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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 15 TOKYO 000846 
 
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 03/27/08 
 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Prime Minister Fukuda: Isolated leader with no advisors and 
little leeway (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(2) Six months into office, Prime Minister Fukuda in tight spot; 
Bureaucrats not friends; Reconciliation might back fire (Mainichi) 
 
(3) Interview with Hidanao Nakagawa, the shadow chief cabinet 
secretary -- Policy-oriented coalition has strong chance (Mainichi) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
(4) DPJ Ozawa changes course to topple Fukuda cabinet (Asahi) 
 
(5) Ibuki-Hatoyama meeting on new BOJ governor may occur in the 
week; DPJ concerned about public criticism of vacancy in BOJ helm 
(Nikkei) 
 
(6) Interview with Deputy DPJ President Naoto Kan about stalemate in 
Diet: Dissolving Lower House essential to see what the public 
desires (Yomiuri) 
 
(7) Papers on SDF officer sent to prosecutors over info leak to 
reporter: Media concerned about negative impact on press coverage; 
Info control out of consideration for U.S. (Asahi) 
 
(8) Editorial: Amendment of Antimonopoly Law should be based on 
principle of giving priority to consumer interests (Mainichi) 
 
(9) Boycotting Beijing Olympics takes on an air of feasibility; What 
should Japan do? (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Prime Minister Fukuda: Isolated leader with no advisors and 
little leeway 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 26, 2008 
 
By Taku Soka, reporter assigned to cover the prime minister 
 
It is often said that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda makes decisions on 
his own without consulting with anybody. Since the time he served as 
chief cabinet secretary in the Koizumi government, he has hated 
information leaks. This has not at all changed even after he assumed 
the prime minister's post. 
 
However, with this sort of method of doing things went wrong in the 
nomination of the new governor of the Bank of Japan, for Fukuda 
misread how the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
would respond to his pick. The friendly approach he took in the 
early days of the inauguration of his cabinet has now disappeared. 
He now appears to be distancing himself even from members of his own 
party. 
 
To find out if the prime minister has any advisors, I tallied the 
number of persons with whom he had met in a day since the beginning 
of March. Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura was the person 
who met with the prime minister the largest number of times. 
However, it cannot be said that even Machimura has played the role 
of Fukuda's advisor. Fukuda conveyed to Machimura his second choice 
for the BOJ governorship, Koji Tanami, president of the Japan Bank 
 
TOKYO 00000846  002 OF 015 
 
 
for International Cooperation, on March 18 at the same time that he 
presented his nomination to the Diet. After it had become certain 
that the top post at the central bank would be left vacant, a senior 
LDP member said: 
 
"I wonder whether the chief cabinet secretary carried out 
coordination on the nomination for the BOJ chief. And I wonder whom 
the prime minister consulted with. I don't know the answer to 
either." 
 
During dinner with LDP legislators on the evening of March 19, 
Fukuda said: "I presented to the Diet my nomination because a 
prominent DPJ member had said that BOJ Deputy Gov. Toshiro Muto 
would be a good choice for the post." 
 
A mid-level lawmaker, who was disgusted with Fukuda's remark, noted: 
"(The prime minister) was wrong to believe what the prominent person 
had said." There were no signs of Fukuda having had discussed his 
nomination of Tanami for the BOJ governor with persons close to him. 
So, another senior LDP member said: "If I was asked about my view, I 
would have told him that he should not pick Tanami." 
 
In the end, I concluded that the prime minister has no special 
advisors. Some LDP members call former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru 
Yosano, who has no current government position, Fukuda's personal 
advisor. Yosano has often visited the prime minister's office. This 
means that Fukuda has no aides whom he trusts. 
 
Six months have passed since Fukuda took office. He has now greatly 
changed in his attitude of responding to questions by reporters. He 
initially appeared before the press corps as scheduled and he made 
reporters laugh by making jokes. Recently, he has always been late 
for press briefings. The number of times he makes a joke has now 
decreased. When he receives questions that he dislikes, he often 
says "That question is nonsense." We reporters have often felt 
clearly that he is irritated at us. He shows us that he has little 
patience. As if symbolized by his selection of the new BOJ governor, 
the prime minister seems to have reached a dead end, having 
shouldered everything by himself. 
 
(2) Six months into office, Prime Minister Fukuda in tight spot; 
Bureaucrats not friends; Reconciliation might back fire 
 
MAINICHI (Page 6) (Abridged) 
March 27, 2008 
 
By Tadashi Hitora, political news department 
 
The administration of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who took office 
less than six months ago, is rapidly losing momentum. The appalling 
situation is ascribable to a variety of reasons, such as deadlocked 
talks with the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
under the divided Diet and low support rates for his cabinet. The 
prime minister also seems to have fallen into the trap as a result 
of putting too much trust in bureaucrats and misreading their true 
intentions. Bureaucrats are not friends. The prime minister must 
wake up and stop the countdown of his administration. 
 
