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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 000967 
 
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 04/09/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Foreign affairs: 
4) Assistant Secretary Hill hints at progress in talks with North 
Korea on nuclear report  (Asahi) 
5) Japan extends its own sanctions on North Korea for the third time 
 (Asahi) 
6) French premier in interview before trip to Japan expresses 
support for Japan's proposal to cut greenhouse gases  (Nikkei) 
7) Prime Minister Fukuda plans early May visit to Europe despite 
uproar in Diet  (Mainichi) 
8) ODA scandal: PCI, a consultant firm, engaged in shady payoff-deal 
in Costa Rica centered on an ODA project  (Yomiuri) 
 
Political affairs: 
9) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) nixes appointment of Watanabe as 
deputy Bank of Japan governor  (Mainichi) 
10) One deputy slot at the Bank of Japan likely to remain vacant due 
to DPJ intransigence  (Mainichi) 
11) In Diet vote on deputy governor of the Bank of Japan, some DPJ 
lawmakers may break ranks and vote for Watanabe instead of against 
his appointment  (Mainichi) 
12) Stormy session in Lower House likely to intensify  (Asahi) 
13) DPJ to toughen attack on the ruling camp in the Diet  (Asahi) 
 
Opinion polls: 
14) Mainichi poll: 55 PERCENT  of public expect Diet dissolution if 
Upper House passes a censure motion against the Fukuda Cabinet 
(Mainichi) 
15) Multination poll finds Japanese youths have little sense of 
economizing compared to youths in other countries  (Sankei) 
16) Poll shows great differences in perception between Japanese and 
Chinese students  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
17) JCP delegation files protest at U.S. Embassy on series of crimes 
by U.S. military in Japan  (Akahata) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
DPJ decides to reject nomination of Watanabe for BOJ deputy 
governor, heeding Ozawa's wishes; Shirakawa to take top post today 
 
Akahata: 
Poll: Those against constitutional revision exceed supporters for 
first time in 15 years; 60 PERCENT  call for protecting Article 9 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Hopes for BOJ Governor Shirakawa 
(2) China is being tested over torch relay 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Torch relay: Beijing should understand importance of dialogue 
(2) Promptly show seriousness about shifting road-related tax 
 
TOKYO 00000967  002 OF 013 
 
 
revenues to general budget 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Dialogue is sole means to resolve torch relay fiasco 
(2) NATO: Security environment changing in Europe 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Start of lay judge system officially set 
(2) DPJ playing with nominations for BOJ top posts 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Shirakawa expected to do his best to restore public trust in 
BOJ 
(2) DPJ should present practical policies to win public support 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Resumption of dialogue imperative to prevent obstructions to 
torch relay 
(2) Ingenuity needed to raise awareness about lay judge system 
 
Akahata: 
(1) NATO summit: There is no future for military alliance 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 8 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
08:46 
Attended a session of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Gender 
Equality in Diet. 
 
09:47 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi at Kantei.10:25 
 
10:25 
Met with former Finance Minister Omi. 
 
11:04 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. Afterwards, met with 
State Minister in Charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Ota, Deputy 
Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka and others. Ota remained. 
 
13:30 
Met with Futahashi. 
 
14:34 
Met with the chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of Tunisia. 
 
15:13 
Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka, House of Representatives 
members Takeshi Noda and Hiroyuki Sonoda, and former Foreign 
Minister Kawaguchi. Afterwards, met with Special Advisor to Cabinet 
Kusaka. 
 
16:12 
Met with Special Advisor to Prime Minister Ito. Afterwards, met with 
former LDP Secretary General Nakagawa. 
 
17:05 
 
TOKYO 00000967  003 OF 013 
 
 
Met with Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae. Later, attended a meeting of 
the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. 
 
19:08 
Met with former Prime Minister Mori. Then attended the "Evening of 
Africa" with ambassadors to Japan from African countries, joined by 
Nippon Keidanren Chairperson Mitarai. 
 
