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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 004223 
 
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 09/11/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Anti-Terrorism Law: 
4) Government to present a new bill to replace expiring anti-terror 
law that would limit MSDF activity to oil supplying in the Indian 
Ocean, remove Diet approval 
5) New anti-terror law would be readopted in the Lower House in 
order to pass, as hardball DPJ refuses even party head meeting 
6) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to present own bill in Upper 
House scrapping existing anti-terror law and pursue the government 
on the policy and dispatch 
7) DPJ hardens attitude toward the LDP over anti-terror law as extra 
Diet session begins 
 
Abe in trouble: 
8) Yomiuri poll: Abe Cabinet support rate at 29 PERCENT ; On 
extension of MSDF anti-terror dispatch, 29 PERCENT  approve, 39 
PERCENT  disapprove; 29 PERCENT  can't say which 
9) Abe's remark in Diet speech "staking my job" on continuing MSDF 
service in the Indian Ocean sets off wave of confusion in ruling 
camp 
10) Abe's speech in Diet lacks his policy imprint, with "beautiful 
country" mentioned only once 
11) Abe in speech jumps over mention of Lake Toya Summit next year 
 
12) New Komeito levels some bitter criticism of Abe 
13) 15 prefectural chapters of the LPD calling for Prime Minister 
Abe to step down 
14) Koizumi's children - group of freshmen lawmakers who came into 
the Lower House in the 2005 election - are upset by LDP reinstating 
postal rebel Hiranuma 
 
15) US, Japan, European and Asian securities firms to strengthen 
internal voluntary rules and rank companies in order to prevent 
another sub-prime fiasco 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Government, ruling camp to present to Diet new legislation strictly 
for refueling in Indian Ocean 
 
Mainichi: 
If new legislation to continue refueling mission is rejected in 
Upper House, government, ruling coalition eye override in Lower 
House 
 
Yomiuri, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun: 
5.24 million pension accounts nameless 
 
Nikkei: 
MHLW to ease burden of households depending on health, nursing 
insurance starting next spring 
 
Akahata: 
Extraordinary Diet session convenes; Chairman Shii delivers speech 
 
TOKYO 00004223  002 OF 012 
 
 
in JCP meeting to lock horns with LDP, New Komeito 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Prime minister's resolve hard to understand 
(2) APEC takes first step toward stopping global warming 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Prime Minister Abe's fate hinges on just-opened Diet session 
(2) Rocky path lies ahead of private universities 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) MSDF refueling mission Japan's international duty 
(2) APEC declaration includes energy conservation targets 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Prime Minister Abe cuts off his retreat in extraordinary Diet 
session 
(2) Economic trends need watchful eye 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Prime minister's determination needs more explanation 
(2) Six years after 9/11: War on terrorism requires unwavering 
solidarity 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Abe's policy speech too light 
(2) More fulltime jobs necessary to reduce income disparities 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Prime Minister Abe's policy speech: He has not learned lesson 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 9 & 10 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
Sept. 9 
Morning 
Met with Australian Prime Minister Howard at the Australian 
government office in Sydney. Held a joint press conference. Met with 
Mexican President Calderon at Shangri-La Hotel. Had a chat with 
Chinese President Hu Jintao without sitting down at Government 
House. Attended the APEC summit conference. 
Noon Attended a summit luncheon. 
Afternoon Released a summit declaration. Held a press conference 
with Japanese and foreign reporters at Hilton Hotel. 
Night Left Sydney Airport aboard a government plane. 
 
Sept. 10 
06:09 
Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
 
06:46 
Reported on his return home at Imperial Palace. 
 
07:03 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
 
TOKYO 00004223  003 OF 012 
 
 
10:50 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano at Kantei. 
 
11:01 
Attended a special cabinet meeting. 
 
11:30 
Attended a joint plenary meeting of LDP members of both Houses of 
the Diet in Diet, and afterwards attended a meeting of lawmakers. 
 
12:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
12:13 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
13:00 
Attended the opening ceremony of an extraordinary Diet session at 
the Upper House Plenary Hall. 
 
13:12 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
14:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
14:52 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
16:19 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. 
 
17:03 
Attended an LDP executive meeting in Diet. Afterwards, met with 
Secretary General Aso. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
17:53 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
18:27 
Met with Prime Ministerial Advisor Nakayama. 
 
18:53 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
4) New antiterror legislation eyed for refueling only 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
The government and the ruling parties decided yesterday to introduce 
a new legislative measure to the Diet stipulating a clause allowing 
Japan to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's current task of 
supplying foreign naval vessels with fuel and water in the Indian 
Ocean, instead of extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. 
The current antiterror law requires the government to ask the Diet 
for its approval after sending out the Self-Defense Forces. The new 
legislation will not stipulate this requirement of ex post facto 
approval from the Diet. Instead, the legislation will limit SDF 
activities to fuel and water supply only. The legislation, after 
enacted into law, will be valid for one year. The government and the 
ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito 
 
TOKYO 00004223  004 OF 012 
 
 
will finalize a draft of the legislation late this month. In the 
Diet, the House of Councillors, in which the opposition bench 
currently holds a majority of the seats, may vote down the 
legislation. In that case, the ruling coalition will pass it again 
in the House of Representatives by a majority of two-thirds or 
more. 
 
In the Indian Ocean, naval vessels from foreign countries-including 
the United States, Britain, and Pakistan-are on stage to block 
terrorists from trafficking weapons, drugs, and money. To assist 
their maritime interdiction operations (MIO) there, the MSDF has 
been supplying them with fuel and water. 
 
The new legislation allows tasking the MSDF with refueling and water 
supply activities in order to continue the MSDF's mission in the 
Indian Ocean. The current antiterror law incorporates search and 
rescue operations as well as disaster relief operations. The new 
legislation will not incorporate these activities. 
 
The new legislation limits the MSDF's activities. The newly planned 
law is to be valid for a period of one year. The ruling coalition 
will regard the Diet's voting on the bill as its approval and will 
not stipulate ex post facto approval. However, some ruling party 
lawmakers say the government should report to the Diet on its SDF 
dispatch. The government and the ruling parties will coordinate on 
the matter. 
 
Furthermore, the DPJ may focus on measures for humanitarian 
assistance to Afghanistan. In this case, the government and the 
ruling coalition will consider incorporating the DPJ's standpoint in 
the new legislation. 
 
The government and the ruling coalition plan to present the new 
legislation to the Diet in late September. They want to get it 
through the House of Representatives at an early date and send it to 
the House of Councillors. 
 
However, the DPJ does not approve of refueling itself and is 
expected to vote against the new legislation. The Diet will likely 
face rough going in its deliberations. 
 
 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law and new legislation compared 
 Current law New legislation 
Activities Cooperation to back up foreign forces through fuel and 
water supply services, search and rescue operations, disaster relief 
operations. SDF activities limited to fuel and water supply services 
for foreign vessels. 
Diet role Diet approval required after starting SDF activities. If 
disapproved, SDF activities must be terminated without delay. Diet 
approval not required. 
Duration Enacted as a time-limited law valid for 2 years. Extended 
in 2003 for another 2 years. Reextended in 2005 and 2006 for 1 year 
each. Likely to be valid for 1 year. 
 
5) If new legislation to continue refueling mission rejected in 
Upper House, Government, ruling coalition eye re-approval in Lower 
House 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
September 11, 2007 
 
 
TOKYO 00004223  005 OF 012 
 
 
In order to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean to support the reconstruction of 
Afghanistan, the government and ruling camp decided yesterday to 
submit to the extraordinary Diet session a bill creating new 
legislation to replace the current Antiterrorism Special Measures 
Law in order to get it re-approved by the Lower House, even if it is 
rejected by the opposition-controlled Upper House. In the meanwhile, 
the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan remains adamantly 
opposed to an extension of the MSDF mission. DPJ President Ichiro 
Ozawa, who will not respond to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's call for 
talks, intends to ask for a party-head debate at the Diet. 
 