"A certain DPJ leader said that he would unite the four top 
executives. That's why I nominated Mr. Muto." 
 
The prime minister reportedly made this comment to LDP executives 
 
TOKYO 00000846  003 OF 015 
 
 
after the House of Councillors had voted down the government's 
nomination of Toshiro Muto, a Bank of Japan deputy governor and 
former vice-finance minister, to become the new BOJ chief. The prime 
minister clearly misread the DPJ's move. 
 
Both ruling and opposition parties are currently under fire for 
causing a vacuum in the top BOJ post. The exhibition of the Kantei's 
(Prime Minister's Office) lack of information and a kind of 
self-righteousness has dealt an especially serious blow to the prime 
minister. People have begun speculating that the Fukuda 
administration might be a "cabinet of friends" from the Finance 
Ministry and other government offices. 
 
After Muto, the government nominated Koji Tanami, president of the 
Japan Bank for International Cooperation and a former vice-finance 
minister. That, too, pointed to the Finance Ministry's 
inward-looking logic. With Tanami, who was two years ahead of Muto 
at the Foreign Ministry, the BOJ would be able to maintain order. 
The practice of retired Finance Ministry and BOJ officials taking 
the BOJ helm in turn would also be revived. The observation also 
cropped up in the opposition camp that the government would 
eventually replace Tanami with Muto. "There aren't many qualified 
(candidates) out there," the prime minister said. His assertion that 
the Finance Ministry is the only place with people suitable for the 
central bank post is questionable. 
 
In looking at the relationship between the Fukuda administration and 
senior government officials, attention must be paid to mistakes by 
former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Abe administration actively 
appointed lawmakers as prime ministerial advisors with the aim of 
building a politician-led decision-making system. The administration 
also locked horns with central government agencies, especially with 
the Finance Ministry, over regulating golden parachuting as part of 
reform of the civil servant system. Direct access to the prime 
minister was limited to a handful of administrative vice ministers. 
Bureaucrats rarely visited the Kantei and the administration 
eventually became isolated. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda must have decided not to follow such an 
example. He has lifted the ban on visits to the Kantei by 
administrative vice ministers. He has adopted the approach of 
producing results while attaching importance to a consensus with 
government officials. 
 
Feeling relieved with the improved relationship, bureaucrats in the 
Kasumigaseki district then rushed to recovering lost territory and 
ministry interests by taking advantage of the prime minister's 
approach. For instance, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and 
Transport (MLIT) produced last November a midterm road construction 
program based on the vision to build 14,000 kilometers of 
expressways, included in the 1987 fourth national development 
program. During the former Koizumi administration, in which Fukuda 
served as chief cabinet secretary, there was skepticism even about a 
plan to build 9,342 kilometers of expressways. The MLIT has 
tactfully revived the road construction program and come up with 59 
trillion yen in fiscal resources. The MLIT's action, couple with the 
lax use of road-related tax revenues, has decisively fueled the 
public's negative reaction to the maintenance of the provisional tax 
rates. 
 
The same is true with the subject of unidentified pension account 
holders that prompted the former Abe administration to lose 
 
TOKYO 00000846  004 OF 015 
 
 
momentum. In addition, with the Ministry of Health, Labor and 
Welfare (MHLW) insisting that it only vowed to complete 
computer-aided checks by the end of March, no one is trying to take 
responsibility for the unidentified accounts that represent 40 
PERCENT  of the total. The prime minister is capitalizing on the 
MHLW's argument. Low public support for the Fukuda administration is 
closely associated with a lack of efforts by bureaucrats, as seen in 
the issue of drug-infected hepatitis C patients, which has been 
settled by lawmaker-initiated legislation, and the recent collision 
of an Aegis destroyer. 
 
Needless to day, blindly bashing government officials in order to 
boost the administration's popularity is unacceptable. Nevertheless, 
defending their own organizations is the bureaucrats' top priority. 
 
Reconciliation might back fire unless the government is directly 
connected with the public regarding a slogan, be it pension reform 
or decentralization. The government is simply parroting the DPJ's 
slogan of putting high priority on the people's livelihood. 
 
In a recent meeting, the prime minister said: "I have just finished 
sowing the seeds and laying the groundwork. You will see the fruits 
six months, one year from today." Without a keeper, seeds are picked 
up by birds or they decay. A cabinet reshuffle would be his last 
chance to find suitable persons. Will his support base be strong 
enough until then? 
 
(3) Interview with Hidanao Nakagawa, the shadow chief cabinet 
secretary -- Policy-oriented coalition has strong chance 
 
SIPDIS 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
Evening, March 25, 2008 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano described the conflict 
with Hidenao Nakagawa, a former secretary general of the Liberal 
Democratic Party, over economic policy as a high-class, vision-based 
contention, which is rare in the LDP. Mainichi senior writer 
Takakazu Matsuda sat down with Nakagawa, who is referred to as the 
shadow chief cabinet secretary, and asked him questions about his 
visions, management of the Diet, and political realignment. 
 
