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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 003658 
 
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 08/09/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) US vice president meets with Defense Minister Koike, hopes for 
extension of Antiterrorism Special Measures Law 
 
(2) Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki: "The DPJ is not made up of 
Ozawa alone" 
 
(3) Editorial: Ozawa vs. US envoy-DPJ's competence to take office 
called into question 
 
(4) Editorial: Extension of antiterrorism law needs hard 
justification 
 
(5) Interview with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki on the 
opposition-controlled Upper House 
 
(6) Interview with Yoichi Masuzoe, Upper House LDP Policy Board 
chairman: 
(7) Tendency among young people in Japan to take to nationalism 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) US vice president meets with Defense Minister Koike, hopes for 
extension of Antiterrorism Special Measures Law 
 
YOMIURI ONLINE (Full) 
August 9, 2007 12:51 
 
Defense Minister Koike, who is currently visiting the US, met with 
US Vice President Cheney at the White House during the afternoon of 
August 8 (Japan time: early morning of August 9). Regarding an 
extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is set to 
expire on November 1, Koike stated: "An extension is necessary for 
Japan to meet the expectations of the international community, which 
has placed trust in us. I want to keep up efforts to convince the 
opposition parties (who oppose the law)." 
 
The vice president expressed his hope for an extension of the law, 
which will allow for continued support from the Self-Defense Forces, 
saying: "We highly value the support that Japan has provided under 
the Koizumi and Abe administrations." 
 
In discussing China's military strength, the vice president showed 
wariness, saying: "(The Chinese military) has rapidly modernized in 
recent years, and their capabilities are improving. We are 
interested in where China's long term strategic goals lie." 
 
Before meeting with the vice president, Koike met with former US 
Deputy Secretary of State Armitage, who indicated: "If (the 
Self-Defense Forces' support) ceases, the Japan-US alliance will 
suffer a setback." 
 
In a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Gates on the morning of 
August 8 (Japan time: the night of August 8), Koike brought up the 
selection of the next-generation mainstay combat aircraft (FX), 
saying: "Securing a deterrent is essential." Although Koike made 
this statement with the thought of obtaining the state-of-the-art 
F-22 fighter jet, the export of which is prohibited by US law, 
Secretary Gates simply replied: "We want to continue discussing the 
 
SIPDIS 
issue with Japan." 
 
 
TOKYO 00003658  002 OF 009 
 
 
(2) Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki: "The DPJ is not made up of 
Ozawa alone" 
 
ASAHI ONLINE (Full) 
August 9, 2007 12:49 pm 
 
In response to Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa's 
assertion to US Ambassador to Japan Schieffer that he opposes an 
extension of the Anti-terrorism Special Measures Law, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Shiozaki, at a press conference this morning, commented: 
 
SIPDIS 
"The DPJ is not made up of Ozawa alone. I think there are many 
different opinions (within the party)." His statement brought 
attention to the internal split within the DPJ, with some in the 
party supporting an extension of the law. 
 
Shiozaki also rebutted Ozawa's remarks that the war on terrorism in 
Afghanistan was a war that President Bush started without gaining 
the approval of the international community, saying: "During the 
9/11 attacks, 24 Japanese died. The entire world, including Japan, 
must unite in the fight against terrorism. (The war in Afghanistan) 
is not a selfish war started by the US." 
 
(3) Editorial: Ozawa vs. US envoy-DPJ's competence to take office 
called into question 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
August 9, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) may be branded as 
incompetent to take office. There is probably no way to deny such a 
view. 
 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and US Ambassador to Japan Thomas 
Schieffer met at the DPJ's headquarters over the issue of extending 
the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. 
 
Schieffer requested the DPJ's cooperation in order for Japan to 
continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's current seaborne 
refueling activities for multinational forces in the Indian Ocean. 
 
Ozawa, however, stressed his standpoint as follows: "President Bush 
said, 'This is a war of the United States.' The president launched 
the war without waiting for international consensus." Ozawa added, 
"Japan cannot participate in the US-led operations, but we'd like to 
participate in operations authorized by the United Nations." 
 
Ozawa perhaps meant to say he is opposed to engaging the MSDF in its 
current activities because such activities are not confirmed by the 
UN Security Council in its resolution. 
 
