VZCZCXRO4755
RR RUEHFK RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0910/01 0640541
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 050541Z MAR 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1219
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5333
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 0081
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9497
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 2545
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3573
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000910 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USOEDC 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON JA ZO EAGR
SUBJECT: The Japan Economic Scope - March 2, 2007 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect accordingly. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Table of Contents 
 
 
¶2. (U) This cable contains the Japan Economic Scope from February 
23, 2007. 
 
¶3.  Upper House Member Running for Reelection Predicts Win for 
DPJ 
¶4.  Russian PM Fradkov Visits Japan 
¶5.  MAFF Sounds the Alarms About Free Trade 
¶6.  An Intelligent Diet Debate on Beef 
¶7.  Sakhalin 2 All Sold Out 
¶8.  Tokyo Stocks Mark Largest Drop in Eight Months, End at Three- 
Week Low 
¶9.  Recent Major Economic Indicators 
¶10. Toyota's U.S. Presence 
¶11. Toyota's Consolation Prize Is Not Bad 
¶12. The New Regulatory Reform Council Sprints Ahead 
¶13. Asian Copyright Seminar in Tokyo 
¶14. Beyond the Kyoto Protocol--Kawaguchi Speaks Out on Global 
Warming 
¶15. Possible Movement by MHLW on MRL Sanctions Issue 
¶16. PM Bowing to Ag Lobby Before Opening EPA Talks with 17. Farm 
Lobby Satisfied with Australia Visit 
¶17. FDI: AMB Property to Expand Operations in Fukuoka 
¶18. Special Zones -- Running Out of Ideas? 
¶19. Chrysler Japan's Position Shifting on Exchange Rates 
¶20. Matsuzaka Set to Launch Red Sox Career in Exhibition Game 
Against Boston College 
¶21. Hokkaido Explores New Ways To Sell Air Tickets 
¶22. Miyagi Whaling Town Expands Whale Meat School Lunches to Pre- 
Schoolers 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Upper House Member Running for Reelection Predicts Win 
for DPJ 
------- 
 
EMIN met on February 26 with DPJ member Hideki Wakabayashi and 
broadly discussed the July 2007 election outlook and DPJ policy 
priorities.  Up for reelection himself, Wakabayashi said he has 
been campaigning flat out nationwide since the beginning of the 
year with most of his early mornings spent standing outside 
factory gates seeking blue collar votes. 
 
He described the election as the DPJ's to lose and forecast the 
increasing likelihood that the LDP in desperation will call for a 
double, lower house and upper house election.  Wakabayashi 
portrayed PM Abe as a good man, but altogether "too normal" for 
the challenges facing Japan, especially the structural problems 
of a massive public sector debt combined with a shrinking, aging 
population. 
 
Abe's loss of popularity is due the Japanese public's perception 
that he lacks the necessary leadership skills, said Wakabayashi, 
and forecast the PM's support will take a further significant hit 
as the result of his recent decision to readmit another postal 
rebel back into the LDP. 
 
On international economic policy, Wakabayashi said the GOJ's 
ASEAN+6 proposal is a mistake.  He argued that if Japan is to 
support further economic integration in Asia, it should ensure 
that the United States is part of that effort. 
 
¶4.  (U) Russian PM Fradkov Visits Japan 
------------------------------ 
 
Russian Prime Minister Fradkov and Minister of Industry and 
Energy Khristenko visited Japan this week along with over 200 
representatives from Russian industry to participate in the 
Japan-Russia Investment Forum and in high-level official and 
private sector meetings. 
 
PM Fradkov's mission is to boost economic ties between the two 
countries in business, energy, trade and investment, particularly 
in the Russian Far East, while the GOJ hopes to lay the 
groundwork leading to a resolution in the dispute over the 
Northern Islands.  The two governments and their respective 
industries have agreed to closer relationships and signed several 
 
TOKYO 00000910  002 OF 008 
 
 
MOUs and other documents. 
 
While the GOJ is enthusiastic about improved ties to Russia, 
Japanese industry has taken a "wait and see" attitude.  The 
Russian Government's involvement in the Sakhalin oil and gas 
projects is still a vivid memory for many. 
 
