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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001367 
 
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 05/20/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Opinion polls: 
4) Fukuda Cabinet support rate sinks to 19 %  in Asahi poll, with 
non-support rate rising 6 points to 65 %   (Asahi) 
5) Yomiuri poll: Cabinet support rate drops 3.9 points to 26 % , 
while non-support rate reaches 64.7 %   (Nikkei) 
6) Government clueless as to how to reverse trend of sliding cabinet 
support ratings in the polls as opposition camp strengthens 
criticism  (Yomiuri) 
 
China earthquake: 
7) Japan's rescue team could return today  (Mainichi) 
8) Government considering the dispatch of a reconstruction team to 
quake-stricken area in China  (Mainichi) 
9) Japanese rescue team, arriving too late and faced with impossible 
conditions, unable to show its know-how  (Asahi) 
 
10) South Korea's foreign minister protests to Japan about plan to 
teach school children that Takeshima is Japanese territory  (Nikkei) 
 
 
11) Joint ruling-camp project team considering permanent law for SDF 
overseas dispatch  (Mainichi) 
 
12) METI white paper stresses linkage between the environment and 
the economy  (Asahi) 
 
13) Japan, Indonesia to ink memorandum accepting nurses and 
caregivers into Japan  (Asahi) 
 
14) Japan plans to ship to Philippines 200,000 tons of 
minimum-access rice to the Philippines  (Asahi) 
 
15) Open hearing in Tokyo: US will not restrain shipments of the 
meat of offspring of cloned animals  (Mainichi) 
 
Political agenda: 
16) Prime Minister Fukuda plans to give priority treatment to 
elderly in new policy measures  (Asahi) 
17) Democratic Party of Japan to submit to Upper House this week a 
bill scrapping the controversial medical system for the elderly that 
taps their pensions  (Yomiuri) 
18) Ruling parties deem 10 bills languishing in the Diet as 
impossible to be passed  (Asahi) 
19) Machimura faction of the LDP holds fund-raising party but 
faction's post-Fukuda election candidate remains elusive  (Mainichi) 
 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Social Security National Council estimates consumption tax rate to 
be raised to between 9.5 %  and 18 % , if basic pension is to be 
fully funded by tax 
 
 
TOKYO 00001367  002 OF 012 
 
 
Mainichi: 
Tax-funded pension system to boost additional public burden up to 24 
trillion yen: Government estimates consumption tax rate to be raised 
to 14.5 %  in next fiscal year 
 
Yomiuri: Sankei: Tokyo Shimbun: 
 Sichuan quake:  200 victims missing after mudslides; 150 road 
restorative construction workers injured; Death toll could reach 
70,000 
 
Nikkei: 
Toshiba acquires nuclear generation fuel company: Integrated 
production from uranium to equipment 
 
Akahata: 
Report from Sichuan quake site: Lamentation and tears 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Pension reform estimate: We want to see whole picture of welfare 
policy 
(2) Introduction of imprisonment for life: Make most of 
suprapartisan proposal 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Hansen's disease: Protect every patient 
(2) Sichuan quake: Relief also needed for cyclone victims in Burma 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Sluggish public support ratings for Fukuda cabinet: Government 
should come up with clear vision regarding what it is going to do 
(2) Pension reform process has reached stage for detailed 
discussion 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) What is next challenge to Narita Airport, which marked 30th 
anniversary of opening 
(2) Is it necessary to pay compensation for dubbing music, 
broadcasts ten times? 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Sichuan quake: Rush to prevent collateral disasters 
(2) Narita Airport marks 30th anniversary of opening: Time to review 
current practice of Narita Airport for international flights and 
Haneda Airport for domestic flights 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Tax-funded pension system: Impending issues should be discussed 
first 
(2) Cluster bomb: Time to decide to impose blanket ban 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 19 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00001367  003 OF 012 
 
 
09:17 
Met at the Kantei with Lower House members Taro Nakayama, Takashi 
Mitsubayashi, and Koichiro Shimizu. 
 
09:56 
Met State Minister for Science and Technology Policy Kishida, 
Cabinet Office Vice Minister Uchida, and Council for Science and 
Technology Policy members Masuo Aizawa and Taizo Yakushiji, and 
others. 
 
