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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 15 TOKYO 004267 
 
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 09/13/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Popular opinion: 
4) Average citizens calling Abe's quitting post "irresponsible" 
5) 74 PERCENT  of the public give Prime Minister Abe low marks for 
his year in office 
 
Post-Abe moves: 
6) LDP coordinating Sept. 19 as date for presidential election to 
replace Abe; LDP Secretary General Aso to declare candidacy today 
7) Some working on Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda to throw hat into 
the LDP presidential ring, while others urging former Prime Minister 
Koizumi to run 
 
Why did Abe quit? 
8) Abe exhausted by overseas trips; Told Aso on evening of 10th he 
was quitting 
9) Abe's physical condition deteriorated in August: Eating rice 
gruel, even on IV 
 
Ozawa's DPJ on the move: 
10) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to continue frontal attack on 
government, hoping for an early dissolution of the Lower House and a 
snap election 
11) Abe's sudden resignation forcing DPJ to rethink strategy 
 
Impact of Abe's quitting on foreign and security affairs: 
12) Abe's sudden resignation to have a serious impact on foreign and 
security policies, especially six-party talks and fate of 
anti-terror legislation 
13) Inevitable that MSDF refueling services will have to be halted, 
as new anti-terror bill likely to be greatly delayed and DPJ not 
budging on its opposition 
14) Passage of new anti-terrorism law likely to be seriously 
delayed, possibly until next year 
15) Confusion in Washington over Abe's sudden resignation, but 
expectation still high that MSDF refueling in the Indian Ocean can 
be continued 
 
16) With Abe suddenly quitting, economists and business leaders fear 
stagnation in economic policy 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Choosing Abe successor appears to be contest between pro- and 
anti-Aso groups; Presidential election on Sept. 19 or 25 
 
Mainichi: 
Aso to announce plan to run for LDP presidency today; Some eager to 
back Koizumi 
 
Yomiuri: 
Full-fledged moves begin within LDP to pick new president; Aso 
expected to announce candidacy on Sept. 14 
 
 
TOKYO 00004267  002 OF 015 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Prime Minister Abe abruptly resigns, citing lack of public trust 
 
Sankei: 
Shocking Abe resignation (Part 1): Last hope crushed 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Abe to step down; Coordination underway for presidential election on 
Sept. 19; Aso expected to announce candidacy today 
 
Akahata: 
Prime Minister Abe abruptly decides to throw away his job, 
administration 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Prime Minister Abe's decision to throw up his administration 
appalling; Lower House dissolution must follow to determine new 
administration 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Lower House must be dissolved to end political turmoil resulting 
from Abe's decision to throw up administration 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Dealing with aftermath of Abe's abrupt decision 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Political turmoil after Abe's abrupt resignation announcement 
sets off grave concern 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Prime Minister Abe to step down before delivering on 
international pledge; Childish approach to running administration 
raises questions 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Abe's resignation leaves LDP with two choices: going into 
opposition or dissolving Lower House 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Prime Minister Abe to resign: No self-reflection until last 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 12 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 13, 2007 
 
09:50 
Arrived at the Kantei. 
 
12:11 
Met Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Oshima and Diet Affairs 
Committee Vice Chairman Kosaka. Later, met Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Yosano. 
 
13:03 
Met Yosano, deputy chief cabinet secretaries Ono, Iwaki, and Matoba, 
joined by Secretary General Aso, Executive Council Chairman Nikai, 
 
TOKYO 00004267  003 OF 015 
 
 
Policy Research Council Chairman Ishihara, Upper House caucus 
Chairman Otsuji, Upper House Secretary General Yamasaki, and 
Election Bureau Director General Suga. 
 
13:59 
Held a press conference. 
 
14:35 
Met Upper House member Nobuo Kishi. 
 
15:41 
Met Yosano. 
 
16:47 
Met former Financial Services Minister Yamamoto. 
 
17:24 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Abe is "irresponsible," voters say; some voters expect "next 
prime minister" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 26) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Many voters are perplexed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's abrupt 
announcement of his intention to resign. One voter said, "Why he 
decided to resign at this point?" Another said, "He is 
irresponsible." Another said, "It is only natural for him to step 
down." Voters' choices for the next prime minister were Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa, Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) Secretary General and Health, Labor and Welfare Minister 
Yoichi Masuzoe. 
 
