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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000701 
 
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 02/20/07-1 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Visit of Vice President Cheney: 
4) Vice President Cheney arrives today but there are problems 
underlying the US-Japan "honeymoon" 
5) Cheney to ask Japan for extended support for Afghanistan, Iraq 
6) Cheney will not meet Defense Minister Kyuma during his 3-day 
Japan visit for "scheduling reasons" 
7) Kyuma's critical remarks about the US have had a diplomatic 
price: no meeting with Vice President Cheney 
 
Kyuma problem: 
8) Ambassador Schieffer in meeting with Komeito head says he finds 
Defense Minister Kyuma's remarks on Futenma plan "strange" 
9) - Schieffer expresses concern about Kyuma's desire to revise 
agreement on Futenma relocation 
 
Opinion polls: 
10) Abe Cabinet's non-support rate jumps 8 points to 39.2% in Jiji 
poll 
11) Asahi poll: 40% non-support rate for Abe Cabinet now outpacing 
37% support rate, with majority of public dissatisfied with 
premier's income disparity policy 
12) 53% of public want Health Minister Yanagisawa to resign for his 
remarks about women: Asahi poll 
13) Yomiuri poll: As Abe Cabinet support rate continues to slip now 
at 45.3%  majority of public chide premier for "lack of leadership" 
 
14) Jiji poll finds half of Japanese public cautious about a 
permanent law for overseas dispatches of SDF troops 
15) Prime Minister Abe: Will rebuild confidence through policies 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Poll: Disapproval for Abe cabinet at 40%, exceeds approval; 54% 
dissatisfied with anti-disparity measures 
 
Mainichi: 
Elderly people caged, chained to beds in Urayasu nursing-care 
facility 
 
Yomiuri: 
Japanese Association for Acute Medicine drafts guidelines on ending 
life-support 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Talks underway for Misuzu Audit Corp. to hand auditing to three 
major corporations in summer to avoid adverse effect on end of 
fiscal year 
 
Sankei: 
Education Ministry to allow local boards of education to become 
involved in administration of private schools 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
 
TOKYO 00000701  002 OF 011 
 
 
37 prefectures to issue in FY2007 bonds worth 300 billion yen - 
three times greater than original amount - to cover baby-boomers' 
retirement allowances 
 
Akahata: 
Japan Federation of Medical Workers' Unions Poll: 96% of hospital 
doctors work 32 hours nonstop three times a month 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Plummeting cabinet support spells trouble 
(2) Opening sidewalks not enough to deal with bicycles 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Kidney transplant scandal requires thorough investigation 
(2) Corporate world may change depending on Sapporo TOB 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Abe must try to restore confidence in cabinet 
(2) Rising grain prices: Structural shift results from supply-demand 
balance 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Armitage report shows Japan-US challenges 
(2) Kidney transplants outrageous 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Cheney's Japan visit: Japan, US, and Australia need strategic 
cooperation 
(2) Tokyo marathon a festival for a megalopolis 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Government's growth enhancing strategy raises questions 
(2) Matsuzakaya-Daimaru merger plan: Traditions and cultures must be 
maintained 
 
Akahata: 
Lawmakers must clearly explain their office expenses 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, February 19 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
February 20, 2007 
 
10:32 
Met Secretary General Nakagawa at the Kantei. 
 
11:05 
Met Ambassador to the US Kato. Followed by Special Advisor Koike. 
 
12:05 
Attended a government and ruling parties liaison council meeting. 
Later met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. 
 
14:00 
Met Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Matsuoka, Forestry 
Agency Director General Hayashi, and others. Followed by Education 
Minister Ibuki and others. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000701  003 OF 011 
 
 
15:30 
Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
16:03 
Social Insurance Agency Director General Murase, with Special 
Advisor Nemoto. 
 
16:55 
Handed recommendation certificates in the Diet building to the 
LDP-backed candidates for the Gunma and Tokushima gubernatorial 
elections, and Shizuoka mayoral election, with Secretary General 
Nakagawa and others present. Later, attended an LDP executive 
meeting. 
 
17:49 
Attended a meeting of cabinet ministers responsible for working out 
a monthly economic report at Kantei. 
 
