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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001032 
 
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: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 04/16/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Diet agenda: 
4) Prime Minister Fukuda determined to take a second vote in lower 
chamber as early as Apr. 30 on gas tax bill, forgo Europe trip 
(Mainichi) 
5) Prime Minister Fukuda's Europe tour in early May difficult 
(Asahi) 
6) LDP Secretary General Ibuki negative about cabinet shuffle during 
current Diet session  (Yomiuri) 
7) Supraparty group eyes banning cluster bombs  (Yomiuri) 
 
Economic topics: 
8) Gov't panel to warn British hedge fund against its J-Power bid 
(Nikkei) 
9) High yen affects Japan's forex funds special account  (Yomiuri) 
 
Japan-China ties: 
10) Prime Minister Fukuda in meeting with Chinese President Hu 
Jintao to work on China for dialogue with Dalai Lama  (Nikkei) 
11) Ruling coalition leaders in Beijing ask China for peaceful 
solution to Tibet issue  (Mainichi) 
12) Prime Minister Fukuda to ask G-8 leaders for cooperation on 
Beijing Olympics  (Asahi) 
 
13) E. China Sea gas development issue unlikely to be settled at 
this May's Japan-China summit  (Yomiuri) 
 
Science & technology topics: 
14) Japan to invite 7 countries to this June's G-8 science and 
technology ministerial in Okinawa  (Mainichi) 
15) U.S., Japan institutions to start joint research to tailor gene 
therapies for individuals  (Asahi) 
 
Defense & security issues: 
16) U.S. military police take Okinawa-based servicemen's boys back 
to base in alleged shoplifting case before local policemen's arrival 
 (Sankei) 
17) Okinawa police send papers to prosecutors on cab robbery 
involving Kadena airman  (Sankei) 
18) Okinawa rally committee petitions Defense Ministry, Foreign 
Ministry for drastic revisions to SOFA  (Akahata) 
 
Whaling: 
19) Whaler captain back from Southern Ocean says Sea Shepherd boat 
within a close range of 3-4 meters, jeopardized human lives 
(Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Mainichi 
Unofficial school websites hotbeds of bullying, with half carrying 
abusive messages, according to survey by Education Ministry 
 
Yomiuri: 
Yomiuri Shimbun compiles proposal for establishing minimum 
 
TOKYO 00001032  002 OF 010 
 
 
guaranteed pension system, allowing families raising children to be 
exempt from paying premiums 
 
Nikkei: 
JVC to withdraw from domestic TV market to focus on Europe, U.S. 
 
Sankei: 
Government panel to express opposition to TCI's purchase of J-Power 
stocks; First guideline for regulating foreign investors 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Man arrested in connection with stabbing of woman in Fukuoka 
 
Akahata: 
New medical service system for very old people; Deduction of 
premiums from pension starts 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) General election in Italy: Politics needs renewal 
(2) Returning home after quake: Provide facilities for those who 
wait and watch situation 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Spreading anger over new medical service system for very old 
people: Elderly people should not be abandoned 
(2) Announcement of by-election: Good opportunity for political 
parties to compete in explaining their policies to public 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Yomiuri Shimbun proposal for pension reform: Take medical 
services and nursing-care into account 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Do not allow options for young people's job seeking to be 
narrowed 
(2) New administration in Italy must carry out structural reforms 
 
Sankei: 
(1) New medical service system for very old people: We should 
understand the system in a coolheaded manner 
(2) Renewing teaching licenses: More resourcefulness needed to 
improve quality 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) New medical service system for very old people: Use confusion to 
improve system 
(2) Sharp rise in food prices: Risk of buying food abroad 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Global food crisis: There are many things Japan should do 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 15 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
08:29 
Attended a meeting of the decentralization promotion office in the 
 
TOKYO 00001032  003 OF 010 
 
 
Diet Building. Attended a cabinet meeting. Consumer Affairs Minister 
Kishida stayed behind. 
 
09:55 
Attended an annual meeting of the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum at 
the Tokyo Prince Hotel. 
 
10:30 
Met the Japan cherry blossom festival princess and others at the 
Kantei, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura and Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Ono. Later met Cabinet Intelligence Director 
Mitani, Defense Ministry Defense Policy Bureau Director General 
Takamizawa, and Intelligence Headquarters chief Hokazono. 
 
11:19 
Met Kyoto Formative Arts University Professor Shinichi Takemura and 
Gaea Initiative President Tomoyo Nonaka, with Assistant Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Ando. Followed by Special Assistant Ito. 
 
