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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 15 TOKYO 000933 
 
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 04/07/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
G8 development ministerial: 
4) G8 development ministers agree to boost aid to developing 
countries, express concern about soaring cost of food  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
5) Development ministers agree to seek dialogue with emerging aid 
donors, increase ODA to Africa  (Nikkei) 
6) Japan's foreign minister pledges increase in official development 
assistance  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Opinion polls: 
7) Mainichi poll: Fukuda Cabinet support rate plummets 6 points to 
new low of 24 PERCENT , with non-support rate rising to 57 PERCENT 
(Mainichi) 
8) Fuji-Sankei poll: Cabinet support rate sinks to 23.8 PERCENT , 
non-support rate jumps to 59 PERCENT   (Sankei) 
9) Kyodo poll finds only 26 PERCENT  of public support the Fukuda 
Cabinet, and 64 PERCENT  are against a revote to reinstate gasoline 
tax  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Military incidents: 
10) Admiral Kelly apologizes for cab-driver slaying incident for 
which a Yokosuka sailor has been charged; Suspect had previously 
fled the base  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
11) Murder suspect after incident reportedly entered Yokosuka base 
to draw cash from ATM machine, even though he was on the 
deserter-watch list  (Yomiuri) 
12) Yokosuka murder suspect was a "green-card warrior" - a foreign 
national who joined the U.S. Navy with ultimate goal of becoming an 
American citizen  (Mainichi) 
13) Priority of U.S. military in quickly resolving Yokosuka murder 
case was to avoid impact on scheduled replacement of aircraft 
carrier with nuclear-powered one  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
14) Two youths, U.S. military dependents, arrested in Okinawa for 
taxi robbery  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
15) Missile defense system: Deployed missiles were never "live-fire" 
tested  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Visit of ROK foreign minister: 
16) Prime Minister Fukuda meets with visiting South Korean foreign 
minister, discusses cooperation on North Korea policy  (Yomiuri) 
17) Japanese, ROK foreign ministers in Tokyo meeting vow cooperation 
on aid to newly developing countries  (Asahi) 
 
Diet affairs: 
18) Diet finally to get back to normal deliberations this week on 
road financing, pension issue  (Nikkei) 
19) Bank of Japan will at last have a governor, with Democratic 
Party of Japan's agreement to promotion of Deputy Governor Shirakawa 
 (Asahi) 
20) DPJ head Ozawa comes out against Watanabe as BOJ deputy governor 
 (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
 
TOKYO 00000933  002 OF 015 
 
 
Asahi: 
Doctors, nurses engaged in emergency care pressed with harsh working 
conditions 
 
Mainichi: 
Support rate for Fukuda cabinet drops 6 points to 24 PERCENT 
 
Yomiuri: 
Poll: 30 PERCENT  of merged cities, towns, villages fail to unify 
utility charges 
 
Nikkei: 
Far more Japanese firms adopting takeover defenses seeking 
shareholders' judgment 
 
Sankei: 
Guidelines for e-government call for paperless administrative 
procedures 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Transport Ministry increases usage frequency of smart interchanges 
by using tax money based on ambiguous construction standards 
 
Akahata: 
Welfare Ministry issues crooked user manual on medical system for 
very old patients 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Proposal for creating hopeful society (Part 24 - completion): 
Redefine Article 25 of Constitution: 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Drop in public support for Fukuda cabinet reflects looming end 
(2) Large-scale floods: Quick evacuation critical 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Ministries urged to adopt public-private competitive bidding 
system 
(2) Enhance convenience and confidence about settlement of disputes 
outside court 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Don't be swayed by North Korea's provocative acts 
(2) National control over metabolic syndrome questionable 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Bill to reform public servant system must be discussed with 
sense of alarm 
(2) Introduction of system to record police questioning: Study of 
effect on security also necessary 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) First meeting on global warming: Political power imperative to 
display leadership 
(2) Reflecting on serious shortage of fire brigade members: Foster 
spirit of helping each other 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Argument that Japan-U.S. alliance is absolutely necessary no 
longer acceptable 
 
TOKYO 00000933  003 OF 015 
 
 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 4 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 5, 2008 
 
08:00 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwaki at Kantei. Afterwards, 
attended a ministerial meeting on economic measures. Later, met with 
LDP Secretary General Ibuki. 
 
08:56 
Attended a cabinet meeting. 
 
09:09 Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
10:01 
Attended an Upper House plenary session. 
 