18:54 
Dined at a Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Okura with former 
Finance Minister Shiokawa and former BOJ Deliberation Council member 
Nobuyuki Nakahara. 
 
20:34 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) US Vice President Cheney to arrive in Japan today as honeymoon 
ties begin to cool 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 20, 2007 
 
Naonori Fujita 
 
US Vice President Dick Cheney will arrive in Japan today. "It is 
meaningful in order to strengthen the Japan-US alliance for the 
world and Asia," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said. But as Japanese 
cabinet members have openly criticized the Bush administration's 
Iraq policy recently, differences in foreign policy approaches 
between the two countries, including toward North Korea, are 
becoming increasingly prominent. With things no longer the same as 
they were in the Koizumi-Bush honeymoon relations, the Abe 
administration has faced a number of difficulties in its approach 
toward the US. 
 
North Korea: Gaps on abduction issue 
 
"It was as if we were skating on thin ice," a senior Cabinet 
Secretariat official remarked. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
The agreement released on Feb. 13 by the recent round of six-party 
talks stated that the US "will begin the process of removing" North 
Korea from its designation as a terror-sponsoring state. One reason 
for this designation is the abduction issue caused by North Korea. 
So, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Yuriko Koike, who was then 
in the US, swiftly asked the State Department for a cautious 
response. On the night of Feb. 14, Abe and President George W. Bush 
confirmed that they would act together to deal with North Korea. 
 
Concerns about discord between Japan and the US, however, had 
already spread in the ruling parties and other quarters. The Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) somehow soothed the situation 
 
TOKYO 00000701  004 OF 011 
 
 
with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki noting, "Of course, 
it's incorrect to think that the removal of the designation has been 
agreed on." But according to Keio University Professor Naoyuki 
Agawa, a former minister to the US, the general view in Japan is 
that "In Americans' eyes, the threat of North Korea is essentially 
less acute that those of Iran and Iraq." 
 
In order to make Japan-US ties look closer, during his stay in Japan 
Cheney is to declare America's support for Japan's position on the 
abduction issue. Also, he is likely to reaffirm the importance of 
the Japan-US alliance and seek Japan's understanding and cooperation 
regarding America's actions, such as the additional deployment of 
troops to Iraq. 
 
Japan reluctant to extend assistance to Iraq with the upcoming Upper 
House election in mind 
 
Japanese cabinet members have recently expressed critical views of 
America's Iraq policy. For instance, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma 
stated: "Isn't it that the decision to go to war might have been a 
mistake?" Foreign Minister Taro Aso noted, "(The post-war governing 
policy) was naive." During his visit to Japan this time, Cheney has 
no plan to meet with Kyuma. 
 
Kyuma made such a remark apparently as a precaution to contain 
objections from the ruling parties and the public before the start 
of debate on whether to extend the term of airlifting assistance to 
Iraq by the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF), which is to expire in 
July. His and other cabinet members' remarks critical of the US 
forced the prime minister to warn them not to make comments 
thoughtlessly. The chief cabinet secretary, too, was forced to say: 
"Those remarks were inappropriate." 
 
There is no change in Abe's position that the Japanese government's 
endorsement of America's opening of the war in Iraq in 2003 was 
correct, as he has stated, "Iraq continued to violate a number of 
United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions over a period of 
12 years. It was unwilling to the end to respond to the 
international community's sincere efforts." 
 
However, in order to revise the Iraq Special Measures Law, Abe needs 
to pay due consideration to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 
(LDP) Upper House caucus, as well as junior coalition partner New 
Komeito, given that his hold over the party is declining in line 
with the cabinet's falling approval ratings. The US expects Japan to 
extend the term, but Abe has yet to reach a final conclusion about 
such matters as how long the airlift would be extended. 
 
Ahead of Cheney's visit to Japan, the Japanese government obtained a 
cabinet approval on Feb. 16 for the prevention of the transfer of 
funds relating to Iran's nuclear development programs. Although it 
came to light that day that US beef was suspected of violating 
Japan's import requirements concerning BSE, the prime minister tried 
to quiet down the news, noting, "I have been informed that SRMs were 
not included." 
 