The uncertainty surrounding the Russian investment climate is 
another reason for the passive approach of Japanese industry. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) MAFF Sounds the Alarms About Free Trade 
------------------------------ 
 
Japan's Agriculture Ministry is not making it any easier for 
Prime Minister Abe to fulfill his ambitions to reach a 
multilateral Doha trade deal or even bilateral deal with 
Australia. 
 
At a working group session of the Prime Minister's Council on 
Economic and Fiscal Policy (CEFP) on February 26, the Ministry 
delivered a gloomy assessment of what would happen if 
agricultural tariffs were eliminated. 
 
According to the MAFF estimates, Japanese farmers would suffer 9 
trillion yen in losses if tariffs were eliminated, or 1.8 percent 
of GDP. 
 
MAFF's static analysis only looks at the downside.  At present, 
Japanese spend up to 17 percent of their income on food, compared 
to 10 percent in Europe and 6 percent in the United States. 
Economists agree that Japan's GDP would benefit in the long run 
from the stimulus that would accrue if consumers could spend less 
money on food and more on other things.  Moreover, less 
protectionism would force farmers to restructure and become more 
competitive. 
 
Two experts we have talked to in recent weeks connected with the 
CEFP are well aware of the bias found at MAFF.  Maybe a little 
"gaiatsu," or foreign pressure, would be merited to help take on 
Japan's farm special interests, one told us. 
 
¶6.  (U) An Intelligent Diet Debate on Beef 
------------------------------ 
 
A Diet Member from Hyogo Prefecture had some common sense 
questions about the BSE scare during a lower house budget debate 
March 1.  Kazuyoshi Akaba, of the Komeitoo Party, part of the 
ruling coalition, pressed Health Ministry officials during a 
subcommittee meeting about the efficacy of blanket testing for 
BSE of all cows.  In particular he wanted to know if the 
government would continue to fund testing for cows under 30 
months old when the science is suggesting it is not merited. 
For the first time, an MHLW official acknowledged that there was 
"no transmissibility" when pressed by Akaba on some problematic 
BSE tests that had produced some dubious positive findings on two 
20-21 month old cows.  Health Ministry Director General Fujisaki 
said, however, that follow up testing is continuing.  Akaba 
criticized what he called "fuzzy research" and suggested the 
testing should not be allowed to continue forever. 
 
"Blanket testing does not catch all infected animals," Akaba said, 
echoing what the United States has been telling GOJ authorities 
for months.  "It is the SRM removal that assures safety of beef, 
not testing," he continued.  "This is the internationally 
recognized science." 
 
He concluded his remarks during the budget session by saying it 
was time that the government "started educating the public about 
the truth."  Akaba is a five-term Diet Member who previously 
worked for Mitsui Trading Company.  For an unofficial Embassy 
transcript of the exchange, see attachment. 
 
¶7.  (U) Sakhalin 2 All Sold Out 
------------------------------ 
 
Developers of the Sakhalin 2 project have completed contracts to 
sell all of its expected liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. 
Of the eleven companies that have signed these long-term 
contracts, nine are Japanese.  They include Tokyo Electric Power 
Company (TEPCO) - 1.5 million tons, Tokyo Gas - 1.1 million tons, 
 
TOKYO 00000910  003 OF 008 
 
 
Kyushu Electric Power, Inc. - 500,000 tons, Toho Gas (Nagoya) - 
500,000 tons, Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc.  - 500,000 tons, 
Tohoku Electric Power  - 420,000 tons, Hiroshima Gas  - 210,000 
tons, Osaka Gas  - 200,000 tons, and Saibu Gas (northern Kyushu) 
- 8,500 tons. 
 
The two non-Japanese companies are Shell Eastern Trading, which 
contracted for 1.8 million tons, and KOGAS, a Korean state-owned 
company and the world's largest importer of LNG, which contracted 
for 1.5 million tons. 
 
 
¶8.  (U) Tokyo Stocks Mark Largest Drop in Eight Months, End at 
Three-Week Low 
-------------- 
 
Tokyo stock prices tumbled Wednesday, dragging down the benchmark 
Nikkei-225 Stock Average more than 500 points to almost a three- 
week low, as a plunge in US stock prices unnerved investors.  The 
Nikkei Stock Average slid 516 points, or 2.8%, to close at 
17,604.12, its largest one-day loss in eight months and lowest 
close since February 9.  On February 26, the Nikkei Stock Average 
registered a six-year, nine-month high (since May 2000).  Despite 
the today's loss, the Nikkei Stock Average is still 3,385, points 
or about 23.8% higher than the recent trough of June 13, 2006. 
Please see attached document for more details. 
 
