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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 005244 
 
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 11/15/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
(1) Nuclear threat: Will nuclear proliferation be prevented? Prime 
Minister Fukuda to face test over US diplomacy (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Editorial: Prime Minister Fukuda must face precariousness of 
Japan-US alliance (Sankei) 
 
(3) Time to consider durability of Japan-US alliance (Nikkei) 
 
(4) Asia and Japan-US alliance (part 1-a): Fukuda diplomacy gets 
underway; simultaneous settlement of nuclear, abduction issues to be 
explored (Mainichi) 
 
(5) Editorial: Fukuda's US visit and North Korea issue (Asahi) 
 
(6) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, MSDF refueling 
mission (Sankei) 
 
(7) Prime Minister's schedule, November 14 (Nikkei) 
 
(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 11 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Nuclear threat: Will nuclear proliferation be prevented? Prime 
Minister Fukuda to face test over US diplomacy 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
November 14, 2007 
 
In a dinner party held at the US Deputy Chief of Mission's Official 
Residence in Roppongi, Tokyo, on the night of Oct. 31, the friendly 
atmosphere suddenly changed into a strained mood when United States 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Alexander Arvizu said: "The US 
will remove (North Korea) from its terrorist-sponsor list if that 
nation has refrained from committing terrorist acts, like the KAL 
downing incident, over the past six months. The abduction issue will 
not be taken into account." Eight members of a parliamentary group 
dealing with the abduction issue were also participating in the 
party, including former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry 
Takeo Hiranuma and former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman 
Shoichi Nakagawa. 
 
The US government arranged the dinner party, with the aim of 
listening to views about the denuclearization of the Korean 
Peninsula. The suprapartisan group - chaired by Hiranuma - takes a 
hard-line stance on North Korea. Former Prime Minister Abe was a 
leading member of the group. 
 
Group members interpreted that the US, by holding the party, aimed 
to have participants understand its delisting plan. If the US 
decides to delist the North, Japan might take it as representing the 
collapse of the framework of Japan-US cooperation. 
 
Under former Prime Minister Abe, Japan and the US failed to take 
joint steps in dealing with North Korea. Abe left a severe 
environment to Prime Minister Fukuda. 
 
Following North Korea's promise to disable its nuclear facilities 
 
TOKYO 00005244  002 OF 013 
 
 
this year, the Bush administration, in its last days, is about to 
give favors to the North even without any progress on the abduction 
issue. Although there is no time to waste, the prime minister has 
yet to come up with definite guidelines to deal with the change in 
Washington's attitude. 
 
To be sure, the prime minister is emphasizing a policy of dialogue 
with North Korea in an attempt to break the impasse in bilateral 
relations. In his policy speech, Fukuda did not use the word 
"pressure." Early this month, he instructed his aides to take some 
measures to move talks with North Korea forward. 
 
There is a delicate change in the environment surrounding the 
General Federation of Korean Residents (Chosen Soren) in Japan. A 
source familiar with this group said: "Under the former Abe 
administration, groups affiliated with Chosen Soren across the 
nation were prosecuted almost every month under the guise of strict 
law enforcement, but such pressure has been removed recently." 
 
Chosen Soren used to be one of the main secret routes of contact 
between Japan and North Korea. An aide to the prime minister said, 
"An increasing number of routes of contact between the two countries 
have been established than there were under the Abe 
administration." 
 
North Korea is greatly interested in the planned Japan-US summit in 
Washington on Nov. 16. According to a source familiar with 
Japan-North Korea relations, Pyongyang will keep close watch on what 
approach Fukuda, who has kept a low profile in various quarters in 
the nation and overseas, will take to the US, which is increasingly 
eager to reconcile with Pyongyang. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official commented: "All the more because 
North Korea will keep close watch on the summit, the prime minister 
must reiterate to President Bush his opposition to the US delisting 
North Korea." 
 
Japan had a bitter experience, and a member of the abduction 
parliamentary group said, "We don't want to have the same experience 
again." 
 
In the closing days of the former Clinton administration, the US 
moved in a hasty way to reconcile with North Korea. In response, 
Japan poured a total of 500 million dollars (about 60 billion yen) 
into a project to construct light water reactors in North Korea and 
also offered more than 1.3 million tons of rice in aid to that 
country. But North Korea did not scrap its missile development 
program. In October last year, Pyongyang conducted a nuclear test, 
worsening the security environment for Japan. 
 
