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P 280821Z MAR 08
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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9070

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TOKYO 000858 
 
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 03/28/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Two female victims of U.S. soldier-caused stabbing incident in 
Yokosuka still suffer damage physically and mentally (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
(2) Wall of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement impedes 
investigation of slaying of cab driver (Shukan Shincho) 
 
(3) Prime Minister Fukuda proposes integrating road tax revenues to 
general account; no future in his policy switch; DPJ compiles "three 
principles" (Mainichi) 
 
(4) Prime minister's surprise road-revenue proposal causes stir in 
LDP (Yomiuri) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Two female victims of U.S. soldier-caused stabbing incident in 
Yokosuka still suffer damage physically and mentally 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 11) (Full) 
Eve., March 26, 2008 
 
Takuya Kishimoto 
 
It was painful to see several scars still left on her right hand. 
"Even now I see him in a dream," a 27-year-old woman said. She still 
has a clear memory of her dreadful experience. On July 5, 2007, she 
and her 17-year-old female friend were stabbed randomly by a 
20-year-old man, who was 19 at the time, with a steak knife in an 
apartment in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The two women 
narrowly escaped death, but they have suffered a number of 
difficulties since then because he was a U.S. serviceman. 
 
The woman happened to be in that apartment room rented by another 
U.S. serviceman, who was a friend of the girl. The girl was a 
frequent visitor to that room. The woman, just before graduating 
from a hair styling and make-up college, which she was attending 
while working, was involved in the incident. She happened to drop in 
at the apartment in preparation for her graduation work that needed 
the girl as a model. 
 
The assailant was a seaman recruit, whom the girl had met before. He 
dropped in at the apartment but he was told by the girl to go home. 
Losing his temper over her remark, he attacked the girl and the 
woman. 
 
The woman was stabbed all over her body and at one point lingered on 
the verge of death. With a division of a tendon found on her right 
hand, she underwent an operation and rehabilitation. This forced her 
to quit her job as a receptionist at a hotel. 
 
Her medical expenses amounted to some one million yen, which she 
paid by herself. It was her dream to be a hair stylist since she was 
a teenager. She planned to study hair styling in the United States, 
but she had to spend the money she had saved for that purpose to pay 
the medical costs. 
 
The woman filed an application for loans from the government's 
financing system, which is available to victims of crimes committed 
by U.S. military personnel. Three months later, however, she has yet 
 
TOKYO 00000858  002 OF 006 
 
 
to receive any money. She initially planned to go to the U.S. to 
study hair styling, but she gave up on the plan. Her dream is 
unlikely to come true. 
 
Practically, it is difficult to file a claim for compensation 
against the U.S. serviceman lacking the ability to pay.  In the case 
of using a compensation system provided by the government, it takes 
her several years to simply go through the proceedings because 
screening involves the United States. She consulted with a lawyer 
about the matter, but she was unable to find anyone who is well 
versed on procedures in the U.S. 
 
She also suffers psychological damage. After the incident, she heard 
someone without paying any attention to her feelings saying, "It's 
wrong to be with the U.S. serviceman." She said that at the thought 
that women, only because of being women, "tend to be misunderstood, 
"I cannot tell anyone about the damage I am suffering." In recent 
years, groups in support of victims of crimes committed by U.S. 
military personnel have emerged, but she is hesitant to ask such an 
organization for help because of the pain she would suffer when she 
has to explain every aspect of her damage. 
 
She thought she might be able to express her feelings in a blog on 
the Internet and wrote the incident she was involved in. In a little 
while, she received an e-mail of encouragement from her friend as 
well as an e-mail from a similar victim of a crime committed by U.S. 
military personnel. The victim was a 20-year-old woman who was 
gang-raped by four U.S. servicemen assigned to Marine Corps Air 
Station Iwakuni (in Yamaguchi Prefecture). She realized through 
exchanges of e-mails with that Yamaguchi woman that she, too, has 
terribly suffered like her. 
 
There seems to be no end to crimes committed by U.S. soldiers in 
towns hosting U.S. bases like those in Okinawa and Kanagawa. Given 
belated financial assistance, such as medical expenses, lack of 
consultation service, prejudiced views..., the support system for 
victims provided by the government is insufficient. 
 
The woman said: "As long as U.S. bases exist, incidents caused by 
their members would unavoidably occur. If the government allows the 
bases to exist in Japan, I think the government should at least have 
a system to take care of the victims of incidents." 
 
The assailant seaman recruit was arrested on the spot on charge of 
attempted murder. As a result of juvenile trial, he was later sent 
to prosecutors. His first trial is set to take place at the Yokohama 
District Court's Yokosuka Branch on the afternoon of March 27. 
 
(2) Wall of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement impedes 
investigation of slaying of cab driver 
 
SHUKAN SHINCHO (Page 42) (Full) 
April 3, 2008 
 
There exists a major obstacle impeding progress in the investigation 
into a brutal crime. The crime occurred on a residential street 
close to Keikyu Shioiri Station in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa 
Prefecture. On the night of March 19, screams rang out on the narrow 
street, as if to drown out the sound of the pouring rain. "I heard 
someone scream out three times," said a housewife living near the 
scene. She continued: "Surprised, I went out, and there was a taxi 
at the side of the road with its engine running. The meter on the 
 
TOKYO 00000858  003 OF 006 
 
 
passenger side read "payment," but there was no visible in the 
driver's seat. When I peered into the vehicle, the driver was 
slumped over on the passenger side." 
 