Takayuki Kishimoto, 56, a company employee, a resident of Shiroishi 
Ward, Sapporo City, Hokkaido, said: 
 
"I don't understand why he decided to step down at this period of 
time. The issue of extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law 
cannot be left unresolved. I don't understand his decision to resign 
without paving the way for the enactment of the bill. The LDP and 
DPJ should have thoroughly discussed the issue." 
 
Regarding Abe's successor, Kishimoto said: "Under such a situation, 
there will be probably nobody to run. I think the LDP has no choice 
but to elect Secretary General Aso.:" 
 
Taeko Hashimoto, 48, a part-time worker in Nishi Ward, Fukuoka City, 
said: "I was surprised because I thought he would stay in the 
premiership for a while." She works at a company. Of the company's 
employers, 90 PERCENT  are dispatched employees and part-time 
workers. She has been increasingly unhappy with the gaps in wages 
between the temporary and permanent employees. So she feels the 
social and income disparities. She said, "Life did not get better 
while Abe assumed the prime minister's post." She expressed hopes 
for changes of government, saying: 
 
"I couldn't understand what Abe was talking about because his 
phrases about a beautiful country and moving away from the postwar 
regime were abstract. I think a member of the DPJ should assume the 
premiership after the Lower House is dissolved for a snap 
election." 
 
TOKYO 00004267  004 OF 015 
 
 
 
Reiko Okada, 70, resident of Gifu City, criticized Abe, saying: 
 
"It was natural for him to quit. It was too late. I felt the prime 
minister's policies were very different from the people's desire. I 
think there is problem in the contents of the revised Basic 
Education Law such as the renewal of teaching credential." 
 
Asked about who should be next prime minister, Okada replied: "I 
want to let the DPJ assume the reins of government. If it fails to 
get results, the public will have to thoroughly think abut which 
party is better between the DLP and DPJ." 
 
Shinji Ito, 30, a company employee in Chuo Ward, Osaka, said: 
 
"When I was promoted to a supervisory position, I was once driven 
into a corner. Seeing Abe who stayed in office under severe 
criticism of his responsibility for the defeat in the Upper House 
election, I was encouraged by him, so I thought I should hang on 
there. I want him to fulfill his duty even though his efforts will 
end in failure in extending the Antiterrorism Law." 
 
Ito also said: "I would like to have Ozawa become next prime 
minister. I hope he has no politics-and-money scandal. I want him to 
bring about transparent politics." 
 
5) Poll: 74 PERCENT  give negative marks to Abe government over past 
year 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
September 13, 2007 
 
A total of 74 PERCENT  gave negative ratings to Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe and his cabinet over the past year, the Mainichi Shimbun 
found from its face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey 
conducted Sept. 7-9. Affirmative ratings totaled only 22 PERCENT . 
In the survey, respondents were asked what they thought was wrong 
about what Abe has done. In response, a total of 44 PERCENT  picked 
Abe's way of dealing with political scandals over money and gaffes 
from his cabinet ministers, topping all other answers. Among other 
answers, 20 PERCENT  chose his decision to stay on as premier after 
his ruling Liberal Democratic Party's rout in this July's election 
for the House of Councillors. The Abe cabinet's support rate has 
been staying low at around 30 PERCENT . In addition, his cabinet's 
job performance has been also rated low. These factors can be taken 
as having spurred Abe to move up his resignation. 
 
Negative ratings for the Abe cabinet accounted for 91 PERCENT  among 
those who support the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), 92 PERCENT  among those who support the Japanese 
Communist Party, and 88 PERCENT  among those who support the Social 
Democratic Party (Shaminto). Among those with no particular party 
affiliation as well, negative ratings totaled 80 PERCENT . In the 
case of those who support the ruling parties as well, negative 
ratings totaled 51 PERCENT  among LDP supporters and 59 PERCENT 
among New Komeito supporters. 
 
By age, negative ratings totaled 80 PERCENT  among those in their 
20s, topping all other age brackets, with 78 PERCENT  each among 
those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, 69 PERCENT  among those in their 
60s, and 61 PERCENT  among those aged 70 and over. As seen from 
these figures, bitter ratings came from young and middle-age people. 
 
TOKYO 00004267  005 OF 015 
 
 
By gender, negative ratings totaled 76 PERCENT  among men and 71 
PERCENT  among women. 
 
