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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 20 TOKYO 000145 
 
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 01/18/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) New Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka: Effective dialogue with 
North Korea necessary (Asahi) 
 
(2) Soka Gakkai urges New Komeito to be cautious about introducing a 
permanent law to allow SDF overseas deployments (Asahi) 
 
(3) Former Vice Foreign Minister Yachi: I failed to resolve 
abduction issue (Asahi) 
 
(4) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura gives special lecture on gas 
tax, with pointer in hand (Asahi) 
 
(5) Central, local governments concerned about effect of provisional 
high tax rates' expiration on financial sources for road 
construction (Asahi) 
 
(6) Industrial circles worry about possible confusion in 
distribution process in case of abolishment of current provisional 
taxes (Asahi) 
 
(7) Regular Diet session to open today; Inward-looking political 
babble must end (Nikkei) 
 
(8) Government trying to dodge criticism about resubmitting human 
rights protection legislation (Asahi) 
 
 (9) Economic panel approves guideline on economic management aimed 
at growth, focusing on environment measures (Nikkei) 
 
(10) Nikkei economic symposium: Slowing Japanese economy: Will U.S. 
stave off recession? (Nikkei) 
 
(11) Okinawa Prefecture Environmental Impact Assessment Council 
strongly calls for rewriting of plan for how to conduct assessment 
of facilities replacing Futenma Air Station; More in-depth 
recommendation report compiled (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(12) One month after U.S. Army sets up forward-deployed command for 
1st Corps at Camp Zama in Kanagawa; Local communities concerned 
about base buildup with no info (Akahata) 
 
(13) It's unrealistic to call SDF troop dispatch based on U.N. 
resolution constitutional: Japan's U.N. envoy (Akahata) 
 
(14) Deputy Foreign Minister Kono: Focus to be on setting mid-term 
goal for greenhouse gas emissions cuts at G8 summit (Yomiuri) 
 
(15) G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008: When will G8 leaders arrive 
at New Chitose Airport? Hokkaido government in stew over 
transportation, measures against aircraft noise (Hokkaido Shimbun) 
 
(16) CIRO employee fired for info leaks (Sankei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) New Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka: Effective dialogue with 
North Korea necessary 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 18, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00000145  002 OF 020 
 
 
 
New Administrative Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka said 
yesterday: "An effective dialogue is needed for the North Korea 
issue." Referring to the abduction issue, talks on which have been 
stalled, he stated: "It is important to let that country understand 
that resolving the issue will benefit it as well. 
 
Yabunaka held yesterday a press conference and responded to 
questions by media companies. As director general of the Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau, he dealt with the North Korean nuclear 
problem for two years from December 2002. Asked about his view on 
North Korea, he said: 
 
"Negotiations with Pyongyang are never easy. Japan has taken a 
policy of giving priority to dialogue and pressure. However, we must 
have an effect dialogue with that country." 
 
With regard to the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African 
Development to be held in May, and the July Group of Eight summit in 
Hokkaido, Mitoji pointed out: "It is extremely important for 
Japanese diplomacy to conclude the two conferences successfully." He 
also stated: "It is important for Japan, China and South Korea to 
cooperate over Africa assistance even though Beijing has carried out 
resource diplomacy." 
 
(2) Soka Gakkai urges New Komeito to be cautious about introducing a 
permanent law to allow SDF overseas deployments 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 18, 2008 
 
The New Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), held a meeting yesterday at its headquarters 
with the religious sect Soka Gakkai, its main backer. In the 
session, the Soka Gakkai urged the New Komeito to carefully respond 
to the idea of introducing a permanent law to allow overseas 
deployments of the Self-Defense Forces, on which the religious sect 
is concerned that the LDP and the largest opposition Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) might make a decision on it without 
broad-based debate. New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa 
explained his party's position: "Our party will not approve a 
permanent law without public consensus." 
 
Soka Gakkai Deputy Director Harada also asked the New Komeito to be 
cautious about taking advantage of the two-thirds override vote in 
the House of Representatives in enacting a bill on the budget for 
2008 and its related bills after they are voted down in the House of 
Councillors. He told Kitagawa: 
 
"Although the two-thirds override vote in the Lower House, which is 
stipulated in the Constitution, is a legal procedure, abusing it 
should be avoided. As political parties, the ruling and opposition 
camps must make efforts to reach an agreement." 
 
(3) Former Vice Foreign Minister Yachi: I failed to resolve 
abduction issue 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 18, 2008 
 
Shotaro Yachi, who resigned as administrative vice foreign minister 
yesterday, held a press briefing yesterday, in which asked about 
 
TOKYO 00000145  003 OF 020 
 
 
events he had dealt with during his tenure as vice minister, he 
responded: "What I left unfinished is the abduction issue." He 
described his achievements, quoting Douglas MacArthur's expression, 
"The old soldier never dies, he just fades away."  He became an 
advisor to the Foreign Ministry as of yesterday. 
 
He expressed bitterness, saying: 
 
 "What I left unfinished or what I failed to make achievements is 
probably the abduction issue. Although there are many difficult 
issues, including the Northern Territories issue, it is extremely 
regrettable that results were not made on the abduction issue." 
 
(4) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura gives special lecture on gas 
tax, with pointer in hand 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 4, 2008 
 
Countering the DPJ's call for abolition of the provisional gas tax 
rate, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura in an unprecedented move 
during a regular press conference yesterday gave a lecture on the 
gas tax, using three panels. 
 
He noted with a pointer in one hand: "The DPJ is claiming that 
gasoline prices would drop 25 yen per liter if the provisional tax 
is abolished. However, I want you to understand the problems with 
the idea." He cited the following as problems: (1) a drop in tax 
revenues of both the central and local governments up to 2.6 
trillion yen; (2) adverse effects on the installation of guardrails 
for school roads, measures for railroad crossings that rarely open, 
and snow-removal; and measures to prevent global warming. In 
particular, he stressed that gasoline prices in Europe are higher 
than those in Japan. He said, "Would the international community see 
Japan as being enthusiastic about preventing global warming if it 
cuts the gasoline tax at a time when it is going to make a public 
appeal on environmental issues at the G-8 summit?" He then joked, 
"Perhaps the DPJ believes money will fall from the sky." 
 