¶9.  (U) Recent Major Economic Indicators 
------------------------------ 
 
The Cabinet Office left unchanged its overall economic assessment 
for the third month in a row, noting that the economy is 
recovering, despite some weakness in consumption. 
The monthly economic report, submitted to the Cabinet on February 
19, confirmed that Japan's economy has expanded 61 straight 
months, a postwar record.  The report said that corporate profits 
and capital investment are up, but private consumption is almost 
flat. 
 
The BOJ report, released February 21, also left unchanged its 
core economic assessment, indicating that the economy is 
"expanding moderately."  The BOJ indicated that personal 
consumption has been firm, reflecting a modest rise in household 
income. 
 
As for the outlook, the BOJ expects the economy to continue to 
expand moderately.  Please see attached document for more details. 
 
¶10.  (U) Toyota's U.S. Presence 
------------------------------ 
 
Not least due to this week's announcement of Toyota's new 
Highlander plant in Mississippi, scheduled to begin production in 
2010 (see attached press release for details), increasing 
interest has focused on Toyota's U.S. presence.  A quick guide: 
Staff -- Toyota had about 35,000 direct hire factory and 
corporate employees in the U.S. at the end of 2006.  This 
compares to 65,000 direct hire employees in Japan.  U.S. Staff of 
Toyota dealerships and other "indirect workers" total an 
additional 110,000, and Toyota Tier One suppliers' staff in 
America was a further 51,000 at the end of 2004. In total, the 
Center for Automotive Research in Michigan estimates current 
Toyota-dependent jobs in the U.S. add up to as many as 380,000. 
Vehicles -- In calendar 2006, Toyota sold 2.54 million vehicles 
in the U.S.  Of those, 1.36 million, or about 53.5 percent, were 
produced in North America (including production from plants in 
Canada and Mexico, although the lion's share was made in the 
United States).  The remaining 1.18 million were produced in 
Japan. See attached press release for more information. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Toyota's Consolation Prize Is Not Bad 
------------------------------ 
 
Hot on the heels of announcing its new $1.3 billion SUV factory 
in Mississippi (see above) Toyota announced on February 28 that 
it will spend 3.3 billion yen (about $29 million) to build an R&D 
center for its NASCAR team near Charlotte, North Carolina, to 
open in late 2008.  North Carolina was originally in the running 
for the SUV plant, and is not currently home to a Toyota-owned 
factory. 
 
TOKYO 00000910  004 OF 008 
 
 
 
At a February 26 meeting with Principal Officer, the Managing 
Officer in charge of Toyota's America's Division made clear 
Toyota understands the political value of spreading its major 
facilities among a number of states. 
 
¶12.  (U) The New Regulatory Reform Council Sprints Ahead 
------------------------------ 
 
The new Council on the Promotion of Regulatory Reform met on Feb. 
23 to get things off the ground by setting up working groups and 
deciding on its priorities.  The Council pledged to sprint 
through until the end of May when the mid-term report is due, and 
identified seven priority issues for the initial period, naming 
them "Dash Seven". 
 
The Council's focus for the next three months includes the 
following: promoting the use of IT in medical areas (e.g., online 
medical receipts); reviewing obstacles for the promotion of 
regional industrialization and tourism; abolishing/reducing the 
operations of Independent Administrative Agencies; establishing 
review periods for regulations, publicly announcing binding 
notifications; and reforming the operations of port, aviation, 
and distribution systems (i.e,. expanding the capacity of 
aviation traffic in the Tokyo metropolitan area, improving 
airport operation, reforming customs procedures, etc.) 
Agriculture, however, was not included in the seven sectors, but 
has been listed as one of the issues that should be included in 
its final report in December. The reason, according to reports, 
is probably because the issue is too sensitive to be discussed in 
view of the Upper House election in July, in which farm votes 
could hold the key. 
 
The council has listed two agendas for agricultural issues: 1) 
enhancing farm size and promoting new entry 2) resolution of 
issues that prevent farming from being more efficient.  The Japan 
Agriculture News indicates that farmland reform and JA reform, 
both issues that were discussed under the previous organization 
should also continue to be considered. 
 