Nonetheless, it is undeniable that Japan has tended to be slow to 
deal with issues involving the US now that the honeymoon relations 
between Koizumi and Bush are over. 
 
On the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, a 
focal point in the US force realignment that was agreed on between 
 
TOKYO 00000701  005 OF 011 
 
 
the Koizumi administration and the Bush administration, the 
coordination process involving the central and local governments has 
been deadlocked. No session of the Japan-US Security Consultative 
Committee (2+2) of the foreign and defense ministers has occurred 
yet since the start of the Abe administration. 
 
Abe stated that in order to enhance the reliability of the Japan-US 
alliance, "We will study individual cases specifically to see what 
will be identified as exercising the right to collective defense." 
In response, the press officer of the US Embassy in Japan commented, 
"We welcome his pledge to review the hitherto known legal 
obstacles." But a full-scale study is unlikely to start so soon, as 
a senior Foreign Ministry official commented, "It would start after 
the Upper House election at the earliest, but that will depend on 
the result of the election." 
 
5) Cheney to arrive in Japan on Feb. 20, expected to ask for Japan 
to make more contributions in Iraq, Afghanistan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
Evening, Feb. 17, 2007 
 
Takashi Sadahiro, Washington 
 
Responding to questions by representatives of press companies on 
Feb. 16, prior to the planned visit to Japan by Vice President Dick 
Cheney starting on Feb. 20, a senior United States government 
official revealed that the vice president would ask the Japanese 
government to make greater contributions in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 
The official also indicated that the vice president would discuss 
with Prime Minister Abe and other Japanese government officials on 
Feb. 21 "where we need more efforts and what contributions each 
country would be able to offer in the two countries (Iraq and 
Afghanistan)." 
 
The US has decided to dispatch over 20,000 more troops to Iraq on a 
security-restoration mission. The US government is expected to call 
on Japan and other its allies to provide more personnel and 
financial aid for reconstruction projects in Iraq. 
 
The US official, while appreciating the airlift aid in Iraq and 
fueling at sea by the Self-Defense Forces, commented, "The US hopes 
that Japan will be a general partner to it." 
 
6) US Vice President Cheney to visit Japan starting on 20th but will 
not meet Defense Minister Kyuma for "scheduling reasons" 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2007 
 
By Hideya Yamamoto in Washington 
 
Vice President Cheney will visit Japan for three days starting on 
Feb. 20. In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and 
other top officials to exchange views on such topics as the North 
Korea nuclear issue, the Vice President also will visit the US Navy 
base at Yokosuka to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance. 
 
However, a senior US official on Feb. 16 confirmed to the press 
corps that a meeting with Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, who has 
repeatedly criticized the United States on the Iraq war and on base 
 
TOKYO 00000701  006 OF 011 
 
 
relocation, will not occur. "Scheduling problems" were cited as the 
reason for not setting up a meeting. 
 
The senior official, commenting on the adoption by the six-party 
talks of a joint statement on the North Korea nuclear issue, 
predicted that the Vice President would transmit that the US would 
continue to back Japan on the abduction issue, which would be taken 
up in a working group between Japan and North Korea. Another topic 
that would be brought up would be China's military moves, including 
its test use of an ASAT weapon to shoot down a satellite. The 
official indicated that there was concern not only by the US but 
also across the Asia region, as well. 
 
The Vice President will visit Australia, as well, passing through 
Guam on the way. The visit is to show the US' stance of placing 
emphasis on two of Japan's most important allies in the word -- 
Japan and Australia. 
 
7) Diplomatic impact of defense minister's critical remarks about 
the US: Vice President Cheney will not meet Defense Minister Kyuma 
during his Japan visit; Kyuma has turned silent 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
February 18, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma has recently turned cautious in his 
remarks. He previously had repeatedly criticized the United States, 
calling the Iraq war a "mistake," and saying that "the US should not 
make such high-handed remarks" regarding the issue of relocating the 
US forces' Futenma Air Station. It appears that Kyuma has taken 
seriously the US' strong reaction and has recently stopped coming 
out with his true feelings on these issues. As it stands now, 
though, he has not been able to arrange a meeting with Vice 
President Cheney, who arrives in Japan on Feb. 20.' 
 
