VZCZCXRO2579
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3995/01 2410123
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 290123Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7023
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 5281
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 2852
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 6478
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1852
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 3599
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8675
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 4736
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5659

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 003995 
 
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 08/29/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Opinion polls: 
4) Shuffled Abe cabinet jumps 11 points in Mainichi poll to 33 
PERCENT , but public split 43 PERCENT  pro and 47 PERCENT  con on 
evaluating the new lineup 
5) Nikkei poll: Abe cabinet support rate leaps 13 points to 41 
PERCENT , with public giving a certain amount of credit to the new 
lineup 
6) Support rate for Abe cabinet jumps 11.5 PERCENT  in Kyodo poll, 
but 51 PERCENT  of the public still want the prime minister to quit 
 
7) Yomiuri poll gives Abe Cabinet a 44 PERCENT  support rate, up 
12.5 PERCENT , as public seems to have higher expectations of it 
than before shuffle 
8) Abe Cabinet support rate rises 7 points to 33 PERCENT  in Asahi 
poll, with non-support rate at 53 PERCENT , down 7 points; 53 
PERCENT  against extending MSDF duty in Indian Ocean 
 
Fate of Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law: 
9) Nikkei poll finds 53 PERCENT  of public against, 30 PERCENT  for 
extending anti-terror bill to allow MSDF refueling in the Indian 
Ocean 
10) Asahi poll finds women and young people strongly against 
extending the anti-terror bill soon to go before the Diet 
11) In telephone conference, new Foreign Minister Machimura tells 
Secretary Rice he will make every effort to get the anti-terror bill 
 
SIPDIS 
passed this fall 
12) Prime Minister Abe vows to try every avenue to get the 
opposition camp to go along with the extension of the anti-terror 
law this fall 
 
North Korea problem: 
13) Japan-North Korea working level talks set for Sept. 5-6 but 
expectations are low 
14) Foreign Minister Machimura: Government considering providing 
North Korea with humanitarian aid to help flood victims 
 
Political scene: 
15) Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano calls DPJ President Ozawa "a fine 
fellow" 
16) Vice Defense Minister Moriya at departure ceremony for outgoing 
defense minister Koike says he "will miss her" but did he mean it? 
17) New LDP Secretary General Aso blocks appointment for former 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki 
18) Anti-Abe lawmaker picked for post of LDP deputy policy research 
chairman 
 
Yasukuni issue: 
19) Abe: Yasukuni should decide on whether Class-A war criminals 
should be unenshrined from Shinto shrine 
20) No money in the budget again for a secular war memorial 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
 
TOKYO 00003995  002 OF 010 
 
 
Abe cabinet approval rating stands at 33 PERCENT ; 53 PERCENT  do 
not support it 
 
Mainichi: 
Survey finds 33 PERCENT  approve of cabinet, up 11 points, but 52 
PERCENT  do not; Pollees split over evaluation of reshuffle 
 
Yomiuri: 
Survey on reshuffled Abe cabinet: 44 PERCENT  support it, up 12 
points from after Upper House election; 55 PERCENT  think it holds 
promise 
 
Nikkei: 
Abe cabinet: Approval rate reaches 41 PERCENT , up 13 points; Those 
who replied they "feel a sense of stability" increases 9 points; 
Moderate praise given to reshuffle 
 
Sankei: 
Abe cabinet gets underway: Personnel well aware of their prowess 
appointed for key positions; Pursue Diet debate with focus on 
Ozawa: 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Hostage crisis in Afghanistan: All South Korean abductees to be 
released with pullout of military troops as condition, South Korean 
government announces 
 
Akahata: 
Internet cafe refugees reach 5,400; Half of them are nonpermanent 
workers, according to Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry; 26 PERCENT 
 in their 20s, 23 PERCENT  in their 50s 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Power shortage: Challenges remain after summer 
(2) Murder of woman: Shadowy job referral service should not be left 
unheeded 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Increase in cabinet approval rating only due to LDP's 
reflection 
(2) Mobile phone site murder case: Time to take second look at 
excessive use of anonymity 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Aegis ships: The way MSDF controls intelligence is far too 
sloppy 
(2) Murder in Aichi Prefecture: Shed light on reality of shadowy 
mobile phone sites 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Make best use of unprecedented personnel appointments to revamp 
Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry 
(2) Reasons for raising taxes are hardly satisfactory 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Military intelligence leak: Aim at becoming the most trustworthy 
country in the world in terms of national security 
(2) Internet murder: Root out criminal sites 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
 
