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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 004601 
 
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 10/02/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Reaction to Prime Minister Fukuda's Diet policy speech: 
2) Prime Minister Fukuda's Diet policy speech lacked luster, flare 
and read like a business report 
3) Opposition camp pans Fukuda's speech as "penned by bureaucrats," 
"off the mark" 
 
Anti-terrorism legislation: 
4) Outline of new anti-terror bill revealed: Limited to MSDF 
providing fuel and water; no Diet permission required 
5) LDP, Komeito Diet steering committee plan to vet new anti-terror 
bill with opposition camp before presenting it to the Diet 
6) DPJ demands 17 items related for MSDF fueling services under the 
anti-terror law 
7) Defense Minister asks US for factual information about use of 
MSDF fuel in Indian Ocean 
8) Ruling camp to emphasize dialogue with opposition on new 
anti-terror bill 
 
Burma issue: 
9) Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka strongly protests to Burmese 
government the shooting of Japanese cameraman Nagai by soldier 
10) Japan demands Burma return Nagai's missing camera with video 
tape, seen in his hand when he died 
11) Japan to cut aid to Burma and not carry out any new humanitarian 
assistance 
 
Diet agenda: 
12) Extraordinary Diet session to be extended to mid-December but no 
later 
13) New Komeito objects to LDP's bill reforming 
political-contribution system 
 
14) After huge Okinawan protest, government may restore textbook 
descriptions about "military involvement" in mass suicides during 
Battle of Okinawa 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 1 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
08:00 
Attended an inauguration ceremony for the new Japan Post group at 
its headquarters in Kasumigaseki. 
 
08:35 
Arrived at the Kantei. 
 
09:35 
Attended an extraordinary cabinet meeting. 
 
11:16 
Met State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Ota, with Cabinet 
Office's policy planning directors general Fujioka, Matsumoto and 
 
TOKYO 00004601  002 OF 009 
 
 
Saito. 
 
13:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. Later attended an Upper 
House plenary session. Met Lower House Takeo Kawamura. 
 
14:26 
Met State Minister for Administrative Reform Watanabe. 
 
15:25 
Met Finance Minister Nukaga, Vice Finance Minister Tsuda, and 
others. Followed by Nippon Keidanren Chairman Mitarai. 
 
17:00 
Attended an executive meeting in the Diet building. 
 
18:06 
Met Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director 
General Sasae at the Kantei. 
 
19:15 
Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
2) Prime Minister Fukuda makes policy speech including practical 
proposals without fancy pledges 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday made his first policy speech, which 
was unique in terms of consideration being given to the opposition, 
following the trading of places between the ruling and opposition 
camps in the Upper House. His style of speech is also different from 
his predecessors. If former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's 
speech could be called a top-down style and that of former Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe an ideal type, Fukuda's speech can be called a 
practical type without fancy slogans or episodes. His solid stance 
sounds rather fresh. However, some said they felt insecure about 
whether he can tide over the Diet, where the opposition controls the 
Upper House. 
 
Koizumi in his policy speech delivered in May 2001 stressed his 
readiness to take the initiative in challenging vested interests, 
saying, "without fear, without flinching and without being 
obsessed." His speech incorporated the "spirit of 100 sacks of rice" 
based on a historical event, meaning that it is important to endure 
present hardships for the better future,  in order to explain the 
importance of nurturing human resources. 
 
Former Prime Minister Abe delivered two policy speeches while in 
office. His speeches were full of ideological imprints, including 
constitutional revision and education revitalization, with such 
slogans as a "beautiful country" and "departure from the postwar 
regime." 
 
In contrast, Fukuda advocated "independence and coexistence," which 
is also the basic ideal advocated by the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ or Minshuto). The partisanship of politics was so weak in his 
speech that DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama even said, "I felt 
embarrassed." The prime minister simply enumerated policy proposals 
without making a display of his originality. He said, "Protecting 
people's lives and defending the state's interests are the job of 
 
TOKYO 00004601  003 OF 009 
 
 
politics." 
 
His speech evidenced the distress he feels that underscoring the 
importance of policy rising above the partisanship of politics would 
be the only way to obtain cooperation from the opposition. 
 
