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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 004339 
 
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 09/19/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
MSDF anti-terror role: 
4) Japan coordinating new UNSC anti-terror resolution on OEF and 
ISAF activities that would underscore MSDF refueling operations in 
Indian Ocean 
5) Government aims to use new UNSC resolution on Afghan activities 
as pressure on DPJ to reconsider stance opposing MSDF anti-terror 
role 
6) Government calculating that new UNSC resolution will soften DPJ 
resistance to anti-terror law 
7) DPJ President Ozawa reiterates categorical opposition to MSDF 
refueling activities in Indian Ocean 
8) Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano, Defense Minister Komura see 
introduction of new anti-terror bill this Diet session 
9) UK ambassador in meeting with defense minister seeks continuation 
of MSDF services in Indian Ocean 
10) Former LDP Vice President Yamasaki optimistic that new UNSC 
resolution will pave way for extension of MSDF refueling services in 
Indian Ocean 
 
Security affairs: 
11) Former LDP Vice President Yamasaki sees North Korea's nuclear 
testing as a good wakeup call for Japan 
12) Government to beef up anti-hacker policy measures to prevent 
leaks from defense contractors 
 
DPJ in action: 
13) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to introduce bill to Diet that 
would withdraw SDF troops from Iraq 
14) DPJ head Ozawa to visit China with an entourage of 1000 
traveling in three chartered jets 
15) New DPJ strategy envisions Diet dissolution in the spring, 
followed by a snap election 
16) Ozawa rejects LDP presidential candidate Fukuda's call for 
inter-party talks on Diet dissolution 
17) Ozawa unhappy with Fukuda's campaign pledge of "independence and 
association," which he says was originally his slogan 
 
18) Criticism of government's crisis management system that has 
ignored fact that prime minister has been hospitalized and 
incapacitated 
 
19) Chief Cabinet Secretary Yosano unhappy with media claims of his 
role in a "coup d'etat" of sorts against Prime Minister Abe that 
usurped his authority 
 
20) Education advisory panel report omits controversial proposal of 
making "morality" a subject for study in schools 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
DPJ eyes possible dissolution of Lower House next spring, charts a 
new strategy to deal with new LDP president 
 
 
TOKYO 00004339  002 OF 012 
 
 
Mainichi: 
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency to ease employment 
regulations on former employees of pharmaceutical companies 
 
Yomiuri: 
UN to express gratitude to countries, including Japan, participating 
in Operation Enduring Freedom for their Maritime Interception 
Operation 
 
Nikkei: 
Abu Dhabi's government-affiliated investment firm IPIC to become the 
head of shareholders of Cosmo Oil 
 
Sankei: 
Japan proposes to China to compensate for half the money already 
invested by Beijing for exploration of gas fields in East China Sea 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Central Education Council decides not to put moral education in a 
list of subjects 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Politics-and-money scandals: Did the LDP fail to learn lessons? 
(2) Don't leave violations unattended 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) LDP presidential race: New vision for reform should be made 
clear 
(2) Ryoko Tani wins gold medal in judo world championship, brings 
her dream to realization even after having a child 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) LDP presidential election: Lack of policy debate 
(2) New bar exam: Professors of law schools should not write exam 
questions 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Japan should attend upcoming UNGA 
(2) True challenge for Microsoft 
 
Sankei: 
(1) LDP presidential race and abduction issue: Fukuda should come up 
with specific ideas 
(2) Rating firms needs rigorous disciplines to remove mistrust 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Heavy penalty on drunk driving necessary to put an end to 
tragedy 
(2) Electric Appliance Recycling Law: What should be done to 
eliminate illegal disposal? 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 18 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
10:39 
Met Cabinet Affairs Office Director-General Chishiro in his hospital 
 
TOKYO 00004339  003 OF 012 
 
 
room at Keio University Hospital in Shinanomachi. Signed cabinet 
meeting documents. 
 
4) Government coordinating new antiterrorism UN resolution for MSDF 
refueling operation to be authorized 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 19, 2007 
 
In a drive to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, a controversial issue in 
the extraordinary Diet session, the Japanese government started 
coordination with countries concerned yesterday to have the UN 
Security Council adopt a new resolution that would endorse the 
dispatch of the MSDF. Behind this development is the Democratic 
Party of Japan's (DPJ) opposition to an extension of the mission, on 
the grounds that "the operation is not directly authorized by the 
UN." A new resolution, if adopted, will have a major impact on the 
fate of the MSDF mission in the current Diet session. 
 