TOKYO 00003995  003 OF 010 
 
 
(1) Abduction of woman in Aichi Prefecture: Anonymity has given rise 
to heinous crimes 
(2) Japan-China defense exchange should play pivotal role in 
avoiding crises 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Nuclear-free Japan declaration: The government should take 
action to root out nuclear weapons 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
10:10 
Met at Kantei with Upper House Chairman Otsuji and Secretary General 
Yamazaki. 
 
13:56 
ttended joint cabinet-LDP funeral service for the late Prime 
Minister Miyazawa at Nippon Budokan Hall. 
 
15:51 
Returned to Kantei. 
 
18:19 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Poll: Cabinet support at 33 PERCENT , nonsupport at 52 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 29, 2007 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Aug. 27-28. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shuffled his 
cabinet on Aug. 27. His newly launched cabinet got a 33 PERCENT 
support rate in the survey, up 11 percentage points from the Abe 
cabinet's all-time low in the last survey conducted Aug. 4-5. The 
Abe cabinet's support rate rebounded to its level before this 
summer's election for the House of Councillors. However, the 
nonsupport rate was 52 PERCENT . As seen from the figure, the Abe 
cabinet's disapproval rating still accounted for more than half. In 
addition, there were also opinions pointing to the premier's lack of 
leadership. The survey showed that there has been no change in the 
public's severe view. Respondents were also asked if they supported 
Abe's new cabinet lineup and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 
new executive lineup. In response to this question, public opinion 
was split, with "yes" accounting for 43 PERCENT  and "no" at 47 
PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP 
stood at 26 PERCENT , with the leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) likewise scoring 26 PERCENT . In the last 
survey, the LDP fell to 17 PERCENT  in public support. This time, 
however, the LDP rebounded with a rise of 9 points. The DPJ 
sustained a drop of 7 points. 
 
5) Poll: Abe cabinet's support rate at 41 PERCENT , up 13 points 
 
NIKKEI (Top play) (Abridged) 
 
TOKYO 00003995  004 OF 010 
 
 
August 29, 2007 
 
Following up Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's launching of his shuffled 
cabinet, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) conducted a spot public 
opinion survey on Aug. 27-28. The new Abe cabinet's support rate 
reached 41 PERCENT , up 13 percentage points from the last survey 
taken in late July. The nonsupport rate was 40 PERCENT , down 23 
points. Abe seems to have obtained public support to a certain 
extent for his removal of cabinet ministers who came under fire for 
their gaffes or murky political funds. However, there are also 
critical opinions about the premier who made up his mind to stay on 
after his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's crushing defeat in this 
summer's election for the House of Councillors. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP 
stood at 35 PERCENT , up 6 points from the last survey. The leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) was at 36 
PERCENT . The DPJ still outpaced the LDP. However, the pro-DPJ 
figure dropped 8 points from the last survey. The margin between the 
two parties' respective figures has narrowed. 
 
The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. over the telephone on a 
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were 
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. 
A total of 1,235 households with one or more voters were sampled, 
and answers were obtained from 687 persons (55.6 PERCENT ). 
 
