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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 004588 
 
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 10/01/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) Prime minister's policy speech fails to show imprint of his own 
views as a result of prioritizing cooperation from opposition 
parties 
 
(2) Agreement in six-party talks: Improvement in relations with 
North Korea a challenge for Japan-US relations; Removal of the North 
from US list of terror-sponsoring state may worsen Japan-US 
relations 
 
(3) Poll on Diet dissolution 
 
(4) Defense Minister Ishiba to return political donation to company 
 
(5) Japanese government may reconsider its ODA to Burma as an 
additional sanction 
 
(6) Deadline for MSDF refueling operations one month away: 
Antiterrorist surveillance network certain to become less tight; 
Pakistan's activities expected to drop 40 PERCENT 
 
(7) Government under pressure in face of criticism from opposition 
camp over allegation of diversion of Japanese fuel 
 
(8) Agreement in six-party talks: Improvement in relations with 
North Korea a challenge for Japan-US relations; Removal of the North 
from US list of terror-sponsoring state may worsen Japan-US 
relations 
 
(9) UNRWA for Palestine Refugees hopes for Japan's assistance to 
Gaza Strip 
 
(10) 110,000 protestors rally in Okinawa against deletion of 
descriptions concerning "forced mass suicide," urge the central 
government to "rescind screening results" 
 
(11) Bill amending AML to be submitted next March: FTC chairman says 
during press conference on his reelection to post: Shows eagerness 
to crack down on international cartels 
 
(12) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(13) EDITORIALS 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Prime minister's policy speech fails to show imprint of his own 
views as a result of prioritizing cooperation from opposition 
parties 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
Eve., October 1, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda delivered his first Diet policy speech, 
assuming a humble attitude in order to seek cooperation from the 
opposition parties, which now controls the upper chamber of the 
Diet. As Fukuda himself admitted, his speech left us with the 
impression that he has attached top priority to not irritating the 
opposition parties, as evidenced by the fact that he simply listed 
policy measures he had earlier declared in the Liberal Democratic 
Party's (LDP) presidential election. As a result, he failed to show 
 
TOKYO 00004588  002 OF 013 
 
 
his own policy imprint, in other words, his fundamental policy 
stances. 
 
It was unusual for a prime minister, who had just assumed the reins 
of government, to call on the opposition camp in his first policy 
speech to cooperate with him, before even sketching out what his 
administration would be like or even listing the policy tasks. His 
speech is in this sense can be viewed as reflecting his strong sense 
of crisis over the current situation in the Diet. 
 
On particular policy tasks, too, what the prime minister first 
mentioned were the politics-and-money issue and the question of the 
missing of payment records of pension premiums. On the largest 
question in the current Diet session, namely, what to do about the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean, the prime minister humbly said, "I will do all I can to make 
you understand the need for the mission." But the prime minister 
neither mentioned any plan to submit a new bill for continuing the 
refueling mission nor any possibility of having to put the bill to a 
re-vote in the Lower House (once the Upper House voted it down). 
 
On the policy area, Fukuda indicated he would fundamentally maintain 
the structural reform line of his predecessor administrations led by 
Koizumi and then Abe. But at the same time, he expressed his 
enthusiasm to work out measures to remove income disparities, by 
using the term "prescriptions." The disparity issue can be 
considered the "shadow" reform. 
 
Fukuda also declared a freeze on hiking medical payments the elderly 
would pay at hospitals, which was included in a partnership 
agreement on the coalition government with the New Komeito, but no 
fresh policy approach came out in his speech. 
 
Fukuda has emphasized he "assumed the top post suddenly," indicating 
modesty by saying, "When I am called 'prime minister,' I sometimes 
fail to realize I am prime minister," but we hope Fukuda as the 
leader of the nation would demonstrate his "ideas and feelings" in 
Diet debate in the days ahead. 
 
