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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000385 
 
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 02/13/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Two local governments in Okinawa file protest; Governor touches 
on revision of the Status of Forces Agreement (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(2) Okinawa engulfed in anger over rape of 14-year-old schoolgirl by 
U.S. Marine (Mainichi) 
 
(3) Gov't desperate to calm down situation (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(4) Main points from meeting between Gov. Nakaima, U.S. Okinawa Area 
Coordinator Zilmer (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(5) Somewhat dubious about groups clamoring against U.S. and U.S. 
bases (Sankei) 
 
(6) Discord between Ozawa and Hatoyama propelled by Ozawa's skipping 
override vote in Lower House plenary session (Asahi) 
 
(7) Difficulty expected in determining plan on new entity tasked 
with supervising consumer affairs policies due to protest from 
government agencies (Mainichi) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Two local governments in Okinawa file protest; Governor touches 
on revision of the Status of Forces Agreement 
 
TOKYO ONLINE (Slightly abridged) 
13:43 PM, February 13, 2008 
 
Photo of U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer and Okinawa Prefecture 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, who has just been handed a letter 
addressed to the victim and family 
 
In the case of rape of a third-year junior high school girl in 
Okinawa, the assemblies of Okinawa City and Chatan Town, both 
localities related to the incident, held an emergency session this 
morning and passed by unanimous agreement a protest resolution and 
written statement calling on the U.S. and Japanese governments to 
take steps to prevent a recurrence, apologize, and pay compensation. 
Governor HIrokazu Nakaima in a reply to the prefectural assembly 
made his first statement since the incident in which he expressed 
his view of seeking a drastic revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of 
Forces Agreement (SOFA). 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer in the afternoon visited Governor 
Nakaima at his prefectural office and stated: "I feel it was 
regrettable that this kind of incident has occurred. My heart goes 
out to the girl and her family who have suffered." He entrusted the 
governor with a letter addressed to the victim and her family. 
 
Governor Nakaima at the prefectural assembly stated: "In resolving 
these sorts of problems centered on the U.S. bases, it is not enough 
just to improve the application of the Japan-U.S. SOFA, which gives 
the U.S. side a free hand. There must be a drastic revision of it." 
 
(2) Okinawa engulfed in anger over rape of 14-year-old schoolgirl by 
U.S. Marine 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
February 13, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00000385  002 OF 009 
 
 
 
Possible adverse effect on U.S. base realignment 
 
The alleged rape of a 14-year-old schoolgirl by a U.S. Marine last 
Sunday in the town of Chatan in Okinawa has heightened anti-base 
sentiment across the country amid the ongoing realignment of U.S. 
forces in Japan. As was the case with the September 1995 rape 
incident, there is a possibility that the latest incident will 
adversely affect the planned realignment of U.S. bases, including 
the relocation of Futenma Air Station. The government is desperately 
trying to keep the rape incident separate from the base-relocation 
issue. 
 
"If the incident had occurred during the election campaign period, a 
severe result would have naturally come out." 
 
The comment came from the mouth of an officer of the camp of 
Yoshihiko Fukuda, 37, who won the Feb. 10 Iwakuni mayoral election 
in Yamaguchi Prefecture by a margin of only 1,782 votes. Fukuda is a 
proponent of the relocation of a U.S. carrier-based air wing to the 
U.S. base in the city. A senior Defense Ministry official, too, 
commented: "It gives me a chill just to imagine the incident had 
occurred a day earlier. The outcome would have been completely 
different." 
 
The comments by the two persons indicate that to municipalities 
hosting U.S. bases, incidents involving U.S. servicemen are serious 
enough to affect the will of local voters. 
 
Although incidents involving U.S. servicemen are not confined to 
Okinawa, the situation in the prefecture, which hosts the bulk of 
U.S. bases in Japan, is particularly serious. Anger over the latest 
incident is quickly spreading in the prefecture. It has been 13 
years since the 1995 schoolgirl rape incident that led to the 
consolidation and reduction of U.S. bases, including a return of 
Futenma Air Station. 
 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima on the morning of Feb. 11 after the 
incident came to light said glumly: "The prefecture was hit by 
another incident, which should never have occurred. Naturally, it 
will negatively affect the sentiment of the Okinawa public.". 
 