10:10 
Met Japan Federation of Bar Associations Chairman Makoto Miyazaki 
and family members of victims in incidents caused by gas water 
heaters, with Kishida present. Followed by Special Advisor Ito. 
 
11:14 
Met Transport Minister Fuyushiba and Transport Ministry Civil 
Aviation Bureau Director General Suzuki, with Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Saka present. 
 
12:58 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
15:10 
Met METI Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau Director General 
Adachi, with Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ando. Followed 
by Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry Vice Minister Edogawa and 
Insurance Bureau Director General Mizuta. 
 
16:23 
Met State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Ota. 
 
17:01 
Attended an executive meeting in the Diet Building. 
 
17:46 
Attended a meeting of the Council for Science and Technology Policy 
at the Kantei. 
 
19:40 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Poll: Cabinet support at 19 % 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based public opinion survey 
across the nation on May 17-18, in which the rate of public support 
for Prime Minister Fukuda's cabinet was 19 % , dropping from the 20 
%  rating in the last survey taken between April 30 and May 1. The 
nonsupport rate for the Fukuda cabinet was 65 %  (59 %  in the last 
survey), the highest ever for the Fukuda cabinet since its 
inauguration. The government plans to incorporate road-related tax 
revenues into the state's general account budget to use the road 
taxes for other purposes. Asked if Fukuda will be able to do so, 82 
%  were negative, saying he cannot substantially change the way the 
road taxes are used. As seen from the figure, the greater part of 
the public wonder whether he can deliver. 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New 
Komeito, plan to take a second vote in the House of Representatives 
 
TOKYO 00001367  004 OF 012 
 
 
on a bill using gasoline taxes for road construction and other 
road-related infrastructure projects. Prior to that, the government 
made a cabinet decision to incorporate the gasoline taxes into the 
state's general account budget. Asked about this decision, public 
opinion was split, with 41 %  approving of it and 46 %  negative. 
Meanwhile, only 31 %  were affirmative of the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) over what to do about the 
gasoline taxes and road-related tax revenues. The DPJ also cannot be 
said to have scored points over this issue. 
 
The government has now introduced a new healthcare insurance system 
for the elderly, under which almost all of those aged 75 and 
over-including dependents who currently do not have to pay insurance 
premiums-will have to pay premiums in October and afterward. Asked 
about this system, 75 %  were negative, with 17 %  affirmative. 
 
5) Poll: Fukuda cabinet's support rate at 26 % , lowest ever since 
inauguration 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
May 20, 2008 
 
According to a face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey 
conducted May 17-18 by the Yomiuri Shimbun, the approval rating for 
Prime Minister Fukuda and his cabinet was 26.1 % , dropping 3.9 %age 
points from the preceding month and reaching a new low. The 
disapproval rating for the Fukuda cabinet was 64.7 % , up 6.3 points 
from the preceding month. 
 
Even among those who support New Komeito, the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party's coalition partner, the Fukuda cabinet's 
nonsupport rate was a little over 50 % , with its support rate at a 
little less than 40 % . Among those with no particular party 
affiliation, the Fukuda cabinet's nonsupport rate reached 76.1 % . 
 
The most common reason given for not supporting the Fukuda cabinet 
was "I cannot appreciate its political stance" at 47 % , followed by 
"nothing cannot be expected of its economic policy" at 45 % . 
 
What lies behind the fall of the Fukuda cabinet's support rate is 
apparently the public's strong dissatisfaction with the 
reinstatement of gasoline surcharges and the introduction of a new 
healthcare premium deduction system for the elderly. 
 
Asked if it was good that the gasoline surcharges have now been 
restored, 66 %  answered "no," with only 25 %  saying "yes." Asked 
about the newly introduced healthcare system, 30 %  were affirmative 
of it, with 69 %  negative. Moreover, 94 %  said the government 
failed to fully prepare or account for the system for its 
introduction. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP 
stood at 28.5 % , down 2.1 points from the preceding month. The 
leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 18.4 
% , up 1.0 point. 
 
