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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 004328 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/18/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) Spot poll on Prime Minister Abe's resignation 
 
(2) Prime minister to be elected on Sept. 25; Cabinet likely to be 
formed that night 
 
(3) 2007 LDP presidential race: Fukuda would cooperate with DPJ for 
continued Indian Ocean refueling mission; Aso would not hesitate to 
resort to Lower House overriding Upper House vote 
 
(4) Seiron: "Sept. 11" symbolizes Japan-US relations 
 
(5) Five years since signing of Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, 
but no prospect in sight for a resolution of abduction issue 
 
(6) CO2 emissions credits: Japanese companies obtain 90 million tons 
or half the amount they must reduce 
 
(7) Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) in public primary, middle and 
high schools: Move to avoid JET program accelerating due to 
increased troubles, such as teachers returning home halfway through 
tour, being late for classes 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Spot poll on Prime Minister Abe's resignation 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 14, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off.) 
 
Q: Prime Minister Abe has now announced his resignation. Do you 
think it's good? 
 
Yes 51 
No 29 
 
Q: Prime Minister Abe made his policy speech before the Diet at the 
offset of its current extraordinary session. Two days later, when he 
was to have answered questions from party representatives, he 
announced his resignation. Do think it is irresponsible to announce 
his resignation at that time? 
 
Yes 70 
No 22 
 
Q: Were you surprised at Prime Minister Abe's announcement of his 
resignation? 
 
Yes 67 
No 30 
 
Q: Mr. Abe has served as prime minister for about one year. What's 
your rating for his job performance as prime minister? (One choice 
only) 
 
Appreciate very much 4 
Appreciate somewhat 33 
Don't appreciate very much 45 
 
TOKYO 00004328  002 OF 010 
 
 
Don't appreciate at all 15 
 
 
Q: In order to fight terrorist groups in Afghanistan, the United 
States and other foreign countries have sent their naval fleets to 
the Indian Ocean. The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is 
for the Self-Defense Forces to back up their fleets, is to expire 
Nov. 1. The government will introduce a new legislative measure to 
the Diet in order for Japan to continue the SDF's activities there. 
However, the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) is poised to 
oppose the legislation. Do you support it? 
 
Yes 35 
No 45 
 
Q: Prime Minister Abe explained why he decided to step down, saying 
he thought to himself that he had to resolve the situation in order 
to continue the SDF's activities in the Indian Ocean. Is this 
explanation convincing? 
 
Yes 11 
No 75 
 
Q: Who would you like to see become the next prime minister? Pick 
only one from among Dietmembers. 
 
Taro Aso 14 
Yasuo Fukuda 13 
Junichiro Koizumi 11 
Ichiro Ozawa 6 
Yoichi Masuzoe 2 
Sadakazu Tanigaki 2 
Nobutaka Machimura 1 
Other politicians 2 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K) 49 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? (Figures in parentheses 
denote the results of a survey taken Aug. 27-28.) 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 30 (25) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 28 (32) 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2 (3) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (1) 
None 30 (29) 
N/A+D/K 6 (6) 
 
Q: Do you think the House of Representatives should be dissolved as 
soon as possible for a general election? (Figures in parentheses 
denote the results of a survey conducted July 30-31.) 
 
Yes 50 (39) 
No 43 (54) 
 
Q: Would you like the current LDP-led coalition government to 
continue, or would you otherwise like it to be replaced with a 
DPJ-led coalition government? (Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of a survey conducted July 21-22.) 
 
 
TOKYO 00004328  003 OF 010 
 
 
LDP-led government 33 (30) 
DPJ-led government 41 (46) 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 13 over the 
telephone on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. 
Respondents were chosen from among the nation's voting population on 
a three-stage random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained 
from 1,029 persons (62 PERCENT ). 
 
(2) Prime minister to be elected on Sept. 25; Cabinet likely to be 
formed that night 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
Eve., September 18, 2007 
 
With Prime Minister Abe expected to step down shortly, the 
government and the ruling coalition this morning decided to elect a 
prime minister in both the chambers of the Diet on Sept. 25. The new 
prime minister is expected to form a cabinet possibly later that 
day. The government plans to undertake coordination with the 
opposition parties on a plan for the prime minister to deliver a 
general-policy speech on Sept. 28 and hold a question-and-answer 
session to the speech on Oct. 1-3. Meeting the press this morning, 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano commented: "Given that a new 
president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will be chosen on 
Sept. 23, it is only natural for the Abe cabinet to resign en masse 
at a cabinet meeting (on Sept. 25). It is also customary to 
designate a prime minister once the cabinet resigns en masse." 
 