Kyuma stressed in the Lower House of the Diet on Feb. 16 that his 
criticism of the US on the Iraq war was "my feelings at the time." 
Now that he is a cabinet member, he indicated that he would follow a 
posture of following the government's policy line of supporting the 
US' launching of that war. 
 
Kyuma has constrained his criticism o the US, but his words already 
have had a major diplomatic impact. A Security Consultative 
Committee (2-plus-2) meeting between Japan and the US planned 
originally for January has been delayed until at least late March. 
Although Vice President Cheney is not scheduled to see Kyuma, he 
will meet with Prime Minister Abe and Foreign Minister Aso in 
separate sessions to discuss the Iraq war and the North Korean 
nuclear issue. 
 
One senior Defense Ministry official pointed out: "Kyuma made a big 
mistake in thinking that since it was himself, it was permissible 
(to even criticize the US)." Kyuma says that he will now watch what 
he says, so the period of self-imposed silence is likely to 
continue. 
 
8) US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer finds Defense Minister Kyuma's 
remarks "strange" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 17, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00000701  007 OF 011 
 
 
New Komeito President Akihiro Ota met with US Ambassador to Japan 
Schieffer on Feb. 16 in the Lower House Diet Members Building. In 
their meeting, Ambassador Schieffer raised the question of 
statements by Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma that have been critical 
of the way the US government has handled the relocation of the US 
forces' Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture). He 
said: "Although I am not upset by them, I find them strange since 
the US and Japanese governments have already reached an agreement." 
 
9) US Ambassador to Japan concerned about statements by Defense 
Minister Kyuma 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 17, 2007 
 
US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer met on Feb. 16 with New Komeito 
President Akihiro Ota. Referring to criticisms by Defense Minister 
Kyuma of the US for not responding to calls for revision of the 
relocation plan for Futenma Air Station, the Ambassador expressed 
concern, saying: "The US and Japanese governments negotiated and 
concluded a (relocation) agreement. We were perplexed when he said 
he wanted to change the agreement." 
 
10) Jiji Press opinion poll: Abe Cabinet non-support rate jumps 8 
points to 39.2% 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 17, 2007 
 
According to the results of Jiji Press' February opinion poll 
completed on Feb. 16, the support rate for the Abe Cabinet declined 
5.8 points from last month's level to 34.9%, the third straight 
month for it to drop. On the other hand, the non-support rate jumped 
8.3 points to reach 39.2%, surpassing the support rate for the first 
time since the launching of the Abe administration last September. 
There seems to have been a major impact in the polls of such 
problems as the statement by Health Minister Yanagisawa comparing 
women to "baby-bearing machines," and the issue of a lack of clarity 
about office expenses by cabinet members. 
 
The survey was carried out between Feb. 9-12 among 2,000 adults 
nationwide using a face-to-face interview method. The effective 
response rate was 66.3%. This was the first time for the prime 
minister's support rate to fall before the 40% level. The 
non-support rate, which was 15.9% in the first poll last October 
after Abe took office as prime minister, has been rising in the 
monthly poll ever since. 
 
The main reasons for non-support (multiple choices) were: "can't 
expect too much of him" (22.3%, rising for the first time over 20% 
), and "no leadership" (17% ). Regarding party support, the LDP 
received a 21.4% support rate, down 2.8 points since Jan., and the 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 9.7%, slipping 1.4 
points. Those supporting no party rose slightly 0.3% to 60.7%, as 
high as it has ever been. There seems to be no stopping the trend of 
voters deserting organized parties. 
 
11) Poll: Cabinet support down to 40%, tops support rate 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Full) 
February 20, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00000701  008 OF 011 
 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Abe's cabinet was 37% 
in a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by 
the Asahi Shimbun on Feb. 17-18. Meanwhile, the Abe cabinet's 
nonsupport rate was 40%. The Abe cabinet's disapproval rating topped 
its approval rating for the first time. Asked about Abe's job 
performance since coming into office, nearly 40% answered that it 
was "short of expectations." In addition, more than 50% were 
negative about the Abe cabinet's efforts to deal with the nation's 
social divide. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's support rate 
also dropped to 29%, failing to reach 30% for the first time in 22 
months. The figures show that the public is about to distance 
themselves both from the Abe cabinet and from the LDP. 
 
