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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 002239 
 
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 05/18/07 
 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) Jiji poll shows the Abe Cabinet support rate slipped 1.2 points 
to 39.4% 
 
Defense and security issues: 
5) Preliminary survey of Futenma relocation site likely to start 
full scale today 
6) An MSDF vessel will be present as survey proceeds at Futenma 
relocation site, but government denies its purpose is to provide 
protection 
7) Joint US-Japan F-15 drill starts at Komatsu base 
8) Iwakuni mayor outraged that government subsidies for building 
construction will halt because he is against relocation of US Navy 
carrier jets to local base 
9) Defense Minister Kyuma positive about research on intercepting 
incoming missiles after launched 
10) LDP's Taku Yamasaki in criticizing Prime Minister Abe for 
ordering research on collective self-defense says, "It will affect 
Japan-China relations" 
 
11) Letter by group of conservative lawmakers to US Congress urges 
keeping North Korea on list of terrorist-sponsoring states 
 
12) Foreign Minister Aso about to come out with book, "Extraordinary 
Japan," as part of his bid to be Abe's successor as prime minister 
 
 
13) Former Prime Minister Koizumi's private secretary Iijima has a 
new book out on the Koizumi diplomacy 
 
14) Sankei's Komori: WWII US Army document describes comfort-women 
system as an employee-worker contract arrangement 
 
Political agenda: 
15) Lawmaker lambastes Ministry of Education for adopting animated 
DVD for school use that glorifies Yasukuni and the past war 
16) JCP's Shii blasts Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) for 
dumping joint struggle strategy against the ruling camp in drive to 
take power as second party 
17) Minshuto in dilemma over whether to support or oppose amended 
political funding law 
18) Regional parties are on the move preparing for elections 
19) Health Ministry criticizes Justice Ministry's bill for training 
foreign workers in Japan 
20) Three education bills clear Lower House 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Ex-gangster shoots four; police officer killed, three injured 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Initial visit fee at private-practice doctors to be lowered 
 
Akahata: 
JCP to unite for Upper House election 
 
 
TOKYO 00002239  002 OF 011 
 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Why is collective defense needed? 
(2) Don't ease tight leash on spending cuts in next state budget 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Open skies: More international flights at Haneda needed 
(2) Don't take measles lightly 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) GDP growth: Concerns remain about domestic demand 
(2) Inter-Korean train: Reconciliation alone unable to make the 
North give up nuclear programs 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1) Backdoor meetings for education reform not needed 
(2) No need for excessive pride in moderate economic growth 
 
Sankei: 
(1) GDP: Excessive concern about slow growth unnecessary 
(2) Tokyo Dental College scandal: Japan Dental Association must 
clean up its own house 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Three education bills: Concern about government control cannot 
be dispelled 
(2) Inter-Korean train leaves many questions 
 
Akahata: 
Jan-May GDP: Vicious circle of poverty must be ended 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 17 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
09:21 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shimomura at the Kantei. 
 
10:10 
Met with Election Strategy Headquarters General Affairs Director 
Yatsu, followed by Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. 
 
11:00 
Lower House Educational Revitalization Special Committee meeting. 
 
13:12 
Met with Internal Affairs Minister Suga at the Kantei. 
 
14:00 
Lower House Educational Revitalization Special Committee meeting. 
 
17:16 
Headquarters for Promoting Measures for the Disabled meeting. 
 
18:28 
Charity show by the Jagaimo-no-kai at the NHK Hall. Met with singer 
Shinich Mori offstage. 
 
20:20 
 
TOKYO 00002239  003 OF 011 
 
 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
4) Poll: Cabinet support at 39.4%, down 1.2 points 
 
TOKYO (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his 
cabinet scored 39.4% in a public opinion survey conducted by Jiji 
Press on May 10-13. The figure was down 1.2 percentage points from 
the preceding month. However, the nonsupport rate also dropped 1.2 
points from the preceding month to 33.6%, showing a decrease for the 
second month in a row. The support rate topped the nonsupport rate 
in all age brackets. This is presumably because there were no big 
faults like scandals involving cabinet ministers. 
 
In the breakdown of reasons for supporting the Abe cabinet, 13.8% 
answered that there is no other appropriate person, topping all 
other reasons for the fifth month in a row. Among other reasons, 
12.1% picked a good image of the prime minister, with 10.5% saying 
the premier is trustworthy. 
 
