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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000402 
 
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 01/30/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) Vice President Cheney scheduled to arrive in Japan Feb. 20 
 
Diet interpellations, Jan. 29: 
5) Prime Minister Abe on national security 
   Defense Minister Kyuma on Iraq statements 
   Shoichi Nakagawa on North Korea issues, defense policy 
6) Minshuto head Ozawa focuses on social-gap issue, Prime Minister 
Abe on constitutional reform in Diet sparring, but both avoid 
"politics and money" issue 
 
7) Voters in this summer's election will have choice between two 
issues: LDP's constitutional reform, Minshuto's income disparity 
 
Yanagisawa gaffe: 
8) Minister of Health, Labor, Welfare Yanagisawa apologizes in Diet 
for "inappropriate" remark about women being "baby-bearing machines" 
 
9) Female lawmakers confront Yanagisawa, demand his resignation for 
comment about women being "baby-bearing machines" 
 
Abe's political woes: 
10) Abe Cabinet non-support rate jumps 13 points to 40.9%, now 
exceeding support rate of 39.1% in Fuji-Sankei poll 
11) Cabinet ministers' remarks and gaffes destroying image of Abe 
administration 
 
Political agenda: 
12) LDP readies bill amending political contribution law but 
coordination with other parties to be difficult 
13) LDP to back postal rebel Takashi Fujii, who lost Lower House 
seat, in this summer's Upper House race in Gifu 
14) Minshuto selects Imaizumi to replace Tsunoda as Upper House vice 
speaker 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Mainichi: Tokyo Shimbun: Akahata: 
Tokyo High Court orders NHK to pay compensation in lawsuit over 
changing contents of TV program on comfort women, recognizing 
political interference 
 
Yomiuri: 
"Discover! Aru aru Encyclopedia" broadcast also fabricated programs 
on health effects of wasabi and lemons 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Government to obligate repayment of concealed borrowings worth 18 
trillion yen to make up for shortage in state subsidies over 60 
years; 1.7 trillion yen to be paid in fiscal 2007 
 
Sankei: 
FNN poll: Nonapproval rating for Abe cabinet tops 40%, up 13 points, 
exceeding approval 
 
 
TOKYO 00000402  002 OF 011 
 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) NHK: Vulnerability to political pressure revealed 
(2) Proposals by DPJ head Ozawa: Lead by example 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Questions asked by DPJ head Ozawa clarify points at issue 
(2) Yanagisawa's "baby-making machines" remark: PM should reprimand 
him 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Interpellations: DPJ should come up with more convincing 
counterproposals 
(2) Lawsuit over NHK TV program: Impact on reporting worrying 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Both ruling and opposition parties should fulfill accountability 
by clarifying points at issue 
(2) Too many improper statements made by cabinet ministers 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Interpellation: "Politics and money" issue has yet to be fully 
corrected 
(2) Six-party talks: Tokyo, Washington should further solidify 
alliance 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Office expense issue: Prime minister's reply is not sufficient 
(2) Altered contents of TV program: NHK should distance itself from 
politics 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Spring wage struggle: Labor unions should display their 
organizational power 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 29 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
January 30, 2007 
 
10:01 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura at Kantei. 
 
11:25 
Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yachi. 
 
12:10 
Met with LDP Secretary General Nakagawa. 
 
13:03 
Attended the Lower House plenary session. 
 
16:03 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
17:02 
Attended the LDP executives' meeting in the Diet. 
 
17:32 
 
TOKYO 00000402  003 OF 011 
 
 
Attended a meeting at Kantei of the Special Zone Promotion 
Headquarters on a Regional System. 
 
18:01 
Attended a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. 
 
20:12 
Dined with critic Naoki Tanaka and others at the Chinese restaurant 
in Hotel Okura with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki present. 
 
22:31 
Arrived at residence in Kantei. 
 
4) US Vice President Cheney to visit Japan Feb. 20 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2007 
 
A government source revealed it has been firmed up that US Vice 
President Cheney will visit Japan for three days next month, 
starting on Feb. 20. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and other principle figures, 
and seek Japan's support for President Bush's new Iraq policy, as 
well as discuss such issues needing urgent cooperation as the North 
Korea nuclear weapons programs and the realignment of US forces in 
Japan. 
 
