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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000019 
 
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 01/03/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) MPD to deploy more counterterrorism investigators ahead of G-8 
summit in Lake Toyo (Sankei) 
 
(2) Kantei, ruling parties considering moving V-shaped Futenma 
replacement runways 80-90 meters from government plan; "We will 
welcome it if consideration is given to peoples' daily lives," says 
Vice Governor Nakazato (Okinawa Times) 
 
(3) Japan honing coal-fired power generation, an eco technology; To 
support newly emerging economies' efforts to increase power 
generation efficiency; Full-fledged coal gasification test to be 
conducted (Sankei) 
 
(4) My views on yen drifting lower versus dollar: Former Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano says drifting yen reflects 
deterioration of Japanese economy (Nikkei) 
 
(5) Prime Minister's schedule, January 1 (Nikkei) 
 
(6) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(7) EDITORIALS 
 
(Corrected copy): Japan, US to begin talks later this month on MD 
intelligence-sharing roadmap (Sankei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) MPD to deploy more counterterrorism investigators ahead of G-8 
summit in Lake Toyo 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) 
January 3, 2008 
 
In preparation for the Group of Eight (G-8) Summit at Lake Toya, 
Hokkaido, in July, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department's (MPD) 
Public Safety Bureau (PSB) yesterday decided to deploy more 
investigators tasked with dealing with international terrorism, for 
instance, an attack by Islamic radicals. Alarmed also by radical 
activities by organizations opposing globalism, the MPD will 
increase the number of investigators in charge of analyzing actual 
conditions. Behind this decision is the department's judgment that 
in order to deal with the "new threats" of international terrorism 
and antiglobalism movements, the current setup of investigators. 
 
The PSB has some 140 investigators tasked with international 
terrorism at present and will increase their number by 20 PERCENT 
this month to some 170. The bureau also plans to increase on a 
similar scale the number of investigators in charge of dealing with 
anti-globalism movements. By bringing together investigators from 
such sections in the PSB that handle domestic radicals, 
rightist-caused incidents, and certain crimes committed by 
foreigners or involving foreign countries such as illegal exports 
and abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea, the PSB will 
newly deploy those investigators to either the post dealing with 
international terrorism or the post tasked with anti-globalism 
movements. 
 
Although the venue for the G-8 summit is in Hokkaido, the MPD has 
felt a sense crisis about such issues, with Superintendent General 
 
TOKYO 00000019  002 OF 008 
 
 
Takayoshi Yashiro saying, "Tokyo will become our major battlefield." 
In fact, in July, a conference of justice ministers and interior 
ministers is set to take place in Tokyo. A senior MPD officer 
commented: "International terrorists aim at soft targets like public 
traffic systems and large event halls or amusement parks attracting 
many people." In the 2005 G-8 Summit in Gleneagles, Britain, 
terrorist attacks occurred in London, far away from the venue for 
the G-8 summit. 
 
The 2008 G-8 summit will be the first such international event for 
Japan to host since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. 
Viewing anti-globalism activists who hold large protest rallies and 
demonstrations as a "new threat," the MPD has decided to change the 
current investigative setup as the above same official noted, "In 
order to prevent terrorism and riots, we need to boost our 
capability to collect and analyze information and investigate 
suspicious cases." 
 
As part of efforts to deal with international terrorism, the MPD 
will track down foreigners having contacts with Islamic radicals. 
The MPD has already instructed each police station to boost their 
efforts to gather information on suspicious foreigners. Each police 
station is collecting information on suspicious foreigners by 
regularly visiting apartments where those foreigners reside or 
through questioning them 
 
Based on such information, investigators from the PSB are monitoring 
and tracking them down. They will be soon joined by investigations 
the MPD will newly install in the post. 
 
Regarding antiglobalism movements, the MPD is alarmed by moves by 
organizations in Japan and South Korean labor unions and 
agricultural organizations. The PSB is analyzing information 
provided by South Korean investigators. 
 
(2) Kantei, ruling parties considering moving V-shaped Futenma 
replacement runways 80-90 meters from government plan; "We will 
welcome it if consideration is given to peoples' daily lives," says 
Vice Governor Nakazato 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Top play) (Full) 
January 3, 2008 
 
Tokyo 
 
Japan and the United States have agreed to build a V-shaped pair of 
runways on the coastal area of Camp Schwab in Nago as the alternate 
facility to the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. It was 
learned yesterday that an idea has surfaced in the government and 
ruling parties to move the planned V-shaped runways about 80-90 
meters into the sea. The notion is now being studied by the Prime 
Minister's Office (Kantei) and some Liberal Democratic Party 
executives on the condition that the replacement facility would not 
reach Nagashima (island) off Camp Schwab and that the Okinawa 
prefectural and Nago municipal governments would not seek any 
further shifts in location. The Defense Ministry and the Foreign 
Ministry, however, are generally dismissive of making any changes to 
the original plan as agreed upon by Japan and the United States. 
There is no prospect for the U.S. side accepting such a change. 
 
