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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 004047 
 
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 08/31/07 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law: 
4) In interview, Pres. Bush says he hopes to see extension of the 
Anti-Terrorism Special Measures Law allowing MSDF refueling service 
in the Indian Ocean 
5) Statement by Pres. Bush on Japan continuing Indian Ocean service 
reveals USG concern about an unraveling of the anti-terror coalition 
 
6) MSDF activities would be halted if anti-terro law not extended in 
late Oct. 
7) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) planning bill to scrap the 
anti-terror law in the fall extraordinary session of the Diet, 
submit own bill with alternate contribution 
8) LDP lawmaker Fukaya named chairman of the Lower House special 
committee on terrorism 
 
Other defense issues: 
9) Abe's collective self-defense panel to urge expanded logistical 
support role for Japan 
10) Conciliatory mood dominates visit of China's Defense Minister 
Cao to Japan 
11) Missile defense: Defense Ministry considering deploying PAC-3 to 
parks in Tokyo 
 
Political scene: 
12) Ozawa declares virtual war on the LDP by setting policy goal 
this year of forcing dissolution of the Diet 
13) LDP to attack Ozawa in fall Diet session for his secretary's 
involvement in DPJ lawmaker Aoki's election violation 
14) Farm minister Endo received improper political contribution from 
a support group 
 
15) Yomiuri poll: 80 PERCENT  of respondents fault Japanese public 
for "bad public manners"; 92 PERCENT  want moral values taught in 
school 
 
Civil aviation issue: 
16) Inspections find ANK's Boeing-built 737 lacked key washer like 
same model China Airlines passenger plane that blew up in Naha 
17) Confidence in Boeing drops over missing part in new airliners 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Sankei: 
Education Ministry proposes increasing class hours at elementary 
schools for first time in 30 years 
 
Yomiuri, Tokyo Shimbun: 
Washer on Air Nippon jetliner missing, similar to case of the China 
Airlines plane that exploded at Naha Airport 
 
Nikkei: 
Nippon Paper, Rengo to integrate cardboard production 
 
Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00004047  002 OF 012 
 
 
LDP subcommittee proposes abolishing present standards to authorize 
A-bomb victims 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Long-awaited restart of Japan-China defense exchanges 
(2) Nara pregnant woman miscarries in ambulance: Too many loopholes 
in emergency medical service network 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Ex-welfare ministry official's lack of morality regarding 
accepting cash and goods 
(2) Abduction of South Korea nationals: Blueprint necessary to 
stabilize Afghanistan 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Japan-China defense summit: China should improve military 
transparency 
(2) Runaround of pregnant woman: Improvement in emergency obstetric 
care system urgently needed 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Make drastic cut in expanded budget requests 
(2) Interlock FTAs and agriculture reform 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan-China defense summit: Continue frank dialogue 
(2) Runaround of pregnant woman: Doctors forget obligation 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Runaround of pregnant woman: Women only wanted to give birth 
(2) Visit to Japan by German Chancellor Merkel: Presence of "new 
EU" 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Consumption tax hike a challenge to the public, ignoring public 
will 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 30 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
09:18 
Cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Met with Internal Affairs Minister 
Masuda, followed by Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) 
Chairman Mitarai. 
 
10:30 
Informal discussion meeting on the reconstruction of legal grounds 
for security. 
 
13:40 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
14:30 
Met with Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and others. 
 
15:01 
 
TOKYO 00004047  003 OF 012 
 
 
Met with Vice Foreign Minister Kono. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Ando was present. 
 
15:33 
Handed over a letter of appointment to the new parliamentary 
secretaries. Photo session with them, followed by parliamentary 
 
SIPDIS 
secretaries' meeting. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
16:01 
Met with Yasuo Kanzaki, special advisor to the Nikko-Citi Group and 
a Japanese member of APEC Business Advisory Council. Foreign 
Ministry Economic Affairs Bureau Director General Otabe was 
present. 
 
17:11 
Met with Chief and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Yosano and 
Iwaki. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ono joined. 
 
19:32 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
4) Bush expresses hope for extension of antiterrorism law in press 
interview 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
Ryuichi Otsuka, Washington 
 
President George W. Bush gave a press interview at the White House 
at noon August 30 (before dawn of August 31, Japan time). In the 
interview, the president expressed his strong hope for an extension 
of Japan's Antiterrorism Special Measures Law slated to expire on 
November 1, saying, "I hope (Japan's) active influence will be 
maintained." Although Washington has strongly lobbied Tokyo for the 
law's extension, this is the first time President Bush has openly 
referred to it. 
 