This will be the Vice President's second trip to Japan since April 
¶2004. He will also exchange views about the prime minister's plan to 
visit the US during the consecutive holidays that start at the end 
of April and into early May. Since Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma has 
made a series of remarks expressing his doubts about the US decision 
to go to war with Iraq, the Japanese government is likely to use 
this opportunity to reconfirm its support for the US' Iraq policy. 
 
5) Nakagawa: Pressure N. Korea with int'l community 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
January 30, 2007 
 
The following is a gist of Diet interpellations in yesterday's 
plenary sitting of the House of Representatives: 
 
Shoichi Nakagawa (Liberal Democratic Party): 
It's desirable that the Diet should pass the bill for procedures to 
revise the Constitution (national referendum bill) at the earliest 
possible date. It's my understanding that the constitutional review 
panel, which will be set up in both houses of the Diet after the 
bill is passed, will fully deliberate on the way the Constitution 
should be. When it comes to foreign relations, our primary concern 
is North Korea. We must resolve the abduction, nuclear, and missile 
issues as early as possible. The abduction issue is an abnormality 
on a global scale. The government's basic policy stance toward North 
Korea is to go ahead with "dialogue and pressure." However, North 
Korea has closed dialogue itself. As it stands, we will have to 
pressure North Korea with the international community. The 
government should address this issue for Japan's prestige as one of 
Japan's most important policies. Now is the time we should establish 
a real alliance between Japan and the United States with collective 
defense and missile defense. We should hurry to deal with the issue 
of realigning US forces in Japan, and Japan should deepen its 
alliance with the United States while sharing intelligence, holding 
 
TOKYO 00000402  004 OF 011 
 
 
talks, and acting in concert. China is posing a threat with its 
unclear policies as seen from its recent expansion of military 
activities in space and naval activities in the East China Sea. 
 
Prime Minister Abe: 
The Japan-US alliance is the keystone of Japan's national security. 
The government will cooperate with the United States and endeavor to 
deploy a system that will defend Japan against ballistic missiles. 
In order to contribute further to world peace and stability, we need 
to meet the times and rebuild a legal foundation for Japan's 
national security. We will study what falls under the 
constitutionally prohibited act of exercising the right to 
collective self-defense. US President Bush has shown the United 
States' resolve for Iraq's stabilization and reconstruction. Japan 
will continue to work together with the international community to 
help with Iraq's nation-rebuilding efforts. 
 
Kyuma: US made "wrong decision" over Iraq war 
 
Defense Minister Kyuma: I made that remark as my impression that I 
felt when I was outside the cabinet in those days. The government 
supports the United States and other countries in their use of armed 
force against Iraq. I also support and follow the government's 
position as defense minister. 
 
6) Lower House interpellation: Ozawa, prime minister at odds over 
pensions, social disparity; Ozawa offers specific proposals for 
attaching importance to public's living standard; Prime minister 
says he would pursue both economic growth and constitutional 
revision 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
January 30, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) head Ichiro Ozawa 
confronted Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, taking the podium first during 
the interpellations at a Lower House plenary session yesterday. 
Ozawa, who prioritizes improving the public's living standard, 
proposed specific plans for pensions and other areas. He then 
criticized the government and ruling camp for lacking a policy. The 
prime minister offered counterarguments from a realistic viewpoint 
and underscored his determination to pursue economic growth as well 
as political issues, such as educational revitalization and 
constitutional revision. Debate on the key "politics and money" 
issue did not come out since both the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
and the DPJ are saddled with money scandals. 
 
"Politics and money" issue fails to generate brisk debate with both 
LDP, DPJ strapped with money scandals 
 
Regarding the politics and money issue, Ozawa himself has the issue 
of his fund management organization having acquired a massive sum of 
real estate. He proposed that politicians in responsible posts 
should at least reveal the details of their office expenses. He 
claimed that he has no problem about his own money transactions, 
noting, "I am ready to release all receipts and related papers for 
my office expenses. 
 
