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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001391 
 
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 03/30/07 
 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Beef: 
4)  Ambassador Schieffer promotes US beef at Seiyu outlet 
5)  Vice agricultural minister balks at possibility of beef being 
discussed at upcoming US-Japan summit meeting 
 
Wartime issues: 
6)  Prime Minister Abe sees limited government involvement in 
Yasukuni Shrine decisions on enshrinements and not a problem of 
church-state separation 
7)  Abe denies state took lead in Yasukuni enshrinements of war 
dead, despite documents showing otherwise 
8)  Yasukuni: Not the shrine's decision to enshrine the owner of a 
comfort station in Indonesia 
9)  Health, labor ministry denies released Yasukuni enshrinement 
records show violation of constitutional principle of separation of 
state and religion 
10)  Documents showing health, welfare ministry involvement in 
Yasukuni Shrine enshrinement of war criminals sets off political 
clamor 
11)  Government trying to calm heated debate over significance of 
released documents showing government involvement with enshrinements 
at Yasukuni 
12)  House Speaker Yohei Kono blasts those who would revise his 1993 
statement on the comfort-women issue 
 
13) Government stresses no change in its tough North Korea policy, 
prioritizing abductions and retaining Japan's own sanctions 
 
14) Meeting between Japanese, Chinese experts next week on joint 
approach to E. China Sea gas-field development 
 
Defense issues: 
15)  Defense minister wants easing of three principles of weapons 
export to allow Japan to join US, Europe MD-related joint 
development 
16) Kanagawa police discover MSDF sailor took home radar data 
 
17) Abe panel proposes that "morality" be placed higher on school 
curriculum than other subjects for study 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Proposal for upgrading morality to academic subject: Likely to be 
graded; Textbooks to undergo screening; Education Revitalization 
Council to discuss issue 
 
Mainichi: 
10% of condominiums built since 2001 suspected of lacking earthquake 
resistance, according to nationwide survey of 400 condos by Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport Ministry 
 
Yomiuri: 
Social Insurance Agency fails to pay out proper pension benefits to 
220,000 persons over past six years; Premium payment record 
overlooked 
 
TOKYO 00001391  002 OF 012 
 
 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Postal reform: 40% of special post offices refuse purchase offers; 
Japan Post to hike rent 
 
Sankei: 
Earthquake resistance work at public elementary and middle schools 
slows: 30% fail to pass standards in survey by MEXT; 13% have yet to 
undergo examination 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Evacuees need to be careful about taking sleeping medication: 70% of 
recipients suffer from swelling, blocked blood vessels, according to 
survey carried out on victims of Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004 
 
Akahata: 
Wartime comfort women issue: Prime minister should withdraw his 
statement before offering apologies 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni: Data reveals 
government's deep involvement 
(2) Municipal assembly elections: Policy affairs research expenses 
are also campaign issue 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Enshrinement of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni: Government 
played active role 
(2) Abolition of reverse draft: Yomiuri Giants must not be allowed 
to veto move 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Sapporo Holdings' shareholders meeting: Shareholders give 
priority to long-term profits 
(2) Information on Yasukuni Shrine: New memorial for the war dead 
needed 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) JR's 20-year history shows real value of privatization 
(2) Talks on measures to guard against takeover bids should be 
transparent 
 
Sankei: 
(1) New information on Yasukuni Shrine: Read it based on public 
will 
(2) Illegal trade with North Korea: Far-reaching implementation of 
law needed 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) National referendum bill: Maneuvering over party interests will 
distort discussion 
(2) Sapporo Holdings takeover bid: Preventive measure is to improve 
corporate value 
 
Akahata: 
Voters must choose reliable party in unified local elections 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 29 
 
TOKYO 00001391  003 OF 012 
 
 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
08:02 
Attended a ministerial meeting on reform of the public servant 
system at the Kantei. 
 
09:02 
Met Environment Minister Wakabayashi. 
 
10:00 
Met Central Education Council Chairman Masakazu Yamazaki and Deputy 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura. Shimomura stayed behind. 
 
10:40 
Met Japan Post President Ikuta and others. Followed by Ambassador to 
China Miyamoto and Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs 
Bureau Director General Sasae. 
 
13:45 
Met former Secretary of State Shultz and his wife, with Akie, his 
wife, and Yoko, his mother. 
 
