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RR RUEHFK RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2721/01 1660815
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150815Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4567
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5565
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1577
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 0716
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3999
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5147
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 002721 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USOECD 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON JA ZO EAGR
SUBJECT: The Japan Economic Scope - June 14, 2007 Part 2 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect accordingly. 
 
¶1. (U) This cable contains part two the Japan Economic Scope from 
June 14, 
¶2007. 
 
2.(SBU) Table of Contents 
 
¶3. Citigroup Assumes Full Control of Nikko Cordial Brokerage 
¶4. New Earthquake Insurance Policy Process Raises Concern among 
U.S. 
¶5. MLIT Postpones Downgrade of Itami Airport 
¶6. MLIT to Consider Helping KIAC's Debt 
¶7. DHL to Make Large Investment in KIX, But Not a Hub Candidate 
¶8. MHI Plans Regional Jet Production 
¶9. Roads: Infrastructure, Safety, Environment Improvements 
Needed 
¶10. Maersk Minami Honmoku Terminal and Yokohama Customs 
¶11. Manufacturers: Profits Up But Salaries Flat 
¶12. New Leader Takes Helm at Kansai Economic Federation 
¶13. Big Money for Toyota Executives 
¶14. Flash Fab Four to Hit Central Japan Six Months Ahead of 
Schedule 
¶15. Prefecture, City Politicians and Elite Police Arrested in 
Bid-Rigging Case in Hirakata City 
¶16. Japanese Baseball Legend Joins Pirates Roster 
¶17. Bad News Bears? 
 
¶3.  (U) Citigroup Assumes Full Control of Nikko Cordial 
Brokerage 
--------- 
 
Citigroup's extended courtship of Nikko Cordial wrapped up 
earlier this month when Citi's ownership of Nikko voting rights 
rose from 61 percent to 68.2 percent. This proportion effectively 
gives Citi control of Japan's beleaguered third largest 
securities brokerage, and comes at a price tag of 117 billion yen 
($975 million).  Reaching this threshold further permits Citi to 
mandate any manner of strategy or reform without fear of veto 
from the minimum required third of shareholders. 
 
In light of previous bottom-line and reputation damage to Citi's 
Private Banking and consumer finance arms, this acquisition 
indicates that Citi's commitment to the Japanese financial 
services market remains steady.  Despite the lingering unease 
among top Japanese business leaders toward foreign takeovers, as 
evidenced by the current "debate" over the need for defensive 
measures, this deal went remarkably smooth.  Nikko's extremely 
vulnerable market position, as a result of a major accounting 
scandal, and its previously established business relationship 
with Citigroup made it particularly welcoming to Citi's "rescue" 
offer. (FINATT: Mateo Ayala/ECON: David DiGiovanna) 
 
¶4.  (SBU) New Earthquake Insurance Policy Process Raises Concern 
among U.S. Companies 
-------------------- 
 
U.S. industry recently became aware that the Ministry of Finance 
has been considering, since fall 2006, revisions to a public- 
private liability sharing mechanism for use in the event of a 
catastrophic earthquake. 
 
As new regulations could significantly affect foreign non-life 
insurers-- Japan operations, U.S. insurers have shared their 
concerns with us about the transparency of the process and its 
potential effects. 
 
Subsequently, we were in contact with the Ministry of Finance, 
which indicated its intent to address the transparency problems 
and include foreign representatives as the process moves forward. 
We continue to monitor developments. 
Further background can be found in the linked Financial Times 
article:  (ECON: Marc Dillard) 
 
¶5.  (SBU) MLIT Postpones Downgrade of Itami Airport 
----------------------------- 
 
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation (MLIT) is 
delaying the downgrade of Itami Airport from a Class I to a Class 
IIA airport this year due to strong local opposition. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002721  002 OF 006 
 
 
Itami Airport is currently categorized as a Class I airport along 
with Narita, Centrair, and KIX.  In 2006, MLIT stated they were 
planning to downgrade Itami to a Class IIA airport that would be 
managed by the national government and receive one-third of its 
funding from local governments. 
 
Despite having no international flights, Itami remains fully 
funded and managed by the national government.  Local governments, 
including Osaka Prefecture and 11 neighboring cities, as well as 
the local business community, opposed the downgrade because of 
the additional financial burden and fear of further shrinkage of 
air service at Itami. 
 
