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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8705

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000597 
 
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 03/06/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Aso proposes a "redefinition" of the Japan-U.S. alliance in 
speech at Ocean symposium (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Government launches discussion on emissions-trading system under 
Kantei, with eye on G-8 Summit (Yomiuri) 
 
(3) Global warming greenhouse gas emissions cut according to 
industrial sector: Government to present to UN set of proposals for 
post-Kyoto Protocol framework (Nikkei) 
 
(4) Toying with nomination of BOJ governor an act of folly (Nikkei) 
 
(5) Editorial: Is that the way to protect nature by attacking a 
whaler? (Mainichi) 
 
(6) Okinawan people's rally to protest crimes committed by U.S. 
servicemen: Prefectural Assembly not to take part due to incomplete 
deliberations on petition by U.S. military bases committee (Ryukyu 
Shimpo) 
 
(7) Sex crime rate up 24 PERCENT  in U.S. military, 2,947 incidents 
reported: Pentagon (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(8) Okinawa Human Rights Association protests series of crimes 
committed by U.S. military personnel (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(Corrected copy): Poll: 44 PERCENT  hope for DPJ victory in next 
general election (Mainichi) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Aso proposes a "redefinition" of the Japan-U.S. alliance in 
speech at Ocean symposium 
 
Yomiuri Online (Full) 
March 6, 2008, 12:30 
 
(Nagahara, Washington) 
 
A symposium titled "The Japan-U.S. Sea Power Dialogue" started in 
Washington on the evening of March 5, local time, to discuss how 
Japan and the U.S. should cooperate in dealing with such ocean 
issues as vicious assaults by privates, smuggling of weapons and 
drugs, as well as disputes between nations over vested interests. 
The symposium is held for three days under the co-sponsorship of the 
Ocean Policy Research Foundation and the Center for a New American 
Security, with the support of Yomiuri Shimbun). 
 
Delivering a speech in the symposium, former Foreign Minister Taro 
Aso of the Liberal Democratic Party said: "We are in the era of 
increasing uncertainty in the ocean," citing disputes over vested 
interests. He then proposed that in order to properly deal with 
various marine problems, the two major sea powers in the Pacific 
Ocean - Japan and the U.S. - should "redefine" their alliance and 
aim at forming an "integrated sea power." 
 
As specific measures to redefine the Japan-U.S. alliance, Aso 
suggested that the two countries should share their knowledge about 
marine science, natural resource development, and environmental 
protection, in addition to conventional cooperation on the military 
 
TOKYO 00000597  002 OF 010 
 
 
front, and also strengthen cooperation at the private-sector level. 
He also emphasized that Japan and the U.S. should take the lead in 
forming a cooperative structure that also includes such countries as 
India and Australia. 
 
In the debate session, Michael Green, former senior director for 
Asian affairs at the National Security Council (NSC), referred to 
the temporary suspension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, and stressed the need for 
Japan to make efforts to be able to continue its mission even after 
the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law loses effect next 
January. Aso said: "It is Japan's responsibility to prevent the same 
thing from happening again." 
 
(2) Government launches discussion on emissions-trading system under 
Kantei, with eye on G-8 Summit 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 6, 2008 
 
The government called the first meeting of a council of experts 
tasked with discussing global warming at the Prime Minister's Office 
(Kantei) yesterday. In it, the government launched a discussion to 
chart a strategy to fight global warming under the Kantei in 
preparations for the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido (G-8 Summit), in 
which environmental issues will take center stage. The panel is 
expected to hold in-depth discussions on whether Japan should create 
an emissions-trading system, like the European Union (EU). 
 
The government set up the council as an advisory panel to Prime 
Minister Fukuda to help him take the initiative in addressing the 
issue of global warming. 
 
The panel is composed of 12 members, including representatives from 
the electricity and steel industries, both of which are major 
greenhouse gas emitters, and academics. Former Nippon Keidanren 
(Japan Business Federation) Chairman Hiroshi Okuda, senior advisor 
to Toyota Motor Corp., assumed the chairmanship by the 
recommendation of the prime minister. The appointment was based on 
the judgment that "Mr. Okuda has great influence in economic 
circles, which holds the key to promoting measures against global 
warming," noted an official in the Kantei. 
 
