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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 003458 
 
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 07/30/07-1 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Election results: 
3) Election results table: LDP 37 seats; DPJ 60 seats; Komeito 8 
seats 
4) LDP goes down to historical defeat in Upper House election; DPJ 
(Minshuto) emerges as top party in the Upper House for the first 
time 
5) LDP wins six, loses 23 single-seat districts 
6) Nakagawa Hidenao quits as LDP secretary general; Prime Minister 
Abe intends to shuffle cabinet 
7) DPJ President Ozawa's election strategy pays off; Party will now 
aim at forcing snap election 
8) New Komeito suffers historical defeat 
9) Japanese Communist Party: Zero district seats 
10) Social Democratic Party: Wins 2 of 3 seats up for grabs 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Nikkei, Sankei Tokyo Shimbun & Akahata: 
LDP suffers historic defeat, Prime Minister Abe to stay in office 
 
Yomiuri: 
DJP becomes largest party in Upper House 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
LDP's defeat in Upper House election means voters' lack of 
confidence in Abe's politics 
 
Mainichi: 
LDP suffers defeat; Popular will rejects "Abe politics" 
Abe must ask for the people's vote of confidence through Lower House 
election 
 
Yomiuri: 
Turmoil in national politics unforgivable 
 
Nikkei: 
Prime Minister Abe must take seriously the judgment by voters 
 
Sankei: 
LDP's major defeat: DPJ has now great responsibility 
Prime Minister Abe must do some soul-searching and strengthen his 
cabinet 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Abe-led LDP loses Upper House race: Existence of "my cabinet" 
difficult 
 
Akahata: 
Nuclear-free world and Japan: Hope for success of World Conference 
against A & H Bombs 
 
3) Results of Upper House election (July 28, 2007) 
 
 
TOKYO 00003458  002 OF 006 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
July 30, 2007 
 
Party: 
Total won 
Before elect. 
Elect. districts 
Proportional 
Uncontested 
 
DPJ 60 (32) 40 20 49 
LDP 37 (64) 23 14 46 
New Komeito 8 (12) 2 6 11 
JCP 3 (5) 0 3 4 
SDP 2 (3) 0 2 3 
Kokumin 2 (2) 1 1 2 
Nippon 1 (0) 0 1 0 
Unaffiliated 7 (1) 7 -- 6 
Total 120 (119) ASTERISK  73 47 121 
Remaining seat 1 
2 seats were unfilled prior to election 
 
4) LDP suffers historical defeat; Komeito, too; Prime Minister Abe 
announces he will stay in office; DPJ leaps ahead to become No. 1 
party in Upper House 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
July 30, 2007 
 
The 21st election for the House of Councillors, billed as a poll to 
test voter confidence in the Abe administration, was held on July 
¶29. In it, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) dropped from its 
pre-election 64 seats to 37 seats, a major historical defeat on par 
with the worst Upper House election results on record, 36 seats, 
after Sosuke Uno resigned as prime minister in 1989. The New 
Komeito, too, suffered a defeat, dropping three out of the five 
district seats it had held before the election. Even adding seats 
that were not up for election this time, the ruling coalition has 
lost its majority in the Upper House. However, Prime Minister Shinzo 
Abe last night announced that he would stay on in office. In 
contrast, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) jumped 
from the 32 seats it had held before the election to 60 seats. This 
is the first time since the LDP was formed in 1955 that it has lost 
the position of being the number 1 party in the Upper House to an 
opposition party. DPJ executives last night called for the 
resignation of Prime Minister Abe and an early snap election for the 
Lower House. In a nationwide exit poll by the Asahi Shimbun, 56% of 
the respondents replied that they wanted a change in the prime 
minister. Inevitably, the issue of whether he will step down or not 
will continue to fester. 
 
5) In 29 single-seat constituencies, LDP wins only 6 seats; Katayama 
beaten by DPJ candidate 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 30, 2007 
 
In the 29 single-seat constituencies, Liberal Democratic Party 
candidates won only in 6 in the House of Councillors election 
yesterday. The LDP experienced the second loss in single-seat 
constituencies since its foundation in 1955, following the one in 
the 1989 election, in which the LDP, negatively affected by the 
 
TOKYO 00003458  003 OF 006 
 
 
introduction of the consumption tax and the Recruit scandal, 
garnered only 3 of 26 seats. Toranosuke Katayama, the LDP's Upper 
House secretary general, was beaten by a Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ or Minshuto) candidate in Okayama Prefecture. 
 
