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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 000903 
 
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 03/05/07 
 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule 
 
Visit of Deputy Secretary Negroponte: 
4) Deputy Secretary State Negroponte in Tokyo stresses that North 
Korea will not be unconditionally removed from the US list of 
terrorist-sponsoring countries 
5) Negroponte: DPRK must reveal its plan to develop nuclear weapons 
using uranium-enrichment technology 
 
North Korea problem: 
6) High-level US official: North Korea's uranium-enrichment plan 
remains unknown 
7) Government's strategy for bilateral working-group talks with 
North Korea is to make judgment based on results of another survey 
of abduction victims 
8) US will bring up the abduction issue in its working group with 
North Korea 
9) Evidence points to possibility that Kim Jong Il himself may have 
ordered the abduction of Japanese in the past 
 
Kono Statement row: 
10) Hiroshige Seko, Special Press Advisor to Prime Minister Abe, 
stresses there has been no change in policy of accepting Kono 
Statement 
11) Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Ozawa blasts 
Abe's saying there is no evidence to back government coercion of 
wartime sex-slavery 
 
Defense issues: 
12) Two-plus-two meeting between US, Japan defense, foreign 
ministers being scheduled for late April now 
13) Special measures law for Iraq reconstruction to be extended two 
years to strengthen alliance 
14) Government to strengthen cooperation with NATO, help Afghan 
reconstruction by economically aiding PRT efforts 
15) India to join US-Japan military drill next month as part of 
effort to check China's moves 
 
16) US, Japan to expand missile-defense cooperation by introducing a 
mobile system that can analyze launch information 
17) Komeito lawmaker tells Lower House Budget Committee that US 
Marine move to Guam "will not change Okinawa's burden," calls effort 
a "failure" 
 
Political agenda: 
18) Kantei (Prime Minister's Official Residence), LDP increasingly 
at odds over policy issues, including Kono Statement, educational 
reform, and social disparity 
19) Ruling camp draws up win-lose line for upcoming Upper House 
election 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
70%of karaoke parlors have substandard fire-safety measures 
 
Mainichi: 
Public tender formula introduced in 1999 failed to prevent 
 
TOKYO 00000903  002 OF 012 
 
 
bid-rigging over floodgate construction projects 
 
Yomiuri: 
Garbage illegally dumped at expressway service areas 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Toyota, Nissan to reform production lines around the world 
 
Sankei: 
US to present abduction issue at working group discussion 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
China to target 8%economic growth rate 
 
Akahata: 
6 municipalities in Yamagata Prefecture stop issuing qualification 
certificate for households unable to pay national health insurance 
premiums 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Pension reform will be crucial 
(2) Management must hold dialogue with shareholders 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) China should place priority on stability rather than economic 
growth 
(2) Increase in overtime work wages not enough 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Bill revising the minimum wage law: Monthly payment that is 
lower than welfare payment unacceptable 
(2) Rise in timber production for forestry industry 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Think of the environment and economy: Aim at environment-friendly 
motor traffic 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan-North Korea working group: No compromise on abduction 
issue 
(2) New bullet train station: Time to make decision to freeze the 
plan 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Japan-North Korea working group: Both abduction and nuclear 
isssues should be pushed forward 
(2) Piano accompaniment order for national anthem: Court rules 
constitutional but order is undesirable 
 
Akahata: 
Nuclear waste disposal facility: Government should not force Toyo 
Town to accept with money 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 2 and 3 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 3, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00000903  003 OF 012 
 
 
8:31 
Cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Internal Affairs Minister Suga 
remained. 
 
8:58 
Met with State Minister for Administrative Reform Watanabe, followed 
by Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
10:00 
Met with LDP Public Relations Office chief Futada and Bureau 
Director General Katayama, followed by Cabinet Office Vice Minister 
Uchida and Decoration Bureau Director General Fukushita. 
 
11:31 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki. 
 
12:56 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba, followed by Upper 
House Secretary General Katayama. 
 
13:30 
Met with Lower House member Taro Nakayama, followed by Special 
Advisor to the Prime Minister Koike. 
 
14:10 
Lower House Budget Committee meeting. 
 
17:39 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
19:00 
Dined with Yomiuri Shimbun Group Chairman Tsuneo Watanabe at Hotel 
Okura. 
 
21:31 
Returned to Kantei. 
 
22:28 
Lower House plenary session. 
 