The Abe cabinet made its debut with high popularity at 63%. However, 
its support rate has not stopped falling in surveys taken 
thereafter. The Abe cabinet's nonsupport rate topped its support 
rate five months after its inauguration. 
 
Among women, the Abe cabinet's support rate was 39%. Among men, it 
was 36%. The Abe cabinet's support rate among women has tended has 
been higher than that among men. However, the support rate among 
women fell below 40% for the first time. Among those in their 20s to 
50s, nonsupport was higher than support as in the previous survey 
taken in January this year. In the latest survey, however, the 
support rate among those in their 60s dropped from 49% to 38% and 
closed in on the nonsupport rate (36% ). 
 
What lies behind the drop in the Abe cabinet's support rate seems to 
be the public's disappointment. In the survey, respondents were 
asked about the Abe cabinet's job performance so far. In response to 
this question, 37% of them answered that it was "short of 
expectations," topping all other answers. Among other answers, 32% 
said they had "no expectations from the beginning," with 25% saying 
it was "up to expectations" and 1% saying it was "beyond 
expectations." 
 
The survey this time also shows strong dissatisfaction with the Abe 
cabinet's policies. The ruling and opposition parties are squaring 
off over the issue of a social divide, such as economic disparities. 
The prime minister has set forth his strategy of backing second 
chances and boosting Japan's economic growth. However, only 21% 
answered "yes" and 54% were negative when they were asked if they 
appreciated such efforts. LDP supporters were also split, with 38% 
saying "yes" and 36% saying "no." 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked if they appreciated the 
agreement reached at the six-party talks on energy aid to North 
Korea over its nuclear weapons programs. In response to this 
question, 56% answered "no," with 31% saying "yes." As seen from 
these figures, negative opinions outnumbered affirmative ones. 
 
Meanwhile, Abe has declared that Japan will not provide energy aid 
to North Korea if there is no progress in the issue of Japanese 
nationals abducted to North Korea. Asked whether to support this 
stance, "yes" accounted for 81%. It accounted for 88% among those 
who support the Abe cabinet and 78% even among those who do not 
support the Abe cabinet. Abe is now troubled with his cabinet's 
unpopularity, but the general public seems to be supportive of his 
stance of prioritizing the abduction issue. 
 
The LDP's support rate was 29%, down from 32% in a previous survey 
taken last month. The leading opposition Democratic Party (Minshuto) 
 
TOKYO 00000701  009 OF 011 
 
 
also dropped from 16% to 13%. The proportion of those with no 
particular party affiliation increased from 45% to 51%. The LDP 
failed to reach 30% for the first time since April 2005 when it was 
split over postal privatization. The proportion of those 
unaffiliated also topped 50% for the first time since then. People 
are distancing themselves from political parties, with this summer's 
House of Councillors election ahead. 
 
12) Poll: 53% urge welfare minister to resign 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 20, 2007 
 
In the Asahi Shimbun's latest survey, respondents were asked if they 
thought Prime Minister Abe should dismiss Welfare and Labor Minister 
Yanagisawa over his recent gaffe in which he called women 
"childbearing machines. In response to this question, 53% answered 
"yes," with 39% saying there is no need to do so. 
 
"Yes" accounted for 56% among men and 51% among women. "Yes" was 
higher than 50% in all age brackets, with the exception of those 
aged 70 and over. However, it accounted for 60% or so among women in 
their 20s to 30s and among men in their 50s to 60s, calling for the 
prime minister to take severe action. 
 
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Kyuma said the United States launched 
the Iraq war but that decision was "wrong." In the survey, 
respondents were asked if they agreed with Kyuma. In response, "yes" 
accounted for 57%, with "no" at 26%. As seen from these figures, 
affirmative opinions outnumbered negative ones. 
 
13) Poll: Cabinet support rate at 45.3%, close to nonsupport rate; 
57% see Abe as lacking leadership ability 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 20, 2007 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Abe's cabinet was 
45.3% in a face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted 
by the Yomiuri Shimbun on Feb. 17-18, down 3.1%age points from the 
48.4% rating in a survey taken in January. The Abe cabinet's support 
rate dropped for the fourth month in a row from its inaugural 70.0% 
rating in a survey taken in October last year. The Abe cabinet's 
nonsupport rate was 42.7%, up 3.8 points from last month. 
 