A government official this morning said: "A new prime minister will 
be elected late at night on Sept. 25. A new cabinet will be set in 
motion possibly within Sept. 25 or 26." 
 
The Diet Affairs Committee chairmen and other officials of the LDP 
and its junior coalition partner New Komeito this morning met and 
confirmed that a new prime minister would be designated in both the 
chambers of the Diet on Sept. 25. Afterwards, the LDP's Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima and others met separately with 
their counterparts of the opposition parties and consulted with them 
on this timetable. The opposition parties basically accepted it. 
 
In the Lower House, a new president of the LDP is expected to be 
designated as prime minister. In the Upper House, which is under the 
opposition parties' control, the main opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan's (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa is likely to be designated as 
prime minister. In this case, precedence is given to the person who 
is designated by the Lower House over the person designated by the 
Upper House. 
 
(3) 2007 LDP presidential race: Fukuda would cooperate with DPJ for 
continued Indian Ocean refueling mission; Aso would not hesitate to 
resort to Lower House overriding Upper House vote 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
September 18, 2007 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda and LDP Secretary 
General Taro Aso are in the midst of a one-on-one race in the run-up 
to the September 23 LDP presidential election. Given the reversal of 
positions between the ruling and opposition parties in the Upper 
House, which is now under the opposition bloc's control, how are the 
two contestants planning to change Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
 
TOKYO 00004328  004 OF 010 
 
 
policies? This article examines their main policy stances. 
 
Prime Minister Abe's decision to step down was triggered by the 
issue of extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean. 
 
The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, enacted following the 9/11 
terrorist attacks on America, will expire on Nov. 1. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), now the largest 
party in the Upper House, has clearly expressed its opposition to 
extending the MSDF mission, saying there was no need to support an 
American war for self-defense. It will be near impossible to obtain 
Diet approval for a bill amending the Antiterrorism Law before it 
expires on Nov. 1. 
 
The government and ruling parties fear erosion in Japan's 
international credibility if the MSDF has to withdraw from the 
Indian Ocean following the expiration of the Antiterrorism Law, the 
legal basis for the MSDF mission. 
 
At the September 8 Japan-US summit meeting, Prime Minister Abe 
announced his determination to make utmost efforts to continue 
refueling operations. At a press conference the following day, Abe 
also announced that he would "stake his job" on the extension of the 
refueling mission, deeming it an "international commitment." 
 
This was taken to reveal Abe's strong resolve to use the ruling 
bloc's two-thirds majority in the Lower House to override an Upper 
House rejection of new legislation that would follow a temporally 
halt to the refueling mission. 
 
Fukuda and Aso are in total accord on continuing the refueling 
mission, thinking Japan's failure to do so would draw international 
criticism. But when it comes to a second vote by the Lower House to 
override the Upper House vote, Fukuda remains cautious, while Aso is 
eager to use that approach. 
 
Secretary General Aso, who previously served as foreign minister 
 
SIPDIS 
under the Abe administration, has completely inherited Abe's 
thinking. Asked about the Lower House re-voting on the bill, based 
on talks with the DPJ, Aso noted, "This is something that must be 
done even if public opinion oppose it." 
 
Fukuda's opinion, on the other hand, is that re-adoption is the last 
resort, as there are many options before that. 
 
Fukuda, when serving as chief cabinet secretary in the Koizumi 
administration, was responsible for the Antiterrorism Law being 
enacted. Fukuda is well aware of repeated talks with the DPJ 
regarding prior Diet approval. 
 
Fukuda is eager to hold talks with the DPJ in order to win the 
largest opposition party's cooperation for a continued refueling 
mission. 
 
Fukuda also offered an apology for the Diet being effectively out of 
session due to the LDP presidential race, saying, "I, too, feel 
responsible for causing trouble." 
 
This can be taken as Fukuda's message to the DPJ in an attempt to 
set the stage for the major opposition to come to the negotiating 
 
TOKYO 00004328  005 OF 010 
 
 
table. 
 
Even if talks with the DPJ get underway, there are not good ideas 
for extracting compromises from the largest opposition party. 
Clearing the way for a continued refueling mission still appears 
extremely difficult. 
 
(4) Seiron: "Sept. 11" symbolizes Japan-US relations 
 
SANKEI (Page 11) (Full) 
September 18, 2007 
 
By Koji Murata, professor at Doshisha University 
 
Difference in sense of time in Iraq and US 
 
I was in Washington on Sept. 11 this year, the anniversary of the 
terrorist attacks on the United States. I have been there over the 
past one and a half months. 
 