12:08 
Visited an exhibition "Sakura, Sakura, Sakura, 2008" at Yamatane 
Museum of Art at Sanbancho, Tokyo. 
 
14:15 
Met with Vice Health and Labor Minister Erikawa, Social Insurance 
Agency Director-General Sakano, and Special Advisor to Prime 
Minister Ito. Ito remained. Afterwards, met with House of 
Representatives member Kenichi Mizuno and others of the Forum to 
Support the Fukuda Proposal and Realize the Incorporation of Tax 
Revenues for Road Projects into General Account. 
 
15:00 
Recorded a by-election campaign for broadcast for Yamaguchi 2nd 
District for the Lower House at LDP headquarters. Afterwards, met 
Ibuki. 
 
15:33 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani at Kantei. After him, 
met Machimura. Later, met with MOFA's Disarmament, Non-Proliferation 
and Science Department Director-General Nakane. 
 
16:31 
Met with South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung 
Hwan. 
 
17:07 
Met with Machimura. 
 
18:46 
Left Haneda Airport by JAL541. 
 
19:55 
Arrived at New Chitose Airport. 
 
21:49 
Arrived at The Windsor Hotel International Toya in Hokkaido's Toya 
Town and stayed there. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 5 
 
 
TOKYO 00000933  004 OF 015 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 6, 2008 
 
07:47 
Inspected The Windsor Hotel International where he was staying, 
joined by Hokkaido Gov. Takahashi and Mayor of Toya Town Nagasaki. 
 
08:57 
Inspected the construction of "International Media Center," a major 
media base for the G-8 summit, at "Rusutu Resort" in Rusutsu 
Village. 
 
09:26 
Inspected the French restaurant "Maccarina" in Makari Village, 
joined by Mayor of Makari Village Sasaki and others. 
 
10:57 
Attended a discussion meeting on climate change at The Windsor Hotel 
with Environment Minister Kamoshita, Minister of Economy, Trade and 
Industry Amari and others also present. 
 
13:06 
Had a luncheon with participants of the discussion meeting. 
Afterwards, met with Hokkaido Gov. Takahashi. 
 
14:03 
Attended a town meeting with local residents at the Toyako Culture 
Center in Toyako Town. 
 
16:21 
Arrived New Chitose Airport. 
 
17:09 
Left the airport by JAL528. 
 
19:09 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
19:32 
Dined with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwaki and others at the 
Italian restaurant "Antonio's" in Minami Aoyama. 
 
21:32 
Arrived at Kantei residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 6 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 7, 2008 
 
Stayed at Kantei residence all the day. 
 
4) G-8 development ministers vow to boost assistance to developing 
countries: Chairman's summary released: Participants expressed 
concern over rising food prices as well 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 7, 2008 
 
In the run-up to the July Lake Toya G-8 summit in Hokkaido, 
development ministers from the Group of Eight (G-8) nations on April 
6 wound up their meetings that focused on the issues of developing 
 
TOKYO 00000933  005 OF 015 
 
 
countries with the issuance of a chairman's summary. 
 
The chairman's summary reaffirms that aid for development should be 
strengthened in terms of both quality and quantity, noting "We 
reaffirm our resolve to reinforce our efforts to assist development 
and to extend aid in a more effective manner, acknowledging the 
unparalleled challenges facing the world." 
 
The summary points out the need to deal with climate change and 
development in a comprehensive manner. It gives high marks to 
various countries' efforts, including Japan's Cool Earth 
Partnership, a framework for assistance for measures to combat 
global warming. 
 
The summary also notes the importance of promoting cooperation with 
new aid donors, such as emerging countries and private foundations, 
and economic growth in development of developing countries. 
 
Participating countries during a series of meetings expressed 
concern over sharp rises on food prices. 
 
5) G-8 development ministerial meeting ends after issuing chairman's 
summary calling for dialogue with emerging aid donors, aid to 
Africa 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 7, 2008 
 
A development ministerial meeting of the Group of Eight (G-8) major 
countries to discuss assistance to developing countries wrapped up 
yesterday after issuing a chairman's summary calling for cooperation 
between emerging aid donors and the G-8 countries. Utilizing its 
past longtime performance, Japan is eager to take the initiative in 
discussions in preparation for the Lake Toya Summit in July. 
However, it remains uncertain to what extent Japan will be able to 
display its leadership, given the sharp decline in its official 
development assistance (ODA) disbursements. 
 
