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RR RUEHFK RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #4885/01 2920530
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 190530Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8724
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 5790
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3838
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 2739
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6248
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7503
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 004885 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USOECD 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD ECON JA ZO EAGR
SUBJECT: The Japan Economic Scope--October 18, 2007 
 
¶1. (U) This cable contains the Japan Economic Scope from October 18, 
¶2007. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Table of Contents 
 
Trade Forum 
¶3.  AUSTR Cutler Meets DG Otabe in Tokyo 
¶4.  US-Japan Launch New Reg Reform Cycle 
 
Fiscal Structure 
¶5.  Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy Influence Declining, Says 
Lawmaker 
¶6.  Nomura Scorns Pension System 
¶7.  Foreign Firms Tumble from TSE 
¶8.  Regional Banks Anxiously Watching for Postal Privatization 
Impact 
¶9.  GAO in Kobe 
 
Antitrust and Bid-Rigging 
¶10. Judgment for Antitrust Violations in Japan 
¶11. JFTC Briefs LDP on Proposed Antimonopoly Act Amendments 
 
Postal Reform 
¶12. No Change on EMS Custom Procedure after Japan Post Privatization 
 
¶13. EMS/International Air Bring 60% of Japan's Illegal Imports 
 
Energy and Climate Change 
¶14. U.S. Researcher Advocates Cap & Trade at Keidanren Conference 
¶15. More Carbon Cars, Less Carbon Exhaust 
¶16. Industry Plans 30% More Emission Cuts 
¶17. MOF Asks for More Energy Security Funding 
 
Trains 
¶18. Tokyo Station to Exchange Foreign Money 
¶19. Train Ticket Trouble Trips Up Commuters 
 
Security Matters 
¶20. "Pacific Shield 07" WMD Drill in Japan 
¶21. Stiff Gun Law Calls for $250,000 Fine 
 
Regional Realm 
¶22. Aomori to Expand Apple Exports to China 
 
Technical Troubles 
¶23.  Next-Generation Wireless Broadband Service - Four Consortia Vie 
for Two Licenses 
¶24. Shifting Ground for Copyrights - Cultural Affairs Agency Seeks 
Comments on Reports 
 
 
Sporting Action 
¶25. Red Sox, Matsuzaka Face Elimination, Patriots Surge 
 
¶26. MOFA Actions 
 
¶27. This Week's Cables 
 
----------- 
TRADE FORUM 
----------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) AUSTR Cutler Meets DG Otabe in Tokyo 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
AUSTR Wendy Cutler co-chaired Trade Forum meetings with MOFA DG for 
Economic Affairs, Yoichi Otabe, October 18 to cover a range of 
issues on the bilateral agenda, including beef. 
 
She stressed the need to resolve the beef issue as soon as possible 
and urged the Japanese to respect international standards as set by 
Animal Food Health Organization (OIE), and  to work closely with 
special envoy Richard Crowder when he arrives for talks on October 
¶22. 
 
Other bilateral issues on the Trade Forum agenda included marine 
craft and rice.  The meeting closed with an afternoon discussion of 
the two countries' respective FTA policies. (ECON:  Nicholas Hill) 
 
¶4.  (SBU) US-Japan Launch New Reg Reform Cycle 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
 
TOKYO 00004885  002 OF 008 
 
 
Immediately prior to the Trade Forum on October 18, TV cameras were 
on hand as AUSTR Wendy Cutler and MOFA Director General Yoichi Otabe 
exchanged recommendations for this year's cycle of the Regulatory 
Reform Initiative. 
 
The Embassy is working with USTR to provide information for the 
press on the US recommendations, including links to the USTR press 
statement and the recommendations themselves.  (ECON:  Nicholas 
Hill) 
 
---------------- 
FISCAL STRUCTURE 
---------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy Influence Declining, 
Says Lawmaker 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
With the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) exercising more 
influence in Diet discussions, PM Fukuda has been forced to shift 
economic policymaking to party structures. 
 