6) Coordination underway for LDP presidential election on Sept. 19; 
Aso may announce candidacy today; Move to urge Fukuda to run in 
race 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, president of the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) announced his intention yesterday afternoon 
at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to resign his post. He 
stated: "I have found it difficult to press forward with my policy 
without public support and confidence. I have to take responsibility 
for such a situation and break the deadlock." The LDP has launched 
coordination on a plan to formally announce on Sept. 14 the holding 
of a presidential election on the 19th. Secretary General Taro Aso 
will likely to announce his candidacy for the race as early as 
today. There is a move in the LDP calling on former Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Yasuo Fukuda to run in the race. The main opposition 
 
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Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) intends to strengthen its offensive, 
strongly reacting against Abe's abrupt announcement about his 
intention to step down. A new government will likely find it 
increasingly difficult to dealing with the issue of extending the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian 
Ocean in the ongoing session of the Diet, in which the opposition 
camp controls the House of Councillors. 
 
Abe said at the press conference yesterday the reason for his 
decision to step down: 
 
"DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa turned down my offer for a meeting with 
him on the refueling issue. He has, however, criticized me for not 
seeking the judgment of the people. So, I am determined that 
changing this situation would be better served if I resign the 
premiership. " 
 
The outlook is that presidential candidates will compete to grab a 
total of 528 votes -- 387 votes held by individual LDP lawmakers and 
the remaining votes possessed by the 47 prefectural chapters, with 
each chapter having three votes. 
 
The House of Representatives had planned to hold the questioning 
sessions by party representatives on Sept. 12-14. The ruling 
coalition asked the opposition camp to withdraw that schedule and 
the opposition accepted it. 
 
7) Abe successor race: Intense maneuvering seen among factions 
centering on Aso, Fukuda; Some calling for Koizumi's comeback 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
All factions in the Liberal Democratic Party began making moves 
yesterday to determine their candidates to replace outgoing Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe. Although Secretary General Taro Aso is regarded 
as the frontrunner in the race, there is also growing momentum in 
the party to field former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda. The 
Tsushima and Tanigaki factions, for instance, are aiming to 
 
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determine their candidates by staking their presence on the race. 
Given the opposition bloc's continued control of the Upper House 
 
TOKYO 00004267  006.2 OF 015 
 
 
regardless of a change of government, there are even calls for a 
comeback of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the "gambler." 
Political turmoil is likely to continue. 
 
"A political vacuum must not be created. In order to fulfill our 
political obligations toward the public, we must select the new LDP 
president as soon as possible," Aso said in a press conference held 
last evening after an emergency General Council meeting. About his 
presidency, Aso simply said: "It's too early to ask that question 
and too early to answer it." But he also said to his associates: 
"The LDP is faced with an unprecedented crisis. Running away from it 
is not an option for a person in politics." This suggests that Aso 
has made up his mind to run in the race. 
 
Aso is the prime candidate who can become the party's "election 
face." He is also popular among the junior and mid-level LDP 
lawmakers and local organizations that have been backing Abe's 
break-away-from-the-postwar-regime policy course. At the same time, 
his straight-talking manner has created many enemies. 
 
He is on cat-and-dog terms with former Secretary General Koichi Kato 
and former Vice President Taku Yamasaki. His relationships with 
former Secretaries General Makoto Koga and Hidenao Nakagawa are also 
icy. The latest cabinet shuffle has also caused discord between Aso 
and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. Additionally, the LDP 
freshman lawmakers dubbed Koizumi children are becoming distrustful 
of Aso over the question of reinstating former METI Minister Takeo 
Hiranuma. 
 
Meanwhile, the Machimura faction is moving toward fielding its own 
candidate. Fukuda and Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura are likely 
candidates. The faction's ultimate decision would significantly 
affect the trend of the presidential race. If Fukuda joins the race, 
chances are that it will become a duel between Aso and Fukuda, as 
Koga, Yamasaki, Tsuhima and others searched for ways to replace Abe 
with Fukuda after the July Upper House election. At the same time, 
as there are "secret Aso fans" in the Koga, Yamasaki and Tsuhima 
factions, the presidential election might accelerate the realignment 
of LDP factions. 
 
If Machimura runs in the race, other factions might also field such 
members as Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and former Finance 
Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki. No one would win a majority in this 
situation, and as a result, fierce political maneuvering is likely 
to take place among the factions, such as joining hands between the 
ones in the second and third place with an eye on a runoff. 
 
