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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 004902 
 
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 10/19/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura on US Defense Department's 
statement: "Japan will continue work to confirm what should be 
confirmed" (Nikkei) 
 
(2) The US has clearly denied diversion allegation in its statement 
on MSDF-supplied fuel, says foreign minister (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(3) US DOD statement has increased suspicion of oil diversion, says 
DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama (Nikkei) 
 
(4) War on terrorism -- Japan's choice (Part 1): Government finds 
some room for accepting Ozawa's ISAF participation proposal 
(Mainichi) 
 
(5) Japan's Burma diplomacy drifting between assistance and pressure 
(Asahi) 
 
(6) DPJ has yet to prepare definite strategy for early start of 
deliberations on its own bills (Asahi) 
 
(7) MSDF officer's sloppy handling of secrets (Sankei) 
 
(8) US Air Force to conduct paradrop training today at Kadena base 
(Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(9) Hiroshima police probing US servicemen over gang rape (Chuugoku 
Shimbun) 
 
(10) 4 Iwakuni-based US Marines rape underage girl (Yomiuri) 
 
(11) It's unforgivable: Machimura (Yomiuri) 
 
(12) Government aims at eliminating overwork in 10 years' time: 
Number of workers who work 60 hours a week to be halved; Ratio of 
men who take child-care leave to be raised to 10 PERCENT  (Asahi) 
 
(13) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(14) EDITORIALS 
 
(15) Prime Minister's schedule, October 18 (Nikkei) 
 
(16) Political Cartoon 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura on US Defense Department's 
statement: "Japan will continue work to confirm what should be 
confirmed" 
 
NIKKEI NET (Full) 
October 19, 1:26 PM 
 
In a press conference after a cabinet meeting today, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura praised a statement issued by the 
 
SIPDIS 
United States Department of Dense that denied the alleged diversion 
of fuel supplied by the Maritime Self-Defense Force to US warships 
in the Indian Ocean for use in the Iraq war. Machimura also said: 
"The government will continue efforts to confirm what should be 
confirmed." 
 
TOKYO 00004902  002 OF 013 
 
 
 
Machimura stated: "Although various reports have been made, I 
understand that the conclusion is that the oil-diversion allegation 
was denied." He added: "Since it is still uncertain whether 
everything has been cleared up in the statement, the Defense 
Ministry will continue work to confirm points that should be 
confirmed." 
 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba also said in a press conference: 
"The government naturally should trust the US statement." But he 
went on to say: "It is not enough to totally believe what the US 
says. We will try to reconfirm the facts as much as possible by 
comparing the US-provided information with our records." 
 
The statement read that the US confirmed the MSDF-provide fuel was 
not used for other purposes than in the war on terrorism in 
Afghanistan, but the statement added that it is difficult to 
completely clarify for what purposes the fuel was used. 
 
(2) The US has clearly denied diversion allegation in its statement 
on MSDF-supplied fuel, says foreign minister 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN online 
13:33, Oct. 19, 2007 
 
Referring to the US government statement that the fuel the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) supplied to a US vessel in the Indian 
Ocean was not used for purposes other than the antiterror operations 
in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura during a press 
conference held today after a cabinet meeting indicated his view 
that the diversion allegation has been denied. He noted, "The US 
categorically said that there was no fuel diversion. I think this 
statement will suffice." 
 
The US government statement denied fuel diversion, but at the same 
time it noted that it is impossible to correctly determine how the 
fuel was used. Regarding this part of the statement, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura underscored that the government will 
 
SIPDIS 
continue its effort to determine how the fuel was used, if there are 
diversion allegations, pointing out, "Since the use of the entire 
amount supplied has yet to be determined, the Defense Ministry will 
continue the work of determining whatever needs to be determined." 
 
(3) US DOD statement has increased suspicion of oil diversion, says 
DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama 
 
NIKKEI NET 
13:02, October 19, 2007 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary-General Yukio Hatoyama 
this morning criticized the US Department of Defense's statement 
acknowledging the difficulty in tracking the use of fuel provided to 
US naval vessels by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian 
Ocean, saying: "The answer was that they do not know very well 
(about how Japanese fuel was used). Suspicions have grown stronger 
that (Japanese oil) was diverted for use in the Iraq war." He was 
speaking to the press corps in Tokyo. 
 