Single-seat constituencies, which are home to many farmers, were 
once bastions of the LDP. The election outcome this time, however, 
shows that an increasing number of voters in such districts have 
abandoned the LDP due to the pension mess and the widening social 
disparities. The LDP had been overwhelmingly strong in single-seat 
districts in the past elections, except for the 1989 one. The party 
won more than 20 seats in five consecutive elections in 1974. Even 
in the 2004 election, in which the LDP was outperformed by the DPJ, 
the LDP won 14 of the 27 single seats. 
 
The LDP had not lost in Saga since 1956, but it did so yesterday for 
the first time in 51 years in Saga. The LDP candidate also lost in 
Toyama for the first time in 39 years. Among big-name candidates, 
former Construction Minister Katsutsugu Sekiya lost his seat in 
Ehime, and former Environment Agency Director General Kenji Manabe 
was defeated in Kagawa. The LDP candidates in the four 
constituencies in Shikoku were all defeated for the first time in 18 
years. In Kyushu, where the support rate of the LDP exceeded 40%, as 
well, the LDP won a victory only in Oita and Kagoshima out of the 
seven constituencies. In Kagoshima, the LDP candidate won by a 
narrow margin of about 2,600 votes. 
 
6) LDP Secretary General Nakagawa submits resignation, prime 
minister indicates intention to shuffle cabinet 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
July 30, 2007 
 
Appearing on many TV programs last night, Prime Minister Abe 
(Liberal Democratic Party President) said, "The responsibility of 
our crushing defeat rests with me." But he indicated that he would 
stay on as prime minister, remarking: "My nation-building project 
has just gotten off the ground. I must push ahead with reforms and 
fulfill my responsibility as prime minister." Meanwhile, LDP 
Secretary General Nakagawa, who took the initiative in the House of 
 
SIPDIS 
Councillors election campaign, submitted a letter of resignation to 
the prime minister yesterday. Upon receiving the resignation, Abe 
told Nakagawa to continue to serve as secretary general for the time 
being to make efforts to save the current difficult situation. 
 
LDP Upper House Chairman Aoki also indicated a willingness to step 
down from his post. 
 
On a TV news program last night, the prime minister said: "Taking 
the election results seriously, I will consider a shuffling of the 
cabinet. I would like to consider the possibility from the 
viewpoints of a whole-party approach and the principle of the right 
person in the right place." Regarding the timeframe for a cabinet 
reshuffle, views are split in the government and the ruling 
coalition, with some suggesting September, when the incumbent LDP 
executives' term of office expires, and others calling for a shuffle 
as soon as possible. 
 
In shuffling the cabinet and appointing LDP executives, it is 
necessary to pick personnel who will serve to give a boost to the 
administration, as well as to focus on efforts to tackle new policy 
agenda and reform the party. It is certain that calls from LDP 
 
TOKYO 00003458  004 OF 006 
 
 
members will grow louder for a whole-party approach to be taken, so 
difficulties are expected in the selection process. 
 
As for future Diet management, the prime minister said: "We will 
cooperate and discuss fully with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ 
or Minshuto) and take its assertions into account if they are worthy 
of consideration." Asked about a possible dissolution of the House 
Representatives for a general election, Abe said: "There are still 
nearly two years left. I have no intention of dissolving the Lower 
House at an early date." 
 
7) As Ozawa's strategy proves effective, DPJ ready to launch 
offensive to urge ruling coalition to dissolve Lower House election 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 30, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) succeeded in taking 
charge of the House of Councillors in the election yesterday by 
garnering significantly more seats than its pre-election tally of 
32, now becoming the main political party in the chamber. The 
strategy hammered out by DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, with efforts 
focused on the 29 single-seat constituencies, proved effective, 
destroying the longstanding foundations of the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP). It can be said that the DPJ scored a complete victory 
for the first tome since a non-LDP government was established in 
¶1993. In a drive to take over the political reins in the next 
general election, the main opposition party is set to accelerate 
moves to have the ruling coalition dissolve the House of 
Representatives at an early date. The DPJ is now certain to put more 
pressure on the ruling camp. 
 