Japan's position conflicts with the policy of reconciliation between 
the US and North Korea on some points. Prime Minister Fukuda, while 
pushing ahead with the policy of dialogue, should make resolute 
assertions. 
 
(2) Editorial: Prime Minister Fukuda must face precariousness of 
Japan-US alliance 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 14, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will visit the United States for the 
 
TOKYO 00005244  003 OF 013 
 
 
first time since he took office and hold his first summit on Nov. 16 
with US President George W. Bush. Under the Koizumi and Abe 
governments, it was said that the Japan-US alliance was the best 
ever. During the past several months, however, the political climate 
surrounding the bilateral alliance has drastically changed. 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling operation in the Indian 
Ocean has been suspended. No progress has been made on the 
government's plan to relocate the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station, which is the centerpiece of the realignment of US based in 
Japan. There still remain issues such as Japan's plan to reduce its 
financial burden for the costs for the US forces stationed in Japan, 
as well as US beef imports. The growing expectation is that the US 
government will delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, 
probably before the end of the year. 
 
With the Diet divided, the United States has found it difficult to 
understand Japanese politics. The Bush administration might have 
seen the "grand coalition" turmoil that was caused by Fukuda and 
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), as a murky move that made the US question 
whether Japan attached importance to the bilateral alliance or 
placed the United Nations above all else. 
 
Fukuda's choosing the US for his first official overseas trip is a 
good option. Even if there were no pending issue between two 
countries, constant efforts and mutual understanding are 
indispensable to maintain the alliance, but there remain many 
pending issues between the two countries. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura said: "The prime minister will confirm the ties 
of the Japan-US alliance" at the upcoming summit. What Machimura 
said is only natural, but the planned summit require more than the 
reconfirmation of solid ties. We view the summit as extremely 
important. 
 
In particular, whether the US government will remove the North from 
its list of terrorism-sponsoring states is a significant issue that 
connects directly with the sentiments of Japanese people wishing for 
a resolution of the abduction issue. Fukuda needs to obtain a 
promise from the US government that Washington will not sacrifice 
the Japan-US alliance in an attempt to resolve the nuclear issue and 
improve relations with North Korea. 
 
It is certain that Bush wants Japan to rejoin the war on terror by 
resuming the MSDF refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and to give 
momentum to USFJ realignment. In order to break the deadlock on the 
two difficult issues and to promote them, it is absolutely necessary 
for the two top leaders to discuss the issues in good faith. 
 
Ahead of Fukuda's US trip, the French president and German 
chancellor visited Washington one after another to reconfirm the 
close ties of their alliances with the US. In order also to aim at 
multilayered development of relations between Japan and the US, 
between the US and Europe, and Japan and Europe, Japan should state 
clearly the significance and value of the Japan-US alliance. We want 
the prime minister to carry out a fruitful meeting, keeping in mind 
that the Japan-US alliance is in danger. 
 
(3) Time to consider durability of Japan-US alliance 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 11, 2007 
 
TOKYO 00005244  004 OF 013 
 
 
 
By Hiroyuki Akita, member of editorial board 
 
How long will the alliances the US has so far established last? The 
US government reportedly is restudying and calculating the 
durability of the alliance relationships it has established since 
the end of the Cold War. 
 
The US distinguishes allies with which it expects to work together 
over the long run from other allies. The US intends to use more 
resources for cooperation with such allies and to gradually distance 
itself from the others. The US has used up its energy in the Iraq 
war and the war against terrorism. Under such a situation, the US 
seems willing to accelerate the restructuring of its allies. 
 
According to the head of a US think-tank well-versed in the matter, 
the US regards Britain and Australia, which joined the Iraq and 
Afghanistan war, as lasting allies. In contrast, there is a view 
that the alliance relationship between the US and South Korea, which 
has been strained over strategy toward North Korea, could be 
short-lived. This prediction might be behind the US decision to trim 
its military forces in South Korea. 
 
The think-dank president said: "Japan is one of the most trustworthy 
allies." But the situation does not warrant optimism. 
 
A Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker representing national defense 
interests said that his impression was reinforced through contacts 
with senior US Defense Department officers that "the US military 
might assume that (Japan) may try to restrict US military aircraft 
from taking off from bases in Japan." 
 
The US military plans to move about 8,000 Marines from Okinawa to 
Guam. As the major reason for this plan, the US has cited its 
consideration for Okinawa. But the LDP lawmaker said: "Behind the US 
plan to transfer Marines to Guam, there seems to be the judgment 
that it may be difficult for the US military to take smooth action 
in Japan." 
 