The UNSC plans to adopt a resolution later this month to extend the 
operation of the UN International Security and Assistance Force in 
Afghanistan. The countries concerned are making preparation to 
insert in the resolution words stressing the necessity of maritime 
intercept operations (MIO) by the multinational naval force in the 
Indian Ocean to prevent moves of terrorists and weapons. 
 
In order to adopt a resolution, the approval of at least the five 
permanent member nations - the US, Britain, France, China, and 
Russia - is necessary. But a senior Foreign Ministry official said: 
"With no objection coming from the permanent members, prospects are 
in sight for the resolution to be adopted." 
 
As the basis for refueling and water-supply by the MSDF based on the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, the government has cited UNSC 
Resolution 1368, which recognizes the terrorist attacks on the US as 
a threat to the peace and safety of the international community, and 
other resolutions, reiterating that there is no need for a new 
resolution. 
 
President Ichiro Ozawa of the DPJ, which now controls the House of 
Councillors, interprets that Resolution 1368 just allows the US to 
use its right of self-defense. He has expressed his opposition to 
the antiterrorism operation in Afghanistan, claiming: "The operation 
is a war waged by the US and has not been recognized as proper by a 
UNSC resolution." 
 
5) Gov't explores grounds for MSDF mission through new UNSC 
resolution 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
September 19, 2007 
 
The United Nations Security Council is expected to adopt another 
resolution extending the international community's current 
deployment of an international security assistance force (ISAF) in 
Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has been working on 
the United States and other countries in order to stress that the 
new UNSC resolution should aim at underscoring that Japan's Maritime 
Self-Defense Force has high marks from the international community 
for its activities in the Indian Ocean to restore civil order in 
Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) 
 
TOKYO 00004339  004 OF 012 
 
 
President Ozawa and other DPJ leaders remain opposed to the idea of 
extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, under which the 
MSDF has been operating in the Indian Ocean. Ozawa has noted that 
the MSDF's refueling mission there is not based on a UN resolution. 
The government wants to continue the MSDF's refueling mission with 
its appeal to the international community, urging the DPJ to change 
its policy. 
 
Japan has been taking part in maritime interdiction operations (MIO) 
to play a role for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). In connection 
with extending ISAF activities, the new UNSC resolution, which the 
United Nations is expected to adopt today, is to express its 
gratitude for the ongoing operation. In addition, the new resolution 
is also expected to refer to MIO for the first time. 
 
This time, the UNSC may recognize the importance of OEF and MIO in 
its resolution. If that is the case, the Japanese government expects 
that the MSDF's refueling mission under the antiterror law will 
become even more legitimate in the international community. "We can 
expect to widen public understanding on the MSDF's refueling 
activities that are appreciated by the United Nations," a senior 
Foreign Ministry official said. 
 
The government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party also expect 
the DPJ to change its mind. "If the greater part of the 
international community's members asks Japan to extend the 
antiterror law, I think the DPJ should change its stubborn 
attitude," said an LDP lawmaker with the experience of cabinet 
portfolio. 
 
"If it's difficult for the United Nations to adopt a new resolution, 
then the UNSC or the UN secretary general should release a statement 
to say clearly that the MSDF has been working there at the United 
Nations' request," former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki said 
yesterday in Tokyo. With this, Yamasaki stressed that Japan should 
work on the United Nations in order to obtain the DPJ's 
understanding. 
 
6) A new UNSC resolution might deprive Ozawa of basis for opposition 
to extension of MSDF refueling mission 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
(Commentary) 
 
If the United Nations Security Council adopts a new resolution that 
would authorize the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
President Ichiro Ozawa may lose the basis for his opposition to the 
government's plan to extend the mission. In the party, some are 
potential supporters of the government plan. Given that more people 
show understanding of an extension of the mission in various opinion 
polls, the main opposition party might be pressed to make a bitter 
decision, depending on future developments. 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Ozawa renewed his opposition to an 
extension of the MSDF mission even under a new administration, 
saying: "We clearly pledged to oppose the government's plan in our 
manifesto for the earlier House of Councillors election. It will 
never happen that we will change our policy (depending on trends in 
public opinion)." 
 
TOKYO 00004339  005 OF 012 
 
 
 
Ozawa also said: "The major question is whether the dispatch of SDF 
troops overseas infringes on the Constitution. UN operations do not 
come under the category of the use of force based on the invoking of 
a sovereign right, so they do not violate Article 9." Ozawa's basic 
view is that the government should invoke the right to self-defense 
only in an emergency that would directly affect the safety of Japan 
and that the dispatch of SDF troops overseas should be based on a UN 
resolution. 
 