(2) Agreement in six-party talks: Improvement in relations with 
North Korea a challenge for Japan-US relations; Removal of the North 
from US list of terror-sponsoring state may worsen Japan-US 
relations 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 1, 2009 
 
Hirotake Maruya, Beijing 
 
With the inclusion of phrases about improvement in relations between 
Japan and North Korea and the United States and North Korea in an 
agreement reached by six countries negotiating North Korea's 
denuclearization, the US and Japanese governments will likely be 
forced now to make tough decisions. Japan has opposed removal of 
North Korea from the US' designation of it as a terrorism-sponsoring 
state, something that Pyongyang has called for. The US intends to 
make a final decision on the matter depending on the level of 
improvement in the North's nuclear issue. However, there is a 
possibility that a US decision to remove North Korea from the list 
will adversely affect relations between Tokyo and Washington. 
 
Change in North Korea's adversarial stance against Japan 
 
TOKYO 00004588  003 OF 013 
 
 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General 
Kenichiro Sasae commented on his just-concluded negotiations with 
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Guan, saying: "There was 
an understanding that we would frequently discuss pending issues and 
issues of concern through the six-party talks." Japan-North Korea 
relations remain cool, but the number of contacts between 
negotiators from the two countries has increased, even though there 
has been no concrete improvement in bilateral relations, except for 
a working group meeting in September on normalization of diplomatic 
ties. 
 
Kim announced in a full session of the six-party talks that the 
North together with Japan would make efforts to improve bilateral 
relations, giving the impression of a change in Pyongyang's 
adversarial stance toward Tokyo. One of the reasons for Pyongyang's 
change in stance is Yasuo Fukuda having assuming the prime 
minister's post, replacing Shinzo Abe, who took a hard-line stance 
toward the North. But the main reason is Washington's pressure on 
Pyongyang. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State East and Pacific Affairs Christopher 
Hill, US envoy to the six-party talks, has stressed in every meeting 
with Kim the need for North Korea to improve ties with Japan. As the 
nuclear issue moves from the second stage to nuclear disablement, 
the scale of economic aid will become lager. 
 
In a bid to reduce its own financial burden, the US must convince 
Japan to provide aid. Japan has asserted that it will not take part 
in an economic assistance program unless the abduction issue is 
first resolved. 
 
Japan concerned about US rushing for achievements 
 
The Bush administration has adopted a policy course leading toward a 
decision on whether to remove North Korea from the list of states 
sponsoring terrorism, while saying that it will continue to give 
consideration to the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese 
nationals. 
 
For the US, which hopes for using removal of the North from its list 
of state sponsors of terrorism as a lever to revolve the nuclear 
issue, it is inconvenient for Tokyo and Pyongyang to lock horns with 
each other. Improving Japan-North Korea relations is a prior 
condition for Washington to use the card resolving the nuclear 
issue. 
 
US President George W. Bush approved energy aid worth 25 million 
dollars to the North, while the negotiators from the six countries 
were engaged in negotiations, making clear his stance of backing the 
agreement. However, Japan is concerned about the US stance of 
hurrying to produce achievements. 
 
In the consultations this time around, the US did not bring up the 
allegation of nuclear connections between Syria and North Korea. The 
reason is because if the charge of such nuclear proliferation is 
true, the US strategy would be substantially undermined. In former 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's meetings with leaders from 
various countries, Israeli leaders had been most interested in North 
Korea's nuclear ambitions and in the abduction issue. This was 
because both Japan and Israel both sense the threat from North Korea 
as a nuclear proliferating state. 
 
TOKYO 00004588  004 OF 013 
 
 
 
A source familiar with the six-party talks predicts that chances are 
that the US will remove North Korea from its list of the 
terrorist-sponsoring states later this year. This decision could 
create strains in Japan-US relations. 
 
(3) Poll on Diet dissolution 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 28, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you think the House of Representatives should be dissolved for 
a general election? Pick only one from the following four options. 
 