Appearing at a congressional hearing that day, General David 
Petraeus, commander in Iraq, recommended cutting the number of US 
troops by 30,000 by next summer, emphasizing improvement in the 
security situation in Iraq. But both Democratic and Republican Party 
members are increasingly irritated because the government has 
prepared no long-term exit strategy to end the US engagement in 
Iraq. Some even called Petraeus "betray us." There is a wide gap 
between the strategic sense of time in Iraq (priority to stability) 
and the political sense of time in Washington (priority to 
withdrawal). 
 
The Bush administration has yet to come up with any tactics to link 
the strategic sense of time and the political sense of time. Those 
critical of the Iraq war will also be unable to maintain public 
support as long as they just repeat their conventional argument that 
the situation in Iraq is a quagmire. It is difficult to predict how 
the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates will address 
the Iraq problem and what the situation in Iraq will be on Sept. 11 
of next year. It is certain, though, that the answers to these 
questions will significantly affect the outcome of the presidential 
election next fall. 
 
"War on terrorism" and Japan-US alliance 
 
On Sept. 11 two years ago, the LDP (then Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi) won a historic victory in a snap election held after 
Koizumi dissolved the House of Representatives, with the 
privatization of postal services as the sole campaign issue. It was 
said at that time that the Japan-US alliance was in the "most stable 
shape" or in a "golden age" under the strong personality and 
leadership of Prime Minister Koizumi and based on the LDP's 
rock-solid power base. 
 
Two years and a day later, however, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
announced his resignation. This decision surprised and disappointed 
many people. The prime minister's resignation came too late to take 
responsibility for the LDP's crushing defeat in the earlier House of 
Councillors election and too early to fulfill his responsibility to 
extend the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. Although Abe might 
have made the bitter decision due to his poor physical condition, he 
cannot avoid being labeled irresponsible as the leader of "a 
beautiful country." No matter whom the LDP picks as Abe's successor, 
 
TOKYO 00004328  006 OF 010 
 
 
it is expected to become necessary for the government to seek the 
voters' judgment by holding a Lower House election in the near 
future. The main opposition party might be able to grab political 
power. 
 
Negative factors are appearing in relations between Japan and the 
US. First of all, there is the issue of extending the Antiterrorism 
Law. Even if Japan discontinues the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, the alliance will not come 
to an end. Even so, the refueling operation in the Indian Ocean is 
more effective despite the cost and risk being far lower than if 
Japan were to dispatch SDF troops to Afghanistan. 
 
The refueling mission is highly required and justified by the 
international community, going beyond the framework of the Japan-US 
alliance. At present, 75 countries have cooperated with the US in 
fighting terrorism. Not only the US but even Afghanistan, Pakistan 
and many other countries have expressed appreciation for Japan's 
refueling mission. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan once opposed the Antiterrorism Law. 
But I remember that it was opposed not to the purport of the 
legislation itself but to the provision for prior Diet approval. 
Meanwhile, it is a matter for regret that the government has given 
no full explanation about the contents of the MSDF activities in the 
Indian Ocean, as pointed out by the DPJ. The government should be 
aware that it must fully explain its security and foreign policies 
to the public. 
 
Difficult issues related to Iraq and North Korea 
 
In the six-party talks on North Korea's denuclearization, as well, 
Japan has found itself isolated more frequently over the abduction 
issue (setting aside whether Japan is actually isolated or not), 
given the recent rapid improvement in relations between the US and 
North Korea. Such a situation was inconceivable two years ago. 
 
Washington's tough stance toward North Korea and Abe's resolute 
posture on the abduction issue gave Abe a boost to the post of prime 
minister. It was after the midterm elections last year when the US 
government began to change its policy course significantly. Over the 
Iraq issue, the US altered its course after neoconservatives, who 
also have a bad reputation in Japan, were driven out of the Bush 
administration. This means that neoconservatives were indisputably 
echoing the Japanese public in dealing with North Korea. 
 
Nobody can tell what will become of the Japanese political situation 
and Japan-US relations on Sept. 11 of next year. What is clear now 
is that the leaders of both Japan and the US are required to fulfill 
their responsibility to explain to the international community and 
their peoples and present their respective long-term and realistic 
strategies on Iraq and North Korea. 
 
(5) Five years since signing of Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration, 
but no prospect in sight for a resolution of abduction issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Almost full) 
September 18, 2007 
 
Five years passed yesterday since then Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi made a sudden visit to Pyongyang, North Korea, where he and 
General Secretary Kim Jong Il signed the Pyongyang Declaration. 
 