-- The Bank of Japan governorship remains unfilled, the first case 
in postwar history. The media initially were critical of the 
Democratic Party of Japan. They are now questioning the leadership 
of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. 
 
Nakagawa: As a former newspaper reporter, I pay close attention to 
editorials in the six major newspapers. The DPJ has not been 
affected by them, however. What is most important in selecting 
candidates for a job is not "who" but "what must be done." The 
ruling and opposition blocs must reach an agreement on what is 
happening in the world and what we should do about the Japanese 
economy. But the DPJ has no macroeconomic policy. My impression is 
that difficulties have resulted from a lack of criteria on reaching 
an agreement. 
 
-- You knew all along when the tenure of the BOJ governor would 
expire, so you should have taken steps earlier. 
 
Nakagawa: I hear that while waiting for the DPJ's decision, (the 
DPJ) said 'put off the matter a little.' Mr. Fukuda also looked for 
private-sector candidates, but no one accepted the offer. At a time 
 
TOKYO 00000846  005 OF 015 
 
 
like this when the chiefs of central banks of major countries must 
work closely in dealing with the financial crisis, Mr. Fukuda must 
keep continuity of the top BOJ post. 
 
-- The DPJ's failure to launch a grand coalition last year has 
pushed the party toward a confrontational policy course. 
 
Nakagawa: When Mr. (Ichiro) Ozawa of the DPJ opted for a grand 
coalition, those who are not close to him raised objections. 
Conversely, when the anti-Ozawa group says that the party should aim 
at an agreement among opposition parties, Mr. Ozawa applies pressure 
on them. Dissolving the Lower House in April is the only option the 
two sides can agree on, so everything tends to plunge toward that 
destination. Lower House dissolution has now become the party's 
ultimate goal rather than policies. 
 
-- The provisional tax rate funding road projects that is slated to 
expire on March 31 is another reason why the Diet is in turmoil 
 
Nakagawa: To be honest, I don't know what will happen. The DPJ's 
manifesto enshrines the introduction of measures to combat global 
warming. So we should be able to reach an accord from the viewpoint 
of turning the provisional tax into a green tax. We could propose 
designing the system first while leaving the provisional tax of 25 
yen intact, or we could also reexamine the 59 trillion yen mid-term 
road-improvement plan. We can reach a conclusion based on the option 
of allocating road tax revenues for general expenditures in fiscal 
2009 or 2010. But this, too, the DPJ has linked to Lower House 
dissolution. 
 
-- Mr. Yosano thinks even the consumption tax rate must be raised in 
order to restore fiscal health. In contrast, Mr. Nakagawa, you think 
there is no need for tax increases when the country is in a growth 
path. 
 
Nakagawa: The LDP fiscal reform study group chaired by Mr. Yosano 
calls for turning the consumption tax into a social insurance tax 
instead of aiming at tax increases for restoring soundness in the 
nation's finances. But can a consumption tax bill clear the Diet 
without the ruling and opposition blocs reaching an agreement on the 
re-designing of the social security and pension systems? If a doshu 
(regional bloc) system were introduced, the right to impose the 
consumption tax would rest with local governments and the right to 
redistribute the tax revenues under the nationwide pension system 
would rest with the central government. How should such a situation 
be handled? 
 
In my view, we must first get the economy out of deflation, then 
reduce the government's assets, and then trim spending. Discussion 
on the consumption tax rate should come after an agreement is 
reached between the ruling and opposition blocs on the re-designing 
of the social security system. I am against the idea of raising 
taxes just for the sake of restoring fiscal health, and Mr. Yosano 
also thinks tax hikes just for restoring soundness in the nation's 
finances will not succeed. So we agree on that point. 
 
-- Mr. Yosano's study group has concluded that there is no special 
slush fund known as the "buried treasure" in the special accounts, 
but you rebutted it. 
 
Nakagawa: I have been grappling with the buried treasure issue since 
I was the policy research council chairman. Reform of the special 
 
TOKYO 00000846  006 OF 015 
 
 
accounts under the Administrative Reform Promotion Law of 2006 
requires the contribution of 20 trillion yen in a five-year period 
for restoring fiscal health. In the fiscal 2008 budget, 10 trillion 
yen will be allocated for redeeming government bonds from the 
revenue fund in the government's loan special account. Although the 
"buried treasure" cannot be a continuous fiscal resource, it should 
not be left as is. There is still some more left and I will reveal 
it in April or later. 
 
-- The rate of support for the Fukuda cabinet stands at 30 PERCENT 
and the disapproval rate at 50 PERCENT . The administration is a 
step short of the terminal phase. 
 
Nakagawa: The disapproval rate is 50 PERCENT , yet support for the 
DPJ, which aims at the next administration, is not high either. I 
don't think the public wants a change in government. 
 
-- Images of party heads are vital under the single-seat 
constituency system. What do you think should be done to boost Mr. 
Fukuda's popularity? 
 
