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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 003539 
 
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 08/03/07-2 
 
 
Index: 
 
(5) LDP prefectural chapters wary of possible Lower House 
dissolution for general election 
 
(6) Calls growing for giving priority to protecting dugongs in 
waters off Henoko over assessment 
 
(7) Prime Minister Abe must not back down 
 
(8) Editorial: Lessons of Riken shock 
 
(Corrected copy) US concerned about DPJ's opposition to 
antiterrorism law's extension; US envoy wishes to try to persuade 
Ozawa 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(5) LDP prefectural chapters wary of possible Lower House 
dissolution for general election 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 2, 2007 
 
After the House of Councillors election, the Asahi Shimbun 
interviewed the secretaries general of the prefectural chapters of 
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Despite the party's 
historical defeat in the Upper House race, most of them supported 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to stay on in office. Meantime, 
they were wary of a possible resolution of the House of 
Representatives for a snap election, though they felt frustrated 
with Abe's management of his government, including his Diet strategy 
and appointments of cabinet ministers. 
 
The large number of secretaries general said that there was no need 
for an early dissolution of the Lower House for a general election. 
Many insisted that the Lower House should not be dissolved as long 
as the LDP was facing an adverse wind. For example, Chiba Chapter 
Secretary General Hideo Honsei said: "We wouldn't win if a Lower 
 
SIPDIS 
House election were carried out now." Yoshizo Yoneda of the Ishikawa 
prefectural chapter said: "The prediction is that we will lose, so 
an election should not be conducted." 
 
Hideaki Takuchi of the Kanagawa chapter took this view: 
 
"Among those voted for Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) in 
Sunday's election, there were voters who had trusted the LDP, which 
has long held the reins of government. If the LDP loses another 
election, our support base will crumble." 
 
They also expect the government and the LDP will turn up the heat on 
the DPJ. Tadashi Seko of the Shiga chapter responded: "As the time 
passes, various contradictions will come out in the DPJ's policy." 
Katsunari Nishioka of Kumamoto said: "The DPJ's pledges have a low 
feasibility factor. So we should wait for Diet debate." 
 
The Nagano and Tottori chapters responded that the Lower House 
should be dissolved at an early time. Jiichiro of Nagano predicted 
the political situation would become sever, saying: "The Lower House 
would be dissolved until next summer at the latest. The DPJ would 
such tactics as preventing bills from passing the Diet and 
submitting no-confidence motions at the Upper House." Tottori's 
 
TOKYO 00003539  002 OF 007 
 
 
Hideaki Yamane replied: "In order for the LDP to win, a general 
election should be held after the typhoon passes. However, for the 
sake of the people, the election may have to be carried out even we 
are in the middle of a typhoon." 
 
Provincial areas do not feel economic growth 
 
A total of 39 prefectural chapters approved of Abe's economic growth 
policy. 
 
Hokkaido's Kimiatsu Maruiwa, however, said: "There are gaps in the 
economy between the urban and regional cities," although he approved 
of the prime minister's economic policy. Koyama Yasuo of Okayama 
pointed out: "As the law of the jungle prevails in the LDP, the 
regional chapters will not function unless a significant revision is 
implemented." 
 
Yoichi Suzuki of Akita did not make his position clear, but he said: 
"Akita residents do not feel economic recovery. I want the 
government to address economic policy." Isao Nakamura of Miyagi 
chapter stressed: "The policy direction is right, but this time 
around we were unable to put up with pains from reforms." 
 
Asked about their views on Abe's remarks that many people understood 
his basic policy, 29 secretaries general said that they agreed, 
while 13 said they disagreed and five said they could not answer. 
 
The focus was on the selection of a successor to Secretary General 
Hidenao Nakagawa, who has announced his intention to step down. When 
asked about who would be the appropriate person for the secretary 
general's post, seven chose Foreign Minister Taro Aso. Akira Fukai 
of Saitama said: "Aso is an internationalist since he was defeated 
in an election." Shigeo Usui of Yamanashi said: "His way of speaking 
is attractive." 
 
Asked who would be most suitable person as next secretary general: 
seven said Taro Aso; three, Toshihiro Nikai; two, Makoto Koga; one, 
Shigeru Ishiba; one, Tadamori Oshima; one, Nobuyuki Hanashi; and 32 
said they could not answer or they did not know. 
 