3) Opposition camp pans Fukuda's policy speech as "prepared by 
bureaucrats," while ruling parties say "it is to the point" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 2 2007 
 
Opposition parties lambasted the prime minister's policy speech 
yesterday. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama said: "It seems that he read a composition prepared by 
bureaucrats. It lacked luster and any resolve. I could not 
understand what he wanted to say. I had a strong impression that a 
bureaucrat-controlled cabinet has been revived." Opposition parties 
are ready to harshly attack the prime minister's stance and policies 
on such occasions as the representative interpellations session to 
start tomorrow and meetings at both houses' budget committees. 
 
In reference to Fukuda's buzzwords "independence and coexistence," 
Hatoyama expressed displeasure, saying: "He apparently adopted our 
party's slogan." Hatoyama also dismissed the prime minister's call 
for consultations between the ruling and opposition blocs, 
remarking: "We should thoroughly discuss issues at a party head 
debate and committee meetings in the Diet." 
 
Focusing on the advocacy of building a "country that gives hope and 
security", Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii made this 
critical comment: "He presented no prescription on how to create 
such a country." Social Democratic Party President Mizuho Fukushima 
commented: "It was like a composition penned by a faultless honor 
student, lacking passion and specific measures." 
 
People's New Party President Tamisuke Watanuki said: "Politicians 
are not thinkers. Of importance is what they do." New Party Nippon 
President Yasuo Tanaka released a statement reading: "The speech 
just enumerated abstract words." 
 
4) New legislation outlined; MSDF services to be limited to oil, 
water supply, Diet approval unnecessary 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
October 2, 2007 
 
New legislation the government is going to submit to the current 
Diet session enabling the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue 
its refueling operations in the Indian Ocean beyond the Nov. 1 
expiry of the current Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, was 
outlined yesterday. The new law will limit the MSDF's activities to 
oil and water supply and eliminate the retroactive Diet approval 
system, now stipulated in the Antiterrorism Law. The government and 
ruling bloc plan to let relevant cabinet ministers and the ruling 
party project team begin coordination on Oct. 2, determine an 
outline of the new legislation later this week, and call on the 
major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto or DPJ) to hold 
talks for adopting the new legislation. 
 
As MSDF activities, the Special Measures Law now in force 
stipulates: (1) cooperative assistance, including oil and water 
 
TOKYO 00004601  004 OF 009 
 
 
supply, (2) search and rescue operations, and (3) rescuing affected 
people. The envisaged legislation will limit their activities to 
providing fuel and water. Further, the government's stand is that 
given the concretely specified activities, additional Diet approval 
is unnecessary, saying that the enactment of the law corresponds to 
Diet approval. In the past, a Diet report has always followed any 
changes to the basic plan. The new legislation is designed to 
obligate the government to report to the Diet regularly. 
 
The government also plans to add UN Security Council Resolution 1776 
expressing appreciation for the Maritime Interdiction Operations, 
including the MSDF, to Article 1 stipulating the purposes of the new 
law. Coordination is underway for limiting the MSDF operations to 
two years. But the situation is still fluid, as the New Komeito is 
calling for one year. 
 
The government and ruling camp plan to introduce a bill to the Diet 
in mid-October. The focus will be on an extension of the current 
Diet session slated to adjourn on Nov. 10. In a speech in Tokyo on 
Sept. 28, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda indicated that the extension 
would be inevitable, saying, "If the current session is to end on 
Nov. 10, that would leave us only three weeks (for deliberations)." 
 
But given the DPJ's adamant opposition to the MSDF operations, the 
view is prevalent in the government and ruling camp that even if the 
session was extended, enacting the new legislation during the 
extraordinary session would be difficult. Some are calling for 
carrying the matter over to the next year's regular Diet session for 
legislation. 
 
But the DPJ's stiff resistance might prevent any budget-related 
bills from clearing the Diet in late March after the enactment of 
the state budget bill, paving the way for Lower House dissolution 
for a snap general election. Such a development might force the MSDF 
to suspend its refueling operations for a long time. 
 
Differences between new legislation and the Antiterrorism Law now in 
force 
 
 New legislation Antiterrorism Law 
Activities Limited to oil and water supply. Cooperative assistance, 
including oil and water supply, search and rescue operations, and 
rescuing affected people. 
Diet approval Not required. Given limited activities, enactment of 
the new legislation will be regarded as Diet approval. Diet approval 
is necessary within 20 days of the start of activities. 
UN resolutions stipulated in Article 1 (purposes) Add UN Resolution 
¶1776. UN resolutions, including 1368. 
Term One or two years. One year. 
 
