VZCZCXRO6591
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3301/01 2000114
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190114Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5637
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 4551
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 2130
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5719
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1209
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 2916
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7956
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4014
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5081

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 003301 
 
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 07/19/07 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Earthquake aftermath: 
4) Ambassador Schieffer visits Niigata, offers relief goods for 
quake victims 
5) IAEA director intends to send experts to fully inspect nuclear 
plant shaken by Niigata earthquake 
 
North Korea problem: 
6) North Korea promises to disable nuclear facilities by end of year 
 
7) Japan at six-party talks proposes restart of its working group 
with North Korea 
8) Japan's chief delegate to six-party talks reiterates tough stance 
of no aid to DPRK without progress on abduction issue 
9) Pyongyang may have a new card to use against Tokyo in six-party 
talks:issue of treatment of Chongnyon (Chosen Soren) in Japan 
 
10) Japan to join the ICC, previously refused out of concern for US 
 
11) US House of Representatives will delay full vote on 
comfort-women resolution until after the Upper House election 
 
Election ruckus: 
12) Yomiuri Internet poll: High interest in the Upper House race, 
with 45 %of respondents favoring the opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (Minshuto) 
13) Mainichi survey of seven political parties on constitutional 
revision finds LDP, New Komeito positive, DPJ reserving views 
14) Prime Minister Abe asked by incumbent LDP lawmaker in Osaka to 
replace controversial farm minister 
15) Abe will avoid campaigning in Kochi area due to local LDP 
candidate's criticism of his "beautiful country" concept 
 
16) Doha Round: Japan unhappy with WTO chair's proposal, seeks 
changes 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Chuetsu earthquake: Fire from transformer due to soft ground causing 
bridges supporting cable to tilt 
 
Mainichi: 
Chuetsu earthquake: Danger of active fault underestimated? TEPCO 
admits it discovered fault before constructing nuclear power plant 
 
Yomiuri: 
Chuetsu earthquake: 87 %of victims did not expect another quake; 
half of respondents not prepared 
 
Nikkei: 
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant likely to be suspended for 
more than a year until government confirms safety 
 
Sankei: 
 
TOKYO 00003301  002 OF 012 
 
 
Former Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kenji Miyamoto dies: 
Hypocrisy of "manual" revolutionary 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Suspension of operations at Kashiwazaki Nuclear Power Plant: TEPCO 
asks six utility companies for power supply with summer peak just 
ahead 
 
Akahata: 
Chuetsu earthquake: Chairman Shii pledges to do his utmost to help 
victims rebuild 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Former Security Intelligence Agency director general indicted: 
Unusual development 
(2) Japanese Communist Party: How can it transcend the Miyamoto 
era? 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Order to suspend operation at nuclear power plant: TEPCO urged 
to fulfill its accountability, conduct far-reaching investigation 
(2) Shady ties between politics and money: There is no help for 
setting internal regulation on political fund control now 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Earthquake resistance of nuclear power plant: Confirm safety 
with latest knowledge 
(2) Former JCP Chairman Miyamoto: Death of charismatic leader who 
shored up party 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Buyout of Dow Jones & Co. will portends future of media 
(2) Erosion of organized crime groups as reported by police white 
paper 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Earthquake and Kashiwazaki nuclear power plant: Learn lessons 
from disaster 
(2) Upper House election a good opportunity to compete over measures 
for transparent political funds 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Academic performance test: Put children first 
(2) Former JCP chairman passes away: He lived through turbulent 
history of the party 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Earthquake resistance of nuclear power plant: Drastic measures 
to address unexpected incident urged 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 18 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
08:48 
Left Haneda Airport by ANA243. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003301  003 OF 012 
 
 
10:05 
Arrived at Fukuoka Airport. 
 
10:42 
Delivers a campaign speech in front of the Tenjin Twin Building in 
Fukuoka. 
 
11:25 
Attended informal talks with various groups at the Hotel New Otani 
Hakata. Had lunch with his secretaries and others at a Tempura 
restaurant in the hotel. 
 
13:24 
Gave a campaign speech in front of JR Kokura Station in 
Kita-Kyushu. 
 
14:19 
Left the station by limited express, the Sonic No. 27. 
 
15:36 
Arrived at the JR Beppu Station. 
 
15:45 
Gave a speech on the site vacated by Kintetsu Department Store in 
Beppu, Oita. 
 
