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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001280 
 
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 05/12/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
Deputy Secretary Negroponte visit: 
4) Deputy Secretary Negroponte meets Foreign Minister Koumura, calls 
Japan lynchpin of U.S. diplomacy, discusses Japan's concerns about 
North Korea talks  (Mainichi) 
5) Negroponte and Defense Minister Ishiba express common concerns 
about China's expanding military budget  (Nikkei) 
6) Negroponte, Ishiba agree on need for steady implementation of 
USFJ realignment plan  (Akahata) 
 
G8 Labor Summit in Niigata: 
7) G8 labor ministers in Niigata meeting debate ways to improve job 
situation  (Nikkei) 
8) ILO director in Niigata interview stresses that protection of the 
environment will create jobs  (Nikkei) 
 
Burma tragedy: 
9) Burmese living in Japan protest Burmese (Myanmar) junta holding a 
referendum while their country suffers devastation from cyclone 
(Asahi) 
10) Prime Minister Fukuda sends personal letter to Burma's military 
leaders  (Yomiuri) 
 
11) Fukuda in Washington Post interview wants United Nations to 
intervene to assist flood-ravaged areas of Burma where government is 
blocking entry  (Mainichi) 
12) Japan's additional 1 billion yen aid pledge to Burma for 
humanitarian relief also meant to counter China's influence over 
that country  (Nikkei) 
 
13) Following Hu Jintao's tour of Japan, both leaders are touting 
success of the visit, but concerns remain about issues still pending 
 (Mainichi) 
 
TICAD conference: 
14) Japan having difficulty rounding up sufficient aid for Africa to 
be announced at TICAD  (Mainichi) 
15) Fukuda plans to individually meet all 42 African heads coming to 
TICAD conference  (Mainichi) 
 
16) "Fukuda vision" to be ready for announcement next month would 
formally commit Japan to reduce by 2050 greenhouse gases by 60 to 80 
PERCENT   (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Political agenda: 
17) Democratic Party of Japan and Peoples New Party to present to 
Upper House bill calling for revising the U.S.-Japan Status of 
Forces Agreement (SOFA)  (Mainichi) 
18) Most DPJ lawmakers reluctant to file censure motion against 
Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Fuyushiba on road tax 
issue  (Mainichi) 
19) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura warns that implementing global 
warming countermeasures will also raise the price of gasoline 
(Asahi) 
20) Ruling parties next month will correct the inequity in the new 
medical care program for the over 75 elderly by exempting low-income 
people from fees  (Mainichi) 
 
TOKYO 00001280  002 OF 013 
 
 
21) Ruling camp now sees no need to extend the current session of 
the Diet, for it would only give the opposition more time to attack 
them  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
22) Former postal rebel Hiranuma to form a new anti-LDP study group 
(Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Survey: 60 PERCENT  of local toll roads show deficit with actual 
traffic volumes below forecasts in 76 PERCENT  of such roads 
 
Mainichi: 
Cyclone in Burma: 220,000 people still missing, according to UN 
estimate; Transportation of goods begins 
 
Yomiuri: 
Survey of metabolic syndrome health checkups and health guidance 
across the country: 80 PERCENT  of health guidance cases that follow 
health checkups found to be offered free 
 
Nikkei: 
Survey: Summer bonuses likely to remain at almost same level as last 
year, showing the lowest rate of increase since 2003 
 
Sankei: 
With failure of Fukuda to buoy up his cabinet by taking advantage of 
Japan-China summit, political parties now in mood for political 
realignment instead of dissolution of Lower House for snap election 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Cyclone in Burma: International aid fails to reach people because 
the country is under the control of junta 
 
Akahata: 
Rally in Yokosuka calls for establishing ordinance that will 
stipulate referendum on whether to allow nuclear aircraft carrier to 
base at Yokosuka Port 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Small firms' state-of-the-art technology needs to be protected 
(2) What is happening in America's "backyard" of Latin America? 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Sectoral approach not enough to deal with climate change 
(2) Ad hoc new curriculum guidelines unacceptable 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Eleventh-hour approach unacceptable when creating permanent SDF 
legislation 
(2) Admissions-office-based exams must not be used as means to 
simply recruit applicants earlier than usual exam period 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) U.S. firms rely more on overseas markets because of slowdown at 
home 
(2) We favor giving suffrage at age 18 
 
 
TOKYO 00001280  003 OF 013 
 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Basic education plans: Priority needs to be set for investment 
(2) Lack of physicians: Remove regional gaps first 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Toyota's settlement of accounts: Japanese firms now being 
tested 
(2) Itai-itai disease: Patients still suffer pain 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Reform of MOD: Measures to enhance SDF's voice dangerous 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 9 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
09:04 
Attended a cabinet meeting. Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura stayed 
on. 
 