A Kansai International Airport Co. (KIAC) official said he was 
unhappy with MLIT's policy of giving Itami the same support as an 
International Hub Airport, and not sufficiently backing KIX, the 
second largest airport in Japan.  He is concerned that the GOJ's 
aviation policy will weaken the Japanese aviation industry as 
global competition heats up. 
 
A manager for the Aviation and Airport Promotion Group of Osaka 
prefecture, one of the main stockholders of KIX, however, 
believes Itami deserves national government funding because of 
the airport's high volume of flights.  (Osaka-Kobe: Phil 
Cummings/Scott Ravenhill/Naomi Shibui) 
 
¶6.  (SBU) MLIT to Consider Helping KIAC's Debt 
----------------------------- 
 
Sources at KIAC say that MLIT's Aviation Subcommittee is 
considering using public funds to offset the 1.2 trillion yen ($1 
billion) debt of Kansai International Airport Co. (KIAC). 
 
The debt mostly consists of reclamation costs for the airport 
island incurred when the facility opened in 1994.  KIAC, which 
shoulders an annual 20 billion yen ($16.4 million) in accrued 
interest, insists the debt should be held by the GOJ because the 
offshore construction of Kansai International Airport (KIX) was 
based on a central government plan. 
 
KIAC officials also argue that as a private company, KIAC should 
resemble the company operating Narita Airport and only be held 
responsible for the management and operation of KIX.  Airport 
officials blame KIAC's high level of debt for the airport's high 
operation costs and difficulty in competing for a larger share of 
Asian air travel. 
 
KIAC President Murayama stated his company, local business 
communities, and local governments welcomed recognition of their 
concerns in MLIT's report.  A contact in the KIAC Aviation Sales 
Department added that while the amount of debt relief and the 
timing has not been finalized, this is a welcome big first step 
in improving KIX's competitiveness. 
 
Local newspapers report that MLIT is considering a proposal to 
finance part of KIAC's debt with money raised from the future 
sale of shares of Narita Airport.  Another KIAC official hoped 
the GOJ would pay off its bad debt and let the firm handle its 
Aaa-rated debt. (Osaka-Kobe: Phil Cummings/Scott Ravenhill/Naomi 
Shibui) 
 
¶7.  (U) DHL to Make Large Investment in KIX, But Not a Hub 
Candidate 
--------- 
 
DHL, the world's largest air cargo business, built a new 10,000 
m2 loading facility and increased its sorting equipment at KIX to 
meet the increase in demand for freight to/from China.  The 
investment totals five billion yen ($41 million), creating the 
largest cargo facility at KIX, five times larger than its 
previous facility. 
 
The new DHL sorting equipment is being used for the first time in 
Asia and can sort 7500 pieces of freight per hour.  KIAC 
President Atsushi Murayama believes this is a good start for the 
opening of KIX's second runway on August 2. 
 
At the same time, DHL Express Asia-Pacific Region CEO Scott Price 
said in an Asahi Shimbun interview on June 8 that the company 
dropped KIX this year from a list of three airports (KIX, Incheon, 
and Pudong) as a potential second hub in Asia to supplement its 
 
TOKYO 00002721  003 OF 006 
 
 
operations in Hong Kong. 
 
Price pointed out that Japanese airports have to be more 
deregulated, available for 24 hour of operations, and be less 
expensive and more spacious in order to function as a hub airport. 
 
He added that while KIX cleared several of the conditions, Narita 
did not. 
 
A manager of KIAC's Aviation Sales Division said that the GOJ has 
to understand that airports in Japan are losing their 
competitiveness vis--vis other Asian airports. (Osaka-Kobe: Phil 
Cummings/Scott Ravenhill/Naomi Shibui) 
 
¶8.  (SBU) MHI Plans Regional Jet Production 
----------------------------- 
 
This week, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) provided new details 
on its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) project currently under 
development with METI.  The 117-foot long MRJ is designed to 
carry 70 to 90 passengers up to about 1,875 miles.  About 30 
percent of the plane is to be made of carbon fiber composite 
materials, resulting in 20 percent better fuel efficiency against 
comparable planes.  Rolls Royce, GE, and Pratt and Whitney are 
reportedly competing to supply engines. 
 