20:50 
Met with Machimura at Kantei residence. 
 
4) U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Hill hints at progress on 
nuclear declaration issue after U.S.-DPRK talks 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Kei Ukai, Tetsuya Hakota, Singapore 
 
Talks between United States Assistant Secretary of State Christopher 
Hill and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan took place 
in the United States Embassy in Singapore yesterday. After the 
session, Hill indicated that there had been progress on the nuclear 
declaration issue, telling reporters: "We've seen a more significant 
progress than we had in the talks in Geneva (held last month). We 
may make some kind of announcement in this regard shortly." The 
working-level officials seem to have reached a basic agreement. 
 
When asked about whether there was any move concerning the nuclear 
declaration issue, for instance, an announcement of agreement, Hill 
said: "It depends on what response his home country will show by 
tomorrow." Hill did not reveal any details of what he and Kim had 
discussed, but he was positive about the meeting, noting, "We had 
substantive talks." Kim, too, said after the discussion: "The 
differences of views have now been narrowed down in many aspects. I 
think the discussion went smoothly." 
 
Hill is to arrive in Beijing on this morning and meet separately 
with Japan's Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director-General Akitaka Saiki, the Chinese chief delegate to the 
six-party talks, and the South Korean chief delegate to the 
six-party talks to brief them on the results of the U.S-North Korea 
talks. Kim also is scheduled to arrive in Beijing this morning. If 
the U.S. and North Korea agree on a roadmap for the nuclear 
declaration in the days ahead, Washington is likely to make a move 
to delist North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea 
is likely to move to make a nuclear declaration to China, the host 
nation of the six-party talks. Also, moves for resuming the 
six-party talks are likely to gain momentum. 
 
The U.S. and North Korea have differing opinions regarding the 
nuclear issue related to the proliferation of nuclear development 
programs by means of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) to other 
countries, such as Syria. North Korea has denied the existence of 
HEU, arguing, "We can't declare it because we don't possess it." In 
the talks in Geneva last month, the U.S. suggested inserting these 
issues in another document that will be formed separately from the 
nuclear declaration, but this proposal was not approved. 
 
According to an informed South Korean government official, after the 
Geneva talks, the North Korean officials came out with a 
counterproposal to the U.S. proposal by noting that they discussed 
 
TOKYO 00000967  004 OF 013 
 
 
the matter and organized their thoughts into the counterproposal." 
In the counterproposal, the North reportedly insisted that a 
document concerning the HEU and other issues should be formed 
separately from the nuclear declaration to be submitted to China so 
that it will be addressed only to the U.S. In addition, the North's 
proposal seemed to call for adding modifications regarding some 
phrases. In response, Washington presented a revised proposal to 
Pyongyang and waited for its response. 
 
According to a source familiar with the U.S.-North Korea talks, 
coordination is underway between the U.S. and North Korea regarding 
descriptions about HEU and other items so that wording that can be 
interpreted in line with their respective assertions will be used. 
Given this, even though both sides reach agreement, the possibility 
is not ruled out that the nuclear declaration will not be a complete 
and accurate one. 
 
5) Japan to renew sanctions against DPRK with no progress on 
abduction and nuclear declaration issues 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 9, 2008 
 
The government yesterday decided to approve at a cabinet meeting on 
April 11 extending for a half year the term of the currently-imposed 
sanctions against North Korea, including an embargo on such North 
Korean ships as the Man Gyong Bong, and a ban on imports from that 
country. Behind this move is Japan's judgment that there is no 
concrete progress on the abduction issue, and also that North Korea 
has yet to come out with a complete and correct declaration of its 
nuclear programs regarding the nuclear issue. 
 
Japan approved the current sanctions at a cabinet meeting in 
response to Pyongyang's nuclear testing conducted in October 2006. 
If they are renewed this time, it will be the third time following 
last October. 
 