At the same time, the governor indicated that it would not directly 
affect the Futenma relocation plan, for which talks are underway 
with the central government. 
 
Although Nakaima is at odds with the government over the relocation 
site in Nago for Futenma Air Station, he supports the realignment of 
U.S. forces in Okinawa, believing it will help reduce U.S. bases in 
the prefecture. Nakaima is apparently trying to stem the mounting 
anti-base sentiment by presenting the view that the alleged sexual 
assault and the realignment plan are two different matters. A senior 
prefectural official noted: "The governor really does not want to 
see the rape incident take a toll on the realignment issue." 
 
A protest movement is steadily spreading in Okinawa, however. The 
Naha City Assembly adopted a protest resolution yesterday. The 
prefectural assembly is expected to adopt a resolution tomorrow. 
Other municipalities are likely to follow suit. Many civic groups 
and labor unions released statements of protest or staged protest 
rallies yesterday. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000385  003 OF 009 
 
 
Reformist prefectural assemblyman Chosei Taira suggested the 
possibility of holding a nonpartisan prefectural rally. The Liberal 
Democratic Party Okinawa chapter holds the key to holding such a 
rally. Secretary General Tetsuji Shingaki took this view: "Although 
the latest incident is a despicable crime, it is different from the 
1995 incident. There has been no talk of a prefectural rally, 
either." 
 
University of the Ryukyus Professor Jun Shimabukuro said: "In 1995, 
reformist Governor Masahide Ota was at the helm of the prefectural 
government. The political situation was different from today, when 
LDP-backed Nakaima is at the helm. Iwakuni, too, has a new mayor who 
supports the relocation plan. The government will probably advance 
the U.S. force realignment plan irrespective of Okinawa's wishes." 
 
Government draws line between incident and Futenma plan 
 
On the morning of Feb. 11, the day after the incident, the Foreign 
Ministry requested the U.S. Embassy in Japan to take steps to 
prevent a recurrence and strengthen discipline among U.S. military 
personnel. In a cabinet meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Fukuda 
also ordered the cabinet ministers to respond carefully to the 
incident. For the sake of the planned Futenma relocation, the 
government definitely wants to avoid a rehash of an outcry in 
Okinawa that followed the 1995 rape incident. 
 
The government is also pressed to give consideration to the 
sentiment of people in Okinawa as well as to relations with the 
United States. Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba after the cabinet 
meeting yesterday expressed his anger by saying, "The incident 
concerns the foundation of the Japan-U.S. alliance," adding, "But 
the incident and the Futenma relocation are two separate subjects." 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States agreed in May 2006 to 
complete building a Futenma replacement facility by 2014. On 
subsequent occasions, such as the Japan-U.S. summit last November, 
the two governments have confirmed the implementation of the 
agreement. 
 
Ishiba denied the possibility of moving up the Futenma relocation 
plan, saying: "There are many base burdens. It is not appropriate to 
think that Futenma Air Station must be relocated early (because of 
the latest incident)." Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura also 
underlined the importance of the bilateral agreement, noting: 
"Aircraft using Futenma Air fly over residential areas. It is best 
to relocate the air station as planned." 
 
The environment surrounding the government today is totally 
different from that in 1995. Following the rape incident that year, 
the coalition government of the LDP, Social Democratic Party of 
Japan, and New Party Sakigake (Harbingers) launched the Special 
Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) to discuss ways to consolidate 
and reduce U.S. bases in Okinawa. Then Governor Masahide Ota 
demanded all U.S. bases, including Futenma, be returned in steps by 
¶2015. The Okinawa issue became a top priority for the 
administration. An agreement was eventually reached in April 1996 
between then U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale and Prime 
Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto to return Futenma Air Station. 
 