14:40 
Met Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota and Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shiozaki. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
15:47 
Met Special Assistant Nemoto. Followed by Intellectual Property 
Strategy Promotion Secretariat Head Ogawa and others. 
 
16:03 
Met state-run Russian Railway Company President Yakunin, with 
Foreign Vice Minister Yachi. Later attended a meeting of the 
Education Rebuilding Council. 
 
17:32 
Visited the Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters. 
 
18:33 
Attended a Security Council meeting. Later, met Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Matoba. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
19:27 
Attended a farewell party for a Prime Minister's Office member for 
her retirement in late March at a Chinese restaurant in Akasaka. 
 
21:30 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) US Ambassador Schieffer carries out public relations at Seiyu's 
reopening of sales of US beef 
 
MAINICHI (Page 9) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
Seiyu, which is under the US Wal-Mart umbrella, has resumed sales of 
US beef at its Kinshicho outlet at Kotobashi in Sumida Ward in 
Tokyo. Since this is the first major supermarket to handle US beef 
since imports were resumed, US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer came to 
the store to promote the product. 
 
TOKYO 00001391  004 OF 012 
 
 
 
Ambassador Schieffer expressed his expectations: "There are many 
Japanese consumers who would like to eat American beef. I think 
other supermarkets, too, will similarly start selling." He urged the 
Japanese government to ease import conditions, saying, "I hope that 
restrictions will be lined up with those of other countries in the 
world." 
 
Seiyu will resume sales of US beef at its 19 stores in the Kanto 
region on March 31. 
 
5) Vice agricultural minister cites difficulty of early beef talks 
at Japan-US summit meeting 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
Vice Agricultural Minister Yoshio Kobayashi at a press conference 
yesterday, referring to President Bush bringing up the issue of 
easing US beef export criteria at the summit with Prime Minister Abe 
in late April, expressed the view, "We are not at the stage to 
respond to talks." Although the US has requested the standard of 
allowing only beef from cattle 20 months of age or younger be eased, 
Japan has reiterated its difficulty with accepting such. 
 
6) Former health and welfare ministry and Yasukuni Shrine set 
standard for enshrinement of war criminals; Prime Minister Abe says 
there is no question of government involvement 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
Eve., March 29, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe around noon today made this statement about the 
released internal documents that showed the situation of the former 
health and welfare ministry and Yasukuni Shrine uniting to set the 
standard for enshrinement of the war dead: "I don't think there is a 
problem. Enshrinement was carried out by the shrine, wasn't it? The 
former health and welfare ministry was asked for information and it 
presented that information. Isn't that the case?" It can be said the 
documents show enshrinements went forward under the lead of the 
state, with such facts as the ministry proposing to the shrine that 
enshrinements of B and C-class war criminals be done in an 
unobtrusive way. The prime minister's statement, however, expressed 
a view that the involvement of the central government was limited 
and not coercive, and that from the standpoint of the principle of 
the separation of state and religion, posed no problem.. The prime 
minister was replying to the press corps in his official residence. 
 
7) Jijikokkoku (ever-changing) column: Government's initiative in 
enshrinement of war dead at Yasukuni clearly shown by Diet library's 
new documents; Prime minister's explanation just the opposite 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 20, 2007 
 
The National Diet Library (NDL) released a book titled "A New 
Compilation of Materials on the Yasukuni Shrine Problems" consisting 
of a collection of old records and documents. The book reveals that 
the government had taken the initiative in promoting the 
enshrinement of the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine. This revelation is 
contrary to Prime Minister Abe's account that "the Ministry of 
Health and Welfare (MHW) of the time was asked to provide documents 
 
TOKYO 00001391  005 OF 012 
 
 
and did so." This matter is beginning to reignite a call for 
separate enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni 
Shrine, as well as a call for the construction of a secular national 
memorial facility in view of separation of politics and religion. 
 
 ASTERISK    ASTERISK    ASTERISK    ASTERISK    ASTERISK 
 
The enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine has 
become a diplomatic issue. Who decided to enshrine them at the 
shrine? This has been the big question about the recent controversy 
over the Yasukuni issue. 
list of the Class-A war criminals to Yasukuni Shrine in February 
1966; and (2) Yasukuni enshrined those criminals in October 1978. 
This enshrinement was reportedly decided by then Priest Nagayoshi 
Matsudaira. 
 