12:13 
Met Machimura. 
 
14:27 
Met Special Advisor Yamatani. 
 
15:56 
Met Vice Justice Minister Ozu and Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Saka. 
 
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16:24 
Met Lower House member Taro Nakayama. 
 
17:00 
Met Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Fuyushiba, Senior 
Vice Minister Hirai, and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 
Attended a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. 
 
18:31 
Met Environment Minister Kamoshita. 
 
19:19 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Provisional gas tax rate bill to be adopted again in Lower House, 
possibly on April 30; Prime minister to forgo visiting European 
countries 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 16, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on April 15 decided to adopt as early as 
the 30th a bill amending the Special Tax Measures Law aimed at 
extending the provisional gas tax rate once again in the Lower 
House. He had been looking into visiting Britain, France and Germany 
during the Golden Week holidays in early May. However, he has 
decided to give up the idea. He will give priority to cutting the 
period of revenue shortfalls, because it will become possible to 
readopt the bill in the Lower House on the 29th in compliance with 
the Constitution. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) is determined to 
submit a censure motion against the prime minister to the Upper 
 
TOKYO 00001032  004 OF 010 
 
 
House in the event the bill is reapproved in the Lower House. 
Should that occur, the political situation would inevitably become 
strained. The gas tax has been a campaign issue in the Lower House 
by-election in the Yamaguchi No. 2 Constituency on April 27. 
However, in order to stabilize tax resources, the prime minister 
intends to have the bill readopted in the Lower House regardless of 
the election result. 
 
In the meantime, he will visit Russia from the 25th through the 27th 
as planned. He is expected to meet with President Putin and 
President-elect Medvedev. 
 
5) Prime Minister Fukuda's trip to Europe now difficult 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
It has now become difficult for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to visit 
Britain, France and Germany in early May. Assuming that the House of 
Representative will revote on April 30 on a bill to restore the 
once-expired provisional gasoline tax rate, Fukuda judged that it 
would be difficult for him to secure a schedule for a trip to the 
three European countries in consideration of managing Diet affairs 
after the enactment of the bill. 
 
Fukuda was considering a visit to Russia in late April to meet with 
President Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, who will assume the 
presidency in June, as well as a trip to Britain, France and 
Germany, after the passage of the gasoline bill, to ask the leaders 
of the three countries for cooperation for the G-8 Hokkaido summit 
in July. However, the view gained ground that it would be difficult 
to arrange schedules with these European countries because of the 
internal political situation, with opposition parties planning to 
submit a censure motion against the prime minister (to the House of 
Councillors). 
 
6) LDP Secretary General Ibuki negative about possibility of 
shuffling cabinet during current Diet session 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
Ichigo Kosaka, Beijing 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Secretary General Ibuki 
late yesterday held talks with reporters accompanying him at a hotel 
in Beijing. When asked about the possibility that the cabinet would 
be shuffled during the current session of the Diet, which is to 
close on June 15, Ibuki indicated a negative view by noting: "From a 
common sense viewpoint, it is hard to shuffle the cabinet while the 
Diet is in session, given the need for us to respond to questions in 
the Diet. Shuffling the cabinet with the aim of recovering the 
(cabinet) approval ratings is a case of putting the cart before the 
horse." 
 
7) Lawmakers call for ban on cluster bombs 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
A group of cross-party lawmakers held a study meeting in the Diet 
building yesterday on cluster bombs, which release large numbers of 
 
TOKYO 00001032  005 OF 010 
 
 
bomblets that may remain unexploded and cause tremendous damage 
later on. Branislav Kapetanovic of Serbia, who lost both hands and 
feet when was trying to destroy a bomblet, spoke before the 
meeting. 
 
8) Government to advise British hedge fund today to stop bid to 
increase stake in J-Power 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
April 16, 2008 
 
The government has decided to advise London-based Children's 
Investment Master Fund (TCI) to stop acquiring additional shares in 
domestic electricity wholesaler Electric Power Development Co., 
known as J-Power. The special subcommittee on foreign capital of the 
Finance Ministry's Council on Customs, Tariffs, Foreign Exchange and 
other Transactions submitted to the government a report suggesting 
that TCI's purchase of additional shares would disrupt the 
maintenance of public order. The government will issue an order 
based on the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law for the first 
time. 
 