(6) Calls growing for giving priority to protecting dugongs in 
waters off Henoko over assessment 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 26) (Excerpts) 
August 1, 2007 
 
In preparation for constructing a new air station to replace the 
Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, an undersea environmental impact 
assessment is now underway in waters off Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa 
Prefecture. Conservation groups are increasingly concerned that the 
environment assessment itself could threaten the survival of the 
dugongs. 
 
The dugong is a large marine mammal and is one of four extant 
members of the order Sirenia. Their span of life is about 70 years. 
Dugongs inhabit coral reefs in tropical or subtropical shallow 
waters in such regions as East Asia, the South Pacific, and 
Australia. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), about 
100,000 dugongs exist in the world. Of them, 80,000 are in waters 
off Australia. In Japan, a small number of dugongs inhabit waters 
off the eastern coastal area of Okinawa, including the Henoko 
District. WWF Japan Director Shinichi Hanawa said: "Many people have 
 
TOKYO 00003539  003 OF 007 
 
 
seen dugongs in the Bay of Oura, where the US and Japanese 
governments want to build a new base. The bay is said to be home to 
dozens of dugongs." The dugong is heavily dependent on seagrasses 
for subsistence. Various kinds of seagrasses grow in the shallow 
waters in front of Camp Schwab. 
 
Hanawa added: "It is feared that reclamation work could ruin the 
critical seaweed bed. I am worried about the possible negative 
impact of the ongoing assessment. Unless some measures are taken, 
the dugong might become extinct." 
 
In the ongoing assessment, passive sonar, underwater video cameras, 
and other equipment to check the state of coral reportedly have been 
installed at more than 100 spots on the sea bottom. Hanawa said: 
"Dugongs are a wild animal, so it is conceivable that they leave 
habitat in reaction to lights or the presence of equipment 
unfamiliar to them. Before the environment is properly assessed, 
their habitat is being ruined. Such cannot be called scientific 
research." 
 
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural 
Resources (IUCN) urged the US and Japanese governments twice in the 
past to prepare measures to protect the dugong. 
 
The WWF has worked on the IUCN to issue its third warning to Japan 
and the US, prior to the IUCN-sponsored conference in Spain in 
¶2008. 
 
Former Teikyo Kagaku University Professor Toshio Kasuya said: 
 
"Assessment itself could threaten dugongs depending on its methods. 
It is necessary to urgently take measures to protect it, rather than 
continuing the assessment. The reclamation work must be stopped, and 
the environment must be protected. Japan is conducting environment 
impact assessment without setting any goals or standards to stop 
development or construction. If some measures (to protect the 
dugong) are not worked out now, It will become too late." 
 
(7) Prime Minister Abe must not back down 
 
SANKEI (Page 13) (Full) 
August 1, 2007 
 
Hisahiko Okazaki, former ambassador to Thailand 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's rout in the recent election 
for the House of Councillors made me feel uneasy about the future of 
politics in Japan. However, I felt relieved now that Prime Minister 
Abe has made up his mind to stay on. 
 
A man like Shinzo Abe is a wonder. When it comes to something very 
important, he makes a decision of his own. Also, he is a person of 
steadfast convictions. 
 
Prime Minister Abe has done so about the abduction issue since he 
was young. He has been firm in his convictions since the days when 
anyone who was outspoken would be called a reactionary rightist. On 
the recent comfort women issue, Prime Minister Abe stated: "The 20th 
century was an era when human rights were violated. Japan also had 
something to do with it." As seen from this statement, he has 
consistently kept his words touching the heartstrings of opinion 
leaders around the world in their view of the 20th century. 
 
TOKYO 00003539  004 OF 007 
 
 
 
This time as well, Prime Minister Abe, as far as I know, probably 
did not consult with anyone. He made his own decision that he 
believes is right. No matter how much noise or criticism he may 
encounter, he is the last to be shaken, holding fast to his 
judgment. 
 
In the first place, I wonder what the election held this time was. 
Although I am out of their domain, I have always been feeling that 
the post-Cold War elections in Japan were a far cry from policy 
debates or ideology-oriented elections. In my view, those were 
image-oriented races. Such images are blown off and swing like the 
pendulum. 
 