In the meantime, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura recently quoted 
Governor Nakaima as saying that (the rape incident) would not 
directly affect the Futenma plan. The government sees Okinawa's 
 
TOKYO 00000385  004 OF 009 
 
 
cooperative stance as a favorable wind blowing its direction. The 
largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan is not opposed to U.S. 
force realignment, either. The Okinawa issue is unlikely to be a 
point of dispute for Lower House dissolution. DPJ President Ichiro 
Ozawa simply said yesterday: "Tokyo might not have discussed (U.S. 
force realignment) with Washington on an equal footing. Questions 
will be raised about the reality of the Japan-U.S. alliance." 
 
(3) Gov't desperate to calm down situation 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 13, 2008 
 
In the wake of an Okinawa-based U.S. serviceman's rape of a junior 
high school girl, the government was quick to move, desperately 
trying to calm down the situation, with the suspect denying his 
alleged rape. That is partly because the government wanted to avoid 
repercussions on the planned realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, 
including the relocation of Futenma airfield. However, there is no 
knowing if the government's quick action will lead to effective 
steps for the prevention of a recurrence and for the enforcement of 
discipline. Meanwhile, the incident this time took place in 
connection with the U.S. serviceman living in off-base housing. 
Local residents are therefore feeling uneasy about U.S. servicemen 
living outside their bases. 
 
"Never again." "It will seriously affect Japan-U.S. relations." 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, Defense Minister Shjigeru Ishiba, 
and other government leaders voiced their indignation when they met 
the press yesterday following the incident. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura hurriedly announced 
yesterday that the government would send Senior Vice Foreign 
Minister Itsunori Onodera to Okinawa. It was "unusually quick 
action," according to a Foreign Ministry official. 
 
What concerns the government is a potential impact on the relocation 
of Futenma airfield. In 1995, U.S. servicemen gang-raped a local 
schoolgirl. That incident developed into struggles all over Okinawa 
Prefecture against U.S. military bases. 
 
"At that time," a senior official of the Defense Ministry recalled, 
"the government was late in taking action." This official went on, 
"That intensified the local people's anger." The official added, "I 
don't want to see that again." Another senior official of the 
Defense Ministry said: "If (Okinawa Prefecture's) Governor Hirokazu 
Nakaima changes his mind and calls for the U.S. military to get out 
of Okinawa as soon as possible, then the government will have to 
give up. The incident is so serious." 
 
"We want to prevent the flames from spreading," a senior official of 
the Defense Ministry. So does the U.S. military. "At the time of the 
1995 incident, the Okinawa area coordinator of the U.S. forces in 
Okinawa called on the governor one week after that incident. The 
rest is up to your judgment, though." The Foreign Ministry's Okinawa 
office provided this information to the U.S. military. U.S. Okinawa 
Area Coordinator Zilmer suddenly paid a call on Gov. Nakaima 
yesterday evening. The government had moved so quickly. The sudden 
visit surprised Nakaima. "I was thinking of going over there," 
Nakaima said. "But," he added, "they came first." 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and other government leaders, meeting 
 
TOKYO 00000385  005 OF 009 
 
 
the press yesterday, suggested the need to take further steps for 
the enforcement of discipline and for the prevention of a 
recurrence. However, they did not talk about any specific plan. 
"This is the best the government can do in its quick action," one 
government official admitted. "As for the rest," this official 
presumes, "the government will have to watch public opinion." With 
this, the official also implied that the government's quick move 
could end up as an appeal to keep down the local sentiment. 
 
The incident this time broke out in connection with a U.S. 
serviceman who lived in an off-base house. Chatan Town Mayor 
Masaharu Noguni, in his request to the government yesterday, also 
expressed local anxieties about U.S. servicemen living outside their 
bases. 
 
Noguni told Okinawa Defense Bureau Director General Ro Manabe: 
"There are many houses for foreigners, so the local residents are 
feeling very uneasy while thinking that U.S. soldiers like him are 
in the neighborhood. There are quite many foreigners living in the 
Sunabe area of Chatan Town, so the anxieties (of local communities) 
are growing strong." 
 
In point of fact, however, it is hard to find out the actual number 
of U.S. servicemen living in off-base houses. "They have no resident 
registration, so we can't grasp the actual situation." So saying, 
Noguni looked downhearted. 
 