09:27 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ono at the Kantei. 
 
11:16 
Gave an interview to China Central Television. 
 
13:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
15:04 
Attended a joint examination meeting of the Upper House Financial 
Affairs Committee and the Land and Infrastructure Committee. 
 
18:55 
Met Indonesia Regional Representative Council Chairman Ginanjar. 
 
19:43 
Retuned to his official residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 10 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 11, 2008 
 
13:00 
Gave interview to the Washington Post. 
 
14:35 
Met Lower House member Mitsuo Horiuchi. 
 
15:53 
Met advisor Ito. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 12, 2008 
 
10:01 
 
TOKYO 00001280  004 OF 013 
 
 
Arrived at his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
14:49 
Arrived at his official residence. 
 
4) Japan the keystone of U.S. foreign policy in Asia-Pacific region: 
Negroponte 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura met with visiting U.S. Deputy 
Secretary of State Negroponte at the Foreign Ministry on May 9. At 
the beginning of the meeting, Negroponte underscored the stance of 
attaching paramount importance to Japan-U.S. relations, saying, "The 
keystone of U.S. foreign policy in the Asia-Pacific region is 
Japan." 
 
Negroponte's playing up the Japan-U.S. alliance is believed to 
reflect an awareness of Japan's concern about current talks between 
the United States and North Korea, as led by the Bush 
administration, now in its final months. The United States and North 
Korea last month seemed to meeting each other half way over North 
Korea's declaration of all of its nuclear programs, including 
uranium enrichment. On May 8, North Korea submitted documentation of 
operating records for the Yongbyon nuclear complex. An environment 
is now being created for the United States to delist North Korea as 
a state sponsor of terrorism. "We are not able to hear everything 
they discuss in their talks," said a senior Foreign Ministry 
official, voicing concern about Japan unable to become involved in 
the process of ongoing negotiations between the United States and 
North Korea. "They came up with the operating records," Negroponte 
said, "and this is a big step in the larger process of the six-party 
talks." He stressed, though, that it would take time for progress to 
emerge. 
 
Negroponte is currently on a tour of Asia mainly for the purpose of 
listening to the views of Japan, China, and South Korea. He seemed 
to have intended in Tokyo to wipe away the government's growing 
sense of distrust toward the United States over progress in its 
talks with North Korea. 
 
5) Ishiba, Negroponte express concern about China's expanding 
military budget 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba met yesterday with U.S. Deputy 
Secretary of State Negroponte, who was visiting Japan. He expressed 
concern about the rapid increase in China's military spending, and 
the two agreed on the view that China should make its military 
budget more transparent. The two leaders also agreed to steadily 
implement the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. 
 
6) U.S. military to push realignment steadily: Negroponte 
 
AKAHATA (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba met on May 9 with visiting U.S. 
Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte at the Defense Ministry. 
 
TOKYO 00001280  005 OF 013 
 
 
 
In the meeting, Negroponte stressed the need for Japan and the 
United States to push ahead with the planned realignment of U.S. 
forces in Japan in a steady manner, including the relocation of 
Futenma airfield in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, based on an 
intergovernmental agreement between Japan and the United States. "We 
want to make efforts for all those concerned from the perspective of 
maintaining the U.S. military's deterrence and alleviating the local 
burden," Ishiba said. 
 
Negroponte expressed his gratitude for Japan's resumed refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean under a new antiterrorism special 
measures law. 
 
Referring to China's growing military spending, Ishiba voiced 
concern about its nontransparency. Ishiba and Negroponte confirmed 
that the Japan and the United States would closely exchange 
intelligence on China's military trends. 
 