However, he did not give any account of his own matters. Regarding 
the resignation over a political fund scandal of Upper House Vice 
Chairman Giichi Tsunoda, who had temporarily left the party to serve 
in that post, Ozawa indicated his intention to bring an end to the 
 
TOKYO 00000402  005 OF 011 
 
 
issue, saying, "He took political responsibility for being unable to 
give a full account on the issue, since he lost the data." He then 
questioned the office expense issue involving Agriculture Minister 
Toshikatsu Matsuoka. 
 
The prime minister brushed aside Ozawa's pursuit, noting, "I have 
received a report noting that the matter is being handled in 
compliance with relevant laws." Abe responded to his proposal for 
obligating politicians to reveal their office expenses, "The LDP 
Reform Implementation Headquarters is already discussing such a 
possibility." He thus responded to Ozawa in a manner of not making 
any commitment. 
 
Ozawa during a press conference after the interpellation indicated a 
sense of displeasure, saying, "The prime minister hardly responded 
to my questions." Commenting on Ozawa's issue, the prime minister 
said, "He is bound to be asked to give accounts." 
 
7) Diet battle between LDP, Minshuto; Constitutional reform or 
narrowing social gap? Abe: "No need to choose between the two"; 
Ozawa: "First thing to do is pension reform, not hike the 
consumption tax" 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
January 30, 2007 
 
A question-and-answer session in connection with Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe's policy speech began yesterday at the plenary session of 
the House of Representatives. Ichiro Ozawa, president of the largest 
opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), urged the 
prime minister to place more emphasis on restoring people's 
livelihoods than constitutional reform. Abe rebutted, however, 
saying, "I have no intention of choosing between the two." He 
argued, "I will squarely undertake" employment, education and 
constitutional issues "with the utmost energy." With the Upper House 
election coming up in July after the current regular Diet session, 
heated debate will likely occur over what should be the major issue 
for Diet deliberations -- narrowing the income gap in society, 
education reform, or constitutional amendments. 
 
Ozawa stated: "Japan has become the country with the widest income 
disparity in the world over the past six years of the Koizumi and 
Abe governments." He asked Abe: "What you think politicians should 
do now, amend the Constitution or improve standards of living?" He 
intended to make clear a confrontation between his party, which 
advocates narrowing social disparities, and Abe, who wishes to set 
constitutional reform as a main campaign issue for the Upper House 
election. 
 
In response, Abe stated, "I'm ready to squarely address debate," 
citing the need for a review of the postwar regime, including ways 
people work, improvement in livelihoods, education reform, and 
constitutional amendments. 
 
Abe revealed again his intention to submit a set of bills related to 
education reform, stating, "I will make efforts to revise relevant 
laws in order to build a reliable educational administration, 
clarifying where responsibility lies." 
 
Ozawa, meanwhile, explained his party's pension system reform plan. 
He asserted that the plan was designed to realize a minimum pension 
security by using all consumption tax revenues for that purpose 
 
TOKYO 00000402  006 OF 011 
 
 
without hiking the rate. He said that a shortage of other financial 
resources could be covered by 11 trillion yen that would be secured 
by administrative reform and other measures. Abe, however, severely 
criticized Ozawa, saying: "You are just laying items out, and I 
can't see any specific ideas. I doubt the feasibility." 
 
8) Health Minister Yanagisawa apologizes for his remark referring to 
women as "baby-making machines," noting "It was inappropriate" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
January 30, 2007 
 
Health Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa apologized for his remark calling 
women "baby-making machines" during the Lower House plenary session 
yesterday afternoon: "I employed an inappropriate term that hurt 
women. I offered an apology to the nation, particularly women." 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, too, stated: "I also deemed it as 
inappropriate, and strongly reprimanded (Yanagisawa) not to cause 
any misunderstanding." 
 
Later in the day, when asked about the opposition camp's call for 
Yanagisawa's resignation at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, 
Abe rejected it: "He withdrew his remark and apologized. I expect 
him to regain public trust by doing his duty." 
 