In the chairman's summary, Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura made a 
commitment to expanding assistance to Africa. It also identified aid 
to developing countries addressing the issue of countering global 
warming as an imminent task. In a discussion held yesterday 
afternoon, a number of participants voiced concern about soaring 
food prices. The G-8 countries agreed to cooperate in hammering out 
countermeasures. 
 
A major focus in the two-day ministerial meeting was on the issue of 
establishing a cooperative system between the G-8 countries and such 
emerging aid donors as China, South Korea, and India. A commitment 
to expanding policy dialogue and information-sharing was included in 
the chairman's summary. 
 
China, in particular, increased overseas assistance by more than 40 
PERCENT  over the two years from 2003. The G-8 countries want to 
produce positive results through assistance to Africa by making use 
of the funds provided by the emerging countries. They are also 
worried about China and other countries for their stance of actively 
providing aid to even autocratic regimes. 
 
Keeping such concerns in mind, Foreign Minister Koumura emphasized 
in a press conference after the meeting: "We must provide assistance 
based on our common values." The chairman's statement, in a bid to 
 
TOKYO 00000933  006 OF 015 
 
 
prevent the emerging donors from offering aid that disregards human 
rights, noted: "Good governance should be the precondition for 
helping Africa development." 
 
Japan's ODA, though, is in a weakened state. Japan slipped two ranks 
to fifth place in the list of official foreign aid donors in 2007 on 
calculations by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD). Koumura expressed his determination to halt and 
reverse the steep slide in Japan's ODA in a speech at the outset of 
the meeting on the 5th and in the press conference yesterday. But it 
will not be easy to do so. 
 
6) Foreign minister vows to increase ODA: Strong concern over 
declining Japan's diplomatic presence 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 7, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura expressed his strong resolve to 
boost Japan's ODA at a meeting of Group of Eight (G-8) major 
nations' ministerial meeting on development, which ended yesterday. 
Japan has slipped from third to fifth place in the 2007 ODA donor 
list. The government is struggling to show its presence as the 
nation hosting the Lake Toya G-8 to be held in Hokkaido in July. 
 
The development issue is one of Japan's major diplomatic challenges, 
as the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) 
will take place in May in Yokohama. 
 
However, according to the 2007 ODA results released by the 
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 
Japan's ODA fell 30.1 PERCENT , from the preceding year. Though it 
was the top donor in the 1990s, Japan has been overtaken by the 
U.S., Britain, Germany and France since 2000. China is also 
positively moving ahead with aid diplomacy. There is concern about a 
further decline in Japan's diplomatic influence. 
 
Foreign Minister Koumura during a joint press conference held after 
the ministerial meeting stressed: "Japan, as the nation hosting the 
G-8, is ready to make a positive contribution for a success of the 
meeting. We want to make efforts to boost our ODA." 
 
However, the basic policy guidelines on economic and fiscal 
management and structural reforms adopted at a cabinet meeting 
include further cuts in ODA loans. Whether it is possible to 
increase ODA alone as a sacred area amid the nation's continuing 
fiscal difficulties is unclear. The new international pledge is 
bearing down on the government. 
 
7) Poll: Cabinet support drops 6 points to 24 PERCENT , nonsupport 
rises to 57 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
April 7, 2008 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a nationwide public opinion survey on 
April 5-6. The approval rating for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's 
cabinet was 24 PERCENT , down 6 points from the last survey taken in 
March, reaching a new low (in the Mainichi series) since its 
inauguration last September. The disapproval rating, which topped 50 
PERCENT  in the last survey for the first time, also further 
increased, this time 6 points to 57 PERCENT . Meanwhile, provisional 
 
TOKYO 00000933  007 OF 015 
 
 
extra taxation added to gasoline and other road-related taxes 
expired in March. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic 
Party and New Komeito is planning to take a second vote in the House 
of Representatives on a bill to revise the Special Taxation Measures 
Law in an aim to restore the provisional tax rates. In the survey, 
64 PERCENT  answered "no" when respondents were asked if they 
supported the plan, with 32 PERCENT  saying "yes." 
 
The results of the latest survey will make it extremely difficult 
for Fukuda to politically manage his administration. 
 
The Fukuda cabinet's support rate was 57 PERCENT  upon its 
inauguration last September but slipped to 33 PERCENT  last 
December, then leveled off in the following surveys. The Fukuda 
cabinet's nonsupport rate has increased in every survey starting 
with 25 PERCENT  upon its inauguration. The survey this time shows 
that the approval and disapproval ratings have now changed places. 
 