President Bush is expected to directly ask Prime Minister Abe for an 
extension in their summit talks scheduled to take place on the 
sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting to 
be held in Sydney from September 8. 
 
President Bush also thanked the Japanese government and people for 
Japan's contributions in Afghanistan. This made it clear once again 
that the US government, which gives top priority to the war on 
terrorism, attaches great importance to Japan's contributions. 
 
At the same time, the president indicated that he remembers the 
abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea to show consideration 
to Japan. 
 
The interview was given to news companies from five major APEC 
member countries. From Japan, the Yomiuri Shinbun took part in it. 
 
 
5) Bush concerned about possible negative impact on solidarity among 
countries participating in antiterrorism war 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
August 31, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00004047  004 OF 012 
 
 
Fumi Igarashi, Washington 
 
President George W. Bush in a press interview on August 30 expressed 
his hope for an extension of Japan's Antiterrorism Special Measures 
Law beyond November 1. This stems from a sense of alarm that a 
withdrawal from the Afghan theater by Japan, a staunch US ally, 
might cast a pall not only on Japan-US relations but also on 
international solidarity. 
 
To the US government, the military operation in Afghanistan, along 
with Iraq, is on the front line of the war on terrorism. To assist 
it, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has provided 480,000 
kiloliters of fuel worth about 21.9 billion yen to the naval vessels 
of 11 countries, including the United States and Pakistan. 
 
In the event Japan withdrew from the Indian Ocean, a US naval vessel 
would be the only one that is technically capable of filling in that 
"hole." That is certain to increase the burden on the US military, 
which is already exhausted from the long antiterrorism war. 
 
South Korea, another US ally, has already decided to leave 
Afghanistan before the end of the year. Departures from Afghanistan 
by US allies in succession might dampen the morale of other 
participating countries. 
 
Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution indicated that the war 
in Afghanistan is being widely supported in the United States, 
including the Democrats. He also warned that if Japan leaves the 
Indian Ocean, that could adversely affect US-Japan relations after 
the end of the Bush administration in January 2009. 
 
6) MSDF activities will be halted if antiterror law is not extended 
in late Oct. 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
The Antiterror Special Measures Law is to expire Nov. 1. The 
government needs to get Diet approval by then for its legislative 
measure revising the antiterror law to extend the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. 
Otherwise, the antiterror law will lose its effect at that point. 
This is a common understanding within the government, and it will be 
meaningless to continue Diet deliberations on the legislation. It is 
too late even if the legislation is enacted after seeing the law 
expire. 
 
The MSDF will have to halt its activities in the Indian Ocean 
because its activities there will lose legal grounds. 
 
The Cabinet Secretariat, a government office in charge of the 
antiterror law, is now consulting with the Cabinet Legislation 
Bureau on whether the Diet has ever continued to deliberate on a 
similar bill to revise a time-limited law even after its expiry and 
also on legal interpretation over a law that has lost its effect. 
However, the government has not found any good idea. 
 
7) DPJ mulls repealing antiterror law, poised to rock Abe 
administration 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00004047  005 OF 012 
 
 
 
The Diet will focus on the advisability of extending the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law in its extraordinary session to 
be convened Sept. 10. On this issue, the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) has now fleshed out its 
counterproposal. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has clarified that his 
party would oppose a government-sponsored bill seeking to extend the 
antiterror law. Meanwhile, the ruling and opposition parties have 
now changed places in the House of Councillors as a result of this 
summer's election. Taking this chance, the DPJ is poised to 
undermine the efforts of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his 
government by introducing a bill repealing the antiterror law and to 
set forth an alternative plan for Japan's international 
contributions. 
 
Ozawa yesterday met with German Chancellor Merkel. In the meeting, 
Ozawa implied his intention to oppose the idea of extending the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. "We've yet to deepen our 
discussions," Ozawa said. Merkel replied, "If Japan is going to 
continue its role in the international community, Japan will have to 
hold itself even more responsible." However, Ozawa remained 
committed to opposing the antiterror law's extension. 
 
After that, Ozawa met his party's female lawmakers. He told them 
that the upcoming extraordinary session of the Diet could become a 
"major turning point." He added: "We will ask for a public judgment 
in there. Depending on how the Diet session will come out, there may 
be an election for the House of Representatives. So we may have to 
trouble you again. But that's the road to grabbing the reins of 
government." 
 