The Antiterrorism Law expires November 1, the government, however, 
does not intend to stick to its expiry. Even if the MSDF mission was 
terminated temporarily, the government plans to redeploy troops 
based on the envisaged new law to obtain the understanding of the 
United States. 
 
Cautious views were heard in the ruling camp about obtaining 
re-approval in the Lower House, one senior LDP lawmaker saying: "It 
is not easy to overturn the rejection of a bill by the Upper House." 
On September 9, the prime minister expressed his willingness to step 
down in the event he failed to get Diet approval for the legislation 
designed to extend the refueling mission. Given the slim chance for 
the DPJ to change its mind, he also decided to aim at re-approval in 
the Lower House. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano in a press conference yesterday 
made the following comment about the situation in which the 
envisaged bill was voted down in the Upper House: "The Constitution 
stipulates that a bill which is passed by the Lower House, and upon 
which the Upper House makes a decision different from that of the 
Lower House, becomes a law when passed a second time by the Lower 
House by a two-thirds majority. There is no need to make a big fuss 
about it." 
 
There is a high likelihood that the bill will be presented to the 
Diet before the end of this month and passed by the Lower House in 
early October with a majority vote of the ruling parties and then 
sent to the Upper House. If the opposition camp tries to prolong 
Upper House deliberations and the chamber cannot take a vote, the 
ruling camp would aim for re-approval in the Lower House by applying 
the "60-day rule" in the Constitution. With such developments in 
mind, the government and ruling camp are considering extending the 
Diet session until November 10. 
 
The DPJ is reacting furiously to such a move of the government and 
ruling camp as neglecting the Upper House. At the same time, fearing 
that simply rejecting a party-head meeting would result in public 
criticism, the DPJ has decided to call for a public debate. 
 
6) DPJ to submit bill to rescind Iraq Special Measures Law 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided yesterday to submit to 
the current Diet session a bill designed to rescind the Iraq 
Humanitarian Reconstruction Support Special Measures Law. The aim is 
to immediately withdraw the Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops now 
engaged in operations in Iraq. The Abe administration gives top 
priority in its foreign policy to the humanitarian reconstruction 
 
TOKYO 00004223  006 OF 012 
 
 
operations in Iraq, as well as the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission. The main opposition party aims to play up its 
stance of confronting the government and ruling parties by rejecting 
both missions, which the prime minister gives priority to in light 
of international contributions and strengthening the Japan-United 
States alliance. 
 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and other senior members yesterday 
conferred on the party's basic approach in the current Diet session 
and decided to submit the bill to the House of Councillors. The 
refueling operations (in the Indian Ocean) based on the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law are intended to assist 
Afghanistan, but some have contended that the US vessels refueled by 
the MSDF are actually carrying out operations in Iraq. The DPJ is 
also aiming to attack the government by linking the Antiterrorism 
Law to Iraq. 
 
A bill amending the Iraq Special Measures law to extend the law by 
another two years was enacted in the ordinary Diet session this 
year. The Air Self-Defense Force has been transporting goods and 
personnel. 
 
7) DPJ hardening stance in reaction to prime minister's statement on 
extension of Antiterrorism Special Measures Law: Ruling party 
members beginning to refer to possible Diet dissolution 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Almost full)\ 
September 11, 2007 
 
Apart from what he really meant, the prime minister's Diet speech 
carries special weight. Prime Minister Miyazawa in the past declared 
that he would carry out political reform. However, his failure to do 
so led to the adoption of a no-confidence motion against his 
cabinet. As can be seen in this instance, strong words have a 
greater fatal risk. 
 
Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima, who is serving as 
the central command of the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Diet 
strategy, yesterday told reporters, "The prime minister expressed a 
very strong resolve. He made that statement out of the desire to 
have the public understand the important meaning of the issue and 
the ruling camp pursue intensive discussions." He indicated his 
determination to do his utmost to secure Diet passage for the bill 
amending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. Another senior 
member of the LDP Diet Affairs Committee noted, "Upon hearing the 
prime minister's statement, I felt how I should take it. Anyhow, I 
must undertake the job with resolution." 
 
Following the prime minister's statement, the atmosphere is 
permeating among government and ruling party officials that if the 
prime minister is determined to take the leap, everyone will all 
have to do the same with great resolution, as Health, Labor and 
Welfare Minister Masuzoe put it. One of the three party executives 
said, "I think that the prime minister's statement was premature and 
inappropriate. However, it has moved the situation one step 
forward." 
 
However, the prime minister's firm determination is ironically 
making the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), whose cooperation he 
needs, harden its attitude. DPJ Chairman Ozawa during a liaison 
council meeting of party executives held in the Diet yesterday gave 
a pep talk, indicating a negative view toward the possibility of 
 
TOKYO 00004223  007 OF 012 
 
 
talks between the ruling and opposition camps. He said, "We cannot 
jump at the ruling camp's proposal with thinking and ideals that are 
different from ours, even if it is modified." Defense Minister 
Keiichiro Asao of the Next Cabinet, who is in charge of this issue, 
categorically said, "There will be no change in the way the DPJ will 
fight." 
 
The widely-held view in the DPJ is that the prime minister's 
statement is intended to shift the blame for a possible failure to 
continue Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the 
Indian Ocean onto the DPJ. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama told 
reporters, "The idea is to generate international criticism if our 
party opposes an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures 
Law, and to continue the operations under a new law. Diet Affairs 
Committee Chair Kenji Yamaoka during a lawmakers meeting pointed 
out, "The LDP intends to spread the propaganda that the DPJ has no 
power left to run the government." 
 
Amid a battle in which neither side is showing any sign of making 
concessions, some ruling party members have begun to make statements 
with the prime minister's resignation, a dissolution of the Lower 
House and a general election in mind. 
 
8) Poll: Cabinet support at 29 PERCENT ; 29 PERCENT  for MSDF 
mission, 39 PERCENT  against 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 11, 2007 
 
The support rate for Prime Minister Abe's cabinet was 29.0 PERCENT , 
the Yomiuri Shimbun found from its face-to-face nationwide public 
opinion survey conducted Sept. 8-9. The nonsupport for the Abe 
cabinet was 60.7 PERCENT . The support rate was up 1.8 percentage 
points from a previous face-to-face survey taken in early August 
after the election for the House of Councillors. The nonsupport rate 
was down 3.0 points. However, the support rate was lower than 30 
PERCENT  for the second month in a row. 
 
In late August, Abe shuffled his cabinet. Abe appointed heavyweights 
to cabinet posts, involving leaders from his ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party's factions. In a telephone-based survey conducted 
right after the cabinet shuffle, his cabinet's support rate rose to 
44.2 PERCENT  out of expectations for his cabinet's new lineup, 
topping the nonsupport rate (36.1 PERCENT ). The results of previous 
polls and the one taken this time cannot be simply compared due to 
different polling methodologies. In the survey this time, however, 
the cabinet support rate fell. This can be taken as reflecting 
public disappointment at the new cabinet due in part to Agriculture, 
Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takehiko Endo's resignation over his 
money scandal. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, however, 
the LDP rose to 29.3 PERCENT , up 3.5 points from the August survey. 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 
20.9 PERCENT , down 6.0 points. 
 