TCI planned to buy more shares to increase its current stake of 
about 9.9 PERCENT  in J-Power to 20 PERCENT . In response to the 
application it filed, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry 
and the Finance Ministry asked the subcommittee to discuss the 
propriety of the TCI bid. The report noted: "The bid would bring 
about an unexpected effect on (J-Power's) plan, operation, and 
maintenance related to such fundamental facilities as electric power 
lines, as well as the nation's nuclear power policy." Under the said 
law, a foreign firm is required to give prior notice to relevant 
authorities when it plans to purchase a stake of 10 PERCENT  or 
more. It is the first time for the government to recommend or order 
a company to change or cancel its plan after the current applicable 
business types were set in 1992. 
 
9) Foreign currency reserve funds in special account reduced to 
almost zero due to stronger yen 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
The Finance Ministry yesterday revealed that reserve funds in the 
special foreign currency funds account had been reduced to almost 
zero as a result of an increase in appraisal losses of foreign 
reserves due to the strong yen. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ 
or Minshuto) is insisting that since the reserve funds are buried 
funds, they can be used to make up for revenue falls following the 
abolition of the provisional tax rates. Finance Minister Nukaga 
during a meeting of the Upper House Financial Affairs Committee 
yesterday noted, "The reserve funds have been reduced to almost 
zero. We have no intention of using those funds." 
 
The foreign currency reserve funds are mainly invested in U.S. 
government bonds. The current amount stands at approximately 17.5 
trillion yen. However, according to the Finance Ministry, that 
amount could be offset with the value of the yen reaching 101 
against the dollar, when appraisal losses of U.S. government bonds 
amounts to about 17.5 trillion yen. If the yen remains strong, the 
special foreign currency funds account would register excessive 
liabilities in terms of private companies, as the Finance Ministry 
put it. Should that occur, the ministry would find it necessary to 
 
TOKYO 00001032  006 OF 010 
 
 
make up for losses in the reserve funds by reducing surpluses from 
investment profits to be transferred to the general account. 
 
10) Prime Minister Fukuda intends to press Chinese leader to have 
dialogue with Tibet 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda intends to discuss the riots that 
occurred in the Tibet Autonomous Region when he meets with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao when the latter visits Japan in early May. The 
prime minister will urge the Chinese government to have a dialogue 
with the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, in order to 
resolve the problem. 
 
At a news conference yesterday afternoon, Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura noted: "It is important to resolve the Tibet 
issue through talks and in a peaceful manner. I think the prime 
minister will tell (the Chinese government) to make even more 
efforts." 
 
11) LDP, New Komeito leaders ask China for peaceful settlement of 
Tibet issue 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
Eriko Horii, Beijing 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Secretary General Bunmei 
Ibuki and the junior coalition partner New Komeito's Secretary 
General Kazuo Kitagawa arrived in Beijing yesterday afternoon. They 
met with Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the 
Communist Party of China, and urged the Chinese side to resolve the 
riots in the Tibet Autonomous Region in a peaceful manner. Ibuki 
conveyed to the Chinese side that during the upcoming Group of Eight 
(G-8) Toyako Summit in Hokkaido, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda would 
ask for the G-8 leaders' cooperation for the success of the Beijing 
Olympics. Speaking of the Tibet issue, Ibuki noted: "We hope to see 
the matter settled through dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama and in 
a peaceful manner." In response, Wang said: "The Tibet problem is 
one thing and our hosting of the Beijing Olympics is another. Those 
who schemed to link them caused the riots." 
 
As for the planned visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao in 
May, Ibuki said, "We'd like to make it a success as an occasion for 
the leaders of the two countries to discuss important matters for 
Asia and the world." Ibuki pointed out the need for both countries 
to make efforts to resolve such issues as the joint development of 
gas fields in the East Chine Sea and poisonous Chinese dumplings. 
Kitagawa asked Wang about chartered flights between Beijing Nanyuan 
Airport and Haneda Airport. Wang told Kitagawa: "We want to discuss 
the proposal fully." 
 
12) LDP Secretary General Ibuki conveys Prime Minister Fukuda's plan 
to Chinese side to ask G-8 summit members for cooperation for 
Beijing Olympics 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00001032  007 OF 010 
 
 
Hirotoshi Yamaguchi, Beijing 
 
Bunmei Ibuki and Kazuo Kitagawa, secretaries general of the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New 
Komeito, who are now visiting Beijing, met yesterday with Wang 
Jiaduan, head of the International Department of the Chinese 
Communist Party's Central Committee. Ibuki told Wang: "Prime 
Minister Fukuda hopes to see a successful Beijing Olympics. He plans 
to seek at the G8 summit in Hokkaido in July the participants' 
cooperation for the Olympics." 
 