Although Machimura flatly has denied his candidacy, his feeling 
seems mixed as seen in a senior Foreign Ministry official's 
prediction that he is going to be busy. Fukuda also said: "I don't 
talk about the future. As a general argument, we must avoid a 
political vacuum that would cause trouble for the general public." 
 
Mori, who holds the key to the trend of the Machimura faction, will 
hastily return to Japan this morning, cutting short his France tour. 
Other factions seem to plan to determine their steps after 
ascertaining the trend of the Machimura faction. 
 
Meanwhile, 31 LDP members, mostly freshman lawmakers, calling for 
Koizumi's comeback met at a Tokyo hotel last night and launched a 
group to make Koizumi Abe's successor. (TN: Jiji Press reports this 
morning that Koizumi has ruled out making a bid.) 
 
TOKYO 00004267  007 OF 015 
 
 
 
8) Worn out Abe decides to abandon premiership; Signs of deep 
exhaustion after his overseas trip seen; Told Aso on 10th he would 
quit 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe, whose political slogan was "a fighting 
politician," decided to abandon the premiership just before engaging 
in battle with the main opposition Democratic Party of  Japan (DPJ) 
in the Diet, where the DPJ controls the upper chamber. Days before 
in Sydney, Abe declared, "I'll stake my position on (extending the 
antiterrorism law)." Following this remark, Abe yesterday announced 
his intention abruptly to resign. After a devastating defeat in the 
July Upper House election, Abe reshuffled his cabinet to recover 
from the defeat but he failed. Did he lose his vitality and physical 
vigor in the face of difficulties in steering his administration? 
 
"I see.... Well, I have something important to talk to you," Abe 
said calmly at his office in the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei) around noon yesterday, when the LDP's Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima reported to Abe about a failure 
to set a one-on-one meeting with DPJ President Ozawa to discuss the 
question of extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) 
refueling mission. 
 
Abe then said: "I have decided to step down. I will telephone the 
secretary general now to tell him." 
 
SIPDIS 
 
Around 1:30 p.m., Abe called the five LDP top officers, including 
Secretary General Aso, to the Kantei and again conveyed his 
 
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intention to resign to them. Bowing before them, Abe said: "I am 
sorry for troubling you at this important point in time. I apologize 
for this." 
 
Hidehisa Otsuji, chairman of the LDP Upper House Caucus, intensely 
tried to persuade Abe not to resign, telling him, "This is not a 
matter that involves only you. This is a matter of great importance 
for the nation." But Abe would not change his mind and held an 
emergency press conference at 2:00 p.m. Abe reiterated: "I must 
change the current situation by taking responsibility as the top 
leader." 
 
After the press conference, Abe returned to his office and met with 
his younger brother, Nobuo Kishi, a House of Councillors member. Abe 
told Kishi: "In order for the refueling mission to be continued, it 
would not be a wise choice for me to stay on." According to Kishi, 
Abe looked deeply exhausted for a while after he returned home from 
Sydney. 
 
There were signs in Sydney that this might happen. In a meeting with 
US President Bush on Sept. 8, Abe pledged to continue the refueling 
mission, saying, "I'll do my utmost to accomplish it." Afterwards, 
Abe told reporters: "This is an international pledge." At a press 
conference with Japanese and foreign reporters on Sept. 9, Abe 
further added, "I'll stake my position on it." Saying, "I will not 
insist on holding on to my position," Abe implied his cabinet would 
resign en masse if he failed to get the refueling mission extended. 
 
The remark, "I'll stake my position on it," was taken to mean he had 
expressed his "unflagging resolve" to continue the refueling 
 
TOKYO 00004267  008 OF 015 
 
 
mission, but some in the ruling bloc took it that "the prime 
minister has now envisioned his own resignation." 
 
According to Aso, on the evening of Sept. 10 after Abe delivered his 
keynote address at the start of an extraordinary Diet session and 
after an LDP executive meeting, Aso was told by Abe for the first 
time about Abe's intention to "resign." Aso reportedly tried to 
persuade Abe not to resign, saying, "Discussion on the antiterrorism 
law has yet to start" and "Now is not the right timing (to 
resign)." 
 
9) Abe's health declines, isolated in Kantei 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Because Prime Minister Abe's announcement of his intention to resign 
came so abruptly, there are many who point out reasons other than 
the question of continuing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) 
refueling mission, which Abe referred to as the reason for his 
resignation. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano told a press briefing yesterday 
evening: "I think problems the prime minister did not mention during 
the press conference is his health." 
 