Nagashima is some 80 meters away from the southern tip of the 
planned V-shaped runways. In December, the Kantei unofficially 
 
TOKYO 00000019  003 OF 008 
 
 
learned from a ruling coalition source that Governor Hirokazu 
Nakaima wanted the envisaged runways to be moved as far offshore as 
possible within the scope of 50 meters or so, a step short of 
reaching Nagashima. 
 
According to a government source, upon hearing of Nakaima's desire, 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura and others who are eager 
to settle the Futenma issue have indicated a willingness to respond 
to his wishes on condition that the affected municipalities would 
settle on this change once and for all and would not repeatedly ask 
for more location shifts. 
 
The government and ruling coalition plan to reach an agreement on 
the start of an environmental impact assessment for the replacement 
facility during the sixth Futenma relocation consultative council 
meeting, to be held possibly in late January. When the seventh 
council meeting is held before the end of fiscal 2007, the 
government would aim having the V-shaped plan accepted, 
incorporating the request for moving the facility further out to 
sea. 
 
There is a view among those wanting to move the runways further 
toward the sea that a minor change of up to 100 meters would not 
hamper U.S. military operations. With the U.S. side from Secretary 
of Defense Robert Gates on down remaining reluctant to make any 
changes to the original plan, there is no prospect for a new 
agreement. 
 
Vice Governor Zenki Nakazato said yesterday: "We have not heard 
anything from the government about moving the planned runways about 
90 meters further offshore. That would end up moving the facility as 
far offshore as possible while stopping a step short of slicing into 
Nagashima. We have repeatedly asked the government to respect local 
opinions and give consideration to the daily lives of residents in 
the vicinity. If that is what the government is going to do, we 
would welcome (the change) with open arms." 
 
(3) Japan honing coal-fired power generation, an eco technology; To 
support newly emerging economies' efforts to increase power 
generation efficiency; Full-fledged coal gasification test to be 
conducted 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 3, 2008 
 
The electric power industry will provide major greenhouse gas 
emitters, such as China and India, with know-how on enhancing 
coal-fired power generation efficiency with the aim of reducing 
emissions of greenhouse gases, such as CO2. The industry will convey 
the know-how to those countries during a field council meeting, 
scheduled for February in India. At the same time, with the aim of 
commercializing the next-generation technology called Integrated 
coal Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC), the industry will start a 
2,000-hour running test this spring. Japan intends to take the 
initiative in the prevention of global warming by providing the 
world-leading coal fired power generation technology and by pressing 
ahead with the development of the next-generation technology. 
 
A drawback to coal-fired power generation is that it produces more 
CO2 as compared with power generation using such fuels as oil and 
natural gases. But in such countries as China, coal is playing a 
main role in power generation, because is inexpensive and exists in 
 
TOKYO 00000019  004 OF 008 
 
 
abundance. 
 
According to the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, 
power generation efficiency in such countries as China and India is 
30-32 PERCENT  on average. In contrast, Japan's efficiency is more 
than10 points higher. The electric power industry will push ahead 
with technological assistance to increase the efficiency of power 
plants in up-and-coming powers on a par with Japan. 
 
Such an effort is recognized as a priority project in the 
Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate composed 
of seven countries, such as the United States, China, and India. 
During the field council meeting in February in India, the electric 
power industry will transfer know-how on preventing heat diffusion 
using pipes and temperature control to engineers of other 
countries. 
 
Meanwhile, Clean Coal Power R&D Co. (Iwaki City, Fukushima 
Prefecture) run by 11 electric power companies, such as Tokyo 
Electric Power Co. and Kansai Electric Power Co., will conduct a 
2,000-hour running test for IGCC as early as April that can realize 
high power generation efficiency by gasifying coal as the first step 
toward its practical use. 
 
IGCC gasifies coal with a special furnace and generate electricity 
by turning a steam turbine with waste heat resulting from gas 
turbine power generation at the same time. Its power generation 
efficiency is 48-50 PERCENT , which is higher than the country's 
average coal-fired thermal efficiency of 43 PERCENT . It can 
generate power with less fuel. It is said that with IGCC, CO2 can be 
reduced by about 20 PERCENT . 
 