16:48 
Met with Oita assembly members at a hall in Oita. 
 
17:16 
Gave a speech in a shopping district. 
 
19:07 
Met Lower House member Seishiro Eto at Hita City Hall. Later, 
attended a speech meeting sponsored by the LDP Oita Prefectural 
Chapter. 
 
21:04 
Stayed at a hotel in Beppu. Stayed there. 
 
4) US envoy delivers relief goods 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 38) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer meeting Niigata Governor 
Hirohiko Izumida at Niigata Airport yesterday told him that the US 
government will deliver relief supplies to the victims of the 
Niigata Chuetsu earthquake. US military aircraft reportedly 
delivered 100 portable air conditioning units and bottled water to 
the prefecture. Touching on Japan's assistance in the wake of 
Hurricane Katrina, Ambassador Schieffer indicated that the United 
States is pleased to give something back. 
 
5) IAEA chief: "Full inspections are necessary to reactors in Japan" 
by dispatching safety experts to Japan 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Haruyuki Aikawa, Vienna 
 
 
TOKYO 00003301  004 OF 012 
 
 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed 
ElBaradei, currently visiting Malaysia, referred yesterday to the 
recent leak of radioactive water from a reactor of the 
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant following the Chuetsu 
Offshore Earthquake on July 16: "We need to carry out full 
inspections of nuclear reactors in Japan, focusing on their 
structure and other details," adding: "The IAEA is ready to join" 
the planned accident investigation by the Nuclear and Industrial 
Safety Agency of Japan. Reuters and other news agencies reported on 
these remarks by IAEA chief. He is expected to dispatch security 
experts to Japan. 
 
ElBaradei made this analysis: "The main cause seems to be that the 
earth tremor was far stronger than has been predicted." Upon saying 
that the reactors and the system of the power plant have not been 
damaged in the quake, he remarked: "It is important to learn a 
lesson about an earthquake." 
 
6) DPRK "to disable its nuclear facilities possibly by end of year" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Hiroaki Matsunaga, Masahiko Takekoshi 
 
The chief delegates to the six-party talks on the North Korean 
nuclear issue gathered together at the Diaoyutai State Guest House 
in Beijing yesterday afternoon. Their session is to last for two 
days. In line with the February six-party agreement, they discussed 
how to facilitate the "next-stage steps" to follow the "first-stage 
steps," which included the shutdown of nuclear facilities in 
Yongbyon in North Korea and other issues. On the two major 
next-phase steps of a full declaration of all of North Korea's 
nuclear programs and the disablement of its nuclear facilities, 
according to an account by the South Korean side, North Korean Vice 
Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, the North's chief negotiator in the 
six-party talks, indicated that he would think his country would be 
able to consider implementing those two steps by the end of the year 
if the conditions are met. 
 
The United States aims to get the session this time to reach 
agreement on the implementation of the "next-phase steps" by the end 
of the year. How to set a specific timetable for that end in 
discussion at working groups is likely to come into focus from now 
on. However, discussion is bound to run into difficulties, given 
that in return for the implementation, the North is certain to make 
such demands as Japan and the US lifting their "hostile policy" 
toward it. Also, the North is likely to clash with other member 
countries over which programs should be declared and which nuclear 
facilities should be disabled. 
 
South Korean chief delegate Chun Young Woo, director of the Office 
of the Diplomatic Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 
Trade, told a press briefing after the session: "North Korea has 
indicated an intention to declare its nuclear programs and disable 
its nuclear facilities within the next five to six months." 
 
US chief delegate Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state, 
was noncommittal about whether agreement would be reached on the 
completion of the implementation by the end of the year, but he said 
that on the last day of the discussion today, China, the host of the 
session, would issue a chairman's statement, which is expected to 
 
TOKYO 00003301  005 OF 012 
 
 
include a goal date for the completion of the implementation, 
emphasizing, "We had a good discussion." On the question of when to 
hold a six-party foreign ministerial session, however, Hill revealed 
that it would be difficult to set a timetable for it during the 
discussion this time. 
 
Hill also spoke of 950,000 tons of heavy fuel oil in additional aid 
to North Korea in return for the North to implement the next-phase 
steps and revealed that North Korea had a capacity to receive only 
50,000 tons of oil per month. He also revealed an intention to 
consider alternative measures, such as repairing power plants, 
expanding the capacity to store heavy fuel oil and supplying 
electricity. 
 