5) Gov't likely to begin survey of Futenma relocation site today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Naha bureau of the Defense Facilities Administration Agency will 
likely start a full-scale survey today for the planned relocation of 
the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in the city of Ginowan, 
Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, a US military 
base the island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago. The DFAA 
will set up equipment in the offing of Nago's Henoko district near 
the camp to look into the current state of sea there. The Maritime 
Self-Defense Force will cooperate with the DFAA, which is also an 
organization in the Defense Ministry's chain of command as well as 
the MSDF. This is in line with the ministry's in-house work support 
setup. However, it is unusual for the MSDF to back up the DFAA at 
work. The Japan Coast Guard's 11th Regional Coast Guard, 
headquartered in the city of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, and local 
police will be on the watch for security. However, civic groups 
opposing Futenma relocation to Nago are planning demonstrations at 
sea, using canoes and other boats. The work of setting up equipment 
is likely to be thrown into confusion. 
 
This time, the DFAA will install equipment on the seabed off Henoko 
to monitor egg-laying corals for an environmental impact assessment. 
The MSDF has sent the Bungo, a 5,700-ton minesweeper tender based at 
Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture, and its frogmen are going to cooperate 
in setting up the monitoring equipment. 
 
Meanwhile, the Okinawa prefectural government has rejected the 
Futenma relocation plan. The Defense Ministry has therefore judged 
that it could not expect the prefectural government's cooperation 
even if the ministry enters into procedures for an environmental 
assessment. The DFAA already looked into underwater conditions in 
wider sea areas on April 24-26. 
 
6) SDF minesweeper tender deployed to Okinawa for Futenma 
relocation 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00002239  004 OF 011 
 
 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Self-Defense Forces have dispatched the Bungo, a minesweeper 
tender, to waters off Camp Schwab, the relocation site for Futenma 
Air Station in Okinawa, sources said yesterday. The step, intended 
to make preparations against a possible local movement to block a 
preliminary environmental assessment required for the relocation, is 
likely to draw criticism from opposition parties. 
 
A civilian research company commissioned by the Defense Facilities 
Administration Agency will conduct the survey. The Bungo is 
navigating toward Okinawa after leaving Yokosuka Base in Kanagawa 
Prefecture on May 11, according to the sources. 
 
Although the SDF Law includes a provision pertaining to the 
mobilization of the SDF for maintaining peace and public order, the 
law has never been invoked for such purposes. Defense Agency 
Operations Planning Bureau chief Shinnosuke Yamasaki referred to the 
Bungo's dispatch as an act of "interagency cooperation" under the 
National Administration Organization Law rather than for maintaining 
peace and public order. Defense Vice Minister Takemasa Moriya said 
in a press conference: "Three years ago, anti-base protesters 
blocked us from conducting a drilling survey." 
 
7) Japan, US begin joint training at Komatsu base 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force and the US Air Force began 
full-fledged joint training yesterday at the ASDF's Komatsu base in 
the city of Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, using F-15 fighter planes, 
with some of US fighter jets' flight training missions transferred 
from their bases to ASDF bases along with the realignment of US 
forces in Japan. Five fighter jets and about 80 US servicemen from 
the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture are participating in 
the joint training. The ASDF and the USAF will conduct joint 
training exercises for a total period of four days until May 22, 
excluding Saturday and Sunday, with the participation of up to 16 
fighters. 
 
8) Iwakuni mayor criticizes suspension of city hall subsidies 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Lower House Security Committee yesterday heard testimony from 
mayor Katsuhiko Ihara of Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, who is 
opposed to a plan to relocate US carrier-borne aircraft to the base 
in the city as part of ongoing US force realignment. Touching on the 
discontinuation of subsidies for the new city hall construction 
project, the mayor criticized the government's carrot-and-stick 
policy, saying: "I cannot believe it. The measure is unreasonable." 
 