 T P M F 
Dissolve within the year 25  31 21 
Dissolve around next spring after the next fiscal year budget's 
passage 31  34 29 
Dissolve after the G-8 summit in Hokkaido next summer 18  16 19 
No need to dissolve 20  15 22 
 
Q: Which political party between the Liberal Democratic Party and 
the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) would you like to see win 
in the next election for the House of Representatives? 
 
 T P M F 
LDP 41 (39) 42 40 
DPJ 45 (43) 50 42 
Other political parties 9 (13) 6 10 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "No answer" 
omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the results of the last 
survey conducted Sept. 12-13. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 25-26 over the 
telephone across the nation on a computer-aided random digit 
sampling (RDS) basis. Answers were obtained from 828 persons. 
 
(4) Defense Minister Ishiba to return political donation to company 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2007 
 
It was learned on Sept. 30 that the No. 1 chapter of the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba's 
electoral district in Tottori Prefecture had received 100,000 yen in 
political donation in December 2005 from a construction company in 
Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, which received government 
subsidies. Under the Political Funds Control Law, companies 
receiving subsidies from the government are prohibited for a year 
after they receive the government's notification of issuance of 
subsidies from extending any donation related to political 
activities. 
 
Defense Minister Ishiba on Sept. 30 told reporters at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence: 
 
"The company did not know that it was unable to offer donations. I, 
too, did not know that the company had received government 
 
TOKYO 00004588  005 OF 013 
 
 
subsidies. I will return the donation to the company." 
 
(5) Japanese government may reconsider its ODA to Burma as an 
additional sanction 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
Following the shooting death of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai in 
Burma, the Japanese government has shifted from the cautious stance 
it had taken until the previous day and is now looking into a 
possibility of applying additional sanctions against that country. 
Since it has developed a certain level of communications lines with 
the military junta, the government at first intended on behalf of 
the international community to work on the junta to exercise 
self-restraint. The government felt this also would enhance Japan's 
presence in the region. However, Japan is now at a crossroads, 
having to choose whether to switch from a dialogue stance to a 
pressure policy. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Sept. 28 told reporters, "I regret 
that Mr. Nagai died. I will ask the Myanmar government to find out 
the truth and take steps." Regarding additional sanctions, "It is 
difficult to determine at this point that applying sanctions is the 
best measure." 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, now visiting the US, on the 
evening of Sept. 27 ordered the Foreign Ministry (MOFA) to consider 
the possibility of applying sanctions if necessary. One senior MOFA 
official also noted on the 28th, "Some strong steps will be 
necessary." The Parliamentary Group to Assist Myanmar's 
Democratization (chaired by Tadamori Oshima, chairman of the Liberal 
Democratic Party Diet Policy Committee) on the 28th submitted a 
written request to Deputy Foreign Minister Hitoshi Kimura, noting 
that Japan should reconsider its official development assistance 
(ODA) to Myanmar. 
 
The ideas being floated about specific sanctions include limiting 
the entry of Burmese public servants into Japan and freezing the 
program of training personnel that targeted government officials. 
Technical cooperation (1.6 billion yen in fiscal 2005) may also be 
frozen. 
 
MOFA advises restraint on news-collecting activities in Myanmar 
 
Following the death of video journalist Kenji Nagai in Yangon, 
Burma, MOFA on the 28th advised domestic media that they postpone 
the dispatch of reporters and cameramen to that nation. This is a 
measure in response to the issuance of travel warning to all 
Japanese on the 27th. 
 
(6) Deadline for MSDF refueling operations one month away: 
Antiterrorist surveillance network certain to become less tight; 
Pakistan's activities expected to drop 40 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
October 1, 2007 
 
The legal basis for the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
operations will expire in just one month. MSDF activities in the 
Indian Ocean were opened to the media in mid-September ahead of 
fierce Diet deliberations between the ruling and opposition blocs. 
 
TOKYO 00004588  006 OF 013 
 
 
The following report on the MSDF operations from the Indian Ocean in 
the war on terrorism is intended to help readers consider the 
significance of the ongoing multinational effort and Japan's 
national interests. 
 