Although there is the possibility that during U.S.-North Korea talks 
yesterday, the North Korean side came up with a positive stance, but 
a senior Foreign Ministry official said that Tokyo's position is 
that in order for Japan to ease the sanctions, "North Korea needs to 
take action in concrete terms (to deal with such issues as 
abductions)." It is less likely that the North will take some kind 
of action for that end before the expiration of the sanctions. 
 
The government has indicated that if some of Japanese nationals 
abducted by North Korea return to Japan, Tokyo will take that as 
"progress" on the abduction issue, and that it will willingly 
consider lifting the sanctions or providing economic assistance in 
the way to respond to progress on the nuclear and missile issues. 
 
However, the Japan-North Korea working group on diplomatic 
normalization talks under the six-party talks has not been held 
since the second such meeting held in last September. There is no 
prospect in sight for the third session to take place. "Given the 
current situation, it is difficult to obtain the public's 
understanding (about lifting the sanctions)," the senior Foreign 
Ministry official said. 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Committee on the Abduction 
Issue (chaired by former LDP Policy Research Council Chairperson 
Shoichi Nakagawa) met yesterday and formed a resolution calling for 
 
TOKYO 00000967  005 OF 013 
 
 
a renewal of the sanctions. Former Prime Minister Abe, supreme 
advisor to the committee, noted: "Japan needs to declare its 
intent." 
 
6) Interview with French Prime Minister: Expresses support for 
Japan's proposal for greenhouse gas emissions cuts 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Prior to his Japan's visit starting on April 10, French Prime 
Minister Fillon gave an interview to the Nikkei. He during the 
interview highly evaluated the Japanese government's proposal for a 
sector-specific approach as a measure to cut greenhouse gas 
emissions, saying, "The Japanese proposal is consistent with 
Europe's proposal." This is the first announcement of support for 
the Japanese proposal by any country participating in the July Lake 
Toya G-8 summit in Hokkaido. Demand for the nuclear industry is 
growing throughout the world. Fillon indicated his intention to 
propose cooperation with Japan on the research and development of a 
fast-breeder reactor, when he visits Japan, saying, "France will 
step up cooperation with Japan in all consumer-related areas." 
 
Regarding constraining emissions of greenhouse gases, the prime 
minister stressed, "We should set an ambitious goal at the G-8." 
Concerning the Japanese proposal for cutting emissions by sector, 
such as the industrial and household sectors, he noted, "The 
proposal will be widely adopted after 2012, the commitment period 
under the Kyoto Protocol. The EU might also revise its directive," 
 
The prime minister indicated concern about violation of human rights 
over the Tibet issue. He then said, "France will consider whether to 
take part in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, 
after determining the Chinese government's response." 
 
Fillon is responsible for domestic politics in general as President 
Sarkozy's right-hand man. During his visit to Japan, which will last 
until the 13th, he will meet with Prime Minister Fukuda and various 
business leaders. 
 
7) Prime Minister Fukuda plans to visit Europe in Golden Week 
holidays; Walking diplomatic tightrope 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
With the Group of Eight (G8) summit in July at Lake Toya in Hokkaido 
in mind, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda plans to visit European 
countries during the Golden Week holiday period (in early May). In 
the wake of the so-called "gasoline Diet session, however, Fukuda 
has now been forced to walk a precarious tightrope. The reason is 
that the political situation may change around April 29 when the 
House of Representatives will be able to revote on a bill amending 
the Special Taxation Measures Law, including the provisional tax 
rate for gasoline and road-related taxes. On May 6 Chinese President 
Hu Jintao will visit Japan, which Fukuda considers the apex of his 
diplomacy. Overseas travel by prime ministers, which is controlled 
by internal politics, is now being even more affected by political 
motives than ever. 
 