When asked yesterday afternoon about the documents released by the 
library, Prime Minister Abe said: "It is the shrine that enshrined 
them. The ministry was asked to provide documents and did so, didn't 
it?" 
 
The newly released documents indicate that the MHW, envisioning a 
possible enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni 
Shrine, took the initiative in going through the enshrinement 
procedures soon after Japan recovered its independence. This fact is 
contrary to Abe's explanation that the "leading role" was played by 
Yasukuni with the government playing the "supporting role." 
 
For instance, the MHW proposed at the fourth round of meeting with 
the shrine on April 1958 to discuss enshrinement criteria that the 
shrine honor the Class-B and Class-C war criminals in a way not to 
stand out. In the seventh round of meeting on September of that 
year, whether to enshrine the war criminals, including Class-A war 
criminals, was put on agenda for discussions. The MHW asked for the 
shrine's understanding about honoring the "war criminals who died in 
prison abroad (Class-B and Class-C war criminals)" in a way not to 
stand out. 
 
Main points of most-watched exchanges of views and descriptions 
(from the book) 
 
The fourth round of talks on enshrinement criteria, held on April 9, 
1958 
 
How about enshrining those war criminals at the Class-B or below in 
a permissible manner and in a way so that it will not stand out? 
We'd like the shrine side to study this matter. 
 
Answer: We on the part of the shrine will consult it at our 
representative members' meeting, and then we will hold a next round 
of talks. 
 
The seventh round of talks on enshrinement, held on September 12, 
1958 
 
(Regarding the war criminals, including those at the Class-A level), 
it's not possible to select who are qualified and who are not in the 
process of examining them. But it will be difficult in many ways to 
enshrine them all together, so we hope to see your side accept first 
the enshrinement of war criminals who died in prison abroad in a way 
that does not stand out. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001391  006 OF 012 
 
 
A document examining enshrinement dated January 31, 1969 (formed by 
the Yasukuni Shrine's Research Department 
 
(Regarding the reconfirmation that it is "possible" to enshrine the 
Class-A war criminals), we decided to enshrine them partly 
considering our representative members' meeting's desire, but we 
will refrain from announcing this decision publicly. A notification 
for enshrinement will be sent directly to family members of those 
criminals without going through the prefectural governments. 
 
New facts and uncertainties concerning enshrinement of Class-A war 
criminals 
 
New facts: 
 
7 The MHW and Yasukuni Shrine set the enshrinement criteria for the 
war dead after a number of discussions. 
7 The MHW proposed the shrine honor the Class-B and Class-C war 
criminals. 
7 As of January 1969, the MHW and the shrine reconfirmed that it was 
"possible to enshrine" the Class-A war criminals at the shrine. 
7 As of June 1970, it was reconfirmed that whether to enshrine the 
Class-A war criminals was "put on hold." 
 
Uncertainties: 
 
7 In February 1966, the MHW sent a list of the Class-A war criminals 
to the shrine. Who ordered it to do so upon what judgment? 
7 What sorts of discussions were held between the government and the 
shrine before the Class-A war criminals were honored by the shrine 
in October 1978. 
7 Why was the enshrinement of the Class-A war criminals delayed for 
12 or so years after the list of those criminals was sent to the 
shrine? 
 
8) Yasukuni Shrine: Enshrinement of wartime brothel owner was not 
based on shrine's judgment 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 31) (Excerpts) 
March 30, 2007 
 
It has been revealed that the then Health and Welfare Ministry and 
Yasukuni Shrine had decided to enshrine a man who had run a "comfort 
station" for soldiers in Indonesia and had been tried and found 
guilty. On this issue, an official of Yasukuni Shrine cited his 
death in prison after being tried as a war criminal as the main 
reason for the enshrinement of the man. Saying, "The enshrinement 
was not based on the shrine's judgment," the official indicated that 
the owner of the bordello was enshrined probably under the 
instruction of the Health and Welfare Ministry, as was the case of 
soldiers. 
 
The Tokyo Shimbun asked the shrine if the bordello owner is actually 
enshrined. The official at the shrine refused to reply to the 
question, saying: "We can find out about it if we look over source 
materials, but we can't release it. If we receive an inquiry from 
his family, we will reply." 
 