(4) Main points from meeting between Gov. Nakaima, U.S. Okinawa Area 
Coordinator Zilmer 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
February 13, 2008 
 
U.S. Forces' Okinawa Area Coordinator Zilmer: I really deplore the 
incident that was directed at the girl. I'm worried about how much 
the hearts of victimized girl and her family have been hurt. We 
sincerely take the incident this time and will continue to fully 
cooperate on the Okinawa Police Station's investigations. We will 
give instructions and educational programs to the Marines from 
tomorrow, not only in Okinawa but also all over Japan, about morals, 
including the basic values. This week, we will also educate all the 
Marines under my command. I want Okinawa Prefecture's people and the 
Japanese people to understand that an incident like the one this 
time is contrary to the military personnel's essential values. 
 
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima: I feel that an incident like this has 
happened again, and I think it is extremely regrettable. If an 
incident like this continues, the Okinawa prefectural people's anger 
will reach its peak, and it may seriously affect base issues in the 
future. I want the United States to further enforce discipline and 
educate the Marines in a thoroughgoing way so that such an incident 
will never happen again, and I want you to make all-out efforts to 
prevent a recurrence. The incident is an extremely outrageous crime 
that tramples down women's human rights. I feel strong indignation, 
considering the fact that the victim is a junior high school 
student. 
 
Consul General Maher: On behalf of the U.S. government, I think that 
the incident this time is extremely regrettable. The U.S. government 
also takes it sincerely. In addition, I also feel sympathy for the 
victim and family. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000385  006 OF 009 
 
 
Gov. Nakaima: I hope the United States will thoroughly carry out 
what we've talked about today. 
 
(5) Somewhat dubious about groups clamoring against U.S. and U.S. 
bases 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
February 13, 2008 
 
Nobuaki Hanaoka 
 
A disgusting incident has taken place again. A U.S. Marine stationed 
in Okinawa allegedly raped a schoolgirl. 
 
The authorities concerned need to shed light on the incident and 
should condemn this crime. As a matter of course, this Marine will 
be given a severe punishment. No matter how much he tries, he can 
never make up for the crime he committed because a 14-year-old girl 
will suffer the damage he caused to her during the rest of her 
life. 
 
Keeping all this in mind, I still need to write that it is 
understandable for locals to take the incident this time as a 
recurrence of the 1995 rape incident that involved an elementary 
school girl and U.S. servicemen, but that there is something dubious 
about anti-U.S. and anti-base groups that are now in high spirits, 
apparently encouraged by the incident. 
 
If they use the incident as a political tool, their attitude would 
be taken as lacking consideration for the victim. 
 
The freedom of speech may allow them to loudly shout in chorus, "The 
U.S. forces should leave here." But if they do so, they need to be 
responsible for what they say. Needless to say, Japan relies on 
America's "nuclear umbrella" for its national security. If they call 
on the U.S. forces to withdraw from Japan, they then need to insist 
that Japan nuclear-arm itself; otherwise the security environment 
around Japan would drastically shift. 
 
The military situation in East Asia could become tense if a power 
vacuum emerges there. Who would then chuckle to himself? We need to 
consider this point when we discuss security policy in a sober and 
pragmatic manner. 
 
This incident may give heads of municipalities and assembly members 
in Okinawa an opportunity to sit on the fence again in dealing with 
the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma Air Station. The only 
way for Okinawa to follow would be to co-exist with the bases for 
co-prosperity. They are fully aware of this but they have failed to 
devote themselves body and soul to realizing that. 
 
One decade has already passed since the Japan-U.S. Special Action 
Committee on Okinawa (SACO) announced that the site of the Futenma 
base would be returned to Japan, and that the base's heliport would 
be relocated somewhere. Japan and the U.S. have agreed on a plan to 
relocate the heliport to somewhere around Camp Schwab, but there has 
been no progress so far in terms of coordination with locals on the 
relocation issue. 
 
Some segments of the media are reporting on the incident in a highly 
emotional and hysterical fashion. This way of reporting is difficult 
to understand. The incident is one thing but security is another. 
 