Meanwhile, Japan's chief negotiator Kenichiro Sasae, 
director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the 
Foreign Ministry, during the session touched on the question of 
Japan's participation in aid to North Korea and said: "We hope our 
country will contribute to (the six-party talks) in a way to resolve 
the pending issues between Japan and North Korea and improve 
bilateral ties." He reiterated the government's previous policy of 
not taking part in the aid program for the North without any 
progress on the abduction issue. 
 
7) Japan proposes resuming working group talks with North Korea 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Manabu Shimada, Beijing 
 
In the first-day meeting of chief delegates to the six-party talks 
on July 18, Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director General Kenichiro Sasae reiterated Japan's policy of first 
seeking a resolution of the abduction issue as a precondition for 
aid to North Korea. Sasae said: "I hope that Japan and North Korea 
first will step up efforts to improve their ties by resolving their 
pending issues, enabling Japan to positively contribute to the 
six-party framework." He also proposed the two countries resume 
talks of the Japan-North Korea working group on normalization of 
diplomatic ties, which were suspended in March, prior to the next 
foreign ministerial session of the six-party talks scheduled for 
September. 
 
Sasae did not use the word "abduction." Meanwhile, North Korea 
stopped short of criticizing Japan in the meeting yesterday, though 
it has attacked the Japanese government recently over its stance, 
linking it also with Japan's move to auction off the land and 
building of the headquarters of the General Association of Korean 
Residents in Japan (Chongryon). Without conducting heated debate, 
both sides have apparently given priority to bringing about progress 
in the talks. 
 
Sasae said that he and Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan, North 
Korea's chief negotiator, met briefly after the meeting. The brief 
contact reportedly was "only a greeting." According to a source 
accompanying Sasae, they exchanged a few words and shook hands. 
Japan is hopeful for an opportunity to hold a separate meeting with 
North Korea in Beijing to urge it to resume bilateral working group 
talks. 
 
In the six-party talks, North Korea indicated a positive stance 
 
TOKYO 00003301  006 OF 012 
 
 
about implementing the next steps toward denuclearization. In 
response, the negotiators exchanged views on the provision of fuel 
oil to the North. 
 
Once talks start on specific aid to North Korea, Japan will find 
itself in a difficult situation for its stance of maintaining the 
policy of offering no energy aid before progress on the abduction 
issue. Other countries concerned might see Japan, eager to settle 
only the abduction issue, as being negative about North Korea's 
denuclearization. 
 
8-1) Bilateral talks between Japan, DPRK unlikely to occur for time 
being 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Hiroaki Matsunaga, Beijing 
 
The Japanese government wants to obtain understanding about the 
importance of the abduction issue from other six-party members 
during the ongoing session of the chief delegates to the six-party 
talks. But North Korea has yet to show any sign of responding to 
direct dialogue with Japan. Japan, which wants both the nuclear and 
abduction issues to advance together, has no choice but to wait at 
present. 
 
"They should know what the pending issue between Japan and North 
Korea implies," Japan's chief delegate to the six-party talks, 
Kenichiro Sasae, director-general of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs 
Bureau of Japan's Foreign Ministry, said, albeit indirectly, during 
the session yesterday to other countries about how important the 
abduction issue was for Japan. He thus again emphasized Japan's 
policy of not participating in aid to North Korea without any 
progress on the abduction issue. 
 
During the same session, however, North Korean Vice Foreign Minister 
Kim Kye Gwan, the North's chief delegate to the six-party talks, 
never referred to Japan-North Korea relations. Sasae sat next to 
Kim. After the session, the two exchanged greetings, shaking hands, 
but, "They only exchanged greetings or the like," one Japanese 
government official said. 
 
North Korea has reiterated through its media that the abduction 
issue has been already settled, aiming strong language at Prime 
Minister Abe, who wants to resolve the abduction issue. 
 
Analyzing these moves by North Korea, a senior Japanese Foreign 
Ministry official said: "Because they are in a difficult situation, 
they are making noise." Japan has firmly upheld its basic policy of 
pursuing both dialogue and pressure. In fact, Japan will not take 
part in aid programs, such as provision of heavy fuel oil to the 
North as agreed on in the earlier six-party talks, unless the 
abduction issue makes progress. 
 