According to Ihara, the city received subsidies from two years ago 
for the project, which was not linked to the US force realignment, 
but the government unilaterally stopped paying subsidies in the 
third year. "This means the government will not subsidize the city 
unless we embrace the US force realignment. I feel that (the city 
hall project) is now completely linked to (the aircraft 
relocation)," Ihara said. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002239  005 OF 011 
 
 
9) Kyuma mulls studying post-boost missile intercept 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma, sitting in yesterday on the House of 
Councillors Foreign and Defense Affairs Committee, indicated a 
positive view about the advisability of studying an airborne laser 
(ABL), which intercepts ballistic missiles right after they are 
launched. "I feel no reluctance about studying it," Kyuma stated 
before the committee. Meanwhile, the government has been negative 
about intercepting a missile right after it is launched, saying that 
doing so could be categorized as an act of exercising the right of 
collective self-defense. The statement made by the defense minister 
can be said to be in line with the moves of Prime Minister Abe and 
his office to reinterpret the Constitution. 
 
Referring to intercepting a missile in its post-boost phase, Kyuma 
noted that an ABL is a laser weapon that can disable a missile. 
However, Kyuma also stated that the laser would have to enter the 
missile-launching country's territory. In addition, he noted the 
problem of accuracy and cost. 
 
The Defense Ministry will set about research and development next 
fiscal year for high-power laser weapons, which the United States 
has been weighing as effective to intercept missiles right after 
they are launched. The ministry also envisions ABL research and 
development. However, intercepting a missile over the country that 
launched it could be regarded as a violation of that country's 
airspace. In addition, shooting down a launched missile before 
finding that it has targeted at Japan could fall under the category 
of exercising the right of collective self-defense that is 
prohibited in the government's constitutional interpretation. 
 
10) Yamasaki criticizes Abe 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
Taku Yamasaki, a former secretary general of the Liberal Democratic 
Party, criticized Prime Minister Abe's plan to review security 
restrictions in the name of studying the right to collective 
self-defense during an LDP special committee meeting (chaired by 
Shoichi Nakagawa) yesterday. Yamasaki said: "With the Upper House 
election coming up, is there any need to initiate a discussion that 
might strain relations with China?" 
 
Yamasaki also indicated that during his trip to China in late April, 
a senior Chinese Communist Party official had explained that the 
country's military buildup was aimed against the liberalization of 
Taiwan. Yamasaki added: "Discussions must be conducted based on the 
realization that (China) is more sensitive to the Taiwan issue than 
to the Yasukuni issue." Yamasaki also expressed concern about the 
collective defense advisory council to the prime minister, saying: 
"The issue of Taiwan will inevitably crop up. If the regional 
contingency law is to be revised for expanding the scope of Self 
Defense-Force activities, it would have a major impact on 
Japan-China relations." 
 
11) Japanese lawmakers to send a letter to all US lawmakers urging 
that North Korea not be removed from list of states sponsoring 
terrorism 
 
TOKYO 00002239  006 OF 011 
 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Association to Consider a Diplomatic Card against North Korea, a 
group of like-minded lawmakers, including House of Councillors 
member Ichita Yamamoto, of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP), yesterday met at the party's headquarters and decided to send 
every member of the US Congress a letter urging that North Korea not 
be removed from the list of states that sponsor terrorism. The 
objective is to ask the Congress to pressure the US government on 
the same. The group will collect signatures in the party and send a 
letter with signatures. 
 
12) Foreign Minister Aso to publish new book "Extraordinary Japan": 
What is his next target? 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso will shortly publish a book titled 
"Extraordinary Japan" from Shincho Shinsho. The book will be a 
fleshed-out version of his manifesto released when he ran in the 
Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential election last year. 
Though Aso is now devoting himself to support Prime Minister Abe, he 
has not concealed his aspiration to make a bid for Prime Minister 
Abe's job, titling his own book with one as evocative as the prime 
minister's book "Toward a Beautiful Country" (published by Bunshun 
Shinsho). 
 
As the concept for the book, Aso took as the base the words of his 
grandfather Shigeru Yoshida, a former prime minister, "Japanese have 
extraordinary energy." In the book, he calls for taking a second 
look at Japan's fundamental strengths, using such paradoxical 
phrases as "praising the aging society" and "being a NEET (not in 
education, employment or training) is not so bad." The book also 
includes the "Aso doctrine," which proposes strengthening a network 
with Asian neighbors, and the "arc of freedom and prosperity" 
initiative, in which he urges support to newly emerging democratic 
countries in East Europe and other regions. 
 
Iijima also to publish memoir 
 
Isao Iijiuma, secretary to former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, 
will also publish a memoir titled "Koizumi Diplomacy Factual Record" 
(published by Nikkei Publishing Inc.) on May 18, his second book 
since he resigned. The book introduces many undisclosed episodes 
from Summits. 
 