Fukuda, who will chair the G8 summit, wants to make the trip to 
Europe in order to meet with the leaders of the G8 members before 
 
TOKYO 00000967  006 OF 013 
 
 
the July event. A Foreign Ministry source said: "Building personal 
relationships is important before the G8 summit." However, only six 
days -- from April 30 through May 5-6 -- are available for Fukuda. 
Therefore, there are ideas -- one being he will go to Europe twice 
in late April and early May -- and the other being he should visit 
only France and Russia where new presidents have been elected. 
 
If the Lower House readopted the legislation on April 29, the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) will likely 
submit a censure motion against the prime minister (to the House of 
Councillors). As such, the political situation will inevitably 
become tense and the prime minister's planned trip to Europe would 
then be impossible. 
 
Fukuda intends to take advantage of his summit with Hu to boost his 
administration's popularity. He considers the summit between the 
leaders of Japan and China, which will take place for the first time 
in ten years, indispensable for his "resonant diplomacy (for the 
Japan-U.S. alliance and Asia). But it will be difficult to expect 
such political developments once a censure motion is submitted to 
the Diet. 
 
For this reason, some in the government and ruling parties have 
called for taking a second vote on a bill to amend the Road 
Construction Revenues Special Exemption Law, which would allow part 
of the road-related tax revenues to be used for other general 
purposes, and the Special Taxation Measures Law revision bill as a 
set on May 12 or after. However, it will be difficult to put off 
taking a second vote on the tax reform bill because Fukuda offered 
an apology for the confusion at a press conference on March 31 when 
the provisional rates expired. 
 
8) Japanese tax authorities order PCI to pay additional back taxes 
over shady deals tied to ODA in Latin America 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Major consultant firm Pacific Consultants International (PCI) paid 
about 25 million yen to influential persons in Costa Rica and other 
countries in Latin America during the period between 2000 and 2004 
over projects tied to Japan's official development assistance (ODA) 
program. The company based in Tama City, Tokyo, was previously found 
to have misappropriated public funds for a project to dispose of 
chemical weapons left in China by the former Imperial Japanese Army. 
In questioning, the company did not reveal the names of the 
recipients, so the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau identified the 
payments as costs incurred for unrevealed purposes and ordered the 
company to pay more than 20 million yen in back taxes, including 
penalties. 
 
Last October, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's special 
investigative squad searched PCI on suspicion of aggravated breach 
of trust for padding bills totaling about 100 million yen for a 
project to dispose of chemical weapons. The imposition of back taxes 
and penalties on the firm is a separate case from this. The taxation 
probe has brought to light the company's kickback maneuverings. 
 
PCI was commissioned by the Japan International Cooperation Agency 
(JICA) to conduct surveys in 51 countries for ODA projects from 2000 
through 2004. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000967  007 OF 013 
 
 
According to persons connected to PCI, the company gave kickbacks to 
influential persons and brokers in those countries, with the aim of 
smoothly promoting surveys for agricultural development in 
northwestern Costa Rica. PCI billed JICA for the payments, listing 
the money as expenses paid to its subcontractors. 
 
The taxation bureau demanded PCI disclose the names of the 
recipients, pointing out that rebates cannot be regarded as 
expenses. But since the company did not respond to the request, the 
bureau judged the payments as costs incurred for undisclosed 
purposes and applied a 40 PERCENT  corporate tax rate, though it 
usually is 30 PERCENT . 
 
It has been revealed through an investigation by the Board of Audit 
that PCI had sent padded bills to JICA and other institutions for 
projects in 16 countries, including Laos and Brazil, besides Costa 
Rica. Its padded bills total 140 million yen. The company was 
removed from JICA's list of potential commissioned firms in 2004. A 
PCI source said in an interview: "We have yet to confirm the 
facts." 
 