It was out of common to mention in public a health problem, a matter 
of life or death in political terms for politicians. But ahead of 
his press briefing, Yosano was told by Abe, "You should speak the 
truth." "The prime minister had come to this point in carefully 
checking whether his health was strong enough to endure his tight 
schedule and heavy, psychological pressure," Yosano said. Showing 
consideration for the prime minister, Yosano continued: "The prime 
minister was in deep agony in between his job and his health." 
 
According to an official in the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei), Abe's health deteriorated during his tour of three 
countries, including India, in mid-August. An official traveling 
with Abe explained: "During the tour, the prime minister regularly 
consulted a physician." This official continued that in Sydney, as 
well, Abe was on an intravenous drip, adding that the prime minister 
revealed to his aide, "My tours of India and Sydney were both hard 
on me." 
 
Recently physicians and nurses have been stationed in the Kantei. An 
aide to the prime minister commented: "The prime minister somehow 
survived his job by eating rice gruel and receiving an intravenous 
drip, but I presume he became short on physical strength." 
 
The former Abe cabinet was criticized as a "cabinet of friends." So 
Abe reshuffled his cabinet at the end of August; as a result, former 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki and former Advisor to the 
Prime Minister Hiroshige Seko, both of whom are close to Abe, left 
Kantei. An official in Kantei took this view: "The prime minister 
appeared isolated in Kantei because he had no one in Kantei he could 
consult with." 
 
Additionally, because Aso and Yosano held the real power in steering 
the Abe administration, Abe was "left out of the loop" in the case 
of replacing the former Agriculture Minister Endo. Citing this, an 
aide to the prime minister commented, "Abe perhaps became displeased 
with the 'Yosano-Aso administration.'" Another Kantei official 
 
TOKYO 00004267  009 OF 015 
 
 
noted: "The prime minister was unable to handle even a small thing 
as he wanted." 
 
10) DPJ to step up offensive for early dissolution of Diet: Choosing 
right time to hold Lower House election to come into focus of 
attention 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3 (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe's announcement of his decision to quit has 
deepened the turmoil in the political world. Abe tried to find a 
breakthrough in the issue of allowing the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's (MSDF) refueling operation in the Indian Ocean in exchange 
for his own resignation. However, the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) has firmly maintained its stance of opposing an extension. The 
party is set to do its utmost in order to force a dissolution of the 
Lower House at an early date, while eyeing the submission of a 
censure motion against the prime minister in the Upper House. 
 
DPJ President Ozawa during a press conference yesterday expressed 
his determination to oppose the continuation of the MSDF refueling 
mission, underscoring, "There is no change at all in our party's 
policy of seeking a Lower House election at an early date." The 
prime minister's surprise announcement of his decision to step down 
has sent a shockwave to the DPJ as well. However, Ozawa declared 
that there would be no change in his party's basic strategy. 
 
Ozawa during a party executive meeting, held at a time when the 
party was in turmoil, reproached participants, saying: "Calm down! 
It's the other side that's in turmoil." He also stressed during a 
meeting of the "Next Cabinet," "We will turn our pledges made to the 
public during the Upper House election campaign into laws." He thus 
confirmed the party's policy of submitting bills, including one to 
ban on the use of pension premium funds from for purposes other than 
use for pension benefit payments, to the Upper House. 
 
His idea is that the DPJ should win over voters in order to take 
over the reins of government in the next Lower House election by 
making a public appeal that the DPJ is seriously tackling policies 
for a better quality of life at a time when the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) is in turmoil over the selection of a successor to Abe. 
 
Pursuit of government in three areas 
 
The DPJ's strategy is to pursue the government in the Upper House 
over its measures in three areas -- blocking the continuation of the 
refueling mission, the pension issue, and the politics and money 
issue. It envisages a scenario of seeking information disclosure, by 
exercising administrative investigation rights, and forcing a 
dissolution of the Lower House and a general election, by submitting 
and adopting a censure motion against the prime minister, depending 
on the government's response. 
 
