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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000920 
 
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 04/04/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Fallout from Yokosuka murder: 
4) Yokosuka-based sailor arrested over cabdriver's murder, handed 
over to local police  (Asahi) 
5) Yokosuka sailor arrested on robbery, murder charges  (Mainichi) 
6) Foreign Minister Koumura asks Ambassador Schieffer to prevent 
recurrence  (Mainichi) 
7) Foreign Minister Koumura asks U.S. to enforce stricter discipline 
over taxi driver's murder; Ambassador Schieffer expresses regret 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) Kanagawa Gov. Matsuzawa in meeting with Ambassador Schieffer 
proposes local representative attendance at U.S.-Japan Joint 
Committee  (Nikkei) 
9) U.S. sailor arrested over murder of taxi driver: Yokohama mayor 
condemns incident, urges U.S. to seriously reflect on incident 
(Asahi) 
10) Local residents distrustful of U.S. servicemen: "They will do 
the same again"  (Nikkei) 
 
SOFA: 
11) Opposition camp calls for SOFA revisions  (Nikkei) 
12) Opposition parties demand SOFA revisions  (Asahi) 
13) Prime Minister Fukuda negative about revising SOFA provisions 
(Mainichi) 
14) Foreign Minister Koumura, Ambassador Schieffer cautious about 
revising SOFA  (Nikkei) 
 
HNS budget: 
15) Japan's HNS budget plan for USFJ clears lower house, certain to 
get Diet's final approval  (Nikkei) 
16) DPJ's Ozawa skips HNS vote in parliament  (Nikkei) 
 
U.S.-Japan ties: 
17) Ambassador to the U.S. Kato: "Japan should take initiative" 
(Sankei) 
 
North Korea & China ties: 
18) Japan to extend N. Korea sanctions  (Yomiuri) 
19) Ruling coalition leaders to visit China  (Nikkei) 
 
BOJ: 
20) Gov't to come up with new BOJ chief nominee on Apr. 7  (Yomiuri) 
 
 
Defense issues: 
21) MSDF reform panel holds its 1st meeting  (Nikkei) 
22) SDF's top brass to visit Russia  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Sailor arrested over taxi murder: Information about desertion 
should have been disclosed 
(2) Japan drops to 5th in ODA donor ranking: Brakes must be applied 
 
 
TOKYO 00000920  002 OF 010 
 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Arrest of U.S. sailor: Stipulation of Japan's investigation 
right urged 
(2) Government's plan for public servant system reform favorable for 
bureaucrats 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Risk of exodus after Tokyo quake: Promptly map out 
countermeasures 
(2) Pre-indictment handover should be norm 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) U.S. economy may remain sluggish 
(2) Documentary "Yasukuni" should be screened 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Arrest of U.S. sailor: Flexible application of SOFA necessary 
(2) Simulation of Tokyo quake: Don't rush home 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Thoroughly reform public servant system 
(2) Safety of portable battery ignition device must be ensured 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Review of daycare system: Policy for children and people needed 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi, Mainichi & Tokyo Shimbun: 
U.S. sailor held over taxi driver murder 
 
Yomiuri: 
Primary schools to teach English words and expressions in 2011 
 
Nikkei: 
Poll: 76 PERCENT  of major food makers mulling raising prices 
 
Sankei: 
Three NHK employees dismissed over insider trading 
 
Akahata: 
JCP Chairman Shii sends Chinese President Hu letter calling for 
peaceful settlement of Tibetan riots by talks 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 3 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
09:59 
Met with LDP Research Commission on Foreign Affairs Chair Yamasaki 
and others at Kantei. 
 
10:43 
Met with Parliamentary Defense Secretary Terada and Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Yanagisawa. 
 
11:01 
Met with National Police Agency Traffic Bureau Director-General 
Suei. After him, met with Ambassador to International Organizations 
 
TOKYO 00000920  003 OF 010 
 
 
in Geneva Kitajima. 
 
12:24 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 
 
13:34 
Met with Cabinet Special Advisor Okuda. 
 
14:27 
Met with State Minister in Charge of Science and Technology Policy, 
Atomic Energy Committee Chair Kondo and others. 
 
15:25 
Met with Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Masuda. 
 
16:03 
Met with MOFA Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General 
Saiki. 
 
17:00 
Met with House of Councilors member Otsuji. 
 
18:04 
Attended a session of the People's Livelihood Council. 
 