During the Lower House plenary session, Abe referred to Defense 
Minister Fumio Kyuma's remark casting doubts on the Japanese 
government's support for America's opening of the war against Iraq 
and stated, "I've confirmed that Mr. Kyuma also supports the 
government's position," rejecting the criticism of discord in the 
cabinet. Kyuma, too, stated: "At the time, I stated what I felt in 
the capacity of a non-cabinet member. I support the government's 
position." 
 
9) Criticism growing of Health Minister Yanagisawa's "baby-making 
machines" remark, casting doubt on his qualifications for the post; 
Female lawmakers calling for his resignation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Almost full) 
January 30, 2007 
 
Keishi Yoshida 
 
The government is trying to draw a curtain on the case of Health 
Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa's provocative remark that referred to 
women as "baby-making machines" by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
strong reprimand of Yanagisawa that was followed by Yanagisawa's 
apology and withdrawal of the remark. But the criticism is not going 
to stop, causing wide repercussions. Even officials in his ministry 
are baffled. Yanagisawa has rejected the idea of resigning, but his 
qualifications to be the minister in charge of the falling birthrate 
are now being questioned. 
 
Yanagisawa stated in a speech given in Matsue City on Jan. 27: "The 
number of child-bearing machines or devices is fixed. Each should do 
her best." The implication is that because the number of women who 
will reach childbearing age in the near future is fixed, the 
declining birthrate will not stop unless each woman gives birth to 
more babies. This provocative remark came out when Yanagisawa gave 
an account of a new population estimate that the total fertility 
rate (indicating the average number of babies one woman will give 
birth to in her lifetime) would stay at the same 1.25 as in 2005. 
 
TOKYO 00000402  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
Meeting the press yesterday, Yanagisawa explained: "I then felt my 
words were not fully understood by my audience in the hall. So I 
thought from my experience of being engaged in economic affairs that 
it might be (easier) to understand if I used a metaphor by citing 
goods." In the Lower House plenary session, Yanagisawa denied the 
possibility of his stepping down from the post, stating: "I'll put 
all my efforts into working out measures against the falling 
birthrate." The government and the ruling parties, as well, intend 
to defend Yanagisawa on the ground that he corrected his problem 
remark right after making it in his speech. 
 
The government will shortly establish a strategic council on the 
declining birthrate. Turning around the previous measures centering 
on economic support, such as child allowances, the government 
instead intends to shed light on lifestyles, such as working 
patterns, and come up with measures that will make it possible for 
women to balance work and child-rearing. 
 
Yanagisawa is among the members of that council, but the problem 
occurred just before the council was set up. The opposition parties 
are raising objections to Yanagisawa, with one member arguing, "What 
he said is the same as forcing women to give birth to babies for the 
sake of the state." Social Democratic Party (SDP) President Mizuho 
Fukushima and other lawmakers met with Yanagisawa in the Diet last 
evening and handed him a letter of request for his resignation made 
by 28 female lawmakers of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto or DPJ), the Japanese Communist Party, and the SDP. 
 
However, when he met with them, Yanagisawa commented, "I had my 
daughters take the same education as men did." This comment was 
frowned upon by them. Later in the day, Yanagisawa told reporters, 
"I have encouraged women to take part in society." 
 
A senior Health Ministry official lamented: "He was born in 1935 
(and is 71 years old). So he unintentionally used the word 
'machines,' but that term must be avoided by all means when we 
describe women." Yanagisawa had to admit that there would be some 
impact on deliberations on relevant laws, saying: "Of course there 
will be." 
 
10) Poll: Nonsupport rate for Abe over 40%, up 13 points; 
Disapproval tops approval 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Abridged) 
January 30, 2007 
 
The approval and disapproval ratings for the cabinet of Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe have traded places, the Sankei Shimbun 
discovered from a recent public opinion survey. In the poll, which 
was conducted by Fuji News Network (FNN) on Jan. 27-28 to probe 
public attitudes toward politics, the Abe cabinet recorded a support 
rate of 39.1%, and a nonsupport rate of 40.9%. The last time the 
cabinet disapproval rate exceeded the approval rating was in July 
2004 during the Koizumi administration. The current slide can be 
taken as resulting from scandals involving cabinet ministers, such 
as their unclear handling of political funds for their electoral 
offices. However, educational reform topped all other tasks when 
respondents were asked what the Abe cabinet should pursue first in 
the current Diet session. This shows that the public has a better 
understanding of the prime minister's educational reform 
initiative. 
 