Consequently, the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policymaking's 
(CEFP) influence is declining, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Diet 
member told us this week.   The representative cited last week's 
formation of a cabinet-level group to formulate regional 
revitalization plans (and a parallel LDP committee) as an example of 
the shift.  (ECON: Marc Dillard) 
 
¶6.  (U) Nomura Scorns Pension System 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
With comments that underscored both anxiety about Japan's overall 
pension situation as well as increasing calls for Japan to upgrade 
its financial sector competitiveness, the head of Nomura Asset 
Management (NAM) - Japan's largest asset manager - derided Japan's 
defined contribution (401k equivalent) pension system as "useless." 
 
 
He lamented that "the international headquarters of investment banks 
are in London and the regional headquarters are in Hong Kong or 
Singapore. 
 
Tokyo is a "national headquarters, not even a regional 
headquarters," he said.   In comments to the Financial Times, NAM 
President Takumi Shibata noted that, not only is pension reform 
"crucial", but that "it's close to the last chance," for Japan to 
become a globally competitive financial services center.  (FINATT: 
Mateo Ayala) 
 
¶7.  (U) Foreign Firms Tumble from TSE 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Despite efforts to assume a global role, the Tokyo Stock Exchange 
(TSE) is losing centripetal force for foreign firms. 
The latest in a trend, German automaker Volkswagen recently 
announced a decision to delist its shares from the TSE. From a peak 
of 127 foreign companies in 1991, there are now only 24 foreign 
companies listed on the TSE following delisting by major names such 
as Nestle, Volvo, Phillip Morris, P&G, Apple, IBM, Motorola and 
Deutsche Bank. 
While the TSE has been enthusiastic about attracting companies from 
emerging economies - in particular from China and India - after the 
first Chinese company was listed in August, no subsequent listings 
from either country have followed.  (ECON: Satoshi Hattori) 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Regional Banks Anxiously Watching for Postal Privatization 
Impact 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Regional Financial Institutions in Kansai are carefully watching 
"Yucho Bank," which was privatized as part of Japan Post 
liberalization on October 1. 
 
According to Nikkei's Kansai edition, the total reserves of Yucho 
Bank in the Kansai (six prefectures) is approximately 34 trillion 
yen ($293 billion), and it overwhelmingly exceeds the 5 trillion yen 
($43.1 billion) reserves of Kyoto Bank, the largest Kansai regional 
bank. 
 
Although there are only 44 directly-managed Yucho Banks in the 
Kansai, the number of post offices and outsourced businesses of 
 
TOKYO 00004885  003 OF 008 
 
 
Yucho Bank is approximately 3,100, almost three times the total 
number of branches of regional banks. 
 
Nobuyoshi Namba, Director of Osaka City Credit Cooperatives Research 
Institute, said that the financial operations of Post Offices extend 
to rural areas, so Yucho will have a larger impact on - and impinge 
on the customer bases of - regional banks and credit cooperatives 
rather than mega banks operating in urban areas. 
 
To compete with Yucho, many regional banks are introducing new 
products, but they don't feel that it is fair competition.  Osaka 
City Credit Cooperatives has started deposit accounts with double 
the going interest rate this week.  (OSAKA-KOBE: Phil Cummings/Naomi 
Shibui) 
 
¶9.  (SBU) GAO in Kobe 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Assistant Director and 
Senior Analyst visited Kobe and Tokyo to find best practices from 
the 1995 Kobe Earthquake reconstruction, which could apply to the 
long-term Hurricane Katrina reconstruction in New Orleans and the 
Gulf Coast. 
 
Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Managing Director, Masaaki 
Yabuno, recounted that the damage to the Kobe economy was 10 
trillion yen ($86.2 billion).  In the two years following the 
earthquake, recovery was smooth, but the recession and yen 
appreciation after 1997 hampered Kobe's economic recovery. 
 
Kobe COCI criticized the GOJ for shooting down its plan to make Kobe 
a "free port" which would compete with other Asian major ports. 
 
Yabuno added that large companies in Kobe such as Kobe Steel and 
Kawasaki Heavy Industry completely recovered from the damage and 
experienced high demand, but a large number of SMEs in Kobe are 
still struggling.  (OSAKA-KOBE: Phil Cummings/Naomi Shibui) 
 
------------------------- 
ANTITRUST AND BID-RIGGING 
------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) Judgment for Antitrust Violations in Japan 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
The Nagoya District Court on October 15 convicted five senior 
officers of general contractors for being involved in dango 
(bid-rigging) on Nagoya subway construction projects in 2006.  This 
was the first case in which general contractors were found guilty of 
antitrust violations in Japan.  Not coincidentally, general 
contractors in Central Japan are known for their strong and close 
ties. 
 