Total development cost is estimated at approximately 120 billion 
yen ($1 billion) with METI to cover one third, with production 
potentially to begin in 2012 near existing MHI facilities in the 
Nagoya area. 
 
MHI will display a full-scale mockup of the cabin at the Paris 
Air Show June 18 to 24, and METI and MHI are to decide jointly 
whether to go ahead with the project by next March, depending 
largely on the reaction from potential customers.  According to 
press reports, MHI would need orders for at least 350 MRJ's to 
make the project feasible. 
 
Aerospace industry contacts tell us MHI has the requisite 
technology and manufacturing skills to make the project a success, 
noting that similar Japanese efforts in the past produced 
technically strong planes that failed because of marketplace 
issues.  Our contacts note that even though MHI's aerospace 
production capacity is currently stretched to the limit by its 
high volume of orders from Boeing and others, the company could 
handle a massive project like the MRJ, depending on where it 
sourced major components -- most likely China. (Nagoya: Dan 
Rochman/Tamiki Mizuno) 
 
¶9. (U) Roads: Infrastructure, Safety, Environment Improvements 
Needed 
------ 
 
The Japanese Automobile Manufacturer's Association (JAMA) 
recently placed an English language summary of its report on how 
to enhance Japan's road transportation infrastructure.  (Click 
here for JAMA's website and more details.) 
 
JAMA calls for meeting near-term government targets such as 
reducing the number of Japan's road fatalities to under 5,000 by 
2012 and achieving its first-period commitments under the Kyoto 
Protocol in the 2008-2012. 
 
JAMA says that the declining population and graying society 
creates a number of serious challenges for the transport sector, 
including achieving greater road safety, reducing the 
environmental impact of road transport through improved traffic 
flow, revitalizing local communities, and advancing the overall 
status of the nation's road infrastructure. 
 
Ten measures in the following four areas are proposed: more 
comfortable mobility for road users; greater road safety; reduced 
congestion and environmental impact; and road network 
improvements that contribute to economic development. 
 
JAMA's recommendations are made with an eye towards influencing 
the next Priority Infrastructure Development Plan (for fiscal 
2008 through fiscal 2012) and the Mid-Term Road Network 
Development Plan, which the Japanese government is now 
considering. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002721  004 OF 006 
 
 
On a related note, the Asahi Shimbun reports that reinforced 
expressways in western Japan designed to last 60 years are 
deteriorating faster than expected mainly due to overloaded 
trucks and rainwater damage. 
 
The Asahi writes that the level of truck overloading differs 
between the west and Japan, with European and U.S. drivers 
loading cargo at an average of 20 percent over the legal limit 
while Japanese truckers, astoundingly, load at an average of two 
to three times the limit. 
 
The faster aging of the roads is leading to more extensive 
repairs, which result in substantial slowdowns in traffic. 
(ECON: Josh Handler) 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Maersk Minami Honmoku Terminal and Yokohama Customs -- 
--------------------------- 
 
In late May, we accompanied a DOE/DHS delegation to observe 
operations at Maersk Line's Minami Honmoku No. 1 Pier in Yokohama 
and visit the Yokohama Customs container X-ray facility. 
 
The Minami Honmoku Pier No. 1 began operation in April 2001 for 
Maersk as an Asian hub for cargo for eastern Japan.  It has two 
terminals, MC1 and MC2, with five gantry cranes, and is the 
busiest container terminal in Japan, handling 945,400 containers 
in 2006, some 2,000 -- 2,500 TEUs a day, of which 862,000 were for 
import/export. 
 
The wharf has a depth of 16 meters, a combined frontage of 700 
meters, and a land-side storage capacity of 21,300 TEUs.  A 
second pier area is planned which will be across a small inlet 
from Pier No. 1. 
 
The visit provided an interesting view on the organization of a 
Japanese container pier, confirming earlier reports about complex, 
and so costly, stevedoring arrangements. 
 
Maersk rents the pier space from the Yokohama city port 
authorities.  The offloading of the containers and their movement 
around the terminals, however, is organized by Mitsubishi 
Logistics Corporation.  Mitsubishi in turn subcontracts to five 
or six stevedoring and warehousing firms, such as Fujiki Kigyo 
and Nisshin, to do the actual logistical work. 
 
