 
surveyed governors, answered "yes." Among them, 11 governors, 
including the Tochigi and Hyogo governors, answered that they would 
continue to receive support. Meanwhile, 14 governors, including the 
Okayama governor, said they have yet to decide on whether to receive 
election backing. Only the Iwate and Tottori governors, who have 
announced that they would not run for another term, said they would 
not receive election support. 
 
Asked about interactions between industrial support and political 
corruption, eight governors, including the Kanagawa governor, 
answered that they were "very concerned" about industrial backup's 
 
TOKYO 00000321  007 OF 011 
 
 
potential bearing on political corruption. In addition, 17 
governors, including the Saga governor, said they were "somewhat 
concerned." Meanwhile, 15 governors said they were not concerned at 
all. 
 
12) "Scandal Diet session" to convene tomorrow with focus on 
politics and money 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
January 24, 2007 
 
The ordinary Diet session will convene tomorrow. The focus in the 
session is likely to be on the politics-and-money scandals disclosed 
from late last year through early this year, involving such 
lawmakers as former State Minister in Charge of Administrative 
Reform Genichiro Sata, Education Minister Ibuki, and Agriculture, 
Forestry and Fisheries Minister Matsuoka. Even in Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan), an allegation involving Upper House 
Vice Chairman Giichi Tsunoda has also emerged. Some observers 
anticipate that both the Liberal Democratic Party and Minshuto might 
be hesitant about pursuing the politics-and-money issue in the 
upcoming session. 
 
The first case is a funds scandal involving Sata unveiled late last 
year. Sata recognized the case as "inappropriate." 
 
Early this year, it came to light that Ibuki and Matsuoka had made 
shady fund reports by listing large sums of money as rent payments 
for rent-free offices. Ibuki admitted he had used office expenses 
for wining and dining, but the two lawmakers have stopped shy of 
explaining for what purposes the money was used. LDP Policy Research 
Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa was also found to have declared 
winning and dining expenses as office expenses. 
 
In Minshuto, the political fund organization in a Diet members' 
office building of Minshuto Policy Research Council Chairman 
Matsumoto was revealed to have reported about 18 million yen as 
office expenses. In addition, it was found that President Ozawa had 
recorded 415 million yen, including the construction cost of a 
residence for his secretaries, as office expenses. 
 
In reaction to such a situation, DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama 
said, "It is a problem that expenses that should not be treated as 
office expenses, such as wining and dining, were reported," adding 
that in this response, there was "no improper entry" in the 
political fund reports of Matsumoto and Ozawa. Hatoyama emphatically 
said, "I have no intention of backing off from pursuing (the LDP 
lawmakers involved in scandals)." But LDP Secretary General Hidenao 
Nakagawa said, "(The amount of money used for acquiring the real 
estate possessed by Ozawa) is at a scale far beyond common sense." 
Furthermore, an allegation involving Tsunoda came to light. A 
official in charge of Diet affairs was overheard saying, "Even if 
Minshuto grills the LDP over 10 allegations, the main opposition 
party will inevitably be counterattacked if there is a scandal 
involving its members. It is better for the party to engage in 
policy debate squarely." 
 
As for office expenses, there are "expenses necessary for 
maintaining offices" as a gray zone. For such expenses, receipts are 
not required to be attached to political fund reports. Given this, a 
revision of the Political Funds Control Law is also likely to be on 
the agenda. 
 
TOKYO 00000321  008 OF 011 
 
 
 
In the LDP, though, many members are calling for caution about a 
revision of the law. Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Toshihiro Nikai 
said: "This is not a matter of the LDP alone. Listening to views 
from other political party members, I will decide on a response." 
Minshuto Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshiaki Takagi also 
commented, "A legal revision is in my vision, but before doing that, 
it is necessary to discuss the actual situation." 
 
13) DPJ head Ozawa's fund management organization found to have 
acquired real estate: LDP indicates move to regulate such action 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) yesterday indicated that it would 
pursue the issue of Mutsuzan-kai, the fund management organization 
of Ichiro Ozawa, head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto), having acquired real estate worth more than a billion yen 
under Ozawa's name. 
 
Party Discipline Committee Chairman Takashi Sasagawa triggered an 
avalanche of criticism. He during an executive liaison meeting held 
at the party headquarters in the afternoon pointed out: "Political 
funds are donated to be used for political activities. Is it all 
right to use such funds to purchase real estate? The issue should be 
discussed and sorted out." Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa told a 
news conference that the amount of real estate purchased by 
Mutsuzan-kai defies common sense. He revealed a plan to look into 
the propriety of regulating politicians' fund management 
organizations from obtaining real estate at the compliance taskforce 
of the party reform implementation headquarters to be held today. 
 
The existing Political Fund Control Law does not ban politicians' 
fund management organizations from acquiring real estate. However, 
it is not possible for fund management organizations to register 
property under their names. Real estate has to be registered under 
individuals' names. Regarding this point, Nakagawa said, registering 
property under an individual's name brings about a tax issue, such 
as the inheritance tax. Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama of the 
LDP caucus in the House of Councillors also criticized the DPJ, 
saying, "Obtaining a large amount of real estate with donations made 
for political activities is unreasonable from the viewpoint of 
national feelings." He expressed his view that the Political Fund 
Control Law should be revised to regulate the acquisition of real 
estate by politicians. 
 
