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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001802 
 
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 04/24/07 
 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Abe's security policy agenda: 
4) In interview prior to US visit, Prime Minister Abe stresses plan 
to debate constitutional interpretation of right to use of 
collective self-defense 
5) Text of Abe's press interview 
6) LDP sets up special committee on collective self-defense under 
Shoichi Nakagawa 
7) Vice Defense Minister Moriya: Leaking of MSDF secrets will also 
be on the US-Japan summit-meeting agenda 
 
Abe's North Korea policy: 
8) Abe will make appeal to President Bush during summit meeting to 
factor in abduction issue when considering removal of North Korea 
from terrorist list 
9) Prime Minister Abe will not accept another North Korean pro-forma 
investigation of missing abductees as negotiation deal 
 
10) Abe accompanied to Middle East by 180 business representatives 
led by head of Japan Business Federation Mitarai 
 
11) For environment and security reasons, Abe chooses picturesque 
Lake Toya in Hokkaido as next year's G8 summit site 
 
12) Civil service reform bill makes prime minister responsible for 
handling issue of retired public servants landing cushy jobs with 
companies related to their work 
 
13) Survey of 100 companies show 30% believe triangular mergers 
would promote industrial restructuring 
 
Election fallout: 
14) Analysis of unified elections: Minshuto (Democratic Party of 
Japan) picked up seats in prefectural and city assemblies but still 
far below LDP's numbers 
15) Ruling and opposition camps will both strengthen Upper-House 
election campaign set up 
16) Ruling parties after win Okinawa have confidence they can 
overcome the opposition's use of income-disparity issue in Upper 
House election 
 
17) 39 lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine for spring festival 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Prime minister responsible for "amakudari" practices under amendment 
to the Public Official Law 
 
Mainichi & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Former Russian President Yeltsin dies at 76; Leading player in 
dismantling USSR 
 
Yomiuri & Sankei: 
Toya Lake in Hokkaido chosen as venue for G8 in 2008 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
 
TOKYO 00001802  002 OF 012 
 
 
Four non-life insurance companies to lower their trade insurance 
premiums for major firms 
 
Akahata: 
Analysis of results of latter half of unified local elections by 
JCP's Central Committee's Standing Committee: Significant progress 
by JCP despite drastic cuts in municipal assembly seats 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Unified local elections: Local governments need to be more 
independent 
(2) French presidential election: Hard-line rightist or 
dialogue-oriented leftist? 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Rape on express train: Bystanders must act 
(2) Mayoral election in Toyo Town: Subsidies-based administration no 
longer acceptable 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Organ transplants: What should replace "Mannami system"? 
(2) General guidelines for prevention of suicides: Effective 
measures will work 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Heavy homework for Toyo Town over a nuclear disposal site 
(2) Europe now facing a new wave of reorganization of banks 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan, US should strengthen cooperation for resolution of 
abduction issue 
(2) Final nuclear disposal site: Toyo Town electorate's choice 
regrettable 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) National achievement test must not be used to rank children 
(2) With the end of unified local elections, reform is blooming 
 
Akahata: 
JCP's good fight in unified local elections: We will do our best to 
realize our pledges 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 23 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
08:34 
Attended a meeting of the Education Revitalization Council. 
 
10:00 
Met MOFA North American Affairs Bureau chief Nishimiya, followed by 
Defense Ministry Defense Policy Bureau chief Ofuru and others. 
 
11:18 
Met Monaco Prince Albert II, followed by Vice Finance Minister 
Fujii, Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Watanabe 
and others. 
 
TOKYO 00001802  003 OF 012 
 
 
 
12:01 
Attended a government, ruling coalition liaison meeting. Afterward 
met advisor Nemoto. 
 
13:25 
Gave an interview to the cabinet press club. 
 
14:00 
Met NPA Commissioner General Uruma, followed by Supreme Court Chief 
Justice Shimada. 
 
14:45 
Met Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota, joined in by Nemoto and 
others. 
 
16:08 
Held cabinet meeting to discuss the summit venue with Foreign 
Minister Aso, National Public Safety Commission Chairman Mizote, and 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki. 
 
16:53 
Appeared on an NTV program in Nibancho. 
 
18:16 
Attended a Security Council of Japan meeting at Kantei. 
 