TOKYO 00000402  008 OF 011 
 
 
 
The support rate for the Abe cabinet was down 8.6%age points from 
the 47.7% rating in a Fuji-Sankei survey conducted from November 
last year through December. The nonsupport rate was up 13.2 points 
from 27.7%. The lowest support rate for the Koizumi cabinet was 
40.7% in July 2004. The approval rating last fell below 40% in 
February 2001 when the Mori cabinet was in office. Among women, the 
support rate for the Abe cabinet was 39.6%, with the nonsupport rate 
at 36.9%. As seen from these figures, the approval rating was higher 
than the disapproval rating among women. Among men, however, the 
disapproval rating reached 48.7%, with the approval rating at 
38.5%. 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked whether they appreciated 
the Abe cabinet's job performance. In response to this question, 
negative answers outnumbered affirmative ones for job performance, 
excluding the prime minister's personal character. In particular, 
63.4% were negative about Abe's way of dealing with scandals and 
allegations involving his cabinet ministers. 
 
However, the public was split over the Abe cabinet's educational 
reform initiative that tops its agenda, with 37.2% affirmative and 
39.1% negative. Among those who support the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party, affirmative answers accounted for 55.4%. 
 
11) Controversial remarks by cabinet ministers undermine image of 
Abe administration 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 30, 2007 
 
The fallout of a succession of controversial remarks by cabinet 
ministers has influenced the management of the Abe administration. 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma made statements criticizing the United 
States, and Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa 
compared women to baby-making machines. In addition, Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Shimomura indicated that he would not 
insist on the idea of having three education reform bills passed in 
the current Diet session. These statements are expected to undermine 
the image of the Abe administration. 
 
Intensifying reactions 
 
Yanagisawa offered an apology in a House of Representatives plenary 
session yesterday over his controversial remark. Prior to this, the 
prime minister had admonished him, but the furor is only escalating. 
State Minister in Charge of the Declining Birthrate Sanae Takaichi 
said before reporters: "Since it is almost impossible for me to have 
a child, I am branded as defective, according to his view." 
 
The government announced yesterday that it would establish a new 
body for relevant cabinet ministers and experts to map out 
countermeasures to the falling birthrate. But the statement by the 
health minister blurs the government's eagerness to tackle the 
issue. After the Lower House plenary session yesterday, 16 female 
lawmakers from Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), the Japanese 
Communist Party, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) called on 
Yanagisawa to withdraw the remark and resign. Minshuto, the SDP, and 
the People's New Party will jointly demand Yanagisawa's resignation 
today. 
 
Despair in the Defense Ministry 
 
TOKYO 00000402  009 OF 011 
 
 
 
The defense minister has repeatedly criticized the United States 
over the Iraq war and US force realignment. In response, Policy 
Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa expressed a sense of 
alarm, saying, "The current relationship of trust between Japan and 
the US might be impaired." The defense minister said in the Lower 
House plenary session yesterday: "I have made a stir, but there is 
no need to worry. On the issue of US force realignment, too, we have 
come near to a settlement." 
 
Since last year, Kyuma has repeatedly made unusual remarks and 
offered apologies. Should he continue criticizing the US, he might 
be pressed to resign. Defense Ministry officials have thrown their 
hands up in despair over Kyuma's series of controversial remarks. A 
government source admitted yesterday that the US government had 
unofficially expressed its displeasure with the criticisms by the 
defense minister. 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura made a statement indicating 
that he would not insist on the idea of having three education 
reform bills passed in the current Diet session, despite the prime 
minister's eagerness to rebuild the education system. His remark has 
also caused a stir. 
 
Politics and money issue as double-edged sword 
 
Prime Minister Abe told LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa 
yesterday, "The issue should be discussed in the party, with a focus 
on the revision of the Political Funds Control Law." In the party, 
though, some members are calling for strengthening the party rules 
instead of revising the law. If the party fails to revise the law, 
criticism may come its way. The legal revision issue is a 
double-edged sword. 
 