(5) Central, local governments concerned about effect of provisional 
high tax rates' expiration on financial sources for road 
construction 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 17, 2008 
 
Financial sources for road constructions come from revenues from six 
taxes, including the gasoline tax and the local road tax. The total 
amount of annual revenues from these taxes is 3.3 trillion yen for 
the central government and 2.1 trillion yen for local governments. 
Of these taxes, their provisionally high rates of five taxes are to 
expire at the end of March and at the end of April. If the hiked 
rates expire, the central and local governments will lose revenues 
of 1.7 trillion yen and 0.9 trillion yen, respectively. 
 
Given this, the central and local governments are increasingly 
concerned about the effect on their finances. In the case of Shimane 
Prefecture, if the provision tax rate is removed, the 43.4 billion 
yen allocated for road-construction projects in the fiscal 2007 
budget will reduce to 18.8 billion yen. 
 
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan also has come up with a 
 
TOKYO 00000145  004 OF 020 
 
 
tricky scheme. Under this, the main opposition party proposes having 
the central government pay the total amount of costs for projects 
under the direct jurisdiction of the central government. To do so, 
however, about 600 billion yen will be needed. 
 
(6) Industrial circles worry about possible confusion in 
distribution process in case of abolishment of current provisional 
taxes 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
January 17, 2008 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Petroleum Association of Japan 
Chairman Bunmei Watari, chairman of Nippon Oil Corporation, said: 
"It is imprudent even to think about the premise of expiration of 
the current provision tax rates. I am not considering any measures, 
assuming such a case, at the present point of time." 
 
If the provisional high gasoline rate expires, the current regular 
gasoline price, now at about 155 yen per liter, will drop by 25 yen. 
This change will benefit drivers, but executives in the petroleum 
industry are worried about possible confusion in the process of 
distribution. 
 
Since the gasoline tax is imposed at the stage of shipment, even if 
the high rate is to expire on April 1, the current rate will be 
applied to all gasoline to be shipped by the end of March. This 
means that consumers will find different prices for gasoline 
marketed at the same time due to differences in shipment timeframe. 
 
In the case of diesel oil, though, the tax is imposed at the stage 
of marketing. Once the high rate expires, high-rate diesel oil will 
no longer be placed on the market. 
 
A petroleum company executive complains: "If the government does not 
formulate and distribute guidelines to drivers to let them know what 
will change (if the high tax rates are not maintained), we will not 
be able to cope with the situation." 
 
If the ruling camp's bill is enacted in April or later, "the low tax 
rate" will be applied for a short period of time. In such a case, 
there may be a last-minute rise in demand. 
 
If gasoline is out of stock, drivers might think that 
refiner-marketers are unwilling to sell low-priced gasoline. 
Adversely, there may be a case in which many consumers avoid 
purchasing gasoline before and after the rate is lowered. 
 
Some voice concern about the negative effect of an abolishment of 
the current provisional tax rates on the environment. According to 
the research group of the National Institute for Environmental 
Studies, assuming that fuel prices drops by about 20 PERCENT  as a 
result of discontinuation of the current high gasoline and diesel 
fuel tax rates, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions may increase about 8 
million tons annually on average during the period between 2008 and 
¶2012. 
 
(7) Regular Diet session to open today; Inward-looking political 
babble must end 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
January 18, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00000145  005 OF 020 
 
 
 
The divided Diet is now set to enter the hardest stage yet: 
deliberations on the fiscal 2008 budget bill. At the worst timing, 
the Japanese economy has been hit by the global financial woes 
resulting from America's subprime loan crisis. 
 
DPJ holds the key 
 
Although a budget bill can clear the Diet with the power of the 
House of Representatives alone, if budget-related bills are rejected 
by the House of Councillors, they must be readopted in the Lower 
House by two-thirds overriding votes. But the Lower House stands on 
equal footing with the upper chamber when it comes to key government 
posts that require Diet endorsement, meaning the Bank of Japan 
governor cannot be determined without cooperation between the ruling 
parties and the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto). 
 
The fate of Diet deliberations could be determined by the DPJ, the 
largest party in the Upper House. In the previous extraordinary Diet 
session, a personnel appointment bill was rejected in the Upper 
House for the first time in 56 years. Major confusion in selecting a 
successor to BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui would deal a blow to the 
financial market, which fears an unstable political situation. 
 
A number of bills, including one amending the Special Taxation 
Measures Law governing the provisional tax rates on gasoline and 
other things must be enacted by the end of March so as not to hamper 
the revenues of the central and local governments. The DPJ contends 
that the price of gasoline will drop 25 yen per liter with the 
abolition of the provisional tax rates. The matter is not that 
simple. The party needs to present solid financial resources logic 
to support it. 
 
An idea is circulating in the DPJ not to take a vote on the bill in 
March in the Upper House with the aim of invalidating the 
provisional tax rates temporarily. It is the Diet's responsibility 
to reach a conclusion within a given fiscal year. The DPJ's posture 
of maneuvering for its own interests is unacceptable. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda's responsibility is also heavy. In a Nikkei 
opinion poll in January, the rates of support and non-support for 
his cabinet stood at 42 PERCENT  and 46 PERCENT , respectively, with 
the non-support rate outpacing the support rate for two consecutive 
months. Since assuming office last September, Prime Minister Fukuda 
has yet to present a clear national vision. His management of the 
administration lacks speed under heavy pressure from the divided 
Diet. Discontent with his leadership has also been preventing Fukuda 
from painting a picture of buoying up his administration. 
 
The political battle in part comes from different desires for Lower 
House dissolution. With a view to regime change, the DPJ is focused 
on this spring when the budget-related bills will be handled and the 
question of pension mismanagement is likely to become a breach of 
the campaign pledge. The prime minister, on the other hand, has 
expressed his desire to dissolve the Lower House after the G8 Lake 
Toya Summit in July. 
 
Reforms must be carried out 
 
In order to enact the budget-related bills by the end of March, the 
prime minister must seek DPJ President Ozawa's cooperation with a 
 
TOKYO 00000145  006 OF 020 
 
 
determination to dissolve the Lower House, if necessary. The pension 
and taxation systems must be reformed fundamentally regardless of a 
fear of an election. 
 