18:45 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
4) U.S. seaman arrested for murdering taxi driver; Suspect 
transferred from U.S. military to prefectural police 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Kanagawa prefectural police arrested yesterday Olatunbosun Ugbogu, 
22, a U.S. seaman apprentice (itto suihei) of Nigerian nationality 
based at Yokosuka Naval Base, on suspicion of robbing and murdering 
a taxi driver in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Ugbogu has 
reportedly admitted to the charges against him. 
 
At the same time, according to a lawyer who met Ugbogu last night, 
the seaman denied criminal intent, saying: "I didn't mean to kill 
him. I didn't mean to bilk him." 
 
The U.S. side agreed to hand Ugbogu over during a Japan-U.S. Joint 
Committee meeting held yesterday afternoon. The prefectural police 
executed an arrest warrant for Ugbogu after he was transferred from 
the base to the Yokosuka Police Station. This is the fifth 
pre-indictment case since 1995. 
 
The case will proceed under the Japanese legal system. At the same 
time, in the event a U.S. serviceman suspected to have committed a 
heinous crime, such as murder, is handed over to Japan before 
indictment, the presence of a person representing the U.S. military 
command is allowed. For this reason, a U.S. Navy legal officer will 
be present at Ugbogu's questioning. 
 
5) Kanagawa police arrest U.S. sailor on suspicion of robbery and 
murder, making it fifth pre-indictment case 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
April 4, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00000920  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
Kanagawa prefectural police arrested yesterday Olatunbosun Ugbogu, a 
22-year old U.S. seaman apprentice (itto suihei) of Nigerian 
nationality, on suspicion of murdering and robbing Masaaki 
Takahashi, a 61-year old taxi driver of Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, in 
Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Ugbogu, a crew member of the 
Aegis-equipped cruiser USS Cowpens, has been detained by the U.S. 
Navy. The prefectural police will analyze his motive, suspecting 
that the crime might have resulted from a taxi fare conflict from 
the fact that his credit card found in the taxicab had been 
unusable. 
 
6) Foreign Minister Koumura asks U.S. Ambassador to take thorough 
preventive measures 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura yesterday called U.S. Ambassador 
to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer to his ministry and requested that the 
U.S. take thorough measures to prevent heinous crimes from 
occurring. In response, Ambassador Schieffer said: "We are truly 
sorry for this tragic incident. We will do everything we can." The 
two leaders also agreed on the need to provide information on U.S. 
deserters to Japan. The two sides are expected to reach an agreement 
soon on a concrete communication system. 
 
Ambassador Schieffer also called on Kanagawa Governor Shigefumi 
Matsuzawa yesterday evening to offer an apology. In the session, the 
governor asked the Ambassador to establish a special committee so 
that base-hosting municipalities can take part in the Japan-U.S. 
Joint Committee. In response, Ambassador Schieffer said, "We have an 
obligation to seriously consider the governor's proposal." 
 
7) Arrest of U.S. seaman: Foreign Minister Koumura calls on U.S. to 
enforce strict discipline; U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer says, 
"It's extremely regrettable" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura yesterday called U.S. Ambassador 
to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer to his ministry in connection with the 
murder of a taxi driver in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. 
Speaking of the suspect U.S. serviceman, Koumura asked Schieffer: 
"The Japanese police have called for the transfer of the suspect 
before his indictment. It is my hope that you will do so 
immediately." 
 
Koumura also asked Ambassador Schieffer to enforce strict discipline 
among the U.S. military personnel and take measures to prevent a 
recurrence. 
 
In response, Ambassador Schieffer apologized, "I deeply regret this 
incident and apologize for it. I offer my heartfelt and deep 
condolences to the victim and his family." He agreed to hand the 
suspect over to the Japanese side. He also promised full cooperation 
with the investigation and utmost efforts to enforce strict 
discipline and take measures to prevent a recurrence. 
 
The Japanese side also called for the transfer of the suspect at the 
Japan-U.S. Joint Committee held to obtain approval from each 
 
TOKYO 00000920  005 OF 010 
 
 
committee component. The U.S. side accepted the Japanese side's 
request. 
 
Emerging from the meeting, Ambassador Schieffer told the press 
corps, "The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) process has worked 
very well this time," and emphasized that there was no need to 
revise SOFA." 
 
Late yesterday Prime Minister Fukuda, speaking of SOFA, told 
reporters, "I'll improve the current arrangements step by step in a 
steady manner," and reiterated it would be possible to deal with the 
situation by improving the operations of (SOFA). 
 