The US government has hailed the strength of the Japan-US alliance, 
but some members express concern, wondering how long Japan will 
continue to welcome the presence of US forces. 
 
Some point out that the more precise Chinese missiles become, the 
more vulnerable US forces in Japan become. 
 
In working out policy toward Asia, the US fears most a scenario in 
which a conflict breaks out between China and Taiwan, driving the US 
and Chinese militaries into a confrontation across the Taiwan 
Strait. It is fully conceivable that relations between China and 
Taiwan will become strained after Taiwan's presidential election 
next March, because Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian has strong 
aspirations for independence from China. 
 
If the US and China engage in hostilities, Japan will become the 
strategic forefront base of the US military. A senior US military 
official said: "US forces in Japan might come under attack by the 
Chinese military." 
 
According to Japanese officials, the US government and the US 
military have begun to harbor this kind of concern: At such a time, 
will the Japanese public support US forces flying missions out of 
 
TOKYO 00005244  005 OF 013 
 
 
Japan? Growing anti-American sentiment in Japan in that event could 
lead to restrictions on moves by US forces in Japan. 
 
There are an increasing number of cases across the world in which an 
ally of the US invokes vetoes action by the US military as their 
friendship established during the Cold War has weakened. In the Iraq 
war, Turkey and Saudi Arabia refused the US military's use of their 
military bases. 
 
The government has been pressed to suspend the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The US might take the 
suspension as not a result of a change in the dynamics of Nagata-cho 
(Japan's political center) but signs of a shortening of the 
durability period of the Japan-US alliance. 
 
The Japan-US security arrangement has been somewhat taken for 
granted, like air. If Japan intends to maintain the arrangement, it 
should be fully aware that the alliance will not be effective 
forever and must make efforts to extend its life span. 
 
(4) Asia and Japan-US alliance (part 1-a): Fukuda diplomacy gets 
underway; simultaneous settlement of nuclear, abduction issues to be 
explored 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 14, 2007 
 
Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi, who visited the 
US in order to pave the way for Prime Minister Fukuda's upcoming US 
visit, met with Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte in an office in 
the US State Department in Washington on October 25. Kenichiro 
Sasae, director general of the Asian and Oceanean Affairs Bureau, 
was also present. 
 
Their discussions focused not on the issue of continuing the 
refueling operations by the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in 
the Indian Ocean but on the issue of removing North Korea from the 
US list of state sponsors of terrorism. 
 
Yachi asked the US side to give consideration to the abduction 
issue, saying, "Full conditions for removing North Korea from the 
list have yet to be met. We want the US to consider bringing 
progress on the abduction issue. Otherwise, hardliners in Japan 
(toward North Korea) will not be calmed down." 
 
The US government had at first announced its intention to remove the 
DPRK from its list of state sponsors of terrorism in late December. 
Assistant Secretary of State Hill said that the USG would notify the 
Congress of the matter 45 days before, which would in effect mean 
that the nation was removed from the list. There was even a 
possibility of a countdown for delisting starting on Nov. 11. One 
senior MOFA official said that if such a notification were sent 
during the prime minister's visit to the US, it would be tantamount 
to political suicide for him. 
 
However, Negroponte's response was cold. He said, "I understand your 
concern, but we cannot include the abduction issue among conditions 
for removing the DPRK from the list." 
 
Yachi visited Assistant to the President and Deputy National 
Security Advisor James F. Jeffrey, Senior Director for Asia Denis 
Wilder and Vice President Cheney's national security advisor Hannah 
 
TOKYO 00005244  006 OF 013 
 
 
and tried to persuade them to put off the planned delisting of the 
DPRK. The same Foreign Ministry official said, "We were able to 
obtain the US commitment to withholding the sending of a 
notification to the Congress during the prime minister's visit. The 
prime minister will be able to keep face." 
 
However, that also meant that removing the DPRK from the list is an 
established policy and implementation of that policy is imminent. 
Presumably in order to notify related countries, Hill visited 
Beijing, Seoul and Tokyo starting on October 10 and underscored that 
sending a notification will be a de facto removal of that nation 
from the list. 
 