In the survey this time, respondents were also asked about the 
advisability of extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's mission 
in the Indian Ocean under the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to 
continue the MSDF's refueling activities there. In response to this 
question, affirmative answers accounted for 29 PERCENT , with 
negative answers at 39 PERCENT . The proportion of those who "can't 
 
TOKYO 00004223  008 OF 012 
 
 
say which" also rose to 29 PERCENT . There also seem to be many 
people who want to make their judgment after seeing Diet 
deliberations from now on. 
 
9) Prime minister's remark "I will stake my job on extending MSDF 
mission" sets off confusion in ruling parties 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe's remark hinting that he would stake his job on 
extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean set off confusion in the ruling camp yesterday. 
Members wonder what prospects the prime minister has in mind for 
progress on legislation in the current extraordinary Diet session. 
If a new bill governing the extension of the MSDF refueling mission 
is not passed into law, the political situation will inevitably be 
thrown into confusion. 
 
Speaking before reporters last night, Liberal Democratic Party 
Secretary General Aso stressed that the prime minister's remark was 
 
SIPDIS 
intended to encourage the government and the ruling camp to have the 
bill pass the Diet. He said: "I interpret (the prime minister's 
remark) as saying, 'Aso, don't let up and do your best.' (I) 
conveyed (the implication of the prime minister's remark) to (Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori) Oshima and (Chief Cabinet 
Secretary) Yosano." 
 
SIPDIS 
 
A senior member of the Machimura faction also said: "The prime 
minister expressed his determination to deal with the issue with an 
unwavering resolve. He probably has confidence in having the bill 
pass the Diet." 
 
In the House of Councillors, the opposition camp holds a majority, 
and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has been dead set against 
the continuation of the MSDF refueling mission. Under such a 
situation, members in the government and the ruling parties 
anticipate that the new bill is likely to be rejected in the Upper 
House. Keeping such a possibility in mind, an increasing number of 
members have begun to take the view that the government should aim 
at enacting the bill by means of readopting the bill in the House of 
Representatives. Aso also said: "(Passing the bill again in the 
Lower House) might be an option." 
 
Some ruling-party members responsible for Diet affairs are of the 
opinion that whether the bill could be brought back into the Lower 
House for a revote will depend on public support. Many people do not 
support the government's plan to extend the MSDF refueling mission. 
They fear that if the ruling camp rams through the bill over the 
objections of the opposition bloc by means of re-adoption in the 
Lower House, the public might negatively react to the ruling camp, 
calling its approach forcible. 
 
A senior member of the New Komeito said: "Regarding the MSDF 
refueling operations, disapproval outnumbers approval. Unless the 
disapproval rate closes in on the approval rate, it might be 
difficult to take the re-adoption approach." 
 
In the ruling parties, some take the view that if the government 
fails to pass the bill, it will unavoidably develop into the issue 
of whether the prime minister should step down, as shown by former 
Secretary General Koichi Kato's remark: "With his controversial 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TOKYO 00004223  009 OF 012 
 
 
remark, the prime minister now faces a fight." 
 
In a meeting of the Tanigaki faction yesterday, one member said: 
"The prime minister might decide to dissolve the Lower House in 
desperation, instead of stepping down." The issue of whether to 
extend the MSDF refueling mission is now likely to develop into a 
"post-Abe" issue. 
 
10) Abe in keynote address does not much mention "beautiful 
country" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
Kei Sato 
 
In his keynote address yesterday, Prime Minister Abe emphasized the 
need to remove the gaps between rural and urban areas and deal with 
politics-and-money scandals, which were seen as reasons for the 
defeat in the July Upper House election, more strongly than ever 
instead of highlighting his pet theories like building "a beautiful 
country" and allowing the use of the right to collective 
self-defense, both of which he had advocated since taking office as 
prime minister. He was apparently forced to be humble because of the 
reversal of positions between the ruling and opposition parties in 
the Upper House, which is now under the opposition bloc's control. 
 
 ASTERISK    ASTERISK    ASTERISK    ASTERISK    ASTERISK 
Compared to his policy speech in January of this year, it is obvious 
that Abe shifted his policy stance. 
 