Such countries as the United States and the Netherlands are also 
making efforts for commercializing IGCC. They are all using a system 
to send in oxygen in gasifying coal which needs a special device to 
generate oxygen. Japan's demonstration equipment has adopted a 
system to directly send in air, not oxygen, in gasifying coal. This 
allows reducing construction and running costs and increasing power 
generation efficiency with no energy being used for generating 
oxygen. 
 
The coal-fired thermal power technology called clean coal technology 
with a little burden on the environment is drawing attention across 
the globe. Director Koji Morita of the Institute of Energy 
Economics, Japan, noted: "Western countries are pushing ahead with 
clean coal technology programs in order to reduce energy's 
dependence on oil, in addition to the environmental aspect. It is 
important to take the initiative in reducing the burden on the 
environment." 
 
(4) My views on yen drifting lower versus dollar: Former Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano says drifting yen reflects 
deterioration of Japanese economy 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 3, 2008 
 
Q: What are your views about the recently underlying tendency for 
the yen to weaken? 
 
Yosano: From a short-term perspective, the yen's sudden fluctuation 
has thrown the (Japanese) economy into confusion. If you ask which 
 
TOKYO 00000019  005 OF 008 
 
 
is better, yen depreciation or appreciation, it is natural to say an 
increase in the value of the currency we use is better. From a 
long-term perspective, however, over a 20 to 30 year period, a weak 
yen would mean the Japanese economy has deteriorated. That is not a 
desirable trend in my view. 
 
Japan overshadowed by emerging economies 
 
Q: Compared to other major currencies, the yen for the first time in 
20 years is at a low level. 
 
Yosano: In the latter half of the 1980s, (former Deputy Prime 
Minister) Michio Watanabe noted, "At present Japan is in a golden 
age, but that will wane sometime in the future." But I never 
imagined that such emerging economies like China and India would 
rise as quickly as they are now. I think the yen and the Japanese 
economy are both sinking into oblivion. 
 
This decline is presumably related, albeit in a complicated fashion, 
to such problems as the relatively weakening of Japan's power, low 
economic growth, the shrinking population, as well as a lack of 
motivation and creativity in the society. But I am troubled when 
people cite the proverb that prosperity must decay when the golden 
age nears its end. 
 
What I fear the most is that Japan will become poor. When it comes 
to the pension system, Japan will not be able maintain it if the 
economy is not stable in macroeconomic terms. If such a worst-case 
scenario comes true, the Japanese people could turn against each 
other. 
 
Q: The dollar as well as the yen is falling and losing international 
confidence as the key currency. 
 
Yosano: Indeed, the dollar is fluctuating and making us uneasy. The 
governments of those countries that do not want their economies to 
sink with the dollar are trying to diversify their investments that 
go into their foreign currency reserves. But in the case of Japan, 
we can't do so because we are politically linked to the United 
States through the security treaty. 
 
Countries surrounding Japan include two nuclear powers, China and 
Russia. In the future, North Korea may become another one of them. 
Because Japan has no nuclear arms, we need to be stay under 
America's nuclear umbrella. While political bonds between Japan and 
the U.S. are becoming more important, the world tendency is to move 
away from the dollar. 
 
Q: Do you mean that Japan's political choices and its economic 
choices do not necessary move in the same direction? 
 
Yosano: I have such a feeling. Aside from our anxiety about the 
dollar, Japan faces a difficult choice. For instance, it is a major 
trend for the U.S. and China to be coming closer in economic terms. 
The Chinese people are aware of the strength of the U.S. market, so 
they will think a great deal of the U.S. 
 
For the U.S., too, it can't ignore the Chinese economy consisting of 
a population of 1.3 billion, 10 times Japan's population. The U.S. 
and China are likely to gradually deepen their relations beyond the 
depth of Japan-U.S. ties as we describe. This tendency will advance 
even if we raise an objection to that. 
 
TOKYO 00000019  006 OF 008 
 
 
 
Political decision essential 
 
Q: Turning our eyes to the Japanese political world, we see 
political debates becoming increasingly inward-looking and lacking 
in ideas to cope with structural changes now occurring on a global 
scale. 
 
Yosano: I think Japan needs to reconsider its market-access policy, 
including the agricultural sector. I would cite the example of 
negotiations to sign free trade agreements (FTA). In Europe, the 
European Union (EU) has in a way embodied the ultimate conclusion of 
an FTA. If the EU is joined by Turkey, it will mean Europe's FTA 
will close in on Asia. China is diplomatically bold, so Japan should 
act more promptly. 
 
The British Economist in its recent issue predicted a food crisis, a 
complex subject involving an energy crisis. I think that's why 
politics is required to make a decision promptly; otherwise Japan 
will be left behind in the world trend. What should we do to prevent 
the Japanese people from becoming poor? The government and political 
parties must answer this question, in addition to dealing with 
domestic problems. 
 