TOKYO 00000385  007 OF 009 
 
 
Journalism should not forget the crucial importance of the 
Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
(6) Discord between Ozawa and Hatoyama propelled by Ozawa's skipping 
override vote in Lower House plenary session 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 9, 2008 
 
The troika system of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ or Minshuto) appears to be shaking. Propelled by President 
Ichiro Ozawa having skipped an override vote in a House of 
Representatives plenary session, there is discord between Ozawa and 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama. Non-mainstream lawmakers, who had 
 
SIPDIS 
remained silent, have begun to move into action with an eye on the 
political situation after the September party leadership race and an 
expected dissolution of the Lower House followed by anelections. 
 
On the night of Feb. 5 at a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo, Kyocera 
Honorary Chairman Kazuo Inamori told Ozawa, Hatoyama, Naoto Kan, 
deputy president of the DPJ, and DPJ Upper House Caucus Chairman 
Azuma Koshiishi: "I want you to remain on good terms whatever 
happens in order to take over the reins of government." Inamori is 
known as a strong supporter of Ozawa. Hatoyama, thinking that 
Inamori spoke for Ozawa, said to persons close to him: "We have 
tried to protect Mr. Ozawa, but ..." He said that as if Ozawa was 
the person who was spoiling the harmony. 
 
Inamori had to use the wording "remain on good terms" because Ozawa 
and Hatoyama have been at odds since the beginning of this year. 
 
Hatoyama criticized Ozawa for skipping an override vote on the 
special measures bill to resume Japan's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean and for going to Osaka to support the DPJ-backed 
candidate running in the Osaka gubernatorial election. He said: 
"(Ozawa) should offer an apology to the public." He again made a 
critical comment: "(His skipping the vote) came under criticism from 
the public. It is one of the reasons for (the defeat)." 
 
Ozawa then said: "I don't know what the secretary general said. As 
the party head, I make my own priorities about my own duties. He 
expressed his annoyance with Hatoyama, saying: "I don't know what 
the secretary general said. I don't think that (my abstaining from 
voting) affected (the result of the election)." 
 
It was also unveiled that their communication was not good as to 
whether they would attend the Davos Conference. Regarding a battle 
at the Diet over a stopgap bill to retain the provisional tax rates, 
Hatoyama worked for an agreement between the ruling and opposition 
camps through the good offices of the leaders of the two Diet 
houses. Ozawa, who had urged a settlement of the Diet battle, 
however, said: "I'm not the person in charge since I did not look 
into the contents of the agreement and did not order it." 
 
Hatoyama has supported Ozawa even when distrust of him grew in the 
party over the notion of forming a grand coalition with the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Hatoyama's aide described the 
feelings of Hatoyama as the eruption of piled-up anger. 
 
Moves by non-Ozawa group 
 
The moves of Hatoyama could affect the political dynamics in the 
 
TOKYO 00000385  008 OF 009 
 
 
DPJ. 
 
Recently, moves by a non-Ozawa force have become noticeable. Yoshito 
Sengoku, former policy chief, who made a candid remark about the 
grand coalition uproar, visited South Korea from Feb. 10 as a 
suprapartisan group member along with Taku Yamasaki and Koichi Kato 
of the LDP. The suprapartisan group includes Yukio Edano, Sakihito 
Ozawa, Takashi Doi, and Renho, who have close ties with Sengoku, 
Hatoyama, Kan and Yoshihiko Noda. 
 
There is a view in the DPJ that the participation in the 
suprapartisan group by Sengoku and Edano alone would have 
underscored an anti-Ozawa tinge. Kan has emphasized that the Seoul 
visit is a diplomatic purpose. He said: "It is desirable to build 
channels of communication to South Korea. The visit to South Korea 
by nonpartisan Diet members is a good option." However, a view still 
remains that the move will become an encircling net of Ozawa in the 
presidential election. 
 