The DPJ has three options in mind. The first conceivable option is 
to vote down the revision bill in the House of Councillors as soon 
as the legislation is sent from the House of Representatives. In 
this case, the legislation will be brought back to the House of 
Representatives, and the DPJ would then overlook the legislation's 
passage and enactment. The second conceivable option is to prolong 
Diet deliberations on the revision bill in the House of Councillors 
and wait for the antiterror law to run out. The third one is to 
repeal the antiterror law first and then to let the law expire 
without deliberating on the revision bill. 
 
In the DPJ, however, there are also deep-seated concerns. One of its 
lawmakers said, "If we only oppose the law, the people may think we 
are incompetent to take office." The DPJ will therefore call on the 
government to disclose information about the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling activities and costs in a Diet budget committee 
meeting before entering into deliberations on the antiterror law. 
 
If the government's response is insufficient or unacceptable, the 
DPJ will immediately bring before the House of Councillors a bill 
repealing the antiterror law. This makes clear the DPJ's course of 
action unlike the second option in which it chooses to do nothing. 
In this case, the DPJ deems it possible to dodge criticism from the 
ruling parties and the public for prolonging Diet deliberations. 
 
The government may come up with substantial information. In this 
case, the DPJ may think it would be disadvantageous for the party to 
remain opposed to the legislation. The DPJ would then vote down the 
legislation in the House of Councillors and may connive against its 
being passed again in the House of Representatives that would make 
it a law. 
 
TOKYO 00004047  006 OF 012 
 
 
 
Even in that case, however, the DPJ will come up with its own 
alternative plan to legislate measures for Japan's international 
contributions. The DPJ will call for the ruling coalition to 
incorporate its counterproposal in the revision bill. Specifically, 
the DPJ is considering medical and food support under the private 
sector's initiative with the government's official development 
assistance (ODA) programs in mind. The DPJ will set up a special 
working group under its foreign affairs and defense panel to work 
out a specific plan. 
 
8) Fukaya informally named chairman of Antiterrorism Special 
Committee 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) informally decided yesterday to 
recommend Takashi Fukaya, a Yamasaki faction member and former 
minister of international trade and industry, to be chairman of the 
Lower House Antiterrorism Special Committee, which is expected to 
deliberate a bill revising the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, 
the main issue at the upcoming extraordinary Diet session. Fukaya, 
now serving in his 9th term in the House of Representatives, served 
as home affairs minister. The LDP has now decided to entrust the 
veteran lawmaker to handle a battle between the ruling and 
opposition camps. 
 
The LDP will recommend Lower House Steering Committee Chairman 
Ichiro Aisawa, a Tanigaki faction member, to serve as chairman of 
the Lower House Budget Committee, and Takashi Sasagawa, a Tsushima 
faction member, to be Aisawa's successor. The LDP intends to 
recommend the members of the Tanigaki and Tsushima factions, which 
are critical of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's management of the 
government. 
 
Takashi Fukaya, chairman of the Antiterrorism Special Committee: 
Representing the Lower House Tokyo No. 2 electoral district; 
graduated from Waseda University; served in such posts as MITI 
minister, and chairman of the Lower House Committee on State Basic 
Policy; elected nine times; age 71; belongs to the Yamasaki 
faction. 
 
Ichiro Aisawa, chairman of the Budget Committee: Representing the 
Lower House Okayama No. 1 constituency; graduated from Keio 
University; served in such posts as foreign minister and chairman of 
the Lower House Steering Committee; elected seven times; age 53; 
belongs to the Tanigaki faction. 
 
Takashi Sasagawa, chairman of the Lower House Steering Committee: 
Representing the Lower House Gunma No. 2 constituency; left Meiji 
University in mid-course; served in such posts as state minister in 
charge of science and technology affairs and chairman of the Party 
Ethics Committee; elected seven times; age 71; belongs to the 
Tsushima faction. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
9) Panel: Expand logistical support 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
The Council for Rebuilding the Legal Foundation of National 
 
TOKYO 00004047  007 OF 012 
 
 
Security, a private advisory panel for the prime minister to discuss 
the advisability of exercising the right of collective self-defense, 
met at the prime minister's office yesterday, with former Ambassador 
to the United States Shunji Yanai presiding. The government 
currently limits the Self-Defense Forces' overseas rear support for 
foreign armed forces to "noncombat areas" only. "This kind of 
governmental interpretation is internationally unacceptable and 
unrealistic," one of the panel's members said. Other panel members 
also suggested the need for the government to expand the scope of 
assistance Japan can provide. 
 