The panel is apparently aiming to draw attention from the public, in 
a sense, as shown by putting in Junko Edahiro, who translated An 
Inconvenient Truth, a book authored by former Vice President Al 
Gore. 
 
In the first meeting, the prime minister said: "Since this is an 
issue that will affect the lifestyles of the people, I want you to 
conduct discussions in a way understandable to the public." High on 
the agenda in the panel are: (1) specific measures to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions; and (2) international cooperation to 
reduce worldwide gas emissions. 
 
On whether to introduce an emissions-trading system, a tug-of-war is 
going on between the Environment Ministry, which is eager about the 
system, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which is 
calling for a cautious approach. In its next session in early April, 
the panel will intensively discuss this issue. 
 
Chairman Okuda indicated in a press conference after the first 
 
TOKYO 00000597  003 OF 010 
 
 
meeting that Japan should set out a direction by the time of the G-8 
Summit, citing the efforts being made by the EU and the U.S. 
 
In the meeting, however, Nippon Steel Corp. President Akio Mimura 
said: "Forming a post-Kyoto framework (beyond the 2012 expiration of 
the protocol) should come first before discussion on an 
emissions-trading system," indicating a cautious view. The panel 
will also discuss the innovation of technologies to bring about a 
low carbon society as proposed by Prime Minister Fukuda in the World 
Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos in January. In the meeting 
yesterday, participants decided to establish a subcommittee to 
discuss the challenge of forming environmental model cities and a 
low-carbon society, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas 
emissions by using such natural energy as sunlight and wind power. 
 
Continued talks needed to reduce gas emissions 
 
(Commentary) 
 
The Kyoto Protocol obligates industrialized countries to cut 
greenhouse gas emissions during the 2008-2012 timeframe. However, 
the U.S., the world's largest emitter of global warming gases, is 
outside this framework. In addition, China is not required to reduce 
its gas emissions. 
 
Unless a post-Kyoto framework involves all major gas emitters, it 
will be difficult to effectively contain global warming. It is now 
significant to set up a Lake Toya process and continue discussions. 
 
A preparatory period is needed for each nation, so in order to 
introduce a new climate regime in 2013, the goal is to conclude an 
agreement by the end of 2009. The main stage for the negotiations 
will be the next session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to 
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. An annual 
COP session brings together the environment ministers of about 190 
countries, so it is not easy to solicit agreement on any issues. 
 
About 20 countries - such emerging countries as China and India, 
both of which are becoming major gas emitters, South Korea, 
Indonesia and other countries, besides the Group of Eight countries 
- have discharged about 80 PERCENT  of total gas emissions across 
the world. Forming an agreement among them might be a shortcut to 
bringing about an agreement in the COP. Specific tasks will be 
discussed at the G-8 environment ministerial in May and other 
meetings. Japan's leadership will be tested in such meetings. 
 
(3) Global warming greenhouse gas emissions cut according to 
industrial sector: Government to present to UN set of proposals for 
post-Kyoto Protocol framework 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 6, 2008 
 
The government will submit as early as this week a set of proposals 
on talks to create a new framework for cutting global warming 
greenhouse gas emissions to be adopted starting in 2013, replacing 
the Kyoto Protocol.  One proposal is to adopt, when working out a 
country-specific goal for greenhouse gas emissions cuts, a method of 
calculating amounts of global warming greenhouse gas emissions that 
each industrial sector, such as the steel and power industries, can 
cut and then add them up according to sector -- the so-called 
bottom-up method. It will also ask the UN to set up a taskforce to 
 
TOKYO 00000597  004 OF 010 
 
 
examine the proposed calculation method. The government will aim at 
securing leadership in post-Kyoto Protocol framework talks. 
 
This proposal is the embodiment of a set of measures to combat 
climate change, which Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda revealed at the 
World Economic Forum (Davos Conference) in January. The government 
will present this proposal to the UN Framework Convention on Climate 
Change as early as this week. It wants to set the direction to a 
certain degree by gaining support from the G-8 participants in the 
July summit. 
 
The showcase of the set of proposals Japan will make is the 
bottom-up method of working out a country-by-country goal of 
achieving greenhouse gas emissions cuts by totaling the emissions 
amount that can be achieved by each industrial sector. 
Sector-specific goals would be set for about eight sectors and 
fields, including the large energy-consumer industry, such as 
chemical and cement industries, and the livelihood-connected sector, 
such as households and offices. The upper limit of emissions would 
be set with each sector's production volume and the degree of its 
introduction of energy-saving technology into consideration. 
 