The Council will also follow-up on the proposals from its 
predecessor body in education, broadcasting and telecommunication 
areas and, over the longer term, will address sectoral issues 
including medicine, finance, competition policy, IT, energy, 
transportation and labor. 
 
¶13.  (U) Asian Copyright Seminar in Tokyo 
------------------------------ 
 
"Awareness building" was the focus of the 10th annual Asian 
Copyright Seminar February 28-March 1 in Tokyo.  Sponsored by the 
GOJ Agency for Cultural Affairs and Copyright Research and 
Information Center, the event included presentations by 
representatives from 11 Asian countries on the status of 
copyright protection and enforcement challenges. 
 
Also on hand, Pedro Velasco Martins, Principal Administrator at 
the European Commission, spoke about general IPR infringements 
issues, underscoring the negative consequences of IPR violations. 
He surveyed ongoing EU efforts to increase IPR awareness in ASEAN, 
including providing funding on capacity building of ASEAN 
institutions. 
 
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office official scheduled to 
participate could not attend. 
 
¶14.  (U) Beyond the Kyoto Protocol--Kawaguchi Speaks Out on 
Global Warming 
-------------- 
 
Former Foreign Minister and Environment Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi 
spoke at LDP headquarters on February 20 to an audience of 
Japanese citizens and foreign diplomats about global warming. 
Kawaguchi outlined her views on a successor framework to the 
Kyoto Protocol, emphasizing the importance of international 
cooperation and communication needed to establish it.  The new 
framework first should be something in which all major countries 
join.  Second, it should lead to a mandatory agreement on 
reducing greenhouse emissions and, third, it should be 
sustainable for the long term. 
 
TOKYO 00000910  005 OF 008 
 
 
 
Kawaguchi argued in favor of flexibility from current members of 
the Kyoto Protocol toward the United States, China and other non- 
members to encourage their participation in the next framework. 
She observed, however, that her experience working on the Kyoto 
Protocol had taught her that coming to any agreement will be 
time-consuming and difficult. 
 
Kawaguchi was very blunt in her assessment of Japan's ability to 
reduce its emissions by six percent from the 1990 level, 
especially since its emissions have increased by eight percent 
since 2005.  She cited delays in nuclear power plant construction 
as one of the reasons and agreed that corporations needed more 
motivation to reduce gas emission. 
 
She also called for increasing the transfer of related technology 
to other countries, including China, arguing that innovation and 
the spread of technology are key to reducing CO2, and noting that 
the situation in neighboring countries affects Japan. 
Kawaguchi stressed that emissions trading should function as a 
market mechanism and praised the Clean Development Mechanism, a 
method allowing industrialized countries to invest in emission- 
reducing projects in developing countries as an alternative to 
reducing their own "often more costly"  emissions. 
 
Kawaguchi drew a link to global warming and poverty, highlighting 
her concern that climate change would increase difficulties in 
African countries and other poor nations currently suffering from 
extended drought and other unpredictable weather conditions. 
She also stressed its link to fiscal and financial problems, 
citing as an example the cost of Hurricane Katrina, which was the 
equivalent of 10 percent of the GOJ budget. 
 
¶15.  (U) Possible Movement by MHLW on MRL Sanctions Issue 
------------------------------ 
 
As a follow up to the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) issue being 
discussed in the Regulatory Reform Initiative, MHLW indicated a 
willingness to work toward an understanding that might address 
the concerns of the United States if the United States would 
refrain from taking its complaints to the WTO SPS Committee. 
The U.S. side agreed not to raise the issue yet in the SPS 
Committee based on this signal from Japan to give the discussions 
time to work.  There is some difference of opinion among the U.S. 
industry about exactly what changes are needed from Japan and so 
the U.S. is still trying to determine its negotiating 
position.  Japan has said it needs to review the U.S. system for 
regulating pesticide and animal drug use as a basis for moving 
forward, and this step is already underway. 
 
¶16. PM Bowing to Ag Lobby Before Opening EPA Talks with 
Australia? 
---------- 
 
Prime Minister Abe hinted during a Diet Budget Committee hearing 
March 1 that any Economic Partnership Agreement struck with 
Australia would have to take into account the concerns of Japan's 
protectionist farm lobby.  "Japan must protect what must be 
protected," he said obliquely. 
 