The window on the driver's side was open, as if he were making a 
desperate effort for help. Another local resident noted: "Even 
though the lamp was on in the cab, I could not see any signs of 
bloodstains inside. Because it was raining so hard at the time, no 
one seems to have seen the killer." 
 
The victim was Mr. Masaaki Takahashi (61), a taxi driver from 
Shinagawa Ward. He had been stabbed in back of the neck on the left 
side by a thrust of a 20 centimeter kitchen knife. A source 
connected to the investigation said: "He had died from loss of blood 
by the time the ambulance arrived. The wound was so deep, it 
penetrated the lungs. It was plunged in to the end of the blade. 
Since there was a protective acrylic panel behind the driver, it was 
avoided apparently by thrusting the knife at the driver from the 
left side." 
 
The investigation would seem to be difficult due to the lack of 
eyewitness testimony, but there was left behind in haste something 
that is clearly an important clue. The source said: "We discovered a 
credit card on the floor near the driver's seat. The name on it was 
a crewmember of the USS Cowpens, an Aegis ship belonging to the U.S. 
Navy." 
 
The scene of the crime was about a one-kilometer distance from the 
U.S. Navy base. The seaman was a Nigerian (22), who had been missing 
from the base since March 8. He was declared a deserter on March 10. 
Considering the circumstances, there was a high probability of 
learning the details about this murder. A reporter attached to city 
desk said: "Information came in early on the 22nd, three days after 
the incident, that the U.S. Navy Criminal Investigation Center 
(NCIS) had taken the sailor into custody near Gotanda Station. After 
that, the situation quickly changed." 
 
"I lost my card" 
 
Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), in case a 
U.S. serviceman suspected of a crime is in the custody of the U.S. 
forces, even if the Japanese police has an arrest warrant, until the 
suspect is indicted, that person could be kept in custody at the 
base. Takeshi Tsuchimoto, a professor at Hakuo University Law School 
stated:  "Under military law, desertion is a very serious crime. One 
cannot say that it is a violation of the law for the military with 
investigative authority to have brought the sailor back to the 
base." 
 
On the other hand, based on the 1995 agreement to improve the SOFA 
operation, for heinous crimes, the handing over of the suspect can 
be done prior to indictment. However, unless the charges are firmed 
up, it would no doubt be difficult to hand the individual over to 
the Japanese police. Although the prefectural police have continued 
to investigate the things left in the cab, a source connected to the 
investigation revealed: "No fingerprints could be taken from the 
knife used in the killing or from the credit card, so it was 
conceivable that gloves were worn. In addition, the sailor says he 
lost his credit card and denies any involvement. Without anything to 
back up his being in the vehicle, even if he is indicted, it would 
not stand up in court." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000858  004 OF 006 
 
 
On the other hand, the U.S. forces have been unusually cooperative 
in its response with Navy Commander Adm. Kelly stating to the press 
that if there were a request, the Navy would respond to voluntary 
questioning. 
 
A reporter from the city desk said: "Next year in August, the 
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington is scheduled to 
be deployed to the Yokosuka base. There is concern that a negative 
reaction to it will spring up in Japan due to this incident." 
 
Although the prefectural police's investigative unit asked for 
investigative cooperation on the 23rd, one has to say that there is 
a high hurdle to the resolution of this case. Professor Tsuchimoto 
noted: "With each country investigating different cases, the two 
investigations have complicated the matter."  He went on: "However, 
considering the seriousness of the case, the U.S. forces should 
cooperate with the murder investigation. Even if investigators are 
sent into the base, the can only go so far in questioning the 
individual. There needs to be carried out a handing over of the 
individual as quickly as possible." 
 
Although a Japanese person has been murdered in our own country, the 
investigation is being obstructed.  Shouldn't there be a way to 
overcome this impossible situation. 
 
(3) Prime Minister Fukuda proposes integrating road tax revenues to 
general account; no future in his policy switch; DPJ compiles "three 
principles" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 28, 2008 
 
With the expiration of the provisional tax rates, including the 
gasoline tax, on March 31 in mind, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
yesterday pledged to integrate the special account from road-related 
taxes into the general account budget starting in fiscal 2009. 
Loosing his patience with the deadlock in deliberations between the 
ruling and opposition camps, Fukuda made a historic policy switch by 
using a press conference to make the announcement. However since 
there still remain gaps between his view and that of the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), it can be 
said that there is no future in his decision. With an eye on a 
future battle with the government and ruling parties after gasoline 
prices drop, the DPJ is now alert to Fukuda's policy change, 
thinking that he launched the effort in order to gain support from 
the public. 
 
At a press conference yesterday, Fukuda underscored his view of 
aiming to avoid the expiration of the provisional rates, saying: "It 
is easy to run away for the reason that there is little time left. 
But I will never give up." 
 