He also said: "There is no mistake that the USS Kitty Hawk headed 
for the Iraq war after indirectly receiving oil from the MSDF supply 
ship Tokiwa. Even they could not totally deny (the oil diversion)." 
 
 
TOKYO 00004902  003 OF 013 
 
 
(4) War on terrorism -- Japan's choice (Part 1): Government finds 
some room for accepting Ozawa's ISAF participation proposal 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) 
October 19, 2007/10/19 
 
Will Japan's role be limited to refueling foreign vessels, or will 
ground troops be dispatched as well? 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa's proposal 
for joining the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in 
Afghanistan has brought some changes to the ongoing debate on the 
war on terrorism. 
 
The government and ruling parties tried to win the general public 
over to their side by focusing only on the propriety of continuing 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian 
Ocean, contending that it is safe and cheap and has won 
international praise. Then came Ozawa's unexpected proposal that 
Japan should be able to make full-fledged contributions. 
 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba at a House of Representatives Budget 
Committee session on Oct. 9 lashed out at Ozawa, saying, "Under the 
Constitution, Japan is not allowed to take part in the ISAF, which 
involves armed force." The government, however, has not dismissed 
the idea of joining the ISAF altogether. 
 
In January of this year, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a 
speech at NATO headquarters in which he indicated that Japan would 
cooperate with NATO's Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)'s 
humanitarian activities in Afghanistan. Although the PRT's objective 
is to provide civilian assistance by civilians, it is teamed up with 
the ISAF because it needs armed forces for ensuring security. 
 
This standpoint has not changed under the administration of Prime 
Minister Fukuda. In fact, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura told the 
press in Tokyo on Oct. 14, "ISAF participation is not 
inconceivable." 
 
On the night of Oct. 17, a senior government official compromisingly 
said: "If the DPJ were to tell us to include ISAF participation in 
new antiterrorism legislation, we will do so at anytime. The ISAF is 
not limited to activities by ground troops." 
 
Making compromises is not an option for Ozawa, who aims to wrest 
power from the ruling coalition. Conversely, Ozawa's proposal has 
exposed the weak points of the government and the ruling parties' 
constitutional policy and international contribution strategy. 
 
Ozawa's proposal has caused a stir in the DPJ as well. The stock 
argument of DPJ shadow vice defense minister Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, the 
diplomat turned lawmaker on Ozawa's advice, is Japan's support 
should be limited to civilian assistance. Ozawa told Yamaguchi on 
Oct. 4, "Your argument is based on policy, mine is on the 
Constitution." Ozawa's message: There is no need to take his 
assertion as a counterproposal to real politics. Ozawa seems to 
think this way: The constitutional argument is just a means of 
applying pressure on the government in order to take power, and it 
should be translated into policy only after taking the reins of 
government. 
 
It has been six years since the United States and Britain started 
 
TOKYO 00004902  004 OF 013 
 
 
the war on terrorism in Afghanistan following 9/11. The ruling and 
opposition parties are continuing to use the Constitution in their 
tug-of-war to serve their interests. What Japan must do is again 
being questioned. 
 
The ruling coalition new antiterrorism legislation project team met 
at the Diet building on Oct. 4. Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa slowly presented a paper specifying the 
 
SIPDIS 
outline of a new antiterrorism bill to the team's chair and former 
LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki. Under the purposes, the paper said 
to protect the sea lanes from terrorism. It was reportedly devised 
by senior government officials. A discontent Yamasaki said: "This 
would become a big problem, constituting an exercise of Japan's 
right to self-defense." That part was dropped from the paper in an 
LDP joint meeting the following day. 
 