Nakagawa: Mr. Fukuda has a strong will. He is the kind of person who 
advances matters gradually by indirect means. But coming this far, 
he has no other option but to play up his strong resolve, something 
like the torch of reform, toward the public. He should press the 
DPJ, saying, "I want to accomplish this. Are you with me or against 
me?" He should declare in the end, "I want to hear the voice of the 
people." I have told him that he should clarify what he will be 
aiming at in April or later. 
 
-- What is your view of a grand coalition and political 
realignment? 
 
Nakagawa: We could attach a deadline to the option of forming a 
grand coalition and then face the following election under a 
two-party system. In view of the election system, political 
realignment would not be easy under a two-party system. A 
policy-based coalition has the highest chance. It is the approach of 
taking proposed policies back to each party, like the supra-partisan 
parliamentary group "Sentaku" is doing, to enact them with a "Diet 
coalition." That's my proposal. 
 
-- Your book titled Ageshio no Jidai (An Era of Rising Tides) has 
been published in China. Diplomacy and security are a key element in 
political realignment. 
 
Nakagawa: It is lawmakers' mission to comprehensively work to 
develop a society so that it will not produce any underdogs. That is 
what ageshio means. The ship rises when the tide rises. Giving due 
consideration to the weak is basic to any administration. The idea 
of aiming at such a goal can be categorized as "liberal" and any 
initiative that doe not aim at achieving that can be referred to as 
"conservative." But that is not the real question. The questions 
should be whether we have a politician-led decision-making system or 
bureaucrat-led system, reform or non-reform, opening the nation's 
doors or opting for isolation, and the choice between growth or 
stagnation. Diplomacy is not about placing emphasis on Asia or the 
United States. If you were to ask me, "Are you a hawk or dove?", I 
would say I am an eagle. 
 
(4) DPJ Ozawa changes course to topple Fukuda cabinet 
 
 
TOKYO 00000846  007 OF 015 
 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 26, 2008 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa has made a 
declaration of breaking away from Prime Minister Fukuda, although 
the two once discussed a "grand alliance" scheme between them. Just 
at the time when the view of avoiding the dissolution of the House 
of Representatives for the time being is gaining influence in the 
ruling camp, due to rapidly plummeting public support for the Fukuda 
cabinet, Ozawa has changed tactics to the goal of forcing the 
cabinet to resign en masse. If a new prime minister is installed and 
the atmosphere for an early dissolution develops, Ozawa may feel he 
can keep a grip on his party. 
 
Assumption of battle with next LDP president 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Ozawa severely criticized Prime 
Minister Fukuda's six months in office, saying: "Over the past six 
months, there was no case at all in which the prime minister 
presented his own views, principles, and policy and then took 
action." He also said: "He is in the top post in the ruling camp and 
has a responsibility to make final adjustments. I wonder what he has 
been doing as the president of the ruling camp." Until now, Ozawa 
repeatedly attacked the Fukuda government, but he has begun to 
openly criticize the prime minister himself. Some observers 
interpret Ozawa's about-face as a declaration of his policy switch 
from pressing for dissolution of the Lower House to moving to topple 
the cabinet. 
 
In the next general election, the person whom Ozawa regards as his 
rival has been Fukuda. On March 12, when the DPJ decided to 
disapprove of the government's plan to appoint Bank of Japan (BOJ) 
Deputy Governor Muto as governor, Ozawa reportedly nodded his head 
in assent when his colleague told him: "Mr. Fukuda is helpless now, 
is he?" In a meeting held on the night of March 14 by DPJ members 
serving two terms in the Lower House, Ozawa referred to a 
resignation of the cabinet en masse for the first time, saying: "The 
Fukuda cabinet no longer has the strength to dissolve the Lower 
House. His cabinet might be pressed to resign en masse." A veteran 
lawmaker close to Ozawa conjectured: "Ozawa might be waiting for the 
time when the LDP decides to dissolve the Lower House after Taro Aso 
or another popular lawmaker succeeds Fukuda to the premiership and 
contributes to raising public support for the party." Under the 
current situation, Prime Minister Fukuda will never use his right to 
dissolve the Lower House. Ozawa's strategy is to unseat the cabinet 
at an early date even if a person capable of garnering votes becomes 
prime minister. Ozawa might be afraid that if the possibility of 
dissolution moves away, he might lose his grip on the party. 
 
Another close aide said that Ozawa's instinct might be prompting him 
to unseat the cabinet, saying: "There is no much time leeway for Mr. 
Ozawa. He may have to fight with his back to the wall next." 
 
Aim at maintaining grip on party 
 
Over the past six months, the key to the political situation lay in 
what relationship might be established between the prime minister 
and Ozawa. 
 
DPJ members were beset with doubts and fears about ties between the 
two after the fiasco over Fukuda's grand coalition proposal. The 
sense of alarm in the party resulted in enhancing Ozawa's presence 
 
TOKYO 00000846  008 OF 015 
 
 
in it. 
 