Later in the day, Negroponte met with Foreign Minister Masahiko 
Koumura. In the meeting, they exchanged views about extending a 
helping hand to Myanmar (Burma) due to its serious damage from a 
recent major cyclone. 
 
7) G-8 meeting of labor ministers: Discussion to be focused on 
measures to improve labor markets 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
May 12, 2008 
 
Senior officials from the Group of Eight (G-8) gathered in Niigata 
City yesterday as part of the G-8 Summit (Lake Toya Summit) in July. 
The participants launched a discussion on employment in connection 
with the environment prior to the G-8 Summit, at which measures to 
fight global warming will be high on the agenda. In the G-8 labor 
summit, the participants will discuss how to improve the current 
unstable labor markets due to global financial instability and to 
protect the increasing number of irregular workers. 
 
Participating in the conference are representatives from the G-8, 
the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the Organization for 
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Representatives from 
the Thailand and Indonesia have also been invited. The conference 
will be wound up after a chairman's summary statement is announced 
early tomorrow afternoon. 
 
In the session on the first day, Minister of Health, Labor and 
Welfare Yoichi Masuzoe, who chairs the conference, said in the 
opening speech: "Workers' status and rights are being threatened by 
speculation in the financial markets. We would like to find ways to 
improve the situation." Representatives from the G-8 and various 
labor and business organizations exchanged views. 
 
John Sweeney, chairman of the Advisory Committee of OECD Labor 
Unions, pointed out: "Rising oil and food prices, in addition to 
sliding stock prices, triggered by credit woes stemming from the 
U.S. subprime mortgage crisis, have negatively affected the labor 
market." He then called on the governments and the central banks to 
take bold and swift action. 
 
8) ILO director general: Protecting the environment will contribute 
to creating jobs 
 
TOKYO 00001280  006 OF 013 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 12, 2008 
 
Juan Somavia, director general of the International Labor 
Organization (ILO), who is currently visiting Japan for the G-8 
meeting of labor ministers, said in an interview with a Nihon Keizai 
Shimbun reporter yesterday: "Protecting the environment will not 
undermine economic growth but will contribute to creating jobs." He 
tried to apply pressure on developing countries that seek to give 
priority to economic growth over efforts to protect the environment. 
He added: "Such efforts can be the key to an agreement in 
negotiations on forming a new mechanism to combat global warming." 
 
Somavia said that it will be possible to prevent opposition from 
growing by creating more jobs for constructing buildings that make 
use of photovoltaic power generation and environment-friendly 
technologies. He asked the Japanese government to map out assistance 
measures effective in creating jobs by utilizing its high level of 
technology and experience in the environmental area. 
 
9) Burmese living abroad protest against their military junta 
holding referendum 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 11, 2008 
 
Burmese living in abroad on May 10 protested against their military 
junta holding a planned referendum on a new constitution amid the 
spreading damage caused by the recent massive cyclone. In Japan, 
about 200 Burmese in front of the Burmese Embassy in Shinagawa Ward, 
Tokyo, demanded the military junta help disaster victims instead of 
holding a referendum. 
 
10) Prime Minister Fukuda sends letter to Burmese military junta 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
The Japanese government also is working on Burma (Myanmar) to accept 
aid personnel. Prime Minister Fukuda on May 9 sent a letter to the 
head of the military junta expressing feelings of sympathy for the 
cyclone victims. In the letter, he transmitted that a medical 
emergency team was prepared for dispatch to Burma and he stated his 
"expectation that you will consider positively" the acceptance of 
aid personnel. 
 
Deputy Foreign Minister Ken'ichiro Sasae on the 9th called the 
Burmese ambassador to the ministry and asked that Burma accept the 
aid personnel. The ambassador stated, "I, too, would like to work on 
my home country to persuade them." 
 
On the other hand, the government on the 9th decided to provide $10 
million to Burma via international organizations. This was the third 
time for the government to make a decision to provide assistance to 
the victims in Burma. The amount in Japanese yen now totals 
approximately 1.194 billion yen. 
 