13) Former secretary to former Prime Minister Koizumi to publish 
book "Koizumi Diplomacy Fact Record" revealing inside stories about 
his foreign trips 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
Isao Iijima, who served as private secretary to former Prime 
Minister Koizumi, will today come out with a book, "Koizumi 
Diplomacy Fact Record," from Nikkei Publishing Inc. The book focuses 
on Koizumi's 51 foreign trips covering 49 countries during his five 
and half years in office. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002239  007 OF 011 
 
 
Referring to Koizumi's first visit to North Korea in September 2002, 
the book notes that information on whereabouts of those abducted by 
North Korea was provided in the form of data given to Japan Red 
Cross Society by North Korea Red Cross Society and that the 
descriptions in the data had many unnatural points. The information 
gave everyone a shock for stating that eight of the abductees are 
dead. Iijima suspects that the North Korean side might have prepared 
the information without assuming that it would be handed to the 
Japanese prime minister and his staff. The book also describes that 
when Iijima shook hands with General Secretary Kim Jong Il, he felt 
that the other's hand was sandpapery. 
 
Concerning the North Korea issue, Iijima is concerned about the 
present Abe administration's pressure policy, noting in the book: 
"Abduction is a loathsome crime. The full picture must be brought 
into light. However, I wonder whether the present situation is 
really desirable for our country. We are perhaps at a juncture where 
we must reconsider what relations we want to have with North 
Korea." 
 
14) "Comfort women" hired "under contract," US Army's wartime report 
states 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
May 18, 2007 
 
Yoshihisa Komori, Washington 
 
The US Army during the war issued a report describing the results of 
their survey of "comfort women." What was written in the report is 
completely different from some Americans' current criticism that 
"those women were systematically recruited by the Japanese 
military." 
 
The report was compiled by a US Army's war intelligence office's 
psychological warfare team and was included in an interrogation 
report dated November of that year formed by the US military's 
"Southeast Asia Translation and Interrogation Center. This report 
was declassified in 1973 and since then it has been known to some 
Japanese and American researchers. 
 
According to the report, a 41-year-old Japanese man at the time 
operating a brothel in a northern area of Burma and 20 Korean women 
who had been recruited in return for cash in Seoul and worked as 
prostitutes for Japanese officers and soldiers were taken prisoners 
by the US military. Reportedly, the report was compiled mainly based 
on the interrogation of that man. The report said that "all 'comfort 
women' were hired under the following employment conditions," 
indicating that those women in principle signed a commercial-basis 
employment contract. 
 
The report described the employment conditions this way: 
 
"Every comfort woman received 50% of her gross sale and did not pay 
transportation, food, and medical fees. Transportation and medical 
expenses were provided by the military, and food was provided by the 
owners of brothels, who bought food in support of the military"; 
 
"The owners of brothels sold clothes, daily necessities, and luxury 
goods at outrageous prices to comfort women and earned profits"; 
 
"When comfort women paid back the money paid to her family with 
 
TOKYO 00002239  008 OF 011 
 
 
interest, they were supposed to be returned to Korea free of charge 
and to be set free. But because of the war situation, none of the 
women in this group was allowed to return to their home country"; 
 
"In the brothel run by this Japanese man, the largest sale of one 
comfort woman for two months reached 1,500 yen, while the minimum 
sale was 300 or so yen. Every comfort woman had to pay at least 150 
yen per month to the owner." 
 
The report thus specified the employment status of "comfort women" 
and the "employment conditions," and it also mentioned that there 
was a system for "comfort women" to be freed if they paid back a 
certain amount of their debts, thereby giving proof that US military 
authorities at the time had a different view from the current one 
that claims "the military forcible recruited" or engaged in "sexual 
slavery." 
 
15) Lawmaker Ishii pursues Ministry of Education for adopting Japan 
Youth Council produced DVD on Yasukuni for classroom use 
 
AKAHATA (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 18, 2007 
 
It was revealed yesterday that the Ministry of Education, Culture, 
Sports and S&T's "New Education System Development Program," a 
contracted study project, has adopted an animated DVD for use in 
classrooms all over Japan that glorifies and takes a positive view 
of Japan's aggressive war with such statements as "a war for the 
defense of Japan and to liberate Asia." Japanese Communist Party 
lawmaker Ikuko Ishii brought up the issue in the Lower House Special 
Committee on Reinvigorating Education. 
 