On October 26, the day following the Yachi-Negroponte talks, Fukuda 
met with Shigeru Yokota, representative of the Association of the 
Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, and others at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence and said, "Abductees simply 
returning home is a major humanitarian issue. However, I want to 
repair relations with the DPRK, if possible. Now is the best 
opportunity for talks with that nation." The trend for North Korea 
disabling its nuclear facilities has been set with the initiative of 
the US, as can be seen in an agreement between the US and North 
Korea in Berlin in January and an agreement on the initial 
denuclearization steps at the six party talks held in Beijing in 
February. The observation was widespread that the former Abe 
administration, which gave top priority to the abduction issue, was 
in a fix with the US decision to eliminate the DPRK from the list. 
However, Fukuda is trying to use the US approach to North Korea as 
an opportunity. 
 
Explaining Prime Minister Fukuda's determination, the same Foreign 
Ministry official said, "The elimination of the DPRK from the list 
is no major problem. If the disablement of North Korea's nuclear 
facilities really makes progress, we will simultaneously settle the 
abduction issue. It would mean Japan making the kind of major 
decision that only comes along once every 20 years." 
 
Fukuda diplomacy will get underway with his summit with President 
Bush on Nov. 16. He will aim for harmony between Asia diplomacy and 
the Japan-US alliance. Mainichi Shimbun will explore challenges to 
and visions of Fukuda diplomacy through the North Korea issue and 
the overseas dispatch of Self-Defense Forces. 
 
(5) Editorial: Fukuda's US visit and North Korea issue 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 15, 2007 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda kicks off his first official foreign 
visit today. He is scheduled to meet with President George W. Bush 
in Washington and to attend the ASEAN Plus Three -- Japan, China, 
and South Korea -- summit in Singapore next week. 
 
Fukuda diplomacy has an advantage over his predecessor. He is free 
from tough issues closely associated with historical views, such as 
the question of visiting Yasukuni Shrine and the wartime comfort 
women issue. Historical issues caused Asian nations to evince 
distrust in Japan and prompted the US House to adopt a resolution 
condemning Japan. 
 
Such issues will no longer haunt Fukuda's trip. It has been a long 
time since Japanese diplomacy had an unfettered response 
 
TOKYO 00005244  007 OF 013 
 
 
capability. 
 
Fukuda chose the United States as the destination of his first 
foreign trip, which is understandable. He apparently plans to give 
Washington the impression that he is going to cooperate with the 
United States as the new prime minister who identifies the Japan-US 
alliance as the bedrock of Japan's diplomacy by making a clear 
distinction with his predecessor Abe's hawkish policy course. His 
intention carries significance. 
 
We would like to see him discuss the question of North Korea first 
of all. 
 
In recent months, the United States has actively held talks with 
North Korea for resolving the nuclear issue. If the nuclear threat 
were to be removed, Japan would benefit from it significantly. The 
prime minister must explicitly indicate that Japan will support the 
United States' efforts. There are concerns in Japan that the 
abduction issue might be left behind. 
 
Reportedly the United States will delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism possibly by the end of the year. Some observers 
think that the prime minister must raise a red flag to the US 
president. 
 
We must not forget, however, that if US-DRPK relations are improved 
and nuclear abandonment becomes a real possibility, that would 
favorably affect Japan-DPRK relations as well. 
 
In return for nuclear abandonment, the North is expecting normalized 
diplomatic ties with and economic assistance from Japan. The 
abduction issue must be resolved first, however. 
 
It is vital for the United States to share this view with Japan. 
(The United States) must not pursue a swift agreement with the North 
at the cost of the scope of nuclear facilities subject to 
disablement and abandonment. 
 
The two leaders should frankly discuss how the negotiations should 
proceed. 
 
The prime minister has some other tough issues, such as the 
suspended refueling operation of the Maritime Self-Defense Force in 
the Indian Ocean and Japan's proposal to reduce its host-nation 
support for US Forces Japan. Nevertheless, they should not rock the 
foundation of the Japan-US alliance. 
 
It is more important for Japan and the United States to crosscheck 
their diplomatic strategies in order to find ways to bring stability 
to the situation in East Asia. What are the priority policy issues 
and what role should each leader play? Keeping good communication at 
the top level is essential in order to come up with answers to those 
questions. Perceptions toward China are also a vital theme. 
 
We would like to see the prime minister move on to act two, Japan's 
policy toward Asia, armed with those results. Fukuda is scheduled to 
hold his first meetings with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South 
Korea President Roh Moo Hyun, as well as a trilateral summit with 
them. 
 
Stable Japan-US relations would help enhance Japan's diplomacy 
toward Asia, which would in turn give Japan strength in facing the 
 
TOKYO 00005244  008 OF 013 
 
 
United States. We would like to see the prime minister draw such a 
diplomatic strategy through this trip. 
 