This year, South Korea will have a new president and the 
presidential election will also take place the United States. It is 
desirable for the LDP and DPJ to come up with their respective 
manifestos (campaign pledges) clearly specifying their policies 
regarding pension reform and other matters and receive the people's 
verdict at an appropriate time. 
 
If the Lower House is dissolved and the ruling bloc wins a majority 
as a result, chances are that the ruling camp would lose a 
two-thirds majority that can override Upper House rejections of 
bills. Looking at the period beyond the next Lower House election, 
calls for forming a grand coalition between the LDP and DPJ and for 
political realignment are likely to continue simmering at the bottom 
of in the political community. 
 
In 1993, the so-called 1955 framework, symbolized by the LDP 
dominated system dating back to 1955 when the party was formed, 
collapsed, and the non-LDP Hosokawa administration was launched. The 
political world remained in turmoil until the Murayama 
administration was launched in 1994 by the LDP, Social Democratic 
Party of Japan, and Sakigake (Harbingers). In the political season 
after the bursting of the bubble economy, a sense of alarm regarding 
the country's economy was weak. 
 
The Hosokawa administration's one of the economic challenges was to 
ease the land tax system, but it did not go any further than a 
limited review due to stiff opposition of the SDPJ and other parties 
that insisted that the bubble economy would flare up again. 
 
It was only one example of a delayed measure by the government. 
Japanese politics might again follow the wrong path unless it puts 
an end to the inward-looking political battle and come up with solid 
and correct measures to deal with the economic situation. 
 
The first regular Diet session under the Fukuda administration opens 
today with four government speeches, including Prime Minister 
Fukuda's policy speech. The session will run for 150 days through 
June 15. Interpellations are expected to take place on Jan. 21-23. 
 
(8) Government trying to dodge criticism about resubmitting human 
rights protection legislation 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
January 18, 2008 
 
Human rights protection legislation was scrapped in 1993. A move is 
underway in the government and ruling parties to submit a renewed 
bill to the regular Diet session that opens today. The bill that 
originated from antidiscrimination measures and that includes 
contents transcending the original ideals, such as media 
regulations, has drawn objections from conservative members in both 
the Liberal Democratic Party and opposition parties. Proponents in 
the LDP and the Justice Ministry are eager to review the contents 
with the aim of obtaining the support of the two sides. 
 
"Not many bills are hated to this extent by both the right- and 
left-wing groups. In order to win their support, the splinters must 
be removed," a Justice Ministry official studying the new bill 
 
TOKYO 00000145  007 OF 020 
 
 
said. 
 
The scrapped old bill drew objections from both the conservatives 
fixated on Japanese traditions and culture and those proponents of 
giving consideration to human rights organizations. 
 
To the LDP conservatives, the definition of human rights violations 
and the nationality clause are the particularly irritating 
splinters. The group to protect tradition and culture, composed of 
junior members and chaired by Lower House member Tomomi Inada, is 
studying an opposition position paper focused on those two points. 
 
The old bill specified concrete cases subject to the special relief 
procedures applicable to serious human rights violations. It also 
specified that the voluntary general relief measures were applicable 
to humanitarian rights violations in general. 
 
The conservative group criticized the definition of human rights 
violations was vague. The Justice Ministry is considering listing in 
the new bill specific cases subject to the general relief measures. 
"Although human rights violations cannot be defined, presenting 
specific types would help dispel the concern that the scope would 
expand endlessly," a senior member said. 
 
The old bill also did not specify nationality for the regional human 
rights counselors that number about 20,000 nationwide. The 
conservative group, with the General Association of Korean Residents 
in Japan (Chongryon) in mind, condemned the bill, saying that it 
might end up increasing the influence of special groups. The 
government and ruling parties have presented a policy to specify 
nationality as residents with the right to vote for municipal 
assemblymen, a substantial step to limit to Japanese nationals. 
 
Asked about this review, one said: "Foreigners would be allowed to 
serve as counselors. The significance of the legislation would be 
become weaken." At the same time, there is deep-seated opposition to 
granting suffrage to foreign residents to allow them to become 
counselors. 
 
Also under study are plans to insert the wording that relief 
measures are not subject to religious and historical problems and to 
protect those received complaints. 
 
Elimination of media regulations under study 
 
The DPJ clearly opposed the old bill due to media regulations. 
 
The bill included a clause allowing the government to take special 
relief measures against media violations of human rights of crime 
victims and others. The clause drew fire that it might end up 
restricting the media's news-gathering activities, and the ruling 
bloc decided in 2005 to freeze it until an implementation date is 
determined under a separate law. 
 
Further, the government and ruling camp began studying eliminating 
the clause altogether, thinking that it would be unfrozen someday. 
 
The opposition camp, which wants to swiftly enact the legislation 
based on the removal of the media regulations, has also begun 
showing signs of softening its stance. A DPJ lawmaker responsible 
for the matter said: "Human rights issues must not be politicized. 
We could go on complaining about specifics, but first of all we need 
 
TOKYO 00000145  008 OF 020 
 
 
to implement the new system." The DPJ criticized the option of 
establishing a human rights committee in the Justice Ministry's 
external organ as surveillance by power. Reversing its stance, the 
largest opposition party plans to approve it based on a condition 
that it be reviewed in five years. 
 
For this reason, once a new bill is submitted to the Diet, it is 
likely to be enacted. 
 
(9) Economic panel approves guideline on economic management aimed 
at growth, focusing on environment measures 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 18, 2008 
 
The government's council on economic and fiscal policy approved a 
mid-term guideline on economic management in its meeting yesterday. 
Given the recent sluggish growth of wages and consumption, as well 
as the delay in recovery of small companies' business performance, 
the panel also decided to hammer out a new strategy by this spring 
to keep the nation's real economic growth rate at more than 2 
PERCENT . For a new strategy, private-sector members made a number 
of proposals, but many of them lack specifics, giving no clear 
roadmap to turn into practice. 
 