The judge pointed out those companies had constantly engaged in 
dango for over thirty years to keep up profit margins and parcel out 
business.  Each of the five individuals was given a suspended 
sentence of 1.5 to 3 years, and their firms were each fined from 100 
to 200 million yen ($860,000 to $1.7 million). 
The defendants' attorneys had argued that the cooperation among the 
general contractors had certain merits in that it helped avoid a 
lack of bids due to excess competition and to maintain a high 
quality of public works.  (NAGOYA: Tamiki Mizuno) 
 
¶11.  (SBU) JFTC Briefs LDP on Proposed Antimonopoly Act Amendments 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
In an October 16 briefing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's 
(LDP) committee overseeing implementation of the Antimonopoly Act 
(AMA) -- Japan's main antitrust law -- the Japan Fair Trade 
Commission submitted a set of recommendations for amendments to the 
AMA calling for possibly raising the upper limit on fines against 
firms that play a leading role in plotting anti-competitive 
behavior, while making more firms eligible for leniency by 
voluntarily reporting their illegal conduct.  The Commission also 
seeks to expand the range of activities subject to punitive 
surcharges under the AMA to include cases in which large firms 
exploit their market power to force smaller businesses to cut their 
prices or provide discounts in the form of additional services and 
to cases of "unfair trade practices" such as fraudulent product 
labeling or deep discounts.  The USG has expressed its concern to 
the JFTC that applying surcharges on these types of behavior, as 
opposed to the current system where the Commission can order 
 
TOKYO 00004885  004 OF 008 
 
 
companies simply to halt the actions concerned, could have a 
chilling effect on vigorous competition that benefits consumers. 
The JFTC plans to present the proposed amendments to the Diet next 
spring.  (ECON: Chris Wurzel) 
 
------------- 
POSTAL REFORM 
------------- 
 
¶12.  (SBU) No Change on EMS Custom Procedure after Japan Post 
Privatization 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Customs officers told embassy officials their procedures have not 
been affected by privatization, during a visit to their EMS handling 
site October 17. 
 
Currently, assessed declaration system allows EMS personnel to 
deliver packages requiring duty to recipients and accept the tax 
payment upon delivery.  Subsequently, they can deliver more quickly 
than commercial services.  For non-EMS items, customs officials mail 
a post card indicating the cost of the tax and the item is released 
for delivery when the tax is paid. 
Officials explained that in a year and half, this system will be 
standardized.  Duty for EMS packages will be have to be paid for the 
package to be released. 
 
Officials explained that 10 percent of packages received are 
taxable. Tokyo Customs at Tokyo International Post Office handles 
approximately 10,000 parcels a day during normal business hours. 
(ECON: Junko Nagahama) 
 
¶13.  (U) EMS/International Air Bring 60% of Japan's Illegal Imports 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Tokyo Customs officials said 60 percent of illegal imports are 
handled at the Tokyo International Post Office where all EMS and 
international air parcels are handled. Approximately 80 percent of 
all the illegal imports are of IPR violations, mainly from South 
Korea and China.  (ECON: Junko Nagahama) 
 
------------------------- 
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 
------------------------- 
 
¶14.  (SBU) U.S. Researcher Advocates Cap & Trade at Keidanren 
Conference 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
An emissions cap-and-trade scheme is generally considered to be the 
"ultimate goal" in the United States for action on climate change, 
according to University of Georgia law professor and former advisor 
to the State Department and United Nations, Daniel Bodansky. 
 
Speaking at an October 15 Keidanren conference, Bodansky added that 
an industry sector approach is "second-best" for broadening 
participation and simplifying negotiations. 
 
Bodansky's comments fueled intense discussion among some 300 
participants from industry, government, and research institutes, 
many of whom strongly oppose cap and trade and prefer a sectoral 
approach with minimal government regulation. 
 