6) 26 %  rating for Fukuda cabinet: No clue for gov't to rebound 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun's public opinion survey in May clearly showed a 
 
TOKYO 00001367  005 OF 012 
 
 
downward trend of the Fukuda cabinet's approval rating. The 
government and ruling parties remain unable to get a clue to rebound 
in public support, finding no way out. The opposition camp is 
further intensifying its criticism of the ruling coalition. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda was asked by reporters yesterday evening about 
the results of public opinion surveys, including the Yomiuri 
Shimbun's survey. "That's all right," Fukuda said. "That can't be 
helped," he added. 
 
The drop in the Fukuda cabinet's support rate can be taken as 
reflecting a public backlash against the restoration of gasoline 
surcharges and also reflecting public criticism over the 
introduction of a new health insurance premium deduction system for 
the elderly. 
 
Even so, none of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's lawmakers is 
trying to dump Fukuda. A former cabinet minister said: "The House of 
Councillors is now under the opposition parties' control, so there's 
no progress in Diet deliberations. There are also a number of 
issues, such as healthcare insurance. Whoever may become prime 
minister, now is a difficult time." 
 
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) Secretary General 
Hatoyama noted yesterday: "The cabinet's support rate is lower than 
the LDP's support rate. This means that even the LDP supporters 
think the Fukuda government is no good. The Fukuda cabinet should at 
least resign en masse. Otherwise, the prime minister should dissolve 
the Diet." However, the DPJ is also dull in public support. One of 
its junior lawmakers said, "I think people do not accept our 
President Ozawa's stance of raising an objection to anything." 
 
7) Rescue team to return home today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
Beichuan, Sichuan Province 
 
The 61-member international emergency rescue team led by Takashi 
Koizumi, which was sent from Japan to Sichuan Province in China in 
the wake of the deadly earthquake there, decided yesterday to wrap 
up its activities in Beichuan County. The team will return to 
Chengdu, hold talks with the Chinese side, and head back for Japan 
as early as today. Meanwhile, the government decided yesterday to 
send a medical team composed of some 20 physicians, nurses and 
pharmacists in compliance with China's request. 
 
The rescue team decided to pull out of Beichuan County because there 
is a high likelihood of secondary disaster and also because chances 
are slim to find survivors one week after the occurrence of the 
earthquake. 
 
The first group of the rescue team arrived at Beijing on May 15 as 
the first human assistance from a foreign country. On May 16, the 
team searched for survivors in Qingchuan County in Sichuan Province. 
Merging with the second group on May 18, the team has been 
conducting activities in Beichuan County. The team has found 16 
bodies. 
 
The medical team will depart for China as early as today. The area 
of activities will be determined through talks with China. 
 
TOKYO 00001367  006 OF 012 
 
 
 
8) Government considering sending reconstruction team; Rescue team 
demonstrates Japan's presence 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The government has given a positive assessment to activities by the 
Japanese international emergency rescue team sent to Sichuan in the 
aftermath of the devastating earthquake, with a senior Foreign 
Ministry official saying, "They have displayed Japan's presence and 
had a positive effect on Japan-China relations." In compliance with 
China's request, the government will also consider sending an 
experts' team composed of engineers and others to engage in 
reconstruction assistance following a medical team that will leave 
Japan as early as today. 
 
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Cui Tiankai, who delivered a speech in 
Tokyo on May 16, also expressed his hope, saying: "Japan has 
disaster prevention technology that is higher than that of China, 
and it can cooperate in reconstructing disaster-stricken areas." The 
government thinks the country was able to impress not only China but 
also other Asian countries with its ability to with disasters as an 
anti-disaster advanced country. 
 
At the same time, there is discontent about the fact that the rescue 
team arrived at the disaster-stricken area five days after the 
deadly earthquake hit China due to Beijing's slow announcement to 
accept Japanese rescue workers. Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura said, "Due to a delay in departure for China, the rescue 
team was not able to conduct activities as expected." 
 