The keywords in the mid-term report as a new growth strategy are 
"connective power and environment power." This expression reflects 
Prime Minister Fukuda's policy of pursuing "independence and 
coexistence." In the meeting, the prime minister said: "I want the 
panel to also keep in mind that our policy will be dispatched to the 
international community when it maps out a new strategy." With an 
eye also to the July Lake Toya Summit, in which environmental issues 
will take center stage, the panel will work out specific measures. 
 
A private-sector member said: "It is necessary for Japan to make a 
strong showing." He meant that Japan should make use of its 
superiority in the environment and energy-conservation areas, such 
as the production of hybrid cars and plant management whereby 
hazardous materials are not released, in order to promote its 
economic growth. 
 
Regarding connective power, a private-sector member proposed 
improving medical and nursing services. Given that the nation is 
turning into aging society with a declining birthrate, this proposal 
is aimed to create a new market by easing regulations in the nursing 
and daycare service areas and encouraging private entities to enter 
the business. As measures to enhance productivity at small 
businesses, one member suggested that a tie-up between different 
types of business will lead to improvement in their corporate 
values. 
 
But a roadmap to implementing the proposed measures is nowhere in 
sight. Included among the proposals made for the environment area 
are those to develop a new material that uses less energy and to 
install more solar panels at public facilities, and they are nothing 
new. It is not specified how the aid for Asian countries in the 
energy sector should be connected to Japan's economic growth. 
 
The proposed measures to deal with the ongoing economic 
globalization seem to be just desk ones and are difficult to put 
into practice. The guideline proposes introducing a training system 
to accept high-skilled foreign trainees, but no timeframe and other 
 
TOKYO 00000145  009 OF 020 
 
 
specifics are not included. The guideline also refers to economic 
partnership agreements (EPA) with Australian and the United States, 
but a person related to the advisory panel grumbled: "With no 
specific roadmap, that is a strategy without strategy." 
 
Discussion has already been conducted on agricultural reform at an 
expert committee of the advisory panel, but the mid-term guideline 
does not refer to this theme. The issue of decentralization, which 
is viewed indispensable to revitalize local communities, is not 
taken up, either. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda gives priority to consumer affairs 
administration. Reflecting this, the guideline notes: "Consumer 
affairs administration should be reformed from its foundation" as 
one of the tasks for this year. The prime minister also said: "I 
want you to discuss future options for consumer affairs 
administration." 
 
In response to the ongoing global-scale financial market turmoil, 
the panel also agreed to set up an expert body tasked with analyzing 
in detail the world and Japanese economic structures. 
 
(10) Nikkei economic symposium: Slowing Japanese economy: Will U.S. 
stave off recession? 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
January 18, 2008 
 
Yoshikawa - risks stemming from soaring crude oil prices will become 
clear; Harada - drop in housing starts will affect employment; 
Kojima - wage should be raised to shift income to household sector; 
Okuda - consumers will increasingly exercise thrift 
 
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei)and the Japan Center for Economic 
Research yesterday held a New Year economic symposium at Nikkei Hall 
in Otemachi, Tokyo. Participants unanimously agreed that the 
Japanese economy is gradually slowing down due to the sinking U.S. 
economy, soaring crude oil prices and a decline in investment in 
housing. A cautious view was prevalent about the future of the 
economy. Participants also agreed that the U.S. economy, the focus 
of attention, would slow for sometime to come, but a recession could 
be avoided with the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) raising interest 
rates. 
 
-- Disturbing factors, such as the issue of subprime loans for 
individuals with low creditworthiness and the soaring crude oil 
prices, are increasing. 
 
Yoshikawa: The U.S. and the Chinese economy, high crude oil prices 
and exchange rates have been pointed out as risk factors. Of the 
three, a yellow light has been flashing on and off on the U.S. 
economy. But now, a red light is flashing on. As risks became 
obvious, we have no other choice but to become more cautious in 
projecting the future of the Japanese and global economies. 
 
Okuda: Personal consumption has been sluggish since last summer. The 
abolition of a fixed-rate tax break and the transfer of tax revenue 
resources have increased a sense of tax burden. An increasing number 
of consumers are tightening their purse strings with prices of daily 
necessaries going up as a result of soaring crude oil prices. We 
will have a considerably severe year this year. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000145  010 OF 020 
 
 
Harada:  The subprime loan issue originates in the U.S., and yet, 
the scope of the fall of Japanese stocks is greater. Domestic 
companies have increased profits mainly because they raised profit 
shares. Profits gained by enhancing added value are small. The 
housing sector is in a slump following the amendment to the 
construction standards law. Distrust in Japan is reflected in stock 
prices. 
 
Kojima:  GDP's dependence on foreign demand was about 10 PERCENT  in 
2002, but the ratio now has risen to about 15 PERCENT . If the U.S. 
economy slows sharply, the global economy would inevitably lose 
steam as well. The Japanese economy, which has grown, relying on 
exports,  will require significant adjustment. 
 
-- How do you see the domestic economy, close to home? 
 
Okuda: Small- and medium-sized companies' business confidence is 
bad. Since it is difficult for them to shift a rise in the prices of 
raw materials to sales prices, a performance gap with major 
companies is widening. Compared with urban areas, where major 
companies are concentrating, sales of department stores in regional 
areas are sharply dropping. 
 
Harada: One reason for the sluggish labor income is a housing 
recession. The impact of the housing recession on employment of 
construction workers is significant. However, since demand for 
houses and building has not declined, positive effects would appear, 
once the situation gets back to normal. 
 
Yoshikawa: The point is personal consumption. It accounts for 60 
PERCENT  of GDP. However, personal consumption has grown only 1 
PERCENT . Upgrading part-timers to a permanent status holds the key. 
Another point at issue is the movement of wage hikes, which an 
increasing number of business leaders have begun to accept. 
 
Kojima: The household income has continued to fall with income 
shifted to the corporate sector. Corporate profits have reset a new 
high. I think companies that can afford should raise wages, looking 
ahead. An increase in family income would lead to sustainable 
consumption, albeit mild. 
 
-- What about overseas economies? 
 
Harada: China's domestic demand is important. Unlike Japan, there is 
actual demand for public works in China. Some are concerned about 
the Chinese economy after the Beijing Olympic Games in August. There 
are not so many public works related to the Olympic Games, compared 
with the total number of overall public works. No recession would 
come after the Olympic Games. 
 