The Antiterrorism Special Measures Law enacted in 2001 allows 
wide-ranging activities, including refueling naval vessels attacking 
Pakistan. The new legislation is designed to allow the MSDF to 
refuel only the vessels taking part in the maritime interdiction 
operations. At the same time, the government has begun emphasizing 
that defending the waters where oil tankers cruise through serves 
Japan's national interests. 
 
Preoccupied with the DPJ's reaction and popular will, the government 
and ruling parties now seems to have put on the backburner the 
debate's main theme of the justification for participating in the 
war on terrorism. The argument that supplying oil is cheap and safe 
is also out of line with the Gulf War's lesson that money does not 
settle everything. 
 
They even incorporated whimsical points in the draft bill 
irrespective of the constitutional debate. Possibly affected by the 
former Abe administration that tried to revise the constitutional 
interpretation, the government's interpretation is becoming hollow. 
 
The situation in the DPJ is no better. The party held a meeting of 
its foreign and defense departments to discuss a counterproposal 
yesterday in which the following views came up: 
 
"We should draw up a counterproposal with a sense of urgency of what 
to do tomorrow after taking the reins of government." 
 
"We must not present ourselves as lacking unity before taking 
power." 
 
"Let's come up with the party's policy by setting aside President 
Ozawa's view." 
 
Some 20 members who attended the meeting all stated their opinions, 
with most of them having a change of government in mind. Views on 
the main topic of SDF dispatch split, and serious debate did not 
take place on the Constitution. 
 
Shortly after assuming office, Prime Minister Fukuda presented a 
handwritten memo to the policy speech-writing government officials. 
"Foreign policy to produce peace" was the memo's main point. It 
reflected Fukuda's special sentiment. 
 
During his tenure as chief cabinet secretary in May 2002, Fukuda 
personally added "to study necessary steps for making the challenge 
of bringing about perpetual peace and nation building the central 
 
TOKYO 00004902  005 OF 013 
 
 
piece of international cooperation" to the then Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi's policy speech manuscript. Eight months after 
9/11, the MSDF was providing fuel to foreign vessels in the Indian 
Ocean. But Japan was not able to send SDF troops to Afghanistan to 
provide humanitarian assistance. Fukuda wanted to do something about 
such a situation. 
 
The month after Koizumi delivered his policy speech, Fukuda 
established an advisory panel to discuss international peace 
cooperation reporting to the chief cabinet secretary. The panel 
produced a report in December that year specifying the need to 
establish a permanent law enabling the government to dispatch the 
SDF to provide logistical support to multinational forces. 
Constitutional revision is not simple and a permanent legislation is 
necessary before that in order to play an international role, is 
Fukuda's stock argument. 
 
It has been five years since then, and Fukuda is now prime minister. 
Defense Minister Ishiba is also a proponent of permanent 
legislation. But given the opposition-controlled Upper House, the 
LDP's coalition partner of the New Komeito is cautious about 
enacting a permanent law. Fukuda's policy speech stopped short of 
mentioning specific ways to produce peace. Under the situation, 
Fukuda will have to seal off his permanent-law argument for the time 
being. 
 
This month, Yamasaki has received many questions from persons 
connected with the US government, such as, "What is going to happen 
in the future?" or "For how many days will the Japanese vessels be 
away from the Indian Ocean?" US Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer 
also expressed hope for bringing a successful conclusion to the 
question of new legislation. Japan, however, seems to be rocking 
today regarding such fundamental questions as why the war on 
terrorism and what and to what extent the country has to do. 
 
(5) Japan's Burma diplomacy drifting between assistance and 
pressure 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
October 19, 2007 
 
Japan's policy toward Burma is drifting, following the death of 
Japanese photographer Kenji Nagai (50) in a shooting incident in 
Burma. Will the government continue its own stance of urging the 
nation to work on democratization, by maintaining its channel with 
the military junta through official development assistance (ODA)? Or 
will it shift to the policy of trying to pressure the regime with 
sanctions, similar to those adopted by the US and European 
countries? Asahi Shimbun will look into possible options available 
to Japan in its efforts to democratize Burma, with sanctions other 
countries are imposing into account. 
 