9) BOJ leadership nominees: DPJ decides to reject nomination of 
Watanabe with Ozawa having his own way 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) at its executive 
meeting yesterday evening decided how to respond to the government 
nomination for the posts of governor and deputy governor of the Bank 
of Japan (BOJ). They decided to accept a proposal for promoting 
incumbent Deputy Governor Masaaki Shirakawa (58), currently acting 
BOJ governor, to governor. However, they will reject the proposed 
nomination of Hiroshi Watanabe (58), a Hitotsubashi University 
graduate school professor and a former vice finance minister for 
international affairs, as a deputy governor succeeding Shirakawa. 
The subcommittee to consider personnel appointments requiring Diet 
approval had earlier reached a decision that it would be possible to 
endorse the government nomination of Watanabe as deputy BOJ 
governor. However, President Ichiro Ozawa, who was opposed to the 
appointment of Watanabe, has apparently had his own way. As a 
result, the likelihood is that only the proposal for appointing 
Shirakawa as governor will be adopted by a majority from the ruling 
and opposition parties, and one of the two deputy governors' 
positions would be left vacant. 
 
Nomination of Shirakawa to be endorsed in today's Diet roll call 
 
Explaining the reasons that the DPJ has decided to reject Watanabe, 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama after the executive meeting 
 
SIPDIS 
yesterday evening said: "The DPJ has raised the banner of banning 
all "amakudari" (golden parachute) appointments. We will follow this 
major policy line." He underscored his position of firmly 
maintaining the party policy of disapproving the appointment of a 
former Finance Ministry official as a BOJ executive. 
 
Regarding his earlier indication of accepting Watanabe's nomination, 
Hatoyama explained, "There is a difference between an administrative 
vice finance minister and a vice finance minister for international 
affairs. The weight of the position of governor and that of deputy 
governor also differs. I have in the end reached a decision that I 
should say 'no' to amakudari practices." 
 
TOKYO 00000967  008 OF 013 
 
 
 
A number of members of the subcommittee to consider personnel 
appointments requiring Diet approval supported the nomination of 
Watanabe, with one saying, "He is an expert on international 
financing. His appointment to the post of deputy governor is 
different from being an amakudari." However, others, citing that the 
party had earlier opposed the government nominations of Toshiro 
Muto, forcer administrative vice finance minister, and Koji Tanami, 
also former administrative vice finance minister, for the post of 
governor, said, "The people would find it difficult to understand if 
we endorse his appointment." The panel in the end left the matter to 
executives, including Ozawa, to work out, by attaching an opinion 
that many members took the view that the nomination of Shirakawa as 
governor is acceptable and it is possible to endorse the nomination 
of Watanabe as deputy governor. 
 
Among other opposition parties, the Japanese Communist Party has 
already decided to endorse neither nominee. The People's New Party 
has endorsed both proposals. The Social Democratic Party intends to 
only endorse the selection of Shirakawa as governor. 
 
10) Leaving position of deputy BOJ governor vacant "unavoidable," 
says senior government official 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Following the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ or Minshuto) decision 
not to endorse the government nomination of Watanabe as deputy Bank 
of Japan (BOJ) governor, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at around 8:30 
p.m. yesterday afternoon met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura at the prime minister's official residence. They discussed 
how to deal with the situation in the future for about 50 minutes. 
 
Regarding the selection of another candidate in the event of the 
nomination of Watanabe being rejected in an Upper House plenary 
session today, one senior government official indicated his view 
that leaving the position vacant for the time being would be 
unavoidable. He noted, "Even if Mr. Watanabe is rejected, it would 
be impossible for the government to come up with another candidate 
immediately." 
 
11) Internal discord in DPJ over Watanabe's nomination as DPJ deputy 
governor, some may defy party decision in two Diet houses votes 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 9, 2008 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
yesterday decided to reject the government's nomination of Hiroshi 
Watanabe, professor at Hitotsubashi University graduate school and a 
former vice finance minister for international affairs, as one of 
the deputy governors of the Bank of Japan, respecting party head 
Ichiro Ozawa's remarks opposing the practice of amakudari or placing 
retired senior bureaucrats into high-paying posts in public and 
private sectors. However since many in the DPJ said yesterday that 
their party should approve Watanabe's nomination, internal discord 
is now visible in the largest opposition party. Under such 
circumstances, some DPJ lawmakers may vote for the nomination of 
Watanabe today in the plenary sessions of the two Diet chambers, 
defying the party's decision. The internal discord over the 
nomination of Watanabe for a BOJ deputy will become a litmus test to 
 
TOKYO 00000967  009 OF 013 
 
 
gauge Ozawa's grip on the party. 
 