Kojima: Growth of the U.S. economy would be no more than 1 PERCENT 
-2 PERCENT . However, once major adjustment is over, it could grow 
again next year. Demand for the construction of infrastructure is 
brisk in China, India and the Middle East. It will serve as a plus 
factor for the global economy. 
 
Yoshikawa:  The U.S. will presumably cut interest rates again. 
However, since the housing sector, where demand is expected to 
increase as a result of an interest rate cut, has already suffered a 
blow, monetary easing might not produce effects. 
 
Okuda: There will remain a risk of the U.S. economy losing steam. If 
 
TOKYO 00000145  011 OF 020 
 
 
investment in housing declines, consumption of housing-related 
goods, such as domestic houseware, would drop. The end-of-the-year 
sales in the U.S. significantly declined. Discount stores are doing 
well, but department stores and clothing stores are suffering a 
decline in income. 
 
-- What about an outlook for a real growth rate and Nikkei Stock 
Average? 
 
Yoshikawa: It would be difficult for the Japanese economy to attain 
2 PERCENT  growth. I would say that a real growth rate would be 1.8 
PERCENT  or so. 
 
Okuda: I would say 1.3 PERCENT  for fiscal 2007 and 1.5 PERCENT  for 
fiscal 2008. Stock prices would be between 13,000 yen and 16,000 
yen. 
 
Harada: My projection is that a growth rate for fiscal 2007 would be 
1.5 PERCENT  and 2 PERCENT  for fiscal 2008. Stock prices at the end 
of the year would be 17,000 yen. 
 
Kojima:  In my view, a growth rate for fiscal 2007 would be 1.3 
PERCENT  and around 2.0 PERCENT  in fiscal 2008. Yen exchange would 
be between 100 and 110 against the dollar. 
 
Participants: 
 
Akira Kojima: Chairman of the Japan Center for Economic Research 
Yutaka Harada: Chief economist at the Daiwa Institute of Research 
Tsutomu Okuda: President and CEO of J. Front Retailing 
 
SIPDIS 
Hiroshi Yoshikawa: Professor at Tokyo University 
 
(11) Okinawa Prefecture Environmental Impact Assessment Council 
strongly calls for rewriting of plan for how to conduct assessment 
of facilities replacing Futenma Air Station; More in-depth 
recommendation report compiled 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
January 17, 2008 
 
In response to the governor's commission, Okinawa Prefecture's 
Environment Impact Assessment Council (chaired by Masamitsu 
Tsukayama, honorary professor at Ryukyu University) has been 
 
SIPDIS 
examining a plan to recover land from the sea included in the 
government notice specifying the outline of environmental impact 
assessments on the construction of facilities replacing the U.S. 
forces' Futenma Air Station. The panel on the evening of Jan. 16 
held its second meeting at the prefecture's Welfare Center of the 
Prefecture. Participants mapped out a recommendation report that 
seeks reexamination of environmental assessments of reclamation of 
the sea area in question, mentioning that the plan should be 
rewritten at the present stage, where specifics of the construction 
project can be assumed to some extent. The panel in its 
recommendation report on the assessment of the construction of an 
airfield, issued in December last year, employed the wording 
"Research for environmental assessments should be conducted, once 
specifics of the project have been decided to some extent." The 
report this time employed more in-depth wording than that. 
 
Policy report to be submitted to governor tomorrow 
 
The panel will submit the report to the governor on the 18th. The 
 
TOKYO 00000145  012 OF 020 
 
 
report calls for measures to preserve the environment when 
conducting assessments of barrack relocation work following the 
construction of alternative facilities and extracting soil used to 
recover land from the sea. 
 
When the panel deliberated on the draft report on the 16th, the 
notice carried only seven pages for the purpose and specifics of the 
project.  However, 150 pages of additional data were later provided. 
The Okinawa Defense Bureau has thus revealed new facts each time the 
panel asked for explanations, drawing a flurry of criticism as 
disrupting the original procedures for inviting opinions on the 
project plan from residents, by letting them know its details. 
 
In view of such a situation, one panel member said, "It would be 
most desirable to let the government undergo the procedures once 
again." However, the prefecture's environmental policy division took 
the stand that in terms of the interpretation of the assessment law, 
it would be difficult to have the plan  rewritten in such a way as 
to give it  legally binding power,. 
 
However, some panel members strongly called for the rewriting of the 
plan, whether it will have legally binding power or not. They 
proposed that examination procedures similar to the method of 
letting residents know details of the plan, including inviting 
opinions from persons sitting in the public gallery during open 
examinations, should be taken. As a result of efforts to explore a 
method of having the plan written so that the Defense Bureau will 
not start the project without considering objections, participants 
agreed to directly mention in the panel's report their request for 
rewriting the plan. 
 
Regarding the reexamination of the environmental assessment and 
construction project plan, Environmental Policy Division Director 
Hiroshi Shimoji revealed his perception that he assumes that 
explanations, including an investigation method matching the 
specifics  of additional data of as many as 150 pages,  should be 
provided in a manner that can convince the panel and the 
prefecture. 
 
(12) One month after U.S. Army sets up forward-deployed command for 
1st Corps at Camp Zama in Kanagawa; Local communities concerned 
about base buildup with no info 
 
AKAHATA (Page 4) (Full) 
January 17, 2008 
 
The U.S. Army has now set up a forward-deployed command for its 1st 
Corps, also known as I Corps ("eye core"), at Camp Zama, a U.S. 
military base straddling the cities of Zama and Sagamihara in 
Kanagawa Prefecture. The new command will now see its first full 
month on Jan. 19. The U.S. Army is now steadily building up its base 
functions without providing sufficient information to local 
communities. There is also something unknown about the new command's 
scale and task. 
 
"We're developing our operational capabilities that differ from the 
control capabilities we have had here." With this, I Corps Commander 
Jacoby, posted to the U.S. Washington State city of Fort Lewis, 
explains the forward-deployed command and its nature in an 
electronic version of the Stars & Stripes dated Dec. 21, 2007. 
 
