VZCZCXRO5612
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0364/01 0430807
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120807Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1658
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8425
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6032
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9701
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4631
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6635
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1616
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7680
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8304

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000364 
 
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 02/12/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) U.S. Marine suspected of raping girl to be sent to the 
prosecutors; Prime Minister Fukuda orders cabinet ministers at 
meeting to deal properly with issue 
 
(2) Government asks U.S. side to strictly enforce military 
discipline in case of schoolgirl rape by U.S. Marine in Okinawa 
 
(3) Paulson underlines need for U.S. financial institutions to 
speedily increase capital bases, denies injection of public funds 
 
(4) Japanese, U.S. financial ministers confirm need to maintain 
close coordination 
 
(5) U.S. Secretary of Treasury expects to see expansion of domestic 
demand in Japan 
 
(6) G-7 joint statement: Host nation shows lack of leadership 
 
(7) New Osaka Gov. Hashimoto's controversial remark on Iwakuni 
issue; He has a knack for verbal attacks 
 
(8) METI to craft strategy to nurture green businesses into 
83-trillion-yen market in seven years 
 
(9) Indonesian nurses, caregivers to come to Japan as early as by 
end of this year 
 
(10) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, gas tax\ 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) U.S. Marine suspected of raping girl to be sent to the 
prosecutors; Prime Minister Fukuda orders cabinet ministers at 
meeting to deal properly with issue 
 
Tokyo Web (Full) 
11:05 AM, February 12, 2008 
 
In the case of the U.S. Marine suspected of raping a junior 
high-school girl (14) in Okinawa, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
stressed this morning at a meeting of the Lower House Budget 
Committee his determination to clear up the facts of the matter and 
make efforts so that there would be no recurrence. At a meeting of 
his cabinet, he ordered: "This is an extremely serious problem. I 
want it handled properly." The Okinawa prefectural police today will 
send the case to the prosecutors of U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant 
Tyrone Hardnott, who is attached to Camp Courtney and lives at 
Shimabukuro in the village of Kitanakagusuku in Okinawa Prefecture. 
 
 
A strong reaction is growing in the prefecture toward this case. 
This afternoon, the governor's director of public affairs Akira 
Uehara and educational director Morikazu Nakamura will visit the 
 
SIPDIS 
Marine base and other locations to protest and demand that there be 
no recurrence. 
 
According to the investigation by Okinawa Prefecture, the suspect on 
the night of the 10th allegedly raped the girl in his car that was 
stopped on the road in front of a public park in Chatan Village. The 
suspect has denied the charge. 
 
TOKYO 00000364  002 OF 011 
 
 
 
(2) Government asks U.S. side to strictly enforce military 
discipline in case of schoolgirl rape by U.S. Marine in Okinawa 
 
Tokyo Shimbun Online (Kyodo) (Full) 
11:14 AM, February 12, 2008 
 
In connection with the case of a U.S. Marine in Okinawa having been 
arrested on suspicion of raping a schoolgirl, the government as of 
today has transmitted its strong regrets to the U.S. side, and asked 
the U.S. to strictly enforce military discipline and take thorough 
measures to prevent a recurrence. In response, the U.S. side has 
stressed its intention to fully cooperate with the investigation. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura at press conference this 
morning pointed out: "(In the past, as well,) when there were major 
incidents, we repeatedly asked for strict enforcement of military 
discipline. This one will be handled properly based on the law and 
the evidence, but I cannot help saying that it was extremely 
regrettable." Asked about the impact on the realignment of U.S. 
forces in Japan, such as the relocation of Futenma Air Station, he 
said: "It is not my judgment to make. I would like them to put in 
their best effort to swiftly and appropriately settle this matter." 
 
State Minister for Okinawan Affairs Kishida on the 11th made this 
comment: "I feel the pain that must be going through the hearts of 
the victim and her family. This kind of incident must never happen 
again." 
 
(3) Paulson underlines need for U.S. financial institutions to 
speedily increase capital bases, denies injection of public funds 
 
NIKKEI (Top play) (Full) 
February 9, 2008 
 
Tetsuya Minori, Washington 
 
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in Washington gave an 
interview to the Nikkei ahead of the G7 meeting of finance ministers 
and central governors, to be held in Tokyo on Feb. 9. On the back of 
growing concerns for a credit crunch resulting from the subprime 
loan crisis, Paulson indicated that the key to economy recovery is 
for American financial institutions to increase their capital bases, 
saying, "When we go through a period like this, the best thing that 
financial institutions can do is to quickly realize their losses and 
procure capital." At the same time, he pointed out that speed is 
essential in increasing capital, noting: "If there's any doubt that 
they will not have enough capital, they should go out and get 
capital where it is available." 
 