11) Prime Minister Fukuda calls for UN intervention in humanitarian 
aid to cyclone-ravaged Burma 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00001280  007 OF 013 
 
 
May 12, 2008 
 
Takanori Ishikawa 
 
In an interview with the Washington Post dated May 11, Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda referred to humanitarian aid to Burma, which 
was hit hard by a cyclone, and said: "I hope the United Nations will 
more actively intervene in such aid. I think it is essential for the 
UN to lead humanitarian aid so as not to put the Burmese government 
on alert." In the remarks, Fukuda indicated that although the 
Burmese government has refused to accept UN personnel, the 
international community needs to take action quickly to help Burma. 
In the interview, Fukuda said: "Japan is considering sending an 
(emergency) medical team (to Burma)." 
 
12) Japan decides to offer additional 1 billion yen in aid to Burma 
apparently in order to counter China's expanding influence in that 
country 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
Japan has decided to offer a sizable amount of aid to Burma 
(Myanmar), which is suffering significant damage caused by the 
recent cyclone. Behind this move is Tokyo's judgment that 
maintaining good relations with Burma is important for its diplomacy 
in strategic terms. Moreover, motivation includes the desire to 
counter China's rapidly expanding influence in Burma. 
 
The government on May 9 announced $10 million (more than 1 billion 
yen) in additional aid to Burma. Japan has become Burma's largest 
donor, surpassing Britain, even though this year until early May, 
when Burma was hit by the cyclone, Japan has announced aid only 
totaling 64 million yen. 
 
To help Burma respond to the cyclone's damage, Britain offered 
approximately $10 million dollars in aid. China and the United 
States also declared plans to offer Burma some $5.3 million and some 
$3.25 million, respectively, in relief aid. 
 
On May 5, Japan, ahead of China and European nations, announced its 
aid offer to Burma. Japanese aid was the first package to reach 
Burma, arriving on May 7 before that of other countries. But in 
terms of size of the contribution, Japan was surpassed by the U.S., 
China, Britain, and Germany. 
 
On the morning of May 8, the day after his meeting with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told Foreign 
Ministry officials to consider increasing Japan's aid amount to 
Burma, "You need to think about another tranche of fresh aid." On 
May 9, Fukuda sent a letter to Burma's State Peace and Development 
Council (SPDC) Chairman Than Shwe, the top leader of the military 
junta, that stated: "I hope to see your country positively consider 
accepting assistance and aid personnel from our country, other 
countries, and international institutions." 
 
Japan's emphasis on aid to Burma apparently stems from its policy to 
secure natural resources, as well as its strategy toward China. In 
that context, relations with Burma are considered useful. An 
official in charge of security affairs cited these points: (1) Burma 
is endowed with abundant natural resources; (2) Burma is located at 
a geopolitically important spot, being located between China and 
 
TOKYO 00001280  008 OF 013 
 
 
India; and (3) if China's military presence in Burma grows stronger, 
it could affect the security of Japan's sea lanes. 
 
An uncertain factor for Japan in deciding to provide aid to Burma is 
how the U.S. will respond to the disaster-hit country. The U.S. has 
assumed a hostile attitude toward the Burmese junta. The U.S. in the 
past repeatedly objected to Japan's providing aid to Burma, but 
according to a government source, the U.S. itself is now positive 
about providing Burma with humanitarian aid. Japan believes its 
decision to offer additional aid to Burma will not create friction 
with the U.S. 
 
The question is how far Japan's aid diplomacy can be influential 
over Burma and help democratize that country. On May 8, Burma 
swiftly informed Japan of its intention to allow foreign diplomatic 
missions stationed in the country to monitor a national referendum 
slated for May 10, showing a certain degree of consideration to 
Japan. Members of the upcoming Group of Eight (G-8) Hokkaido Toyako 
Summit asked Japan in succession to strongly work on Burma to accept 
aid personnel from other countries. In terms of policy toward Burma, 
Japan's skills as the host nation of the G-8 summit will also be 
tested. 
 