18:57 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Abe seeks constitutional reinterpretation for collective 
self-defense 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
April 24, 2007 
 
In connection with the government's plan to set up an expert panel 
for specific case studies on collective self-defense, Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe, meeting the Cabinet Press Club yesterday, said he would 
like the panel to discuss how to interpret the Constitution given 
the changes over time. His remark can be taken as giving heed to 
specific cases like sending the Self-Defense Forces overseas and 
building a missile defense shield. The remark sought the panel's 
positive discussions to reinterpret the Constitution that prohibits 
Japan from exercising the right to collective self-defense. 
 
Abe has so far gone no further than to say he would proceed with 
studies on specific cases where Japan is constitutionally allowed to 
participate in collective self-defense. The premier has now taken an 
in-depth stance for collective self-defense. "I would also like to 
explain my thoughts in campaigning for the election," Abe said. With 
this, the premier indicated that he would go to the people on the 
advisability of amending the Constitution in this July's election 
for the House of Councillors. In this connection, a government 
source clarified that the government would set up an expert panel in 
mid-May and reach a conclusion this fall. 
 
5) Main points from Abe interview 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00001802  004 OF 012 
 
 
The following is a gist of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's remarks to 
the Cabinet Press Club in an interview held yesterday. 
 
Diet by-elections 
 
We're going to analyze why we lost and why we won. By doing so, 
we'll provide for the next election. We have more seats now in the 
Diet's upper chamber. In my view, however, we're even (with the 
opposition bench). 
 
US visit 
 
It's my understanding that I've already received confidence (from 
President Bush). My predecessors visited the United States soon 
after they came into office. But we're no longer in such an era. 
 
Wartime comfort women 
 
In consideration of the circumstances of comfort women in those 
days, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy for them as the prime 
minister. 
 
North Korean abductions 
 
I will talk (in the US) about the need to cooperate in order to 
resolve the problem. Of course, I will ask the United States to 
consider the abduction issue in delisting that country as a terror 
sponsor. If we can confirm that they are taking specific steps for 
all Japanese abductees to return home, I'd like to take it as 
progress (on the abduction issue). 
 
Upper House election 
 
Constitutional revision always needs political energy. I would also 
like to explain my way of thinking in campaigning for the election 
to continue my appeal to the nation. Basically, we want to win in 
all electoral districts. 
 
Politics and money 
 
We're saying we've been doing things under the rules we've made. 
However, there are also some people who are saying that's strange in 
the public eye. It's the legislature's responsibility to make rules 
that are closer to the people's common sense. 
 
Collective self-defense 
 
The international situation surrounding Japan has now undergone a 
sea change. I want to make legislative preparations so that Japan 
can make even more contributions in the international community. I 
also want them to discuss how we should interpret the Constitution 
in the changing times. 
 
6) LDP to set up special panel on collective self-defense 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party intends to set up a special 
committee to study the right to collective self-defense, LDP Policy 
Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa said yesterday. The 
government, in its constitutional interpretation, prohibits Japan 
 
TOKYO 00001802  005 OF 012 
 
 
from exercising the right. Nakagawa was replying to a question from 
reporters at LDP headquarters. The LDP will launch the special 
committee directly under its policy chief. Former Defense Agency 
Director General Shigeru Ishiba is expected to preside over the 
special committee. 
 
7) MSDF info leak also on agenda for bilateral security talks: 
Moriya 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
Japan and the United States are scheduled to hold a two-plus-two 
foreign and defense ministerial meeting of their intergovernmental 
security consultative committee in Washington on May 1. On that 
occasion, the top security meeting is expected to discuss the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's recently exposed information leakage 
case, Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya told a 
news conference yesterday. In the leakage case this time, an MSDF 
petty officer second class is alleged to have taken out files that 
contained Aegis vessel data. "There was a case of Aegis data 
leakage, so they will talk about confidentiality protection and 
information management in Japan," Moriya said. 
 
Aegis vessel data is related to US military technology, so the 
Defense Ministry is taking a serious view of the case this time. 
 
8) Removing North Korea from list of state sponsors of terrorism: 
Prime minister to ask US president to give consideration to 
abduction issue 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
With his first visit to the US as prime minister just ahead, Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday afternoon responded to an interview by 
members of the cabinet press club. Abe during the interview 
clarified his intention to ask President Bush to give consideration 
to the issue of the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea 
in judging whether to remove that nation from the list of state 
sponsors of terrorism. 
 