23:58 
Lawmakers' meeting in the Diet building. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 3 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 3, 2006 
 
0:07 
Met with Former Prime Ministers Mori and Fukuda, joined by former 
Foreign Minister Machimura. 
 
0:22 
Lower House plenary session. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, 3 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 4, 2006 
 
0:22 
Lower House plenary session. 
 
TOKYO 00000903  004 OF 012 
 
 
 
3:56 
Made courtesy visits to Lower House Speaker Kono and senior 
officials of the ruling parties. 
 
4:17 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
10:01 
Left the official residence. 
 
10:13 
Watched a movie at Marunouchi Piccadilly with his wife Akie. Then 
met Shochiku President Junichi Hakumoto and actor Takashi Sorimachi 
and actress Rei Kikukawa at the Marion Building. Premier: "It was 
good, especially the horse-riding scenes." 
 
13:38 
Went to a ramen shop with Akie.Premier: "I like ramen and hadn't had 
it for a while." 
 
14:21 
Had a haircut at a barber at Hilton Tokyo Hotel. 
 
16:41 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, 4 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 5, 2006 
 
Spent the day at the official residence. 
 
4) Negroponte: US will not unconditionally remove North Korea from 
terrorist-sponsor list 
 
YOMIRUI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 3, 2007 
 
In a press conference at the United States Embassy in Tokyo 
Yesterday, visiting Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte said, 
"Pyongyang must take the initial steps (toward nuclear disarmament) 
(as stipulated in the joint declaration adopted in the latest 
six-party talks) and make considerable progress; otherwise, the US 
will not delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. A 
removal of the North from the terrorist-sponsor list will be taken 
up as a major topic in the upcoming working group talks on 
normalizing diplomatic ties between the US and North Korea in New 
York on March 5-6. 
 
Saying, "The two countries just agreed to start discussion," 
Negroponte indicated that the US, out of consideration to Japan's 
stance of deeming North Korea's past abductions of Japanese 
nationals as an act of terrorism, would not unconditionally delist 
North Korea as a sponsor of terrorists. Regarding North Korea's 
uranium enrichment program, many US government officials have begun 
to make circumspective remarks about its progress. The deputy state 
secretary also took a cautious view, saying, "I believe there was an 
 
SIPDIS 
enrichment program in the past, but I am not 100%sure of whether the 
program is still ongoing or not." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000903  005 OF 012 
 
 
5) US Deputy Secretary of State: "We are sure (DPRK) had enrichment 
program" 
 
SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) 
March 3, 2007 
 
US Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte, now visiting Japan, 
yesterday held a press conference at the US Embassy, in which he 
stated that North Korea must reveal its nuclear weapons development 
program by means of enriched uranium. Negroponte continued, "We are 
sure that the North Koreans had a uranium enrichment program. Even 
now, we are fairly sure of that." 
 
On the abduction issue, Negroponte stated, "The US government's 
position is that North Korea must reveal the whereabouts of 
abductees and accept Japan's request." In addition, referring to the 
upcoming talks at the US-North Korea working group on the question 
of whether to remove North Korea from its designation as a state 
sponsor of terror, Negroponte noted, "That is not something where we 
anticipate a quick move (toward removing the designation)," warning: 
"North Korea can't expect its designation to be removed, should it 
fail to observe the promises made at the six-party talks." 
 
6) High-level US officials cautious about DPRK's uranium enrichment 
program, reiterating, "It's unclear" 
 
SANKEI (Page 7) (Excerpts) 
March 3, 2007 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
Ranking US government officials have now become cautious about 
referring to progress on North Korea's nuclear weapons development 
program by means of enriched uranium. They have insisted that the 
program existed, but they remain unable to show data to support 
their assertion. The US government has stated that uranium 
enrichment activities will be put on the list of items subject to 
declaration during talks at the future six-party talks, but doubts 
are being cast on how far the United States will be able to pressure 
North Korea, which has denied the existence of that program. 
 
The chief intelligence officer for North Korea working under the 
Central Intelligence Agency director, De Trani told the Senate Armed 
Service Committee hearing on Feb. 27: "We are moderately sure" of 
the uranium enrichment program. Assistant Secretary of State Hill, 
the top negotiator at the six-party talks, also stated in a speech 
or his testimony before the Congressional hearings that it was 
unclear whether North Korea succeeded in acquiring uranium 
enrichment technology. 
 