Otherwise, there is no way to explain the LDP's overwhelming victory 
in the earlier election for the House of Representatives. Given the 
swing of the pendulum, it was the LDP's turn to lose in the election 
this time after that overwhelming victory. 
 
When considering Prime Minister Abe's administration and its 
achievements in the area of policies up to the election this time, 
he has been flawless in my area of foreign affairs and security. 
Actually, nothing was regarded as a problem in this area during the 
election campaign. 
 
Prime Minister Abe, shortly after taking office, visited China and 
South Korea. Thereafter, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao came to Japan. 
Prime Minister Abe held summit talks with Wen. In addition, the 
prime minister also met with US President Bush. In the following 
summit talks of Group of Eight (G-8) leaders, he spoke for Japan and 
its stance over environmental issues. He did so well that the 
opposition parties and the press could not find fault with him. 
 
They say one of the issues at home is the pension problem. When it 
comes to the pensions fiasco, however, the onus should be laid on 
both Prime Minister Abe's predecessors and labor unions. Meanwhile, 
the government has increased the burden of taxes and old-age medical 
expenses. This, however, is a legacy from the Koizumi cabinet. It 
was an inevitable inheritance for Prime Minister Abe and his 
administration. He is not to blame for it. However, he became an 
object of public dissatisfaction. The public image of Prime Minister 
Abe swung back like the pendulum. This considerably affected the 
election. 
 
 
In my intuition, however, there seems to be another reason. Kumiko 
Obino, in her recent writing for a newspaper, hit the nail on the 
head, noting that it might be a struggle between the LDP's new self 
and its old self (i.e., Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan or Minshuto). 
 
The LDP-led government has now upgraded the Defense Agency to full 
ministry status. In addition, the government has also amended the 
Basic Education Law and created the National Referendum Law for 
constitutional revision. In the past, the LDP simply laid aside 
these issues for vague reasons, fearing as if to say it is going too 
far to do so. Undoubtedly, people with the LDP's old nature felt 
that something was wrong. However, they cannot rebut that, because 
the LDP is doing right under Prime Minister Abe. They were probably 
dissatisfied with that. 
 
Prime Minister Abe would not avoid confronting the major newspapers. 
 
TOKYO 00003539  005 OF 007 
 
 
Among his predecessors, no one but Prime Minister Eisaku Sato would 
try to face off with the big media. At one time, Prime Minister Sato 
vented his pent-up anger when he met the press after making up his 
mind to retire. 
 
Prime Minister Abe has broken away from the way the LDP used to be. 
It can be easily imagined that his political approach or governing 
style angered the LDP's old-natured people who think much of 
logrolling politics. 
 
Given that this analysis is right, Prime Minister Abe must not back 
down. In its former self, the LDP remains the same as the 
now-defunct Japan Socialist Party. In the LDP, there are many people 
who want to restore the party's old self to live in peace. If the 
prime minister backs down, they will regain momentum. If he holds 
out, they will turn into has-beens in time. 
 
It is easy to imagine that the political situation will be 
difficult. However, Prime Minister Abe has only to carry out his 
original intention. Among those elected this time from the 
Democratic Party of Japan as well, I think that there are many 
people who are repulsed by the nature of the LDP's old self or the 
JSP. 
 
The election this time might be a chance for generational change. If 
so, this can be a case of good coming out of evil. Prime Minister 
Abe should hold fast to his convictions and can become a supraparty 
rising star for those who will shoulder a new Japan. 
 
 
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Abe was criticism-free 
in the area of foreign and security policies. Fortunately or 
unfortunately, the Constitution did not become a point at issue, 
either. Japan should make its alliance with the United States 
adamantine, including the right of collective self-defense. By doing 
so, Prime Minister Abe should face up squarely to pending issues in 
order for Japan to secure its people for decades, and I hope the 
prime minister will pursue his initial goal. 
 
(8) Editorial: Lessons of Riken shock 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 24, 2007 
 
The Chuetsu earthquake in Niigata Prefecture has caused confusion to 
domestic automakers as well, because the production of piston rings, 
key parts of car engines, at the Kashiwazaki plant of Riken Corp., a 
leading part maker, stopped. Various automakers have sent backup 
personnel to help the company's desperate efforts to recover from 
the damage. The incident has also called companies' crisis 
management ability into question in terms of their readiness for a 
possible earthquake and capability to constrain quake damage to a 
minimum. 
 