The Abe cabinet's approval and disapproval ratings were close in the 
latest survey. This can be taken as reflecting scandals involving 
cabinet ministers, such as Welfare and Labor Minister Yanagisawa's 
gaffe in which he called women "childbearing machines," so more 
people presumably doubted Prime Minister Abe's governing 
capability. 
 
The Abe cabinet's support rate among men was 43% and among women was 
48%. Among men, the nonsupport rate was 48%, topping the support 
rate. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked if they thought Abe has 
displayed his leadership in steering his government. In response to 
this question, 57% answered "no," with 18% saying "yes." 
 
In addition, 56% answered "no" to a question asking respondents if 
they thought Abe has appropriately dealt with his cabinet ministers' 
 
TOKYO 00000701  010 OF 011 
 
 
scandals and gaffe. 
 
14) Half the public cautious about idea of establishing permanent 
law on overseas dispatch of SDF troops, according to Jiji poll 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 19, 2007 
 
Jiji Press carried out a poll to gauge views on the establishing of 
a permanent law enabling the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense 
Forces (SDF) personnel. According to the results of the survey, 
wrapped up on Feb. 18, only about 10% of pollees replied such a law 
was "necessary," while a half of them called for a cautious 
approach, saying " It is necessary, but there is no need to hurry." 
 
The poll, conducted from Feb. 9 through the 12th based on 
face-to-face interviews, covered 2,000 adult males and females 
throughout the nation. The effective response rate was 66.3%. 
 
According to the findings, 12.5% of the respondents replied, "A 
permanent law is necessary." Those who took a cautious view reached 
50.5% combining those who replied, "Necessary but need to hurry," 
and, "It is better to deal with the matter not with a permanent law 
but with special measures laws." The number of those "against" the 
overseas dispatch of SDF troops itself came to 18.5%. 
 
Regarding the easing of standards for weapons use, an act that is 
allowed only for legitimate self-defense emergency evacuation, views 
were divided with 21.5% saying, "They should be eased, and "31.5% 
noting, "They should be eased, but there is no need to hurry" and 
another 34.5% saying, "They should not be eased." 
 
On the establishment of the Defense Ministry on Feb. 1, 37.7% 
replied either, "I highly evaluate" or "evaluate," equaling the 
35.3% who said, "I am opposed." 
 
15) Prime Minister: "I will regain people's trust with my policies" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 20, 2007 
 
Referring to the fallen approval rate for the cabinet in the opinion 
poll carried out by the Yomiuri Shimbun, Prime Minister Abe told 
reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, "I want to 
regain the trust of the people by explaining my policies in a lucid 
manner and then implement them." He thus indicated his intention to 
make efforts to regain popular trust as seen in the approval ratings 
for his cabinet through the carrying out of his policies. Abe 
underscored: "It has been several months since the inauguration of 
my administration. This is just the beginning. I am not 
administering politics for the sake of public support rates. I am 
grateful that such a large number of people support me." 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki indicated that the administration 
has yet to make more efforts to explain its policies to the people. 
Ho noted: "The government is properly doing what it should do. We 
must seriously take why our efforts are not being understood." 
 
Some opposition party members noted that blunders by cabinet 
ministers, such as Health Minister Yanagisawa likened women as 
baby-making machines, have led to the fallen approval ratings. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000701  011 OF 011 
 
 
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Nakagawa urged the 
solidarity of the government, noting, "We must challenge in unison, 
while examining ourselves so that internal discipline and spirits 
will not relax." Yoichi Masuzoe, chairman of the Upper House Policy 
Deliberation Commission of the LDP pointed out: "The fallen 
authority of the cabinet is reflected in the declining approval 
rates. One such case is the Yanagisawa statement. Cabinet ministers 
lack a sense of tension. I do not see any efforts to help the prime 
minister from Defense Minister Kyuma and Foreign Minister Aso." New 
Komeito Ota also said, "I think the Yanagisawa statement has 
affected the polls." 
 
SCHIEFFER