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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 001852 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 04/25/07 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: Prime minister should reaffirm close bilateral ties 
in meeting with US president 
 
(2) Abe's first visit to US as prime minister: Need to rebuild trust 
relationship 
 
(3) Prime minister's first US visit: Wartime comfort women issue 
smoldering; Gaps in awareness of human rights 
 
(4) Abe-Bush summit expected to serve as new milestone; Domestic and 
international situations call for enhanced Japan-US alliance 
 
(5) Poll of HS kids: Japanese less eager than Americans, Chinese, S. 
Koreans; Only 8% in Japan want to advance in the world 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: Prime minister should reaffirm close bilateral ties 
in meeting with US president 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 25, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will leave for the United States tomorrow 
to meet President Bush on April 27. This will be his first visit to 
the US since he assumed office as prime minister in September of 
last year. The prime minister reportedly is also scheduled to meet 
with leaders of both houses of Congress. Although he will only stay 
overnight in the US, the visit will provide a good opportunity for 
the two leaders to build a relationship of trust. We hope the prime 
minister will thoroughly discuss with the president such imminent 
issues as North Korea's nuclear development and abductions, 
relations with China, as well as future options for the Japan-US 
alliance. 
 
Immediately after coming into office, the prime minister visited 
China and South Korea. As the destination of his overseas trip early 
this year, he picked Europe. Because Abe and President Bush held 
their first meeting in Vietnam last November, he put off a US visit. 
But it is quite unusual for a Japanese prime minister to put on hold 
a US visit for as long as seven months after assuming office. 
 
It does not mean that a prime minister should go to the US 
immediately after coming into office. Prime Minister Abe has also 
said that we are no longer in an age in which the prime minister 
goes to the US on a regular basis as most powerful feudal rulers 
regularly visited Edo (the former name of the Japanese capital 
Tokyo) in the Edo period (1603 - 1868). 
 
Some observers say that relations between Japan and the US are 
beginning to cool. This view must not be made light of, because 
Prime Minister Abe has not established a personal relationship of 
trust with President Bush like Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 
did. 
 
The defense and foreign ministers have made remarks critical of the 
US-led Iraq war and the Iraq-occupation policy since early this 
year. In the US, a resolution calling for Japan's official apology 
over the issue of so-called comfort women was submitted to the House 
of Representatives. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001852  002 OF 007 
 
 
In a recent interview by an American media company, Prime Minister 
Abe acknowledged that Japan holds moral responsibility over the 
comfort-women issue. But his responses made during this period were 
quite awkward. Abe, just after denying the government's coercion of 
young women into sexual slavery in a narrow sense, emphasized that 
his administration upholds the Kono Statement. Meanwhile, the prime 
minister sealed his lips when Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hirofumi Shimomura made remarks denying the Imperial Japanese Army's 
involvement in the issue. Prime Minister Abe should take it serious 
that such a stance of the prime minister has negatively affected 
Japan's diplomatic efforts. 
 
Prior to the planned meeting with President Bush, it is necessary 
for the two countries to coordinate their strategies toward North 
Korea. The Bush administration has begun to take a flexible stance 
by removing its financial sanctions on North Korea. Meanwhile, the 
Abe administration, which gives top priority to a settlement of the 
abduction issue, remains tough, as seen from its decision to 
continue its unilateral sanctions. Japan and the US share the goal 
of having the North dismantle its nuclear programs and weapons, but 
a discrepancy in their specific response measures is noticeable. 
 
In reference to the idea of Washington delisting North Korea as a 
state sponsor of terror, the prime minister has said that he would 
urge the president to give consideration to a settlement of the 
abduction issue. It is necessary for the prime minister to confirm 
the president's views in advance so as not to trigger public 
distrust of the US government. At the same time, the prime minister 
also should explain his own views about the relations between 
Japan's role to have the North to scrap its nuclear programs and the 
abduction issue in an effort to solicit understanding from the US. 
 
In the summit, the Japanese and US leaders are also expected to 
discuss China. Japan-China relations have been put on the road to 
improvement through Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's recent visit to 
Japan. We also expect the two leaders to discuss a grand vision for 
the Asia-Pacific region, including how to build a favorable 
trilateral relationship between Japan, the US, and China. 
 
(2) Abe's first visit to US as prime minister: Need to rebuild trust 
relationship 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full) 
April 25, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will tomorrow make his first visit as 
prime minister to the United States. A delicate gap is developing 
between Japan and the United States over the handling of such issues 
as North Korea. During the planned summit meeting with President 
Bush, Abe must rebuild the trust relationship between the two 
countries and confirm it. 
 