Japanese flag 
 
A Pakistani destroyer showed up behind the MSDF supply vessel Tokiwa 
to receive fuel under the scorching sun in the Arabian Sea in the 
northern part of the Indian Ocean. Receiving an instruction from an 
MSDF officer, the Pakistani vessel closely approached the Tokiwa and 
ran alongside it at a speed of 12 knots. The two vessels were 40 
meters apart from each other. 
 
Following a ship-to-ship refueling signal, the Tokiwa fired a rope 
at the Pakistani vessel to guide a black hose and soon began pumping 
light fuel oil into the ship under the watch of MSDF helicopters and 
the destroyer Kirisame. 
 
At present, the Pakistani Navy is the MSDF's largest receiver of 
such assistance. Since August 2006, the MSDF has refueled Pakistani 
vessels over 40 times, the largest number among the participating 
countries. The Pakistani destroyer receiving fuel from the Tokiwa 
was flying a Japanese flag. 
 
Currently only four supply vessels from Japan, the United States, 
and Britain are taking part in the maritime interdiction operations 
(MIO) involving six countries. Japan is the only country that has 
been providing fuel free of charge regardless of a treaty designed 
to charge such NATO members as the United States, Britain, Germany, 
and France for refueling services. Although critics of the Indian 
Ocean mission ridicule the MSDF operations as a floating free gas 
station, the MSDF personnel have been faithfully performing with the 
approach of the deadline for the Antiterrorism Special Measures 
Law. 
 
Tokiwa captain Commander Sugawara, 54, said: "We will just follow 
the political decision. We also want the public to become more aware 
of our activities over here in the Indian Ocean." 
 
The refueling service was completed in about one hour, and the 
lifejacket-clad MSDF personnel wiped away the dripping sweat on his 
brow in the extremely humid and gritty air. 
 
Negative impact from MSDF withdrawal 
 
The MSDF refueling operations began as part of the Operation 
Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan in the wake of 9/11. Its 
objective is to prevent terrorists from fleeing the area by sea and 
blocking routes for transport of weaponry, drugs, and other 
materials. Eleven countries have sent their naval troops to the OEF. 
Their troops have been engaged in warning and surveillance 
activities in the vast area stretching from Pakistan to the Horn of 
Africa. 
 
Based on intelligence collected by those countries, naval vessels of 
the US-led coalition forces have made 140,000 radio communication 
inquiries and searched 11,000 suspicious ships. The number of radio 
communication inquiries markedly declined from 41,000 in 2004 to 
14,000 in 2005 and then to 9,000 in 2006. A senior Defense Ministry 
official noted: "This testifies to the drop in suspicious ships 
under the tight surveillance in the area." 
 
TOKYO 00004588  007 OF 013 
 
 
 
Surveillance activities have been supported by the MSDF refueling 
operations. The MSDF has supplied some 480,000 kiloliters of fuel to 
the vessels of 11 countries since it began refueling services in 
December 2001. At present, 15 vessels from five counties -- the 
United States, Britain, Germany, France, and Pakistan -- are keeping 
watchful eyes on the area. Tight surveillance requires the presence 
of a large number of coalition force vessels at any given time. The 
presence of supply vessels is vital for those vessels to remain in 
the sea without returning to the ports for refuel. 
 
British Commodore Winstanley, deputy commander of a combined 
coalition maritime force based in Bahrain, said that fuel from the 
MSDF would enable a naval vessel to stay in the area for seven days. 
Pakistani Navy Commodore Hasham, too, predicted that MSDF withdrawal 
would dent the country's activities by 40 PERCENT . 
 
The Nov. 1 expiration of the Antiterrorism Law would force two MSDF 
vessels to leave the Indian Ocean. 
 
Sea lanes vital for Japan 
 
The government is eager to extend the MSDF refueling operations as 
part of the war on terrorism, for such would serve Japan's national 
interests. 
 