Keidanren used the event to distribute its proposal for a post-Kyoto 
climate framework based on a flexible co-existence of the 
environment and economic growth and innovative technological 
development.  (ECON:  Keiko Kandachi/Toby Wolf) 
 
¶15.  (U) More Carbon Cars, Less Carbon Exhaust 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Committing about 20 billion yen ($175 million) to an aggressive 
strategy to expand its share of the advanced materials auto parts 
business, Toray Industries announced on October 9 plans to build an 
automotive research and manufacturing center in Nagoya, to open in 
June 2008 and be fully complete by 2010. 
 
The global leader in its field, Toray currently controls about 30 
percent of the world carbon composite market.  The company's 16-year 
Boeing 787 Dreamliner contract alone is reportedly worth more than 
$6 billion.  Targeting low weight, hybrid, and fuel-cell vehicles, 
 
TOKYO 00004885  005 OF 008 
 
 
Toray aims to increase its annual automotive sector sales from 124 
billion yen ($1.1 billion) in 2006 to 350 billion yen ($3 billion) 
by 2015. 
 
Carbon fiber parts can be up to 75 percent lighter and ten times 
stronger than similar steel parts, but currently cost up to ten 
times more.  (NAGOYA:  Dan Rochman) 
 
¶16.  (U) Industry Plans 30% More Emission Cuts 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Thirteen Japanese industrial sectors will be called on to reduce 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by nearly 30 percent from the levels 
of Nippon Keidanren's voluntary action program according to a 
front-page report by Nikkei. 
 
Nikkei and GOJ sources said that METI and MOE announced the plan at 
a joint committee meeting October 11.  A METI official said the 
ministry is asking for the additional emission cuts in order to help 
Japan meet its Kyoto Protocol commitments. 
Japan's 2005 GHG emissions were 7.8 percent higher than the 1990 
baseline, making a 13.8 percent cut necessary to reach the target. 
(ECON:  Keiko Kandachi/Toby Wolf) 
 
¶17.  (U) MOF Asks for More Energy Security Funding 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
In the budget currently being considered by the Ministry of Finance, 
the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), a division of 
the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), has requested 
overall funding of 828 billion yen ($7 billion), an increase of 81 
billion yen ($692 million) over last year. 
The budget seeks an increase of 3.9 billion yen ($33.3 million) for 
geological surveys.  It also requests 13.2 billion yen ($112 
million) in new financing for "strategic resource diplomacy." 
 
Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), which 
provides loans and debt guarantees to companies to invest in energy 
projects, will raise its equity participation cap from 50 percent to 
75 percent. 
 
Itochu Co., Ltd has already secured loans from JOGMEC to invest 4.6 
billion yen ($39.3 million) for a 75 percent share in a natural gas 
exploration project in Namibia.  Mitsui Co., Ltd. likewise will 
invest 8.6 billion yen ($73.5 million) in a project in the Gulf of 
Mexico. 
 
The country's new national energy plan calls for Japan to develop 40 
percent of its energy independently by 2030.  (ECON: Sally 
Behrhorst/Eriko Marks) 
 
------ 
TRAINS 
------ 
 
¶18.  (U) Tokyo Station to Exchange Foreign Money 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
East Japan Railway Co. plans to offer foreign exchange services at 
Tokyo Station to overseas visitors by the end of October, the Nikkei 
reported.  The major terminal is used by many foreigners because of 
lines connecting it to Narita and Haneda airports. 
 
A counter on the station's first underground floor will offer 31 
currencies, including the dollar, the euro and the yuan. 
There are also plans to create a concierge desk adjacent to the 
counter. This desk will provide tourist information and give station 
directions to foreign visitors.  (ECON:  Charlotte Crouch) 
 
¶19.  (U) Train Ticket Trouble Trips Up Commuters 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
A software bug caused 4,378 automated ticket gates made by Nippon 
Signal Co. to shut down in the Tokyo area during the October 12 
morning commute, according to a Nikkei report. 
The trouble stemmed from systems that support a variety of smart 
card rail pass formats. 
 
Prior to the technical troubles, Metro officials impressed on 
Econoff the unique efficiency of their system specifically tailored 
to move more than 1 million passengers during one hour of morning 
rush hour commute. 
 