7) Japan-North Korea working group: Government to judge whether to 
extend assistance to Pyongyang, based on outcome of reinvestigation 
into victims of abductions by North Korea 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 5, 2007 
 
During the meetings of a Japan-North Korea working group for 
normalization of relations that start on March 7 in Hanoi, Vietnam, 
the government has decided to ask North Korea to conduct further 
investigation into the remaining abduction victims. In the event 
Pyongyang agrees to do so, the government, after examining the 
 
TOKYO 00000903  006 OF 012 
 
 
results of that investigation, will decide whether there has been 
progress in resolving the abduction issue, the premise for Japan to 
take part in economic and energy aid to that nation. Japan's 
position also is that it will not provide assistance to the North 
unless Pyongyang sets an arrangement for the abductors to be 
extradited to Japan for trial. 
 
The government's view is that there is a strong possibility 
Pyongyang will agree to respond to another investigation and to 
provide further information after certain time limit. 
 
However, Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki noted, "We do not consider 
a pledge to conduct further investigation and provide information as 
progress." The government will make a decision, based on whether the 
outcome of the investigation by the North and the information it 
provided are based on scientific and objective grounds and the 
information it provided corresponds to the information provided by 
repatriated Japanese victims. 
 
8) US to raise abduction issue during US-DPRK working-group talks, 
emphasize importance of human rights 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
March 5, 2007 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
The United States and North Korea will hold a meeting of their 
working group on diplomatic normalization in New York starting 
today, following the six-party agreement. Ahead of the meeting, the 
US decided to bring up the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals 
by North Korea. This was revealed on March 3 by a US government 
official. North Korea is likely to ask the US to remove the North 
from its list of state sponsors of terror, but the US position is 
that because the US has cited the abduction issue as one of the 
reasons for the designation, progress on the abduction issue is 
required for the removal of the designation. 
 
This policy line of the US is in part intended to give indirect 
backing to Japan by urging North Korea to resolve the abduction 
issue ahead of the Japan-DPRK working-group meeting set to take 
place in Hanoi starting March 7. 
 
North Korea still insists that the abduction issue has already been 
settled, so some in the US government were initially cautious about 
raising the abduction issue in the first working group meeting with 
North Korea, but reportedly the US government has judged it 
necessary to make it clear that there is no change in its position 
of emphasizing the need to resolve the abduction issue. 
 
9) Kim Jong Il directed abductions of Japanese nationals? Former 
abductee Hasuike: "I met with senior official under direct 
supervision of Kim" 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
March 4, 2007 
 
Suspicions have grown about the involvement in the abduction issue 
of a former senior officer of a North Korean intelligence agency who 
supervised operations in South Korea and worked directly under Kim 
Jong Il. Former abductee Kaoru Hasuike, 49, testified to police 
authorities that he had met with that officer. This is the first 
 
TOKYO 00000903  007 OF 012 
 
 
testimony directly linking Kim Jong Il to the abduction issue. Given 
that the North Koreans who appeared before the former abductees were 
always special operatives involved in the abductions, police 
authorities have concluded that Kim Jong Il's explanation to the 
Japanese government that the abductions "were a crime committed by 
those who acted rashly and blindly" is likely a lie. It is more 
likely that Japanese nationals were abducted on the order of Kim. 
 
10) "The government will continue to stand by the Kono statement," 
says Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Seko 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 5, 2007 
 
In response to prime minister's statement on the wartime "comfort 
women" issue that there is no evidence of coercion by the former 
Japanese Army, South Korea's Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry 
released a statement criticizing the prime minister as trying to 
cover up a historical fact. In this connection, Special Advisor to 
the Prime Minister for Public Relations Hiroshige Seko, appearing on 
a TV Asahi news show yesterday, said: "What the prime minister meant 
in the statement is that though there are various definitions of 
'coercion,' including a narrow sense or a broad sense, Japan will 
continue to stand by the Kono statement without fail. There is no 
change in this stance." He thus underscored the government's 
position that there is no change in its stance of continuing to 
stand by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono's 1993 statement, 
in which he admitted to the involvement of the former Imperial 
Japanese Army in the matter and offered an apology, as the 
recognition of coercion in a broad sense. Regarding moves in the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to revise the statement, Seko said, 
"The prime minister himself is not making a stir." 
 