"If we disapprove Watanabe, more than ten members may defy the 
party's decision," Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama told his aide, 
Sakihito Ozawa, and other members yesterday afternoon near the 
entrance of the Lower House plenary hall. 
 
Ozawa has been in silent for three days since he said on a TV talk 
show that he couldn't accept the appointment of any former Finance 
Ministry bureaucrat (for the top posts of the central bank). Ozawa's 
remark has been creating a stir in the DPJ. Prior to the 
presentation of the government's nomination of Watanabe, Hatoyama 
made this comment: "The prevailing view in the party is that the 
party should go along with Watanabe's nomination." But a young 
lawmaker said: "Because the party head has decided to disapprove, we 
should follow." 
 
There is concern that if the party binds its members to abide by a 
party decision in defiance of the majority view in the party, some 
members will defy the party decision. As a result, his party may 
split in two, so Hatoyama has tried to find the middle ground 
between the two sides. 
 
The views in the DPJ on whether to approve or disapprove Watanabe's 
nomination are intricately interwoven with how close or distant from 
Ozawa the lawmakers feel, a sense of rivalry with the government and 
ruling coalition, and consideration for public opinion. 
 
12) Ruling bloc looks to send all priority bills to Upper House by 
April 15 with their re-adoption at end of session in mind 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Reopened deliberations in the House of Councillors that had been 
stalled since late March have begun easing the congestion of bills. 
The ruling bloc intends to send bill after bill to the Upper House 
with the aim of passing them all in the Lower House by April 15 in 
anticipation of stalled Diet deliberations following a second vote 
on the provisional gasoline tax rate toward the end of the current 
session of the Diet. 
 
The LDP General Council met yesterday, and Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Tadamori Oshima declared: "We would like to send many 
important bills to the Upper House from this week through next 
week." What Oshima had in mind was a timetable for handling bills 
before the June 15 closure of the current Diet session. 
 
In order to restore the provisional tax rates on gasoline and other 
products, the ruling bloc plans to hold a second, overriding vote as 
early as late April. If that is followed by the Upper House's 
adoption of a censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda submitted 
by the opposition camp, the ruling bloc intends to counter it with 
the lower chamber's approval of a cabinet confidence motion. In 
reaction, if the opposition parties boycott deliberations, the Diet 
would stall for a long time. This is what the ruling camp is 
envisaging. Many LDP lawmakers think that if a second vote is taken, 
the Diet will stall until the end of the current session. 
 
As such, the ruling parties are intending to send the remaining 
priority bills to the Upper House by April 15 so that they would be 
able to re-discuss those bills before the current session ends, 
 
TOKYO 00000967  010 OF 013 
 
 
while bearing in mind the 60-day rule regarding a delay in voting on 
bills in the upper chamber as de facto rejection. In the ongoing 
Diet session, the government has presented a total of 75 bills. Of 
them, 22, mostly those related to the budget, have cleared the Lower 
House, including three yesterday. Without prospects for 
deliberations in the Upper House, the remaining bills might be 
scrapped. An LDP Diet Affairs Committee member said: "Given the 
ruling bloc's minority in the Upper House, we might have to readopt 
legislation." 
 
13) DPJ to intensify offensive in Upper House 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 9, 2008 
 
The House of Councillors held yesterday full-fledged deliberations 
on roads and pensions. 
 