The official added: "In general, Yasukuni Shrine does not enshrine 
the souls of ordinary persons." He thus admitted that the 
enshrinement of a civilian who operated a bordello for soldiers was 
unusual. 
 
TOKYO 00001391  007 OF 012 
 
 
 
Survey Material Office Head Yoji Kakihara of the Records Division 
Health in the Labor and Welfare Ministry's War Victims' Relief 
Bureau commented: 
 
"The then Health and Welfare Ministry informed the Yasukuni Shrine 
in February 1966 that 'the ministry will send the list with the 
names of the war criminals whose souls have yet to be enshrined.' 
Class-A, B, and C war criminals were among them, but I cannot tell 
if the man in question was included among them. It is unknown why 
the process of enshrining the comfort-station owner was taken, so we 
will conduct an investigation." 
 
9) Welfare Ministry rules out violation of principle of separation 
of religion and politics 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 31) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
In a regular press conference yesterday, Health, Labor and Welfare 
Vice Minister Tetsuo Tsuji, referring to the revelation in internal 
documents released by the National Diet Library that the former 
Health and Welfare Ministry had worked on Yasukuni Shrine to 
enshrine war criminals, stated that the ministry had never taken any 
action that violated the principle of separation of religion and 
politics. He noted: 
 
"The former Health and Welfare Ministry was in charge of keeping the 
personal records of soldiers and civilian employees of the military 
on its own responsibility and with presenting records as the need 
arose. I understand it did not do any more than that." 
 
10) Former Health and Welfare Ministry's involvement in collective 
enshrinement decision causes stir in government, ruling coalition 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
The discovery of the National Diet Library's documents that revealed 
the former Health and Welfare Ministry's involvement in the process 
of deciding to honor Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine 
created a sensation in the government and the ruling coalition 
yesterday. 
 
Japan War-Bereaved Association Chairman Makoto Koga of the Liberal 
Democratic Party said: "It has strengthened my feeling that the 
country must earnestly discuss matters, including the option of 
unenshrining Class-A war criminals." Yamasaki faction head Taku 
Yamasaki also called for unenshrining Class-A war criminals from 
Yasukuni. 
 
The library explained: "We have received queries from both ruling 
and opposition lawmakers, and we made public the documents following 
a year of preparations." The library's announcement ahead of a visit 
to Japan by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has stirred various 
conjectures. Japan's wrong move could rekindle the Yasukuni issue. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphatically told reporters at his 
official residence: "There is no problem. It was the shrine that 
decided to honor (Class-A war criminals) there." 
 
Ken Sato, Beijing 
 
TOKYO 00001391  008 OF 012 
 
 
 
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang, referring to the 
National Diet Library documents, simply said on March 29: "Although 
we haven't seen them, there will be no change in China's stance." He 
apparently avoided criticizing the collective enshrinement of the 
Japanese war dead, including Class-A war criminals, at Yasukuni 
Shrine. Meanwhile, the South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Ministry released this statement: "We expect that the Japanese 
government will take a responsible step without distorting the truth 
any further." 
 
11) Yasukuni documents rekindle unenshrinement debate; Government 
tries to calm the storm 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 30, 2007 
 
The revelation of the National Diet Library's documents proving the 
former Health and Welfare Ministry's active involvement in the 
decision to honor Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine rekindled 
the Yasukuni debate yesterday. Former Liberal Democratic Party Vice 
President Taku Yamasaki and others have renewed their call for the 
unenshrinement of Class-A war criminals, while the government 
endeavored to put out the fire. 
 
Yamasaki took this view at his faction's meeting: "Contrary to the 
dominant view that Yasukuni Shrine independently decided to honor 
Class-A war criminals there, the Health and Welfare Ministry 
actively pushed ahead with the action. The government is clearly 
responsible for it. If the government can unenshrine them (in a 
responsible manner), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be able to 
visit the shrine without worrying about his action escalating into a 
diplomatic issue." Japan War-Bereaved Association Chairman Makoto 
Koga, a former secretary general, also said: "I now strongly feel 
that we should discuss matters earnestly, including the option of 
separating Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni." Yamasaki and Koga's 
logic is that if the government had a hand in the collective 
enshrinement, it would be able to become involved in a decision on 
un-enshrinement. 
 