The government is expected to introduce in the current Diet session 
a new bill allowing the MSDF to continue refueling operation as a 
replacement for the current Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. 
However, since the DPJ is determined to oppose the new bill, it is 
bound to be voted down in the Upper House. If the ruling camp opts 
for a second vote and passage in the Lower House, where it has 
two-thirds of the seats, the DPJ would consider submitting a censure 
motion, claiming that the ruling camp has ignored the will of the 
 
TOKYO 00004267  010 OF 015 
 
 
people. 
 
Unlike a no-confidence motion against the cabinet submitted to the 
Lower House, a censure motion in the Upper House has no legal power. 
As such, even if it is adopted, it is not necessary for a new prime 
minister to implement cabinet resignation en masse or to dissolve 
the Lower House. However, since this would completely stop Diet 
deliberations, the prevalent view is that the new prime minister 
would be forced to choose one or the other. 
 
It is unclear whether the government and the ruling parties will 
really force through a second vote when there is such a possibility. 
In the ruling camp, LDP members in the Upper House and the New 
Komeito are negative toward the idea. 
 
However, if the new bill were scrapped as a result of being voted 
down in the Upper House, and the next prime minister remains unable 
to decide to carry out a second vote, then his political 
responsibility could be called into question. Should that occur, it 
could deal a blow to Japan-US relations as well. Chances are high 
that the next prime minister will find himself in a harsh situation, 
regardless of whether or not he has opted for a second vote. 
 
11) DPJ to review its strategy, following premiers' announcement to 
step down: Perplexed that general election chance might slip away 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe's announcement of his decision to resign has 
spread bewilderment across the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto). The announcement came just at a time when the DPJ has 
begun to put in every effort to pave the way for a dissolution of 
the Lower House and a general election during the current session, 
deeming it the most desirable scenario that the Diet be dissolved 
under Prime Minister Abe, whose power base had markedly declined. 
However, the view gaining ground in the party is that Diet 
dissolution within the year has become remote because the prime 
minister's resignation could turn around the current situation. The 
DPJ will likely be pressed to review its strategy aimed at taking 
the reins of government. 
 
President Ichiro Ozawa during an executive meeting with Deputy 
President Naoto Kan and Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama held at the 
party headquarters yesterday evening ordered participants to quell 
anxieties in the party, saying, "Don't get blindsided by the 
political situation. We should remain calm."  Ozawa has taken the 
view right from the beginning that it would not be possible to force 
a dissolution of the Lower House over a diplomatic issue like an 
extension of the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. However, in 
response to the prime minister's statement that he would stake his 
premiership on the issue, Ozawa ordered Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Hirotaka Akamatsu to speed up preparations for an election, 
saying, "Anything can happen now. Get on with it." 
 
Ozawa during a press conference yesterday appeared calm when he 
said, "It is only natural for any political party to take 
appropriate measures, because the Diet could be dissolved at any 
time." However, the DPJ's presence is bound to decline due to a 
changeover of prime ministers. Hirohisa Fujii, supreme advisor and a 
close aide to Ozawa, noted, "The DPJ will have to see a new prime 
minister's stance. Diet dissolution will become remote and not take 
 
TOKYO 00004267  011 OF 015 
 
 
place within the year. The party will not submit a censure motion 
against the prime minister in the Upper House." 
 
Regarding the issue of extending the Antiterrorism Law, on which the 
prime minister has staked the fate of his administration, the 
prevalent view in the DPJ is that even if the law expires under a 
new prime minister, it will cause not so much of a problem, as a 
senior official of the Diet Affairs Committee put it. The party may 
shift to a low-key strategy of accumulating issues through the 
exercise of administrative investigation rights until Diet 
deliberations on the budget bill in the regular Diet session next 
year. 
 
12) Prime minister's decision to resign likely to affect foreign and 
security policies 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe's abrupt announcement of his resignation will 
inevitably have an impact on the nation's foreign and security 
policies. Uncertainty is looming larger over the fate of the 
proposed new legislation to enable the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
(MSDF) to continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Such 
challenges as a review of the Constitution to allow the SDF to 
exercise the right to collective defense are also likely to be put 
on hold. The efforts to resolve North Korea's nuclear development 
and abduction issues will unavoidably be put on hold. 
 
Regarding the issue of an extension of the Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura told reporters 
yesterday: "No matter who becomes the next prime minister, 
discussion on the new legislation has already started in the ruling 
camp." A new prime minister is likely to continue the current 
policy, but the ruling camp has already had a major glitch in its 
scenario for the MSDF refueling mission. 
 