Secretary Paulson brushed aside the option of using public money and 
 
SIPDIS 
encouraged self-help efforts by financial institutions, saying, 
"There may be other countries where government needs to be involved, 
but that is not the case in the United States." 
 
He indicated some alarm about the future of the U.S. economy, 
noting: "I think our economy will continue to grow, but I see 
housing as the biggest risk. The housing crisis has not bottomed out 
yet; it will continue for a while." 
 
About responses by Japan, the United States, and European countries 
to the slowdown of the global economy, the Secretary said:  "We all 
 
TOKYO 00000364  003 OF 011 
 
 
need to look at what's going on in our own economies and come up 
with policies that are appropriate." About Japan, he commented: "The 
emphasis should be on boosting domestic demand. I've long been an 
advocate of the reform policies that drive long-term economic growth 
and I see a continuing need for that." 
 
He also said that the use of public money was unnecessary because 
"the U.S. financial institutions have been moving quickly to realize 
losses and to raise capital." 
 
Sovereign Wealth Funds of newly emerging market economies in the 
Middle East, Asia and other regions are becoming active as potential 
lenders. "The funds we have had dialogues with have all assured us 
that they are driven by the investment desire to maximize their 
profits after adjusting for risk," the Secretary said in a bid to 
discourage emerging moves to refuse foreign capital in the name of 
opposing Sovereign Wealth Funds. About Japan's investment in U.S. 
financial institutions, as seen in Mizuho Corporate Bank's 
investment in Merrill Lynch, Paulson said: "We welcome investment 
from Japan. The Japanese have been important investors in the United 
States for many years." 
 
He also brushed aside concerns that the dollar might further weaken, 
saying: "The U.S.' economic fundamentals are solid, and I believe 
that the economy will continue to grow, and that these fundamentals 
will be reflected in our currency." At the same time, he said this 
about the yuan, China's currency, "Although we note that it has 
appreciated, we would like to see it appreciate a little faster than 
it has." 
 
As for the deteriorating financial positions of so-called monolines, 
bond insurers, he said: "There are a number of people dealing with 
this. We have the regulators, because these institutions are 
regulated at the state level. We have rating agencies. We have 
financial advisors and investors, including financial institutions. 
And we're obviously watching them closely. Again, the message is the 
same, raise capital. And the emphasis is on the private sector. It 
is the private sector that makes capital investments." 
 
Gist of interview with Treasury Secretary Paulson 
 
? Financial institutions hit by the subprime loan crisis should 
raise capital. 
? The U.S. economy, which is slowing down, needs appropriate policy 
measures. 
? Japan needs to stimulate domestic consumption and to continue 
pursuing reform policies. 
? The U.S. welcomes investment by Sovereign Wealth Funds. 
? A strong dollar serves U.S. national interests. Skeptical about 
direct and verbal intervention in the exchange markets. 
? Hopes to see the value of the Chinese yuan to rise faster. 
 
(4) Japanese, U.S. financial ministers confirm need to maintain 
close coordination 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
Evening, February 9, 2008 
 
Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury 
Henry Paulson met for about 30 minutes this morning ahead of the 
meeting of Group of Seven (G-7) finance ministers and central bank 
governors. They exchanged views on wide-ranging issues, including 
 
TOKYO 00000364  004 OF 011 
 
 
the state of the slowing U.S. economy in the aftermath of the 
subprime loan crisis. They also discussed their outlooks for the 
global economy, over which uncertainty is now looming large. The two 
leaders confirmed that financial authorities of the two countries 
should work out proper measures and enhance cooperation in dealing 
with the subprime mortgage crisis. 
 
This was the second time for Nukaga and Paulson to meet, their first 
being in Washington last October. After the meeting, the two 
released a statement that went: "We exchanged frank views on the 
current state of the global, Japanese, and U.S. economies, the trend 
of the financial market, and climate change (the global-warming 
issue). We confirmed the need for the two countries to continue to 
closely cooperate with each other and keep good bilateral 
relations." 
 