Evidence of this was found in how often he mentioned his favorite 
term "a beautiful country." 
 
In the January policy speech, Abe used that term seven times and 
declared his resolve to keep his administration in power for a 
longer period. But in the policy speech this time he did not use the 
term even once except in the conclusion. 
 
On the question of allowing the exercise of the right to collective 
self-defense, the blue-ribbon panel of experts established and led 
by Abe is to come up with a conclusion by November, but Abe did not 
mention this question at all in the speech. 
 
On tax system reform, including the consumption tax, Abe in his 
policy speech had indicated his intention to put together a specific 
proposal "by fiscal 2007," but in yesterday's keynote address, he 
did not indicated any target fiscal year, in effect delaying coming 
up with a conclusion in fiscal 2008 or after. 
 
Now that the foundations of his government have been weakened as a 
result of the crushing defeat in the Upper House election, Abe was 
apparently unable to work out any direction about whether to allow 
the use of the right to collective self-defense and whether to hike 
the consumption tax, because the opposition parties and some in the 
ruling bloc are opposed to or cautious about allowing the use of 
that right and hiking the consumption tax. 
 
In the policy speech, Abe did not use the term "gaps in rural and 
urban areas," but in the speech yesterday, he emphasized: "I will 
sincerely lend my ear to local urgent voices expressing their 
concerns about the gaps and their futures." 
 
TOKYO 00004223  010 OF 012 
 
 
 
On "money-and-politics" scandals, Abe indicated his enthusiasm to 
amend the Political Funds Control Law, which had been modified in 
the previous regular Diet session, in order to further improve 
transparency. 
 
11)Prime Minister Abe skips lines about 2008 G-8 summit in policy 
speech at Upper House 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe skipped several lines about the G-8 
summit, which Japan will host next July in the Lake Toya hot-spring 
resort area in Hokkaido, in his policy speech yesterday at the 
plenary session of the House of Councillors. 
 
In the lines he skipped, Abe stressed his determination to continue 
to display at the G-8 summit leadership in addressing global 
warming. Some opposition lawmakers jeered the prime minister, with 
one saying "You are skipping the summit." But Abe ended his speech 
without taking notice of it. 
 
After the plenary session, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano told 
Upper House Steering Committee Chairman Takeo Nishioka that Abe made 
a simple mistake. Since the part Abe skipped was not entered in the 
minutes, Nishioka reportedly suggested that Abe reread his policy 
speech. The government and ruling coalition also are arranging a 
schedule for the prime minister to deliver his policy speech again 
on Sept. 13. 
 
According to the Upper House Secretariat, former Prime Ministers 
Kakuei Tanaka and Zenko Suzuki skipped some part of their policy 
speeches at the Upper House plenary session. 
 
12) New Komeito critical of prime minister's keynote address 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe's keynote address met with criticism even from 
some in the ruling parties. They pointed out a lack of explanations 
and a lack of punch in the speech. This fact gave the impression 
that Abe does not enjoy the control he had before. The opposition 
parties were all critical of his address. 
 
The junior coalition partner New Komeito's Representative Akihiro 
Ota, giving heed to Abe's statement that "I will stake my post" on 
an extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, noted: "I 
think he needed to take more time to explain that law and convince 
the opposition bloc." Speaking of the "politics-and-money scandals" 
part in the address, Ota made this critical remark: "He should have 
shown his strong determination when he said he had reflected on 
them. It's important for him to show an attitude considering the 
public's feelings." 
 
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's Secretary General 
Yukio Hatoyama made this harsh criticism of Abe's address: "There 
was nothing that impressed me. There was no self-reflection." The 
Japanese Communist Party's Chairman Kazuo Shii noted: "He needs to 
reflect on his approaches to the pension issue and the gaps between 
rural and urban areas, but there was no self-reflection." The Social 
 
TOKYO 00004223  011 OF 012 
 
 
Democratic Party's Chairperson Mizuho Fukushima criticized the 
speech: "I was flabbergasted by his speech because he still 
mentioned a beautiful country and a departure from the postwar 
regime." The People's New Party's Representative Tamisuke Watanuki 
commented: "It was no more than listing empty words. It lacked 
soul." 
 