Sea lanes from the Middle East through the Indian Ocean and South 
East Asia are essential for Japan, whose fate and prosperity heavily 
depend on maritime transport. In fact, Japan imports 99 PERCENT  of 
its crude oil and 97 PERCENT  of its natural gas, and it can produce 
domestically only 10 PERCENT  of the wheat and 5 PERCENT  of the soy 
beans it consumes. A threat to the sea lanes by an international 
terrorist group would dry up resources not only for Japanese 
industries but for Japan's dinner tables, as well. 
 
According to a naval-affairs source, a vessel from the Middle East 
headed for Japan meets a 200,000-ton-class tanker from Japan every 
eight hours. The source also said: "Many tankers in the Indian Ocean 
have conveyed messages of appreciation to US-led coalition of naval 
vessels." 
 
Supporting the US-led coalition forces is tantamount to defending 
the sea lanes for maritime transport. The continuation of the MSDF 
operations clearly serves the national interests of Japan, which has 
been benefiting from open sea lanes. 
 
"Japan must contribute to the stability of this area as a country 
benefiting from the region," said Pakistani Navy Commodore Hasham. 
His words reflect the common perception of the international 
community. 
 
Records of MSDF refueling operations (as of Aug. 30, 2007) 
 
Fuel for naval vessels 777 times; 48,000 kiloliters 
Fuel for helicopters 65 times; 960 kiloliters 
Water 119 times; 6,530 tons 
 
Fuel received by country (one year since August 2006) 
 
Pakistan 40 times 
US 25 times 
France 21 times 
 
TOKYO 00004588  008 OF 013 
 
 
Germany 10 times 
Britain 7 times 
Italy 3 times 
Canada 2 times 
 
Accomplishment by MIO 
 
Drugs Over 12 tons 
Weaponry Over 500 small arms; over 12,000 shells 
People held Over 50 
 
(7) Government under pressure in face of criticism from opposition 
camp over allegation of diversion of Japanese fuel 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
The question of whether United States warships used fuel provided by 
a Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) replenishment vessel in the 
Indian Ocean in the Iraq war is now taking center stage in the 
ongoing extraordinary Diet session. Claiming that the diversion of 
Japanese fuel for use in the Iraq war is against the principle of 
the Antiterrorism Law, the opposition camp is lashing out at the 
government for its move to enact new legislation to replace the 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. The government and the ruling 
bloc are eagerly trying to put out the fire, but they are having a 
hard time finding specific grounds for their assertions. 
 
Correction of fuel amount in Diet reply 
 
In a press conference on Sept. 28, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
Secretary General Hatoyama said: "If it is proved true that (the 
 
SIPDIS 
government) told a lie (on the amount of fuel supplied by the MSDF 
to US warships), the premise it has set forth will break up." 
Hatoyama then indicated that in a session of representative 
interpellations to start Oct. 3, he would take up the allegation 
that the MSDF had indirectly refueled a US aircraft carrier involved 
in the war in Iraq. On Oct. 1, Policy Research Council Chairman 
Naoshima is scheduled to meet Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura to 
hand a letter calling for information disclosure over to him. 
 
In Diet replies, the Defense Ministry had said that the amount of 
fuel provided to US vessels by the MSDF was 200,000 gallons, but the 
ministry corrected this figure into 800,000 gallons on Sept. 21. 
Hatoyama took up this fact in the Sept. 28 press conference. 
 
Until then, the government had given this explanation: "The 200,000 
supplied by the MSDF is equivalent to the amount of the day's 
consumption by a refueled aircraft carrier. It therefore is 
inconceivable that the refueled aircraft could reach the Persian 
Gulf, near Iraq." The correction of the amount, though, has 
encouraged the DPJ to intensify its attack on the ruling coalition, 
with one official remarking: "The grounds for the government's reply 
have collapsed." 
 
The Defense Ministry has cited a data-entry error as the cause, but 
the opposition bloc is poised to grill the ruling camp on this 
problem. 
 
Acceleration of investigation 
 
Defense Minister Ishiba emphasized in a press conference on Sept. 
 