Since the Kyoto Protocol has mandated all industry sectors to 
uniformly cut carbon dioxide emissions, industrial circles were 
strongly discontent, noting that industries that are highly advanced 
in terms of energy conservation are disadvantageous, because room 
for additional cuts for them is small. Japan's proposal this time 
has given consideration for such opinion. 
 
Regarding the new method, the government will seek the establishment 
of a subcommittee consisting of private-sector companies, such as 
utility companies, and experts of the International Energy Agency 
(IEA), under the post-Kyoto Protocol negotiations working group. The 
proposed panel would be responsible for working out a concrete 
method and schedule. 
 
The government's proposals will also include moving the amount of 
global warming greenhouse gas emissions into the minus column over 
the next 10 to 20 years as well as to improve the world's energy 
efficiency by 30 PERCENT  by 2020. In order to have developing 
countries cut greenhouse gas emissions, it will also propose 
categorizing developing countries into those that need assistance 
from industrialized countries and those that do not need such 
assistance.  Another proposal is sharing a long-term goal of halving 
the world's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and international 
cooperation for environmental technologies. 
 
(4) Toying with nomination of BOJ governor an act of folly 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
March 6, 2008 
 
By Naoaki Okabe, Nikkei executive editor 
 
Under the divided Diet, Japan remains unable to determine who the 
next Bank of Japan governor will be. Governor Toshihiko Fukui's term 
of office expires in less than two weeks at a time when global 
financial markets are in turmoil. This unusual situation could 
undermine Japan's international credibility. The question of 
nominating the next BOJ governor must be resolved early by 
separating it from politics. Doing so is the responsibility of all 
lawmakers. 
 
TOKYO 00000597  005 OF 010 
 
 
 
What would happen if the post of the BOJ governor remains unfilled? 
With the deadline just around the corner, we are now forced to give 
serious thought to a worst-case scenario. The government first 
presents its personnel plan, then comes a hearing of views of the 
nominated governor and deputy governors, followed by votes in 
plenary sessions of both chambers of the Diet. A set of Diet 
procedures takes time. 
 
Needless to say, vacancy in the governorship is not envisaged under 
the Bank of Japan Law (TN: sic). Although the law requires the 
executive directors to perform the governor's duties when the posts 
of the governor and deputy governors are vacant, views are split 
over the scope of duties to be performed by the executive directors, 
such as whether they are allowed to vote in policy board meetings. 
 
Without the governor, the BOJ would become dysfunctional. We are 
especially concerned that the BOJ will be left out of the circle of 
international cooperation among central banks, which is increasingly 
important in dealing with the global financial crisis originated 
from the United States, and that the BOJ will become a drag on 
international efforts to overcome difficulties. 
 
The United States might slip into recession due to a decline in 
consumer spending following the subprime crisis. Combined with 
soaring oil prices, its economy might even fall into stagflation. 
 
Although such economies as China and India still remain strong, if 
the Unites States fails to stem the crisis, a chain of crises might 
expand. 
 
Japan is the hardest hit by the world crisis combined with the 
weakening dollar. The Japanese stock market has exhibited the 
largest decline although the country's losses from the subprime 
mortgage have been small. Such results seem to reflect the serious 
political risks of Japan, which remains unable to determine the new 
BOJ governor. 
 
It is certain that other countries find it difficult to understand 
the bickering over the appointment of the new BOJ governor. The 
Democratic Party of Japan is opposed to the government's personnel 
plan based on the argument that fiscal policy must be separated form 
monetary policy, which was prevalent in the era of the former 
Finance Ministry. The matter was settled with the establishment of 
the Financial Services Agency. 
 
The independence of the central bank has significantly increased 
with the amended Bank of Japan Law. The law's Article 4 urges the 
BOJ to always maintain close contact with the government in order to 
keep its currency and monetary policy in harmony with the 
government's economic policy. The independence of currency and 
monetary policy goes hand in hand with cooperation with the 
government. 
 