8-2) Sasae in six-party talks: Japan will provide aid if abduction 
issue moves forward 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Yuji Hiraiwa, Beijing 
 
TOKYO 00003301  007 OF 012 
 
 
 
In the first-day meeting of chief delegates to the six-party talks 
on July 18, Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs bureau 
Director General Kenichiro Sasae stated: "Japan will participate in 
economic and energy aid (to North Korea) if Japan and North Korea 
resolve their pending issues and improve bilateral ties." He thus 
indicated Japan's willingness to provide the North with aid in 
return for its implementation of the first step toward disarmament. 
 
Some delegates also made remarks calling for improvement in 
relations between Japan and North Korea, but Vice Foreign Minister 
Kim Gye Gwan, North Korean chief negotiator, reportedly made no 
remarks related to Japan. 
 
Sasae met with delegates from China and Russia separately at the 
Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on the morning of the same day. He also 
had "probing conversations," as said by a source of the Japanese 
delegation, with the chief negotiators of the United States and 
South Korea without sitting down, but there was no contact with 
North Korea. 
 
Kim and Sasae sat next to each other during the meeting. They 
reportedly shook hands when the meeting ended and had a brief 
conversation without discussing any serious matters. 
 
9) Fraud case involving Chongryon may be used as diplomatic card by 
DPRK 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Nanae Kurashige, Beijing 
 
The North Korean official media is intensifying its objection 
against Japan over the fraud case involving the property of the 
pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan 
(Chongryon) headquarters. Some expect that North Korea will take up 
this issue in six-party talks to use it as a fresh excuse to delay 
implementing specific measures for denuclearization. 
 
On July 10, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) called the Abe 
administration the "Abe gang" and harshly stigmatized it, arguing, 
"A thoughtless clampdown against Chongryon would lead it to pay a 
heavy price." General Secretary Kim Jong Il in meeting with Chinese 
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on July 3 reportedly criticized Japan's 
handling of Chongryon. 
 
Reacting to this, one senior Foreign Ministry official of Japan 
explained: "Chongryon serves in effect as a consular office of North 
Korea. Pyongyang is perhaps irritated by its inability to do 
anything about the investigations." Another Japanese government 
official concerned noted: "We injected a huge amount of taxpayers' 
money into (bankrupt Chogin credit unions) to protect depositors. 
Rather, I think it is a good opportunity to explain our action was 
fair law enforcement." 
 
KCNA is increasingly trying to unsettle Japan. For instance, on July 
15, it reported: "The future hinges on what action the United States 
and Japan will actually take to remove the hostile policy." One 
Japanese government official has taken this move as "implying that 
Japan as well as the US has become a country North Korea is most 
concerned about." But Japan is becoming nervous about the North's 
 
TOKYO 00003301  008 OF 012 
 
 
moves that could affect the progress of the six-party talks. 
 
10) Japan to join International Criminal Court 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
The government yesterday submitted to UN Secretary General Ban Ki 
Moon its instrument accepting the Rome Treaty that stipulates the 
establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which 
prosecutes and punishes individuals who have committed humanitarian 
and war crimes based on international law. Japan will become the 
105th country in October to join the international court. 
 
The ICC is based in The Hague. The court prosecutes and punishes 
instead of countries concerned individuals who have committed 
genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of 
incursion (undefined). Recently the ICC issued arrest warrants for 
Sudan's minister in charge of humanitarian affairs and senior 
militia organization officials in connection with the Darfur 
conflict. The court does not deal with the issue of abductions by 
North Korea, since it handles crimes committed after its 
establishment. 
 
Japan was cautious about joining the ICC in consideration of the 
United States. However, under the lead of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 
who promotes value-driven diplomacy, including the rule of law, the 
government passed bills ratifying the Rome Treaty through the Diet 
in the latest regular session. Japan is expected to pay 3 billion 
yen per year, the largest amount among the member countries. Fumiko 
Saiga, ambassador in charge of human rights, will run in a 
by-election to fill the vacated judicial seat, which will take place 
in December. 
 
11) US House of Representatives to take floor vote of wartime 
comfort-women resolution after Upper House election in Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Washington, Yoshisuke Komurata 
 
There is a strong possibility that the full floor vote on the 
wartime comfort-women resolution by the US House of Representatives 
will be delayed until after the Upper House election in Japan on the 
29th. The Washington Post on July 18 reported this comment by 
Congressman Mike Honda, the resolution's sponsor: "Out of 
consideration for Prime Minister Abe prior to the Upper House 
election, the House leaders have agreed to take a vote on the 
resolution after that election." 
 