Also yesterday, the Upper House Financial Affairs Committee began 
discussing the government-presented taxation-related bills in tandem 
with the Democratic Party of Japan's counterproposals, including one 
to abolish the gasoline and other provisional tax rates. Reversing 
its rejection of deliberations, the DPJ has now decided to discuss 
bills following the expiration of the gasoline and other taxes. 
 
At the same time, the party will remain on alert until late April, 
when the ruling bloc will be able to take a two-thirds overriding 
vote in the Lower House in accordance with the constitutional 60-day 
rule. Until then, the largest opposition party does not intend to 
allow votes on bills presented by the government and the DPJ. The 
party plans to play up the injustice in a second vote, while 
spelling out the positive effects of lowered gasoline prices. 
 
The Upper House Health, Labor and Welfare Committee began discussing 
the government-presented pension-related bills ahead of the 
DPJ-submitted bills. The DPJ thinks that this will allow the largest 
opposition party to grill Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi 
Masuzoe over the pension record fiasco before the committee. 
 
The strategy also reflects the DPJ's firm determination to drive the 
Fukuda administration to a tight corner. In past deliberations, the 
party successfully elicited apologies from both the prime minister 
and Masuzoe over the question of unidentified pension record 
holders. DPJ Upper House Secretary General Kenji Hirata said, 
"Momentum is building in the party to submit a censure motion 
(against the health, labor and welfare minister)." In a DPJ 
executive meeting yesterday, the party confirmed the policy course 
to apply greater pressure on the government with an eye on April 15, 
when the government will start withholding medical insurance 
premiums from the pension benefits of those 75 and over. 
 
The DPJ is going to reinforce its confrontational stand through the 
Finance and Health and Welfare Committees. In the event the 
government and ruling parties take a second vote in the Lower House, 
the DPJ looks to submit a censure motion against the prime minister 
to the upper chamber. The party intends to stir public opinion 
through May, according to a senior DPJ Diet Affairs Committee 
member. 
 
14) Poll: 55 PERCENT  back Diet dissolution if censure motion 
passed 
 
 
TOKYO 00000967  011 OF 013 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 9, 2008 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Apr. 5-6, in which respondents were asked what 
they thought Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda should do if a censure 
motion against him is passed in the House of Councillors. To this 
question, 55 PERCENT  answered that Fukuda should dissolve the House 
of Representatives for a general election, topping all other 
answers. A censure motion has no legal binding force. In the survey, 
however, a majority of the public indicated that Fukuda should seek 
the people's judgment. 
 
Meanwhile, 21 PERCENT  answered that Fukuda "doesn't have to do 
anything because a censure motion has no legal force," with 19 
PERCENT  saying "his cabinet should resign en masse." 
 
The government and ruling parties are going 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 now-expired 
provisional rate of taxation on gasoline. The leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) is ready to submit a censure 
motion in the House of Councillors if the bill is passed in a second 
vote. 
 
15) High school kids uninterested in economizing 
 
SANKEI (Page 28) (Abridged) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Among Japanese high school students, fewer than half are taught by 
their parents about the importance of economizing, and their 
proportion is substantially lower than in China, South Korea, and 
the United States. This became known from a survey of high school 
students conducted by the Japan Youth Research Institute (JYRI) over 
their spending attitude. The JYRI analyzes: "In the United States, 
children are encouraged to opt for self-reliance. In Japan, however, 
people are now well-off. In addition, the ideal of education is weak 
in Japan, so parents might have spoiled their children." 
 
The survey was conducted from October through November last year at 
a total of 76 urban high schools in Japan, the United States, China, 
and South Korea. Answers were obtained from 5,395 persons. 
 
"Do your parents usually tell you about the importance of 
economizing?" To this question, "yes" came from about 80 PERCENT  in 
the United States, China, and South Korea. Japan was substantially 
lower than the three countries. Many Japanese high school students 
regularly receive allowances from their parents, and their 
proportion was highest among the four countries. However, Japan was 
lowest in terms of high school students being asked by their parents 
how they spend that money. 
 