Separately, according to press reports, the head of the LDP's 
Policy Research Council, Shoichi Nakagawa, threw his support in 
with the farm lobby, saying he favors excluding sensitive 
agricultural products from any EPA with Australia.  With previous 
stints as Trade Minister and Agriculture Minister, Nakagawa's 
views on these issues enjoy enormous weight in the Diet. 
 
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Aso, according to the Japan 
Agricultural News, stated similar views on an EPA with Australia 
in the Diet on February 28. 
 
Australian Prime Minister John Howard is due to visit Japan later 
this month.  The Australians have so far maintained a position 
that they want sensitive items to remain on the table. 
 
¶17.  Farm Lobby Satisfied with Australia Visit 
------------------------------ 
 
An official from Japan Agriculture, the protectionist lobbying 
group for Japan's small farmers, told us February 27 that JA's 
 
TOKYO 00000910  006 OF 008 
 
 
visit to Australia the previous week went well.  They were able 
to explain their views to Australian government officials and to 
the Australian Farmers Federation. 
 
The JA official did not want to predict for us when Japan and 
Australia would begin negotiations on an Economic Partnership 
Agreement.  He indicated that much would depend on whether full 
blown Doha Round negotiations would get going in coming weeks. 
He doubted that full fledged EPA talks could run concurrently. 
Absent resumed Doha negotiations, the JA official suggested that 
unofficial, working level EPA talks with Australia could start as 
early as April.  This is not a timeframe we have heard from the 
concerned ministries. 
 
JA plans a series of seminars throughout Japan in March updating 
its members on the current state of play concerning EPA 
negotiations with Australia, and also with a view to developing a 
firm consensus on the subject. 
 
¶18. FDI: AMB Property to Expand Operations in Fukuoka 
------------------------------ 
 
AMB Property Corporation, a San Francisco-based global developer 
and owner of industrial real estate, told AmCon Fukuoka that 
Fukuoka is the next target for their business expansion strategy 
in Japan. 
 
As the world's largest owner of airport-related distribution 
facilities, the firm has already established operations in the 
Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya areas.  According to company officials, 
ABM has been developing a business plan for Fukuoka operations 
for over a year, centering on facilities near Fukuoka Airport and 
Hakata Port. 
 
In addition, AMB officials stressed that Fukuoka's close 
geographical proximity to neighboring Asian countries gives the 
city a competitive edge in building an efficient distribution 
network linking Asia to other parts of Japan. 
AMB headquarters officials visited Fukuoka on February 27-28 on a 
JETRO-funded FDI promotion program organized by Fukuoka City. 
AMB intends to set up operations in Fukuoka at the earliest 
possible time, eying its rival Denver-based ProLogis' business 
activities in this region, including the $85million project now 
under construction in neighboring Saga Prefecture. 
 
¶19.  (U) Special Zones -- Running Out of Ideas? 
------------------------------ 
 
Only one proposal made the list for deregulatory measures in the 
latest round of proposals for Special Zones, an initiative 
launched by the previous Prime Minister to stimulate regulatory 
reform.  The number of approvals hit the lowest record since its 
inception in 2003.  The approved measure will relax the 
requirement to screw on temporary license plates on cars in 
transport.  A port in Miyagi Prefecture will likely adopt this 
measure. 
 
Although the Diet will consider a bill to extend the initiative 
for five more years, it is still unclear how it will be revived 
to make it more attractive and draw more applications.  The 
initiative is intended to offer a trial ground for deregulatory 
measures in a geographically specific area, with an eye to extend 
them nationwide. 
 
However, some local entities have insisted that not all measures 
should become nationwide (e.g., "Doburoku Tokku" whereby local 
inns are allowed to brew their own sake).  Allowing nationwide 
application of such measures would take away the "competitive 
edge" for tourism in these towns, they argued. 
 