6) Poll: New Abe cabinet's approval rating rises to 40 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO (Page 1) (Abridged) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Following up Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's launching of his shuffled 
cabinet, Kyodo News conducted a telephone-based spot nationwide 
public opinion survey from the evening of Aug. 27 through Aug. 28. 
The approval rating for the new Abe cabinet was 40.5 PERCENT , up 
11.5 percentage points from the last survey conducted July 30-31 
right after the July 29 House of Councillors election. The 
disapproval rating was 45.5 PERCENT , down 13.5 points. The Abe 
cabinet's support rate last topped 40 PERCENT  in mid-May before the 
issue of the government's pension record-keeping flaws was taken up. 
In the survey, respondents were also asked if they thought the prime 
minister should step down due to his ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party's rout in this summer's upper house election. To this 
question, "yes" accounted for 51.3 PERCENT , up 1.8 points. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 38.8 PERCENT , up 7.3 points from 
a survey taken in late July. The leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto) was 25.6 PERCENT , down 12.0 points. New 
Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, was at 3.2 PERCENT , down 1.3 
points. The Japanese Communist Party was at 3.5 PERCENT , up 0.1 
points. The Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) was at 1.8 
PERCENT , down 0.9 points. The People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin 
Shinto) was at 1.3 PERCENT , up 0.5 points. New Party Nippon (NPN or 
Shinto Nippon) was at 1.0 PERCENT , down 0.9 points. The proportion 
of those with no particular party affiliation was 24.1 PERCENT , up 
8.2 points. 
 
7) Poll: New Abe cabinet scores 44 PERCENT  in public support 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
 
TOKYO 00003995  005 OF 010 
 
 
August 29, 2007 
 
In the wake of Prime Minister Abe's launching of his new cabinet, 
the Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a telephone-based spot nationwide 
public opinion survey from the evening of Aug. 27 through Aug. 28. 
The new Abe cabinet's support rate was 44.2 PERCENT , up 12.5 
percentage points from the 31.7 PERCENT  rating in a previous 
telephone-based spot survey conducted July 30-31 right after the 
July 29 election for the House of Councillors. The nonsupport rate 
was 36.1 PERCENT , down 23.8 points. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 31.8 PERCENT . The leading 
opposition Democratic Party (Minshuto) was at 30.9 PERCENT . The LDP 
was up 0.5 points from the post-election survey, with the DPJ down 
0.5 points. However, the public view of the LDP remained severe. 
 
8) Poll: New Abe cabinet's support rate at 33 PERCENT ; Disapproval 
still high at 53 PERCENT 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Following up Prime Minister Abe's shuffle of his cabinet, the Asahi 
Shimbun conducted a telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion 
survey from the evening of Aug. 27 through the evening of Aug. 28. 
In the survey, the rate of public support for the new Abe cabinet 
was 33 PERCENT , up from an all-time low of 26 PERCENT  in the last 
survey conducted July 30-31, right after the July 29 election for 
the House of Councillors. However, the disapproval rating was still 
high at 53 PERCENT  (60 PERCENT  in the last survey). The Abe 
cabinet's approval rating has rebounded with the shuffle but it 
remains low. In the survey, respondents were asked about their image 
of the prime minister after his cabinet's shuffle. In response, only 
18 PERCENT  answered that their image of the prime minister has 
improved, with 9 PERCENT  saying it has worsened and 66 PERCENT 
saying it remains unchanged. Respondents were also asked about the 
advisability of extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, 
which will become a major point at issue in this fall's 
extraordinary Diet session. To this question, negative answers 
accounted for 53 PERCENT , with affirmative answers at 35 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 25 PERCENT  (21 PERCENT  in the 
last survey), with the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) at 32 PERCENT  (34 PERCENT  in the last survey). The DPJ 
stayed above the LDP from the last survey. 
 
Among other political parties, New Komeito, the LDP's coalition 
partner, was at 3 PERCENT  (5 PERCENT  in the last survey), with the 
Japanese Communist Party at 3 PERCENT  (3 PERCENT  in the last 
survey) and the Social Democratic Party (Shaminto) at 1 PERCENT  (2 
PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
9) Nikkei poll on Antiterrorism Special Measures Law: 53 PERCENT 
against extension; only 30 PERCENT  support it 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
 
The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law expires on Nov. 1. Regarding 
the question of whether to extend the law, 53 PERCENT  replied, "The 
law should not be extended," largely topping the number of pollees 
 
TOKYO 00003995  006 OF 010 
 
 
who said, "The law should be extended." The Maritime Self-Defense 
Force is carrying out refueling operations in the Indian Ocean for 
vessels of the US and other countries, which are engaging in a 
mopping up campaign in the Afghanistan theater. The government is 
aiming at amending the law in the extraordinary Diet session to be 
convened in September. The fact that the poll showed a pronounced 
number of pollees taking a cautious stance toward an extension of 
the law could affect future Diet deliberations. 
 