Meanwhile, Fukuda has now advocated incorporating road-related tax 
revenues into the state's general account budget to use the tax 
revenues for other purposes as well in addition to road construction 
and other road-related infrastructure projects. Asked about this 
advocacy, 45 PERCENT  answered that the road-related tax revenues 
should be incorporated into the general account from the current 
fiscal year, topping all other answers, with 30 PERCENT  approving 
Fukuda's advocacy, and 19 PERCENT  saying the road-related tax 
revenues should be upheld for road-related infrastructure projects 
only. 
 
8) Poll: Cabinet support further slips to 23.8 PERCENT 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Abridged) 
April 5, 2008 
 
The Sankei Shimbun and Fuji News Network conducted a joint public 
opinion survey on April 2-3, in which the rate of public support for 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his cabinet was 23.6 PERCENT , 
showing a further drop of 4.9 percentage points from its previous 
lowest rating in the last survey taken Feb. 23-24. The opposition 
camp is now poised to pass a censure motion in the House of 
Councillors, and nearly half of those who responded to the survey 
answered "yes" when asked if they supported the move. People are 
distancing themselves from Fukuda. 
 
By gender, the Fukuda cabinet's support rate was 24.6 PERCENT  among 
women and 23 PERCENT  among men. Among women, the support rate 
decreased 6.5 points. Among men as well, the support rate dropped 
3.1 points. Among women, the Fukuda cabinet's nonsupport rate was 
51.6 PERCENT , exceeding 50 PERCENT  for the first time. The figure 
shows that women in particular have distanced themselves from 
Fukuda. 
 
Meanwhile, Fukuda has proposed incorporating road-related tax 
revenues into the state's general account budget from fiscal 2009 to 
use the tax revenues for other purposes as well as for road 
construction and other road-related infrastructure purposes. Asked 
about the advisability of this, "yes" came from 63.9 PERCENT , with 
"no" at only 21.9 PERCENT . As seen from these figures, the general 
public supports using the road-related tax revenues for general 
purposes in addition to road-related projects. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
 
TOKYO 00000933  008 OF 015 
 
 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 27.4 PERCENT , with the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) at 24.9 PERCENT . 
Both the LDP and the DPJ dropped from the last survey. These figures 
show that the public criticism of the government and ruling parties 
has not necessarily led to support for the DPJ. 
 
9) Poll: 64 PERCENT  opposed to revoting on gasoline tax; Fukuda 
cabinet's support rate nosedives to 26 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 6, 2008 
 
According to a public opinion survey conducted by Kyodo News for the 
month on April 4-5, the rate of public support for Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda and his cabinet was 26.6 PERCENT , down 6.8 percentage 
points from its lowest rating scored in the last survey taken in 
March. The Fukuda cabinet's support rate fell below 30 PERCENT  for 
the first time (in the Kyodo poll series). Among Fukuda's 
predecessors, the support rate for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's 
cabinet fell to 25.3 PERCENT  in September last year shortly after 
Abe revealed his intention to step down. The Fukuda cabinet's 
support rate is now close to this figure; it seems to have hit the 
'danger zone.' The nonsupport rate for the Fukuda cabinet rose to 
59.6 PERCENT . In the last survey, the Fukuda cabinet's nonsupport 
rate topped 50 PERCENT  for the first time, but this time, it soared 
an additional 9.0 points. 
 
Meanwhile, the provisional tax rate added to the price of gasoline 
and other road-related taxes have now lost their legal grounds as 
the law expired. On this issue, the ruling coalition of the Liberal 
Democratic Party and New Komeito is going to take a second vote in 
the House of Representatives on a tax reform bill in an aim to 
restore the provisional tax rates. In the survey, when respondents 
were asked if they supported the ruling coalition's plan to take a 
second vote in the lower chamber on the bill, 64.4 PERCENT  answered 
"no," with 26.2 PERCENT  saying "yes." Fukuda will be under pressure 
to make a difficult decision on whether to take a second vote and 
prepare for a public backlash. 
 
Fukuda has now proposed his idea of incorporating road-related tax 
revenues into the state's general account budget to use the tax 
revenues for general purposes as well as for road construction and 
other road-related infrastructure projects. The survey asked people 
if they supported the idea. To this question, 59.5 PERCENT 
approved. When asked about provisional extra taxation, however, 52.2 
PERCENT  answered that there was no need to add such extra taxation. 
The figure shows the public supports the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) when it comes to its stance of 
incorporating road-related tax revenues into the general account 
budget and abolishing the extra tax rates. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP 
stood at 27.6 PERCENT , down 4.0 points from the last survey. The 
DPJ rose 3.0 points to 25.7 PERCENT . Among other political parties, 
New Komeito was at 2.5 PERCENT , with the Japanese Communist Party 
at 4.1 PERCENT , the Social Democratic Party (Shaminto) at 1.4 
PERCENT , the People's New Party at 0.3 PERCENT , and the New Party 
Nippon at 0 PERCENT . "None," or those who have no party to support, 
was at 36.8 PERCENT , up 1.5 points. 
 