16) Survey of high school students in Japan, U.S., China, S. Korea: 
Perception gap seen over food safety 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) 
April 9, 2008 
 
Japanese high school students do not much care about food safety 
when they buy food products. This fact became known from a survey 
conducted by the Tokyo-based Japan Youth Research Institute in 
 
TOKYO 00000967  012 OF 013 
 
 
Japan, the United States, China, and South Korea. Chinese high 
school students were most aware of food safety. This can be taken as 
reflecting China's domestic circumstances, such as the serious 
problem of pesticide residue. 
 
The survey was taken from October through November last year with 
about 5,400 students at a total of 76 public and private high 
schools in the four countries. 
 
"Do you check the safety of the food products you buy?" To this 
question, "yes" came from 13 PERCENT  in Japan, 42 PERCENT  in 
China, 20 PERCENT  in South Korea, and 18 PERCENT  in the United 
States. Japan was at the lowest level, and China was more than three 
times higher than Japan. 
 
"Have you ever been worried about the safety of food products you 
buy?" To this question, 74 PERCENT  in China answered "yes," topping 
all other countries. South Korea was at 64 PERCENT , followed by 
Japan at 60 PERCENT  and the United States at 53 PERCENT . 
 
Asked if they would choose to buy pesticide-free and healthy food 
products, 76 PERCENT  in China answered "yes," followed by South 
Korea at 45 PERCENT , the United States at 38 PERCENT , and Japan at 
34 PERCENT . 
 
17) Delegation of JCP lawmakers file protest at U.S. Embassy on 
series of crimes by U.S. soldiers (Akahata) 
 
AKAHATA (Page 1) (Full) 
April 9, 2008 
 
A delegation of Diet members from the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 
yesterday visited the U.S. Embassy in Japan (Minato-ku, Tokyo) to 
lodge a protest  against the series of crimes committed by U.S. 
military personnel, including the incident of the rape of a 
schoolgirl in Okinawa Prefecture and the robbery and murder of a 
taxi driver in Kanagawa Prefecture. 
 
Four lawmakers delivered the protest: Diet Affairs Chairman Keiji 
Kurata, Lower House members Seiken Akamine and Akira Kasai, and 
Upper House member Tetsushi Inoue. They were met at the Embassy by 
Raymond, F. Greene, the chief of the security affairs unit of the 
Political Section. After the protest was made, Kurata met with the 
press in the Diet Building. 
 
In addition to the protest against the series of crimes by U.S. 
soldiers, the delegation made four points: 1) There should be full 
compensation to the families of the victims and information should 
be swiftly provided to Japanese authorities about deserters; 2) 
there should be a drastic revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of 
Forces Agreement (SOFA); 3) there should be a reduction and 
consolidation of U.S. bases in Japan and a halting of the 
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and a cancellation of the 
deployment of a nuclear-powered carrier to the U.S. Naval Base at 
Yokosuka (Kanagawa Prefecture). 
 
Unit chief Greene said he would transmit the contents of the protest 
to Ambassador Schieffer, the U.S. government, and the U.S. forces in 
Japan. He also expressed "the government's feeling of regret" for 
the incidents, adding, "We will make every effort so that (such 
incidents) will not occur again." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000967  013 OF 013 
 
 
Kurata raised the criticism that every time an incident occurs, in 
spite of such promises as "no recurrences" and "tighter discipline," 
another incident later occurs. One of the reasons for that, he said, 
is that the U.S. military is at war, starting with the Iraq war. He 
then sought a drastic revision of the SOFA that would allow the 
handing over of U.S. soldiers to Japanese authorities whenever they 
commit crimes. He also sought a reduction and consolidation of U.S. 
bases in Japan. 
 
Greene stated: "Our views on the SOFA and the U.S. bases differ, but 
crimes should not happen. We would like to continue our talks on 
what to do so that incidents do not recur." 
 
MESERVE