10) Asahi Shimbun poll: Women, young people strongly oppose 
extension of Antiterrorism Law: 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpt) 
August 29, 2007 
 
The poll found that many pollees were against an extension of the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law with its breakdown showing 35 
PERCENT  in favor of the bill and 53 PERCENT  against it. Among male 
pollees, 44 PERCENT  supported it, and 50 PERCENT  opposed it. 
Female pollees took a cautious stance with 26 PERCENT  supporting it 
and 56 PERCENT  opposed. Another feature of the poll results is that 
respondents in their 20s and 40s were strongly against an extension 
of the law. 
 
Among those who support the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), 60 
PERCENT  supported the law's extension, while 29 PERCENT  opposed 
it. Only 17 PERCENT  of pollees who support the Democratic Party of 
Japan (JDP or Minshuto) approved it, while a whopping 75 PERCENT 
opposed it. The poll thus showed a stark contrast between the views 
of LDP supporters and DPJ supporters over the question of whether to 
extend the law. 
 
Regarding Abe's appointment of former Iwate Prefecture Governor 
Masuda as internal affairs minister with a view to shifting the 
current policy of slighting regional district, 41 PERCENT  expressed 
their positive expectations. The appointment of Masuzoe as health, 
labor and welfare minister, the post to deal with the pension 
fiasco, was also supported by 73 PERCENT . Both figures topped the 
number of those who replied that they had no expectations. Masuzoe's 
popularity was visible with more than 80 PERCENT  of LDP supporters 
and about 70 PERCENT  of DPJ supporters and swing voters expressing 
their expectations. 
 
11) Machimura promises Rice to do his utmost for extending 
antiterrorism law 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura had a teleconference with US 
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday, in which Rice 
 
SIPDIS 
congratulated Machimura for his assumption of office. They also 
exchanged views on the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which has 
been the legal basis for the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
assistance to the US-led coalition forces in the Indian Ocean. 
According to the Foreign Ministry, the two leaders agreed that it is 
essential for Japan-US relations to extend the law so that the MSDF 
will be able to continue its refueling operation beyond November 1. 
Machimura promised that he would do his best to extend the law, and 
Rice said that she is counting on him. 
 
12) Prime Minister Abe: "I'll consult with opposition parties and 
 
TOKYO 00003995  007 OF 010 
 
 
make every effort" for extension of antiterrorism law 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
When asked by reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
yesterday about the question of extending the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told them: "I want the law 
extended. For that, I want to discuss the matter with the Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) and other opposition parties. I'll 
make every effort to obtain their understanding." Abe thus indicated 
his willingness to consult the matter with the opposition bloc. 
 
DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan in this regard indicated a cautious 
stance in a speech in Otaru City, Hokkaido, by noting: "I think it 
is not what the public wants to see that our party meets the ruling 
coalition halfway. The first thing for the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) and the ruling bloc to do is to explain what they want to do 
specifically." DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, as well, told 
reporters: "They do not understand our party. Let's debate fairly. I 
want the public to judge which side is correct." 
 
13) Japan-DPRK working group to open on Sept. 5-6, likely to discuss 
also how to "settle the past" 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 29, 2007 
 
The Japan-North Korea working group on diplomatic normalization is 
to hold talks on Sept. 5-6 in Mongolia. At the session, the Japanese 
government plans to announce its willingness to discuss also the 
question of "settling the past" as called for by North Korea. This 
move reflects Tokyo's desire to elicit somehow a positive response 
from North Korea to the abduction issue by following Foreign 
Minister Nobutaka Machimura's statement saying that he would 
consider providing aid to North Korea, which has suffered from a 
flood. Optimism is, however, guarded for it is not known how the 
North, which has been hard-lined toward Japan, will react. 
 