TOKYO 00004588  009 OF 013 
 
 
27: "Giving a detailed explanation is the government's 
responsibility." He then instructed his ministry officers to 
accurately and speedily investigate whether some of the MSDF-provide 
fuel was diverted for use in the Iraq war. 
 
Foreign Minister Komura, now visiting the US, also told US Secretary 
of State Condoleezza Rice: "Unless the US provides Japan with 
information, the government will find it difficult to persuade the 
opposition camp." 
 
Within the government, however, many are skeptical of the idea of 
having countries concerned provide Japan with data and records 
related to their warships refueled by the MSDF. A senior Defense 
Ministry official said: "If the US, citing the need of protecting 
classified military information, refuses to provide information, it 
will be impossible for Japan to investigate the matter." 
 
Another government source also commented: "It is expected that many 
countries will refuse to disclose their naval ships' fuel 
consumption and navigation routes, regarding such information as 
military secrets." 
 
(8) Agreement in six-party talks: Improvement in relations with 
North Korea a challenge for Japan-US relations; Removal of the North 
from US list of terror-sponsoring state may worsen Japan-US 
relations 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 1, 2009 
 
Hirotake Maruya, Beijing 
 
With the inclusion of phrases about improvement in relations between 
Japan and North Korea and the United States and North Korea in an 
agreement reached by six countries negotiating North Korea's 
denuclearization, the US and Japanese governments will likely be 
forced now to make tough decisions. Japan has opposed removal of 
North Korea from the US' designation of it as a terrorism-sponsoring 
state, something that Pyongyang has called for. The US intends to 
make a final decision on the matter depending on the level of 
improvement in the North's nuclear issue. However, there is a 
possibility that a US decision to remove North Korea from the list 
will adversely affect relations between Tokyo and Washington. 
 
Change in North Korea's adversarial stance against Japan 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General 
Kenichiro Sasae commented on his just-concluded negotiations with 
North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Gye Guan, saying: "There was 
an understanding that we would frequently discuss pending issues and 
issues of concern through the six-party talks." Japan-North Korea 
relations remain cool, but the number of contacts between 
negotiators from the two countries has increased, even though there 
has been no concrete improvement in bilateral relations, except for 
a working group meeting in September on normalization of diplomatic 
ties. 
 
Kim announced in a full session of the six-party talks that the 
North together with Japan would make efforts to improve bilateral 
relations, giving the impression of a change in Pyongyang's 
adversarial stance toward Tokyo. One of the reasons for Pyongyang's 
change in stance is Yasuo Fukuda having assuming the prime 
 
TOKYO 00004588  010 OF 013 
 
 
minister's post, replacing Shinzo Abe, who took a hard-line stance 
toward the North. But the main reason is Washington's pressure on 
Pyongyang. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State East and Pacific Affairs Christopher 
Hill, US envoy to the six-party talks, has stressed in every meeting 
with Kim the need for North Korea to improve ties with Japan. As the 
nuclear issue moves from the second stage to nuclear disablement, 
the scale of economic aid will become lager. 
 
In a bid to reduce its own financial burden, the US must convince 
Japan to provide aid. Japan has asserted that it will not take part 
in an economic assistance program unless the abduction issue is 
first resolved. 
 
Japan concerned about US rushing for achievements 
 
The Bush administration has adopted a policy course leading toward a 
decision on whether to remove North Korea from the list of states 
sponsoring terrorism, while saying that it will continue to give 
consideration to the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese 
nationals. 
 
For the US, which hopes for using removal of the North from its list 
of state sponsors of terrorism as a lever to revolve the nuclear 
issue, it is inconvenient for Tokyo and Pyongyang to lock horns with 
each other. Improving Japan-North Korea relations is a prior 
condition for Washington to use the card resolving the nuclear 
issue. 
 
US President George W. Bush approved energy aid worth 25 million 
dollars to the North, while the negotiators from the six countries 
were engaged in negotiations, making clear his stance of backing the 
agreement. However, Japan is concerned about the US stance of 
hurrying to produce achievements. 
 