The problem is whether the UN would recognize in its new resolution 
the MSDF refueling operation as an operation of "direct 
involvement." 
 
In a meeting with United States Ambassador to Japan Schieffer in 
August, Ozawa also cited this reason for his opposition to an 
extension of the MSDF mission: "Although the mission might be 
included in the general comprehensive argument (authorized by the 
UN), there is no resolution directly authorized by the UNSC." 
 
Depending on the contents of a new resolution, Ozawa might make a 
policy switch to agree to extend the mission, but he stated in the 
press conference yesterday: 
 
"I have not said that we will do everything if there is a 
resolution. The government of the time should decide on whether 
Japan should participate or not, in which area Japan should 
participate, and at what scale Japan should participate." 
 
7) DPJ's Ozawa reiterates opposition to refueling mission 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ozawa, meeting the 
press yesterday, indicated that the DPJ would oppose the 
government's plan to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. "We clearly made a public 
pledge in our manifesto for the House of Councillors election 
(against continuing the MSDF's refueling mission)," Ozawa said. 
"There will be no change (in the DPJ's policy)," he also said. 
 
In addition, Ozawa also called for an early dissolution of the House 
of Representatives. "The cabinet continues to be without purpose," 
Ozawa said, "and Prime Minister Abe has done an unprecedented act." 
He added, "We think the House of Representatives should be dissolved 
as soon as possible." Furthermore, Ozawa said: "The LDP-led 
government is full of contradictions. In time, they will have no 
choice but to dissolve the Diet." 
 
8) Yosano, Komura eye presentation of new antiterrorism legislation 
in current Diet session 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano in a press conference yesterday 
expressed his personal desire that new legislation allowing the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
would be presented to and approved by the Diet in the current 
session. He said: "The interval before next year's regular Diet 
session will be too long. A decision must be made form a viewpoint 
 
TOKYO 00004339  006 OF 012 
 
 
of whether it is sincere enough or can obtain international 
support." 
 
Defense Minister Masahiko Komura also told the press yesterday: "To 
me, presenting (new legislation) to next year's regular Diet session 
has not been an option. The cabinet must determine what's best by 
lending an ear to all voices." 
 
In the meantime, former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki delivered a 
speech in Tokyo yesterday morning. In it, Yamasaki urged the 
government to lobby the United Nations to win its seal of approval, 
saying: "The government should obtain a new UN resolution. Even a 
statement by the UN Security Council president or a comment by the 
UN secretary general will do." 
 
9) UK envoy also asks Japan to continue MSDF's refueling mission 
 
TOKYO (Page 5) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Masahiko Komura met with British Ambassador to 
Japan Fry at the Defense Ministry yesterday afternoon. In the 
meeting, Fry asked Komura to continue the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, noting that the 
MSDF's refueling mission there is an important constituent element 
of the war on terror. He added: "We want Japan to work on. That's in 
the interests of Japan." Komura stressed, "Based on various 
opinions, the cabinet will consider what to do." 
 
Komura expressed his gratitude to Fry for the British military's 
security of Ground Self-Defense Force members deployed in the 
southern Iraqi city of Samawah. 
 
10) Yamasaki calls for new UN resolution for continuation of 
refueling mission 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Taku Yamasaki, a former Liberal Democratic Party vice president and 
the chair of the ruling bloc Antiterrorism Law project team, 
delivered a speech in Tokyo yesterday. In the speech, Yamasaki urged 
the government to seek a new UN resolution on the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian Ocean. 
Yamasaki indicated that a new UN resolution would help persuade the 
Democratic Party of Japan about extending the refueling mission, 
while pointing out the need to discuss specifics with the DPJ in 
advance. 
 
He also criticized the Abe administration's hard-line policy toward 
North Korea, saying: "The nuclear issue is moving rapidly toward a 
settlement between North Korea and countries other than Japan. Japan 
must catch up with them at a stroke." Assuming that former Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda will become the new prime minister, 
Yamasaki also said: "I think (diplomatic relations between Japan and 
North Korea) will have been normalized by around this time next 
year. The new administration is tasked to achieve that." 
 