The Japan-North Korea workingl group will hold talks in Ulan Bator, 
Mongolia. The Mongolian government, which has diplomatic relations 
with North Korea, has previously told Tokyo that it would be willing 
to provide a venue for Japan-North Korea talks. 
 
The chief delegates to the six-party talks in their meeting in July 
agreed to hold talks at the five working groups, including the one 
on Japan-North Korea diplomatic normalization, within August. The 
three working groups already held talks, but two other working 
groups -- the one on US-North Korea diplomatic normalization (which 
is to meet on Sept. 1-2) and the one on Japan-North Korea diplomatic 
normalization -- have yet to hold talks. 
 
14) Machimura: Government is considering humanitarian aid to North 
Korean flood victims 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura in a press interview yesterday 
indicated that the government would consider extending humanitarian 
aid to flood victims in North Korea. Machimura said: "In view of the 
severity of the disaster, I wonder if we should link (the aid) to 
 
TOKYO 00003995  008 OF 010 
 
 
the abduction issue. We are now hastily studying the matter. We must 
come up with an answer swiftly." 
 
Japan and North Korea are scheduled to hold a meeting of their 
working-group to discuss diplomatic normalization for two days from 
September 5 in Mongolia under the framework of the six-party talks. 
Machimura's statement on humanitarian aid is apparently aimed to 
induce a positive stance from North Korea regarding the abduction 
issue. 
 
15) Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano: Ozawa is a good person 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano talked about Ichiro Ozawa, 
president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), at a press 
conference yesterday: "I know him well through jobs and our common 
interests. He is a good person." He took a completely different 
position from his predecessor, Shiozaki, who had repeatedly 
criticized Ozawa. In the wake of the trading of places between the 
ruling and opposition camps in the House of Councillors, Yosano 
apparently was trying to set forth a cooperative stance with the 
DPJ. 
 
Yosano said: "When I was serving my fifth term in the Diet, he was 
the LDP's secretary general." Referring to one of his interests, 
Yosano, who is regarded as the best Go player in the political 
world, jokingly said: "I have given Mr. Ozawa guidance in the game 
of Go." He then revealed that Ozawa had asked him sometimes to play 
Go and that they played only once after Ozawa left the LDP. 
 
16) "You will be missed" -- a farewell address to Koike from Moriya, 
but did he mean it? 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike delivered a speech in a 
ceremony for her departure from the post, held last evening at the 
ministry. Koike called for a tighter information management system 
by saying in the speech: "I would like to see thorough information 
management and an enhanced Japan-US alliance. This is my last 
message." Vice Administrative Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya, who 
had locked horns with Koike over his successor, is also scheduled to 
retire on September 1. Moriya calmly delivered a farewell address 
that went, "You will be greatly missed by all of us at the Defense 
Ministry." Moriya's message stopped short of mentioning information 
security, however. A chilly atmosphere surrounded Koike and Moriya 
until the last moment. 
 
17) Plan to appoint Shiozaki as senior deputy chairman of the LDP 
Policy Research Council ends fruitlessly due to Aso's opposition 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Following the inauguration of a new cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo 
Abe, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) also launched yesterday a 
new executive board led by Secretary General Taro Aso. Prior to the 
renewal of the LDP executive lineup, it had been expected that 
former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, a symbol of the 
 
TOKYO 00003995  009 OF 010 
 
 
so-called "cabinet of friends of Abe," would be picked as senior 
deputy chairman of the LDP Policy Research Council, but that 
portfolio did not go to him. It is said that Aso, who has now 
prioritized a policy of placing emphasis on revitalizing regional 
economy, was unwilling to put Shiozaki in that post, assuming that 
he as a reformist might take the initiative in making policy 
decisions by keeping Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru 
Ishihara under his control. 
 
Shiozaki just left the chief cabinet secretary post after being the 
lightning rod for angry charges over the "cabinet of friends." 
Shiozaki and Ishihara, members of the new breed of lawmakers who 
were specialists in making policies, worked hard for consultations 
between the ruling and opposition parties during the 1998 
extraordinary Diet session, which focused on revitalizing the 
financial system. Because of this reason, Ishihara intended to pick 
him as his deputy. 
 