The Kokang Special Region in Shan State, Burma was once a global 
center for opium poppy growing. Visits by foreigners are strictly 
restricted in that remote region. Members of the Japan International 
Cooperation Agency (JICA), an independent administrative agency, are 
teaching the farmers to grow rice, corn and cultivate tea bushes as 
substitute crops for poppies. 
 
Since the growing of opium poppies came to an end, when locals 
reached an agreement with the central government, their poverty has 
worsened due to a substantial drop in cash income. Many died of 
 
TOKYO 00004902  006 OF 013 
 
 
malaria. Some even starved to death. The Japanese government decided 
to provide comprehensive assistance to such areas as medical 
services and education to improve the poor situation and launched in 
April 2005 a technical cooperation program that included the 
dispatch of experts. The plan is to disburse 900 million yen over 
five years. 
 
Japan's ODA to Burma started as a substitute for war compensation. 
Japan was one of Burma's major creditors for a long period of time. 
In July 1988, a military junta replaced the Ne Win regime, when it 
was toppled by a democracy movement. Though Japan temporarily 
suspended new aid, it resumed part of the assistance program in 
¶1989. Currently it extends only grant aid and technical cooperation. 
Since movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi was detained under house 
arrest, no new outlays have been provided,. 
 
The government decided that only aid that meets the following three 
requirements will be provided, after a careful check: (1) highly 
urgent humanitarian-related projects; (2) projects to nurture human 
resources that will contribute to democratization; and (3) projects 
targeting the region as a whole, including the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 
 
However, following the murder of Nagai, the Foreign Ministry (MOFA) 
has decided to cancel grant aid worth 552 million yen for a project 
to construct a human resources development center. MOFA is now 
reading further reductions in the number of projects. However, it is 
difficult to lay down clear-cut guidelines. Cuts in grant aid will 
unlikely serve as an effective measure against the military junta. 
 
Although the EU and the US denounce the military junta, they have 
continued to provide humanitarian aid to NGOs. One senior MOFA 
official said, "Revising our aid policy is a political message to 
the military junta and the international community. We do not intend 
to settle the problem by slashing aid to that nation." 
 
Channel disappears due to downfall of premier 
 
There were times when using aid to create communication channels to 
the junta worked. In particular, during 2001 - 2002, Japan developed 
an independent diplomacy to urge that country to democratize. It did 
so by cultivating ties with Khin Nyunt, the First Secretary of the 
State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) who was then number three 
person in the military regime. He later became premier. 
 
However, Khin Nyunt fell from power in 2004, when he was suddenly 
dismissed as premier. With the launch of the dictatorship of SPDC 
chairman Than Shwe, Japan lost its personal contacts in the military 
junta. 
 
Another factor has been a major change in recent years in the 
international situation surrounding Burma. China, whose economy is 
moving forward, is though to be extending enormous economic aid to 
Burma. The advance of Chinese companies into Burma has been 
noticeable. 
 
The same MOFA official stressed, "Japan can play a role, taking the 
patch in between the US and the EU, which are denouncing the 
military junta, and China, which is strengthening ties by extending 
enormous aid." 
 
The Japanese government is aiming at establishing a direct dialogue 
 
TOKYO 00004902  007 OF 013 
 
 
between Chairman Than Shwe and Suu Kyi, after the environment has 
been created by the international community united criticism of the 
military junta. The junta supposedly most fears economic sanctions 
by China. The government plans to press China to open the way for 
the military junta to come forward for dialogue. 
 
Talking about Japan's choices, former Ambassador to Burma Shigeru 
Tsumori noted: "Japan should continue to convey to Burma the spirit 
 
SIPDIS 
of democracy it has nurtured in the postwar decades, and it should 
not be carried away by the power politics of China and India, and it 
should not consider abandoning Burma." 
 
(6) DPJ has yet to prepare definite strategy for early start of 
deliberations on its own bills 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 19, 2007 
 
A full-scale battle has been launched at the start of deliberations 
on the bills the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has submitted to 
the House of Councillors to implement its pledges in the latest 
House of Councillors election campaign. The DPJ wishes to start 
deliberations at each committee early next week, but the ruling 
coalition is opposed to the DPJ plan, citing the conventional rule 
of unanimity in the Upper House. This indisputably reflects the 
current state of the reversal of strengths between both camps. The 
DPJ, while toning down its high-handed measures for now, is likely 
to keep seeking to open act two of its running battle with the LDP. 
 