5) LDP, New Komeito decide to present outline of new antiterrorism 
legislation to opposition bloc ahead of Budget Committee session 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
The Diet Affairs Committee chairmen of the Liberal Democratic Party 
and New Komeito decided yesterday to present the opposition camp 
with an outline of the envisaged new antiterrorism legislation on 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operations before the 
Lower House Budge Committee session begins possibly on Oct. 9. Their 
aim is to facilitate talks between the ruling and opposition camps 
 
TOKYO 00004601  005 OF 009 
 
 
at the Budget Committee by presenting the outline before the session 
starts. 
 
The government plans to hold a meeting of relevant cabinet ministers 
today to finalize the outline to present it to the ruling party 
project team later today. Although the government and ruling bloc 
want to obtain the opposition camp's support through talks, the 
opposition parties not give the slightest indication of responding 
to the call. 
 
Given the situation, the ruling bloc plans to introduce a bill to 
the Diet after Budget Committee deliberations, with ruling bloc 
project team chair Taku Yamasaki saying: "We would like to conduct 
de facto ruling-opposition talks at the Budget Committee and 
determine the bill's content based on them." 
 
6) DPJ presents Machimura with 17-item request for more information 
on MSDF refueling operations 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan Policy Research Committee Chair Masayuki 
Naoshima, meeting with Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura in 
the Diet building yesterday, presented him with a written request 
asking for information disclosure regarding the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. The 
request is composed of 17 items, including the numbers of refueling 
services by area, the names of foreign vessels that received fuel 
from the MSDF, shipping schedules, and the international legal basis 
for the Maritime Interdiction Operation, in which the MSDF is taking 
part. 
 
In the meeting, DPJ shadow foreign minister Yoshio Hachiro referred 
to the option of exercising investigative powers in national 
politics by pointing out the alleged use of Japanese fuel in the 
Iraq war. Machimura simply said: "Some matters are connected with 
military secrets, so we cannot disclose everything." 
 
7) Joint staff council chairman asks US military to investigate 
allegation of diversion of MSDF fuel 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
The Defense Ministry's Joint Staff Council Chairman Takashi Saito 
met yesterday with US Naval Forces Japan Commander James Kelly. 
Saito requested Kelly for an investigation on allegation raised by 
the opposition camp that fuel provided to US forces by a Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) ship in the Indian Ocean was diverted for 
the Iraq war and let him know the result of the investigation before 
Oct. 9 when the House of Representatives' Budget Committee starts 
discussions. 
 
8) Ruling parties willing to pass new antiterrorism bill through 
dialogue with opposition bloc 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
October 2, 2007 
 
In his policy speech yesterday, Prime Minister stressed his 
intention to work in cooperation with the Democratic Party of Japan 
 
TOKYO 00004601  006 OF 009 
 
 
(DPJ) in proceeding with national politics. In accordance with this 
stance, the government and the ruling camp will try to figure out 
ways to hold talks with opposition at every opportunity, for 
instance, by presenting to the DPJ in advance its new draft bill to 
extend the ongoing Maritime Self-Defense's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. 
 
After the prime minister's policy speech, Liberal Democratic Party 
Secretary General Ibuki told reporters: "Since the opposition bloc 
 
SIPDIS 
has control in the House of Councillors, nothing will be done 
without discussion between the ruling and opposition parties. It is 
quite natural for the party in power to call for dialogue." 
 
New Komeito President Ota also said: "When (the government) drafts 
bills, it is essential for it to try to listen to views from 
opposition parties. As long as they give priority to people's lives, 
both the ruling and opposition camps should exercise self-restraint 
so that both will not conflict with each other (over bills)." 
 
The government and the ruling bloc intend to extend the current 
extraordinary Diet session, which is due to end Nov. 10, in an 
effort to enact the government's new legislation to continue the 
MSDF refueling operation. In this connection, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Machimura, Ibuki, and Diet Affairs Committee Chairman 
 
SIPDIS 
Oshima met in Tokyo yesterday and agreed on a plan to finalize the 
compilation of the FY2008 budget by the end of the year. Observers 
see behind the agreement a desire to enact a new law by mid-December 
before putting their energies into compiling the budget at year's 
end. Machimura, Foreign Minister Komura, and Defense Minister Ishiba 
also plan to meet today to put the finishing touches on the outline 
for a bill. 
 