The prime minister pointed out, "In my view, the president is most 
acutely aware among US government officials that the abduction issue 
is a serious problem that must be settled by all means." He also 
noted that he wants to discuss the need for Japan and the US, and 
the international community to join forces. 
 
Regarding the heightening criticism of Japan over the wartime 
comfort women issue, Abe stated, "If reporters ask me about the 
issue in the US, I will respond. I share the stance taken by then 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono in 1993 and letters sent to former 
comfort women by past prime ministers. The human rights issue 
strikes a chord with people." 
 
9) Prime minister: "Japan will not accept reinvestigation into 
abduction issue merely for form's sake" in exchange for energy aid 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
Prior to his fist visit to the United States as prime minister 
 
TOKYO 00001802  006 OF 012 
 
 
starting on April 26, Shinzo Abe responded to an interview with the 
Asahi Shimbun yesterday. Regarding "progress on the abduction issue" 
set forth as a precondition for Japan's energy aid to North Korea as 
agreed on in the latest six-party talks, the prime minister said: 
"Both sides (Japan and the US) share the view that a reinvestigation 
merely for form's sake is unacceptable. The issue must be completely 
settled. Should the initial step be taken, we will recognize for the 
first time that progress has been made." The prime minister also 
revealed that he would call on President Bush during their meeting 
to take a tougher stance toward North Korea. 
 
The prime minister said: "In the summit, I would like to stress the 
need to widen and deepen the bilateral alliance." Taking up the fact 
that no progress has been made on the initial steps to be taken by 
the North, as agreed on during the six-party talks, toward its 
nuclear disarmament, Abe said: "We would like to also frankly 
discuss how to urge the North to live up to its words." 
 
Prime Minister Abe further said: "(The president) is the person most 
aware in the US government of the seriousness of the abduction 
issue." Asked about his response to the idea of Washington delisting 
North Korea as a state sponsor of terror, Abe stated he would urge 
the US to move cautiously. 
 
Regarding the issue of so-called comfort women, Abe revealed that in 
the teleconference with President Bush on April 3, he had offered an 
apology for the comfort women and had told him: "In the 20th 
century, there were various abuses of human rights. Japan was also 
involved in such acts." Abe remarked that he would give similar 
replies if asked by the media in the US. 
 
10) Prime minister to be accompanied on Middle East visit by 180 
business leaders, including Nippon Keidanren chairman 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
A delegation headed by Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the Japan Business 
Federation (Nippon Keidanren), will travel to the Middle East for 
six days to link up with Prime Minister Abe on his visit to the 
region. The aim is to secure stable supply of resources and energies 
from Middle East nations, as well as to determine in what way 
Japan's business circles can assist and cooperate them in their 
efforts to diversify such industry areas as the manufacturing, 
tourism and financial services sectors. 
 
Approximately 180 persons from about 70 companies and organizations 
related to general trading companies, petrochemistry and energy, 
starting with chairman Mitarai, will join the delegation. It is 
going to be the largest-ever mission to the Middle East. This is 
going to be the second time for Nippon Keidanren to dispatch a 
delegation in the form of joining the prime minister on a foreign 
visit, following the one to Vietnam last November. 
 
They plan to visit six cities in five countries - Saudi Arabia, the 
United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Egypt -- and exchange views 
with their economic ministers and local business circles. By joining 
the prime minister, the delegation will play up its stance of 
strengthening economic relations with Middle East nations as a joint 
effort of government and private sector. 
 
11) Lake Toya picked as G-8 summit venue; Government places priority 
 
TOKYO 00001802  007 OF 012 
 
 
on environment and security 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 24, 2007 
 
The government yesterday picked the Lake Toya spa resort area in 
Hokkaido as the venue for the G-8 summit, which Japan will host next 
year. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe chose the Lake Toya area because he 
thinks the area surrounded by a rich natural environment is an 
appropriate location, as environmental issues will become a major 
issue in the summit and because it will be easier to enforce 
security for foreign dignitaries than it would be at big cities. The 
2008 G-8 summit will be the fifth for Japan to host. Japan will host 
the summit in a regional area, following the Kyushu-Okinawa summit 
in 2000. The government is in final coordination to pick host cities 
for other ministerial talks from other cities that submitted bids to 
host the summit. 
 