12) LDP aims to submit bill amending Political Funds Control Law to 
current Diet session 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 30, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided yesterday to revise the 
Political Funds Control Law in the current Diet session in light of 
large sums of money reported as office expenses by the political 
fund organizations of cabinet ministers and senior ruling party 
members. Prime Minister Abe called in Secretary General Hidenao 
Nakagawa to the Kantei last night and told him, "I want discussion 
to be conducted in the party, with an eye on revising the law," 
falling in step with Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) and the 
New Komeito, which are also calling for amending the law. In the 
process of working out revision bills, however, negotiations are 
unlikely to go smoothly. 
 
The prime minister told reporters last night: "I have instructed 
(Secretary General Nakagawa) to correct what must be corrected in 
order to regain public trust." 
 
Regarding office expenses, the current law requires politicians to 
report only their total amounts in mandatory annual political fund 
reports, and not to attach receipts or detail what the expenses were 
spent for. Seeing office-expense scandals involving Agriculture 
Minister Matsuoka, Education Minister and other lawmakers cropping 
up in succession, many are calling for revising the Political Funds 
 
TOKYO 00000402  010 OF 011 
 
 
Control Law. 
 
13) LDP to recommend Fujii as candidate for Gifu district in Upper 
House election, though it will officially endorse Ono as its 
candidate for the district 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
January 30, 2007 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has decided to offer 
"party headquarters' recommendation" to Takao Fujii, who has 
announced his candidacy for the Gifu prefectural district (two seats 
up for reelection) in the House of Councillors election in the 
summer. Fujii bolted the LDP after opposing the government's 
sponsored postal-privatization legislation and was defeated in the 
2005 House of Representatives election. In consideration of dropping 
support for the Abe cabinet, the LDP leadership has decided not to 
allow former party members who lost their Diet seats to rejoin the 
party, but Fujii will become a candidate on the LDP ticket. 
 
Party headquarters will likely officially endorse incumbent Upper 
House member Tsuyako Ono. Although the LDP has decided to field one 
candidate in principle even in the two-seats district like Gifu, it 
has judged that it will be no problem to recommend Fujii, since the 
party's Gifu prefectural chapter has called for giving its 
recommendation to him. 
 
The party's decision to recommend Fujii has already been approved by 
senior members of the party's Upper and Lower Houses. The LDP has 
reportedly conveyed its decision to Fujii. A senior LDP member 
stressed: "Our party will officially endorse him but will not 
recognize him or allow him back into the party." However, giving 
Fujii the party's recommendation will likely mean that the LDP will 
allow him to return. 
 
14) Akira Imaizumi to be tabbed Upper House vice president 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 30, 2007 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) yesterday picked Akira Imaizumi 
as vice president of the House of Councillors, replacing Giichi 
Tsunoda, who is stepping down to take responsibility for an alleged 
 
SIPDIS 
fund scandal. Imaizumi is now serving as secretary general of 
Minshuto's Upper House caucus. The expectation is that the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New Komeito 
will agree to Minshuto's recommendation. Imaizumi will be named 
today at the Upper House plenary session and Tsunoda's resignation 
will be approved there. Minshuto also decided to pick Acting Upper 
House Secretary General Toshio Ogawa, 58, as Imaizumi's 
replacement. 
 
It has been the practice that the Upper House vice presidential post 
is held by a lawmaker of the largest opposition party. Minshuto 
usually recommends its Upper House chairman to the post, but 
following Tsunoda's sudden resignation, Imaizumi will be serving in 
the post until July when Tsunoda's term as vice president expires. 
 
Imaizumi represents the Chiba prefectural district. He graduated 
from Waseda University. He has served in such posts as acting 
chairman of Zenkinrengo, chairman of Yu-i-kai, Minshuto Upper House 
Diet Affairs Committee chairman, and Upper House National Basic 
 
TOKYO 00000402  011 OF 011 
 
 
Policy Committee chairman. He was elected twice to the Upper House. 
He is 72 years old. 
 
DONOVAN