Further, the ruling camp is willing to search for a clue for the 
ruling and opposition parties to sit at the same table at other 
arenas than Diet deliberations to discuss such bills as those 
amending the law to help the disabled become independent and the 
Political Funds Control Law. 
 
The DPJ, however, has decided not to respond to their call for prior 
consultations, based on the stance that it would discuss matters 
with the ruling parties only during Diet deliberations. 
 
9) Deputy Foreign Minister Yabunaka files strong protest with 
leaders of Burmese junta regarding shooting of Japanese reporter 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
Kinya Fujimoto, Bangkok 
 
Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka, who is in Burma (Myanmar) 
to deal with the death of Japanese photojournalist, Kenji Nagai, who 
was shot to death while covering antigovernment demonstrations in 
Burma, yesterday moved from Rangoon (Yangon) to the capital of 
Naypyidaw, and there he met with senior officials of the Burmese 
Foreign Ministry. Details of their talks are unknown, but Yabunaka 
reportedly lodged a strong protest with the junta regarding the 
death of the Japanese reporter and demanded an investigation into 
the incident and punishment of the officials concerned. 
 
Meanwhile, no meeting occurred yesterday between Special Advisor to 
the United Nations Secretary General Ibrahim Gambari, who continues 
 
TOKYO 00004601  007 OF 009 
 
 
mediation, and the top leader of the Burmese military junta, Than 
Shwe, chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). 
Their meeting is expected to take place today. 
 
According to a report from Rangoon, the military authorities 
yesterday lifted the closure of two pagodas in the city. Civilian 
life is returning to where it was before demonstrations as some 
schools and stores, which had closed since Sept. 26, when security 
forces began an armed crackdown, have been reopened and bus service 
has been partially restored. Monks of some monasteries are allowed 
to go about asking for alms. However, armed security forces are 
deployed at key points, and the city is under watch by helicopters. 
Antigovernment protesters were contained yesterday, as well. The 
Internet remains unavailable. 
 
Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported that more than 1,000 monks and 
300-400 civilians, including students, have been detained over the 
past week. 
 
 Meanwhile, Special Advisor Gambari, after meeting with Aung San Suu 
Kyi, the leader of the democratic movement in Burma, in Rangoon on 
Sept. 30, returned to Naypyidaw and has been continuing efforts to 
somehow arrange a meeting with Than Shwe. According to Reuters, the 
Chinese Embassy in Burma is undertaking mediation for setting that 
meeting. 
 
A diplomatic source analyzed the reason Than Shwe is not positive 
about holding such a meeting this way: "He may want to express the 
military junta's discontent against the international community 
condemning the crackdown. A health problem also cannot be ruled 
out." 
 
10) Government demands return of videotape in meeting with 
high-level officials of Burmese military junta over death of Nagai 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
Daisuke Yamamoto, Kazuto Tsukamoto, Bangkok 
 
In order to deal with the shooting death of photojournalist Kenji 
Nagai (50) while covering demonstrators against the military junta 
of Burma (Myanmar), Deputy Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka 
yesterday evening met with several high-level officials of the 
junta, including the deputy foreign minister. The Japanese 
government believes that Nagai might have videotaped the shooter. In 
line with this assumption, Yabunaka reportedly strongly demanded 
that the Burmese authorities return Nagai's videotape. 
 
Yabunaka had talks with one of the two deputy foreign ministers. 
Reportedly, he conveyed his regret to the deputy foreign minister 
over the incident and sought to investigate it. 
 
A Foreign Ministry official said that a major aim of Yabunaka's 
visit to Burma is "to get a briefing directly from the Burmese side 
about whether Nagai was shot at point-blank range." "If (Nagai) was 
shot at point-blank range, then the Japanese government must 
consider a severe response to Burma," this official added. 
 
On Sept. 30, local police returned one Canon video camera and two 
videotapes to Toru Yamaji, representative of APF News, with which 
Nagai had contracted, but the videotapes did not contain any footage 
 
TOKYO 00004601  008 OF 009 
 
 
of demonstrations. The Japanese government has judged from Nagai's 
belongings and an analysis of footages before and after the incident 
that the video camera Nagai used at the time of the occurrence of 
the incident was a Sony. The government thinks the Sony video camera 
is sure to serve as good evidence to prove that Nagai was 
deliberately shot at point-blank range. 
 