13) Fukuda, Hu play up results of visit but mutually beneficial 
aspect of Japan-China relations uncertain, with hard-line views 
stilling running strong 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
May 11, 2008 
 
Hu Jintao, the first Chinese president to visit Japan in ten years, 
described the results of his visit as a resounding success, and 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said the visit went better than 
expected. Issuing many joint statements, the two leaders have 
accomplished their objective of affirming "mutually beneficial" 
relations. At the same time, hard-line views toward each other 
remain entrenched in both countries. The results, as shown in the 
papers signed, are tendentious, and must be balanced with what 
public opinion felt. 
 
The official summit meeting between Fukuda and Hu on May 7 was 
attended by officials from both counties, including economic 
ministers. An informal dinner party held in Tokyo's Hibiya on the 
night of May 6 was the only occasion for the two leaders to have 
in-depth discussions on matters by themselves. 
 
The summit meeting was attended by six on the Japanese side: Prime 
Minister Fukuda, Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, and four 
incumbent and former foreign ministry officials. The participants, 
picked by the prime minister himself, ended up exposing Fukuda's 
reliance on bureaucrats. The prime minister also stopped short of 
giving candid advice on the Tibetan issue. 
 
The government was also not able to announce on time a joint press 
release and the set of agreements until the morning of May 8, due to 
a delay in the Chinese side's administrative procedures on two of 
the approximately 70 items, according to a negotiations source. 
Nevertheless, it was extremely rare for the government to expose 
confusion after a bilateral summit. An exchange of words of 
encouragement between Fukuda and Hu also exposed their dependency on 
their bureaucracies. Mutually beneficial relations seem fragile. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001280  009 OF 013 
 
 
14) Japan unable to determine amount of aid for Africa, making 
securing more support for Japan's approach to global warming 
uncertain 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 11, 2008 
 
A Yokohama declaration to be issued after the Fourth Tokyo 
International Conference on African Development (TICAD 4), whose 
full text was unveiled yesterday, will clearly state African 
countries' support for the Japanese government's measures to fight 
global warming. The expression of such support reflects the African 
countries' hope for aid from Japan and also Japan's desire to take 
the initiative in discussions on global warming at the Group of 
Eight (G-8) Summit (the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido) in July. On 
the amount of aid, though, views in the government have yet to be 
unified. The proposed aid to Africa could end up as just a slogan. 
 
TICAD was launched in 1993 as a policy arena for discussing African 
development. In the Third TICAD in 2003, then Prime Minister 
Junichiro Koizumi promised to offer one billion dollars in grant aid 
over five years, but the African side did not greatly appreciate 
it. 
 
Behind this stance of Africa is the fact that other countries are 
paying a great deal of attention to it. China and India are rapidly 
approaching Africa recently in an attempt to secure its natural 
resources. They have held similar joint development conferences with 
Africa to the TICAD and have announced huge specific aid projects, 
such as infrastructure construction. Western countries have also 
been boosting their amounts of aid to Africa. Under such a 
situation, Japan is losing its influence, as it has reduced its 
official development assistance (ODA) disbursements. 
 
Alarmed by the situation, the Foreign Ministry has been exploring 
ways to present a large amount of new aid at TICAD 4. The Finance 
Ministry, however, is still reluctant about financial disbursements 
to that end, citing revenue shortages. It remains to be seen whether 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will be able to give a specific amount 
in the upcoming conference. 
 
Africa anticipates a huge financial contribution from Japan in 
return for its support of Japan over the issue of climate change. If 
its hopes are dashed, Japan might fall short of its aim of urging 
the United States and other countries, on the strength of support 
from Africa, to take specific measures to contain global warming. 
 
15) Fukuda plans to meet separately with leaders of 42 African 
countries 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 11, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda plans to meet separately with all the 
African leaders who will participate in the upcoming Fourth Tokyo 
International Conference on African Development (TICAD 4). The 
government has confirmed as of yesterday that the leaders (kings, 
presidents, and prime ministers) from 42 African countries are 
scheduled to attend the conference. In the previous conference held 
five years ago, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held meetings 
with 23 leaders. A Foreign Ministry official said: "It is 
unprecedented for a leader to hold this many summits during a short 
 
TOKYO 00001280  010 OF 013 
 
 
period of time." 
 