It has been seven months since Abe assumed the post of prime 
minister and before he makes his first visit to the US. During that 
time, Abe traveled to China, Europe, and Southeast Asia. 
 
Most past prime ministers gave the highest priority of their 
diplomatic calendars to their visits to the US, considering that 
country an ally playing a important role for Japan's security. They 
also deemed it decisively important in terms of Japan's peace and 
security for the leaders of the two countries to build a personal 
relationship of trust. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001852  003 OF 007 
 
 
Conversely, Abe's decision to put off his US visit reflected the 
existence of the firm and stable relationship of security 
cooperation between Japan and the US. 
 
At the top of Abe's diplomatic calendar was his visit to China. This 
approach brought about improvement in Japan-China relations, as 
evidenced by such events as Premier Wen Jiabao's recent visit to 
Japan. Meanwhile, when it comes to Japan-US relations, the two 
countries have been in a relatively good mood as seen in such events 
as the Japan-US summit held on the edge of the summit meeting of the 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in last November and Vice 
President Dick Cheney's visit to Japan this past February. At this 
point Abe's initial decision seems to have been right, but this does 
not mean Japan is free from any worry. 
 
For instance, a challenge for Japan in the area of security 
cooperation with the US is on the horizon. A major concern for Japan 
at present is that Washington appears to be narrowing its final goal 
in the ongoing negotiations with North Korea to nuclear 
nonproliferation and has become less eager to work together with 
Japan to resolve such important issues for Japan as the 
denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a resolution of the 
abduction issue. 
 
Behind this move by the US is the change in the power balance in the 
US Congress. The Democratic Party, which dominates Congress as a 
result of the midterm elections last November, is severely pursuing 
the Bush administration for its failure on Iraq policy. It is no 
wonder that driven into a corner, the Bush administration is trying 
to score diplomatic points from negotiations with North Korea. 
 
However, if Japan-US relations became cool, that would simply give 
an opportunity to North Korea. Tokyo and Washington need to reaffirm 
strong ties at this point. 
 
Presumably, Abe will convey various domestic moves to Bush in order 
to demonstrate the closeness of security relations with the US. 
 
In doing so, Abe should convey to Bush that domestic public opinion 
is severely divided over such questions as the extension of the Iraq 
Special Measures Law, deliberations on the national referendum bill 
intended to set the procedures for constitutional revisions, and a 
study of cases concerning the exercise of the right to collective 
self-defense. 
 
On the so-called "comfort women" issue, there is an argument that it 
is a human rights issue like the abduction issue. Given this, Abe 
should not leave criticism of Japan as it is if he hopes to maintain 
trust in Japanese diplomacy around the world. We hope to see Abe 
endeavor to calm down the uproar in the US via dialogue with the 
leading members of the Congress and media. 
 
(3) Prime minister's first US visit: Wartime comfort women issue 
smoldering; Gaps in awareness of human rights 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 25, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has shored up his footing through such 
efforts as his visit China, which has paved the way for improved 
relations with that country, which had deteriorated during the 
previous administration. Now he will pay his first visit to the US 
as prime minister on Apr. 26-27. 
 
TOKYO 00001852  004 OF 007 
 
 
 
There is a concern about his visit to the US, namely the so-called 
wartime comfort women issue. Large-scale demonstrations planned by 
Korean organizations will likely be canceled due to the massacre at 
Virginia Tech by a South Korean student. However, a gathering will 
be held at a hotel in a suburb of Washington DC on the evening of 
Apr. 26. A resolution criticizing Japan submitted to the US House of 
Representatives in January has magnified to cast somewhat of a pall 
over the prime minister's visit to the US. 
 
"There has been an argument claiming that there was coercion by the 
former Japanese Imperial Army. However, there has been no fact that 
endorses the allegation." 
 
This remark on the comfort women issue made by the prime minister on 
Mar. 1 was controversial. The New York Times reported that Japan is 
distorting the truth and hurting its honor. Other dailies also 
carried critical comments. The image of Abe lacking awareness of 
human rights has taken on its own life. 
 
The prime minister has become increasingly impatient, wondering why 
they do not understand him when he said he would stand by the 1993 
Kono statement. 
 