(6) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, MSDF refueling 
mission 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
November 13, 2007 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Fukuda cabinet? 
 
Yes 41.1 (55.3) 
No 40.3 (28.7) 
Don't know (D/K) + Can't say which (CSW) 18.6 (16.0) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 32.2 (33.9) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 26.5 (28.1) 
New Komeito (NK) 3.6 (4.4) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3.1 (3.4) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2.6 (2.0) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.7 (0.2) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.1 (0.2) 
Other answers (O/A) 1.3 (0.4) 
None 28.2 (26.1) 
D/K + Can't say (C/S) 1.7 (1.3) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate Prime Minister Fukuda and his government on the 
following points? 
 
His personal character 
Yes 62.3 
No 22.6 
D/K+CSW 15.1 
 
His leadership 
Yes 28.5 
No 43.1 
D/K+CSW 28.4 
 
North Korea policy 
Yes 15.5 
No 60.3 
D/K+CSW 24.2 
 
Response to Defense Ministry scandals 
Yes 13.3 
No 66.9 
D/K+CSW 19.8 
 
Response to pension issues 
Yes 31.2 
No 53.9 
D/K+CSW 14.9 
 
Response to hepatitis C infections 
Yes 43.5 
No 37.5 
 
TOKYO 00005244  009 OF 013 
 
 
D/K+CSW 19.0 
 
Political steering 
Yes 27.1 
No 40.2 
D/K+CSW 32.7 
 
Q: The ruling coalition holds a majority in the House of 
Representatives, but the opposition bench controls the House of 
Councillors. What do you think about this distortion in the Diet? 
Pick only one from among those listed below. 
 
That's good because there's political tension 13.9 
The ruling and opposition parties should compromise through talks 
41.3 
The House of Representatives should be dissolved at an early date 
for a general election 41.3 
DK+C/S 3.5 
 
 
Q: The LDP and DPJ leaders met to resolve such a distortion in the 
Diet. DPJ President Ozawa once clarified his intent to resign and 
later retracted it. Then, what do you think about the following 
points? 
 
Do you think it was good that the Fukuda-Ozawa meetings were held? 
Yes 68.4 
No 25.2 
D/K+CSW 6.4 
 
Do you support the initiative to form a grand coalition of the LDP 
and the DPJ? 
Yes 26.8 (40.3) 
No 60.5 (48.0) 
D/K+CSW 12.7 (11.7) 
 
Do you think the LDP and the DPJ should confer on policies? 
Yes 90.9 
No 5.5 
D/K+CSW 3.6 
 
Do you understand what DPJ President Ozawa said and did before 
retracting his once-announced intent to step down? 
Yes 23.8 
No 67.1 
D/K+CSW 9.1 
 
Do you think it was good that DPJ President made up his mind to stay 
on? 
Yes 45.9 
No 40.8 
D/K+CSW 13.3 
 
Do you think the DPJ should have elected a new president after DPJ 
President Ozawa's announcement of his intent to resign? 
Yes 54.4 
No 31.9 
D/K+CSW 13.7 
 
Do you think the LDP will win a majority in the next election for 
the House of Representatives? 
Yes 48.5 (37.0) 
 
TOKYO 00005244  010 OF 013 
 
 
No 34.6 (51.5) 
D/K+CSW 16.9 (11.5) 
 
Q: What would you like the Fukuda government to pursue first? 
 
Economic disparities 26.9 
Pensions 20.4 
Political scandals over money 14.0 
Tax reform, such as consumption tax 11.5 
Education reform 11.3 
Global warming 6.2 
North Korea 3.6 
National security 3.2 
Constitutional reform 2.9 
D/K+C/S 0 
 
Q: When would you like the House of Representatives to hold its next 
election? 
 
Within the year 9.6 (16.6) 
During the first half of next year 35.8 (38.5) 
After the G-8 summit in Japan next year and during the latter half 
of next year 29.9 (22.3) 
Upon the current term's expiry or the year after next 19.9 (20.5) 
D/K+C/S 4.8 (2.1) 
 
Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next 
election for the House of Representatives? 
 
LDP-led coalition government 29.7 
DPJ-led coalition government 32.1 
LDP-DPJ grand coalition 29.3 
D/K+C/S 8.9 
 
Q: How long do you think the Fukuda government will continue? 
 
Step down within the year 4.7 (8.0) 
Until around the next election for the House of Representatives 56.2 
(52.9) 
Until the fall of the year after next 21.9 (24.7) 
Continue until after the fall of the year after next 10.3 (10.6) 
D/K+C/S 6.9 (3.8) 
 
Q: Do you support extending the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling activities for vessels belonging to the multinational 
forces in the Indian Ocean? 
 