Furthermore, approved measures have sometimes been so limited for 
them to be of any use (e.g., medical Tokku allowing mixed- 
treatment).  Ministries tend to be on guard when negotiating a 
regulatory exemption since they have to assume that such an 
exemption will be applied nationwide in a couple of years. 
The application system also remains cumbersome.  The Secretariat 
for Special Zones has made an effort to reach out by sending its 
staff and Ministry officials to local areas and offering 
briefings and consultations.  However, the declining trend in the 
number of proposals indicates that it may be difficult to 
 
TOKYO 00000910  007 OF 008 
 
 
resuscitate Koizumi's brainchild. 
 
¶20.  (SBU) Chrysler Japan's Position Shifting on Exchange Rates 
------------------------------ 
 
In a discussion with Chrysler Japan on March 2, a Chrysler 
official told us the company is becoming increasingly concerned 
about the over-valued yen now that the European carmakers, 
including the Daimler part of the organization, have started to 
make this an issue. 
 
¶21.  (U) Matsuzaka Set to Launch Red Sox Career in Exhibition 
Game Against Boston College 
--------------------------- 
 
Matsuzaka Mania continues in Japan.  With the star Japan right 
hander set to pitch his first exhibition game for the Boston Red 
Sox on March 1 in Ft. Myers, Florida, the game will be broadcast 
live on NHK at 7:30 am on Saturday morning.  Hundreds of Japanese 
reporters have been following him around since his arrival at the 
Red Sox spring training camp in Florida. 
 
Matsuzaka is a formidable addition to an already talented Red Sox 
starting rotation, which makes Boston odds on favorite to win the 
World Series in 2007.  He is joined on the Red Sox by Hideki 
Okajima, a savvy left hander with a sharp curve ball who pitched 
last year for the Japan Series Champions Hokkaido Ham Fighters. 
 
 
¶22.  (U) Hokkaido Explores New Ways To Sell Air Tickets 
------------------------------ 
 
Hokkaido District Transport Bureau officials recently announced 
with JAL, ANA, Hokkaido Air System and Airtransse, the creation 
of Japan's first "circular air ticket" system. 
 
Scheduled to go on sale in the summer of 2007, the "Hokkaido 
Circular Ticket" packet will sell for 30,000 yen ($250) and 
include three air tickets valid for travel on any participating 
airline's flights to local Hokkaido airports only as well as a 
coupon for a one night stay at a local hotel.  The ticket packets 
will be valid for two months, and all tickets in the packet must 
be used within 14 days of the date that the first ticket is used. 
Travelers who use the circular air ticket packet could save as 
much as 50 percent of standard travel costs. 
 
The experimental circular air ticket program hopes to increase 
air travel and tourism within Hokkaido on existing flights. 
 
¶23.  (U) JAL to Save on Fuel Costs in One World Alliance 
------------------------------ 
 
In a March 1 press conference, JAL President Haruka Nishimatsu 
and One World Alliance chiefs discussed the benefits of the One 
World Alliance. 
 
Importantly, JAL's joining the Alliance on April 1 will allow the 
company to reduce its fuel costs by jointly purchasing fuel with 
other alliance members.  In addition, JAL will receive help from 
alliance members in selling seats. 
 
The One World alliance airlines also met with MLIT Minister 
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba to express support for GOJ "Visit Japan 
Campaign" to double the number of travelers to Japan. 
 
¶24.  (U) Miyagi Whaling Town Expands Whale Meat School Lunches to 
Pre-Schoolers 
------------- 
 
As part of efforts to educate youth about whaling, Inshinomaki in 
Miyagi Prefecture decided recently to expand the number of 
schools that serve whale meat beyond all elementary and middle 
schools to also include all local nursery schools. 
 
Previously, only the Ishinomaki ward of Oshika, a traditional 
whaling community that hosts the annual Oshika Whale Festival, 
regularly included whale meat on the school lunch menus for all 
students, pre-school through middle school. After Oshika was 
incorporated into Ishinomaki's city limits in 2005, however, 
education officials began considering how to expand Oshika's 
 
TOKYO 00000910  008 OF 008 
 
 
whale lunch program to other schools in the city. 
 
Post's contact at the Ishinomaki Board of Education explained 
that in addition to celebrating the region's whaling history, the 
expanded school lunch program is also part of a larger effort to 
promote local consumption of local products. He admitted, however, 
that Ishinomaki purchases whale meat from the Government of Japan 
affiliated whale meat wholesaler at a special school lunch price 
to make the normally expensive commodity more affordable. 
SCHIEFFER