Aso, however, opposed the idea. He stressed in a press conference 
held soon after becoming secretary general: "Our mission is to 
rebuild the LDP that was destroyed (by (former Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi)." He believes that rebuilding the LDP from the 
humiliating defeat in the July Upper House election can be made by 
revitalizing local economies devastated by the Koizumi's structural 
reform drive. He appears to have aimed as underscoring a change in 
the party's policy by excluding Shiozaki. 
 
Instead of Shiozaki, Kisaburo Tokai, a member of the Yamasaki 
faction, was selected. After the Upper House election, Tokai joined 
a study group of lawmakers critical of Prime Minister Abe, but he 
left the group yesterday, saying, "Since I became senior deputy 
chairman of the Policy Research Council, I cannot continue to be in 
the group." 
 
18) Tokai, critical of Abe, named Policy Research Council senior 
deputy chairman 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
August 29, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party decided yesterday to appoint former 
Senior Vice Education, Science and Technology Minister Kisaburo 
Tokai of the Yamasaki faction as Policy Research Council senior 
deputy chairman. Prime Minister Abe had planned the appointment of 
former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, but the LDP 
leadership rejected it. The party apparently aims to play up a 
well-balanced lineup by appointing Tokai, who is critical of Abe's 
policy course. 
 
Tokai was a member of the group launched by LDP Lower House members 
after the July Upper House election calling for a review of Abe's 
policy course, including his economic growth strategy. The 
leadership decided to gave Tokai the post upon his withdrawal from 
the group. Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara 
explained Tokai's appointment this way: "He served as policy chief 
of New Party Sakigake (or Harbinger, established in 1993). We gave 
importance to that experience." Meanwhile, Shiozaki worked as a 
driving force of Abe's economic growth strategy as chief cabinet 
secretary. Abe urged Ishihara and others to approve the appointment 
 
SIPDIS 
of Shiozaki, who pushed ahead with the reform policy course, but 
Secretary General Taro Aso and Ishihara reportedly rejected it, 
 
SIPDIS 
citing Shiozaki's coordination ability and other factors. Shiozaki 
 
TOKYO 00003995  010 OF 010 
 
 
was instead offered the post of research commission chairman, but he 
declined it. 
 
19) Prime Minister Abe: Yasukuni should decide on whether Class-A 
war criminals should be unenshrined from Shinto shrine 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
Asked about Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano's pet opinion that 
Yasukuni Shrine should separate Class-A war criminals from it, Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe responded: 
 
"I think that is Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano's view. I believe 
that Yasukuni Shrine, a religious organization, should make a 
decision on that (whether Class-A war criminals should be 
unenshrined from the shrine)." 
 
20) Government not to make a budgetary request on a new memorial 
facility for next fiscal year budget owing to lack of "national 
consensus" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 29, 2007 
 
The government yesterday decided not to make a budgetary request for 
a survey intended for the construction of a new national memorial 
facility (for the war dead) in compiling the fiscal 2008 budget 
bill. 
 
Prime Minister Abe has indicated his cautiousness about constructing 
a new memorial facility. The government also has judged it is 
difficult to submit a budgetary request in this regard at this point 
in time as an aide to the prime minister said, "No national 
consensus has been obtained." 
 
The construction of a memorial facility was proposed at the end of 
2002 by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda's advisory panel 
because of objections from China and South Korea to then Prime 
Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine. The panel suggested 
that "it is necessary to construct a permanent, secular facility to 
be run by the state." Some in the ruling parties are calling for 
making a budgetary request for a survey concerning the construction 
of such a facility, but a budgetary request has been put on hold 
every year. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano has insisted on separately enshrining 
the Class-A war criminals from Yasukuni Shrine. Asked about this by 
reporters late yesterday at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, 
Prime Minister Abe said: "I think that is Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Yosano's idea. That is a matter the religious corporation Yasukuni 
Shrine should decide." 
 
DONOVAN