Meanwhile, New Komeito policy chief Tetsuo Saito raised a question, 
saying: "If (the government) had intentionally provided (the shrine) 
with information, that was a violation of Article 20 of the 
Constitution (stipulating the separation of state and religion), 
wasn't it?" The prime minister, however, brushed aside Saito's 
question by saying to the reporters: "There is no problem in terms 
of the principle of separation of state and religion." 
 
12) Kono criticizes calls for review of his statement as "not in 
good faith" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
It became clear yesterday that Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono, in an 
interview to the Asian Women's Fund (AWF, chaired by former Prime 
Minister Tomiichi Murayama), which has been providing assistance to 
the so-called comfort women, said: "It is absurd to argue as if the 
military comfort women did not exist. Making a fuss by arguing that 
the whole thing is a lie is not honest intellectually." In 1993, 
when he was serving as chief cabinet secretary, Kono released a 
statement acknowledging the Imperial Japanese Army's involvement and 
 
TOKYO 00001391  009 OF 012 
 
 
expressing apologies to the comfort women. In the interview, Kono 
criticized the recent move calling for a review of his statement. 
 
Kono's words appeared in the book titled Oral History: Asian Women's 
Fund, published by the AWF yesterday. 
 
Touching on the government's interviews with 16 former comfort 
women, Kono said: "They offered explanation after explanation on a 
situation known only to those who had experienced such tremendous 
hardships. Some people say that (the Kono Statement) was a political 
decision, but I did not think so. As a human being, I just thought 
that we must do something appropriate for them." 
 
Regarding the fact that some LDP lawmakers and others are calling 
for a review of his statement, Kono took this view: "I have no 
intention of reviewing it. I believe it is more brave and correct to 
admit that (the matter) was a shameful thing and vow not to repeat 
the same conduct." 
 
13) Government to continue unilateral sanctions against North Korea, 
demonstrating stance of prioritizing abduction issue 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
March 30, 2007 
 
The government decided yesterday to extend for another six months 
its unilateral sanctions against North Korea, which are to expire in 
mid-April, according to government sources. The decision came in 
reaction to North Korea's insincere response to the issue of 
Japanese nationals abducted by its agents. The Japanese government 
aims to demonstrate at home and abroad its strong determination to 
settle the abduction issue when the mood of conciliation toward 
North Korea is spreading among some countries concerned in response 
to the North's indication of a willingness to scrap its nuclear 
weapons and programs. 
 
Japan's decision to extend applying sanctions stems from the 
judgment that it is necessary to urge North Korea, by Prime Minister 
Abe's announcement of continuing Japan's sanctions, to address the 
abduction issue in a serious manner. 
 
On the day following North Korea's announcement of its nuclear test 
on Oct. 9 of last year, the government held a meeting of the 
Security Council and decided to take these unilateral sanctions: (1) 
banning all North Korean ships from calling at Japanese ports; (2) 
banning imports of all North Korean products; and (3) banning North 
Koreans, including civilians, from entering Japan in principle. 
 
14) Gas fields in East China Sea: Experts meeting to be held in 
Beijing next week; Gaps remain to be filled in order for Japan, 
China to reach agreement on joint development 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 30, 2007 
 
The seventh round of bureau director-level meeting to discuss 
development of gas fields in the East China Sea was held yesterday 
at the Foreign Ministry. It was the first full-scale meeting in 
eight months. Participants agreed to hold a meeting of experts from 
the technical field next week in Beijing. The government wants to 
pave the way for settling the issue as a symbol of a bilateral 
strategic reciprocal relationship by the time when Premier Wen 
 
TOKYO 00001391  010 OF 012 
 
 
Jiabao visits Japan on Apr. 11. It will continue talks with China in 
an effort to find a settlement measure for joint development that is 
acceptable to both sides. 
 
Kenichiro Sasae, director general of the Asian-Pacific Affairs 
Bureau, told reporters after the meeting, "The Chinese side 
expressed views with a constructive direction." However, he also 
indicated a perception that more effort would be necessary to fill 
the gap in the positions of both sides, saying, "The matter will 
require further discussions. It is necessary to develop our thinking 
in a more concrete manner." 
 
Tokyo and Beijing confirmed their intention to continue talks to 
realize joint development, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and 
President Hu Jintao during the summit meeting last October agreed to 
firmly maintain dialogues and talks and properly settle differences 
in views in order to make the East China Sea the sea of peace, 
cooperation and friendship. 
 