11) DPJ head Ozawa criticizes prime minister's statement on wartime 
comfort women issue, noting, "The prime minister's perception of 
wartime history is problematic" 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 5, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) head Ichiro Ozawa 
yesterday held a press conference in Aomori. He rapped Prime 
Minister Abe's statement that there is no evidence confirming 
coercion regarding the wartime comfort women issue as earlier 
defined, noting: "The prime minister's perception of wartime history 
and stance toward it are being put to the test. Just saying he 
somehow feels that way will invite distrust both from the domestic 
and foreign audiences. He must clearly indicate his ideals and way 
of thinking and reveal his judgments on individual issues." 
 
12) Japanese, US governments coordinating 2-plus-2 meeting in late 
April 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 5, 2007 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States have started final 
coordination on a plan to hold a meeting of the Japan-US Security 
Consultative Committee (2-plus-2) in late April. The two governments 
will confirm bilateral cooperation to move ahead with the 
realignment of US forces in Japan and to introduce a missile defense 
(MD) system in Japan. There also will be an exchange of views on the 
 
TOKYO 00000903  008 OF 012 
 
 
Iraq situation. 
 
No 2-plus-2 meeting has been held since last May when both 
governments agreed on a final report for realigning US forces in 
Japan. Although Tokyo and Washington had aimed to hold a meeting 
earlier, they failed to set a date because President George W. Bush 
announced in January a new Iraq policy, which centered on sending 
20,000 more troops to Iraq and because the US government was unhappy 
with Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma's remarks criticizing Bush's 
decision to launch the Iraq war. 
 
The Japanese government has judged that if both Kyuma and Foreign 
Minister Taro Aso travel to Washington in late April, their absence 
would have little impact on the Diet that will still be in session. 
A government source also assumed that more specific discussion on 
the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (Ginowan 
City in Okinawa Prefecture) could be carried out if the 2-plus-2 
meeting were held after the April 22 Upper House by-election in 
Okinawa. 
 
There is still a possibility, though, of the meeting being delayed 
to May or later since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also plans to visit 
the US during the late April timeframe. 
 
13) Government to extend Iraq Reconstruction Law by two years, 
keeping importance of Japan-US alliance in mind 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
March 3, 2007 
 
The government decided to extend the Iraq Reconstruction Law, which 
is to expire on July 31, for another two years, and informed the 
ruling parties of this decision yesterday. The government plans to 
shortly submit a revision bill to the Diet, with the aim of having 
the bill clear the House of Representatives prior to the planned 
visit to the United States by Prime Minister Abe in late April. 
 
From the stance of placing importance on the Japan-US alliance and 
international contributions, the government has judged it necessary 
to continue the ongoing transport air transport mission of the Air 
Self Defense Force in Iraq. 
 
Given that the security situation in Iraq remains bleak, some 
officials in the government and the ruling camp had suggested a 
one-year extension. But the government made this judgment, "(if the 
time of the extension is halved,) it would give an impression that 
Japan will suspend its transport activities in a short period time, 
and eventually its relations with the countries concerned could go 
sour," said a senior Defense Ministry official. 
 
14) Japan to step up cooperation with NATO for Afghan 
reconstruction; Gov't mulls financial aid to PRT 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 4, 2007 
 
Japan will actively cooperate with the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) in assisting with Afghanistan's reconstruction. 
The government will hold a meeting of high-level officials with NATO 
in Tokyo on March 7 to discuss specific plans. The focus is on how 
to cooperate with a military-civilian provisional reconstruction 
team (PRT) led by the International Security Assistance Force 
 
TOKYO 00000903  009 OF 012 
 
 
(ISAF). There are expectations within NATO for Japan's personnel 
contributions, but Japan will only provide financial aid for the 
time being. 
 
In January this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed NATO at 
its headquarters in Brussels. In his speech, Abe said that he was 
willing to work with NATO, and that Japan would step up its 
cooperation to PRT-related humanitarian activities. "They have high 
expectations for Japan's contributions," a Foreign Ministry official 
said. 
 
However, the Antiterror Special Measures Law, the basis for Japan's 
support activities in Afghanistan, does not allow Japan to send 
personnel to combat areas. Japan's cooperation is therefore limited. 
"It's also impossible for the Self-Defense Forces, of course, and 
civilians to participate in the PRT's nonmilitary activities," the 
Foreign Ministry official said. 
 