In the consultations this time around, the US did not bring up the 
allegation of nuclear connections between Syria and North Korea. The 
reason is because if the charge of such nuclear proliferation is 
true, the US strategy would be substantially undermined. In former 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's meetings with leaders from 
various countries, Israeli leaders had been most interested in North 
Korea's nuclear ambitions and in the abduction issue. This was 
because both Japan and Israel both sense the threat from North Korea 
as a nuclear proliferating state. 
 
A source familiar with the six-party talks predicts that chances are 
that the US will remove North Korea from its list of the 
terrorist-sponsoring states later this year. This decision could 
create strains in Japan-US relations. 
 
(9) UNRWA for Palestine Refugees hopes for Japan's assistance to 
Gaza Strip 
 
YOMIURI (Page 7) (Full) 
September 30, 2007 
 
Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd of the United Nations Relief and 
Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees, who is to visit Japan 
starting on Oct. 10, gave a press conference to Japanese reporters 
in Jerusalem on Sept. 28. During it, she made an appeal regarding 
the plight of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian autonomous area that 
 
TOKYO 00004588  011 OF 013 
 
 
is effectively controlled by the radical movement Hamas, noting "The 
decline of the economic situation there is very serious." She 
expressed her expectations Japan to provide assistance. 
 
AbuZayd said that it has become impossible to secure cement and 
construction materials for a project to developing the southern part 
of the Gaza Strip, based on aid totaling 93 million dollars 
(approximately 10.6 billion yen) provided by Japan and certain West 
European countries, because Israel had stopped the distribution of 
goods with the exception of humanitarian assistance after the area 
was brought under the control of the Hamas this June. 
 
(10) 110,000 protestors rally in Okinawa against deletion of 
descriptions concerning "forced mass suicide," urge the central 
government to "rescind screening results" 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Full) 
September 30, 2007 
 
A nonpartisan Okinawa rally was staged in Kaihin Park in Okinawa's 
Ginowan City on Sept. 29 protesting the deletion of phrases from 
school textbooks that referred to accounts of the Imperial Japanese 
Army forcing Okinawa residents "to commit mass suicide" during the 
Battle of Okinawa. The phrases were deleted as a result of 
government textbook screening. The rally called on the central 
government to rescind the screening results. According to the 
organizers of the rally, 110,000 people took part, outnumbering the 
rally of 85,000 people in October 1995, held in the wake of the 
raping of a school girl by US military personnel and calling for 
consolidation and reduction of US military facilities in Okinawa. 
Participants yesterday adopted a resolution calling on the central 
government to withdraw the screening results and restore the 
previous phrases. 
 
The executive committee composed of 22 groups, including each 
political group in the prefectural assembly and the Prefectural 
Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations, organized the rally this 
time and asked 1,600 or so organizations to participate in it. The 
space of some 25,000 square meters for the rally was overflowing 
with participants. Placards or banners reading "We will not allow 
history to be distorted" were seen here and there. 
 
Standing on the platform at the site of the rally were the heads and 
assembly chairmen of 36 municipalities, excluding those of the 
Sakishima Islands, which had held a rally independently. 
 
Toshinobu Nakazato, chair of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly and 
also chair of the executive committee, who had fought in the battle 
of Okinawa, delivered a speech, in which he said: "We simply can't 
allow historical facts to be distorted. This rally gives Okinawa, 
which was devastated by the tragic ground battle that involved our 
residents, an occasion to send a message to the rest of Japan." 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, as well, noted: "The Education Ministry 
has failed to sincerely respond to the prefectural people's repeated 
requests and has rejected them. We strongly protest the ministry's 
stance and express our regrets." 
 