In the meeting, Paulson explained the current state of the U.S. 
economy, the Federal Reserve Bank's (FRB) decision to lower its key 
interest rate, and a package of emergency economic-spurring measures 
taken by the Bush administration. Nukaga hailed the prompt action 
taken by the U.S. He also explained how the Japanese government 
dealt with the financial crisis in the 1990s, after the bubble 
economy had burst, such as the injection of public funds in banking 
institutions to help dispose of their non-performing loans. 
 
Nukaga and Paulson also discussed the idea proposed by Japan, the 
U.S., and Britain of creating a new fund for countermeasures against 
global warming. They shared the view that the proliferation of such 
natural energy resources as wind power and photovoltaic energy in 
developing countries would make it possible to simultaneously attain 
the two goals of reducing poverty and preserving the global 
environment. The two financial leaders agreed to urge other G-7 
countries to join in in a bid to swiftly establish the fund. 
 
(5) U.S. Secretary of Treasury expects to see expansion of domestic 
demand in Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 8) (Full) 
February 10, 2008 
 
In a press conference after a meeting in Tokyo of finance ministers 
from the Group of Seven (G-7) nations yesterday, United States 
Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson said: "Japan has depended on 
 
SIPDIS 
exports and not on domestic demand. Japan needs to continue its 
reforms. Japan should rely more on domestic demand." He expressed 
his expectation for Japan to make more effort to expand domestic 
demand. 
 
On the U.S. economy, Paulson stated: "I believe the American economy 
will keep growing. If the economy is growing, there will be no 
recession." 
 
He then called on banking institutions to shore up their capital 
bases as measures to prevent a spread of the credit crunch, saying: 
"If they need capital, they should get it while it is available." 
 
(6) G-7 joint statement: Host nation shows lack of leadership 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 12, 2008 
 
The G-7 meeting just held in Tokyo has put the caliber of Japan as 
 
TOKYO 00000364  005 OF 011 
 
 
the host nation to the test. While Japan was able to display its 
presence to a certain extent, reporting the lessons it has learned 
from the collapse of the bubble economy and the environmental 
measures it is using, it failed to come up with specific proposals 
for concerted actions on the key subprime loan issue. Japan also 
will host the Lake Toya Summit to be held in July in Hokkaido. The 
G-7 has shown clearly how difficult it is for Japan to display its 
leadership. 
 
The United States remains the main source of risk for the global 
economy. During the last Tokyo G-7, held about eight years ago, 
Japan found itself in a similar position to that of the U.S. now. At 
the time, the Japanese economy was in a slump due to the collapse of 
the real estate bubble, reminiscent of the subprime loan risk, 
prompting increased concern over the risk to the global economy. 
 
Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga, who chaired this G-7 meeting, 
stressed how Japan turned around its economy by writing off 
non-performing loans. During the host nation's press conference, he 
proudly said, "Japan has experience, so I call on other countries to 
take all possible measures in dealing with the subprime loan issue, 
learning lessons from Japan's case." 
 
However, the subprime loan issue, which is casting a pall over the 
global economy, is clearly different from the problem Japan had 
faced in the past. The subprime loan crisis is far more serious than 
Japan's housing loan crisis. That is because subprime loan claims 
have been securitized and marketed in many countries, spreading 
risks all over the world. 
 
Japan's prescription based on the bad loan issue settled by 
injecting public money into banks cannot be straightforwardly 
applied to the subprime loan issue. Lessons Japan may have learned 
can only serve as a reference for G-7 members, starting with the 
U.S. 
 
There is a mountain of other risks posing threats to the global 
economy, such as the sharp rise in the prices of natural resources 
and growing income disparities. Differences in economic situations 
among various countries have made the problem complex, as Finance 
Minister Nukaga noted. It is naturally difficult for Japan to 
spearhead cooperative activities as the host nation. Bank of Japan 
Governor Toshihiko Fukui noted, "Even if you do the same, you could 
not obtain the same result." 
 
Japan has taken a proactive stance on the environment issue, another 
key agenda item. Teaming with Britain and the U.S., Japan announced 
a plan to establish a fund to assist developing countries acquire 
environment-related technologies, and the three countries succeeded 
in convincing other G-7 members to consider joining the project. 
 