8) Kanagawa Governor Matsuzawa asks for participation of local 
government representatives in Japan-U.S. Joint Committee 
 
NIKKEI (Page 35) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer on April 3 visited the Kanagawa 
Prefectural Office to offer an apology for the recent taxi murder 
case. Kanagawa Prefectural Governor Matsuzawa during the meeting 
noted, "I would like to see a venue for discussing ways to prevent 
crimes and accidents caused by U.S. servicemen established." He thus 
called for the establishment within the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee 
of a special regional committee in which representatives of local 
governments that host U.S. military bases can take part. 
 
9) U.S. sailor arrested over murder of taxi driver: Yokohama mayor 
condemns incident, urges U.S. to seriously reflect on incident 
 
ASAHI (Page 31) (Excerpts) 
April 4, 2008 
 
A U.S. Navy seaman was arrested over the murder of a taxi driver in 
Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Yokosuka City's efforts to 
create a safe town in cooperation with the U.S. military were dubbed 
the "Yokosuka model." The heinous crime this time has disappointed 
its citizens. The U.S. Ambassador to Japan visited the city to offer 
an apology and repeatedly noted his determination to make efforts to 
prevent any recurrence. However, local residents are furious. 
 
The incident has greatly disappointed Yokosuka City, where the 
murder took place. 
 
U.S. Ambassador Schieffer, the commander of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet, 
and the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Japan visited the Yokosuka 
municipal office. Ambassador Schieffer offered an apology: "The 
incident has caused much trouble to citizens of the local community. 
We are going to try to take measures as much as we can in order to 
prevent any recurrence." Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya told them, "It is 
regrettable that a U.S. service member committed such a brutal 
crime. I hope you will seriously reflect on it." 
 
Ambassador Schieffer then returned to Tokyo and met with Foreign 
Minister Koumura. During a meeting with Koumura, he offered an 
apology to the family and friends of Masaki Takahashi (61), the 
victim of the incident. He then again went to Kanagawa Prefecture in 
the evening and offered an apology to Kanagawa Prefectural Governor 
Matsuzawa. 
 
Responding to a question asked by reporters at the Foreign Ministry, 
 
TOKYO 00000920  006 OF 010 
 
 
Ambassador Schieffer said, "Japan and the U.S. have fully cooperated 
with each other in dealing with the incident this time. I believe 
the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) has worked very 
well." He thus underscored that investigations by the Japanese side 
have suffered no setbacks. He noted, "In my view, there is no need 
to revise SOFA at this juncture." Koumura also repeated his previous 
view that the government's position is that it wants to deal with 
incidents like this by improving the application of SOFA. 
 
Mayor Kabaya during a press conference held after his meeting with 
Schieffer was visibly upset by the incident, "Yokosuka City was once 
called a model for local governments that host U.S. military bases. 
It is extremely regrettable that the incident occurred despite such 
efforts." 
 
10) Citizens voice distrust of U.S. service members 
 
NIKKEI (Page 35) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
The U.S. military imposed a night curfew following the slaying of a 
taxi driver by a U.S. serviceman. Many U.S. military personnel 
shoppers visit a shopping district near the U.S. Navy Yokosuka Navy 
Base commonly known as Dobuita Dori. Some storekeepers are concerned 
about the possible impact of the measure on their business, but 
others expressed distrust of U.S. servicemen. 
 
Regarding the incident, a company employee in his thirties who works 
near the shopping district said, "The incident drew attention, 
because the victim died. However, crimes caused by U.S. servicemen 
tend to be swept under the carpet due perhaps to the Japan-U.S. 
Status of Forces Agreement." He said he often witnesses U.S. service 
members drawing graffiti on shutters, throwing empty bottles from 
cars, and behaving violently in the shopping district. 
 
He lamented, "If the curfew is lifted, they may do the same thing 
again." 
 
11) Three opposition party secretaries general propose revising 
SOFA 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
The secretaries general of three opposition parties -- the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), 
and the People's New Party (PNP) -- met yesterday with Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura 
 
SIPDIS 
and presented their proposal for a revision of the Japan-U.S. Status 
of Forces Agreement. The opposition's proposal stipulates that the 
U.S. side be required to hand over a service member suspected of 
committing a crime to the Japanese side before the suspect is 
indicted in accordance with the Japanese side's request. The 
handover of a suspect before being prosecuted is stipulated in the 
improved application of the SOFA, but it is entrusted to the U.S. 
side. 
 