Ishii charged: "The DVD violates the Murayama Statement of 1995, in 
which Japan stated its regret and apologized for the past war. The 
contract should be cancelled and the showing of the film should be 
stopped." 
 
The classroom material in question is a DVD titled "Pride" produced 
by the Japan Youth Council (JYC). The JYC has been widely 
advertising that the DVD is approved by the ministry and has been 
urging schools all over the country to use it in classes. Already, 
93 schools across the country plan to use it.  The contents concerns 
a youth killed in the war reappearing today and guiding a young 
schoolgirl to Yasukuni Shrine. World War II is referred to as "the 
Greater East Asian War," and teaches children the war was "to 
protect our own country that we love and for self-defense." 
Regarding Japan's colonies, the only mention is that "roads were 
built, and schools were set up." There is no mention of the history 
of aggression that led to colonization. 
 
Pursued by Ishii, Prime Minister Abe answered that he had not yet 
seen the film. 
 
16) JCP criticizes DPJ at 4th Central Committee Plenum out of sense 
of crisis toward two-party structure 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chair Kazuo Shii in a report 
submitted to the presidium of the 4th Central Committee Plenum 
criticized the Democratic Party of Japan (DDJ or Minshuto) as vying 
 
TOKYO 00002239  009 OF 011 
 
 
with the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) politics over structural 
reforms that would create a cutthroat society and over 
constitutional revision. He also noted, "The DPJ's basic policy 
increasingly resembles the LDP's, offering life-support help to the 
LDP." 
 
Shii is heightening his criticism of the DPJ because he is alarmed 
about the prospect that if the confrontation between the two major 
parties - the LDP and the DPJ - alone draws attention, the JCP will 
be submerged. 
 
The JCP in the Upper House election three years ago lost seats up 
for election, dropping from 15 to 4. Analyzing the cause, the party 
determined that votes opposing the LDP went to the DPJ, based on a 
pattern of confrontation between the LDP and the DPJ. 
 
The JCP is concerned about this trend, with Shii noting that an 
election campaign asking voters which to choose - the LDP or the DPJ 
-- is a major anti-communist move to block the party's advance. 
Opposition parties are expected to increasingly display their 
independent moves, which could have an impact on the joint struggle 
that opposition parties have formed against the ruling camp in the 
final stage of the Diet session. 
 
17) Minshuto in quandary over response to ruling parties' bill 
amending Political Funds Control Law 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
The Democratic party of Japan (Minshuto) held an executive meeting 
of the Political Reform Promotion Headquarters, headed by former 
party President Katsuya Okada, yesterday to discuss how the party 
should respond to the bill amending the Political Funds Control Law 
drawn up by the ruling parties in response to a series of office 
expenses scandals. In Minshuto, many members say the ruling camp's 
bill is full of loopholes, but some are worried that if they oppose 
the bill, they might be criticized as "negative about political 
reform." Minshuto is likely to be pressed hard to determine which 
stance it should take. 
 
The ruling parties' bill requires only political funds control 
organizations to attach receipts for expenditures of more than 
50,000 yen. In the executive meeting, the participants decided to 
pursue the ruling camp on this point, claiming, "Politicians could 
use other political parties to avoid the requirement." Minshuto's 
draft bill proposes all political parties be mandated to attach 
receipts for expenditures of more than 10,000 yen. 
 
The ruling camp sees as a problem President Ozawa's acquirement of 
real estate with office expenses. Given this, discussion was not 
conducted on the item prohibiting property holding by political 
funds control organizations. 
 
A senior Minshuto official said, "If we raise opposition, the other 
side might argue back that we oppose it because of Ozawa's real 
estate problem." Some members suggest that the ban should be applied 
to all political groups, but many are still cautious, one saying, 
"It will become impossible for political parties to possess land and 
buildings." 
 
Okada is strongly opposed to the ruling parties' bill. But some 
 
TOKYO 00002239  010 OF 011 
 
 
members suggest the party should grope for ways to find common 
ground with the ruling camp, as Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
said, "Killing the bill is the worst case." Such voices stem from 
concern that the ruling parties might blast Minshuto for scrapping 
the bill. 
 