When the issue of selecting a new BOJ governor was first floated, 
Ozawa initially said: "I will not make a judgment that would cause 
economic confusion," according to his close aide. As seen by this 
remark, Ozawa reportedly had crafted a strategy on the premise that 
he would approve the government's plan to promote Deputy Governor 
Toshiro Muto. In early February, when an economist advised Ozawa to 
support the Muto plan, Ozawa only said: "I understand." In the DPJ, 
however, an increasing number of members strongly reacted to Ozawa's 
move to approve the Muto appointment. The situation became such that 
it looked light Ozawa might lose momentum and that a yellow warning 
light might flash on for his candidacy in the DPJ presidential race 
in September if the situation was left unattended. 
 
To turn the tables, Ozawa announced on Feb. 25 that he had rejected 
a proposal by the prime minister's aides for holding party head 
talks. With this announcement, the hotline between Fukuda and Ozawa 
was actually cut off. Four days later, the ruling camp forcibly 
passed the budget bill through the Lower House. In strong reaction 
to this, Ozawa began to take a confrontational stance against 
Fukuda. 
 
Even so, Ozawa seemed to believe that the hotline to Fukuda has not 
been cut off yet. On March 3, Ozawa grumbled to his aide: "He has 
yet to present a plan to nominate Mr. Muto. He must be having a 
difficult time. He should fully consider what to do." At that time, 
Ozawa intended to judge how to deal with the situation upon seeing 
whom Fukuda would nominate. 
 
But Fukuda came up with the Muto plan. Seeing this, Ozawa declared 
his opposition to the plan in a meeting of the four party executives 
on March 11, although he had said: "I will leave a judgment in the 
hands of the secretary general and the Diet Affairs Committee 
chairman." 
 
Ozawa's old colleague who has long taken action with Ozawa as a 
lawmaker commented on him: "He has always been a political 
maneuverer." But once he cut off contact to Fukuda and began to move 
to topple the cabinet, he could not retrace his steps. In an 
interview held after the turmoil over Fukuda' grand coalition 
proposal, Ozawa said that if he turned down the coalition proposal, 
both sides would enter a fight to the death. As he predicted, the 
political situation is about to enter such a phase. 
 
(5) Ibuki-Hatoyama meeting on new BOJ governor may occur in the 
week; DPJ concerned about public criticism of vacancy in BOJ helm 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 27, 2008 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) is 
going to accept the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) proposal 
to hold a meeting of their secretaries general later this week 
regarding the selection of new governor of the Bank of Japan. The 
DPJ has made the decision with an eye on a meeting on monetary 
policy and a meeting of Group of Seven (G7) finance ministers and 
central bank governors -- both of which are slated for April. The 
largest opposition party has judged that it might come under 
criticism from the public if it continues to reject consultations 
with the LDP. Meanwhile, the government and ruling parties are 
increasingly nervous about the moves of the DPJ, out of concern that 
 
TOKYO 00000846  009 OF 015 
 
 
they may be forced to make substantial concessions. 
 
LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki had called on his DPJ counterpart 
Yukio Hatoyama to hold a meeting. Yesterday Hatoyama discussed the 
matter with party head Ichiro Ozawa, and Ozawa told him: "Please 
hold a meeting." (Prior to his meeting with Ibuki) Hatoyama plans to 
meet with the secretaries general of the Japanese Communist Party, 
Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party. Once he gets 
their approval, he will hold a meeting with Ibuki this week. 
 
Although the central bank under the initiative of Shirakawa as 
acting BOJ governor got started on March 21, discussion on the 
selection of a new BOJ governor has been suspended due to the 
confrontation between the ruling and opposition camps over whether 
the provisional tax rates should be scrapped or retained. There is a 
growing mood in the largest opposition party with an eye on the G7 
meeting that it is inadvisable to allow the party to be blamed for 
the fact that no decision has been made. 
 
Yesterday Hatoyama emphasized to the press: "I'm pleased to convey 
to the LDP (the DPJ's) basic view on the premise that there should 
be no intervention in the power to appoint personnel." He then 
revealed the view: "I would like to do my best so that the new BOJ 
governor will be appointed before the international meeting in 
mid-April." 
 
However, there is no guarantee that the planned Ibuki-Hatoyama 
meeting will break the impasse. Based on the fact that the Upper 
House rejected the prime minister's first and second nominees -- 
Toshiro Muto and Koji Tanami -- for the top post at the central 
bank, the government and ruling coalition intend to present a third 
nominee after keeping close watch on the DPJ's moves. Hatoyama 
revealed in the party his position of going along with such 
candidates as Hiroshi Watanabe, advisor to the Japan Center for 
International Finance (JCIF) and a former vice finance minister for 
international affairs, and Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko 
Kuroda, a former vice finance minister for international affairs. 
However, some DPJ lawmakers are raising objections to Hatoyama's 
view, with a senor party member saying: "I don't want to see a 
situation in which the party will accept anyone who has not served 
previously as an administrative vice finance minister." 
 