(5) Prime Minister's schedule, January 1 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 3, 2008 
 
10:32 
Attended the New Year celebration ceremony at the Imperial Palace. 
 
11:33 
Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. Spent afternoon at his 
residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 2 
 
Morning 
Stayed at his private residence. 
 
14:06 
Had New Year party with Lower House member Takao Ochi and other 
family members at his official residence. 
 
18:40 
Dined at a Chinese restaurant in Higashi-zebu with wife Kiyoko and 
others. 
 
20:25 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
(6) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
IHI suspected of having provide false settlement account; A highest 
surcharge of 1.7 billion yen may be imposed 
 
Mainichi: 
Government to revise the law for independent administrative 
corporations and have such entities return their internal reserves 
to the national coffers 
 
TOKYO 00000019  007 OF 008 
 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
Japan's intellectual capability: Profound human intellectual power; 
Can robots speculate philosophically? 
 
Nikkei: 
Aeon, Morinaga & Co. considering using bar codes to identify how 
long products are edible or where products were manufactured so that 
warning will be given at time of checkout 
 
Sankei: 
Surprising incidents involving living creatures -- advancing climate 
change: Subtropical zone expands 5 kilometers per year 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Japan, U.K. found to have exchanged memorandums stating, "It will be 
possible to attain the goal of reducing a maximum of 80 PERCENT  of 
greenhouse gas emissions" by 2050 
 
Akahata: 
A study group of politicians and defense officials found to have 
suggested in 2006 report that Japan join space arms race, and called 
on the government to revise the principle of peaceful use of space 
 
(7) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
Resolve to prevent climate change -- Let's change the society with 
technology 
 
Mainichi: 
Divided Diet: We need to have a profound insight into politics; Time 
to reconsider parliamentary democracy 
 
Yomiuri: 
Spreading concerns in the wake of the stalled American economy owing 
to the subprime mortgage loan problem 
 
Nikkei: 
Way to low carbon society: Japanese firms should lead the rest of 
world with their technology 
 
Sankei: 
Japan's national security: Prime minister should talk about his 
strategy to protect national interests 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Thinking at the start of the year: Kyoto Protocol 
 
Akahata: 
World in 2008: We must boost the trend for peace and progress 
 
(Corrected copy): Japan, US to begin talks later this month on MD 
intelligence-sharing roadmap 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
January 3, 2008 
 
It was learned yesterday that the governments of Japan and the 
United States would begin talks possibly later this month on drawing 
up a roadmap for smoothly implementing an intelligence-sharing 
arrangement for intercepting ballistic missiles using the missile 
 
TOKYO 00000019  008 OF 008 
 
 
defense (MD) system. The two governments will undertake coordination 
to conclude a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on sharing 
MD-related intelligence before the Air Self-Defense Force completes 
the new basic air defense system called JADGE in fiscal 2009. 
 
An agreement was reached on drawing up the roadmap in the Japan-U.S. 
Security Consultative Committee of foreign and defense ministers 
(2+2) held in Washington in May 2007. But the plan has not proceeded 
due to strong U.S. concern about Japan's intelligence security 
system in the wake of a leak of pivotal information on the Aegis 
system. A senior Defense Ministry official said: "We were pressed to 
produce evidence that the information has not flowed out to other 
countries, so we could not bring up the subject of drawing up the 
roadmap." 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force is scheduled to deploy later this 
month the Aegis-equipped Kongo, the first vessel loaded with 
sea-based SM-3 missiles, to Sasebo base in Nagasaki Prefecture. In 
addition, the Air Self-Defense Force is slated to complete deploying 
the ground-to-air PAC-3 system at four locations in the metropolitan 
area in March. For this reason, the two governments reached an 
agreement to start talks early. 
 
The U.S. military has also deployed MD-related weapons and radar 
systems in Japan. In order for the two governments to jointly deal 
with incoming ballistic missiles, it is essential to closely share 
intelligence on signs of missile launches, confirmation of launches, 
tracking missiles' trajectories, and a set of procedures for 
intercepting incoming missiles. In the event a ballistic missile is 
launched toward Japan by a neighboring country, it would land in 
Japan in about eight to 10 minutes, according to a Defense Ministry 
source. If intelligence sharing does not work properly, chances are 
that the MD system will not function, and the two countries would 
fail to intercept the incoming missile. 
 
The two governments will begin talks on the roadmap that would 
incorporate specific ways to utilize the intelligence and to 
establish an intelligence security system after determining the 
kinds of information and data that should be shared even in a matter 
of minutes in order to operate the MD system accurately. The roadmap 
is expected to be drawn up in line with progress on the 
implementation of the MD system. 
 
DONOVAN