10) Japan, U.S. aimed to resolve taxi driver murder case swiftly in 
order to avoid any negative impact on planned replacement of 
 
TOKYO 00000933  009 OF 015 
 
 
aircraft carrier, but they failed to do so owing to lack of material 
evidence 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full) 
April 5, 2008 
 
Olatunboson Ugbogu (22), a seaman assigned at the U.S. Navy's 
Yokosuka Base, was arrested on charges of robbing and murdering taxi 
driver Masaaki Takahashi (61) in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. 
The unusual way that the U.S. worked closely with Japanese police 
prior to the suspect's arrest is noteworthy. Lying behind this 
"exceptional" cooperation by the U.S. side is presumably its desire 
to settle the case swiftly in order to avoid any negative impact on 
the planned deployment of a nuclear-powered carrier in August. The 
lack of physical evidence, however, was a miscalculation that 
resulted in the arrest taking one month. 
 
The U.S. Navy in Japan was quick to take action after a U.S. sailor 
was found to have been involved in the murder. The day after the 
incident, the Navy contacted Yokosuka City and promised cooperation 
with the Japanese police investigation. On March 22, when the U.S. 
military took the seaman into custody on a charge of desertion, Rear 
Admiral James Kelly, commander of the U.S. Navy in Japan, met the 
press and reiterated full cooperation. 
 
The U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service also provided Japanese 
authorities with the deposition and fingerprints of the seaman. On 
April 3, when an arrest warrant was issued, U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
¶J. Thomas Schieffer offered an apology to Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya at 
the city office ahead of the handover of the suspect to the Japanese 
side. 
 
Behind this cordial response by the U.S. side is apparently the 
planned deployment of the nuclear carrier USS George Washington in 
the Yokosuka base in August. The carrier is to leave its homeport 
Norfolk Base in Virginia on April 7 for Yokosuka. 
 
If the U.S. military had been unwilling to cooperate with the police 
investigation despite the deployment nearing and had moved to hold 
on to custody of the suspect, it could have aggravated Yokosuka 
citizens' feelings. And if the police investigation had been 
prolonged, criticism of the U.S. military could have increased and 
calls for a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement 
(SOFA) would have gained momentum. Both the Japanese and U.S. sides 
needed to settle the incident as quickly as possible. 
 
However, the lack of material evidence, such as fingerprints and 
information from witnesses, linking the seaman to the case made 
police investigators cautious, with one senior prefectural police 
officer saying: "All that was available to us was circumstantial 
evidence." Contrary to the U.S. side's expectations, the arrest of 
the suspect did not come early. SOFA does not assume a case that 
involves both desertion and murder. So, in order to deal with two 
different crimes, Japan and the U.S. were in effect forced to 
compete with their respective rights of jurisdiction, but the U.S. 
side simply abandoned its jurisdiction over the case this time and 
gave importance to an early settlement of the case. 
 
11) U.S. sailor charged in taxi-driver slaying entered base 
immediately after incident to withdraw cash (from ATM machine) 
 
YOMIURI (Page 34) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000933  010 OF 015 
 
 
April 6, 2008 
 
In the case of the murder of a taxi driver in Yokosuka City, 
Kanagawa Prefecture, Yokosuka police investigators have learned in 
their investigation that the suspect, Olatunbosun Ugbogu, a 22-year 
old seaman's apprentice of Nigerian nationality stationed at 
Yokusuka Naval Base, immediately after the incident, returned to the 
base and withdrew money (from an ATM machine) with his cash card. 
The U.S. forces never notice that Ugbogu, who was being sought as a 
deserter, had entered and left the base. This has raised questions 
about the system of controls on the base. 
 
Ugbogu deserted from the base on March 8. He is now under arrest for 
the murder of a taxi drive, Masaaki Takahashi (then 61). According 
to investigators, they have confirmed that immediately after the 
incident, he returned to the base, which was about 500 meters from 
the scene of the crime, and withdrew cash from an ATM machine 
located in a health facility. After that, he exited the base and 
seems to have returned to Tokyo. 
 