If the standoff intensifies between the ruling and opposition blocs 
over the issue of whether the provisional rates should be scrapped 
or maintained, chances are that Fukuda will be unable to present his 
nomination. Some government officials have doubts about whether they 
should trust what senior DPJ members have said. 
 
Fukuda told the press corps last night: "It is best to make a 
decision early, but I should avoid a situation in which the next 
candidate would be rejected by the Diet. I am now considering it 
from various angles." 
 
(6) Interview with Deputy DPJ President Naoto Kan about stalemate in 
Diet: Dissolving Lower House essential to see what the public 
desires 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
March 26, 2008 
 
Interviewer: Kohei Kawashima 
 
 
TOKYO 00000846  010 OF 015 
 
 
-- The government's proposed choice as a new Bank of Japan (BOJ) 
governor was rejected twice in the Upper House. 
 
Kan, deputy president of the major opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ): Prime Minister Fukuda appears to me that he has yet to 
realize the fact that the opposition parties dominate the Upper 
House, even though the ruling bloc controls the Lower House. He has 
failed to realize the tough situation in the current divided Diet, 
where nothing will go forward unless the opposition bloc gives the 
nod to the ruling camp. The prime minister lacks a sense of tension. 
I believe that is a major reason on the part of the ruling parties 
why the Diet has failed to go smoothly. It's the prime minister's 
misjudgment that he suggested former vice finance ministers twice as 
a candidate for the top BOJ position despite the DPJ's assertion 
that it is not desirable for the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to 
control the BOJ. 
 
-- If your party wanted to convey the opposition bloc's desire to 
the ruling bloc, why did the DPJ refuse to have a teleconference 
between Prime Minister Fukuda and DPJ President Ozawa? 
 
Kan: In general, it is common to hold a one-on-one meeting of the 
heads of the parties when a final accord is likely to be reached. I 
think it is risky to have such a meeting despite a gloomy outlook or 
when no prior talks were held. If President Ozawa rejects the prime 
minister's proposal, he would be criticized. And if Ozawa suddenly 
accepts the prime minister's proposal, the DPJ members would say, 
"Why?" I think it was a reasonable judgment that our party's Diet 
Affairs Committee Chair Kenji Yamaoka turned down a proposal by the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee Chair 
Tadamori Oshima for holding a party head meeting. 
 
-- Won't your party give the nod to the so-called tax system-related 
bills unless the ruling bloc "swallows" your party's assertions, 
such as scrapping the provisional tax rate for gasoline? 
 
Kan: Holding talks is no problem, but we have not felt at all the 
ruling bloc's enthusiasm to do so. This is the same as we have felt 
in the selection of a new BOJ governor. The ruling bloc's revised 
proposal, I think, is tantamount to telling us to "approve it as 
is." 
 
-- If the ruling parties put the tax system-related bills to a 
revote, does your party plan to submit a censure motion against the 
prime minister? 
 
Kan: Such a possibility cannot be ruled out. Some 70 PERCENT  of the 
public is supportive of scrapping the provisional tax rate. If the 
DPJ's bill is approved but the government-sponsored bill is rejected 
in the Upper House, I wonder whether it is possible for the ruling 
bloc to put the government's bill to a revote under the "two-third" 
provision in the Lower House. In the eyes of the Upper House, the 
Lower House will be then viewed as not representing the will of the 
public. It is only natural for us to insist that the Lower House be 
dissolved for a snap general election to listen to the public's 
opinions. 
 
-- There is the criticism that the DPJ is prioritizing political 
struggle. 
 
Kan: Political struggle is not necessary wrong. Differing policy 
proposals would lead to a kind of political struggle. Now both 
 
TOKYO 00000846  011 OF 015 
 
 
parties have differing policy proposals, so our party asserts that 
this situation be settled by a general election. 
 
-- The Diet's inability to make a decision leads to the public's 
distrust of politics. 
 
Kan: It is not that this is a political stalemate but that we are 
going through a hard time before reform can be realized. Once reform 
of the tax revenues for road projects is realized, politics will 
again function. I would like everybody to understand this point. 
 
(7) Papers on SDF officer sent to prosecutors over info leak to 
reporter: Media concerned about negative impact on press coverage; 
Info control out of consideration for U.S. 
 
ASAHI (Page 38) (Abridged) 
March 27, 2008 
 
The Ground Self-Defense Force's police command authorities have now 
sent papers to the prosecutors regarding the case of an Air 
Self-Defense Force staff officer who is alleged to have leaked 
confidential defense information to a Yomiuri Shimbun reporter. The 
 
SIPDIS 
government is now stepping up its information control. Meanwhile, 
the final decision on whether to indict the ASDF officer is being 
left to the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office. If the ASDF 
officer faces a criminal charge, press coverage will inevitably be 
affected. 
 
A Defense Ministry official, meeting the press yesterday, briefed 
them on the ASDF officer's information leak. The official, however, 
avoided specifying developments in the GSDF police's investigation. 
 