One participant in the executive meeting said: "Let's have the bill 
enacted, since the ruling parties do not in their heart want to 
revise the law." Minshuto is pursuing the office-expense scandal 
involving Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Matsuoka in 
the Diet session. A senior member remarked: "If the bill becomes 
law, we will be able to press Matsuoka to disclose the details based 
on the law." The main opposition party is now having a hard time to 
make up its response to the ruling parties' bill. 
 
18) 2007 Upper House election: Regional political parties actively 
working to expand power by joining hands with opposition parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 18, 2007 
 
With an eye on the July House of Councillors election, the New Party 
Daichi in Hokkaido and the party Sozo in Okinawa are engaging in 
vigorous activities. The regional parties were established by House 
of Representatives members formerly belonging to the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP). However, the New Party Daichi aims to win 
two Upper House seats along with the main opposition party Minshuto 
(Democratic Party of Japan), while Sozo will file its candidates in 
the proportional representation segment by forming a parliamentary 
league with the People's New Party. As its stands, the two minor 
parties are trying to expand their strengths by joining hands with 
other opposition parties. 
 
The New Party Daichi headed by Lower House member Muneo Suzuki 
(elected from the proportional representation Hokkaido block) has 
fielded its deputy head Kaori Tahara in the Hokkaido district. The 
34-year-old Tahara, who hails from the Ainu ethnic group, stated on 
May 10 in a general meeting for the setting up of her support group, 
"I would like to focus on voices from the socially vulnerable." 
 
Incumbent LDP and Minshuto lawmakers will run in electoral districts 
in which two seats are up for reelection. In order to secure 
Minshuto's recommendation, the New Party Daichi decided to sponsor 
Tahara but not officially recognize her. So Tahara will run in the 
race as an independent candidate recommended by the main opposition 
party, aiming to win a seat now occupied by an LDP member. All the 
more because the New Party Daichi gave full support for the Minshuto 
candidate in the Hokkaido gubernatorial election in April, a senior 
Minshuto member said, "We want to give support that we do for an 
official candidate to her." Therefore, the largest opposition party 
will strengthen cooperation with the New Party Daichi to fight 
against the ruling LDP and New Komeito. 
 
19) MHLW minister raps justice minister's proposal on training for 
foreigners 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2007 
 
Justice Minister Nagase proposed creating a new system to accept 
unskilled workers from foreign countries to replace the current 
system. In response, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry 
 
TOKYO 00002239  011 OF 011 
 
 
(MHLW) Minister Yanagisawa indicated a critical stance, remarking: 
"Extremely cautious studies are necessary." 
 
Citing such negative effects as impediments to job opportunities for 
young people and women, Yanagisawa said: "It is important to create 
an environment for all people, including young persons, women, 
elderly people, to be able to display their incentive and ability as 
part of efforts to offer job opportunities to many people." 
 
20) Three education bills certain to pass Diet, with Lower House set 
to approve them today 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 18, 2007 
 
In a meeting yesterday of the Education Rebuilding Special Committee 
of the House of Representatives, a set of three education reform 
bills were approved by a majority from the Liberal Democratic Party 
and the Minshuto. The bills, which the government places top 
priority on the bills in the current Diet session, are set to clear 
the Lower House today before being set to the House of Councillors. 
It is now certain that the bills will be enacted in the ongoing 
session, with more than one month left until the closing day of the 
session on June 23. As the prime minister has indicated his 
willingness to put forth the passage of the three education bills as 
his administration's achievement in the campaign for the July Upper 
House election, education reform is expected to be a big issue of 
the campaign. 
 
(Key points) in the three education reform bills 
 
(Bill amending the Local Education Administration Law) 
7 Give authority to the education minister to order education boards 
to protect students when such protection is judged to be urgently 
necessary. 
7 Allow the education minister to order education boards to improve 
the situation, based on the Local Government Law, if students' right 
to receive education apparently is being infringed on. 
7 Authorize governors, when they judge it necessary, to ask 
education boards for their advice or assistance on private schools. 
 
(Bill amending the School Education Law) 
7 Set a goal for compulsory education. 
7 Allow installing a vice president, a chief teacher, and an 
advisor. 
 
(Bill amending the Teacher's License Law) 
7 Require teachers to renew their licenses every 10 years after 
receiving a course. Revoke the license of a teacher discharged 
without honor. 
7 Require teachers whose guidance is judged improper to take 
training for up to one year. Take some measures, such as dismissal 
from school, if they are judged lacking the competence required of a 
teacher when the training is over. 
 
SCHIEFFER