The summit this year is characterized as a prelude to the Lake Toya 
Summit. Several international conferences are scheduled in the 
run-up to the July meeting. Toshitaka Ito, professor at Tokyo 
University Graduate School, was harsh in his comment, though: 
"Western interest in Japan is not so high. To be brutally frank, 
Japan's presence is invisible." 
 
The hard part for Japan, as the G-8 Summit host nation, in 
stabilizing the global economy and realizing sustainable growth has 
yet to come 
 
 
TOKYO 00000364  006 OF 011 
 
 
(7) New Osaka Gov. Hashimoto's controversial remark on Iwakuni 
issue; He has a knack for verbal attacks 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 26) (Full) 
February 8, 2008 
 
Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto, who took office on Feb. 6, has already 
created a controversy. Referring to the referendum on the relocation 
of carrier-borne aircraft that Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture 
conducted in 2006, Hashimoto criticized it as if to say that a local 
government should not meddle in the country's defense policy. His 
skilled verbal attacks are in good form, even after he won a 
landslide victory in the recent Osaka gubernatorial election. This 
newspaper looked at his knack for bursting out with verbal attacks. 
 
"I don't want to be criticized by constitutional scholars who know 
only constitutional arguments," Hashimoto said on Feb. 3 in Fukuoka 
City. 
 
On Jan. 31, Hashimoto stressed in a videotape that there are limits 
to items subject to referendums under the legal system of Japan, 
which uses an indirect representative system. The video was produced 
to support a candidate for the Feb. 10 Iwakuni mayoral election. The 
candidate supported the relocation plan. 
 
On Feb. 1, he criticized former Iwakuni Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, who 
opposes the government's plan, noting: "(Ihara) has not studied the 
Constitution at all." However, a constitutional scholar offered a 
counterargument that the expression of views by residents is freedom 
of speech. 
 
On Feb. 3 in Fukuoka City, Hashimoto then argued: "I don't want to 
be criticized by constitutional scholars who know only desktop 
constitutional arguments." 
 
Masahiko Goto, a lawyer and co-leader of the citizens' association 
to think about Yokosuka, home port for nuclear-powered carriers -- 
the group preparing for a referendum on whether to make Yokosuka a 
homeport for U.S. nuclear carriers -- cast doubts upon Hashimoto's 
interpretation, saying: 
 
"The purpose of the referendum in Iwakuni was to ask the citizens 
what action the city, which negotiates with the central government, 
should take. The referendum did not have direct connection with the 
state. If local governments follow all decisions made by the central 
government, democracy will be unnecessary. He could say such a thing 
because Osaka has no military base. The head of a local government 
should not have made that remark." 
 
Hashimoto, however, has made controversial remarks not only on bases 
issues but also on other matters since before he assumed the 
governorship. When asked about the possibility of his running in the 
Osaka gubernatorial race, for example, he replied: "200 PERCENT 
impossible." In connection with the murder of the mother and her 
baby girl in Hikari City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, he demanded on a TV 
program that the team of defense lawyers be reprimanded. On the 
other hand, disciplinary action against him has been called for. 
Commenting on a sex tour of China by a group of Japanese, Hashimoto 
said: "It is like an official development assistance (ODA) project 
to China." 
 
Hashimoto has written a book titled, Strongest Negotiation Technique 
 
TOKYO 00000364  007 OF 011 
 
 
to Bring about Yes at End. In the preface to the book, he writes 
that persuading the other party even by employing sophistry and 
using excuses and even lies are acceptable, depending on the 
situation. 
 
Some of the negotiating techniques introduced in the book coincide 
with his remarks on the Iwakuni issue. For example, he switched the 
focus of argument. The Iwakuni issue stemmed from the central 
government's violation of its promise to provide Iwakuni with 
subsidies for the construction of a new city hall in return for the 
city's acceptance of the relocation of U.S. carrier-based jets to 
Iwakuni base. The central government did not keep its promise 
because Iwakuni opposed the U.S. plan to relocate air-refueling 
tankers to the base in the city. The reason for the Iwakuni issue 
involves a relationship of trust between the central government and 
Iwakuni, but it has nothing to do with defense policy. 
 
Moreover, Hashimoto writes in his book that adding unreasonable 
conditions to what one says is acceptable. He initially talked about 
the relations between the referendum and the Constitution, but soon 
after he was criticized, he added a condition that (scholars) do not 
understand the Constitution when it comes to the actual political 
scene. 
 