Toyota Motor, the largest automaker, depends on Riken for a 
considerable portion of its piston ring procurement. The company 
decided to stop operations at all of its domestic plants starting on 
the afternoon of July 19, as it ran out of stock. Now that Riken 
resumed parts shipment on July 23 with its recovery efforts coming 
to fruition, Toyota will also resume almost full operations on July 
¶24. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003539  006 OF 007 
 
 
A worst-case scenario of long-term continuation of the production 
suspension will likely be avoided. Even so, the production 
curtailment suffered by Toyota alone is estimated to reach 55,000 
units. The curtailed output suffered by all carmakers due to the 
quake will likely reach 100,000 units, exceeding similar damage 
incurred in the Hanshin earthquake. 
 
Behind such a widespread impact of the quake are Riken's high 
technical capabilities. Riken, which has its own high precision 
processing technology, has jointly developed products with various 
automakers. Automakers make it a principle to procure parts from 
several suppliers just in case. However, regarding piston rings, 
they often placed orders with Riken alone out of consideration to 
the company's status as their development partner. Automakers are 
now facing a serious challenge of how to maintain a balance between 
securing stable supplies and strengthening R&D. 
 
The Riken shock is not someone else's problem for other industries. 
The chip plant of Sanyo Electric Co. was hit by the 2004 Chuetsu 
earthquake. As they experienced in the Chuetsu earthquake this time, 
once a disaster occurs, manufacturing companies could suffer a 
direct impact if their business partners are struck, even if their 
plants suffer no damage. 
 
Risk factors are not limited to within the country. Procurements of 
parts from foreign countries, such as China, have recently 
increased. It is imperative for companies to take countermeasures, 
hypothesizing cases in which their business partners are struck by 
such natural disasters as earthquakes floods, or by geopolitical 
risks, including terrorist attacks, in realizing disaster-resistant 
business management. 
 
(Corrected copy) US concerned about DPJ's opposition to 
antiterrorism law's extension; US envoy wishes to try to persuade 
Ozawa 
 
SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) 
August 2, 2007 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
The US government is increasingly concerned over the question of 
extending Japan's Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, slated to 
expire in November. White House spokesman Tony Snow in a press 
conference on July 31 made the following comment regarding 
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa's announcement to 
oppose the law's extension: "We will not interfere in Japan's 
political affairs. We consider Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as an 
important and valuable ally of the United States." Snow indirectly 
indicated that the United States would support the Abe 
administration and expressed hopes for continued assistance from 
Japan. 
 
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer revealed a plan 
in an interview with the Financial Times August 1 edition that he 
would hold talks with Ozawa at an early date to try to persuade him 
not to oppose the law's extension. 
 
The antiterrorism law has been the legal basis for the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's mission of refueling vessels of the United 
States and other countries that are engaged in the mop-up operation 
in the Indian Ocean against the Islamic militant group Taliban in 
 
TOKYO 00003539  007 OF 007 
 
 
Afghanistan. The law will expire on November 1. Against a backdrop 
of the Taliban's increased activities and the murky situation in 
Afghanistan, the US government is concerned that Japan might 
discontinue its activities in the Indian Ocean. 
 
In the interview, Schieffer while indicating that he has not met 
Ozawa since arriving at post in April 2005, expressed his eagerness 
to meet with the DPJ head to convince him, saying that opposing the 
law's extension will not serve Japan's interests in the wake of the 
ruling bloc's failure to garner a majority in the House of 
Councillors in the July 29 poll. 
 
The ambassador also said: "Japan is a responsible member of the 
international community. If Japan decided not to make contributions, 
that would be truly regrettable." 
 
Michael Auslin of the AEI, a US think tank, indicated in an 
interview with the Sankei Shimbun on July 31 that Tokyo's failure to 
extend the law would spell trouble for Japan-US relations. He also 
indicated that the key is held in the prime minister's explanation 
to the people, saying: "It would be an opportunity for Prime 
Minister Abe to explain to the people about why Japan has to support 
the Untied States to counter terrorism." 
 
In the meantime, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted 
on July 31 a resolution expressing appreciation for Japan's 
contributions to the war on terror and other matters. As examples, 
the MSDF's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean and the Air 
Self-Defense Force's airlift operations in Iraq are cited. 
 
SCHIEFFER