On the behalf of Ozawa, who fell ill, Deputy Head Naoto Kan said 
last night: "President Ozawa must be pleased with the election 
outcome, though I have yet to talk with him. He played an energetic 
part since he assumed office (in April of last year) as if the 
election campaign were started on the day of his assumption." 
 
8) New Komeito also suffers historic defeat 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 30, 2007 
 
The junior coalition partner New Komeito was unable to maintain the 
13 seats it won in 2001 Upper House election, losing three seats in 
Aichi, Saitama, and Kanagawa constituencies. It was the first time 
for the party to lose more than three of its seats up for 
re-election. It was the first time since 1989 for it to suffer a 
defeat in electoral districts. Indeed, the party suffered a historic 
defeat. 
 
The growing criticism of the Abe administration forced New Komeito 
Representative Ota to have an uphill battle in the first grand 
nation election after taking office as representative of the party. 
Criticism of his leadership is likely to emerge, but Ota late 
yesterday said, "There was support extended to our achievements and 
policies," noting: "I'd like to serve out by making efforts to 
widening the public's support for our party." 
 
One senior New Komeito member said, "Our party's principles and 
assertions are quite different from the prime minister's," but the 
New Komeito has given the top priority to being in the coalition 
 
TOKYO 00003458  005 OF 006 
 
 
government and in effect given approval to policy measures strongly 
reflecting the prime minister's ideological aspects and his 
highhanded management of the Diet. The party has in a way played the 
role of minimizing the cabinet members' gaffes and scandals, but 
some in the party and its supporting body Soka Gakkai are discontent 
with the party leadership now. 
 
Given this, some in the party are likely to urge the party 
leadership to come up with measures with its imprint. Representative 
Ota late yesterday emphasized: "We will say what we should say." 
Acting Chief Representative Toshiko Hamayotsu said: "We should do so 
particularly over the politics-and-money issue." Regarding politics 
on which the party is not in agreement with the Liberal Democratic 
Party, for instance, the question of revising the constitutional 
interpretation to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective 
self-defense, the New Komeito is likely to intercept the LDP's 
moves. 
 
9) JCP now has no seats in election districts for Upper House as 
well 
 
YOMIURI (Page 7) (Full) 
July 30, 2007 
 
The Japanese Communist Party failed to retain five seats up for 
election. It lost a seat in the Tokyo constituency as well. It now 
has zero seats in election districts for both for the Lower and 
Upper Houses. 
 
JCP Chair Shii told reporters early today: "It was very regrettable 
that our party was unable to win any seats in election districts. 
However, we took the lead in the election battle under the banner of 
'stop poverty' and 'protect Article 9 of the Constitution." He ruled 
out the possibility of his quitting his post to take responsibility, 
noting, "I want to fulfill my responsibility by finding a 
breakthrough in the current situation in a positive manner." 
 
General Secretary Ichita yesterday evening indicated his perception 
that his party was unable to absorb votes critical of the ruling 
camp. He said, "There was a fairly strong trend among voters of 
voting for the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), the no. 
1 opposition party, to punish the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and 
the New Komeito." 
 
In past Upper House elections, the JCP gained five seats in 2001 and 
four in 2004. An increasing number of members now have begun saying, 
"The JCP's challenge is to gain support from more swing-voters." 
 
10) SDP falls short of retaining seats up for election 
 
YOMIURI (Page 7) (Full) 
July 30, 2007 
 
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) only gained two seats, falling 
short of retaining three up for election. It was unable to stem a 
decline in party forces. The outcome apparently indicates that it 
was unable to show its presence amid a fierce battle staged between 
the ruling bloc and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). 
 
Meeting the press, party head Fukushima said, "The result is very 
severe. It is good to gain control of the Upper House for the 
opposition, but the SDP was unable to fully get its points fully 
 
TOKYO 00003458  006 OF 006 
 
 
across, overshadowed by the two major parties. Opposition to 
amending Article 9 of the Constitution did not become the largest 
campaign issue." Regarding the party's approach to the future 
political situation, Fukushima said, "Since the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) suffered a crushing defeat, the DPJ, the Japanese 
Communist Party (JCP) and the SDP will strongly call for the prime 
minister's resignation." 
 
SCHIEFFER