On the Beijing Olympics, the view has emerged in some European 
countries and the United States that their leaders should forgo 
attendance at the opening ceremony in response to the Chinese 
government's response to the riots in Tibet. However, Fukuda has 
made his position clear that he will ask G-8 members to cooperate 
with China for the Beijing Olympics, giving priority to Japan-China 
relations. 
 
Ibuki also told Wang: "We hope that China will resolve the issue 
through dialogue in a peaceful manner by disclosing information 
further and securing transparency." He asked the Chinese side to 
hold a dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual 
leader. Wang then reportedly responded: "I would like to hear your 
proposal." 
 
In the meeting: Wan welcomed the visit to China by the two 
secretaries general, saying: "It is extremely important for 
 
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development of the China-Japan relations." 
 
13) Japan-China gas field development talks: Reaching settlement at 
summit difficult 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka met with his Chinese 
counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing on April 14-15. They exchanged views 
on the issue of developing gas fields in the East China Sea. 
According to an informed source, they remained at odds over the 
setting of an area for joint development. The issue is one of the 
top agenda items at a summit between Prime Minister Fukuda and 
Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is scheduled to visit Japan 
starting on May 6. 
 
Prior to the summit, Tokyo and Beijing will undertake final 
coordination during a foreign ministerial to be held when Foreign 
Minister Yang Jiechi comes to Japan on April 17. However, according 
to a source involved in bilateral gas field talks, it has been 
impossible for the two countries to hold talks on gas fields with 
both pressed to deal with the riots in Tibet and the tainted gyoza 
dumpling incident. As such, there is almost no chance for both 
countries to reach a settlement at the upcoming summit. Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Machimura during a press conference yesterday 
said: "Unfortunately, we have not reached an agreement as of today. 
Chances are that talks might continue until immediately before 
President Hu comes to Japan." 
 
14) Science and Technology Policy Minister Kishida: Seven countries 
will be invited to G-8 science and technology ministerial 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00001032  008 OF 010 
 
 
April 16, 2008 
 
Fumio Kishida, state minister in charge of science and technology 
policy, yesterday announced that Japan would invite seven countries, 
including Brazil, China, South Korea, and South Africa, to the G-8 
science and technology ministerial to take place in Okinawa in June 
before the G-8 summit is held in Hokkaido in July. A total of 16 
countries and organizations will participate in the June 
international conference. The G-8 will hold a science and technology 
ministerial for the first time. The main topic of discussion in the 
meeting will be how developing countries and G-8 members should 
promote multinational cooperation in a bid to resolve such global 
issues as how to build a low-carbon society and measures against 
infectious diseases. Therefore, the Japanese government reportedly 
judged that the G-8 members would need to discuss the matters with 
countries concerned. 
 
15) Japanese, U.S. research institutes to launch joint research on 
customized medical treatment 
 
ASAHI (Page 33) (Excerpts) 
April 16, 2008 
 
Japanese and U.S. research institutes will launch joint research on 
customized medical treatments to treat patients based on their 
respective genes. The Center for Genomic Medicine of RIKEN (Wako 
City, Saitama Prefecture) and research bodies under the National 
Institute of Health (NIH) signed a written agreement yesterday. The 
joint team will first engage in research on five cases, including 
treatment of breast cancer and prevention of strokes. 
 
This will be the first case for major research institutes of Japan 
and the U.S. to carry out joint research. They have judged that by 
making use of their capabilities and resources in an effective way, 
they will be able to eliminate wasteful research and create 
standards for treatments. Three research bodies under the NIH, 
including the National Cancer Center will take part in the joint 
research. Additionally, the Pharmacogenetics Research Network will 
also take part. 
 
16) U.S. military police officers took two shoplifters, sons of U.S. 
Marines, to base; Okinawa Police Station: "Investigations have been 
obstructed" 
 
SANKEI (Page 30) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
A salesclerk of a clothing store in Chatan, Okinawa Prefecture, 
caught two sons of U.S. Marines for allegedly shoplifting clothing, 
but U.S. military police officers who arrived at the scene ahead of 
Okinawa police officers took them into custody and took them to a 
U.S. base in defiance of the Okinawa police officers' request to 
question the two, it was learned yesterday. 
 