Takeshi Yabe, the philosopher, compared Hashimoto to a child full of 
mischief, who pushes the doorbells of other peoples' houses. Yabe 
described him: 
 
"He uses the method of 'downstream culture' in which a person trying 
to become the focus of public attention pokes fun at himself. But he 
has no intention to stick to that stance and so runs off after 
pushing the chime. He is coward and a slave to authority. This kind 
of person may be jealous of residents who take a respectful attitude 
toward the nation." 
 
In his book, Hashimoto writes: "If you are personally attacked, you 
should counter that move. (Omitted) I would like to advise you to 
avoid such a situation by saying that you will refuse to continue 
the conversation if the other tries to correct your view." 
 
Whether his strategy will be effective in serving as governor of 
Osaka is uncertain. The value of his literary works will be called 
into question, as well. 
 
(8) METI to craft strategy to nurture green businesses into 
83-trillion-yen market in seven years 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
Evening, February 9, 2008 
 
The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry (METI) plans to expand the 
nation's environment-focused business sector to about 83 trillion 
yen in 2015 from 59 trillion yen in 2005. 
 
By June, the ministry plans to draw up policies to achieve this 
target that will include proposals for popularizing environmentally 
friendly technologies and businesses. 
 
The ministry will promote the plan to participants at the Group of 
Eight summit meeting, which is to focus on environmental issues, to 
be held in the Lake Toya resort area in Hokkaido in July. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000364  008 OF 011 
 
 
The ministry estimates the domestic market for businesses tackling 
global warming could grow by 54 PERCENT  to 49 trillion yen by 2015 
from the 2005 level. 
 
The government's estimate comes from expected new demand for 
energy-saving technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions 
and for natural energy, such as solar power. 
 
The ministry also expects the market for services related to 
recycling and waste disposal to grow 20 PERCENT  to 29 trillion yen, 
and that of businesses involved in preventing pollution to jump to 
64 PERCENT  to 4.8 trillion yen during the period. 
 
The ministry also estimates the number of jobs in 
environment-focused businesses will increase 45 PERCENT  to 2.6 
million. 
 
Achieving the target requires a number of ways, such as developing 
technology to halve electricity consumption in large data-processing 
facilities, improving the performance of solar and wind power 
generation, and increasing the collection of rare metals from 
discarded home electronics products. 
 
The ministry's plan will include proposals to encourage development 
of environmentally sound technology, measures for increasing 
information disclosure to encourage investment in 
environment-focused businesses, and suggestions for educating 
consumers on the subject. 
 
(9) Indonesian nurses, caregivers to come to Japan as early as by 
end of this year 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 11, 2008 
 
It has been learned that Indonesians who will be candidates to work 
as clinical nurses and caregivers in Japan will come to Japan by the 
end of this year at the earliest, based on an economic partnership 
agreement (EPA) that the governments of Japan and Indonesia 
concluded last summer. Japan has a plan to accept nurses and 
caregivers from the Philippines, as well. The Philippines, however, 
has been late in ratifying an EPA with Japan. Indonesia will be the 
first country for Japan to officially accept workers other than 
those in specialized or technical areas such as engineers and 
college professors. 
 
Indonesia's Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, the contact 
point for the negotiations, is waiting for the Japanese Diet's 
approval of the EPA. The ministry will immediately enter into 
final-stage negotiations with the Japanese side on practical 
business affairs. The ministry then will start recruiting and 
selecting candidates. This was revealed by a senior official. 
 
The two governments have agreed on the dispatch of 400 clinical 
nurses and 600 caregivers. Candidates for the clinical nurse slots 
require more than two years of work experience after graduating from 
nursing school or the nursing department of a college. Candidates 
for caring for patients require academic backgrounds similar to the 
clinical nurses and educational background equal to or better than 
special nursing schools. The candidates to be caregivers must 
receiving nursing-care training before leaving Indonesia. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000364  009 OF 011 
 
 
The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration has been 
studying the contents of training and practice tests in the 
country. 
 