Successful candidates must have a comprehensive knowledge of the 
market with strong international credibility. Internationally, 
former senior Finance Ministry officials seem to fit the job. For 
instance, European Central Bank Governor Trichet of France was 
director of the Treasury Department and former Deutsche Bundesbank 
President Tietmeyer was a Finance Ministry official. In addition, 
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Volcker was also a former Treasury 
Department bureaucrat. 
 
TOKYO 00000597  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
At this point, the ruling and opposition camps must return to the 
"starting point" and think hard about the significance of the 
central bank. Having the central bank that is independent and highly 
dependable is a basic requirement for any mature nation. A huge 
capital inflow into the United States beset with an enormous deficit 
owed much to international confidence in former FRB Chairman 
Greenspan. Deutsche Bundesbank worked so hard to bring stability to 
the value of currency that people said that anyone criticizing the 
bank would be criticized. 
 
The central bank that is truly dependable is an invaluable national 
asset. Today, central banks are in a race of trustworthiness. 
Competitiveness also increases with attractiveness to overseas 
capital. Forging the trustworthiness of the central bank takes not 
only efforts by itself but also by all people, including lawmakers. 
Lawmakers are toying with the appointment of a new central bank 
governor, which is simply an act of folly. 
 
(5) Editorial: Is that the way to protect nature by attacking a 
whaler? 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 5, 2008 
 
Crew members of the Sea Shepherd, the ship of an anti-whaling group 
from America, threw bottles of chemicals from their vessel onto the 
Japanese whaling research ship Nisshin Maru in the Southern Ocean, 
injuring three crew members. Although the Japan Coast Guard has 
begun an investigation into the incident as a case of forcefully 
hindering the crews duties and inflicting bodily harm, the captain 
of the Sea Shepherd has said that the crew will continue its 
activities. 
 
It goes without saying that used of force on the open sea is 
tantamount to terrorism and piracy. Both the Japanese government and 
the international community must not overlook such an inhumane act 
and should take effective measures. The government should not just 
file a pro forma protest and express its displeasure. 
 
The incident involves the question of the international legal order 
and the safety of human lives. That should be resolved before 
discussing whether whaling should be allowed or not. We can never 
condone any act of violence regardless of the views behind them. 
 
What is alarming is that these kinds of obstructionist groups often 
intend their performances in order to be provocative and appeal to 
their supporters. The environment group wants to turn the research 
ship's resistance and evasive action into an attack by the vessel on 
their members. 
 
For example, Sea Shepherd members hurled bottles of chemicals into 
the whale research vessel Yushin Maru No. 2 and two activists who 
intruded into the Japanese ship were temporarily in custody there. 
The Sea Shepherd then claimed that the Japanese research vessel had 
taken the two members as hostages. 
 
The JCG has maritime safety officials aboard the whale research 
ships for the purpose of grasp the situation by gathering 
information when research ships are attacked, as well as to preserve 
evidence. Such will be key to the investigation of this case. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000597  007 OF 010 
 
 
In order to prevent a recurrence, it is necessary to build a 
framework of international opposition to and criticism of such 
illegal activist groups. Without such an effort, there will be a 
repeat of escalating attacks by such organizations. Expressing 
strong anger toward the recent incident, the Japanese government 
urged Australia, which allows the Sea Shepherd vessel to visit its 
ports, and the Netherlands, which allows the vessel to use its 
nationality, to take tough response toward the Sea Shepherd's acts. 
Although the Australian government is a strong opponent of Japan's 
whaling program, its foreign minister released a statement, which 
said: "Australia strongly condemns actions by crew members of any 
vessel that cause injury to anyone on the high seas." 
 
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) member countries have yet 
to reach a consensus (on the question of whether to permit 
scientific whaling). But no IWC member allows violent disturbances. 
Some anti-whaling countries, though, are believed to indirectly 
support anti-whaling organizations. 
 
We stress that we are not criticizing the Sea Shepherd in order to 
deny the anti-whalers their arguments. We just can never condone 
even indirect support by any anti-whaling country for organizations 
that commit violence. 
 
The Japanese government, too, needs to probe into its own argument 
in detail and make better efforts to have anti-whaling countries 
understand it. Needless to say, the onus is on Tokyo to make further 
efforts to reach a compromise solution, while listening to the views 
of the anti-whaling countries. The IWC annual convention will take 
place in early the summer in Chile. Japan will host the Group of 
Eight summit in July at the Lake Toya resort area in Hokkaido. 
Attention will be focused on Japan's views even more than ever. 
 