12) Ugbogu, arrested on suspicion of murdering taxi driver, a 
green-card holder, may have joined military to gain citizenship 
 
MAINICHI (Page 27) (Abridged slightly) 
April 5, 2008 
 
Olatunbosun Ugbogu of Nigerian nationality, a 22-year-old U.S. Navy 
seaman arrested on suspicion of murdering and robbing Masaaki 
Takahashi, 61, a taxi driver of Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, in Yokosuka, 
Kanagawa Prefecture, was a non-U.S. citizen serving in the U.S. 
military with only a green card, permanent residency status. Those 
with foreign nationality who have served in the U.S. military can 
obtain U.S. citizenship on a priority basis. Some experts have 
raised questions about the quality of those who join the U.S. 
military for that purpose. 
 
Changing the system in July 2002, the U.S. government eased the 
procedures so that "green-card service members" can apply for 
citizenship upon joining the U.S. military and smoothly obtain 
citizenship after undergoing screening by immigration officials. The 
U.S. government also reportedly amended the immigration law in 
January 2007 to solicit applications (for the U.S. military) widely 
by allowing even illegal immigrants with no visas to begin 
procedures for citizenship in exchange for joining the U.S. 
military. 
 
Such steps are attributable to a chronic shortage of U.S. service 
members due to the large number of troops on foreign missions, such 
as the Iraq war, in the wake of 9/11. According to a book titled 
Report on Hinkon Taikoku America (Impoverished Superpower America) 
by reporter Mika Tsutsumi, who is well versed in U.S. issues, there 
were 37,401 green-card service members as of the end of 2003. Their 
country of origin is topped by Latin American countries, such as 
Mexico, followed by Southeast Asian and African countries. 
 
Military commentator Tetsuo Maeda said: "The number of young, poor 
foreign nationals trying to obtain citizenship by joining the U.S. 
military is increasing. The quality of those service members who 
joined the U.S. military just to obtain citizenship seems low." 
 
13) CNFJ Commander Kelly in press conference apologizes for alleged 
murder of taxi driver by U.S. sailor; Suspect also left base without 
 
TOKYO 00000933  011 OF 015 
 
 
authorization earlier 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full) 
April 6, 2008 
 
U.S. Naval Forces Japan Commander Rear Adm. James Kelly held his 
first press conference on April 5 following the arrest of a U.S. 
sailor on suspicion of murdering and robbing a taxi driver, Masaaki 
Takahashi, 61, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. In the press 
conference, the commander offered an apology, saying: "It is 
extremely sad that the suspect was a U.S. sailor, and I offer my 
deepest apology." 
 
Commander Kelly also revealed that the suspect, Olatunbosun Ugbogu, 
22, had previously left the base without authorization after causing 
trouble on the Aegis cruiser he was based at. Ugbogu left the base 
on March 8, and the U.S. Navy declared him a deserter based on the 
captain's decision two days later instead of the regular 30 days. 
 
Although Kelly also revealed that he had met with family members of 
Takahashi on March 5, he stopped short of discussing the details, 
saying, "It concerns the privacy (of the family members.)" He also 
simply said of the reason Ugbogu deserted and his work attitude: 
"They will become clear through investigations by Japanese 
authorities." 
 
14) Okinawa police question U.S. military policeman on voluntary 
basis over taxi robbery; Arrest warrants issued to two sons of U.S. 
soldiers 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Full) 
April 5, 2008 
 
A taxi driver was assaulted and robbed of 8,000 yen in cash in 
Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture. On April 4, Okinawa police 
arrested a 16-year-old senior high school boy and a 15-year-old boy, 
both of whom are sons of U.S. solders, on charges of robbery 
resulting in bodily injury. The police are questioning a corporal 
(21) assigned to the U.S. military's Kadena Air Base on suspicion 
that he might have been involved in the incident. The police intend 
to continue investigations on a voluntary basis and send papers on 
the corporal to prosecutors, as they have been able to interview him 
sufficiently in cooperation with U.S. military authorities, who have 
taken him into custody. 
 
In addition to them, the police, which have already obtained arrest 
warrants for two boys of U.S. soldiers, both of whom are 19 years 
old, on the same charge, have asked the U.S. military to hand them 
over to Japanese authorities, but it is unknown when they will be 
turned over. 
 