Once the Indonesian clinical nurses and caregivers arrive in Japan, 
they will acquire nursing skills while working at hospitals and 
clinics after receiving Japanese language training for six months. 
If they pass the national exam in Japanese, they will be able to 
stay in Japan indefinitely to work as clinical nurses or caregivers. 
However, those who failed to pass the exam will have to return to 
Indonesia. The Japanese government will shoulder their travel 
expenses and language training costs. The government included in the 
budget bill for fiscal 2008 approximately 1.9 billion yen for the 
EPA-related expenditures, including costs for those who will come 
from the Philippines. 
 
(10) Poll on Fukuda cabinet, political parties, gas tax 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 5, 2008 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. Figures in parentheses 
denote the results of the last survey conducted Jan. 11-12 unless 
otherwise specified.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Fukuda cabinet? 
 
Yes 35 (34) 
No 46 (45) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 30 (26) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 24 (25) 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2 (1) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (0) 
None 34 (37) 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K) 6 (7) 
 
Q: What do you think about Prime Minister Fukuda's job performance 
so far? (One choice only. Figures in parentheses denote the results 
of a survey taken Dec. 1-2, 2007.) 
 
Beyond expectations 3 (4) 
Up to expectations 21 (30) 
Short of expectations 24 (13) 
No expectations from the start 47 (48) 
 
Q: Do you think Mr. Fukuda is a person of action? (Figures in 
parentheses denote the result of a survey taken Sept. 25-26, 2007.) 
 
Yes 22 (46) 
No 66 (32) 
 
Q: Do you appreciate the Fukuda cabinet for its way of handling the 
pending issue of unaccounted-for pension records? 
 
 
TOKYO 00000364  010 OF 011 
 
 
Yes 33 (26) 
No 55 (55) 
 
Q: The gasoline tax is originally 29 yen per liter. However, the 
gasoline tax is currently added up to 54 yen with an extra tax 
portion of 25 yen for road construction and other road-related 
purposes. This added taxation is to expire at the end of March this 
year. After that, gasoline will be priced down. Meanwhile, the 
road-related tax revenues will decrease to almost a half. Do you 
think the 25 yen extra tax should be continued? 
 
Yes 27 
No 60 
 
The government has now presented a bill to the Diet for a 10-year 
extension of the extra gasoline taxation. The DPJ and other 
opposition parties are opposed to this legislation, maintaining that 
the extra taxation should be discontinued. Do you think the ruling 
and opposition parties should compromise on this legislation? 
 
Yes 55 
No 33 
 
Q: The government is thinking of incorporating the gasoline tax and 
other road-related tax revenues into the general account budget so 
that the road-related tax revenues can be used for other purposes as 
well. Do you support this way of thinking? (Figures in parentheses 
denote the results of a survey taken Dec. 1-2, 2007.) 
 
Yes 54 (46) 
No 35 (41) 
 
Q: There is also an idea that suggests the need to continue the 
additional rate of taxation on gasoline and use gasoline tax 
revenues for environmental purposes as well. Do you support this way 
of thinking? 
 
Yes 63 
No 28 
 
Q: The government plans to construct new roads throughout the 
country at 59 trillion yen in the next 10 years. Do you think the 
government should construct new roads as planned, or do you 
otherwise think the government should scale back on the planned 
construction of new roads? 
 
Construct new roads as planned 14 
Scale back on construction plan 75 
 
Q: Do you think the House of Representatives should be dissolved as 
soon as possible for a general election, or do you otherwise think 
there is no need to do so? 
 
Dissolve as soon as possible 34 (34) 
No need to do so 56 (54) 
 
Q: If you were to vote now in a general election, which political 
party would you like to vote for in your proportional representation 
bloc? 
 
LDP 30 (25) 
DPJ 32 (36) 
 
TOKYO 00000364  011 OF 011 
 
 
NK 3 (3) 
JCP 2 (3) 
SDP 1 (3) 
PNP 0 (0) 
NPN 0 (0) 
Other political parties 1 (0) 
N/A+D/K 31 (30) 
 
Q: Would you like the current LDP-led coalition government to 
continue, or would you otherwise like it to be replaced with a 
DPJ-led coalition government? 
 
LDP-led coalition government 33 (27) 
DPJ-led coalition government 37 (35) 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Feb. 2-3 over the 
telephone on a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. 
Respondents were chosen from among the nation's voting population on 
a three-stage random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained 
from 2,082 persons (56 PERCENT ). 
 
DONOVAN