The Japan-NATO meeting will be held with Deputy Foreign Minister 
Mitoji Yabunaka representing the Japanese government and Assistant 
to the NATO Secretary General Erdman on the NATO side. They are 
expected to discuss Japan's financial aid through its official 
development assistance (ODA) programs for education, hospital 
reconstruction, and infrastructure construction in the areas of PRT 
activities. 
 
In his NATO speech, Abe also remarked that Japan would not hesitate 
to conduct SDF activities overseas. There is no denying that this 
statement led to NATO's high expectations for Japan's personnel 
contributions. NATO may ask for Japan's personnel contributions, and 
Japan could be at a loss. 
 
15) India to join Japan-US military training for 1st time 
 
TOKYO (Page 1) (Abridged) 
March 5, 2007 
 
Japan and the United States will conduct joint military training 
with India in early April for the first time, sources close to 
Japan-US relations revealed yesterday. The joint training will be 
carried out in Pacific waters near Japan. 
 
Japan and the United States are allies, but India is not totally 
committed to the United States. Their trilateral joint training, 
which will step up their cooperation, is likely to aim at 
constraining China's rapid rise as a military power. 
 
The US Department of Defense worked on Japan and India for the joint 
training, according to sources close to Japan-US relations. The 
training will be carried out for about a week, the sources said. The 
planned training is intended to ensure safety at sea in the 
aftermath of major disasters like the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. 
Details of the scenario are unknown. The Maritime Self-Defense Force 
is expected have a destroyer and a patrol helicopter participate in 
the training. 
 
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has now set forth a plan to 
strengthen strategic talks with the United States, India, and 
Australia. In December last year, Abe signed a joint statement with 
Indian Prime Minister Singh to develop bilateral relations. 
Australian Prime Minister Howard will visit Japan on March 11, and 
Abe is expected to release a joint statement with Howard on security 
 
TOKYO 00000903  010 OF 012 
 
 
cooperation. The trilateral joint training can be taken as a move 
aimed at strengthening the four countries' relationships. 
 
16) Japan, US to expand missile defense shield 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 5, 2007 
 
Japan and the United States are expanding their ballistic missile 
defense shield. US Forces Japan (USFJ) will deploy a mobile 
data-processing system at its Misawa base in Aomori Prefecture by 
this summer. The system, which can receive missile launch 
information from a satellite and distribute it, will be installed in 
Japan for the first time. The Defense Ministry will construct an 
advance warning and control radar system on Sado Island, Niigata 
Prefecture. Japan and the United States will team up against North 
Korean ballistic missile launches. 
 
The Joint Tactical Ground Station (JTAGS), which will be deployed at 
Misawa, will be made up of a large vehicle equipped with a 
data-processing system and three satellite antennas. JTAGS receives 
localized data from a US early warning satellite detecting signs of 
a ballistic missile launch, and it also analyzes data to forecast 
where a launched missile will land. Its analyzed data will be 
distributed to USFJ and also to the Defense Ministry and the 
Self-Defense Forces. 
 
JTAGS can directly get satellite intelligence anywhere. "It's 
possible to collect fine-grained, flexible intelligence," a Foreign 
Ministry source says. Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya stressed 
that JSTAGS would buttress up missile defense and contribute to 
security. 
 
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry recently agreed with Niigata 
Prefecture and Sado City to build a fixed three-dimensional radar 
system codenamed J/FPS-5, which is the latest model with functions 
to detect and track ballistic missiles in addition to aircraft 
control functions. J/FPS-5 is expected to be a core of Japan's 
missile defense warning dragnet along with Aegis-equipped vessels. 
It is expected to go operational in fiscal 2010. 
 
17) New Komeito member says in Diet: US Marine transfer to Guam will 
not change the current burden on Okinawa 
 
AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) 
March 3, 2007 
 
In a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on March 1, 
New Komeito member Masao Akamatsu said that the planned transfer of 
US Marines in Okinawa to Guam "will not significantly change the 
number of Marines stationed in Okinawa," adding, "Honestly speaking, 
there are parts that disappoint me." 
 
The government has revealed plans to reduce the 18,000 US Marines in 
Okinawa by 8,000 to 10,000. Akamatsu said that the actual number of 
Marines there is 12,000 and that reducing that figure to 10,000 
"doesn't represent much of a change." 
 