In 1995, the U.S. Army abolished the headquarters of its 9th Corps 
 
TOKYO 00000145  013 OF 020 
 
 
(IX Corps), which used to keep tabs on the Korean Peninsula for a 
potential emergency. Since then, Camp Zama has only functioned as a 
base with control capabilities, namely logistics, and welfare for 
GIs. 
 
With the forward-deployed command's establishment, Zama has now 
become a linchpin of the U.S. Army's war command again and liaises 
with I Corps that is ready to send 100,000 troops to the 
Asia-Pacific region. 
 
Moreover, the I Corps forward-deployed command at Zama is a combat 
command that is "modernized to meet the world situation," according 
to Public Affairs Officer Crawford at the headquarters of U.S. Army 
Japan. 
 
According to the U.S. Department of Defense's budget for fiscal 
2008-2009, the U.S. Army plans to upgrade the "Sensitive 
Compartmented Information Facility" (SCIF) at Zama. In addition, the 
U.S. Army also plans to build a "combat command training center" on 
the neighboring premises of Sagami Depot, starting construction work 
in March 2009. 
 
However, the government has not provided local communities with 
sufficient information about these functional buildup plans. 
 
On Jan. 15, Sagamihara City held a meeting of local residents to 
promote the reversion of U.S. military bases. One participant there 
voiced concern about a base buildup with no local consent. "I will 
strongly request the government to provide information," Sagamihara 
Mayor Toshio Kayama said in the meeting. 
 
Meanwhile, there is also something unclear about the new Zama 
command. 
 
At first, the Defense Ministry explained that the new command would 
be staffed with about 300 personnel. In December last year, however, 
the Defense Ministry said the new command would be staffed with 
about 90 personnel by September 2008 and that the U.S. Army was 
studying what to do about the new command's staffing after that. 
 
The U.S. Army is also planning to deploy 300-400 military vehicles 
to Camp Zama and Sagami Depot. However, the Defense Ministry says 
the plan has yet to be finalized at this point. 
 
Fort Lewis-where I Corps is headquartered-has sent troops to Iraq 
since 2003. There are still several thousand troops in Iraq from 
Fort Lewis. With the Iraq war being protracted, I Corps headquarters 
is now troubled in its operation before reinforcing its 
forward-deployed commands. 
 
Furthermore, there is also something unknown about the new command's 
task. The U.S. Department of Defense, in its budget program, 
explains that the buildup of U.S. Army Japan is linked to a global 
bottom-up review of the U.S. military presence (U.S. military 
transformation). Zama is an advance position of the U.S. Army for a 
global antiterror preemptive war. This is the Bush administration's 
initial goal, and there is no change in this 
 
However, this Bush strategy has fallen through. The future course of 
the United States' antiterror war is invisible. There are also 
changes in the Korean Peninsula situation, such as dialogue between 
the United States and North Korea. Meanwhile, the United States 
 
TOKYO 00000145  014 OF 020 
 
 
needs to look strong against China, according to a U.S. Army Japan 
source. 
 
Japan and the United States are now certain to integrate their 
military forces. 
 
"I Corps has done a number of training exercises with the Ground 
Self-Defense Force. From now on, we will also be able to develop our 
relations with them throughout the year, not only to conduct 
training exercises." With this, Jacoby stressed that the U.S. Army 
would step up its cooperation with the GSDF's Central Readiness 
Command, which will move its headquarters to Zama by fiscal 2012. 
 
(13) It's unrealistic to call SDF troop dispatch based on U.N. 
resolution constitutional: Japan's U.N. envoy 
 
AKAHATA (Page 4) (Full) 
January 18, 2008 
 
Jiji Press, New York 
 
Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations Yukio Takasu spoke to a 
Jiji Press seminar in New York City on Jan. 15. In his speech there, 
Takasu indicated that it is unrealistic to conclude that sending 
troops from the Self-Defense Forces on an overseas mission-if that 
is based on a U.N. Security Council resolution-does not conflict 
with the Constitution's Article 9, which prohibits Japan from using 
armed force overseas. 
 
Takasu cited peacekeeping operations (PKO) as U.N. activities that 
are based on a UNSC resolution. He said, "This includes tasks to be 
conducted along with military operations to a considerable extent." 
He added, "It is not realistic to say this does not correspond to 
the use of armed force stipulated in Article 9. 
 
(14) Deputy Foreign Minister Kono: Focus to be on setting mid-term 
goal for greenhouse gas emissions cuts at G8 summit 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 18, 2008 
 
The main topics of discussion at the Group of Eight summit that 
Japan will host in July in Hokkaido will be such political issues as 
the environment, climate change, support for African development, 
and nuclear nonproliferation. The global economy will be another 
major item on the agenda at the G8 summit. I am sure that 
Afghanistan and Pakistan will be taken up as regional issues. Many 
prominent figures such as national political leaders and top 
business leaders from the world will attend the annual meeting of 
the World Economic Forum (WEF or Davos Conference), which will start 
on Jan. 23. The participants are wondering what this year's G8 host 
country will talk about. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will send 
messages responding to their expectations. Japan will kick off the 
G-8 summit at the WEF meeting. 
 
On the climate change issue, the highlight of the Summit is how to 
set a mid-term goal for cutting greenhouse gas emissions in a 
post-Kyoto Protocol international pact. In that regard, the G8 
shared the same view in the first Sherpa meeting held this month. 
The unprecedented heated discussion was held in the two-day Sherpa 
meeting. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000145  015 OF 020 
 
 
Until July, Japan wants to link the G8 debate and the America-hosted 
conference of major emitters. Linking the two discussions is 
important because China is a member of the conference. 
 
The U.S. will host the next meeting of the major emitters in late 
January in Honolulu, and it is also expected to hold monthly 
meetings. Washington is trying to consider the issue of setting a 
mid-term goal in a responsible way. 
 
Although the United Nations is the main venue to discuss climate 
change, the Japanese government wants to make the upcoming G8 a 
springboard for creating a mid-term goal. If the G8 fails to reach a 
consensus, clashes of opinions will become more serious at the UN. 
Therefore, Japan assumes a heavy responsibility. 
 