His standpoint seems strange to us. 
 
The MSDF has been operating there as a part of the multinational 
forces' mop-up operations against terrorists. Their antiterror 
operations are based on UNSC Resolution 1368, which was adopted 
after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The 
multinational forces' member troops from about 20 
countries-including the United States, Britain, France, Canada, and 
South Korea-have been operating in Afghanistan. In the Indian Ocean 
are 17 naval vessels from eight countries, including Japan, the 
United States, Britain, France, Germany, and Pakistan. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003658  003 OF 009 
 
 
The Afghan antiterror campaign is not what Ozawa calls "an American 
war." It is a joint operation conducted by the international 
community against terrorists. 
 
Ozawa indicated that it would be possible for Japan to participate 
in the Afghanistan-based International Security Assistance Force 
(ISAF) that is based on UNSC Resolution 1386. 
 
However, it would not be a down-to-earth option for Japan to do so. 
 
Washington has sounded out Tokyo time and again on the possibility 
of the Ground Self-Defense Force sending heavy-lift helicopters to 
the ISAF. The Japanese government has refused to do so because that 
is dangerous. The MSDF's current refueling activities are far less 
dangerous. The MSDF is highly appreciated by the international 
community for its refueling role. The MSDF's refueling activities 
can be called personnel contributions that are in the national 
interests of Japan. 
 
In Afghanistan, the Taliban-which once ruled Afghanistan-is 
regaining strength. The international community's antiterror 
movement is now at the moment of truth. 
 
In the meeting, Schieffer also underscored the significance of 
Japan's contributions to the international community's antiterror 
efforts for the security of Japan and the world. We wonder if Ozawa 
might have forgotten that Japan is also a target of international 
terrorists. 
 
The DPJ, in its campaign pledge for this July's House of Councillors 
election, emphasized its stance of building "rocksolid, equal 
Japan-US relations based on mutual trust." The meeting of Ozawa and 
Schieffer was opened in its entirety to the media. Ozawa probably 
wanted to show his stance of saying to the United States what he 
should say in an aim to play up the DPJ's presence. 
 
However, Ozawa said nothing about what Japan should do in line with 
its national interests. This is extremely regrettable. 
 
(4) Editorial: Extension of antiterrorism law needs hard 
justification 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 9, 2007 
 
A meeting was held yesterday between Democratic Party of Japan 
President Ichiro Ozawa and US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer 
to discuss the question of expending the Antiterrorism Special 
Measure Law, slated to expire on November 1. 
 
Schieffer sought Ozawa's understanding of the extension, saying that 
the operation is essential for the security of Japan as well. In 
response, Ozawa reiterated his opposition, saying that the operation 
in the Indian Ocean, in which the Self-Defense Force is also taking 
part, is not authorized by a UN Security Council resolution, adding 
that Japan is not allowed to conduct a joint operation with the 
United States in an area irrelevant to the peace and security of 
Japan. 
 
The DPJ has consistently opposed the antiterrorism law. There seems 
to be every reason for Ozawa to oppose the extension, given the 
results of the July House of Councillors election. 
 
TOKYO 00003658  004 OF 009 
 
 
 
In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the 
United States, the government enacted the antiterrorism law as 
time-limited legislation good only for two years. The law has been 
the legal basis for the Maritime Self-Defense Force's mission in the 
Indian Ocean to supply fuel and water to naval vessels of 11 
countries that are engaged in the operation of blocking the 
transport of drugs, which provide funds to terrorist organizations, 
and weaponry and ammunition, which are used in terrorist attacks. 
 
The government eyes the law's extension for the fourth time. A 
time-limited law is an emergency measure to the last. The law in 
principle must be abolished when it expires. 
 
An extension requires solid justification, though such has never 
been presented in the past. 
 
Diet deliberations have always been dull on this highly 
controversial law. In fact, the two chambers effectively discussed 
the law's extension for just two days last October. 
 
The people want to know about the other countries' activities in the 
Indian Ocean and the amount of drugs and weapons blocked by them. 
They also want to know if Japan, whose mission is limited to 
refueling foreign vessels, is really contributing to countering 
terrorism. All those factors are essential in making a decision on 
the law's extension. 
 