However, Lower House member Seiken Akamine of the Japanese Communist 
Party repeatedly pointed out this problem in the regular Diet 
session and the extraordinary Diet session last year. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000903  011 OF 012 
 
 
Meanwhile, in the Lower House plenary session on May 11 of last 
year, in which the government gave explanations about US force 
realignment plans, New Komeito member Shigeki Sato praised the Guam 
transfer plan, saying, "The transfer plan will pave the way to 
reduce the burden on the people of Okinawa," and, "I hail it as a 
concrete result." 
 
The government has decided to disburse approximately 700 billion yen 
for the Guam transfer plan. To squeeze out the money, it intends to 
have a bill to promote US force realignment plans passed in the 
current Diet session. 
 
Despite this fact, Akamatsu did not call on the government to 
withdraw the Guam-transfer plan or the bill. 
 
18) Diverging views between Kantei, LDP on Kono Statement, education 
reform, disparity issue 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 5, 2007 
 
With the April unified local elections and the July Upper House 
elections approaching, a noticeably gulf has opened up between the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP). Confusion reigns over a difference in 
response to the Kono Statement on the comfort-women issue. And 
regarding the bill to reform the education system, the party, which 
is giving special regard to the regions, is pushing back Kantei 
efforts to strengthen central government involvement. On the social 
and income disparity issue, the response of the Kantei has 
disgruntled the party, and if strained relations continue, some are 
concerned that there could be an impact on the elections. 
 
"We will firmly uphold the Kono Statement; there will be no change 
in it at all," said Special Press Advisor Seko on a TV-Asahi 
program. He stressed that the government would uphold the 1993 
statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono on the comfort 
women issue, which acknowledged involvement by the former Japanese 
Imperial Army in the forced recruitment of wartime comfort women. 
Although Prime Minister Abe prior to his taking office as premier 
expressed negative views about the Kono Statement, after his took 
office, it did not become an item on his agenda. 
 
What set off the issue again was the call from a group of LDP 
lawmakers seeking a reinvestigation into the "coercive" aspect of 
the issue. Although the Prime Minister on March 1 said, "There is no 
evidence to back up the charge that there was coerciveness," he was 
vague about whether he would seek a revision of the statement or 
not. 
 
Still, the government of the Foreign and Trade Ministry of the 
Republic of Korea has expressed "extreme regret," and Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) head Ozawa on March 4 criticized Abe, 
saying, "It will invite distrust both in Japan and from other 
countries." The group of LDP lawmakers plan later this week to 
request the Prime Minister to look into the Statement, but an aide 
to the Prime Minister, perplexed, saw the party as "overshooting its 
authority." 
 
19) Upper House by-elections determine LDP's minimum threshold for 
victory of summer's Upper House race 
 
 
TOKYO 00000903  012 OF 012 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 5, 2007 
 
A total of 121 House of Councillors seats (73 district seats, 48 
proportional representation seats) are up for grabs in this summer's 
election. The ruling parties hold 57 seats that are not up for 
reelection, 46 by the Liberal Democratic Party and 11 by New 
Komeito. This means that the ruling coalition must win 65 seats to 
maintain their majority. They cannot afford to be optimistic about 
the 29 single-seat districts that will hold the key to victory, so 
they are desperate to lower the necessary threshold from 65 to 63. 
 
Assuming that the New Komeito holds its 13 seats up for grabs, if 
the ruling coalition wins two Upper House by-elections, the LDP's 
minimum threshold for victory will be 50 seats. The LDP is looking 
to win 16 seats in the proportional representation segment of the 
election and 20 more in multiple-seat districts for a total of 36. 
This means that the LDP will be able to maintain its majority in the 
Upper House by taking the two by-elections and then winning 14 
single-seat races. 
 
However, if the LDP fails to win the two by-elections, its minimum 
threshold will be 52. As a result, the LDP would have to win 16 
single-seat races. In the 2001 Upper House, in which the ruling 
coalition won big due to then PM Koizumi's popularity, the LDP won 
25 of the 27 single-seat races. In the 2004 Upper House election, 
the LDP won 14 of the 27. Therefore, each of the seats in the 
by-elections is critical. In a speech on Feb. 28, LDP Acting 
Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara pointed out the possibility that 
 
SIPDIS 
the LDP could win 13 seats in proportional representation and 18 in 
multiple-seat districts, with the New Komeito winning 12 seats. He 
expressed a sense of crisis, saying, "We would have to win 22 of the 
single-seat districts" if the ruling camp were to lose both the 
by-elections. 
 
SCHIEFFER