Yes 51.8 (51.0) 
No 38.2 (39.7) 
D/K+CSW 10.0 (9.3) 
 
Q: A bill voted down in the House of Councillors may be repassed in 
the House of Representatives and enacted into law in order to extend 
the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Do you support 
this legislation? 
 
Yes 51.2 
No 37.2 
D/K+CSW 11.6 
 
Q: Do you think you are a floating voter with no party in particular 
to support? 
 
TOKYO 00005244  011 OF 013 
 
 
 
Yes 58.3 
No 38.1 
D/K+CSW 3.6 
 
(Note) Figures in parentheses denote the results of the last survey 
conducted Sept. 26-27. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Nov. 10-11 by the 
Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN) over the telephone on a 
computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, a 
total of 1,000 persons were sampled from among males and females, 
aged 20 and over, across the nation. 
 
(7) Prime Minister's schedule, November 14 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 15, 2007 
 
09:55 
Met at the Kantei with Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Ota. 
Joined by directors general for policy planning Fujioka and 
Matsumoto. 
 
10:35 
Met Kansai Economic Federation Chairman Hiroshi Shigetsuma and 
others. Followed by Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
11:00 
Met former South Korean Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil. Later met with 
Election Committee Vice Chairman Suga. Followed by Upper House Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Suzuki and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Iwaki. 
 
13:01 
Attended a meeting of the National Governors' Association. 
 
16:01 
Met in the Diet building with members of the National Economists' 
Federation of South Korea. 
 
16:14 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi at the Kantei. Later, 
met Finance Minister Nukaga and Internal Affairs and Communications 
Masuda. Followed by former Upper House member Keizo Takemi and Japan 
Center for International Exchange President Tadashi Yamamoto. 
 
17:10 
Met Policy Research Council Chairman Tanigaki and New Komeito Policy 
Research Council Chairman Saito. Later attended a meeting of the 
Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. 
 
18:36 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
18:59 
Met Kyrgyzstan President Bakiyev at the Kantei. Later, attended a 
signing ceremony for a joint statement and a joint press conference. 
Later hosted a welcome party for the president. 
 
21:31 
Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
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(8) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Consumption tax hike next fiscal year to be put off; Government, LDP 
have public opinion in mind 
 
Mainichi: 
Unidentified pension premium payment records: Only 2.3 PERCENT 
checked; Third part committee start correction work in June, but 
says calculations will take 10 years 
 
Yomiuri: 
Number of maternity hospitals down 10 PERCENT , according to 
nationwide Yomiuri survey: 127 hospitals, even key ones in regional 
areas, closed since last April 
 
Nikkei: 
Regulatory Reform Council urges total lifting of ban on mixed 
medical services system as key proposal in its second report; Easing 
of requirements for child minders also included 
 
Sankei: 
Diet likely to be open through the end of the year to keep new 
antiterrorism special measures bill from being scrapped 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Subprime loans: Mizuho Financial Group expected to incur losses of 
170 billion yen this financial year: Merger of Mizuho Securities to 
be put off 
 
Akahata: 
Welfare benefits administration: SOS at 4:00 a.m. 
 
(9) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Prime minister to leave for US: How is he going to press ahead 
with North Korea issues? 
(2) Road consolidation plan: There is no room for investing huge 
amount of money 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Road consolidation mid-term plan will preserve construction 
state 
(2) Revitalization of graying communities: Scrap bureaucratic 
sectionalism and adopt residents-oriented policy- 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Road consolidation plan: MLIT plan is based on the idea of 
maintaining special road construction revenues 
(2) Crime White Paper: Preventing subsequent offenses hold key to 
reducing crimes 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) MLIT's road consolidation plan intended to preserve special road 
construction revenues, ignoring spending reform 
(2) Personnel appointments for government-affiliated organizations 
that require Diet approval question political parties' insight 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Thirty years since abduction of Megumi Yokota: Effects of North 
 
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Korean terrorism remain 
(2) Special road-construction revenues: What happened to proposal to 
use funds elsewhere? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Special road-construction revenues: We hope to hear logical 
discussion 
(2) Disapproval of proposed personnel appointments for 
government-affiliated organizations requiring Diet approval: We want 
to closely check of system 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Maternity hospitals refuse to accept patients brought by 
ambulances: Why are no measures taken? 
 
DONOVAN