The prime minister, who has been negative toward the Kono statement 
from the beginning, has worked out how to deal with the issue and 
decided that he would continue the stance taken by Kono but 
recognize coercion in the narrow sense of the term. Dividing 
coercion into the narrow sense of the term and the broad sense of 
the term and denying it in the narrow sense follows this logic. 
However, such statements by former Ambassador to Thailand Kunihiko 
Okazaki and others have muddled the issue and raised US distrust in 
the prime minister. 
 
Describing the atmosphere at the Prime Minister's Office (Kantei) at 
that time, one aide to the prime minister said, "The issue has 
strayed into a labyrinth." The perception of the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MOFA) is that there is little chance of Japan winning in 
discussions on this issue. When Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Junzo 
Matoba reprimanded MOFA officials over the worsened situation, 
saying, "Do not let the prime minister offer any more apologies," 
MOFA was enveloped by a somber mood. 
 
The divergent views stem from a gap in the perception of the issue. 
About that time, US Ambassador Schieffer pointed out to Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, "If the matter is left 
unattended, it will become a serious issue." One former senior US 
government official advised: "The US can defend Japan over the 
Yasukuni Shrine issue. However, it is not possible to do so over the 
comfort women issue, which involves human rights. Japan will lose 
support for the abduction issue." The indirect reason for the views 
of the Kantei and MOFA being divergent is the decline in President 
Bush's political clout following the Democratic Party's victory in 
the midterm congressional elections in the last fall. 
 
The prime minister, Foreign Minister Taro Aso, and Shiozaki met on 
Mar. 9 in the prime minister's office and unified the 
administration's stance into giving top priority to calming the 
situation. The prime minister corrected his stance and said on an 
NHK program two days later, "I would like to offer an apology to 
former comfort women from the bottom of my heart." 
 
However, the issue continues to smolder. Deputy Chief Cabinet 
 
TOKYO 00001852  005 OF 007 
 
 
Secretary Hakubun Shimomura, who is in a position of supporting the 
 
SIPDIS 
prime minister, rehashed the criticism half a month later, saying, 
"There was no direct involvement by the military." 
 
The prime minister took a chance. He telephoned President Bush on 
Apr. 3 and explained his sentiment, "I sincerely sympathize with the 
former comfort women." The Kantei and MOFA were of two minds about 
whether the prime minister should telephone the president or not. 
They were concerned that the president might make an accusing 
remark. However, their concern proved unfounded. 
 
Regarding the lesson of the comfort women issue, one senior MOFA 
official said, "Washington welcomes Prime Minister Abe's 
conservatism, but it is wary that it could leading to reactionism. 
The comfort women issue is an indication of such concern. The prime 
minister must be careful not to fall into reactionism." 
 
(4) Abe-Bush summit expected to serve as new milestone; Domestic and 
international situations call for enhanced Japan-US alliance 
 
SANKEI (Page 13) (Abridged slightly) 
April 25, 2007 
 
By Yoshio Okawara, former Ambassador to the United States, currently 
president of the Institute for International Policy Studies 
 
A chance to deepen personal friendship 
 
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who visited Japan on April 11-13, 
described his trip as "ice-melting" in contrast to Prime Minister 
Abe's "ice-breaking" visit to China last year. The two leaders 
released a joint statement on specific ways to build "strategically 
and mutually beneficial relations," such as launching an economic 
ministerial dialogue and cooperation on the environment and energy. 
I am delighted that Japan-China relations, which have been referred 
to as cold politically and hot economically, are finally headed for 
their "normal temperature." 
 
However, with serious bilateral issues like the development of gas 
fields still left unsolved, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun's comment that 
there still lies frozen ground beneath the surface must be kept in 
mind. Following his meeting with Wen, Prime Minister Abe will visit 
the United States on April 26-27. Washington, which was visibly 
concerned about the interrupted Japan-China summit talks during the 
Koizumi administration, is expected to positively evaluate the new 
developments between Tokyo and Beijing. 
 
Since assuming office, Abe has been extremely busy, visiting Asian 
countries and the European Union. For this reason, speculation had 
been rife that his US trip would not occur until the Golden Week 
holiday period in early May. But true to his words expressing his 
desire to swiftly visit the US once the budget clears the Diet in 
order to defuse US concerns over his ministers' criticism of the US 
Iraq policy and the debate on Japan's nuclear option, Abe has 
decided to visit there before the holiday period. I welcome his 
decision. 
 
It is significant that President Bush will host a family dinner at 
the White House and a summit at Camp David to welcome Abe and his 
wife instead of ceremonial events, given his friendship with former 
Prime Minister Koizumi. They will contrast sharply with the 
ritualistic ceremonies held during Chinese President Hu Jintao's 
visit to Washington just a year ago. 
 