Yoshikatsu Yoshikawa (68), who had been on the scene of mass suicide 
on Tokashiki Islands in the Battle of Okinawa, pointed out that the 
mass suicides occurred on islands where Japanese soldiers were 
stationed. "The overwhelming evidence proves that such tragedies 
would not have occurred if Imperial Japanese soldiers had not been 
 
TOKYO 00004588  012 OF 013 
 
 
present there." 
 
Two Yomitan Senior High School students, Kodai Tsukayama (18) and 
Natsumi Teruya (18) expressed their views as users of textbooks. 
 
The resolution adopted by the rally said, "It is an undeniable fact 
that 'mass suicides' could not have occurred if Japanese soldiers 
were not deployed to those locations." Noting, "Our important 
responsibility is to pass the true facts on to future generations," 
the resolution went on to urge the Education Ministry to rescind the 
screening results. 
 
After the convention, Gov. Nakaima told reporters: "I had a feeling 
from the rally this time that a certain kind of magma or energy is 
about to explode." 
 
On Sept. 29, Miyako Island and Ishigaki Island both held their 
rallies separately, bringing together a total of 6,000 participants 
(according to the number released by organizers). 
 
The Education Ministry's stance is not to change anything, noting, 
"The screening was conducted based on the results of studies and 
discussions by experts." However, several textbook writers are 
beginning to seek corrections. 
 
(11) Bill amending AML to be submitted next March: FTC chairman says 
during press conference on his reelection to post: Shows eagerness 
to crack down on international cartels 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 29, 2007 
 
Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Kazuhiko Takeshima during a 
press conference on his reelection to the post (as of September 27) 
indicated his policy of submitting a bill amending the Antimonopoly 
Law (AML) to the Diet next March. Since the existing AML has two 
penalties -- administrative surcharges and criminal punishments -- 
the business world is seeking the unification of the two. However, 
Takeshima once again indicated his policy of keeping the two in 
place, noting, "Applying both administrative surcharges and criminal 
punishments in a proper manner is important in order to promote the 
compliance of the law. He indicated eagerness to crack down on 
international cartels linked to other countries, based on the 
reality that the number of multinational companies is on the 
increase as a result of the globalization of the economy. 
 
Regarding an amendment to the AML, the AML Basic Problems Advisory 
Council reporting to the chief cabinet secretary released a report 
calling for strengthening administrative surcharges imposed on 
companies that had broken the anti-monopoly law. The FTC is now 
drafting an amendment to the law, based on this report. 
 
Regarding international cartels, Takeshima pointed out that under 
the Japanese law, international cartels are subject to punishment, 
going back three years, while in the US such a period is five years 
and 10 years in the case of the European Union (EU). Japan's short 
coverage period is a pending issue in cracking down on cartels in 
concert with other countries.  He stressed the necessity to expand 
the period, saying, "The period should be extended at least on a par 
with that of the US." 
 
(12) TOP HEADLINES 
 
TOKYO 00004588  013 OF 013 
 
 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Tokyo Shimbun: 
Six-party negotiators reach tentative deal on N. Korea nukes 
 
Sankei: 
Prime Minister to visit China in January, US after extra Diet 
session 
 
Akahata: 
JCP's Koike calls for retraction of medical co-payments for the 
elderly 
 
(13) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Establish lay judge system to make use of civilians' common 
sense 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Enactment of financial commodity exchange law: Users need to 
change consciousness 
(2) Newly appointed executives for guidance policy financing must 
not be affected by bureaucrats 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Will road-map work effectively to denuclearize North Korea? 
(2) Resumption of frozen project to construct Daido River dam must 
not be used to revive public works projects 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Realize muscular privatized postal services through sound 
competition 
(2) "Dialogue and pressure" approach still needed for North Korea 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Vague agreement in six-party talks will result in creating a 
problem for future 
(2) Emergency earthquake spots must be used cleverly and calmly 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Day of law: Remark by justice minister about "death sentence 
without signature" likely have negative effects 
(2) NHK reform: Speak about future of public broadcasting 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Rally in Okinawa to protest textbook screening: Withdraw 
authorization of "mass suicide" for school textbooks 
 
DONOVAN