Hatoyama along with former LDP Secretary General Taro Aso 
participated in a nonpartisan group to aim at computerization of 
administrative procedure drew attention. His participation drew 
attention. In a press conference on Feb. 8, Hatoyama said: "Joint 
activities by ruling and opposition members tend to prompt all sorts 
of conjectures. However, there is no concern about (the visit to 
South Korea). We will take over the reins of government under the 
leadership of President Ozawa." He, meanwhile, showed understanding 
toward the idea of fielding candidates against Ozawa in the 
presidential race, saying: "I think conducting a leadership race is 
a necessary process." 
 
DPJ lawmakers close to Ozawa are frustrated with words and actions 
by Hatoyama and other members. One lawmaker said: "It is desirable 
that Ozawa will be reelected without going through an election. But 
there are more factors in the party that worry us than outside the 
party." 
 
(7) Difficulty expected in determining plan on new entity tasked 
with supervising consumer affairs policies due to protest from 
government agencies 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
February 13, 2008 
 
The government's Council for Promoting Consumer Policy was launched 
yesterday, in accordance with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's goal of 
unifying consumer administrative functions. The panel was 
established earlier than initially scheduled in the aftermath of the 
recent food-poisoning outbreak involving Chinese-made frozen 
dumplings. Various plans regarding a new entity tasked with 
supervising consumer affairs policy are already on the table, and 
each has good and bad points. It will not be easy to pick one from 
among them. In the Chinese food-poisoning case, the government was 
slow to take countermeasures. Mapping out measures to prevent a slow 
response is another task for the panel. But government agencies 
involved in the plan are expected to put up resistance, so the panel 
may fail to produce actual results. 
 
"Looking at all of you, I feel that a good result has already been 
made," the prime minister said in the first meeting of the council 
yesterday. The prime minister indicated his confidence in his 
personnel selection for the panel. 
 
TOKYO 00000385  009 OF 009 
 
 
 
Consumer administrative functions are now split among 10 government 
agencies, including the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Health, 
Labor and Welfare (MHLW), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry 
and Fisheries. Relevant laws, such as the Food Sanitation Law and 
the JAS Law, are under the jurisdiction of different government 
agencies. Some critics point out the harmful effect of the 
vertically fragmented system of administration. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's research council on consumer affairs 
issued its interim report this January as a basis for discussion on 
a new entity. Specifically, the panel proposed these three plans: 
(1) Create a consumer agency as the control tower for the relevant 
government agencies; (2) upgrade the Cabinet Office's Quality of 
Life Policy Bureau to an administrative committee with strong 
authority; and (3) beef up the functions of the said bureau and the 
National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan. 
 
The first plan has the merit of creating a consulting office for 
consumers to pour out their complaints. On the other hand, 
government agencies that could lose their power are expected to 
raise objections. Fearing this possibility, the LDP gave 
consideration to each government agency in drafting its plan, 
noting: "The new plan should be premised on maintaining the current 
system of each government agency." There is the possibility that the 
new agency could be an extra body. 
 
A senior government official said: "The prime minister may not be 
able to maintain his dignity" if no other measures are taken than 
beefing up the function of the Quality of Life Policy Bureau. The 
official indicated that only with a small-scale reform plan, 
questions might be raised about the prime minister's eagerness. 
 
The most likely idea on a new body in the LDP research panel is the 
plan of upgrading the Cabinet Office's bureau to an administrative 
committee. A senior official of the Cabinet Office said: "The 
current authorities supervising consumer affairs, such the Ministry 
of Economy, Trade and Industry, hold enormous sway over industrial 
circles, so such authorities naturally should be utilized." In this 
case, the main question is what to do about integrating their 
policymaking functions. 
 
In the Chinese dumpling scare, it took more than a month until the 
information on damage that had been reported to local police 
stations and the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan was 
relayed to the MHLW. The new panel will also discuss how to unify 
consumer counseling services. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda appointed State Minister in Charge of People's 
Life Fumio Kishida, who now takes the lead in dealing with the 
Chinese food-poisoning case, as minister responsible for promoting 
consumer affairs administration, based on the view that "the lessons 
learned in this case should be reflected in discussion on a new 
consumer affairs agency," according to a close aide to the prime 
minister. Even so, since the details of the incident are under 
investigation, no progress has been made in discussing measures to 
prevent a recurrence. 
 
SCHIEFFER