The government has not disclosed activities by Japan and other 
countries, saying that such must be kept secret from the terrorists. 
The government has silenced the opposition parties without 
presenting any concrete justification, saying that withdrawal from 
the Indian Ocean would harm the Japan-US alliance and drive Japan 
into international isolation. 
 
Further, the government has yet to explain the condition for 
terminating the MSDF mission. 
 
During Lower House deliberations last year, then Defense Agency 
Director-General Fumio Kyuma said: "We find it difficult to call off 
(MSDF activities) before an international trend is created for 
(withdrawal). Japan cannot withdraw ahead of other countries." 
 
Japan clearly lacks an independent perspective. The war on terrorism 
that shows no signs of ending has also fueled public concern that 
the MSDF mission, too, might continue forever. 
 
The DPJ must force the government into disclosing MSDF activities by 
thoroughly exercising its investigative powers. We also want to see 
the DPJ's counterproposal. 
 
Japan cannot overlook the grave situation in Afghanistan. 
 
If the government cannot offer an explanation, it should consider 
the option of ending the special measures law for now and letting 
the ruling and opposition camps reexamine the overall 
counterterrorism measures to obtain public support. 
 
(5) Interview with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki on the 
opposition-controlled Upper House 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
 
TOKYO 00003658  005 OF 009 
 
 
August 8, 2007 
 
The House of Councillors election delivered a harsh result, and that 
was mainly because of the pension fiasco. Although we have 
implemented measures in quick succession, a sense of distrust of the 
government was deep seated among the public. On top of that, there 
were improprieties by cabinet ministers and socioeconomic changes, 
such as the declining birthrate combined with a rapidly aging 
population. Also, (the structures) of local areas are changing. 
There are two sides to reforms: bright and dark. And we failed to 
obtain sufficient support for our measures on the dark side. Our 
message was also insufficient. Furthermore, the election campaign 
was void of in-depth policy debate. 
 
The Abe cabinet's policies for the last 10 months have not been 
widely recognized, and for that I am responsible as the officer in 
charge of public affairs. All cabinet ministers -- not just the 
prime minister -- now have the same homework. (Looking back at 
government responses to improprieties by cabinet ministers), we 
should have offered more convincing explanations to the public. 
 
(About Prime Minister Abe staying in office), I gave thought to what 
the people, the media, and other LDP members might think. But in the 
end, I decided that it is a matter for the prime minister to decide 
and that I should follow his decision as chief cabinet secretary. 
 
The age of pork-barrel politics is over. I believe the goal of 
structural reform was to help increase the independence of all 
people, from large companies, small companies, mom and pop 
operations, pensioners, to those on welfare. Social ills require 
treatment to improve the foundation. A painkiller does not cure the 
illness. 
 
The approach led by the Kantei (Prime Minister's Official Residence) 
has achieved many things. The environment is a good example. I am 
aware (that Prime Minister Abe has been criticized for giving 
important posts to his close friends), but I am certain that he will 
place the right people in the right places (in shuffling his cabinet 
and the LDP executive posts.) 
 
It is essential for the Democratic Party of Japan to debate policies 
in a responsible manner. I believe the party will be able to come up 
with the right answer to the question of the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law if it discusses it as a policy instead of a law. During 
the "financial Diet session" (of 1988), the opposition parties 
conducted serious discussions and came up with ideas that were not 
so different from ours. If the DPJ conducts thorough discussion as a 
responsible party, diversified views in the party can converge into 
the one we hold. Engaging in a political battle for the sake of a 
political battle would take a heavy toll on the people, and Japan 
would be an international loser. 
 
(6) Interview with Yoichi Masuzoe, Upper House LDP Policy Board 
chairman: 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 9, 2007/08/09 
 
Yoichi Masuzoe: Whenever cabinet ministers have committed gaffes, 
Masuzoe has not been afraid to criticize the prime minister, even 
though he is a senior member of the LDP in the House of Councillors, 
saying for example, "If you keep silent, the people will abandon 
 
TOKYO 00003658  006 OF 009 
 
 
you." After graduating from the University of Tokyo Law Faculty, he 
served as an assistant professor at that university and then gained 
renown as a political scientist. He ran as a candidate backed by the 
LDP for a proportional representation seat in the 2001 Upper House 
election for the first time and was elected, garnering the largest 
number of votes at 1.58 million among all candidates, He was 
reelected in the latest Upper House election, and he assumed the 
current post in October of last year. He is 58 years old. 
 