The Okinawa Police Station yesterday sent a letter to the U.S. 
Marine police seeking an explanation, noting, "Investigations have 
been hampered." 
 
According to the Okinawa Police Station, at around 3:25 p.m. April 
13, the salesclerk caught a 16-year-old and 17 year-old boy for 
shoplifting T-shirts and other items in a clothing store in Mihama, 
Chatan. Another minor who was with them fled from the scene. 
 
TOKYO 00001032  009 OF 010 
 
 
Although Okinawa police officers arrived at the scene some 20 
minutes later, U.S. military police officers who had arrived there 
earlier handcuffed the two minors and took them in custody. Although 
the Okinawa police officers were allowed to identify the minors, the 
U.S. side rejected their request to question the two and took them 
to a U.S. base. 
 
Since April 14, Okinawa police officers have been questioning the 
minors on a voluntary basis in close cooperation with the U.S. 
military. 
 
17) Papers on U.S. military police officer sent to prosecutors over 
taxi holdup 
 
SANKEI (Page 30) (Full) 
April 16, 2008 
 
The Okinawa Police Station yesterday sent to prosecutors papers on 
Darius Antoine Branson (TN: phonetic), 21, a military police officer 
based at Kadena Air Base, on charges of robbery resulting in bodily 
injury in connection with a case in which four sons of U.S. Marines 
had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a taxi driver and 
robbing him of about 8,000 yen ion Okinawa City on March 16. Branson 
has denied the charges, saying, "Although I drove to a place close 
to the scene, I did not instruct the boys to do anything." 
 
According to the investigation, Branson, in conspiracy with the four 
minors, is suspected of having brought the taxi to a halt on a 
street in Okinawa City at around 0:20 a.m. March 16, hit the driver 
in the head, and walked away with a box containing approximately 
8,000 yen. From statements by the four, Okinawa police believe 
Branson ordered them to attack the taxi driver. 
 
Branson has known the four from before. He was allegedly with the 
boys at his home on the base on the night of the incident and went 
out with them in his car. 
 
The four minors were arrested by April 5 by Okinawa police on 
charges of robbery resulting in bodily injury. Okinawa police have 
been questioning Branson on a voluntary basis in cooperation with 
the U.S. military. He has reportedly been detained in a facility on 
the base. 
 
On the day the incident occurred, U.S. forces in Okinawa were under 
a curfew in the wake of an alleged sexual assault against a local 
girl. 
 
18) Okinawa rally committee petitions Defense Ministry, Foreign 
Ministry for drastic revisions to SOFA 
 
AKAHATA (Page 3) (Abridged) 
April 16, 2008 
 
The Okinawa Prefectural Rally Executive Committee against Incidents 
and Accidents Caused by U.S. Military Personnel visited the Defense 
Ministry and the Foreign Ministry yesterday to propose revising the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) drastically and 
carrying out a realignment and reduction of U.S. military bases in 
Okinawa. 
 
Later in the day, the committee's members held a press conference, 
during which they revealed that they would ask lawmakers elected 
 
TOKYO 00001032  010 OF 010 
 
 
from Okinawa to check how the SOFA will be revised and how the U.S. 
military presence in Okinawa will be realigned and reduced. 
 
One of the committee's members quoted Parliamentary Defense 
Secretary Minoru Terada as telling them that the Defense Ministry 
 
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will work on the Foreign Ministry to revise the SOFA if its improved 
implementation is not enough. 
 
19) Captain of whaler comments on protesters: Protest boat came 
within a few meters 
 
NIKKEI (Page 43) (Slightly abridged) 
April 16, 2008 
 
The Nisshin Maru, the lead ship of a Japanese whaling fleet, 
returned to Tokyo Port yesterday after wrapping up its mission in 
the Southern Ocean. The ship was harassed by the antiwhaling group 
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society during whaling operations. Captain 
Tomoyuki Ogawa and crewmembers of the whaler held a press conference 
at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries yesterday. 
Captain Ogawa said: "The protest boat came only three or four meters 
away from our ship. If the ships had collided, it would have 
threatened human lives." He added: "I want them not to forget 
seamanship." 
 
According to Ogawa, when protesters threw bottles containing a 
chemical, the protest boat came so close to the whaling ship that 
the two ships were about to collide. Ogawa criticized Sea Shepherd: 
"(Protesters) should stop any acts that could inflict damage to 
ships or threaten people's lives. (Violent acts) should be taken up 
at an international arena." 
 
SCHIEFFER