The visit included a tour of the nearby Yokohama customs 
container X-ray facility that scans some 50-70 selected 
containers a day for contraband as well as checking for 
radioactive materials. 
 
The facility supports the Honmoku piers.  The piers operated 
24/7, but the facility is closed on weekends, raising questions 
about how it keeps up with the container terminal's work.  (ECON: 
Josh Handler) 
 
¶11.  (U) Manufacturers: Profits Up But Salaries Flat 
----------------------------- 
 
Amid declining unemployment rates nationwide, major electronics 
manufacturers in the Kansai region have started a hiring spree of 
college graduates and mid-career professionals.  In addition to 
full-time "regular" employees, these firms continue to hire a 
growing proportion of part-time workers and contractors. 
 
The large number of baby boomers retiring has led to a drop in 
personnel costs at many large Japanese companies.  However, most 
companies are not raising the salaries of younger and mid-career 
workers.  Consequently, revenue from corporate taxes in 2006 has 
increased in the Kansai region, but salaries have remained at 
last year's levels. 
 
A researcher at Kansai Institute for Social and Economic Research 
said that booming major manufacturers in Kansai, such as 
Matsushita and Sharp, earned large profits by increasing low cost 
employment in order to remain competitive in global markets. 
Other manufacturers have adopted the same strategy.  The 
researcher expects this trend of corporate profit growth coupled 
with minimal wage increases to continue for the foreseeable 
future.  (Osaka-Kobe: Phil Cummings/Scott Ravenhill/Naomi Shibui) 
 
¶12.  (U) New Leader Takes Helm at Kansai Economic Federation 
 
TOKYO 00002721  005 OF 006 
 
 
----------------------------- 
 
Mr. Hiroshi Shimotsuma, Chairman of Sumitomo Metals, was 
officially appointed as the 13th Chairman of the Kansai Economic 
Federation (Kankeiren) last week.  He successfully restructured 
Sumitomo Metals in the late 90s, and is the third Kankeiren 
Chairman to be chosen from Sumitomo.  At his press conference he 
announced he would further promote governmental decentralization 
through introduction of "doshusei" (ceding more national 
government functions to redistricted states/provinces). 
 
The goal of decentralization is to reduce barriers among local 
governments in order to strengthen the economy and make Kansai a 
hub for transportation and new businesses.  Also Mr. Shimotsuma 
laid out his "Hundred Day Plan" for Kankeiren to shore up its 
role, mission, and concrete tasks over the next 100 days.  Mr. 
Shimotsuma is considered to be an active leader with a clear 
vision, but the Osaka business community is concerned that his 
residency in Tokyo and his work at Sumitomo Metals will hamper 
his work for Kankeiren.  (Osaka-Kobe: Phil Cummings/Naomi Shibui) 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Big Money for Toyota Executives 
----------------------------- 
 
Toyota Motors plans to raise its executive board members' 
compensation by as much as 40 percent over last year, pending a 
shareholders' vote on June 22.  The 32 executives on the board 
stand to receive a total of over $20 million (over $27 million 
including stock options) or an average of about $638,000 each. 
 
The pay increase reflects Toyota's widely publicized recent 
outstanding results.  Toyota ranks first among all Japanese 
companies in terms of both sales and profits.  In FY06, Toyota's 
ordinary profit exceeded two trillion yen (over $16 billion), a 
first for a Japanese company.  Six out of the top nine Toyota 
group companies, including Denso and Aisin, also had record 
profits in FY06, and all nine companies had record sales. 
 
Contacts close to Toyota's board tell us that while part of the 
increase in pay is accounted for by bonuses related to the 
company's record profits, much of the jump in pay is actually a 
result of Toyota doing away with "retirement bonuses" and moving 
that compensation to an annual basis.  (Nagoya: Tamiki Mizuno) 
 
¶14.  (U) Flash Fab Four to Hit Central Japan Six Months Ahead of 
Schedule 
-------- 
 
Toshiba and SanDisk will ratchet up their joint venture 
production of flash memory chips by 70 percent at their Yokkaichi, 
Mie factory just outside Nagoya. 
 