13) Jiji poll: 15 LDP prefectural chapters expect replacement of 
Prime Minister Abe 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
Jiji Press found yesterday through its poll that 15 prefectural 
chapters of the Liberal Democratic Party, which account for 
one-third of the entire LDP chapters, expected the replacing of the 
prime minister, noting they won't be able to fight the next House of 
Representatives election under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Of the 15 
prefectural chapters, ten named Secretary General Taro Aso as the 
most suitable person to be the successor to Abe. 
 
Jiji conducted the poll on Sept. 5-9 toward the secretaries general 
of the 47 prefectural chapters. It received replies from all the 
chapters, including replies by general council chairmen. 
 
Toward a question whether they would be able to fight the next Lower 
House election under Abe's leadership, the 15 chapters, including 
the prefectures of Toyama, Shizuoka, Hyogo, and Okayama, answered 
that Abe should be replaced. One of the reasons was that Abe did not 
take seriously the party's defeat in the Upper House election and 
they won't be able to get public understanding if they fight the 
next Lower House race under Abe. 
 
When asked who would be the most appropriate person to serve next 
prime minister, ten prefectures, including Fukuoka, Wakayama, 
Kagawa, and Okinawa, said Aso. 
 
14) "Koizumi children" unite to oppose reinstatement of Hiranuma 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 11, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) will likely allow Takeo 
Hiranuma, who left the party in opposition to the government's 
postal-privatization program, to rejoin the party. With this 
connection, a move is afoot in the LDP reacting negatively toward 
the party's policy, with one member saying, "It means a rejection of 
former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform drive." 
The lawmakers raising objections are those who are serving in their 
first term in the Diet since they were elected the Lower House 
election two years ago. They are called "Koizumi children." They 
formed yesterday a study group opposing the reinstatement of 
Hiranuma, intensifying criticism against Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
correction of the reform policy line. 
 
The group held its first meeting yesterday in the Diet building. A 
total of 12 lawmakers, including Masaaki Taira and Koichi Yamauchi, 
attended the meeting. Yamauchi stressed in the session: "I feel now 
that the party is gradually going back to the old LDP." They appear 
to seek to constrain the move of changing the policy line. 
 
The group will focus on the Hiranuma issue for the time being. In 
 
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yesterday's meeting, Jiro Ono, Yasuhiro Nakagawa, and Shika Kawajo 
raised their objections to Hiranuma's reinstatement. There was 
strong backlash against the reinstating of former lawmakers, who 
lost their Lower House seats in opposition to postal privatization, 
since many of them compete in the same constituencies with "Koizumi 
children." 
 
15) Securities authorities of Japan, US and Asian nations to 
investigate rating companies: Strengthening voluntary international 
rules also eyed 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 11, 2007 
 
The problem caused by subprime loans targeting individual borrowers 
with low creditworthiness in the US has given rise to criticism of 
credit rating companies. In this connection, it was learned on Sept. 
10 that securities officials of Japan, the US, European and Asian 
countries will launch a joint fact-finding survey of rating 
companies. Major rating companies in the world, including Japan, 
will be invited to a meeting of the International Organization of 
Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to be held in Washington in 
September, joined by securities officials of concerned countries. 
They will hear how they rate securitized commodities and what system 
they adopt in doing so. 
 
Another aim of securities officials of leading companies falling in 
step on this issue is to show their determination to settle the 
subprime loan issue. During the planned meeting, they will look into 
the possibility of strengthening international voluntary rules 
adopted by rating companies. Their discussion will also be used as 
materials for discussion on the propriety of adopting global rules. 
 
SCHIEFFER