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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 002370 
 
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 05/29/07 
Part-1 
 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
 
2) Editorials 
 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4) Troubled by political funds scandals, Agricultural Minister 
Matsuoka commits suicide 
 
5) Matsuoka left behind eight suicide notes and an apology; Prime 
Minister Abe,  as the one who appointed him, feels weight of 
responsibility 
 
6) Interim farm minister will be Wakabayashi until Abe makes new 
appointment later this week 
 
7) Abe: No investigation will made regarding allegations of 
Matsuoka's political funds improprieties 
 
8) Death of Matsuoka could stall WTO farm talks 
 
9) Despite Matsuoka's demise, opposition camp will not let up 
pressure on Abe administration on "money and politics" issue 
 
10) Opposition to file no-confidence motion against Health and Labor 
Minister Yanagisawa over social insurance fiasco (2 reports) 
 
Articles: 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nihon Keizai, Sankei, Tokyo Shimbun & 
Akahata: 
Farm Minister Matsuoka commits suicide, dealing blow to Abe 
administration 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)Matsuoka kills himself without clearing his suspicions 
(2)The "Asashoryu-Hakuho age" in sumo: Two Mongolian yokozuna 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)Farm minister's suicide: Abe administration in a serious 
situation 
(2)Fast-breeder reactor Monju: Safety must be confirmed thoroughly 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)Agricultural Minister Matsuoka's suicide: Politics needs to 
restore public confidence to prevent future tragic deaths 
(2)Loss of pensions: Negative legacy from lax organization 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)The politics-and-money problem should not be left unresolved with 
Agriculture Minister Matsuoka's death 
(2)The public needs to have a client's viewpoint in considering 
relief measures for those unable to receive pensions 
 
Sankei: 
(1)Farm Minister Matsuoka's suicide: Do not put a lid on the 
politics-and-money issue 
 
TOKYO 00002370  002 OF 006 
 
 
(2)ANA trouble: Crisis management needed in computer system 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)Farm Minister Matsuoka's suicide: How does the prime minister who 
was protective of him feel? 
(2)No need for a hurried vote on reform bill for Social Insurance 
Agency 
 
Akahata: 
Farm Minister Matsuoka's suicide: Investigation must be continued 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 28 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 29, 2007 
 
08:54: 
Met at Kantei with Administrative Reform Minister Watanabe, followed 
by METI Minister Amari, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association 
Chairman Fujio Cho, and Petroleum Association of Japan Chairman 
Fumiaki Watari. 
09:36: 
Attended an Education Rebuilding Council meeting. 
10:34: 
Met Deputy Vice Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Kamimura, 
followed by Deputy Vice Environment Minister Tanitsu, Foreign 
Ministry International Cooperation Bureau Director General Bessho. 
Afterward met Deputy Foreign Minister Kono. 
11:06: 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba, followed by Resources and 
Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki, MOFA Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau chief Sasae. 
12:23: 
Attended a memorial service for the war dead at Chidorigafuchi 
National Cemetery. 
12:53: 
Met Matoba at the Kantei. 
13:38: 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki. Afterward held a labor press 
conference with Rengo President Takagi in the presence of Health, 
Labor and Welfare Minister Yanagisawa. 
14:25: 
Met Yanagisawa. 
14:57: 
Offered his condolences for the death of MAFF Minister Matsuoka at 
Keio University Hospital in Shinanomachi. 
15:35: 
Met at the Kantei with Science and Technology Minister Takaichi and 
Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. Takaichi stayed on. 
17:03: 
Attended an LDP executive meeting in the Diet building. 
18:05: 
Attended a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting at the 
Kantei. 
19:20: 
Returned to his official residence. 
19:45: 
Attended a temporary wake for MAFF Minister Matsuoka in Shinjuku 
Ward. 
 
TOKYO 00002370  003 OF 006 
 
 
20:15: 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) MAFF Minister Matsuoka commits suicide, possibly over political 
funds scandal, shocking Abe administration 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Top play) (Full) 
Eve., May 28, 2007 
 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka, 
62, was found hanged at a residence complex for lawmakers in 
Akasaka, Tokyo, at around 0:18 p.m. yesterday by his secretary. The 
minister was taken to a hospital but pronounced dead at 2 p.m. The 
Metropolitan Police Department is conducting an investigation, 
believing that Matsuoka committed suicide. Matsuoka had faced strong 
criticism from opposition parties over the dubious use of office 
expenses and donations and calls were growing for his resignation 
from the post. He became the first incumbent cabinet minister to 
commit suicide in the postwar period. 
 