Yabunaka is asking for a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader 
of the democratic movement. If this request is accepted, Yabunaka 
will meet with Suu Kyi in Rangoon today. 
 
11) Government to cut aid to Myanmar: There will be no new 
humanitarian assistance 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2007 
 
Following the crackdown on anti-government demonstrators by the 
military junta in Burma, the government yesterday decided to cut 
assistance to that nation, including grant aid and technical 
cooperation. It will reconsider ongoing aid programs and decide what 
should be ended or suspended temporarily. There will be no more 
humanitarian aid extended. It has judged that it would be necessary 
to take a harsh stance toward Burma in view of the rising criticism 
of the military junta and the fatal shooting of video journalist 
Kenji Nagai. 
 
The government has already extensively cut aid to that nation in the 
wake of the inauguration of the military junta in 1988 and the 
detention of democratization movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi. It 
extended approximately 1.3 billion yen in grant aid and 
approximately 1.7 billion yen in technical cooperation in fiscal 
¶2006. No yen loans have been provided since fiscal 1987. 
 
The government is now looking into the possibility of ending or 
temporarily suspending long-term aid programs, including the human 
resources nurturing and tuition reimbursement program (approximately 
400 million yen was extended in fiscal 2007 under this program). It 
will keep humanitarian aid, which is directly linked to people's 
lives, intact, but there will be no new assistance. 
 
12) Government, ruling camp plan to extend current Diet session 
until mid-December 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
October 2, 2007 
 
The government and ruling parties decided yesterday to extend the 
current extraordinary session of the Diet, which runs until Nov. 10, 
up to the middle of December in a bid to prioritize the compilation 
of a budget for next fiscal year. There was a rumor that the session 
would be extended until next year because the government and ruling 
coalition, in order to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, aim to enact new legislation 
replacing the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which expires on 
Nov. 1. Therefore, the rumor appears to have been squelched. 
 
13) New Komeito frowns on LDP's political funds reform; Discord in 
ruling coalition may be accelerated 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
October 2, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00004601  009 OF 009 
 
 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner 
New Komeito yesterday held the first meeting of their project team 
to contribute to bringing transparency to the ruling coalition's 
political funds. In the meeting held in the Diet building, the 
project team discussed how political funds should be open to the 
public. The LDP presented its own idea in which the party proposed 
requiring politicians to attach to their fund reports for every item 
costing one yen or more and being screened by a third organ, but the 
party suggested disclosing to the public receipts for expenditures 
of 50,000 yen or more same as at present. The New Komeito, which has 
called for opening all receipts to the public, refrained from giving 
its answer. 
 
The two ruling parties plan to continue discussion on the matter 
from now on as well. However since the New Komeito is growing 
dissatisfied with the LDP's reluctant stance toward disclosing all 
receipts, this issue may accelerate discord in the ruling 
coalition. 
 
14) Education Ministry begins discussing the possibility of 
restoring descriptions concerning "military's involvement in massive 
suicide" in Battle of Okinawa 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
October 2, 2007 
 
As a result of the Education Ministry's latest textbook screening, 
phrases indicating that the former Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) had 
forced Okinawan residents to "commit suicide together" were deleted, 
but the ministry has now begun discussion of whether it is possible 
to make modifications to the current descriptions. Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Machimura yesterday instructed Education Minister Tokai to 
 
SIPDIS 
deal with the matter in response to the recent Okinawa rally held on 
Sept. 29 calling for rescinding the screening results with 110,000 
people joining it. Tokai instructed his ministry's staff to discuss 
what action would be possible to take within the framework of the 
textbook screening. 
 
With several textbook publishers already preparing to apply for 
corrections about this case, there is a possibility that 
descriptions specifying that the IJA was involved in civilian 
massive suicide may be restored. 
 
At a press briefing yesterday, Machimura said: "In order to respond 
in some way or other to the Okinawan people's sentiments, the 
officials concerned can think hard, make efforts, and use their 
wisdom to deal with the question of whether it is possible to add 
modifications." Tokai also told reporters: "Political interference 
(in the textbook screening) is not acceptable. But we need to 
consider the Okinawan people's sentiments. Both matters are very 
important. I want to think what we can do, considering both 
factors." 
 
DONOVAN