TOKYO 00004885  006 OF 008 
 
 
 
The system was back up and running by noon, but the shutdown 
affected some 2.6 million commuters at stations operated by 16 
different rail companies.  (ECON:  Charlotte Crouch) 
 
---------------- 
SECURITY MATTERS 
---------------- 
 
¶20.  (U) "Pacific Shield 07" WMD Drill in Japan 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Japan hosted a three-day, seven-country Proliferation Security 
Initiative (PSI) drill, Nikkei and Yomiuri reported October 13. 
Australia, Britain, France, Japan, New Zealand, and the U.S. 
participated in the exercise.  Another 34 European and Middle 
Eastern countries observed from a Maritime Self Defense Forces 
(MSDF) vessel.  China and Korea did not participate. 
 
On the first day, the participants chased a ship scripted as a 
"suspicious vessel" which could have been carrying WMD.  Japanese 
MSDF inspectors boarded the ship as part of the drill. 
 
On the second day, six countries demonstrated a search for mock 
suspicious materials hidden on a vessel berthed at a Yokosuka Warf. 
On the final day of the exercise, Japanese Ground Self-Defense 
Forces conducted an emergency response to a mock chemical container 
leak at a Yokohama port.  (ECON:  Eriko Marks) 
 
¶21.  (U) Stiff Gun Law Calls for $250,000 Fine 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
The government approved a bill on October 16 to revise the Firearms 
and Swords Control Law and stiffen penalties that will now include a 
maximum 30 million yen ($250,000) fine for anyone who fires a weapon 
on behalf of organized crime, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun 
article. 
 
The bill, which was approved at a Cabinet meeting, is to be 
submitted to the current extraordinary session of the Diet, and the 
government hopes to have it come into force by the end of the year. 
 
 
MOF Customs officials recently explained to us that they have been 
under increased public anti-gun pressure since Nagasaki Mayor Iccho 
Ito was shot dead by a gang member in April.  (ECON:  Charlotte 
Crouch) 
 
-------------- 
REGIONAL REALM 
-------------- 
 
¶22.  (U) Aomori to Expand Apple Exports to China (U) 
Representatives from Aomori Prefecture's apple industry traveled to 
northeast China's apple growing region in early October to study the 
possibility of increasing apple exports there. 
 
A trade delegation led by the mayor of Hirosaki, Aomori met with 
government officials from the city of Dalian as well as several 
Chinese agriculture and trade related entities. They also visited 
major apple farms, fruit canneries and local markets in the Dalian 
area. 
 
Aomori Prefecture is the largest producer of Japan-grown apples, 
with local farmers producing 424,900 tons annually. Farms around the 
city of Hirosaki grow 70 percent of the prefecture's apples. 
Currently, 96 percent of Aomori's apple exports go to Taiwan. 
 
In 2005, Aomori sold 16,378 tons of apples in Taiwan valued at $43 
million. By comparison, Aomori sold only 132 tons of apples in 
mainland China valued at $508,620. 
 
With no growth in Japan's domestic apple market, Aomori apple 
producers hope that mainland China's growing middle class will 
develop a taste for their apples. It remains to be seen, however, if 
Chinese consumers will be willing to pay Japanese prices for the 
higher cost apples.  (SAPPORO: Ian Hillman/Yumi Baba) 
 
------------------ 
TECHNICAL TROUBLES 
------------------ 
 
 
TOKYO 00004885  007 OF 008 
 
 
¶23.  (SBU) Next-Generation Wireless Broadband Service - Four 
Consortia Vie for Two Licenses 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Three corporate groups applied for licenses to offer next-generation 
high-speed wireless broadband services using 2.5 GHz bandwidth, 
submitting applications on October 11 to Ministry of Internal 
Affairs and Communications (MIC). 
 
These groups will vie with Willcom Inc., a PHS (personal handy-phone 
system) operator that had already filed.  MIC plans to grant two 
licenses by the end of this year.  The three consortia all plan to 
use WiMAX technology, rather than DSL or cable.  The groups include, 
among others: Acca Wireless, teaming up with Acca Networks Co. and 
NTT DoCoMo Inc.; Open Wireless Network, led by Softbank Corp. and 
eAccess Ltd; and Wireless Broadband Kikaku, invested in by KDDI, 
Corp., Kyocera Corp, Intel Capital, and East Japan Railway Co. 
 