The Japanese side has been working strongly on the Congress, with 
Ambassador to the US Ryozo Kato sending letters to Speaker Pelosi 
and others stating, "If the resolution is adopted, it would have an 
adverse effect on Japan-US relations." Although the date for the 
floor vote in the House has not yet been set, since the House is 
scheduled to go into summer recess on August 4, the outlook for the 
floor vote reportedly is during the week of July 30. The resolution 
will most likely be adopted with the yays outweighing the nays in 
vote. 
 
12) Online poll on Upper House election: 45 %of highly interested 
 
TOKYO 00003301  009 OF 012 
 
 
respondents will vote for DPJ 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Those who are highly interested in the July 29 House of Councillors 
Election and are eager to go to the polling stations are likely to 
vote for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), according 
to the fifth opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on July 
18 of 1,000 Internet users. Among those who answered that they were 
extremely interested in the upcoming election and would go to the 
polling stations without fail, the rate of support for the DPJ was 
twice as high as that for the Liberal Democratic Party. 
 
Some 72 %of respondents said that they were very interested in the 
Upper House election, an increase of 13 percentage points from the 
first poll in mid-June. Of them, 45 %said they would vote for the 
DPJ, 22 %for the LDP, 4 %each for the New Komeito and the Japanese 
Communist Party, and 2 %each for the Social Democratic Party, the 
People's New Party, and the New Party Nippon. Of those who are 
somewhat interested in the election, 27 %said they would vote for 
the DPJ and 21 %for the LDP. 
 
A total of 77 %said they will cast their votes without fail on or 
before the voting day, and 19 %said they will go to the polling 
stations if they can. Of those who said they will go to the stations 
without fail, 43 %indicated that they will vote for the DPJ; 21 %for 
the LDP; 5 %for the New Komeito; 4 %for the JCP; and 2 %each for the 
SDP, the PNP, and the NPN. Of those who said they will vote if they 
can, 26 %picked the DPJ and 23 %the LDP. 
 
13) Opinion survey of major political parties: LDP, New Komeito 
favor constitutional revision, DPJ withholds view 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted an opinion survey of seven major 
political parties to find out their views on the Constitution and 
security policy. In response to a question on constitutional 
revision, "approval" or "conditional approval" came back from the 
Liberal Democratic Party, the New Komeito, and the People's New 
Party. The Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ or Minshuto) answer was: 
"We will support it if it makes it better but will oppose it if it 
makes it worse." The Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic 
Party, and the New Party Nippon said "no" to constitutional 
revision. 
 
The LDP has drafted a new constitution of its own, while the New 
Komeito is under discussion to add new ideas to the Constitution. 
The LDP is also eager to revise Article 9, while the New Komeito 
thinks it should be left intact. 
 
Views were also split between the two ruling parties over the 
question of allowing the country to exercise the right to collective 
self-defense, which is now being studied by a blue-ribbon panel 
under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The LDP aims to open the door for 
the right, whereas the New Komeito is reluctant to do so. 
 
The major opposition DPJ's answer to the question on collective 
defense was that it should be discussed on a case-by-case basis. The 
DPJ is apparently more positive than the New Komeito toward 
 
TOKYO 00003301  010 OF 012 
 
 
exercising that right. The DPJ also in its response on Article 9, 
mentioned that brakes should be included in the Constitution, 
withholding its clear position. 
 
The parties opposing constitutional revision were not monolithic, 
either. The JCP for instance answered that Japan should completely 
implement all clauses in the Constitution. The SDP's answer was: "We 
will not deny constitutional revision if that is what the people 
want, but we will definitely oppose the LDP's plan which is designed 
to make changes for the worse." 
 
14) Shuzen Tanigawa, LDP candidate for Upper House race, urges Abe 
to sack Agriculture Minister Akagi 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
Shuzen Tanigawa, 73, a candidate on the ticket of the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) for the Osaka prefectural district in the 
July 29 House of Councillors election, revealed in a speech on July 
17 that he had asked Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to dismiss 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Norihiko Akagi over a 
political fund scandal involving his political management 
organization. Increasingly alarmed by adverse wind toward the LDP, 
Tanigawa apparently expressed dissatisfaction with Akagi. 
 