(6) Okinawan people's rally to protest crimes committed by U.S. 
servicemen: Prefectural Assembly not to take part due to incomplete 
deliberations on petition by U.S. military bases committee 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
March 6, 2008 
 
The U.S. Military Base-related Special Committee (chaired by Seiichi 
Oyakawa) of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly yesterday held a 
meeting and delivered a petition for holding an Okinawan people's 
rally to protest sexual assaults by U.S. servicemen. The panel 
stopped short of reaching a conclusion. It will once again hold a 
meeting to deliberate on the petition. The likelihood is, however, 
another deliberations will not be held before March 23, when the 
rally is slated to be held. The Prefectural Assembly will likely 
skipping the rally without holding another deliberations on the 
request. 
 
Winding up the committee meeting, Oyakawa indicated his view that it 
would be impossible to hold another committee meeting, unless there 
are prospects for the request to be met with the ruling-party group 
becoming positive toward holding another deliberations before the 
23rd. 
 
The opposition party-related group during the meeting sought the 
adoption of the petition on the 5th, while the ruling-party group 
insisted that they would bring it back to their headquarters. For 
this reason, they agreed to hold another session for further 
deliberations. A schedule for another deliberations has been left to 
 
TOKYO 00000597  008 OF 010 
 
 
Oyakawa to work out. Another deliberation will likely be rescheduled 
for the week starting on the 17. 
 
The situation is that it will be difficult to unify the views of the 
ruling-party group with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the 
largest group in the ruling camp, which finds it difficult to take 
part in the rally. Since many members of the Okinawan People's 
Conference are also cautious about the idea of taking part in the 
rally, it is unlikely for the ruling-party group to agree to comply 
with the request. In that event, a committee meeting itself will not 
be held before the rally. As a result, the petition will be shelved, 
and the Prefectural Assembly will give up on participation in the 
rally. 
 
Governor Nakaima makes it a condition for the Prefectural Assembly 
to take part in the rally on a non-partisan basis. If the 
Prefectural Assembly cannot participate in the rally, the governor 
will also unlikely take part. 
 
(7) Sex crime rate up 24 PERCENT  in U.S. military, 2,947 incidents 
reported: Pentagon 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
March 6, 2008 
 
Sumiyo Henna, Ryukyu Shimpo correspondent, Los Angeles 
 
The rate of sexual crimes involving U.S. service members around the 
world in 2006 showed a sharp increase of 24 PERCENT  over the 
preceding year, the U.S. Department of Defense noted in a recently 
released report. In 2006, there were 2,947 incidents (rapes and 
attempted rapes included), an increase of 573 from 2,374 in 2005. 
There was also an increase in the number of cases where victims have 
withdrawn their complaints as in the case of a recent junior high 
school girl rape in Okinawa. In 2006, there were 670 withdrawn 
cases, a twofold increase of 327 over the preceding year. 
 
The report was submitted by an undersecretary of defense to the 
Armed Services Committees of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives in the U.S. Congress in March 2007. The Pentagon 
compiled sexual crime reports from the Army, Air Force, Navy, and 
Marine Corps. The Pentagon report shows no breakdown of incidents in 
and outside the United States. 
 
In the United States, the problem surfaced with a number of 
complaints from women who had been sexually assaulted by U.S. 
servicemen after the Afghan war. The U.S. Congress urged the 
Pentagon to carry out a fact-finding survey of U.S. military 
personnel about sexual assaults. The Pentagon started in 2004 to 
collect sexual crime data in the U.S. military and is required to 
report the findings to Congress. 
 
According to the Pentagon report, there were 1,700 sexual assault 
cases (excluding those withdrawn by victims) in 2004. There were 
2,047 cases in 2005 and 2,277 cases in 2006. 
 
In the breakdown of complaints filed in 2006, assailants and victims 
were U.S. service members in 1,167 cases (51 PERCENT ). Assailants 
were U.S. service members and victims were civilians in 658 cases 
(29 PERCENT ). Assailants were civilians and U.S. service members 
were victims in 82 cases (3.6 PERCENT ). Victims were U.S. service 
members and assailants cannot be identified in 370 cases (16 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO 00000597  009 OF 010 
 
 
). 
 