11) Yamasaki: It was good that North Korea conducted a nuclear test 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00004339  007 OF 012 
 
 
 
Taku Yamasaki, a former Liberal Democratic Party vice president, in 
delivering a speech in Tokyo yesterday touched on North Korea's 
nuclear test last October. He said: "I think it was good that the 
North conducted the test. There had been all sorts of speculations 
about whether that country possessed nuclear weapons. The test made 
it clear that (it has nuclear weapons). That's what I mean." 
 
Yamasaki added: "After that, both the United States and North Korea 
had to shift their policies." He apparently intended to emphasize 
that the United States after the North's nuclear test shifted its 
policy emphasis from pressure to dialogue in dealing with the North, 
and that the six-party talks have moved forward as a result. 
 
12) Report to government on computer hacking damage suffered by 
defense-related companies to be mandated: Measures to prevent 
intelligence leaks under consideration 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
The government plans to take drastic measures to prevent technology 
and trade secrets possessed by companies and research centers from 
being leaked. As part of such measures, it will mandate that 
defense-related companies report to the government in the event 
their computer system suffered a hacking attack. It will also 
establish criminal charges for the act of stealing defense secrets. 
Another plan is to close the courtroom for some trials in order to 
correct the present situation in which companies whose important 
trade secrets were stolen do not file a lawsuit in fear of further 
information leakage. In view of the reality that information leak 
routes have become diversified due to the development of the 
Internet and the increased mobilization of human resources, the 
government aims at preventing illegal leakage of information, which 
poses a threat to security and corporate competitiveness. 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will set up a Study 
Group on Appropriate Control of Technology, Information, Etc., for 
the purpose of submitting a bill amending the Illegal Competition 
Prevention Law to the regular Diet session in 2009. Leading 
companies will take part in the group. The Defense Ministry and the 
National Policy Agency will also participate as observers. 
 
The government will mandate that defense-related companies file a 
report if they suffer suspicious information collecting activities, 
such as hacking and industrial espionage. It will then release the 
outline of targeted information to make a wake-up call to other 
companies. Companies that failed to abide by this rule will be 
suspended from taking part in government procurement for a certain 
set period. Criminal charges, including prison term, will be imposed 
on those who collected defense intelligence through hacking 
activities. 
 
Under the existing law, even if universities' basic research 
technology or companies' trade secrets are stolen, those responsible 
for the crime can only charged with theft or misappropriation. The 
government will regard such information as property and make it 
possible to charge persons responsible for the theft of such, 
depending on the contents. 
 
13) DPJ to present Iraq withdrawal bill 
 
 
TOKYO 00004339  008 OF 012 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) 
decided yesterday to submit to the House of Councillors in the 
ongoing Diet session a bill that would withdraw the Air Self-Defense 
Force from Iraq, a senior DPJ lawmaker revealed. 
 
The bill, once submitted, is expected to clear the 
opposition-controlled Upper House and be sent to the House of 
Representatives. 
 
The DPJ has consistently opposed the SDF mission in Iraq, charging 
that the government has followed the United States based on 
incorrect intelligence about the existence of weapons of mass 
destruction and other matters. The DPJ has decided to submit the 
legislation with the aim of playing up its stance of opposing the 
dispatch of the SDF for overseas missions. 
 
The party is also opposed to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
 
In order to win public support, the largest opposition party has 
decided to increase the frequency of Diet deliberation on the 
question of sending the SDF overseas. 
 
14) 1,000 persons to accompany Ozawa on trip to China, boarding 
three chartered airplanes 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
It has been decided that Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President 
Ichiro Ozawa will visit China on Dec. 6-10. A total of 1,000 
persons, including 50 DPJ lawmakers and supporters, will accompany 
Ozawa on his China trip. The large delegation is expected to go to 
China on three chartered airplanes. Ozawa and other senior party 
members will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Chinese 
leaders, aiming to play up their own channels of communication to 
Beijing, as well as diplomatic caliber, with an eye on a political 
change. 
 
DPJ Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka revealed yesterday 
the outline of Ozawa's trip to China. The purpose of his China visit 
is to combine the exchange program between the DPJ and the Chinese 
Communist Party to commemorate the 35th anniversary of establishing 
diplomatic ties between the two countries, with the "Chojyo 
program," which is a grass-roots exchange by Diet members and 
private-sector persons from the two countries, which Ozawa created 
in 1989 under the Takeshita government. 
 
The DPJ and the Chinese Communist Party agreed to set up a 
consultative organ last July when Ozawa visited China. They held the 
first meeting in January when a Chinese delegation came to Japan. 
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi, who will soon leave Japan, 
asked Ozawa on Sept. 6 to visit China in December. 
 