According to investigators, Matsuoka met with his secretary until 
around 10:00 a.m. yesterday in his room on the 11th floor of the 
Diet members' apartment complex. Matsuoka later failed to show up. 
As a result, his secretary and a security police officer entered his 
apartment and found the minister hanging by a rope made of fabric 
attached to a living room door in the apartment. 
 
There was no suicide note next to the body, according to the 
secretary. Immediately after Matsuoka became farm minister, it came 
 
SIPDIS 
to light that his fund management organization housed in the 
charge-free Dietmembers' Office Building had declared huge amounts 
of money as office expenses. Matsuoka repeatedly explained, "The 
office has not declared any fictitious expenses." Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe also defended Matsuoka. 
 
In May, rumors about his possible involvement in a bid-rigging 
scandal involving the Japan Green Resources Agency began to spread. 
Opposition parties grilled Matsuoka severely, saying his 
explanations were insufficient. Calls for his resignation were 
growing from even within the ruling coalition. 
 
5) Agriculture Minister Matsuoka dead; 8 farewell notes left behind; 
Prime Minister Abe says, "I feel responsible for appointing him as 
cabinet minister" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) 
May 29, 2007 
 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka was 
pronounced dead at 2:00 p.m. yesterday at Keio University Hospital 
in Shinjuku Ward. Matsuoka committed suicide by hanging himself with 
a rope at his lodging in the 11th floor of the House of 
Representative members' compound. He died from suffocation. Since he 
left farewell notes in his lodging, Tokyo Metropolitan Police 
Department's Akasaka Police has determined that he had committed 
suicide. Police are now investigating the motive for his suicide. 
This was the first time for an incumbent cabinet minister to commit 
suicide since War Minister Korechika Anami committed ritual suicide 
(seppuku) immediately after the end of World War II. Since Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe had backed Matsuoka, who had been under severe 
pressure over a "politics and money scandal" his death could deal a 
 
TOKYO 00002370  004 OF 006 
 
 
significant blow to the Abe administration. 
 
6) Environment Minister Wakabayashi appointed acting farm minister 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 29, 2007 
 
Chie Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki announced at a press 
conference last evening that Environment Minister Masatoshi 
Wakabayashi was appointed acting minister of agriculture, forestry 
and fisheries for Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who committed suicide. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed yesterday that he would appoint a 
formal replacement later, saying, "A political vacuum must be 
avoided in dealing with agricultural, forestry and fisheries issues. 
I want to pick a competent successor, placing an acting minister for 
the time being." 
 
He then added: "I would like to pick the successor in consideration 
of the schedule for an imperial attestation ceremony." He indicated 
that he would formally appoint Matsuoka's replacement after the 
Emperor, who is now traveling abroad, returns home. 
 
7) Prime Minister Abe: Farm minister not investigated over Japan 
Green Resources Agency bid-rigging scandal 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
May 29, 2007 
 
When asked by reporters about the allegation that Agriculture, 
Forestry and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka had received 
donations from corporations linked with the Japan Green Resources 
Agency, a semi-governmental body affiliated with the firm ministry, 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe responded last evening: 
 
"I will speak to clear his name: my understanding is that 
investigative authorities stated they were not investigating 
Agriculture Minister Matsuoka over the Japan Green Resources Agency 
scandal nor had they any plan to do so." 
 
Abe appears to have made the above remarks in order to dispel the 
observation that the cause of his suicide had something to do with 
the police investigation. It is unusual for a prime minister to 
introduce the remarks by investigative authorities regarding a case 
under investigation. 
 
8) Agriculture Minister Matsuoka's suicide leaves concerns about 
stagnation of farm policy 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 29, 2007 
 
The government appointed Environment Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi 
as acting farm minister after Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 
Minister (MAFF) Matsuoka committed suicide on May 28. But many 
observers have voiced concern about a possible stagnation in 
agricultural administration. There are a host of tasks left for the 
government to address, such as agricultural talks under the World 
Trade Organization (WTO) and negotiations on an economic partnership 
agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU). Matsuoka was under 
heavy pressure over questionable office expenses and other scandals 
 
TOKYO 00002370  005 OF 006 
 
 
over the past several months. 
 
There are many challenges Matsuoka left behind. Although economic 
circles are calling for EPAs with the United States and the EU, 
Japan remains unable to even launch negotiations on specifics with 
them, falling behind South Korea. WTO farm talks are set to restart 
in full swing, but the Japanese government is still trying to keep 
high tariffs and refusing to open its market. As it stands, 
prospects are nowhere in sight. The US and European countries 
reportedly have begun to take moves to enter negotiations behind 
closed doors while ignoring Japan. 
 