TOKYO 00004328  007 OF 010 
 
 
Afterwards, although five abductees and their families members were 
ultimately allowed to repatriate to Japan, but on the whereabouts of 
other abductees and the prospect of normalization of relations 
between the two countries, progress is nowhere in sight. North Korea 
policy has become a topic for debate in the ongoing presidential 
campaign of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), but in order 
for Japan to seriously undertake negotiations with North Korea, the 
domestic political situation must first be stabilized. 
 
"The current policy line of unrelenting pressure on North Korea may 
shift if (former Chief Cabinet Secretary) Yasuo Fukuda is chosen as 
prime minister," one Foreign Ministry official noted. "Full-fledged 
Japan-North Korea talks will not start before the next cabinet 
establishes its policy," another commented. Foreign Ministry 
officials, wearing expressions that reflected their mixed feelings, 
are keeping tabs on moves in the Diet at Nagata-cho as the LDP 
presidential campaign continues. 
 
After the release of the Pyongyang Declaration, Tokyo consistently 
maintained a "dialogue-and-pressure line" toward the North. 
 
But the government and the ruling bloc became divided over the 
question of which was more important, dialogue or pressure, and 
policy confusion often reigned. 
 
A hard-liner who favored applying more pressure, Prime Minister 
Shinzo Abe served as deputy chief cabinet secretary when the 
Pyongyang Declaration was released. At the time, Abe was at the 
forefront of the hard-liners. During Koizumi's visit to Pyongyang, 
Abe insisted that General Secretary Kim should apologize to Japan, 
and he also prevented the five abductees from being sent back to the 
North after their "temporary return" to Japan. As a result, Abe 
became even better known as the next leader of the hard-liners. 
 
Even after taking office as prime minister, Abe emphasized the need 
to pressure the North and would not budge even an inch from his 
principle that he would not provide economic assistance to the DPRK 
without progress first on the abduction issue. Secretary General 
Taro Aso, foreign minister in the first Abe cabinet, backed this 
policy. If Aso becomes prime minister, he would likely follow Abe's 
hard line. 
 
If Fukuda becomes prime minister, he would likely modify the 
previous line. When Fukuda served as chief cabinet secretary, he and 
then Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General Hitoshi 
Tanaka of the Foreign Ministry promoted a dialogue line. 
 
Some in the government in this regard commented: "Fukuda is flexible 
about holding talks with the North Koreans, so he could move 
relations forward more easily." 
 
There is another matter of concern for Japan, namely, how the Bush 
administration, approaching its final year, will respond to the 
North in the months ahead. The Bush administration is moving ahead 
with talks with the Kim regime presumably to achieve results on 
North Korean issues while the President is in office. The Bush 
administration is in a hurry to resolve the nuclear issue though 
six-party talks. 
 
If Japan continues to refuse to provide economic assistance in 
exchange for progress on the nuclear issue as a result of 
excessively sticking to the abduction issue, discord with the US and 
 
TOKYO 00004328  008 OF 010 
 
 
China could grow. 
 
"President Bush is really angry about the North having abducted 
Japanese, but he is not about to put a stop to US talks with North 
Korea." Views like this are widespread in the government and the 
ruling coalition. 
 
It is likely therefore that the North Korean issue will hamper the 
efforts of the next cabinet. There are so many tasks to be handled 
that the presidential campaign cannot deal with all of them. 
 
(6) CO2 emissions credits: Japanese companies obtain 90 million tons 
or half the amount they must reduce 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged) 
September 17, 2007 
 
The Nikkei learned that Japanese companies have amassed nearly 90 
million tons in CO2 emissions rights in annual terms through 
overseas greenhouse gas reduction projects. This is equivalent to 
half the amount Japan is mandated to cut between 2008 and 2012 under 
the Kyoto Protocol. The cost needed to amass that amount is expected 
to reach more than 400 billion yen. The industry and energy sector, 
the largest carbon dioxide emitter, will be very close to achieving 
its goal. However, the nation has a long way to go to meet its 
emissions reduction goal of 6 PERCENT . Reductions by the household 
and transport sectors will come into focus now. 
 
The Kyoto Protocol mandates that Japan cut its greenhouse gas 
emissions by approximately 76 million tons or 6 PERCENT  on average 
between 2008 and 2012 from the 1990 level of 1.261 billion tons. 
However, with emissions in 2005 up 7.8 PERCENT  from the 1990 level, 
the amount Japan must cut has increased to 175 million tons. CO2 
credits leading Japanese companies have amassed are equivalent to 
half of this amount. Companies can use the CO2 credits they have 
amassed to achieve reduction targets they independently set. The 
government can enter that amount into a reduction record achieved by 
Japan  as a whole. 
 