In his speech, the 73-year-old politician clarified that he had told 
Abe on July 14 when the prime minister gave a campaign speech for 
Tanigawa: 
 
"If you don't dismiss Akagi as soon as possible, we won't be able to 
fight in the election. If he does not step down, we will lose the 
race. It is important for politicians to decide whether to resign by 
themselves." 
 
Tanigawa also criticized Akagi, who appeared with a bandaged face 
before reporters after a cabinet meeting on July 17, for failing to 
explain the reason for his face, just saying, "Nothing wrong about 
this." He said: 
 
 "What's wrong with him? Don't you think that's strange? A 
politician is a public figure. Voters gave him their precious 
ballots to represent them. He should have offered sufficient 
explanations to the public." 
 
15) Prime Minister Abe excludes Kochi from campaign trail schedule 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
It was revealed yesterday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would not 
visit Kochi Prefecture, although he had planned to set out on a 
stumping tour of the Shikoku area on July 20 for the July 29 House 
of Councillors election. According to a senior member of the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the reason is likely that Abe will 
be taking revenge on Kohei Tamura, a candidate on the LDP's ticket 
in the Kochi prefectural district, who criticized Abe's policy of 
creating "a beautiful country." 
 
Abe initially planned to visit Kochi on the 21st after stumping in 
the prefectures of Tokushima, Kagawa, and Ehime on the 20th. Tamura 
said in a speech on the 16th in Kochi: 
 
TOKYO 00003301  011 OF 012 
 
 
 
"I would feel like a fool if the prime minister came to give 
campaign speeches in which he plays up his policy of creating a 
beautiful country, a picture that he created in his mind." 
 
16) WTO talks: Japan to call for revision of chairman's proposal, 
saying, "It is unacceptable" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
July 19, 2007 
 
The chairmen of the agricultural committee and the mined and 
manufactured products committee on July 17 presented new proposals 
during the multilateral trade talks (Doha Round) at the World Trade 
Organization. The Japanese government released this comment 
yesterday: "The proposals are unacceptable in their present state." 
Japan is taking a stance of seeking revisions. The United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) also was cautious about the proposals, 
saying, "The proposals will require a detailed analysis." The talks 
will move into full swing starting in September, based on the 
chairmen's proposals. However, whether they will bring progress to 
the talks amid growing opposition among member nations is unclear. 
 
Key items cut back 
 
Issuing a joint comment on the chairman's proposal, four ministries, 
including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries (MAFF) 
and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) underscored, 
"We will seek revisions wherever necessary through talks to be held 
starting next week." 
 
Japan is most dissatisfied with a proposal limiting the ratio of key 
agricultural items eligible for exceptionally high tariffs to 4 %or 
6 %of all levied trade items. 
 
If these rates are applied to Japan, the number of key items allowed 
to Japan will be either 40 or 60. The proposal is extremely harsh 
for Japan now has more than 200 high-tariff items, such as rice, 
sugar and dairy products, a senior MAFF official explained. A 
proposal for a ceiling tariff system of constraining tariffs on 
agricultural products below a certain level, which Japan has been 
opposing, was not included in the package. However, a clause 
mandating countries with many high-tariff items, such as Japan, to 
import those items with low tariffs has been included. 
 
France also opposing chairman's proposal 
 
The chairman's proposal has also urged the US to reduce agricultural 
subsidies for domestic farmers either to 13 billion dollars or to 
16.4 billion dollars. However, the US has only indicated readiness 
to give in to a cut to 17 billion dollars. With the presidential 
election next year, whether it can make a concession is in a 
delicate situation. 
 
The EU has not yet issued an official comment. However, the 
chairman's proposal seeks tariff cuts in high-tariff products 60 
%larger than the level the EU proposed. Chances are that if France, 
which attaches importance to protecting domestic agriculture, 
opposes the proposal, coordination of views within the EU could take 
time. 
 
Industrialized countries unhappy 
 
TOKYO 00003301  012 OF 012 
 
 
 
The number of developing countries' trade items whose tariffs will 
actually be lowered from the present level under the chairman's 
proposal on mined and manufactured products will be no more than 40 
%of all trade items, which is smaller than 45.6 %as proposed by 
Japan, the US and the EU. METI intends to seek expansion in the 
scope of tariff cuts by developing countries, noting that it would 
be meaningless unless tariff cuts lead to substantive trade 
expansion. 
 
SCHIEFFER