"Is the reporter not being charged with instigating?" "Was the 
investigation appropriate?" 
 
There were questions from the press about the investigation's 
justifiability and purpose. However, the Defense Ministry official 
reiterated, "I cannot answer anything specific about the 
investigation." 
 
The Defense Ministry official did not accurately clarify even the 
charges. The press conference, which started at 6 p.m., was 
therefore called off. In the reopened press conference, however, the 
official did not give any specifics. "We've been told by the Tokyo 
District Public Prosecutors Office's Public Security Department not 
to say anything about this, so I cannot say anything about it." 
 
The investigation will now focus on whether the Tokyo District 
Public Prosecutors Office's Public Security Department will indict 
the ASDF colonel. However, the GSDF police command has so far not 
questioned the Yomiuri Shimbun reporter, to whom the colonel 
allegedly leaked the information. 
 
The colonel has now admitted to the allegations. However, it is 
difficult to sustain a court trial of the colonel without 
investigating the reporter. The investigation could end up with a 
suspended indictment. 
 
In criminal investigations, it is a natural procedure for police to 
send papers to prosecutors on a case where police went so far as to 
search a suspect's house. In the incident this time, the then 
Defense Agency reported the case to the GSDF police with its 
 
TOKYO 00000846  012 OF 015 
 
 
suspects unknown. The GSDF police therefore had to send papers to 
prosecutors. 
 
Even so, the GSDF police command has gone so far as to send papers 
to prosecutors on the incident this time. This could greatly affect 
press freedom, so news reporters and media experts are voicing their 
concerns about its negative impact. There is no doubt that it will 
shrink both news reporters and their sources. 
 
In the incident this time, the GSDF police command sent papers to 
prosecutors for there was a request from the United States to make 
the Self-Defense Forces' information control stricter. In addition, 
this action also reflects the Japanese government's stance of giving 
priority to information security as a critical policy theme. 
 
In the case of the incident this time, the colonel leaked the 
information to the reporter, whom the reporter got to know through a 
female employee at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. The United States took 
this seriously. The U.S. government called on the Defense Ministry 
to take drastic countermeasures in order to prevent similar 
incidents, as well as a Maritime Self-Defense Force lieutenant 
commander's leak of data about an Aegis ship. 
 
In connection with the leak of Aegis data, the Defense Ministry 
punished 61 persons on Mar. 21 (excluding the lieutenant commander 
currently under indictment). The Defense Ministry then implied 
strong consideration for the United States, taking the position that 
the incident could affect not only the bilateral security 
arrangement but also Japan's relations with other countries. There 
was another factor. In August last year, the Japanese and U.S. 
governments signed the General Security of Military Information 
Agreement (GSOMIA), which stipulates procedures to prevent military 
secrets from leaking. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
(8) Editorial: Amendment of Antimonopoly Law should be based on 
principle of giving priority to consumer interests 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 26, 2008 
 
A bill amending the Antimonopoly Law has been placed on the Diet 
agenda. The bill calls for broadening the applicable scope of 
administrative surcharges and imposing higher surcharges on 
companies that play a leading role in price-fixing cartels or other 
illegal practices. 
 
A leniency system was introduced when the law was amended last time. 
Under the system, immunity from criminal prosecution or a reduction 
in surcharge payments are applied to companies that voluntarily 
report illegal activities to authorities. This system has produced 
considerable results in such forms as reducing costs for projects 
commissioned by public institutions. 
 
The new bill on the agenda proposes increasing the number of 
companies applicable to the leniency system from the current three 
to five in one case. 
 
The bill also include a measure to hike by 50 PERCENT  the 
administrative surcharge on companies that urge other firms to take 
part in cartels or other illegal acts. In the case of large 
companies, the FTC will raise administrative surcharges from the 
current 10 PERCENT  to 15 PERCENT  of the proceeds from illegal 
 
TOKYO 00000846  013 OF 015 
 
 
practices. 
 
To eliminate bid-rigging and cartels, it is necessary to show that 
such practices do not pay. We expect that the measures to increase 
companies applicable for the leniency system and impose heavier 
surcharges on main offenders will work effectively to prevent 
illegal acts. 
 
A significant change in the competitive environment surrounding 
companies also prompted the FTC to amend the law. 
 
Besides big-rigging and cartel cases, the new legislation will also 
enable an administrative surcharge to be levied on market-dominating 
companies that attempt to shut out competitors or block new players' 
access. 
 
The broadened scope of acts subject to fines includes dumping, 
several companies' joint refusal of transactions, and false 
labeling. 
 
As measures to protect small retailers from being affected by 
price-cutting competition from large retailers, the Liberal 
Democratic Party asked the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) to also 
include dumping practices among the acts subject to fines. 
 
Even so, it is difficult to judge which acts are defined as dumping. 
Giving consideration to consumer interests is also necessary. 
Further, measures to prevent repeated violations by the same 
companies are also incorporated in the bill. In implementing the 
measures, though, prudence will be needed. 
 