Priority to pension 
 
The DPJ submitted to the Upper House a bill designed to provide 
subsidies to individual farmers and a bill aimed to scrap the Iraq 
Reconstruction Special Measures Law yesterday. Party executive 
members, including President Ozawa and the chairmen of both 
chambers' Diet affairs committees, met yesterday and agreed to urge 
the government to start deliberations on the 11 bills submitted or 
to be submitted by the DPJ to the Upper House during the current 
Diet session. 
 
In the DPJ's view, it is conceivable that the government and the 
ruling coalition will give up on the passage of its antiterrorism 
bill designed to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) 
refueling service and close the current Diet session on Nov. 10 as 
scheduled. That's why the main opposition party wishes to have its 
own antiterrorism bill adopted in the Upper House and start 
deliberations on the bill as soon as possible, in the hope of 
playing up the outcome of the state of the reversal of strengths 
between the ruling and opposition camps. The DPJ has given top 
priority to the passage of a bill banning pension premiums from 
being misappropriated. The party aims to have the bill pass the 
Upper House in early November, in a bid to underscore its presence 
over the pension issue and spotlight the pension record issue again 
in the process of deliberations. 
 
The ruling camp, however, cannot easily allow the opposition camp to 
demonstrate its influence. To that end, the ruling coalition has 
already launched a strategy to delay deliberations on DPJ-presented 
bills, based on the maneuverings taken at the House Steering 
Committee. 
 
Further, the DPJ yesterday called for cabinet ministers' policy 
 
TOKYO 00004902  008 OF 013 
 
 
speeches at all committees in the Upper House, but the ruling camp 
insisted that ministers should make policy speeches in the Lower 
House first. In the end, cabinet ministers delivered speeches only 
at four committees, excluding those on health, labor and welfare 
tasked with discussing pension issues and foreign and defense 
committees dealing with the bill abolishing the Iraq law. 
 
Wall of "conventional rule" 
 
There is also a wall that exists in the form of a conventional rule 
of unanimity in managing the Diet. In the DPJ dissatisfaction is 
growing at the ruling camp's approach, with Upper House Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Susumu Yanase complaining: "It is unreasonable 
for the ruling parties, after having stalled the Diet session, to 
refer to a custom." Upper House Chairman Azuma Koshiishi said in a 
press conference yesterday: "The former Abe administration tried to 
clear up everything by forcibly taking a vote, but it is now 
impossible to reach a settlement by using their high-handed 
manner." 
 
In meetings of the Upper House Budget Committee meeting held until 
the 17th, the DPJ had called for summoning of witnesses, but the 
conventional rule of unanimity dismissed that possibility. The DPJ 
has yet to given up using forceful means, as Koshiishi said: "If 
necessary, we will ask the government to invoke our administrative 
investigation right or issue summons as a witness." But the 
opposition party has made a cautious response, as a senior Upper 
House member said: "If the DPJ breaks the conventional rule in the 
Upper House, it might receive a blow from the ruling camp in the 
Lower House." 
 
Looking askance at the showdown, the New Komeito and the Japanese 
Communist Party have begun to move to mediate between the DPJ and 
the ruling camp over bills to help the socially disadvantaged, such 
as a bill amending the Victims' Livelihood Reconstruction Assistance 
Law. A senior DPJ member of the Upper House grumbled: "We have drawn 
up bills with no help from bureaucrats, unlike the ruling camp. We 
are still feeling things out." 
 