Some in the government said that it would be difficult for the busy 
prime minister to hold meetings with all the participant leaders. 
But the African leaders who expect Japan's financial aid have 
expressed their desire to meet with the prime minister. In response 
to an unofficial inquiry with the prime minister's office from the 
Foreign Ministry, the office reportedly agreed to meet all the 
leaders. 
 
South African President Thabo Mbeki and Ghana President John Agyekum 
Kufuor, chairman of the African Union (AU), will be included among 
the participants in the upcoming conference. 
 
16) Global warming greenhouse gas reduction: Japan to set its own 
goal to be achieved by 2050; "Fukuda vision" to be released next 
month 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
May 11, 2008 
 
In a speech given in Sapporo City, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura on May 10 indicated the government plan to reveal Japan's 
goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved by 2050. 
 
The government has already mapped out the Cool Earth Promotion 
Program aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions throughout the 
world by 50 PERCENT  by 2050. It has determined that it would be 
necessary to come up with Japan's own goal in the run-up to the Lake 
Toya G-8 to be held in Hokkaido in July. Prime Minister Fukuda will 
release it as the Fukuda Vision. 
 
The government has already exchanged with Britain a memorandum 
stipulating that industrialized countries are able to cut greenhouse 
gases by 60-80 PERCENT  by 2050. Its goal will be set, taking these 
percentages into account. 
 
Referring to the Cool Earth Promotion Program, Machimura said, "The 
government has yet to come up with an answer regarding what Japan 
will do in 2050." He then said, "We are now making full preparations 
so that the prime minister can release a specific reduction target. 
We also want to work on other countries so that the G-8 will make 
headway successfully." 
 
17) DPJ, PNP eye resolution calling for SOFA revision 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
In the wake of incidents caused by U.S. military personnel in 
Okinawa and other parts of Japan, the Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto) and the People's New Party agreed on May 9 to present a 
resolution to the Diet for revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces 
Agreement. 
 
18) DPJ execs cautious about censuring Fuyushiba 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) held a 
meeting of DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa and other party executives in 
 
TOKYO 00001280  011 OF 013 
 
 
the Diet on May 9 to discuss what to do if the ruling coalition of 
the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito takes a second vote in 
the House of Representatives on a bill revising a special measures 
law for road-related tax revenues. The lower chamber is expected to 
revote on the bill on May 13 after it is voted down in the upper 
chamber. 
 
The DPJ has now forgone submitting a motion censuring the prime 
minister in the House of Councillors. Instead, the DPJ leadership 
discussed a motion censuring Land, Infrastructure and Transport 
Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba. However, most of the DPJ executives were 
cautious about censuring Fuyushiba. 
 
19) "Gasoline tax may be raised, if it is to finance measures to 
combat the greenhouse gases," says chief cabinet secretary 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 11, 2008 
 
Referring to the shifting of special-purpose road construction tax 
revenues to the general account, Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura 
in a speech given in Sapporo City said, "If road revenues are freed 
up, a tax in another form would be levied on gasoline. If such a tax 
is intended as a measure to combat the greenhouse gases, the rate 
would be higher than the current level." His speech thus hinted at 
the possibility of raising the current level of the gas tax that 
includes the provisional portion in order to constrain gasoline 
consumption as part of measures to curb global warming. 
 
20) Ruling parties to come up with measures to improve medical 
system for elderly in June with emphasis on low-income seniors 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 12, 2008 
 
LDP Secretary General Tadamori Oshima, appearing on an NHK talk show 
program yesterday, said regarding the controversial medical system 
for the aged: "Should low-income seniors continue paying (insurance 
premiums)? We have begun studying ways to improve the system. What 
must be corrected must be corrected by around late June." He thus 
indicated that the ruling parties would come up with a set of 
measures in June to reduce the burden on those with low incomes and 
dependents based on a plan to maintain the foundations of the 
system. New Komeito Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Yoshio 
Urushibara also expressed a similar view. 
 
The government and ruling bloc attribute their defeat in the April 
27 Yamaguchi by-election to strong public discontent with the 
medical system for the elderly. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda 
announced in a press conference on April 30 a plan to examine 
problems associated with the system by mid-June when insurance 
premiums will be automatically deducted from pension benefits for 
the second time and take fiscal steps as necessary. The Upper House 
LDP also plans to come up with its own measures later this month, 
and the New Komeito, too, began discussions on May 8. 
 