Meanwhile, the bill proposes reviewing the current 
verdict-assessment system (shinpan seido), which is a major 
challenge. Under the system, the FTC judges whether penalties should 
be imposed on companies accused of violating the Antimonopoly Law. 
The economic world has criticized the system, claiming that the FTC 
is acting as both prosecutor and judge. 
 
The FTC plans to scrap the current verdict-assessment system and 
entrust judgments to the court. However, some critics question 
whether the court will be able to make a proper judgment in such 
cases as corporate mergers. 
 
We know that the new bill was worked out after a number of 
compromises were made. But the viewpoint of consumers should be the 
basis of competition policy, and we hope that from such a point 
view, the competitive environment will be improved. 
 
(9) Boycotting Beijing Olympics takes on an air of feasibility; What 
should Japan do? 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 28) (Full) 
March 27, 2008 
 
French President Sarkozy said he might boycott the Opening Ceremony 
of the Beijing Olympics with an eye on how the Chinese government 
deals with the riots in Tibet. Human rights organizations have 
already raised their strong opposition to participation in the 
Beijing Olympics. Now, the option of boycotting the Beijing Olympic 
Games is becoming more than a mere threat. Japan cannot just sit on 
the fence indefinitely. Which direction should Japan move in? 
 
 
TOKYO 00000846  014 OF 015 
 
 
International community critical of China's crackdown in Tibet 
 
A large riot occurred in Lhasa, Tibet. Chinese authorities crushed 
it using force but they then came under strong fire from the rest of 
the world. French Foreign Minister Kouchner declared that aside from 
the games, the heads of the European Union (EU) nations "should 
consider boycotting the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics." The EU 
also issued its president's statement calling on China to "restrain 
its use of force to deal with protestors." 
 
According to the German daily Bild, German Foreign Minister 
Steinmeier cited the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which was used by Hitler 
as a tool for propaganda of Nazi Germany and noted that it would be 
impossible in the present-day world for China to host the Olympic 
Games, while continuing its crackdown in Tibet. 
 
The Berlin Olympics was not boycotted by any country, but Jewish 
players in the United States boycotted the domestic preliminaries. A 
group opposing Nazi Germany planned to host a "Human Olympics" in 
Barcelona, Spain, as part of the campaign to boycott the Berlin 
Olympics at a time of its opening. Although this plan was cancelled 
because of the outbreak of civil war in Spain, several thousand 
people nonetheless took part in the Human Olympics. 
 
Among the past Olympic Games that were actually boycotted by some 
countries, the Moscow Olympics in 1980 was well known. The Soviet 
Union's invasion of Afghanistan the previous year brought a strong 
reaction from the United States. Western countries, including Japan, 
boycotted the Moscow Olympics. In reaction, the 1984 Los Angeles 
Olympics was boycotted by the Soviet Union and East European 
countries on the grounds of America's invasion of Grenada. 
 
The riots in Tibet this time are basically in the same context as 
the time when China invaded Tibet, although that happened 51 years 
ago. The Hsinchian Uighur Region to the north of the Tibet 
Autonomous Region also was invaded by China in the past. This region 
could become another flashpoint to oppose the Beijing Olympics. 
 
Although there are no concrete moves to boycott the Beijing Olympics 
themselves at present, depending on China's response to Tibetan 
riots in the days ahead, the possibility of a boycott of Olympics 
could arise. 
 
"Moscow Olympics" as trauma for Japan 
 
What should Japan do? 
 
Akemi Masuda, a sports journalist and former marathon runner who 
took part in the Los Angeles Olympics spoke for other athletes: 
"Those Japanese athletes who were chosen to join the national team 
at the Moscow Olympics still suffer trauma. The Olympic Games are 
the supreme opportunity for athletes to display their skills. For 
those who have been training for four years before the Olympics, it 
is too hard to have to wait another four years. Boycotting the 
Olympics must be avoided." 
 
However, speaking of Chinese authorities, who are trying to use the 
Olympics as a political tool as symbolized by a plan for the torch 
relay to climb Mt. Everest, Masuda said: "Now may be the time to 
again confirm the fundamental spirit of the Olympics. The 
International Olympic Committee and the International Association of 
Athletic Federations need to urge China to remember the starting 
 
TOKYO 00000846  015 OF 015 
 
 
point of the Olympic Games." 
 
Journalist Shoko Egawa supports the idea of boycotting the Olympics. 
She argued: 
 
 "There are people who have been oppressed, lost their identities, 
and have spilt blood. Obviously there have been violations of human 
rights. Winking at such things is a violation of human rights just 
like ignoring it when someone is being bullied even though you are 
witnessing it. I feel sorry for the athletes, but I think Japan 
should boycott at least the Opening Ceremony." 
 
Japanese politicians are mum on the matter. Egawa complained about 
such attitudes, noting, "Because of their silence, they are looked 
down on by other countries. I don't think they need to face up to 
China squarely, but Japan should say what it should say and it 
should do what it should do so." 
 
SCHIEFFER