(7) MSDF officer's sloppy handling of secrets 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
October 19, 2007 
 
A Maritime Self-Defense Force lieutenant has violated the MSDF's 
internal regulations and saved defense data containing classified 
information on a computer accessible to anyone in his unit, sources 
revealed yesterday. In this incident, those involved were punished, 
according to the sources. The lieutenant is assigned to Fleet Air 
Wing 1, which is under the MSDF Fleet Air Force and based in the 
city of Omura, Nagasaki Prefecture. The MSDF has not unveiled the 
facts about the incident on the grounds that their punishment was 
not up to standard. The MSDF has so far been involved in a number of 
information leakage incidents, including Aegis and other critical 
data that could undermine Japan's national defense. This time 
around, the MSDF's slipshod management of information became clear 
again. 
 
According to the MSDF, the problem was brought to light in a 
biennial training review of fleet air units in July this year. A 
"briefing sheet" for antisubmarine maneuvers was saved on an MSDF 
computer used by the lieutenant with a shortcut on the screen. 
 
TOKYO 00004902  009 OF 013 
 
 
 
The computer interfaced with other computers under a local area 
network (LAN), so the saved file was left freely accessible to 
anyone in the lieutenant's unit. 
 
The briefing sheet is a file that details antisubmarine drills. It 
specifies the names of MSDF vessels participating in the drills as 
well as radio frequencies used for the drills. Such data is 
classified under the category of "confidential" or "hi." According 
to investigations so far, the MSDF has not confirmed any external 
leak of the data. 
 
(8) US Air Force to conduct paradrop training today at Kadena base 
 
RYUKYU TIMES (Page 1) (Abridged) 
October 19, 2007 
 
The US Air Force will conduct parachute drop training today from 
around 3:30 p.m. at Kadena Air Base with about 10 parajumpers from 
the 31st Rescue Squadron of the 18th Wing based at Kadena, using 
C-130 fixed-wing aircraft. The USAF explained the training as 
"exceptional." Akira Uehara, chief of the governor's office of 
Okinawa Prefecture called the 18th Wing commander and the US consul 
general in Okinawa yesterday afternoon to propose suspending the 
paradrop training. "It's really regrettable to carry out such 
training, following the one in January," Uehara told them. "It also 
runs counter to the Japan-US Special Action Committee's (SACO) basic 
policy of mitigating the local burden," Uehara added. 
 
The Okinawa prefectural government sent its deputy director for 
military base affairs and disaster prevention, Yoshihiro Hosaka, to 
the Foreign Ministry's Okinawa Office and the Defense Ministry's 
Okinawa Defense Bureau and requested that the training be suspended. 
A local council of three municipalities on the Kadena airbase also 
faxed its request of suspension to the Kadena base and the local 
defense bureau. 
 
The USAF announced the parachute training plan yesterday afternoon. 
"We will basically conduct the drill on the island of Iejima, but 
there is an exceptional need to conduct the drill at Kadena due to 
bad weather conditions and for operational reasons," a base 
spokesman said. The spokesman also said, "We will try to avoid its 
impact as far as we can in trying not to trouble local residents." 
With this, the USAF sought understanding. The spokesman added, "Our 
rescue members have saved the lives of US military personnel and 
local people." 
 
They're doing whatever they like: Gov. Nakaima 
 
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has voiced his discontent with the US 
Air Force for its announcement of a plan to carry out paradrop 
training at Kadena Air Base today. "It's outrageous," Nakaima told 
the Ryukyu Shimpo in an interview yesterday afternoon. He added: "I 
feel strongly they're doing whatever they like these days. I have 
filed a protest and made a strong request through my office. In 
Tokyo, it would be like doing such training at Hibiya Park. I feel 
strongly they've now lost their senses. Why is the US military doing 
whatever it likes?" 
 
(9) Hiroshima police probing US servicemen over gang rape 
 
CHUGOKU SHIMBUN (Online) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00004902  010 OF 013 
 
 
October 19, 2007 
 
Four US Marines from the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni base in the city 
of Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, are strongly suspected of having 
assaulted a 19-year-old girl from Hiroshima City in the city's Naka 
Ward in mid-October. Police authorities from the Hiroshima 
Prefectural Police Headquarters 1st Investigation Division and the 
Hiroshima Central Police Station have started to investigate the 
four on suspicion of gang-raping the girl, sources revealed today. 
 