15) DPJ eyes a possible dissolution of Lower House next spring, 
charts a new strategy to deal with a new LDP president 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
September 19, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00004339  009 OF 012 
 
 
 
Watching carefully the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) 
presidential campaign, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) has begun envisioning a possible dissolution of the Lower 
House next March, when deliberations on the budget bill for fiscal 
2008 will reach a critical stage. Behind this move is the DPJ's 
judgment that with Prime Minister Abe's resignation as prime 
minister, a major battle between the ruling and opposition blocs in 
the Diet is more likely to shift from the current extraordinary 
session to next year's ordinary session. By taking advantage of the 
"reversal of the positions in the Upper House between the ruling and 
opposition blocs," the DPJ intends to bring to light controversial 
points in the budget bill, vote down budget-related bills, which 
cannot be automatically enacted, and drive the ruling bloc into 
dissolving the Lower House. In line with this strategy, the DPJ is 
devoting itself to preparations to pursue the government on the 
pension issue and its wasteful spending of taxpayers' money. 
 
To drive the ruling bloc into dissolving the Lower House in budget 
deliberations 
 
"The only way for me to follow would be to read the situation at the 
time, taking into account legislation that will affect the people's 
livelihood. If both sides can share the awareness of issues, I think 
it is possible to hold talks with the opposition bloc. The right to 
dissolve the Lower House is granted the prime minister, but the 
present situation is not the one for the prime minister to exercise 
that right." LDP presidential candidate Yasuo Fukuda thus referred 
to a "dissolution of the Lower House by agreement" on Sept. 16. 
Because he used the term "people's livelihood," speculation has 
spread that dissolution of the Lower House is likely to occur next 
spring, when the national budget will be debated in the Diet. 
 
The question of extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, 
which was at one point viewed as a major issue in the current Diet 
session, has now been left up in the air due to Prime Minister Abe's 
announcement of his intention to resign. Fukuda has not mentioned 
yet anything about new legislation to replace that law. Defense 
Minister Komura, too, said at a press briefing yesterday, "There is 
the saying 'slow and sure wins the race.' I think it is wise to make 
a fresh start during the ordinary session of the Diet," implying 
putting on hold the extension issue. 
 
Reading these developments in the ruling bloc, the DPJ has begun 
eyeing an ordinary Diet session as the main battlefield. The party 
intends to focus its energies on budget deliberations. 
 
At a press conference yesterday, Ozawa said, "I hope the Lower House 
will be dissolved as quickly as possible. If the LDP likewise wants 
to do so, it can do so. However, this does not mean 'dissolution by 
agreement.'" According to an aide to Ozawa, Ozawa's strategy is to 
create a situation by voting down budget-related bills and driving 
the government and the LDP into a corner so that the LDP will be 
forced to dissolve the Lower House. 
 
16) DPJ President Ozawa rejects possibility of Lower House 
dissolution through discussion 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, who is now running in 
 
TOKYO 00004339  010 OF 012 
 
 
the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential race, has indicated 
the possibility that if he becomes prime minister, he would dissolve 
the House of Representatives through discussion with the opposition 
camp after FY2008 budget is approved. Referring to Fukuda's 
indication in a press conference, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
President Ichiro Ozawa revealed yesterday that his party had no such 
an idea, saying: 
 
"I hope the Lower House will be dissolved as early as possible. An 
early dissolution of the Lower House is possible if the LDP wishes 
to do so. I don't think the Lower House should be dissolved through 
discussion." 
 
He also added: "I don't understand his idea that he would dissolve 
the Lower House to pass the budget." 
 
With this regard, DPJ Upper House Secretary General Kenji Hirata 
made a comment in a press briefing yesterday: 
 
"The prime minister has the right to dissolve the Lower House. So 
there is no need for the prime minister to consult with the 
opposition. If the opposition camp submits a no-confidence motion 
against the cabinet, that would be a different case. We have no 
intention of holding a discussion with the prime minister for the 
purpose of dissolving the Lower House." 
 
17) Ozawa criticizes Fukuda's "independence and association" pledge 
as his own words, expressing displeasure 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa made cynical 
remarks about former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda setting 
forth "independence and association (kyousei)" in his campaign 
pledge for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election. 
Ozawa said in a press conference yesterday: "Please ask him why he 
has cited words that Ichiro Ozawa has used over the past 20 years." 
 