These consortia also represent the latest chapter in the sparring 
between corporate Japan and the GOJ.  The GOJ, in an effort to 
further open markets and encourage new entrants, had excluded the 
established carriers from the bidding.  The big players are now 
trying to work around this inconvenience by partnering with smaller 
firms.  (ECON:  Scott Smith/Kaoru Nakata) 
 
¶24.  (SBU) Shifting Ground for Copyrights - Cultural Affairs Agency 
Seeks Comments on Reports 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
Promotion of digital content, copyright terms, fighting piracy, 
technological protection measures, and remuneration for rights 
holders (collecting levies) are among the topics discussed in two 
committee reports prepared for the Cultural Affairs Agency 
(Bunkacho). 
 
These committees are among numerous technical groups discussing 
aspects of Japan's competitiveness and its place in the digital 
world.  The reports of these particular groups will also inform GOJ 
efforts as it prepares for the first major revision to Japanese 
copyright law in many years. 
 
The Cultural Affairs Agency (Bunkacho) is soliciting public comments 
on reports issued by two of its advisory committees: the Private 
Sound/Visual Recording Subcommittee and the Legal Affairs 
Subcommittee, reporting to the Copyright Affairs Committee, under 
the Cultural Affairs Council. 
 
These are interim reports and Bunkacho is soliciting comments for 
the period 10/16-11/15/07.  For more information on points and 
issues concerning private sounds and visual recording click here. 
To view a report by the Legal Affairs Subcommittee (in Japanese) 
click here.  (ECON:  Scott Smith/Kaoru Nakata) 
 
--------------- 
SPORTING ACTION 
--------------- 
 
¶25.  (SBU) Red Sox, Matsuzaka Face Elimination, Patriots Surge 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
A dejected Daisuke Matsuzaka sat catatonic in front of his locker as 
gloom filled the baseball world.  The Boston Red Sox and their star 
- but all too wild - right hander from Yokohama, Japan stood on the 
precipice of disaster. 
 
The Red Sox are one game away from elimination in the American 
League championship series after losses by Matsuzaka and Tim 
Wakefield put them down three games to one to an unknown team from 
Cleveland. 
 
The consolation for Red Sox fans is that the New England Patriots, 
who do not have any Japanese imports on their roster, continued to 
roll - crushing and humiliating the Dallas Cowboys October 14 in the 
stadium that Tom Landry built, 48-27.  (ECON:  Nicholas Hill) 
 
¶26.  (U) MOFA ACTIONS 
The 3rd Round of Negotiations on the Japan-Switzerland EPA will be 
held from October 15 to 19 in Yokohama.  Click here for more 
information from MOFA's website. 
Back to Top 
 
¶27.  (SBU) THIS WEEK'S CABLES 
 
TOKYO 00004885  008 OF 008 
 
 
4855  Delivery of Invitation to Pakistan-Afghanistan Development 
Meeting 
4854  DPRK 
4848  Japan Cancels Burma Human Resources Center Aid Grant 
4831  Blue Lantern Finding Source of Unauthorized USML Scopes in 
Tokyo 
4830  An Industrialist with Political Connections - JR Central 
President Kansai Predicts Lost Year for Japanese Reforms 
4827  Japanese Government on Support for  Jordanian Debt Buyback 
4816  Senior LDP Leader Offers Mixed View on OEF Extension 
4814  Japanese Thinking on Cutting Tariffs on Goods That Can Reduce 
Greenhouse Gases 
4808  CCAMLR: Japan's Response to U.S. Objectives at the 26th 
Meeting 
4801  Bilateral Information Security Task Force Advances Terms of 
Reference Milestones on Information Security 
4797  Japan: Possible Next Steps on Burma 
 
¶28.  (U) This SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED e-newsletter from U.S. 
Embassy Tokyo's Economic Section, with contributions from the 
consulates, is for internal USG use only.  Please do not forward in 
whole or in part outside of the government.  The Scope is edited 
this week by Charlotte Crouch (CrouchCA@state.gov) and Joy Progar 
(ProgarJ@state.gov).  Please visit the Tokyo Econ Intranet webpage 
for back issues of the Scope.  Apologies, this option is only 
available to State users.  Please contact Joy Progar if you are from 
a different agency and are interested in a back issue. 
SCHIEFFER