12) Revised public servant law to focus on restrictions on amakudari 
practice, placing final responsibility for assistance, monitoring on 
prime minister 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
April 24, 2007 
 
The government will adopt a bill amending the National Civil Service 
Law today. The bill features restrictions on the practice of former 
government officials landing lucrative jobs in the private sector 
after retirement (amakudari) by placing the authority and 
responsibility for the amakudari practice on the prime minister. The 
bill specifies that the prime minister should offer re-employment 
assistance for retiring officers. Under the current law, each 
government office is in charge of the assistance. The bill proposes 
setting up a mechanism under which a public-private sector personnel 
exchange center (human resource bank) and a monitoring committee 
will be established in the Cabinet Office and will function with 
"authority" from the prime minister. The prime minister will bear 
final responsibility on whether the amakudari practice is actually 
restricted or not. 
 
As measures to restrict the amakudari practice, the National 
Personnel Authority is now tasked with prior examination. Under the 
new legislation, the public-private sector personnel exchange center 
will engage in helping retiring officials to find a new job in an 
integrated formula. By clarifying the prime minister's 
responsibility for both re-employment assistance and monitoring, an 
extremely heavy responsibility will be placed on the prime minister. 
In addition, a new duty related to retirement management for 
officials will be added to the prime minister's work, including 
assistance for retiring officials and for the smooth implementation 
of personnel exchanges between the public and private sectors. 
 
13) Ban on triangular mergers to be lifted next month: Yomiuri 
survey finds 30% of leading companies anticipate progress in 
industrial reorganization; 15 companies predict active mergers 
between domestic companies 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
A poll conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun found that 15 of 100 leading 
companies surveyed predict that there will be more mergers between 
 
TOKYO 00001802  008 OF 012 
 
 
domestic companies when the ban on a triangular merger system of 
transferring stocks of the parent company to shareholders of the 
company being bought out is lifted in May. The Japan Business 
Federation (Nippon Keidanren) insists that triangular mergers will 
accelerate purchases of Japanese companies by foreign corporations. 
However, it appears that a sense of vigilance to M&As between 
domestic companies is apparently beginning to mount. 
 
The poll was conducted on 100 leading companies in mid-April, asking 
how they are preparing for triangular mergers and what possible 
impact they think the removal of the ban will have on business 
circles (more than one reply was allowed). Twenty-two companies 
said, "Foreign corporations will strengthen their buyout offensive 
against Japanese companies." Twenty-nine pollees replied, "The 
introduction of the triangular merger system will push forward 
industrial reorganization." Of the 29, 10 said that industrial 
reorganization would progress in the industrial sector to which they 
belong. More than one company from the electric, chemical and 
retailing industries anticipated industrial reorganization. 
Communications and trading industries were negative about industrial 
reorganization in their sectors. 
 
The adoption of the triangular merger system has been put off for a 
year due to lack of preparations on the corporate side. Only 12 
companies replied that they have already introduced measures to 
guard against takeover bids. The number of companies that are now 
considering adopting such measures stood at 22. As other 
countermeasures, 33 companies are either already implementing 
expanded shareholder special benefit plans and have increased 
dividends or are considering such measures. Ten companies are either 
implementing an expanded system of cross-holding of stocks or 
considering such. More companies appear to be giving priority to 
securing stable shareholders instead of taking measures to guard 
against takeover bids. 
 
14) Nationwide local elections leave Minshuto with mounting 
challenges 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 24, 2007 
 
The ruling and opposition camps are preparing themselves for the 
Upper House election in July based on their analyses of the results 
of the first and second rounds of the nationwide local elections 
that ended last Sunday. Although the major opposition Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) has made a big leap in prefectural and 
city assemblies, the party also faces mounting challenges, such as 
its small share compared to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and 
the presence of conservative independent local chiefs who are said 
to be "hidden LDP members." The LDP is also having a hard time 
determining its measures for unaffiliated voters. With a national 
election only three months away, both the ruling and opposition 
blocs have yet to come up with any effective strategies. 
 
Minshuto garnered 375 seats in the April 8 prefectural assembly 
elections and 374 in the April 22 city assembly races. They were a 
record increase of 83% and 28% in the prefectural assemblies and 
city assemblies, respectively, from the previous 2003 election (now 
defunct Liberal Party not included). 
 