Ozawa further said: "Since (the LDP) holds political power, it 
should make its own policies, rather than copying others," adding: 
"Whatever he says, lip service alone is no good. Nobody will trust 
him unless he carries out specific measures." 
 
In reference to the fact that Fukuda mistakenly said "coexistence 
(kyouzon)" twice when he meant "association" in a joint-campaign 
speech, Ozawa made fun of him, remarking: "It is funny that he 
forgot the word. His slogan has slipped his mind." 
 
(TN: Both words can be used for "coexistence.") 
 
18) Experts criticize the government's crisis management system 
since no acting prime minister has been appointed 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
Some experts are now criticizing the government for not appointing 
an acting prime minister despite the hospitalization of Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe. The government has taken a position that the 
present situation does not meet the requirement to appoint an acting 
prime minister and that there has been no problem in carrying out 
 
TOKYO 00004339  011 OF 012 
 
 
prime ministerial tasks. However the government's crisis management 
system will likely come under fire. 
 
Abe was hospitalized on Sept. 13 in a Tokyo hospital after being 
diagnosed with functional gastrointestinal disorder. Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Kaoru Yosano, at a press conference yesterday, revealed 
 
SIPDIS 
the latest diagnostic outcome of Abe's condition that there is no 
change in the situation that Abe needs sufficient time to recover 
his health, that he is still on intravenous drips since he has not 
made any progress toward recovery, and that he has had no problem in 
making decisions. 
 
The hospital side's view is that Abe should stay in the hospital 
until this weekend. If he is hospitalized until Sept. 25 when the 
Abe cabinet is expected to resign en masse, the absence of prime 
minister, an unusual situation, would last for 13 days. 
 
At the press briefing, Yosano stated that there was no need to 
appoint acting prime minister since the case this time did not meet 
the requirement set under the Cabinet Law. He stressed that there 
was no crisis management problem. However, Takushoku University 
Prof. Satoshi Morimoto made a critical comment: "I don't think the 
government can make appropriate decisions without the prime 
minister." Tokyo University Prof. Takashi Mikuriya also said: "It is 
natural to appoint the chief cabinet secretary as acting prime 
minister." 
 
19) Yosano displeased about coup rumor, saying, "It is heartless 
propaganda spread by heartless persons" 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 19, 2007 
 
There is a rumor going around that Secretary General Taro Aso and 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano engineered a "coup d'etat" that 
so cornered Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he decided to announce his 
resignation. Yosano during a press briefing yesterday afternoon 
rebutted the rumor, showing his displeasure, "I have neither taken 
any action that infringed on my duty of supporting the prime 
minister nor overstepped my duty as chief cabinet secretary." 
 
Bearing in mind that lawmakers who support former Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Yasuo Fukuda in the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party 
 
SIPDIS 
presidential election are presumably responsible for spreading the 
coup rumor, Yosano noted, "It is lamentable that heartless persons 
spread heartless propaganda." 
 
20) Proposal for teaching moral values in schools postponed: Central 
Education Council decides not to include moral education in school 
curriculum 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
September 19, 2007 
 
The Central Education Council is now revising school curriculum 
guidelines. The panel yesterday decided not to make moral values a 
school subject. The government's Education Revitalization Council in 
its second report had proposed upgrading teaching moral values to an 
official school subject as moral education with the aim of improving 
students' awareness of social norms. However, the prevalent view in 
the panel had been cautious about making teaching moral values an 
official school subject. The panel decision indicates that it has 
 
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distanced itself from the education revitalization policy since 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his plans to step down. 
 
Schools usually use screened textbooks and students get a grade for 
each subject. However, moral values being taught in elementary and 
middle schools are not included in school curriculum. Though a set 
of proposals made by the Education Revitalization Council did not 
include a proposal for adopting a point-based performance evaluation 
system, the package incorporates the lives of great people in Japan 
and the world and Japanese classics as contents of moral education 
textbooks subject to screening, based on the assumption that such 
education will be adopted in the school curriculum. 
 
The Central Education Council has decided that screening school 
textbooks, meaning the government has a say on the specifics of 
textbooks taught in schools, and giving grades do not sit well with 
the idea of moral education. It has decided on a policy of 
substantively improving students' morals without insisting on making 
such education an official school subject or incorporating it in 
school curriculum as moral education. An expert panel will likely 
confirm its policy of putting on hold the proposals for making moral 
education a school subject, introducing a license system for special 
teachers, using screened subjects and giving grades to students. 
 
SCHIEFFER