According to investigation, the four are suspected of having 
assaulted the girl in a passenger car parked in a parking lot in 
Hiroshima City's Naka Ward. They are believed to have taken out the 
girl they got to know at a restaurant in the city's Naka Ward. 
 
After the incident, the girl left the scene and reported it to a 
police officer on patrol nearby. The incident was brought to light 
later. She filed a complaint with police, and the Hiroshima police 
started to investigate the incident. She remembered the car's 
license plate number, so the four have now been identified, 
according to the police. 
 
The Hiroshima police will request the US military to turn over the 
four, based on the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement. 
 
Iwakuni-based US Marines gather in a downtown area of the city's 
Naka Ward and sometimes create a ruckus all night long. There have 
been complaints from neighboring residents. 
 
(10) 4 Iwakuni-based US Marines rape underage girl 
 
YOMIURI (YOMIURI ONLINE) (Full) 
October 19, 2007 (12:33 p.m.) 
 
Hiroshima prefectural police have started to investigate four US 
Marines from the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni base in the city of 
Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, suspecting that they gang-raped an 
underage female they got to know at a restaurant in the city of 
Hiroshima, sources said today. 
 
The local police will request the US military to turn over the four 
under the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement as soon as their 
allegations become definite. 
 
According to investigations, the four are suspected to have 
assaulted the woman in a car parked on a parking lot in Hiroshima 
City's Naka Ward early on Oct. 14. The four and the female had just 
met on Oct. 13 at the restaurant. The young woman has filed a 
complaint. In response, the local police have been conducting an 
investigation. 
 
(11) It's unforgivable: Machimura 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
Eve., October 19, 2007 
 
In connection with a recent gang rape incident involving US 
servicemen, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, meeting the press 
this morning, said Hiroshima prefectural police have been 
investigating the incident in cooperation with authorities from US 
Forces Japan. "If it's true, it's unforgivable," Machimura said. 
Defense Minister Ishiba also told a news conference, "The United 
 
TOKYO 00004902  011 OF 013 
 
 
States has been saying it wants to be a good neighbor not only in 
Okinawa but also in other places (where its troops are stationed)." 
Ishiba added, "If it's true, it's extremely regrettable." 
 
(12) Government aims at eliminating overwork in 10 years' time: 
Number of workers who work 60 hours a week to be halved; Ratio of 
men who take child-care leave to be raised to 10 PERCENT 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 19, 2007 
 
The government is now looking into the possibility of adopting 
work-life balance charter, aimed at eliminating the problem of being 
overworked and contributing to reversing the declining birthrate. A 
draft outline of action guidelines was revealed on Oct. 17. The 
paper underscores that in order to maintain the vitality of society, 
it is essential to take a second look at the way people have to 
work. The action guidelines for realizing the charter set goals with 
specific figures, such as reducing the ratio of workers who work 
more than 60 hours a week by 20 PERCENT  from the ratio marked in 
2006 -- 10.8 PERCENT  -- in five years' time and then halving that 
ratio in 10 years' time. 
 
The outline will be presented to a meeting on the 18 of the 
"Government-Private Sector op Leaders Council to Promote 
Work-Balance Balance," a working group consisting of representatives 
of labor and management, related cabinet ministers and experts, and 
formally adopted possibly in late November. The government will 
consider measures necessary to attain set goals. It will also seek 
cooperation from economic organizations and labor unions. 
 
The aim of setting numerical targets is to alleviate concentration 
of the workload on men in their thirties and forties, thereby 
promoting participation in society by women and the elderly. A 
target for an employment rate will also be set. Such a rate for 
women in the 20-44 age bracket will be raised from the current 65 
PERCENT  to 69 PERCENT -72 PERCENT  in 10 years' time, that of men 
in the 60-64 age bracket from the current 67 PERCENT  to 79 PERCENT 
-80 PERCENT , and the rate of women in the same age bracket from the 
current 39 PERCENT  to 41 PERCENT -43 PERCENT . 
 