However, there has been no development since then. It was even 
observed last November that flames were rising from the Octagon, 
drilling facilities in the Pinghu gas field. There is the 
possibility of the Chinese side having started another production. 
 
It has already started production in the Kashi (Tianwaitan) gas 
field near the median line between Japan and China. China has also 
completed the construction of an undersea pipeline at the Shirakaba 
(Chunxiao) oil field. Oil and natural gas can be transported to 
mainland China at any time. 
 
15) Joint development should be allowed with US, Europe: Kyuma 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Kyuma, sitting in yesterday on the House of 
Representatives Security Affairs Committee, indicated that the 
government should ease its self-imposed three principles on weapons 
exports so Japan can participate in the joint research and 
development of equipage with the United States and European 
countries. "Japan prohibits itself from taking part in the (joint) 
research and development of weaponry, but I wonder if this is 
appropriate," Kyuma stated before the committee. "It's time to 
consider a little more about this," he added. 
 
Kyuma cited the F-35, an advanced stealth fighter model currently 
under joint development in foreign countries including the United 
States and Britain. "It's regrettable that we could not join in 
their joint development," Kyuma said, adding, "We do not 
participate, so we're made to buy at high prices." He also stated, 
"I wonder if it's all right for (Japan as) a law-governed country to 
ease or tighten its rules with a chief cabinet secretary's 
statement." 
 
In 1967, then Prime Minister Sato clarified the three principles of 
not exporting weapons to (1) communist nations, (2) countries 
against which the United Nations has taken sanctions, and (3) 
conflict-ridden countries. The government, in its 1976 statement, 
announced Japan's de facto embargo on arms exports to any countries. 
Consequently, Japan has been unable to participate in joint 
development with foreign countries. In 1983, the government released 
a chief cabinet secretary's statement to allow weapons technology 
 
TOKYO 00001391  011 OF 012 
 
 
transfer to the United States. In 2004, the government released 
another statement in the name of the then chief cabinet secretary to 
except Japan's joint development and production with the United 
States for missile defense. 
 
16) MSDF crewman quizzed over vessel data taken out 
 
YOMIURI (Page 39) (Full) 
March 30, 2007 
 
A Maritime Self-Defense Force petty officer second class, who is a 
crewman of the Shirane, a destroyer under the command of MSDF Escort 
Flotilla 1, headquartered in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, has 
taken home a floppy disk that recorded information including data 
about a destroyer's radar systems, sources revealed yesterday. The 
floppy disk is believed to contain information classified by the 
Defense Ministry. Classified information is prohibited from being 
taken out. 
 
According to investigative authorities and other sources, Kanagawa 
prefectural police discovered the floppy disk at the petty officer's 
home when the police searched his home early this year to charge his 
Chinese wife with a violation of the Immigrant Control and Refugee 
Recognition Law. 
 
The disk contained data about radar systems and radio frequencies. 
The petty officer is now under investigation. 
 
The Defense Ministry's classified information is categorized into 
three stages-"top secret (kimitsu)," "strictly secret (gokuhi)," and 
"secret (hi)." Leaking classified information conflicts with the 
Self-Defense Forces Law. 
 
17) Gov't panel to propose raising morality to subject 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
March 30, 2007 
 
A government panel on education reform yesterday held a meeting of 
its school revitalization subcommittee and decided to propose 
raising morals to a subject like Japanese and math. If it becomes a 
subject to be studied, the morality of schoolchildren and students 
will likely be rated for school reporting. Its teaching material 
will not be a side reader but will be treated as a school textbook 
that could be subject to screening for authorization. However, this 
is also likely to face opposition. The panel's discussions will 
likely heat up. 
 
In January this year, the education reform panel came up with its 
first report of recommendations. In response, the government will 
introduce a package of three education-related legislative measures 
to the Diet today. The panel, in its second report expected in May, 
will set forth specific measures that are not based on legal 
revisions. In that report, the panel will propose raising morals to 
a subject in a course of study at school. Prime Minister Abe and his 
government could back the panel's policy proposals to make clear his 
imprint ahead of this summer's election for the House of 
Councillors. However, the focus is on how it will be incorporated in 
the second report. 
 
The first report suggested the need for schools to make sure that 
children acquire ethics and the standards Japan has cultivated. The 
 
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panel has discussed how to fulfill the subject. 
 
SCHIEFFER