The government hopes to see an agreement reached in the WTO 
agricultural talks by the end of this year. Minister of Economy, 
Trade and Industry Minister Akira Amari said: "Mr. Matsuoka was an 
important partner for me in WTO talks. He was a very competent farm 
minister." Meanwhile, it is also true that Matsuoka, as a lawmaker 
lobbying for the interests of domestic agriculture-related 
organizations, had enormous clout over them. A MAFF official said: 
"He would probably have been able to persuade party members and 
agricultural groups even if WTO farm talks had ended unfavorably to 
Japan." 
 
Acting Farm Minister Wakabayashi said in the Environment Ministry 
last night: "I will do my best to enact the bills which Mr. Matsuoka 
was making efforts to enact in the current Diet session." He thus 
indicated his determination to make utmost efforts to get 
MAFF-related legislation through the Diet. 
 
9) Opposition parties determined to continue pursuing Abe 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 29, 2007 
 
Opposition parties plan to continue pursuing the Abe cabinet over 
the question of politics and money. They are especially determined 
to focus on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's responsibility for defending 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka 
(who committed suicide yesterday). 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama, meeting the press yesterday, indicated his party's plan to 
expedite efforts to uncover facts about the office expense scandal, 
saying: "Creating a clean environment as soon as possible is our 
mission." The party's Diet affairs chief also said: "The prime 
minister did not discharge (Matsuoka) from the post despite the 
allegations, and that was wrong." 
 
Japanese Communist Party Head of the Secretariat Tadayoshi Ichida 
noted, "The prime minister continued to defend farm minister 
Matsuoka." Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima also 
referred to the prime minister's responsibility, saying, "The prime 
minister is to blame for driving (MAFF Minister Matsuoka) to that 
extent." 
 
10)-1 Battle over bills related to reform of SIA: Opposition ready 
to introduce no-confidence motion against MHLW minister 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 28, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00002370  006 OF 006 
 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) intends to introduce a 
no-confidence motion against Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) 
Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa over the missing pension premium payment 
record. The DPJ, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's 
New Party (PNP) will today hold meetings of their secretaries 
general and Diet Policy Committee chairmen to look into the issue, 
including the possible submission of a resolution seeking the 
dismissal of Lower House Health, Labor and Welfare Committee 
Chairman Yoshitaka Sakurada. The ruling parties aim at clearing a 
set of bills related to reform of the Social Insurance Agency (SIA) 
through the Lower House on May 29. The battle between the ruling and 
opposition blocs will likely heat up. 
 
Appearing on an NHK-TV talk show, DPJ Policy Research Council 
Chairman Takeaki Matsumoto on May 27 criticized the ruling bloc for 
adopting the set of bills related to reform of the SIA at the Lower 
House Health, Labor and Welfare Committee. He said, "The adoption of 
the bills is nothing but an action to cover up the issue of the 
missing pension premium payment records." Japanese Communist Party 
Policy Committee Chairman Akira Koike and SDP Policy Research 
Committee Council Chairperson Tomoko Abe indicated a stance of 
submitting a no-confidence motion. Matsumoto responded to their 
proposal, noting, "Opposition parties will confer on the issue and 
raise issues in a thoroughgoing manner." DPJ Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama on May 26 also indicated a positive stance toward the idea 
of introducing a no-confidence motion. 
 
10)-2 DPJ, SDP, PNP agree to submit no-confidence motion against 
MHLW minister 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
Evening, May 28, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), the Social 
Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP) on the 
morning of May 28 held a meeting of their secretaries general in the 
Diet building. Participants agreed to introduce a no-confidence 
motion against Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) Minister Hakuo 
Yanagisawa, over the "disappearing pension contributions" issue, 
which could reduce public pension payouts due to mistakes made by 
the Social Insurance Agency (SIA). They also agreed to submit a 
resolution seeking the dismissal of Yoshitaka Sakurada, chairman of 
the Lower House Health Labor and Welfare Committee, for his handling 
of a set of bills related to reform of the SIA, which were adopted 
at the Committee last week. 
 
Emerging from the meeting, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
played up to reporters, "We cannot possibly allow the Lower House 
Health, Labor and Welfare Committee to railroad the bills, turning a 
blind eye to the people's greatest matter of concern." 
 
The three secretaries general also agreed to continue to pursue the 
government's responsibility for the pension fiasco and shared the 
view that the contents of relief measures proposed by the government 
and the ruling parties would not convince the public. 
 
The three parties will ask Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono on May 29 
not to hold a Lower House plenary session for the adoption of those 
bills. 
 
SCHIEFFER