The government and the ruling parties were looking into a lengthy 
extension of the current extraordinary Diet session until Nov. 10. 
They had worked out a plan to enact the bill for a new law to 
replace the Antiterrorism Law by the end of the year by having the 
bill put to a vote in the House of Representatives and re-approved 
there if the House of Councillors rejects the bill. 
 
However, priority will be given to a policy speech by the new prime 
minister and other events in September, so the start of discussing 
the new legislation will inevitably be significantly delayed. It now 
seems difficult to have the bill adopted in the Lower House by 
mid-October as envisioned. A senior Foreign Ministry official said: 
"It might become necessary to extend the session until early next 
year" in order to enact the bill. 
 
Some also voice concern about an adverse effect of the prime 
minister's resignation on the six-party talks on North Korea's 
nuclear programs. The next session of the six-party talks is 
scheduled for later this month, and around that time, the new 
government is expected to be launched. Keeping this in mind, a 
senior government official grumbled: "North Korea might judge it 
would be difficult for Japan to make a political decision." 
 
13) Japan likely to call off refueling mission 
 
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TOKYO (Page 2) (Abridged) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has now announced his resignation. The 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party will therefore have to elect a new 
president who will take the place of Abe as prime minister. 
Meanwhile, the Diet will be also affected in its deliberations 
scheduled ahead. As it stands, the Diet is expected to delay its 
creation of a new law allowing Japan to continue the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. It is 
difficult to enact the newly planned law before the Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law's Nov. 1 expiry. Abe has internationally 
committed himself to Japan's continued refueling activities in the 
Indian Ocean. However, Japan will inevitably be driven to call off 
its refueling mission. 
 
The government and the ruling parties launched a project team on 
Sept. 10 to discuss the issue of extending the antiterror law. The 
project team has just begun its discussion, with former LDP Vice 
President Taku Yamasaki presiding. The newly planned law restricts 
the SDF's activities in the Indian Ocean to oil and water supply 
services, and the legislation does not require the government to ask 
the Diet for its approval. The government and the ruling coalition 
are now creating a bill quickly to present it to the Diet late this 
month. 
 
However, Abe has now announced his intention to resign. In its 
aftermath, the Diet will not meet until the LDP elects its new 
president as Abe's successor. "We don't have enough time to 
deliberate on the bill," says Gen Nakatani, former director general 
of the Defense Agency, now upgraded to full ministry status. 
Moreover, the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), now the largest of all parties in the House of 
Councillors, remains opposed to refueling itself. 
 
"We won't change our mind even after the LDP installs a new 
government," DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa told reporters in a press 
conference held yesterday. With this, Ozawa stressed that there 
would be no change in his party's stance of opposing the idea of 
extending the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean even 
after Abe has stepped down. 
 
14) Government, ruling camp looking to enact new antiterrorism 
legislation early next year 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation will significantly delay the 
government's coordination work for new legislation to enable the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to continue a refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean. The MSDF mission is now highly likely to be 
halted on Nov. 1, when the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law 
expires. The government and the ruling camp have already started 
discussing a lengthy extension of the current Diet session, which is 
to end on Nov. 10, keeping in mind even the possibility of extending 
it until early next year. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano, Foreign Minister Nobutaka 
Machimura, and Defense Minister Masahiko Komura conferred on the new 
legislation at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday. Speaking 
 
TOKYO 00004267  013 OF 015 
 
 
before reporters after the meeting, Machimura indicated that the 
government would push ahead with work to draw up a bill without 
waiting for a successor to Abe to assume office. 
 
The government planned to adopt new legislation to replace the 
Antiterrorism Law at a cabinet meeting on Sept. 21. The new bill 
would limit the MSDF mission to oil and water supply. It also would 
eliminate the stipulation in the Antiterrorism Law requiring Diet 
approval for the MSDF mission. 
 
With Prime Minister Abe's abrupt decision to resign, however, the 
Diet will be closed until a new prime minister is elected, with 
Liberal Democratic Party Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori 
Oshima saying: "Diet deliberations cannot be carried out during the 
LDP president election campaign." 
 
The ruling bloc intended to begin deliberations on the new 
legislation at a House of Representatives plenary session on Sept. 
27, after the prime minister, who was scheduled to attend the United 
Nations General Assembly in New York, returns home. But since the 
Diet session will have to make a fresh start, beginning with a 
policy speech by a new prime minister, the start of deliberations 
will inevitably be moved to a later date. 
 