The government, in its constitutional interpretation, prohibits the 
SDF from using armed force overseas. In addition, the SDF is also 
prohibited from acting in concert with foreign forces using armed 
force. The SDF-currently operating in Iraq and the Indian Ocean 
under special measures laws-is therefore engaged in logistical 
support in "noncombat areas" only. 
 
10) Japan-China defense exchange to be accelerated with 
demonstration of reconciliation but some concerns left to be 
removed 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Masahiko Komura and his Chinese counterpart Cao 
Gangchua yesterday met in the Defense Ministry and the two leaders 
agreed to accelerate defense exchange and security dialogue between 
the two countries. The Japan-China defense summit took place after a 
lapse of four years, setting the stage for defense exchange, which 
had been interrupted owing to former Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine and other issues, to be resumed 
in full swing. On the other hand, however, when it comes to military 
matters, deep-seated distrust in the other side exists in both Japan 
and China, revealing that there are a number of uncertainties about 
future developments. 
 
In the session, Komura and Cao agreed to set in motion reciprocal 
port calls by vessels from the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) 
and the Chinese Navy within the year. They also confirmed a plan to 
lay a hotline between defense officials of the two countries in 
order to stem an occurrence of an unexpected contingency in the East 
China Sea. 
 
Afterwards, Cao paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
and Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura respectively. Abe welcomed 
Cao, telling him, "I deem it is important to enhance mutual trust 
through defense exchange and security dialogue as part of building a 
strategic, reciprocal relationship." Machimura told Cao: "The 
reshuffled cabinet can be portrayed as a cabinet for enhancing 
friendship between Japan and China." 
 
Both Japan and China have thus projected a conciliatory mood before 
marking the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic normalization between 
the two countries in September, but this series of meetings had also 
some scenes where both sides expressed their concerns about the 
other. 
 
Machimura made mention of China's national defense spending, which 
has continued to increase at the pace of a two-digit percent from 
the previous year for the 19 years in a row and called on China to 
make its defense spending transparent, noting, "The total amount has 
 
TOKYO 00004047  008 OF 012 
 
 
been released, but no details have been made clear." Machimura also 
asked Cao to explain about the incident of a Chinese nuclear 
submarine's intrusion into Japanese territorial waters in 2004 and 
China's satellite-destruction test in January of this year, but no 
clear-cut explanation was given by Cao. 
 
On the contrary, Cao referred to the Taiwan Straits issue and 
checked Japan, noting, "We are paying attention to the relationship 
between the Japan-US security arrangements and Taiwan." China has 
been increasingly alarmed by Japan for its planned missile defense 
system and its moves to strengthen the Japan-US alliance as well as 
cooperation among Japan, the United States, Australia, and India, 
which China calls a "noose around China." 
 
Major points of agreement in Japan-China defense summit 
 
? Chinese vessels will make a port call at a Japanese port in 
November or December, while the MSDF's vessels will visit China next 
year or later. 
? Defense Minister Komura will travel to China next year. 
? Sub-cabinet-level talks will be held in Beijing at an early date. 
? A hotline between defense officials of the two countries will be 
laid. 
? The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) as an observer will take part in the 
Chinese forces' military exercises planned for late September in 
Shenyang. 
 
11) Missile defense: Defense Ministry considering deploying PAC-3 to 
parks in Tokyo 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
August 31, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry is considering deploying the Patriot Advanced 
Capability-3 (PAC-3) ground-to-air guided missile, now deployed at 
the Air Self-Defense Force's Iruma base in Saitama Prefecture as the 
nation's first case as part of ballistic missile defense (BMD), to 
parks in Tokyo, such as Yoyogi Park in Shibuya Ward, in addition to 
SDF garrisons. The ministry intends to conduct drills to move and 
deploy missiles to those places as early as September. 
 
The PAC-3 is a mobile ground-to-air missile capable of intercepting 
a Japan-bound ballistic missile a dozen or so kilometers off the 
ground. The missile was deployed at the ASDF's Iruma base this past 
March to defend the metropolitan area. The PAC-3 has a range of 20 
kilometers. In order to defend nerve centers in Tokyo, such as the 
Kantei (Prime Minister's Official Residence) and central government 
ministries and agencies, the PAC-3 unit must be relocated to 
appropriate places in Tokyo. 
 
