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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TOKYO 002412 
 
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 05/30/07 
Part-2 
 
 
INDEX: 
(7) AmerAsian School in Okinawa marks 10th anniversary of its 
foundation; Graduates take a step forward toward achieving their 
dreams in US or in Okinawa 
 
(8) Poll: 56 percent weigh pension, 15 percent opt for 
constitutional reform 
 
(9) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
Articles: 
(7) AmerAsian School in Okinawa marks 10th anniversary of its 
foundation; Graduates take a step forward toward achieving their 
dreams in US or in Okinawa 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Excerpts) 
May 29, 2007 
 
Koji Hirokazu 
 
The AmerAsian School in Okinawa (whose acting director is Naomi 
Noiri) will mark the 10th anniversary of its foundation on June 1. 
This school was established by four mothers to help children 
unwilling to go to school because of prejudice and differences in 
languages and cultures and also because of institutional problems. 
 
To study a university in US, his father's country 
 
Clayton Yonamine (18), who was one of the first students to graduate 
from the school, this spring graduated from the Futenma Senior High 
School. He will go to a university in Texas, where his father lives. 
He considered studying at a university in the prefecture, but he 
finally made up his mind to go to the United States because he 
"wants to study business administration in the US, the home of 
business administration." 
 
"I'm aware of going abroad, but I don't have any anxiety," Clayton 
said, adding that he enjoyed attending both the AmerAsian School and 
public school, and that he now realizes he has "two aspects of 
myself." 
 
When he was a little boy, Clayton assumed that if he attended a 
Japanese school, he would be bullied. But he realized later that by 
attending the AmerAsian School, where Japanese and American 
teachers, parents, and volunteers worked together, he was able to 
get along with others, if he had good communications with them. 
 
It was also great encouragement for him to know that Amerasians live 
not only in Okinawa but also in other countries. "Now I think I can 
live elsewhere around the world, for I have a variety of options," 
Clayton said. 
 
Learns from mother 
 
Ken Sayer (21), who likewise was one of the first students to 
graduate from the AmerAsian School, is now a senior at Okinawa 
International University. His dream is to try to launch a business, 
while also aiming at becoming a professional musician in the 
prefecture. 
 
"I want to be successful in both in order to be able to support the 
AmerAsian School. I owe what I am now to the school," Ken said. 
 
TOKYO 00002412  002 OF 005 
 
 
 
When he was nine years old, Ken was turned away at a grocery store 
in his neighborhood with the words, "No Americans allowed." He was 
not strong enough at the time to be able to retort. This experience 
made him feel that Okinawa was somewhat oppressive. But now he has a 
different feeling. Ken said: "I assume that those who discriminate 
against us lack knowledge or have reasons for doing so. I assert my 
views openly, but at the same time I listen to the views of others. 
Nothing will ever be resolved if we simply play the victim." 
 
Ken inherits this sort of positive thinking from his mother, Midori, 
the first president of the AmerAsian School. Ken noted: "(My mother) 
did not give up on the plan to establish a school even though there 
was no guarantee for her to succeed and despite much criticism. She 
established the school based on her convictions. Many people helped 
her. I really respect her. I believe in myself and want to continue 
to try." 
 
Give courage to their juniors 
 
Ken is three years older than Clayton, but both share the same 
feelings. They promise each other to reunite on a world stage as 
Amerasians someday in the future. Both said unfalteringly, "We want 
to become someone who can give courage to the younger members of our 
school." 
 
(8) Poll: 56 percent weigh pension, 15 percent opt for 
constitutional reform 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
May 28, 2007 
 
In a recent public opinion survey conducted May 25-27, the Nihon 
Keizai Shimbun asked respondents to pick one or more policies they 
weigh in this July's election for the House of Councillors. In 
response, a total of 56 percent chose "pension, welfare, and other 
social security policies," topping all other answers. The 
government's failure to record payments into public pension plans is 
also a matter of high interest to the public, as it has now become a 
point at issue. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been laying 
emphasis on "constitutional revision." This issue, however, was in 
seventh place at 15 percent. Respondents were also asked which 
political party or which political party's candidate they would like 
to vote for in this summer's House of Councillors election. In this 
popularity rating, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 33 
percent, with the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) at 22 percent. 
 
-- Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote findings from the 
last survey conducted in April.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
Yes       41 (53) 
No       44 (37) 
Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 
      15 (11) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support or like now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)   41 (43) 
 
TOKYO 00002412  003 OF 005 
 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 23 (21) 
New Komeito (NK)      3 (6) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP)   4 (4) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 3 (3) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon)  0 (0) 
Other political parties     0 (0) 
None         20 (20) 
C/S+D/K        6 (4) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Abe cabinet's job performance? 
 
Yes       33 (42) 
No       49 (42) 
Can't say which    7 (5) 
Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 11 (11) 
 
(Note) The total percentage does not become 100 percent in some 
cases due to rounding. 
 
The survey was taken May 25-27 by Nikkei Research Inc. over the 
telephone on a random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, 
samples were chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across 
the nation. A total of 1,496 households with one or more voters were 
sampled, and answers were obtained from 917 persons (61.3 percent). 
 
(9) Poll on Abe cabinet, political parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 28, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you support the Abe cabinet? 
 
      T P M F 
Yes      32 (43) 29 35 
No      44 (33) 53 37 
Not interested    22 (23) 17 27 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the above question) Why? 
 
      T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 
           17 (14) 18 17 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
   13 (15) 7 18 
Because there's a young, fresh image about the prime minister 
         41 (46) 41 41 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures     24 (21) 28 22 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why? 
 
      T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 
  8 (11) 10 5 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
 41 (41) 37 46 
Because the prime minister is inexperienced, weak 
      13 (13) 16 11 
 
TOKYO 00002412  004 OF 005 
 
 
Because I'm opposed to the prime minister's policies 
      37 (32) 37 37 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
      T P M F 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
      25 (29) 23 26 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
      19 (16) 24 14 
New Komeito (NK)   5 (5) 2 7 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 
      3 (2) 2 3 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 
      2 (1) 2 3 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 
      0 (1) 0 0 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 
      0 (--) 0 0 
Other political parties  1 (1) 1 0 
None      44 (42) 44 43 
 
Q: Are you interested in this summer's election for the House of 
Councillors? 
 
T P M F 
Yes     68  75 62 
No     31  24 36 
 
Q: Which political party between the LDP and the DPJ would you like 
to see win in this summer's House of Councillors election? 
 
      T P M F 
LDP      33 (38) 29 37 
DPJ      42 (36) 51 35 
Other political parties  20 (18) 17 22 
 
Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of Councillors, 
which political party or which political party's candidate will you 
vote for in your proportional representation bloc? 
 
T P M F 
LDP      28  26 30 
DPJ      35  45 27 
NK      6  3 9 
JCP      4  2 5 
SDP      3  3 4 
PNP      1  1 1 
NPN      0  0 -- 
Other political parties  14  13 15 
 
Q: Then, which political party's candidate will you vote for in your 
electoral district? 
 
      T P M F 
LDP      26  25 28 
DPJ      30  38 23 
NK      5  3 7 
JCP      4  3 5 
SDP      2  3 2 
PNP      1  1 1 
NPN      0  0 -- 
 
TOKYO 00002412  005 OF 005 
 
 
Other political parties  6  5 6 
Independent candidate  15  12 18 
 
Q: What do you think is most important when casting your vote in the 
House of Councillors election? 
 
      T P M F 
Social divides     13  13 13 
Education      19  16 21 
Constitution     14  16 12 
Public service personnel reform 
      6  6 6 
Politics and money    12  13 11 
Local community issues   5  7 3 
Pension      28  25 30 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "0" indicates that 
the figure was below 0.5 percent. "--" denotes that no respondents 
answered. "No answer" omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of the last survey conducted April 28-29. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted May 26-27 over the 
telephone with the aim of calling a total of 1,000 voters across the 
nation on a computer-aided random digit sampling (RDS) basis. 
Answers were obtained from 1,031 persons. 
 
SCHIEFFER