The industry and energy sector, such as factories and power 
generation plants, need to cut more than 30 million tons compared 
with the 2005 level. Those companies have amassed carbon dioxide 
emissions rights largely exceeding that figure. However, there is a 
strong possibility of their CO2 emissions increasing due to expanded 
production activities. In addition, if the shutdown of the 
Kariwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant in Kashiwazaki following the 
Chuetsu Earthquake is made up for with thermal power generation, 
greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 28 million tons this 
fiscal year alone. 
 
Trading houses have obtained emissions rights in a large quantity in 
a plan to sell them to the government, which plans to secure about 
20 million tons worth a year, and to companies that have failed to 
achieve their voluntary reduction targets. Chances are that even the 
amassment of about 90 million tons a year will not cover the amount 
needed by the industry and energy sector. A move to secure more 
credits will likely appear. 
 
The Japanese government approved 92 projects in the January-June 
half of 2007, double the number it did in the July-December half of 
¶2006. The total amount of CO2  credits Japan has amassed has reached 
89 million tons a year, according to the tally by the Nikkei. 
 
TOKYO 00004328  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
The power industry as of early this year had revealed plans to 
acquire 6 million tons a year, but the leading seven companies alone 
have already obtained 15.8 million tons a year. Among leading steel 
companies, Nippon Steel Corporation is the only company that has 
obtained 1 million tons a year as of this moment. The steel industry 
has revised its CO2 credit purchase plan from 5.6 million tons a 
year to over 8 million tons. The overall cost of obtaining CO2 
credits is estimated to reach between 450-670 billion yen. 
 
Japan is limited in what it can do in achieving its reduction goal 
with CO2 credits alone. The Environment Ministry has calculated that 
if energy-saving household electronic appliances are disseminated, 
it would be possible to cut CO2  emissions  by more than 40 PERCENT 
from the 174 million tons emitted in 2005. How to promote the 
replacement of such appliances will likely become a pending issue. 
 
(7) Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) in public primary, middle and 
high schools: Move to avoid JET program accelerating due to 
increased troubles, such as teachers returning home halfway through 
tour, being late for classes 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 18, 2007 
 
JET or the Japan Exchange and Teaching is a Government of Japan 
program that dispatches Assistant Language Teachers (ALT) to public 
primary, middle and high schools throughout the nation. This 
newspaper has learned on Sept. 17 that the program is fraught with 
troubles involving foreigners who came to Japan as JET teachers. 
There have been cases in which ALTs returned home on their own 
accord before completing their contract period or were frequently 
late for their teaching classes. A move to avoid using the JET 
program is accelerating, with a number of local governments 
switching to similar services rendered by the private sector, which 
charges less. The government's English education program, which has 
been in place for more than 20 years, is now at a major turning 
point. 
 
Three ministries, including the now defunct ministry of home affairs 
(now Internal Affairs Ministry), launched JET in 1987 with the aim 
of boosting English education. ALTs, who are supposed to provide 
support to the regular teachers, are mainly assigned to public 
schools. 
 
According to related sources, 1,038 municipalities accepted ALT's 
this year. The number is half that of the peak year of 2002. The 
number of foreigners who took part in the program has dropped to 
5,119, down approximately 13 PERCENT  from 2002. 
 
The number of ALT's who returned home for their own personal reasons 
before completing their one-year contract period, such as having 
found jobs in their home countries, has increased annually. There 
also have been many cases of ALTs arriving late for their teaching 
classes or being absent from school - attributed to the difficulty 
of communicating due to the language barrier. In fiscal 2005, 160 
ALT's or nearly 4 PERCENT  of all returned home in mid-contract. 
 
The JET program does not fill such vacancies. The cost of 
participating in the program is also a major issue. Accepting one 
ALT costs a municipality about 6 million yen a year to cover 
approximately 300,000 yen a month in pay, relocation expenses and 
 
TOKYO 00004328  010 OF 010 
 
 
social insurance premiums. 
 
Receiving similar services from a private company is reportedly 80 
PERCENT  lower that the cost involved when accepting an ALT 
dispatched under the JET program. 
 
In urban areas, where there are many private firms, such as English 
language schools, many public schools have stopped using the JET 
program. Most municipalities in Tokyo have adopted a private 
consignment system from the beginning. 
 
Yokohama City stopped using JET in fiscal 2003. It switched from 114 
ALT's to teachers dispatched by private companies. As one municipal 
educator explained, "JET is above all a system for international 
exchange. The private sector is a better choice since it can provide 
capable teachers at a cheaper price." 
 
SCHIEFFER