-- You were critical of Prime Minister Abe's decision to stay in 
power, weren't you? 
 
The LDP has lapsed into a state of shock (since it suffered a 
crushing defeat in the Upper House election). The party has no 
energy to pick a new president. Why doesn't a rival appear to 
challenge Prime Minister Abe? My criticism reflects my 
disappointment at and sorrow over our party's loss of such vigor and 
energy. But since the prime minister decided to stay on, it is 
meaningless to discuss the propriety of his staying in power. We 
must now consider how to reconstruct the party and the cabinet. 
 
-- What task do you think the Abe administration must address 
first? 
 
Since the administration was defeated as a result of the public 
fiercely reacting to the pension fiasco, it should steadily carry 
out its policy decisions. The administration must make efforts to 
overcome the public's dissatisfaction. There will be no other way 
but for it to do its best in a visible manner. 
 
-- Debate on a revision of the Constitution, a key challenge for the 
prime minister, might be downplayed. 
 
There are a pile of tasks that must be urgently tackled, such as 
pension and regional discrepancies. It is essential to address 
pocketbook issues first. Even so, it is not correct to think that 
the seal was put on the challenge of constitutional revision. 
 
-- Do you think the prime minister will be able to regain the 
political ground he lost by reorganizing his cabinet? 
 
If he fails to pick proper persons in forming a new cabinet, it will 
become hopeless. The second main reason for the party's election 
defeat was the presence of immature and unsophisticated cabinet 
ministers. The prime minister lacked the ability to control his 
cabinet. 
 
-- What type of persons do you think are suitable for ministerial 
posts? 
 
The prime minister should select the right person for the right job. 
There are proper persons for each portfolio without fail. For 
instance, no one, including even those who dislike him personally, 
should raise objections to an appointment of Mr. Ishiba (as defense 
minister). 
 
-- Some suggest private citizens should be included in the cabinet 
in order to clean up its image. 
 
That won't work. It is more important to strengthen solidarity in 
the party, and such buzzwords such as duty and obligations, order, 
appeal to the public, or image are unnecessary. Changing his ways, 
 
TOKYO 00003658  007 OF 009 
 
 
the prime minister must become a tougher leader. He was so gentle 
that (he defended cabinet minister who caused trouble), resulting in 
bringing about the current situation. 
 
-- In the Upper House, stormy deliberations on submitted bills are 
expected. 
 
I am not much worried about it. In the latest ordinary Diet session, 
the House of Representatives, in which the ruling coalition holds 
two-thirds of all the seats, ran wild, so the Upper House had to 
clean up the mess. Since the main opposition party (the Democratic 
Party of Japan) has control of the Upper House, such reckless acts 
will be prevented. 
 
-- What will happen if the opposition camp takes a clearly 
confrontational stance? 
 
The Upper House is referred to as the Seat of Common Sense. The 
Upper House DPJ is similar to an independent state, like the Upper 
House LDP. Although the National Referendum Bill was rammed through 
the Lower House, the Upper House passed it without hitch. It is the 
best way in the Upper House for the ruling coalition and the DPJ in 
cooperation to proceed with deliberations at a safe speed. The 
two-chamber system becomes significant. 
 
-- Do you think a two-party system will develop now? 
 
I think that is a good possibility. Although the LDP cannot hand 
over the reins of government, we can learn lessons from the current 
experience, when considering the future of Japanese politics from a 
wider standpoint. The DPJ should not be arrogant over their victory 
in the election. Modestly listening to the people, the party should 
take measures that meet the public's expectations. Shinshinto (the 
New Frontier Party) was unsuccessful because it was unable to meet 
public expectations. 
 
-- DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa is trying to force the administration 
to dissolve the House of Representatives. 
 
Even if he tries to bring about a general election by creating 
turmoil in the political situation, the people will not be 
convinced. In such a case, the DPJ will lose the Lower House 
election. Even if the DPJ submits and adopts a censure resolution 
against cabinet ministers, their resignation will be unnecessary 
unless the people approve it. If the opposition camp misreads the 
right timing for submitting it, that's the end of the party. The 
party should not resort to such a drastic measure. President Ozawa 
must be aware of it. 
 