According to the police, they interviewed the corporal at another 
police station in the prefecture in cooperation with the U.S. 
military. U.S. military authorities have placed him under their 
surveillance. The police have questioned him several times since 
late March with U.S. military officers also present at the 
interviews. Reportedly, two 19-year-old boys, for whom the police 
have obtained arrest warrants, live on the base. 
 
According to police investigations, the allegations are that those 
boys, including a senior high school student, conspired to stop a 
taxi on a street in Okinawa City on March 16 around 0:20 a.m., had 
 
TOKYO 00000933  012 OF 015 
 
 
the male taxi driver (55) get out of the car, struck him in the back 
of the head inuring him, and robbed him of his change box containing 
some 8,000 yen in cash. 
 
15) Defense ministry skipping costly MD live-fire missile drills 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) 
April 6, 2008 
 
It was learned yesterday that the Ministry of Defense (MOD) will not 
conduct live-fire drills using two types of interceptor missiles it 
has introduced as part of a missile defense system -- the Air 
Self-Defense Force's PAC-3 and the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
SM-3 due to projected enormous costs. Their performance will be 
confirmed in tests before deployment. Possessing weapons that have 
not been used in live-fire drills is extremely rare. The 
difficulties associated with the introduction of a high-ticket 
weapons system have become exposed. 
 
A PAC-3 performance test is scheduled to take place in September 
this year in the United States to intercept two mock missiles. The 
costs, including services fees to be paid to the United States, are 
estimated at 2.3 billion yen. 
 
A test for the SM-3 will be conducted by four Aegis-equipped vessels 
that will be converted into MD vessels. 
 
In December last year, the JS Kongo successfully intercepted a mock 
ballistic missile in a test near Hawaii. Japan paid 6 billion yen to 
the United States for it. 
 
Such tests, designed to confirm the performance explained by the 
United States, differ different from pre-operation drills. Firing a 
PAC-3 in a drill is estimated at approximately 500 million yen and a 
SM-3 at 2 billon yen. In addition, Japan has to pay costs of decoy 
missiles to the United States. For this reason, both the ASDF and 
MSDF have decided not to conduct live-fire drills beyond 
computer-aided simulations. 
 
16) Prime minister meets with South Korean Foreign Minister: 
Cooperation in dealing with Pyongyang affirmed 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 5, 2008 
 
South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung-hwan on 
April 4 met with Prime Minister Fukuda at the Kantei. They discussed 
North Korea's nuclear development issue and agreed on a policy of 
Japan and South Korea working on Pyongyang to declare its nuclear 
development program in a complete and accurate way. They also 
confirmed their stance of closely cooperating with the U.S. and 
China as well. 
 
Yu has come to Japan in order to prepare for President Lee 
Myung-bak's Japan visit slated for April 20. The prime minister 
stated, "I am looking forward to exchanging views with President Lee 
for a new Japan-South Korea age." 
 
Yu then met with Foreign Minister Komura at the Foreign Ministry's 
Iikura State Guest House in Azabudai, Tokyo. Concerning Japan-North 
Korea relations, Koumura explained the government's stance of aiming 
at normalizing ties with North Korea after settling pending issues, 
 
TOKYO 00000933  013 OF 015 
 
 
including the abduction issue. During a joint press briefing after 
the meeting, he noted, "Foreign Minister Yu expressed his 
understanding and support. He has kindly noted that he would 
cooperate as much as he can." 
 
Regarding the abduction issue, to which Japan is attaching 
importance, Yu said, "I would like to pursue joint efforts between 
Japan and South Korea so that the issue can be settled at an early 
date." 
 
Koumura and Yu during the meeting agreed that Japan and South Korea 
co-host an international conference in Bangkok on April 23 to 
discuss how to improve the quality of aid, inviting emerging donors, 
such as China and India. 
 
17) Japanese, ROK foreign ministers agree to jointly host meeting on 
cooperation between industrialized and newly industrialized 
countries for aid to developing countries 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 5, 2008 
 
Visiting South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu Myung 
Hwan met on the night of April 4 with Foreign Minister Masahiko 
Koumura at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo. The two agreed to 
jointly host a meeting on cooperation between newly industrializing 
countries like China and India, which have rapidly increased their 
assistance for developing countries, and industrialized nations. The 
two also agreed to hold the first meeting on April 23 in Bangkok. 
 
Koumura and Yu held talks for the first time since the inauguration 
of the government of President Lee Myung Bak in February. Prior to 
his meeting with Koumura, Yu exchanged views with Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda. Referring to North Korea in the meeting, Yu told 
Fukuda: 
 
"The nuclear issue is now reaching a critical stage. We will closely 
cooperate (with other members of the six-party talks) so that North 
Korea will complete the declaration of its nuclear programs as early 
as possible and the six-party talks will resume. We will also 
cooperate to have the North enter the next stage." 
 