(15) G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 2008: When will G8 leaders arrive 
at New Chitose Airport? Hokkaido government in stew over 
transportation, measures against aircraft noise 
 
HOKKAIDO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full) 
January 17, 2008 
 
The Hokkaido government and municipalities affected by the Group of 
Eight (G8) industrialized countries summit conference in Lake Toyo, 
Hokkaido (G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit) are fretting about when the G8 
leaders will arrive at New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido, and whether 
they will arrive late at night or early morning. If they arrive late 
at night or early morning, one problem is how to transport them. 
Moreover, in order to deal with airplane noise if landing slots from 
10:00 p.m. through 07:00 a.m. are set, it is necessary to discuss 
the noise issue with local residents. Given the past discussions 
between the Hokkaido government and residents on the noise problem, 
it is difficult to forecast whether they can reach a conclusion if 
they hold discussions. 
 
According to the Hokkaido government's G8 Summit Promotion Bureau, 
as of Jan. 16, no information about the schedule showing arrivals 
and departures of the G8 leaders has been released by the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) G8 Summit Preparation Office. 
 
In the case of the 2000 G8 Okinawa Summit, all G8 leaders arrived in 
Narita Airport instead of small Naha Airport. So no problem 
occurred. But given New Chitose Airport's broad aircraft parking 
apron, it is expected that some G8 leaders will directly arrive in 
New Chitose Airport, says an official at the Hokkaido government's 
Summit Promotion Bureau. 
 
The bureau is consulting with MOFA ways to transport G8 leaders, if 
they arrive in the airport daytime, to the area near the G8 Summit 
venue Windsor Hotel Toya by carrying them by helicopter from the 
airport to Lake Toya. However, no consultations have been held 
concerning what to do about arrivals or departures late at night or 
early morning. Depending on circumstances, G8 leaders may be asked 
to stay one night at a hotel near the airport. 
 
Another major pending question is related to the agreement made with 
residents. Regarding arrivals and departures late at night and early 
morning in New Chitose Airport, the Hokkaido government and the 
governments of Chitose City and Tomakomai City agreed on six 
departure-and-arrival slots a day. These slots are always all used 
by cargo and passenger planes. The Hokkaido government's G8 Summit 
Promotion Bureau said that now is not the right time to hold 
 
TOKYO 00000145  016 OF 020 
 
 
discussion with residents, but it added that it may seek residents' 
understanding toward creating special landing slots. 
 
Residents, however, are nervous that the agreement might be turned a 
mere scrap of paper, given that during last year, there were nearly 
300 landings after 10:00 p.m. because of equipment trouble and 
unseasonable weather. Residents still harbor the ill feeling toward 
the Hokkaido government over the question of whether to extend the 
airport runway. 
 
Hidenori Niwa, chair of the Uenae Block Association in Tomakomai 
City, noted: "In terms of national interests, I feel it necessary 
for us to show understanding toward creating special landing slots 
if they are necessary. But (the Hokkaido government) tends to ignore 
the voices of residents. I hope the Hokkaido government will fully 
exchange views with residents so that they can convey their views to 
the central government." 
 
In the case of the Okinawa G8 Summit, it was four months before the 
G8 Summit that none of the G8 leaders would arrive directly in Naha 
Airport. The Hokkaido government's Summit Promotion Bureau noted 
that given the need to hold discussion with residents, we need to 
know early..., until spring...." 
 
Hotel employees enthusiastic about learning English conversation 
 
Noboribetsu Onsen 
 
The Noboribetsu Grand Hotel (at Noboribetsu Onsen Town in 
Noboribetsu City), which has been informally chosen as 
accommodations for the U.S. government delegation, offer its 
employees an English conversation class. 
 
Since last fall, when the United States inspected the hotel, the 
hotel side has held the English conversation class for its 100 or so 
employees working at the reception desk and gift shops. After the 
hotel was chosen as a facility to accommodate the U.S. delegation, 
the English conversation class has focused on practical expressions. 
The teacher of the class is Managing Director Yutaka Fukushima, who 
has worked for an overseas hotel for eight years. 
 
On Jan. 16, nine employees attended the class, which was held at a 
karaoke room in the hotel. In the one-hour class, Fukushima played 
the role of a visitor and taught employees how to respond to a 
visitor who lost his wallet in a dressing room or how to explain to 
a visitor the way to go to Sapporo. Aika Saito (20), who has 
attended every class, said with enthusiasm: "I want to study hard 
English so that I can respond well to visitors from the United 
States." The class will continue just before the start of the G8 
Summit. 
 
(16) CIRO employee fired for info leaks 
 
SANKEI (Page1) (Abridged) 
January 18, 2008 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura took disciplinary action 
yesterday under the National Public Service Ethics Law to discharge 
a 52-year-old employee of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research 
Office (CIRO or Naicho for short) for receiving money from a member 
of the staff of the Russian Embassy in Japan in return for providing 
information. This is the first disciplinary dismissal of a CIRO 
 
TOKYO 00000145  017 OF 020 
 
 
employee since the organization was established in 1986. The prime 
minister's office (Kantei) has just taken the initiative to enhance 
the counterintelligence setup of central government offices. In 
addition, the Kantei has also set up a panel to reform the Defense 
Ministry in order to secure information in a thoroughgoing way. 
However, a government body under the Kantei's control is now 
involved in a scandal. The bureaucracy exposed a laxity of moral 
fiber from within the government's center. 
 
CIRO, a government organization under the Kantei, has brought about 
such an unheard-of scandal. This event greatly shocked the Kantei, 
which is particularly nervous about intelligence. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda was apparently upset on Jan. 16 when the 
media reported the alleged leakage of information. "This kind of 
problem occurred right under my office," Fukuda said later in the 
day. "It's very regrettable-out of the question," Fukuda added. 
Machimura, meeting the press yesterday, said in a hard tone of 
voice: "There was such an event in a government office that must be 
most sensitive to intelligence. I don't know what to say to the 
people. It's an unforgivable act." 
 
In the past, a diplomat posted to the Japanese Consulate General in 
Shanghai committed suicide. In the wake of that incident, the 
government set up a counterintelligence promotion panel under the 
then Abe cabinet. In August last year, the counterintelligence panel 
worked out a basic course of action to enhance the government's 
counterintelligence functions. 
 