12) Opposition parties call for SOFA revision 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00000920  007 OF 010 
 
 
The secretaries general of three opposition parties -- Democratic 
Party of Japan, Social Democratic Party, and People's New Party -- 
yesterday presented to Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura a 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement revision plan and sought talks 
with the United States. The plan calls for: (1) pre-indictment 
handover of all suspects to Japan, (2) application of the Alien 
Registration Law to U.S. service members living off base and others, 
and (3) presentation of base use plans every eight years. Touching 
on the recent Yokosuka taxi driver murder case, DPJ Secretary 
General Yukio Hatoyama said, "The SOFA must be revised in order also 
to prevent such an incident." In response, Machimura said, "We would 
like to consider it." 
 
13) Prime Minister Fukuda negative about revising SOFA 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Kazuya Haniwa 
 
The opposition parties are calling for revising the Japan-U.S. 
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), but Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
indicated his reluctance to do so, noting, "I wonder whether this 
kind of incident will disappear if it is revised. We must consider 
such a matter." Fukuda went on to say: "I will improve the 
(operation) of the current arrangements step by step in a steady 
manner." 
 
14) Foreign Minister Koumura, U.S. Ambassador Schieffer cautious 
about review of SOFA 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Referring to calls for a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA) in the wake of the murder of a taxi driver by a 
U.S. military serviceman in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer said yesterday: "The SOFA 
functioned well since Japan and the United States fully cooperated 
in the investigations. So, there is no need to revise it." Foreign 
Ministry Masahiko Koumura also took the position of not seeking a 
review of the SOFA. They separately spoke to the press in the 
Foreign Ministry. 
 
The Ambassador pointed out: "When the Japanese side wanted to 
question (the suspect), they could do so." The Foreign Minister 
stated: "Among the countries that host U.S. bases, Japan is the only 
country where the U.S. side hands over a suspect before indictment. 
I want to deal with matters by using the improved SOFA 
application." 
 
15) "Sympathy budget" bill approved by Lower House, but cause of 
dispute still remains in terms of relations with U.S. 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
A bill for a new special agreement concerning Japan's host nation 
support for the U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) (the "sympathy budget") was 
adopted by a majority of votes from the ruling parties in the Lower 
House plenary session yesterday. The new agreement is now certain to 
be approved by May 3, for the Lower House's decision surpasses the 
 
TOKYO 00000920  008 OF 010 
 
 
Upper House's regarding agreements as well as budget bills under the 
Constitution. However, with the expiration of the old agreement, a 
"vacuum period" has been created. In addition, the opposition 
parties are gearing up to grill the government about 
entertainment-related outlays once debate on the agreement begins in 
the Upper House. All these things are likely to become another cause 
of dispute in relations with the United States. 
 
The sympathy budget consists of three items: personnel expenses for 
workers at U.S. military facilities, utilities charges for housing, 
and transfer expenses regarding carrier-based aircraft and other 
items. The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) argues 
against the inclusion in the budget of salaries of workers working 
at entertainment facilities in military bases. 
 
The new agreement is to replace the old one, which expired at the 
end of March. The term of the new agreement is set at three years. 
The government intended to get the new agreement approved in the 
Diet by the end of March, but primarily because of the delay in 
starting debate on the new agreement in the Diet, a "vacuum period," 
a period that will not be covered by the sympathy budget, has been 
created. 
 
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), if the new 
agreement does not take effect by the end of the month, that will be 
a hindrance to the payment of personnel expenses for April. The DPJ 
is highly likely to oppose the new agreement in the Upper House, as 
well, but in order to avoid causing confusion, the party is unlikely 
to move to delay discussion on the new agreement in the Upper House. 
But there are some items, such as payment of utilities charges for 
April, that are likely to be affected; as a result, the U.S. 
military may be forced to pay them. 
 
16) DPJ head Ozawa again abstains from vote in Lower House plenary 
session 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) President 
Ichiro Ozawa yesterday abstained from voting on a new special 
agreement bill in the Lower House plenary session. The same day, 
Ozawa met with reporters in Chiba Prefecture and told them: "I did 
not attend because I had another appointment. I have my own priority 
order of events." When the MDSF refueling bill was put to a vote in 
the Lower House plenary session this past January, Ozawa left the 
plenary hall before voting in spite of voting against the bill being 
decided as his party's policy. Ozawa was afterwards exposed to 
criticism. 
 