Those reported incidents occurred at military installations in 1,208 
cases (53 PERCENT ) and outside military installations in 953 cases 
(42 PERCENT ), with unidentified locations in 116 cases (5 PERCENT 
). 
 
Among the 2,277 incidents that were reported in 2006, U.S. military 
investigative authorities have completed investigations on 1,500 
persons in 1,402 cases (62 PERCENT ). Of the 1,500 persons, U.S. 
military commanding officers could not directly punish 765 persons 
(51 PERCENT ) because they were civilians or foreign nationals who 
are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMC). 
 
Of the 735 persons subject to punitive action, 446 are pending. 
Among the 289 persons for punitive action, 72 were court-martialed, 
and 114 were punished. The U.S. media, however, is raising a 
question about the reliability of the Pentagon report on the number 
of punishments. 
 
(8) Okinawa Human Rights Association protests series of crimes 
committed by U.S. military personnel 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 23) (Full) 
March 6, 2008 
 
In the wake of a series of crimes committed by U.S. military 
members, including the alleged rape of a junior high school girl by 
a U.S. Marine, Seigen Nagayoshi, secretary general of the Okinawa 
Human Rights Association (headed by Hiroaki Fukuchi) and other 
officials yesterday visited the U.S. Consulate General in Urasoe 
City to protest to Consul General Kevin Maher. The consul general 
told them: "The incident was regrettable. Japan and the United 
States have been working together to create a special taskforce and 
a working group (to deal with the matter)." 
 
Nagayoshi pointed out: "Behind the alleged rape incident is (U.S. 
military personnel's) disregard for the human rights of Okinawa 
people and their Occupation mentality." He handed over a note 
calling for an apology and full compensation to the victim, as well 
as revisions to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. 
 
Maher also said: 
 
"The prevention of a recurrence of crimes and revision of the 
U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement are two separate issues. We 
should not be lacking in consideration for the victim by using the 
incident politically." 
 
In regard to the issue of (Okinawa's opposition to) U.S. military 
members' living off base, Maher told Nagayoshi: "Why do you oppose 
such? What are your specific reasons?" Nagayoshi responded: "Because 
they are foreigners." The consul general then said: "You oppose such 
only because they are foreigners. If that is your reason, doesn't 
that become racial discrimination?" 
 
(Corrected copy): Poll: 44 PERCENT  hope for DPJ victory in next 
general election 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 6, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00000597  010 OF 010 
 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Mar. 1-2, in which respondents were asked which 
political party between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the 
leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan they would like to see 
win in the next election for the House of Representatives. In 
response, 44 PERCENT  chose the DPJ, with 34 PERCENT  preferring the 
LDP, posting almost the same results as in the last survey taken in 
January. "Other political parties" accounted for 15 PERCENT , up 3 
percentage points. The figure is the highest ever since the survey 
began to ask this question in August last year. The survey this time 
shows that both the LDP and the DPJ remain unable to fully answer 
public expectations. 
 
The same question was asked in the past seven surveys. The DPJ was 
above the LDP in all those surveys. In a survey taken right after 
the Fukuda cabinet's inauguration in September last year, the LDP 
stood at 41 PERCENT , with the DPJ at 45 PERCENT . In the following 
surveys, the LDP was down, with the gap between the two parties at 5 
points, 13 points, 9 points, and 10 points. 
 
"Other political parties" accounted for 9 PERCENT  in September last 
year. However, the figure tends to increase along with the declining 
rate of support for the LDP. 
 
Among men, the LDP stood at 31 PERCENT , with the DPJ at 54 PERCENT 
. Among women, the LDP scored 37 PERCENT , and the DPJ at 35 PERCENT 
. 
 
Among DPJ supporters, only 2 PERCENT  said they want the LDP to win. 
Meanwhile, among LDP supporters, the proportion of those who want 
the LDP to win rose to 10 PERCENT . Among those who support New 
Komeito, it also went up to 11 PERCENT . The figures show that the 
ruling parties are becoming unsteady. Among those who answered that 
they have no party to support, the LDP marked 23 PERCENT , with the 
DPJ at 40 PERCENT  and other political parties at 27 PERCENT . 
 
SCHIEFFER