Fukuda and Yu reportedly confirmed bilateral cooperation on the 
abduction issue. They reportedly also exchanged views on President 
Lee's planed visit to Japan on April 20-21 when the mutual summit 
visits by top leaders of Japan and South Korea are resumed. 
 
According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Japan and South Korea 
will ask about 15 newly industrializing countries, including Russia 
and Mexico in addition to China and India, to take part in the 
planned April 23 meeting. The two countries also expected to invite 
seven aid-recipient countries, including Cambodia and Indonesia. The 
participants are expected to discuss such issues as cooperation 
between industrialized and newly industrialized countries. 
 
18) Diet finally to return to full-scale deliberations on 
road-related resources and the pension issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
April 7, 2008 
 
The lopsided Diet, which has been completely stalled due to the 
 
TOKYO 00000933  014 OF 015 
 
 
upper and lower houses being controlled by different parties, will 
return at the beginning of the week to full-fledged debates between 
the ruling and opposition camps centering on the issues of what to 
do about tax revenues designated for road building and the missing 
pension accounts. With the Democratic Party of Japan taking a clear 
confrontational stance, how will the government and ruling parties 
pursue the argument of restoring the provisional tax rates related 
to gasoline and other commodities? With expectations of an April 
clash on this issue, all eyes for the present will be on the party 
head debate that will take place on April 9 between Prime Minister 
Fukuda and Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa. 
 
19) Shirakawa to be appointed as new BOJ governor 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
April 7, 2008 
 
It has now become certain that Bank of Japan (BOJ) Deputy Gov. 
Masaaki Shirakawa, 58, will be promoted to the top post of the 
central back, which has been left vacant for the first time in the 
postwar era. The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the largest 
opposition force, has decided to accept the government's nomination 
of Shirakawa as the next BOJ governor. DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa 
said yesterday: "There is no obstacle." The DPJ, meanwhile, will 
make a decision on whether to accept the government's nomination of 
Hiroshi Watanabe, a professor at Hitotsubashi University graduate 
school and former vice finance minister for international affairs, 
as the successor to Shirakawa after the government presents its 
nominations to the Diet because there are pros and cons in the 
party. 
 
The government plans to present its nominations to a meeting this 
afternoon of representatives from the two houses of the Diet. 
Although it remains unclear whether the DPJ will accept or not the 
nomination of Watanabe as deputy BOJ chief, the government intends 
to present its nominations of Shirakawa as the new governor and 
Watanabe as one of the two deputy governors. It informally has told 
the DPJ and will seek the DPJ's approval of the two nominations as a 
set. 
 
Following the government's presentation of its nomination plan, the 
two Diet chambers will hear the opinions of Shirakawa and Watanabe 
on April 8 and take a vote on the appointments bill at their plenary 
sessions as early as April 9. The DPJ will discuss in a meeting of 
four executive members this afternoon how it should respond to the 
matter and make a final decision on the 8th. 
 
20) DPJ President Ozawa to oppose government's nomination of Hiroshi 
Watanabe to be deputy BOJ governor 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
April 7, 2008 
 
When asked on a Fuji TV and NHK talk shows yesterday about a 
possible government nominee Hiroshi Watanabe, a professor at 
Hitotsubashi University's graduate school and former vice finance 
minister for international affairs, as a deputy governor of the Bank 
of Japan, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa 
said: 
 
"The DPJ has been seeking to terminate the practice of amakudari or 
placing retired senior bureaucrats into high-paying posts at private 
 
TOKYO 00000933  015 OF 015 
 
 
and public entities. If the government nominates (Watanabe), many in 
my party will not accept it." 
 
The largest opposition party will make a formal decision after the 
government presents its nomination plan to the Diet today, but it is 
expected to oppose the nomination of Watanabe. If that happens, the 
vacancy of one of the two deputy BOJ chief posts will continue. 
 
Ozawa, meanwhile, showed his acceptance to promoting Deputy Gov. 
Masaaki Shirakawa as the next BOJ governor because his party had 
agree to the nomination of Shirakawa as deputy chief, saying: "There 
is no obstacle." 
 
Asked about whether he would run in the party's leadership race in 
September, Ozawa expressed a positive stance, saying: "If party 
members ask me to do so, I will (run in the election)." 
 
SCHIEFFER