14) Minshuto fretting over handling of Tsunoda's political fund 
issue and Ozawa's office expenses issue 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) is having a hard time over 
allegations that House of Councilors Vice President Giichi Tsunoda, 
whose Minshuto membership is on hold while he is in that post, 
failed to include in his report on political funds to the government 
donations he had received. The main opposition party leadership in 
the Upper House wishes to put an end to the matter with his press 
conference yesterday. The ruling parties intend, however, to see it 
as a problem along with the issue of purchasing real estates by the 
political funds management organization of Minshuto President Ichiro 
 
TOKYO 00000321  009 OF 011 
 
 
Ozawa. Some in the main opposition party are now calling on Tsunoda 
to resign as Upper House vice president. The party will discuss the 
matter today at an executive meeting. 
 
The allegations over Tsunoda are that a total of 25 million yen his 
campaign headquarters received in July 2001 for the Upper House 
election was not included in his political funds report. Another 
allegations are that he received political donations from an entity 
affiliated with the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean 
Residents in Japan (Chongryun). Tsunoda stressed at the press 
conference yesterday: "There is no evidence to back up the 
allegations." 
 
However, junior and mid-level lawmakers in Minshuto have said: "He 
should resign as Upper House vice president before the Diet session 
convenes"; and "The executive should fulfill leadership." A member 
who served in an executive post said: "It is only natural for him to 
give up the vice president's post. He should consider also giving up 
his Diet seat." 
 
Behind many calls for Tsunoda's resignation is a sense of crisis 
that the largest opposition party may not be able to grill the 
government and ruling coalition over the issue of politics and money 
that might lead to the July Upper House election. 
 
Some have noted that non-mainstream forces in Minshuto are 
indirectly criticizing Ozawa in connection with reports he has 
listed huge amounts of money as his office expenses. 
 
15) Minshuto puts off decision on national referendum bill 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
The main opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
generally decided yesterday to postpone a response to a national 
referendum bill that would set procedures for amending the 
Constitution. The party will make a final decision after keeping 
close tabs on deliberations on the legislation at the House of 
Representatives Special Committee on the Constitution, as well as 
moves of the ruling coalition. 
 
At a meeting yesterday of Acting President Naoto Kan, Secretary 
General Yukio Hatoyama and Policy Research Committee Chairman 
Takeaki Matsumoto, a view was raised, "Is it necessary for Minshuto 
to take initiative in deciding a response to the bill?" The 
expectation is that debate on the bill will start in March or later 
after deliberations on the state budget for fiscal 2007 are 
completed. 
 
At a discussion on the bill between the ruling and opposition camps, 
coordination has yet to be finished between the ruling parties, 
which have asserted the scope of a national referendum should be 
limited to constitutional amendments, and Minshuto, which has called 
for applying it to important national issues, as well. 
 
16) Ruling coalition to defer on passing conspiracy bill during 
regular Diet session 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00000321  010 OF 011 
 
 
The ruling coalition has decided to give up on pushing through a 
bill to amend the Organized Crime Law that would make conspiracy a 
crime during the upcoming regular Diet session, which will open 
tomorrow. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Jan. 19 directed Justice Minister Jinen 
Nagase to do his best to pass the legislation through the Diet, but 
on the 22nd he decided to leave the matter to the ruling camp. Since 
many in the ruling coalition were cautious about the bill, its 
passage will be postponed. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary 
General Hidenao Nakagawa expressed his view of not insisting on the 
passage of the bill during the regular Diet session. He said: "I 
think the Diet should consider how to handle the bill." 
 
A senior LDP Upper House Diet Affairs Committee member pointed out: 
"We cannot do things that will adversely affect the Upper House 
election." A senior LDP Lower House Diet Affairs Committee member 
also stated: "If we take a vote on the conspiracy bill, we will be 
unable to conduct deliberations on other bills." 
 
The conspiracy bill was first submitted to the Diet in March 2003 
and it was killed. It was again submitted and killed. Although the 
legislation is aimed at preventing crimes by such international 
criminal organizations as terrorists and crime syndicates, it also 
targets crimes that have little relation to organized crime. The 
largest opposition party, Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), 
therefore, has strongly opposed it. 
 
Given that the ruling coalition has giving up on passing the bill 
during the upcoming regular session, it is now looking for the 
possibility of enacting it at an extra Diet session in the fall or 
later after drastically revising it after the Upper House election. 
 
17) Energy diplomacy: Prime Minister orders formulation of 
environmental strategy with aim of facilitating greenhouse gas 
emission cuts 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 24, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday called in Environment Minister 
Masatoshi Wakabayashi to the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei) and ordered him to compile an environmental strategy for 
the 21st century designed for Japan to contribute to the 
international community in the environmental area. 
 
The prime minister then underscored to reporters, "I think that 
Japan should contribute to efforts to settle global environmental 
problems displaying leadership." Referring to the Kyoto Protocol, 
which sets numerical targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions 
to be achieved by signatory nations, Abe stated, "This year is a 
crucial year for Japan in achieving its target and compiling a 
post-Kyoto Protocol." 
 
The prime minister recently visited various European countries and 
exchanged views on how global warming can be prevented with leaders 
of those countries. He also announced on Jan. 15 during the East 
Asia summit held in the Philippines his intention to exercise energy 
diplomacy based on Japan's energy-conserving technology, which is on 
the cutting edge in the world. 
 
The prime minister's side wants to come up with a new Abe stamp with 
 
TOKYO 00000321  011 OF 011 
 
 
Japan playing a leading role for the resources and environmental 
issues, which are drawing attention from all over the world. The 
order Abe gave this time to the environmental minister is aimed at 
materializing this initiative. 
 
The Kyoto Protocol stipulates that signatory nations cut greenhouse 
gas emissions over five years starting in 2008, but it is viewed 
difficult for participants, including Japan, to achieve their 
targets. As such, Abe aims at enhancing the efficacy of the Kyoto 
Protocol through the compilation of a strategy. 
 
SCHIEFFER