The government envisioned the possibility of withdrawing the MSDF 
temporarily when the Antiterrorism Law expires, but the unavoidable 
delay in the enactment of the new bill will prolong the vacuum 
period until the MSDF is again dispatched. 
 
The ruling parties intends to enact the new legislation by making 
use of the regulation allowing a bill to be brought back into the 
House of Representatives for a revote with two-thirds approval if a 
vote is not taken in the House of Councillors, where the opposition 
holds a majority, 60 days after the bill is sent there from the 
Lower House. 
 
Nonetheless, a senior LDP official said: "As a result of the delay 
in deliberations due to the prime minister's resignation, the revote 
would be taken in the Lower House in late December or early next 
year." 
 
15) US interested in post-Abe election 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 13, 2007 
 
WASHINGTON-Prime Minister Abe has now expressed his intention to 
step down. The US government believes that Abe's abrupt announcement 
of his resignation may stagnate his initiative to strengthen Japan's 
alliance with the United States through various steps, such as 
backing up the war on terror. Washington is now tensely watching the 
Japanese political situation's future course, including the process 
of electing Abe's successor. In particular, the US government 
anticipates that it would be inevitable to see a delay in the 
process of enacting a legislative measure for Japan to continue the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian 
Ocean. The United States, also assuming Japan's possible withdrawal, 
will review its military operations including coordination with the 
armed forces of other countries. 
 
"Japan is an indispensable ally," White House spokesman Snow told 
reporters at a press conference on the morning of Sept. 12 (on the 
 
TOKYO 00004267  014 OF 015 
 
 
evening of Sept. 12 Japan time). "We will continue to cooperate 
closely in every possible area," he added. With this, the US 
government reiterated its expectations for Japan to continue the 
MSDF's refueling mission. 
 
When President Bush, upholding the war on terror as his top priority 
task, met Abe in Sydney on Sept. 8, the president requested Abe in 
person to continue Japan's refueling activities. Japan's drawdown as 
a US ally could further embolden the Democratic Party that is 
intensifying its criticism of the Republican Party administration 
over its Iraq policy. Moreover, Japan's supply of highly refined 
fuel is indispensable for naval vessels out there from Pakistan and 
other countries. Given this fact, they may also recall their 
vessels. The US government hopes that Japan's new prime minister 
will break the impasse. However, Washington is also at a loss over 
Abe, who announced his resignation shortly after committing himself 
to make his "utmost efforts" to continue Japan's refueling 
activities. 
 
Abe has focused on North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals. 
One US government official presumes that Abe's resignation would 
make it easier for Washington to talk with Pyongyang through various 
steps, such as removing North Korea from its terrorist list. 
 
16) Concern growing about stagnation of economic policy, with Prime 
Minister Abe's resignation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Excerpts) 
September 13, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Abe's sudden announcement of his intent to step down 
yesterday has dimmed the prospects for the fate of the key economic 
challenges the administration has so far tackled. If the political 
vacuum is prolonged, policy management may be stalled in the tax, 
financial, trade and many other areas. Prime Minister Abe, who 
continued the Koizumi administration's structural reform policy, has 
decided to step down midway. Some persons have expressed concern 
about the future of the reform policy line. 
 
In a meeting of the Financial System Deliberation Council, an 
advisory panel to the finance minister, which started at 2:00 pm 
yesterday, the participants were watching Prime Minister Abe's press 
conference on television for about 15 minutes at the outset. 
 
In a press conference after the meeting, Council Chairman Taizo 
Nishimuro, Tokyo Stock Exchange chairman, referred to the 
compilation of the FY2008 budget and stressed his determination to 
push through the financial reconstruction policy. He said: "I won't 
make a policy switch while taking the shaky political situation into 
consideration." 
 
However, uncertainty is looming over the future Diet schedule. 
Should the government, under attack from the opposition camp, decide 
to dissolve the House of Representatives, the budgetary compilation 
at year's end might be delayed to early next year. 
 
On debate on a bold reform of the tax system, including the 
consumption tax, as well, pessimistic views are spreading, as a 
senior Finance Ministry official said: "The situation might become 
such that lawmakers are so eager to discuss the Antiterrorism Law 
that tax system reform might be set aside." 
 
 
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SCHIEFFER