The existence of a high-rise buildings and other shade-creating 
structures could reduce the radar's capability to track ballistic 
missiles. For this reason, spacious public land is most suitable for 
deployment of the PAC-3. The ministry is earnestly studying 
candidate sites, such as Yoyogi Park and Harumi Wharf in Chuo Ward, 
in addition to the Ground Self-Defense Force's Ichigaya garrison in 
Shinjuku Ward and the Nerima garrison in Nerima Ward. 
 
The ministry is considering conducting drills in September for 
relocating and deploying missiles to those places from the Nerima 
base. Conducting drills at parks requires authorization from the 
Tokyo metropolitan government that manages them. The ministry plans 
 
TOKYO 00004047  009 OF 012 
 
 
to seek its cooperation in future talks. 
 
12) DPJ hardening confrontational stance: Ozawa expresses 
determination to force dissolution of Lower House, maintains 
opposition to Antiterrorism Law 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) head Ozawa yesterday 
expressed his determination to force the government and the ruling 
parties to dissolve the Lower House during the extraordinary Diet 
session to be convened in the fall. His judgment is that having a 
Lower House election while his party still has momentum from its 
victory in the Upper House election would be advantageous. The 
ruling bloc is alert to Ozawa taking a forceful stance in steering 
Diet management. 
 
According to an opinion poll carried out by the Yomiuri Shimbun on 
Aug. 27-28, the approval rating for the DPJ was 31 PERCENT , about 
equal to that of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). 
 
However, there is concern in the DPJ that if it lets its guard down 
at this juncture, it could allow the government and the ruling camp 
to strengthen their hand, as one senior party member put it. 
 
Presumably with the aim of boosting the morale of party members, 
Ozawa has set a policy course aiming at an early Lower House 
dissolution and a general election, taking advantage of the 
extraordinary Diet session just ahead. 
 
A meeting of local assembly members who belong to the LDP was held 
at a Tokyo hotel yesterday evening. Ozawa during the meeting noted, 
"I want to realize decentralization by taking the reins of 
government. Japanese politics, administration and society have 
created a running sore over a long period of time, as can be seen in 
a flurry of administrative scandals and rampant amakudari practices. 
We must fundamentally correct those problems." 
 
Regarding an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, 
the focus of highest attention in the extraordinary Diet session, 
the dominant view in the DIP is that it would be able to secure 
support from the public even if it sticks to its opposition to an 
extension with one member saying, "The public is also skeptical 
whether an extension is really necessary." 
 
As such, the DPJ plans to exercise an administrative investigation 
in the Upper House, where it has a majority, and demand that the 
government reveal details of the actual operations of Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) ships dispatched to the Indian Ocean under 
the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. 
 
During a meeting with German Chancellor Merkel yesterday, Ozawa 
criticized the Japanese government for dispatching SDF personnel 
abroad. He noted, "The major problem about Japan is that the 
dispatch of SDF troops abroad is not based on any principle." He is 
determined to continue to strengthen his confrontational stance 
against the government and the ruling parties. 
 
In contrast, the prevailing view in the government and the ruling 
camp is negative toward early Lower House dissolution and a general 
election because it has only been a short time since the LDP 
 
TOKYO 00004047  010 OF 012 
 
 
suffered a crushing defeat in the Upper House election. 
 
13) Difficult problem for DPJ with Ozawa's private secretary 
involved with charges of election violation by group supporting 
lawmaker Aoki; LDP to pursue issue in extra session of the Diet 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2007 
 
In connection with an incident of election violation in the July 
Upper House proportional representation race by the camp of 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) member Ai Aoki, charges 
of involvement have been raised against the policy secretary of DPJ 
President Ozawa. This is an unwelcome difficult problem for the DPJ, 
which plans to attack the government and ruling party in the 
upcoming extraordinary Diet session. Concern is spreading in the 
party, with one lawmaker saying, "The Liberal Democratic Party will 
be all over us like a dog on a bone." 
 
Ozawa's office yesterday issued this comment: "We have received a 
report from the secretary that his activities did not violate 
election rules." Aoki's office, too, issued a comment on the 
incident: "There were no election violations as described." It is 
working to calm the situation. 
 