TOKYO 00001852  006 OF 007 
 
 
 
Three major changes in domestic and international situations 
 
President Bush seems to be hoping to further advance Japan-US 
relations supported by his strong relations of trust with former 
Prime Minister Koizumi. His desire comes from profound changes in 
the domestic and international situations. 
 
First, the Bush administration now finds it difficult to implement 
its policies due to stiff opposition from Congress, which has been 
controlled by the Democrats since the midterm elections last fall. 
 
Second, although military operations in Iraq have succeeded, 
deteriorating security in the country and a delay in the 
reconstruction of the country have resulted in growing criticism in 
the US - a major cause of the Republicans' defeat in the midterm 
elections. President Bush has asked for sending additional troops to 
Iraq, while Congress is calling for a swift withdrawal from the 
country. In addition, given a lack of progress on Iran's nuclear 
development and the six-party talks on North Korea, the 
administration is under a storm of criticism from hardliners for 
making concession after concession. 
 
US force realignment 
 
Third, the dim economic outlook resulting from such factors as high 
oil prices, sluggish consumer spending, and the slow housing market 
has sparked strong public distrust of the government's economic 
policy. 
 
In the United States, fierce skirmishes are already underway in the 
run-up to the 2008 presidential election. Senators Hillary Clinton 
and Barack Obama have reportedly raised 26 million dollars and 30 
million dollars, respectively, for the election. Former 
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney tops the Republican list with 
20.63 million dollars. Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who 
is most popular of all prospective Republican candidates, has 
reportedly raised 15 million dollars. National attention on three 
individuals - Hillary Clinton, who seeks to become the first female 
president, African-American Barack Obama, and New Mexico Governor 
Bill Richardson of Hispanic origin - suggests that American politics 
is at a turning point, according to Harvard University Professor 
Akira Irie. 
 
Under such circumstances, President Bush is being pressed to enhance 
cooperative relations with US allies on the diplomatic front. He is 
also certain to pin big hopes on his summit with Abe. 
 
Abe has also taken a series of steps, such as the Defense Agency's 
upgrade to ministry status, a two-year extension of the Iraq Special 
Measures Law, and the establishment of an expert council to study 
collective defense, to push the Japan-US cooperative system forward. 
The question is Japan's response to the ongoing US efforts to 
realign US forces in Japan. I am worried that there are no prospects 
for the long-standing issue of relocating the US Marine Corp's 
Futenma Air Station to Nago. 
 
The two leaders are also expected to discuss bilateral cooperation 
on global warming, energy, and other economic areas. I earnestly 
hope that the upcoming summit will serve as a new milestone for 
closer Japan-US relations. 
 
(5) Poll of HS kids: Japanese less eager than Americans, Chinese, S. 
 
TOKYO 00001852  007 OF 007 
 
 
Koreans; Only 8% in Japan want to advance in the world 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 25, 2007 
 
High school students in Japan are less eager than those in the 
United States, China, and South Korea to climb the ladder of 
success. This became known from a survey conducted by the Japan 
Youth Research Institute to probe and compare the motivations of 
high school students in the four countries. In the survey, 
respondents were asked what they would like to do in the future. In 
Japan, the proportion of those who would like to enter public 
service was down about 22%age points from a previous survey 
conducted in 1999. This shows facts about the mindset of Japanese 
high school students who cannot have a clear-cut objective. 
 
The survey was conducted from October through December 2006 with a 
total of 5,676 high school students in Japan, the United States, 
China, and South Korea. In the survey, they were asked about their 
awareness of things in store for them, such as their future courses, 
goals in life, and jobs. 
 
"Do you want to become important?" In response to this question, 
those who answered they "strongly think so" accounted for 34.4% in 
China, 22.9% in South Korea, and 22.3% in the United States. In 
Japan, the proportion of those thinking that way was only 8.0%. 
 
Respondents were also asked about jobs they would like to do in the 
future. In Japan, the proportion of those aspiring to become 
lawyers, judges, university professors, and researchers was down 
from the 1999 survey. In particular, the proportion of those who 
want to become public servants was down to 9.2%, showing a 
substantial drop from 31.7% in the last survey. The proportion of 
those who "don't know" rose 6.2 points to 9.9% 
 
Tamotsu Sengoku, president of the institute, says: "Japanese do not 
face hardship in finding enough to eat, so high school students 
don't have the ambition to become important. In addition, the (high 
prestige) jobs are losing their attractiveness or authority." 
 
DONOVAN