The ratio of women who continue to work before and after the birth 
of a first child will be increased from the current 38 PERCENT  to 
45 PERCENT  in five years' time and to 55 PERCENT  in 10 years' 
time. The ratio of male workers who take child-care leave will be 
boosted from the present 0.5 PERCENT  to 5 PERCENT  in five years' 
time and to 10 PERCENT  in 10 years' time. The length of time male 
workers with a child younger than six years old spend on child care 
and domestic affairs will be increased from an hour a day, marked in 
2006 to 1.45 hours a day in five years' time and 2.5 hours in 10 
years' time. 
 
Other goals include raising the ratio of workers who take annual 
leave with pay from the current 47 PERCENT  to 60 PERCENT  in five 
years' time and doubling the ratio of telecommuters, who work at 
home, from the current 10 PERCENT . 
 
(13) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Former Vice Defense Minister Moriya played golf with arms supplier 
in violation of SDF regulations 
 
TOKYO 00004902  012 OF 013 
 
 
 
Mainichi: 
War on terrorism (Part 1): Government finds room for endorsing 
Ozawa's proposal for ISAF participation 
 
Yomiuri: 
RCC's losses from housing loan woes amount to 275 billion yen 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Kirin in talks to acquire drug maker Kyowa Hakko 
 
Sankei: 
Tokyo district prosecutors interview former Yamada Corp executive, 
who is close to former Vice Defense Minister Moriya, on suspicion of 
breach of trust 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
US issues statement admitting difficulty in tracking use of MSDF 
fuel 
 
Akahata: 
Chairman Shii calls for talks between ruling and opposition camps on 
revision of disaster victims' assistance law 
 
(14) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Consumption tax hike must be discussed squarely 
(2) Revision of disaster victims' assistance law: Government must 
fund rebuilding housing 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Solid policy necessary for tax hike discussion 
(2) Continue refueling operation to send clear message to 
international community 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Time to crack down on spam e-mail 
(2) Revision of Swords and Firearms Control Law: Gangsters must be 
fined 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Growth, spending cuts essential for restoring fiscal health 
(2) Nintendo develops new market 
 
Sankei: 
(1) WWII chemical disposal project needs fresh start 
(2) Solid discussion follows fiscal projection 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Escalator accident at blind spot 
(2) G-7 financial minister and central bank governor meeting: Credit 
insecurity must be calmed down 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Antiterrorism Law: Is Japan going to continue supporting war of 
vengeance? 
 
(15) Prime Minister's schedule, October 18 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00004902  013 OF 013 
 
 
October 19, 2007 
 
09:23 
Attended a meeting of seven cabinet ministers to discuss Diet 
measures to contain global warming at the Kantei. Later, met Vice 
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Erikawa. 
 
10:57 
Met Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Wakabayashi and 
others. 
 
11:32 
Met Japan Bank for International Cooperation's incoming and outgoing 
governor Koji Tanami and Kyosuke Shinozawa. Followed by incoming and 
outgoing governor Minoru Murobushi and Takeshi Komura and new Vice 
President Hideto Fujii of the Development Bank of Japan. 
 
12:38 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
13:40 
Posed for photos for an information bulletin at party headquarters, 
with Information Unit Head Kawamura and others present. 
 
Reporter: With posters prepared, has everything been arranged for 
the next Lower House election? 
 
Prime minister: I wonder for what purpose the posters will be used. 
 
14:55 
Met at the Kantei with Vice Finance Minister Tsuda and Financial 
Bureau Director General Katsu. 
 
15;24 
Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. Followed by Resources and 
Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki and METI Industry, 
Technology and Environment Bureau Director General Ishida. Joined by 
METI Minister Amari. 
 
16:12 
Met Public Security Intelligence Agency Director General Yanagi. 
Later, made a phone call to British Prime Minister Brown. 
 
17:03 
Attended a meeting of the Councillors' Conference on Ocean Policy. 
Later, met Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director General Sasae. 
 
18:06 
Met Foreign Ministry's Foreign Policy Bureau Director General Kawai 
and Defense Ministry's Operations and Planning Bureau Director 
General Takamizawa. 
 
19:20 
Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
SCHIEFFER