21) Many in ruling parties feel it is not necessary to extend 
current Diet session, depriving DPJ chance to attack 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 10, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00001280  012 OF 013 
 
 
An increasing number of ruling camp lawmakers now feel it is 
unnecessary to extend the current regular Diet session, which is to 
be closed on June 15. The reason is because it appears likely that 
even if the ruling parties readopt the bill amending the Road 
Construction Revenues Special Exemption Law, deliberations on the 
remaining bills would go smoothly during the current session, now 
that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has decided not to submit a 
censure motion against Prime Minister Fukuda. Fukuda, suffering from 
poor support ratings for his cabinet, is also motivated by the 
desire to deny opportunities for the DPJ to pursue him in the Diet. 
 
The ruling parties enacted as many bills as possible before they 
took a revote on April 30 to pass the bill amending the Special 
Taxation Measures Law. The tactic was adopted out of readiness for 
the DPJ likely rejecting Diet deliberations for the rest of the 
term, and even adopting a censure motion against the prime minister 
in the Upper House following the readoption of the bill amending the 
Special Taxation Measures Law. 
 
As a result, a plan to extend the session for about 10 days was 
floated. The reason was to allow time to readopt in the Lower House 
those bills that had cleared the Lower House on April 17 or later by 
using the 60-day rule (Article 59 of the Constitution that states if 
the upper house fails to take final action within 60 days after 
receipt of a bill passed by the lower house, the lower house can 
consider the bill rejected by the upper chamber). In response, the 
DPJ shifted to a strategy of reserving its "card" of submitting a 
censure motion against the prime minister. Diet deliberations thus 
will likely progress smoothly even after the readoption of the bill 
amending the Road Construction Revenues Special Exemption Law. 
 
Commenting on this situation, one senior Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) member on the 9th pointed out, "We will steadily secure Diet 
passage for bills that have been sent to the Upper House during the 
remaining weeks of the session. It is unnecessary to extend the 
Diet." A source related to the LDP Diet Policy Committee 
underscored, "If the Diet session ends, the opportunities for the 
DPJ to attack the ruling parties would decrease significantly." 
 
One senior New Komeito member also said, "It is better not to extend 
the Diet session. There are now no bills that will likely 
necessitate a revote in the Lower House owing to confrontation 
between the ruling and opposition camps." 
 
22) Hiranuma, Watanuki to launch "Yajin no Kai," anti-LDP policy 
group, in anticipation of political realignment 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 12, 2008 
 
Former Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Takeo Hiranuma, who has 
bolted the Liberal Democratic Party by opposing the privatization of 
postal businesses, and the People's New Party Representative 
Tamisuke Watanuki, will launch a new policy study group tentatively 
called the Yajin no Kai under the banner of anti-LDP. They plan to 
establish the new group, composed of seven members, mostly PNP and 
conservative independent lawmakers, later this month. 
 
Hiranuma and Watanuki, both known as postal rebels, have strong 
sentiments toward the LDP before the postal privatization. They are 
apparently planning to launch the study group to create a "third 
pole" with a view to political realignment. 
 
TOKYO 00001280  013 OF 013 
 
 
 
Muneo Suzuki also attends meeting 
 
A meeting was held in Tokyo on the night of May 8 ostensibly to 
cerebrate Watanuki's birthday. Besides Hiranuma and Watanuki, the 
meeting brought together PNP Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei, New 
Party Daichi Representative Muneo Suzuki, Sozo leader Mikio Shimoji, 
and independent and former Construction Minister Kishiro Nakamura, 
and others. They agreed on a stance to oppose the Fukuda 
administration's policy course. 
 
Touching on his cooperation with Watanuki, Hiranuma said a 
commercial television program yesterday: "I share the same views 
with the People's New Party, especially Mr. Watanuki." Hiranuma also 
expressed his eagerness to launch a new political party before the 
next Lower House election by citing his talks on April 28 with 
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, saying: "Mr. Ozawa 
strongly urged me to establish a new political party. Having the 
deciding vote is the new body's mission." 
 
DONOVAN