(7) Tendency among young people in Japan to take to nationalism 
 
NIKKEI (Page 18) (Full) 
Eve., August 8, 2007 
 
Recently, the number of young people who are taking to nationalism 
has been on the rise. The Nikkei interviewed Masachi Osawa, a 
sociologist and professor at Kyoto University about this phenomenon 
that is growing among youth. 
 
Interviewer: Masashi Miyagawa 
 
A Japanese animation television series, "Code Geass -- Lelouch of 
 
TOKYO 00003658  008 OF 009 
 
 
the Rebellion" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code Geass ) has now 
caught on in a big way with "otaku" (computer geeks) youngsters. A 
huge number of responses are posted on the Internet after it was 
broadcast in a late-night slot for television. This series is seen 
as a big hit since another animation television series, "Neon 
Genesis Evangelion" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code Geass). 
Nationalism, I think, is the main theme of that animation. 
 
The plot is like this: 
 
 The superpower, the Holy Empire of Britannia has conquered Japan 
and renamed it "Area 11" as a colony. The superpower sneered at 
Japanese people, calling them "elevens." To win independence, a 
youngster called Lelouch, who led the "Black Knights, has risen in 
revolt against the superpower. The fight between the "Empire of 
Britannia" and the "Black Knights" sounds like the conflict between 
the United States and Al-Qaeda. 
 
Strong sentiments, such as getting wildly excited at Japan's 
national soccer team, can be found among young people. Aggressive 
verbal attacks by young people against leftists are flying around 
the Internet blogs. Such action is different from that of 
conventional nationalists. 
 
Sometime in the past, psychologist Rika Kayama descibed the behavior 
of young people who sang the Japanese national anthem "Kimigayo" 
(His Majesty's Reign) in a carefree fashion in the FIFA World Cup 
qualifiers as "petit nationalism." Now, Osawa characterizes 
present-day nationalistic young people as being in "paradoxical 
self-absorption." Why are young people taking to nationalism, in 
spite of their lacking any traditional Japanese roots? The reasons 
appear linked to what they call the unlucky situation they are 
placed in. 
 
According to one opinion survey, young people are not necessarily 
proud of Japan or of being Japanese. And they do not necessarily 
have confidence in Japan, either. This sense of "unluckiness" is 
widely shared among young people. This sense is perhaps strongly 
felt by "freeters" or job-hopping part-timers. A lack of income is 
one reason, but there is a more serious reason: They cannot sense 
they are needed by society or even recognized in society. Even 
full-time workers working after hours are unable to think that their 
jobs lead to universal values, for instance, such as the ones seen 
in the NHK TV program "Project X," a program spotlighting superior 
craftsmanship. 
 
Those who have this kind of unluckiness sense something deceptive 
about ethically plausible slogans like "Let observe school rules." 
They therefore bash liberals or leftists who are protective of 
postwar democracy. 
 
Osawa takes note of an essay written by a 31-year-old freeter, 
Tomohiro Akagi, titled 'I want to beat 'Masao Maruyama' (liberal 
political scientist), carried by the 2007 January issue of the 
monthly magazine Ronza. In the essay, Akagi claimed that all the 
have-nots can do is to get out of their difficulties by causing the 
society to grow more fluid. 
 
Destructive impulses, as evidenced by the criminal acts of the Aum 
cult, may sweep away the sense of unluckiness. The same goes for 
joining a commune that openly rejects universal social values. 
Reality is more acutely felt from acts directly associated with 
 
TOKYO 00003658  009 OF 009 
 
 
human relations than plausible terms like human rights and peace. If 
so, ideas are necessary to make young people keenly realize through 
direct relations with others that they are living as part of the 
society, instead of having them chant such words as love for 
humanity, in order to contain this sort of rising nationalism among 
young people. 
 
Masahi Osawa: Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1958; graduated from 
University of Tokyo; is a sociologist and the author of such books 
as Seiai to Shihonshugi (Eros and Capitalism), Denshi Media Ron (A 
Study of Electronic Media); and the most recently published book 
Nashonarizumu no Yurai (Origin of Nationalism) published by 
Kodansha. 
 
SCHIEFFER