17) Outgoing Ambassador to U.S. Kato: Japan should display 
independent identity 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
(Takashi Arimoto, Washington) 
 
Ambassador to the United States Ryozo Kato gave a press conference 
on the 2nd, prior to resigning from his office, in which he said: 
"If Japan continues to carry out appropriate policies in the three 
areas of economics, technology and culture, and diplomacy and 
 
TOKYO 00000920  009 OF 010 
 
 
national defense, the U.S. will continue to respect Japan at the 
current level." 
 
Disclosing that he is often asked how Japan-U.S. relations are 
expected to change under a new president, Kato said: "No matter who 
becomes president, it is basically important for Japan to consider 
what it should do," stressing that Japan should display its 
independent identity. 
 
Comparing Japan-U.S. relations to a telescope, the ambassador said: 
"There was a long period in which the U.S., seen from Japan, looked 
big, while Japan, seen from the U.S., looked far smaller than what 
it actually is. We are now in an age of both sides seeing each other 
as they really are." He indicated that Japan has made its presence 
felt more in the U.S., as represented by the friendly relationship 
established between former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and 
President Bush. 
 
During his term of office, the ambassador was also pressed to play a 
difficult role in order to maintain the alliance with the U.S. due 
to the temporary suspension of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and other issues. Remembering 
those days, Kato said: "I was under heavy pressure every day." 
 
18) Extension of sanctions on North Korea to be decided on April 11 
in cabinet meeting 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
The government yesterday decided on a policy of extending by six 
months Japan's sanctions against North Korea, which will expire 
April 13. The reason is that there has been no improvement on the 
abduction issue and that the North has not implemented the six-party 
agreement to produce a complete and correct declaration of its 
nuclear programs. The government, therefore, concluded that the 
public would not approve the lifting of sanctions. 
 
In the wake of North Korea's nuclear test, Japan imposed sanctions 
for six months in October 2006. The extension this time around is 
the third. The main points of the sanctions include a ban on North 
Korean ships, including the freighter Man Gyon Bong, from calling at 
Japanese ports. 
 
19) LDP, New Komeito secretaries general to depart for China on 
April 15 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki and New Komeito Secretary General 
Kazuo Kitagawa will visit China for two days from April 15. The two 
are expected to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice 
President Zeng Qinghong to exchange views on the row over poisoned 
China-made dumplings and the dispute over exploration rights in the 
East China Sea gas fields. They will also likely ask for China's 
cooperation to prevent global warming. They are expected to hand 
Prime Minister Fukuda's letter to the Chinese leader. 
 
20) Government to present new nominee for BOJ governorship possibly 
on the 7th 
 
 
TOKYO 00000920  010 OF 010 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Regarding a new nominee for the now vacant post of Bank of Japan 
(BOJ) governor, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura told Democratic 
Party of Japan Secretary General Hatoyama in the Diet Building 
yesterday: "We would like to present our proposal soon. If we can 
make it, we want to reach a conclusion by April 11." Machimura 
indicated that the government would present a new nominee for the 
post to the Diet possibly on the 7th, keeping in mind the Group of 
Seven (G-7) finance officials' meeting scheduled for April 11 in 
Washington. 
 
Machimura conveyed to House of Representatives Diet Affairs 
Committee Chairman Takashi Sasagawa his intention to propose a new 
nominee on April 7 or 8. In this connection, a senior Liberal 
Democratic Party member said: "It is necessary to have (the proposal 
adopted) in a (Lower House) plenary session on the 9th. I think the 
proposal should be submitted on the 7th at the latest." Prime 
Minister Fukuda told reporters at his official residence last night: 
"I share (Machimura's view). It is better to decide what it should 
be decided at an early date." 
 
21) MSDF reform panel meets for 1st time 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
In the wake of an Aegis-equipped ship's recent fatal collision with 
a fishing boat and other incidents, the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
yesterday held the first meeting of its committee for major reform. 
The MSDF has set up the committee to discuss how to improve its 
organization and prevent incidents from recurring. The committee 
will work out an improvement plan in around six months. 
 
22) SDF's top brass to visit Russia from Apr. 8 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 4, 2008 
 
Takashi Saito, chief of the Self-Defense Forces' Joint Staff Office, 
told a press conference yesterday that he will visit Russia April 
8-12. Saito will meet with Chief of the General Staff Baluyevsky and 
other Russian military leaders to exchange views on the Far Eastern 
and East Asian situations as well as defense exchanges. This is the 
first time in three years for the SDF's top brass to visit Russia. 
In 2005, the then SDF Joint Staff Council chairman, Hajime Massaki, 
visited Russia. 
 
SCHIEFFER