14) Illegal donation provided to Agricultural Minister Endo's LDP 
election headquarters from association enjoying government 
subsidies 
 
ASAHI (Page 35) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2007 
 
It was learned yesterday that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
Yamagata No. 2 election office headed by Agriculture, Forestry and 
Fisheries Minister Takehiko Endo received a 50,000 yen donation in 
September 2005 when Endo was serving in the House of Representatives 
from the Yamagata Prefecture Livestock Trade Association, an 
independent administrative institution offered subsidies from the 
farm ministry. The Political Funds Control Law prohibits such 
institutions enjoying subsidies from donating money within one year 
after their founding. Endo, admitting that the donation was illegal, 
returned the money to the association and submitted the corrected 
report on political founds to the Yamagata Electoral Management 
Committee. 
 
According to the political funds report and Endo's office, the 
Yamagata No. 2 electoral bureau received the 50,000 yen donation 
from an association official on Sept. 6, 2005, five days before the 
election day for the latest Lower House poll. 
 
According to the agriculture ministry, the association received 
during the period of between September and December 2004 a notice of 
determination on subsidies -- about 8.36 million yen to commercial 
growers collecting paddy straws and about 9.18 million yen as 
incentive for domestic livestock breeding -- from the Agriculture & 
Livestock Industries Corporation. 
 
15) Poll: 88 PERCENT  feel public manners becoming bad; 92 PERCENT 
in favor of intensive school education on morals 
 
YOMIURI (Page 38) (Full) 
August 31, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00004047  011 OF 012 
 
 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a interview-based nationwide survey on 
public manners on Aug. 4-5. Asked about the government's policy of 
teaching moral values in schools, the ratio of respondents who 
supported that policy, including those who were more or less 
favorable, reached 92 PERCENT . Only 6 PERCENT  were against it. By 
generation, the largest ratio of 95 PERCENT  among respondents in 
their 70s and over supported the idea of moral values being taught 
in schools. The ratio of those who supported the government policy 
topped 90 PERCENT  in all generations with the exception of 
respondents in their 20s and 50s. 
 
Pollees who feel that the Japanese public has become ill-mannered 
recently reached 88 PERCENT , if those who replied, "frequently" and 
"sometimes" are included. The figure is down 2 points compared with 
the poll conducted in May 2002, in which the same question was 
asked, but it is the same as that marked in the survey carried out 
in January 1998. Respondents who replied, "frequently," increased 9 
points compared with the 1998 poll. 
 
The number of pollees who feel that Japanese public has become 
ill-mannered still remains high. The poll found that their sense of 
crisis has generated extremely high expectations of moral education 
for children to learn the norms of the society. The government's 
Education Revitalization Council has come up with a policy of 
upgrading a class to teach morals to a school subject for moral 
education. 
 
As reasons for bad public manners (multiple replies were allowed), 
the largest number or 77 PERCENT  faulted a lack of home discipline, 
followed by 60 PERCENT , who said, "Adults do not observe public 
manners," and 54 PERCENT , who replied, "Adults do not scold 
ill-mannered children." 
 
As measures to improve public manners (multiple replies were 
allowed), 67 PERCENT  replied, "Discipline in the home, including 
education on public manners, should be improved." 
 
16) Air Nippon Boeing jet lacks washer for bolt 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2007 
 
Following the case of a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane that 
exploded at Naha Airport recently, the Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) has instructed airline companies 
to make an emergency inspection of the same models. MLIT yesterday 
revealed that a washer for a bolt was discovered missing from one 
Air Nippon Boeing 737-700 jet's main wing. The explosion was 
reportedly caused mainly by fuel leak from a fuel tank because a 
bolt fell off and pierced the tank. The missing washer in this Air 
Nippon plane might have caused a similar case. 
 
17) Airline companies now distrustful of Boeing over the lack of 
washer, seek explanation 
 
ASAHI (Page 35) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2007 
 
Following the recent case of a Boeing jet that exploded at Naha 
Airport, another Boeing jet was also discovered to have lacked a 
washer for a bolt. It was also found that bolts fell off more easily 
 
TOKYO 00004047  012 OF 012 
 
 
from the new-generation model, which caused the explosion, than the 
old-generation one in terms of design. Having doubts about Boeing 
jets, airline companies might call on Boeing to give an 
explanation. 
 
"It was good for us to discover a defect (that may cause an 
accident) during an inspection," Air Nippon's Maintenance Director 
Seiji Saeki said at a press conference at the Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) at 5:30 p.m. yesterday. But 
referring to the existence of the defect, he noted, "It's bad," 
adding: "If it becomes clear that a washer was not attached in the 
production process, we will then make a claim against Boeing and 
call on it to take measures." 
 
DONOVAN