In order to do so, the firms plan to start operations of the 
Yokkaichi plant's huge fourth fabrication facility six months 
ahead of the original schedule by speeding completion of "Fab 4" 
facility at an additional cost of about 80 billion yen ($660 
million) on the estimated 600 billion yen ($4.9 billion) facility. 
One measure of the industry's concentration and scale of 
production at Yokkaichi is that industry analysts estimate, if it 
were considered a country, once complete, Fab 4 alone (not 
counting the three other production facilities on the site) will 
rank eighth in the world in flash memory production capacity, 
behind France but ahead of Ireland. 
 
Toshiba currently holds slightly over 30 percent of global flash 
market share (behind Samsung's 44 percent) but expects increased 
production capacity to help it capture as much as an additional 
10 percent of the market, since current demand for flash memory 
far outstrips the world-wide production capacity of all makers. 
Market share is key to profitability as flash memory prices 
dropped by as much as 70 percent last year.  Growing demand 
spurred by products such as Apple's iPod and iPhone has caused 
prices to stabilize somewhat lately, however.  (Nagoya: Dan 
Rochman/Tamiki Mizuno) 
 
¶15.  (SBU) Prefecture, City Politicians and Elite Police Arrested 
in Bid-Rigging Case in Hirakata City 
----------------------------- 
 
The Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office announced it has 
been investigating a suspected large bid rigging (dango) 
 
TOKYO 00002721  006 OF 006 
 
 
operation related to the construction of a garbage processing 
plant ordered by Hirakata City of Osaka in 2004. 
 
The contracted bid price of 5.56 billion yen ($45.6 million) by 
the joint venture (JV) of Obayashi Corporation and Asanuma 
Corporation was 98.4 percent of the estimated price provided by 
the city.  Hirakata Vice Mayor Takatsune Kohori and three 
executives from Obayashi Corporation and Asanuma Corporation were 
arrested at the end of May.  Osaka Prefectural Assembly (and 
former Hirakata City Assembly) Member Toyozaburo Hatsuda and 
Osaka Prefectural Police Lieutenant Koshiro Hirahara, a member of 
the elite unit investigating bid-rigging, were also arrested on 
suspicion of accepting bribes. 
 
Obayashi Corporation President Norio Wakimura resigned and 
Chairman Takeo Obayashi, the great-grandson of the founder, 
stepped down from the board of directors.  The company was also 
banned from receiving public works projects for several months. 
The Osaka Office Director of the Japan Center for Economic 
Research, part of Nihon Keizai Shimbun, believes the next target 
will be the Mayor of Hirakata.  We expect more news about the 
bid-rigging investigation to emerge next week.  (Osaka-Kobe: Phil 
Cummings/Scott Ravenhill/Naomi Shibui) 
 
¶16.  (U) Japanese Baseball Legend Joins Pirates Roster 
----------------------------- 
 
The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted Masumi Kuwata, the 39 year-old 
former hurler for the Yomiuri Giants, on June 9, in time to pitch 
against the New York Yankees in the final game of their three- 
game set at Yankee Stadium last weekend. 
 
Kuwata gave up two runs in two innings.  The right hander was not 
expected to make the Pirates' roster until the All Star break in 
July, but had been throwing well in triple A Indianapolis. 
 
Kuwata won 168 games for the Yomiuri Giants before retiring after 
the 2005 season.  He is a big favorite of star pitchers Hideki 
Okajima and Daisuke Matsuzaka of the MLB-best Boston Red Sox. 
 
Meanwhile, Kei Igawa is beginning to throw better in the minor 
leagues for Scranton-Wilkes Barre, the Big Apple of southeastern 
Pennsylvania.  The Yankees $46-million pick up hopes to return to 
the majors soon. 
 
He is 1-2, with a 3.32 earned run average.  (ECON: Nicholas Hill) 
 
¶17.  (U) Bad News Bears? 
------------------------ 
 
Dear Sirs/Madams: I noticed the absence of the weekly Matsuzaka 
report in last week's Scope.  Is it right to only report "good 
news?", i.e. when he wins a game. 
David DiGiovanna, Tokyo 
Back to Top 
 
Editor-in-Chief's Reply: Matsuzaka has pitched brilliantly in his 
last two outings and could well win 20 games before the season is 
over.  This is an opportunity to underscore that we welcome our 
readers' comments, even when they are unfounded. 
SCHIEFFER