In April this year, the government set up a body, called the 
Counterintelligence Center, under the CIRO. The Counterintelligence 
Center is tasked with collecting and analyzing information about 
foreign intelligence agencies and their activities. In April next 
year, the center is expected to work out guidelines for all 
government personnel in order to prevent classified information 
about national security and diplomatic affairs from being leaked. 
 
In December last year, after the Fukuda cabinet's inauguration, the 
government set up an advisory panel at the Kantei to discuss an 
overhaul of the Defense Ministry due to Maritime Self-Defense Force 
personnel's leakage of classified information about an Aegis ship 
and other scandals. The government was studying measures to step up 
information security. 
 
Above all, Machimura lost face with the CIRO scandal. He presided 
over the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's project team to 
strengthen Japan's intelligence functions before assuming his 
current cabinet post. He has emphasized the importance of 
intelligence as chief cabinet secretary. 
 
(Corrected copy): Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, MSDF 
refueling mission 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 16, 2008 
 
Questions & Answers 
 
(Note) Figures in parentheses denote the results of the last survey 
conducted Nov. 10-11 last year. 
 
Q: Do you support the Fukuda cabinet? 
 
TOKYO 00000145  018 OF 020 
 
 
 
Yes 36.6 (41.1) 
No 47.3 (40.3) 
Don't know (D/K) + Can't say which (CSW) 16.1 (18.6) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 32.1 (32.2) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 25.0 (26.5) 
New Komeito (NK) 4.0 (3.6) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3.5 (3.1) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2.1 (2.6) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.6 (0.7) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.3 (0.1) 
Other answers (O/A) 0.9 (1.3) 
None 30.6 (28.2) 
D/K + Can't say (C/S) 0.9 (1.7) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate Prime Minister Fukuda and his government on the 
following points? 
 
His personal character 
Yes 58.0 (62.3) 
No 33.4 (22.6) 
D/K+CSW 8.6 (15.1) 
 
 
His leadership 
Yes 24.4 (28.5) 
No 62.7 (43.1) 
D/K+CSW 12.9 (28.4) 
 
Foreign policy 
Yes 30.9 
No 48.8 
D/K+CSW 20.3 
 
Economic policy 
Yes 17.0 
No 64.7 
D/K+CSW 18.3 
 
North Korea policy 
Yes 14.0 (15.5) 
No 70.2 (60.3) 
D/K+CSW 15.8 (24.2) 
 
Response to Defense Ministry scandals 
Yes 17.5 (13.3) 
No 73.2 (66.9) 
D/K+CSW 9.3 (19.8) 
 
Response to pension issues 
Yes 28.0 (31.2) 
No 64.0 (53.9) 
D/K+CSW 8.0 (14.9) 
 
Response to hepatitis C infections 
Yes 74.1 (43.5) 
No 20.1 (37.5) 
D/K+CSW 5.8 (19.0) 
 
 
TOKYO 00000145  019 OF 020 
 
 
Q: What do you think about those listed below in connection with the 
newly enacted antiterrorism law intended to resume the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission for multinational forces in 
the Indian Ocean? 
 
The new antiterror law was enacted 
Good 45.1 
Questionable 43.8 
D/K+CSW 11.1 
 
The Diet took time to deliberate, and the MSDF pulled out 
Good 52.5 
Questionable 35.2 
D/K+CSW 12.3 
 
The opposition-dominated upper chamber took time to deliberate 
Good 48.8 
Questionable 42.0 
D/K+CSW 9.2 
 
The ruling parties took a second vote in the lower chamber with a 
majority of two-thirds 
Good 39.4 
Questionable 48.4 
D/K+CSW 12.2 
 
DPJ President Ozawa abstained from voting in the lower chamber's 
last plenary sitting 
Good 12.1 
Questionable 77.0 
D/K+CSW 10.9 
 
Q: The ruling coalition holds a majority of the seats in the House 
of Representatives, and the opposition bench dominates the House of 
Councillors. What do you think about this lopsidedness in the Diet? 
Pick only one from among those listed below. 
 
That's good because there's political tension 13.8 (13.9) 
The ruling and opposition parties should compromise 40.1 (41.3) 
The House of Representatives should be dissolved at an early date 
for a general election 43.7 (41.3) 
DK+C/S 2.4 (3.5) 
 
Q: Do you support a "grand coalition" of the LDP and the DPJ? 
 
Yes 33.7 
No 54.6 
D/K+CSW 11.7 
 
Q: The Fukuda cabinet has taken over almost all of the former Abe 
cabinet's ministers. Do you think the Fukuda cabinet should be 
shuffled substantially at an early date? 
 
Yes 44.0 (41.1) 
No 51.1 (49.2) 
D/K+CSW 4.9 (9.7) 
 
Q: When would you like the House of Representatives to hold its next 
election? 
 
During the first half of this year 23.6 (35.8) 
After this July's G-8 summit in Japan and during the latter half of 
 
TOKYO 00000145  020 OF 020 
 
 
this year 45.9 (29.9) 
Upon the current term's expiry or early next year 29.0 (19.9) 
D/K+C/S 1.5 (4.8) 
 
Q: Which political party's candidate would you like to vote for in 
the next election for the House of Representatives? 
 
LDP 34.4 
DPJ 33.9 
NK 4.1 
JCP 3.9 
SDP 2.6 
PNP 0.5 
NPN 0.3 
O/A 9.2 
D/K+C/S 11.1 
 
 
Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next 
election for the House of Representatives? 
 
LDP-led coalition government 28.5 (29.7) 
DPJ-led coalition government 32.5 (32.1) 
LDP-DPJ grand coalition 34.4 (29.3) 
D/K+C/S 4.6 (8.9) 
 
Q: How long do you think the Fukuda government will continue? 
 
Until around the next election for the House of Representatives 46.7 
(56.2) 
Until the fall of next year 34.0 (21.9) 
Continue until after the fall of next year 15.8 (10.3) 
D/K+C/S 3.5 (6.9) 
 
Q: A gasoline tax law is due to expire this spring. What do you 
think about this? 
 
Extend the gasoline tax for local traffic networks 28.6 
Abolish the gasoline tax in view of rising oil prices and other 
circumstances 66.2 
D/K+C/S 5.2 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Jan. 13-14 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. 
 
DONOVAN