In regard to a bill amending the Special Taxation Measures Law aimed 
at retaining the current provisional tax rates, the government and 
ruling coalition have been coordinating to minimize the gap in the 
provisional taxes for just about one month by enacting the 
legislation in late April when the Lower House can take a second 
vote once the tax reform bill expires in the Upper House at the end 
of March. However, the outlook is that the public will react sharply 
toward a revision of the special revision law that would lead to a 
hike in the reduced gasoline prices. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000858  005 OF 006 
 
 
Therefore, Fukuda appears to have decided to show the public his 
"fragile compromise" prior to his announcement of a policy to 
readopt the legislation (in the Lower House). The reason is that he 
predicted that even if confusion was created, criticism will go also 
to the DPJ. 
 
Meanwhile, being alarmed by Fukuda's such moves, the largest 
opposition party yesterday revealed a set of three principles from 
President Ichiro Ozawa, who has advocated scrapping the provisional 
tax rates. An easygoing compromise with the ruling bloc will prove 
fatal to the DPJ, which aims at the toppling of the Fukuda 
administration. If the party continues boycotting deliberations, it 
may be criticized by the public. Deputy President Naoto Kan said: 
"It is a great progress and I highly value" (Fukuda's decision) to 
allow revenues from road-related taxes to be freed up for purposes. 
But he emphasized: "Integrating the special account from 
road-related taxes into the general account and scrapping the 
provisional tax rates are inseparable." Some in the LDP are reacting 
coolly toward Fukuda's top-down approach of directly appealing to 
the public, which former Prime Minister Junichiro often took. Fukuda 
said: "I told party members (about my decision). (My decision) is 
understood by most of them." But a senior LDP member commented: "I 
heard about it from the prime minister in advance. But I did not 
give my approval." He indicated in his remark that Fukuda had failed 
to complete the groundwork in his party. Fukuda met on the night of 
March 26 with Koizumi and former Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, 
who have taken a flexible stance toward revision talks with the 
opposition camp. If Fukuda fails to reach an agreement with the DPJ, 
he will push ahead with his plan to shift tax revenues for road 
projects to the general account. Given that, the prime minister's 
decision might create a dispute within the LDP. 
 
(4) Prime minister's surprise road-revenue proposal causes stir in 
LDP 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
March 28, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announced yesterday a set of new 
proposals centering on a plan to incorporate the road-related tax 
revenues into the general account starting in fiscal 2009 by 
abolishing the road-use revenue system. His announcement that the 
government and ruling coalition would implement the plan without 
consent of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan has 
created a sensation in the Liberal Democratic Party. Some have 
reacted positively, saying that the outstanding issue since the 
Koizumi administration would finally move forward, while some others 
insisted that an agreement with the DPJ is a precondition for 
implementing the proposals. The prime minister's plan is likely to 
continue stirring up controversy. 
 
An hour and a half before the prime minister held the press 
conference yesterday afternoon, some 30 junior LDP members, 
including House of Representatives member Masaaki Taira, held a 
meeting with Fukuda at his official residence. In the session, the 
group presented a set of proposals calling for such steps as 
allocating the highway tax revenues for general expenditures 
starting in fiscal 2009 and shortening the 10-year midterm road 
improvement program to a five-year plan. 
 
The group's proposals that were similar to Fukuda's pleased the 
prime minister immensely. 
 
TOKYO 00000858  006 OF 006 
 
 
 
Meanwhile, a Machimura faction member, who has supported the reform 
policy line advocated by former Prime Minister Abe and his 
predecessor Koizumi, noted yesterday: "In order to boost his public 
support, Prime Minister Fukuda must implement reforms regardless of 
a backlash within the party." A junior member advocating the general 
account approach also commented, "If the prime minister had not made 
bold proposals, I intended to revolt against the party decision 
during a second Lower House vote." 
 
LDP Election Strategy Council Chairman Makoto Koga, the "don" of the 
road policy clique in the LDP, also told reporters: "The proposals 
were so audacious that I was really surprised. The prime minister 
has vowed to protect local fiscal resources. Can he still deliver on 
his promise after placing the road-use revenues into the general 
account?" Highway Research Commission Chairman Yuji Yamamoto 
indicated that an agreement with the DPJ would be a prerequisite for 
the Fukuda proposals, noting, "Without the DPJ's consent, the 
proposals would go down the drain." An influential road policy 
specialist commented, "Reaching an accord with the DPJ is not 
possible. Revision talks are over now," apparently with little 
respect for the prime minister's new policy course. 
 
The proposals also drew fire from a lawmaker from a local district, 
complaining: "The prime minister's proposals have not undergone any 
party procedures. I have repeatedly told people in my home 
constituency that the road revenues are essential for building and 
repairing roads. Is he going to force me to throw what I promised 
into the wastebasket?" Local heads also expressed concerns, with 
Miyazaki Governor Hideo Higashikokubaru saying, "The trend of 
incorporating the road-use revenues into the general account seems 
unavoidable. We would like to know exactly how the central 
government is going to allocate revenues to local regions." 
 
SCHIEFFER