Local assemblymen are the main workforce who cultivate votes in 
national elections. Identifying the task of strengthening local 
 
TOKYO 00001802  009 OF 012 
 
 
organizations as the top priority for the Upper House election, 
Minshuto President Ichiro Ozawa succeeded in fielding 81% more 
prefectural assembly candidates and 25% more city assembly 
candidates as compared with the previous election. 
 
Minshuto Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, based on the party's 
defeat in the Okinawa by-election, indicated on April 23 a review of 
the strategy of joining efforts with other opposition parties, 
saying: "We need to examine whether we should continue cooperating 
with other parties as before. We need to push our strength to the 
forefront eve more." 
 
Hatoyama's comment came from concern in the party that cooperation 
with the Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party 
would drive away conservative voters. Minshuto is not considering 
joining hands with other opposition parties, including the JCP, for 
the Upper House lection. An SDP lawmaker took this view: "Now that 
Minshuto has made a big leap in local elections, the largest 
opposition party is beginning to take an aggressive attitude." 
 
In fact, the cooperative relationship with the SDP has begun to 
crumble. For instance, in a single-seat district in Oita, Minshuto 
had first undertaken coordination for fielding the SDP candidate, 
but the Minshuto prefectural chapter searched for ways to field its 
own candidate. In a two-seat constituency in Niigata, coordination 
between Minshuto and the SDP for fielding one candidate each 
stalled, and Minshuto ended up endorsing two. 
 
But the results of the recent local elections do not allow Minshuto 
to indulge in optimism. Minshuto's share in prefectural assemblies 
is still far smaller than that of the LDP, although the difference 
in city assemblies has shrunk. Minshuto's share has increased from 
7.8% to 14.7%, which is still one-third of the LDP's 47.6%. 
 
LDP alarmed at decrease in local seats 
 
In the city assembly elections, the LDP won a total of 598 seats, 
down 216 from the previous race. Although the drop is partially 
attributable to ongoing municipal mergers, the problem is that the 
party's share has also declined to 7.5%. The LDP is now acutely 
alarmed at the weakened campaigning rooted in local regions. 
 
LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, however, showed confidence 
yesterday about winning independent local assemblymen over to the 
LDP, saying: "The majority of independent local assemblymen are 
conservative-centrists. Many are in favor of the Abe cabinet's 
efforts to create a beautiful country." 
 
But some LDP lawmakers are wary of the party's declining presence in 
local areas, as seen in its relations with local organizations. 
 
New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa took this view in 
yesterday's liaison meeting between the government and ruling 
parties: "Minshuto has gained more seats than the previous race. We 
must analyze the results thoroughly and have them reflected in (our 
measures for the Upper House election)." LDP Policy Research Council 
Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa called for strong measures for 
unaffiliated voters, saying: "The question is how to grab the hearts 
of swing voters who hold the casting vote." 
 
15) Ruling, opposition camps to strengthen campaigning for Upper 
House election, focusing on organizational measures 
 
TOKYO 00001802  010 OF 012 
 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 24, 2007 
 
Summing up Sunday's House of Councillors by-elections in Okinawa and 
Fukushima prefectures, as well as the unified local elections, the 
ruling and opposition parties began yesterday the work of looking 
into measures to strengthen their campaigns for the summer's Upper 
House election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will make 
efforts to tighten up their organizations and win support from 
voters not affiliated with any party. Minshuto (Democratic Party of 
Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa indicated that his party would strive 
to boost its political base while maintaining cooperation with other 
opposition parties. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was briefed yesterday morning by LDP 
Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa on the results of the unified 
 
SIPDIS 
nationwide elections and the Upper House by-elections at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence. Abe told Nakagawa: "As a whole, we 
put up a good fight. I want you to analyze the causes of victory and 
defeat for this summer's Upper House election." 
 
The LDP sees the main reasons for its crashing defeat in the 
by-election in Fukushima and a neck-and-neck race in Okinawa is that 
floating votes went to the opposition. LDP Upper House Caucus 
Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama told reporters yesterday in 
 
SIPDIS 
the Diet building: "It is important to come up first with 
organizational measures and present policy measures acceptable to 
unaffiliated voters." 
 
Many in the LDP are concerned about Minshuto's sharp increase its 
presence in prefectural assemblies. The LDP, therefore, intends to 
rebuild regional organizations, including its prefectural chapters. 
The party's Upper House Caucus Chairman Mikio Aoki has set the goal 
of winning 20 of the 29 single seats up for grabs, and 15 seats in 
the proportional representation segment. 
 
Secretary General Nakagawa and Election Strategy Headquarters 
 
SIPDIS 
Director Yoshio Yatsu discuss measures for the Upper House election 
last evening at party headquarters. They confirmed that the party 
would place priority on measures for the single seats up for grabs. 
They also decided to give guidance separately to eight new-face 
candidates for the single seats up for grabs. 
 
16) Victory in Upper House by-election in Okinawa makes ruling bloc 
confident in arguing down opposition bloc over "social disparities" 
problem 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 24, 2007 
 
Kei Sato 
 
The two Upper House by-elections in Okinawa and Fukushima ended with 
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition 
partner New Komeito winning Okinawa but losing Fukushima. This 
outcome has made the ruling parties deepen their confidence in 
arguing down the major opposition party Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto or DPJ) over the problem of social and income disparities, 
ahead of the upcoming full-fledged Upper House elections set for 
July. The ruling bloc has now judged that voters favored such 
measures shown by the government and the ruling bloc as revitalizing 
 
TOKYO 00001802  011 OF 012 
 
 
the region instead of the correction of disparities in the society 
as emphasized by the Minshuto in its campaign for the two 
by-elections. 
 
"We will take up the glove to debate the question of social 
disparities. 'Disparities' can't be corrected only by chanting a 
mantra, 'correction of disparities,'" Prime Minister Abe said on an 
NTV program last evening, provoking the Minshuto, which aims 
 
The LDP was defeated in Fukushima, but it won victory in Okinawa, 
which is a good showcase of regional disparities between urban and 
rural areas. This result has spread a "sense of victory" in the 
ruling parties, with LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa saying, 
"The voters concluded that the ruling parties are capable of 
resolving the disparity problem." 
 
The question of disparities became a political issue in the last 
days of the former Koizumi administration. Since then the ruling 
bloc has come frequently under fire from the opposition parties, 
which argue that the structural reform line has broadened 
disparities. 
 
By calling the current Diet session a Diet focusing on correcting 
disparities, the Minshuto attempted to drive the Abe administration 
into the corner. But the Minshuto was thrown into confusion in 
dealing with such problems as its President Ichiro Ozawa's political 
funds reports, in which large expenses for the purchases of 
properties were recorded as the office expenses. Taking this 
opportunity, the ruling camp has struck back since the start of the 
first part of the unified local elections as Nakagawa has argued, 
"It is the ruling parties that can realize the correction of 
disparities." 
 
This approach has worked well. The ruling bloc gained three wins and 
two losses in the five gubernatorial elections where the ruling 
parties had a showdown with the Minshuto, such as Hokkaido and 
Tokyo. 
 
In the Upper House by-elections and the latter part of the unified 
local elections, the ruling bloc stepped up its criticism of the 
Minshuto, with Abe saying, "All the opposition parties are doing is 
just complaining about disparities" and New Komeito Representative 
Akihiro Ota saying, "What have the opposition parties done to 
correct the disparities?" The ruling parties were also energized by 
the Minshuto's failure in presenting measures to correct 
disparities, even though it emphasizes the need to correct 
disparities. 
 
The Minshuto, however, will rebuild its strategy as its Secretary 
General Yukio Hatoyama said, "We will use our defeat in Okinawa and 
this chagrin as a springboard (to win victory in the Upper House 
elections)." If the ruling parties were simply satisfied with the 
victory in Okinawa, they could stumble. 
 
17) 39 lawmakers visit Yasukuni Shrine for spring festival 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 24, 2007 
 
Yesterday 39 members of the nonpartisan Diet members' group to pay 
homage at Yasukuni Shrine visited the Shinto shrine in Kudan-Kita, 
Tokyo, for the shrine's spring festival. Former Agriculture Minister 
 
TOKYO 00001802  012 OF 012 
 
 
Yoshinobu Shimamura headed the group. A total of 159 members, which 
include 37 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) members, two Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan) members, and proxies for lawmakers, 
visited the shrine. The number of lawmakers visited the shrine was 
less than usual since the festival took place the day after the 
unified local elections. 
 
No cabinet ministers and senior vice-ministers visited Yasukuni. 
However, Toshiei Mizuochi, state secretary for education, culture, 
sports, science and technology, and State Secretary for Justice 
Shinsuke Okuno paid their respects at the shrine. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not visit there during the spring 
festival. 
 
SCHIEFFER