9) Sichuan earthquake: Japanese rescue team regrettably "pulls out" 
from rescue activities without displaying its capabilities 
 
ASAHI (Page 30) (Excerpts) 
May 20, 2008 
 
Tetsu Kobayashi, Beichuan (Sichuan Province, China), Takaaki Ikeda, 
Atsushi Akutsu 
 
The Japanese international disaster relief team, which had been 
engaged in rescue activities in Sichuan Province, China, where a 
powerful earthquake occurred, yesterday put an end to its rescue 
efforts in the Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County and withdrew to 
Chengdu. The team in effect pulled out from the rescue activities 
without rescuing any single victim, after being plagued by 
communication and other troubles even before starting the searching 
and rescuing of victims. The Chinese side expressed thanks to the 
team, but members of the team appeared in frustration for their 
inability to rescue victims as they initially expected. 
 
Late yesterday, the Japanese rescuers returned to a hotel in 
Chengdu, applauded by dozens of hotel workers and citizens. Some 
hotel workers and citizens surrounded Japanese relief team members 
after they got out of the bus and took their photos with their 
mobile-phones that have cameras. The rescuers looked rock-faced and 
getting out of the bus, they hurriedly entered the hotel, holding 
their heads down. 
 
Japanese rescue team held up over traffic accident and faced 
confusion over information 
 
TOKYO 00001367  007 OF 012 
 
 
 
The first group of the Japanese rescue team arrived at Chengdu via 
Beijing before dawn of May 16. The group was aboard a large bus and 
headed for Guanzhuang, Qingchuan County, some 400 kilometers away 
from Chengdu. But the group later was held up for nearly one hour 
over a rear-end collision of a truck running ahead of the group's 
bus. It was around 9:00 a.m. on the following day, when the group 
arrived at its destination. 
 
However, due to insufficient communications with local authorities, 
the group was brought by a senior local government official to a 
village of some 120 households which were involved in a massive 
landslide with some two kilometers in width. This situation was 
beyond what the Japanese rescue team, which is an expert for urban 
disasters and has rescued victims who were buried under houses, had 
previously assumed. 
 
The senior local government official told the Japanese rescue team, 
"I hope you will save this situation with your technology." But the 
Japanese side simply said: "This is not what we can handle." 
 
As the next location for rescue activities, Qiaozhuang, Qingchuan 
County, was chosen, and the Japanese team was told that it would 
take 40 minutes to arrive there. But the team was involved in a 
traffic jam of military vehicles on the way to the location in a 
narrow mountain path where two vehicles narrowly passed each other. 
It was 3:30 p.m. four hours after their departure. What's worse, 
what they saw there was arubble of bricks that had broken into tiny 
pieces. It was difficult for them to rescue victims under those 
conditions. 
 
Late on May 17, the team moved to the Beichuan Qiang Autonomous 
Country. Search-and-rescue dogs suffered from diarrhea after a long 
bus ride. According to the Chinese side, several days before a woman 
shouted, "Help me." One of the team regrettably said, "Should we 
have arrived here earlier, we could have saved her." 
 
Chinese side appreciated the Japanese rescue team 
 
In China, the Japanese rescue team was praised in a number of news 
reports by Chinese media for their rescue efforts. The Chinese side 
banned Japanese media company reporters from accompanying the 
Japanese rescue team because dead bodies were not collected well in 
the central area of the Beichuan County. Instead, reporters and 
cameramen from the Xinhua News Agency traveled with the Japanese 
team and briskly reported on its rescue activities. 
 
10) Sparks beginning to fly between Japan, South Korea over 
Takeshima issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
A spat has begun between Japan and South Korea over territorial 
claims to the Takeshima/Dokdo islets, triggered by the Education 
Ministry's decision to specify the islets as Japan's territory in 
the instruction manual of the new educational guidelines for junior 
high school students. South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade 
Minister Yu Myung-hwan yesterday protested to Japanese Ambassador 
Toshinori Shigeie. A dispute may be re-ignited. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said in a press 
 
TOKYO 00001367  008 OF 012 
 
 
conference the same day: "No decision has been made on what 
description will be used about the territorial issue." The Education 
Ministry will decide on the wording by July. Until then, the Foreign 
Ministry intends to watch calmly how the situation will develop. 
 
The Takeshima issue was not brought up in the two rounds of 
Japan-South Korea summit held since President Lee Myung-bak came 
into office in February. The two leaders reportedly intentionally 
skirted the issue in order to underscore their willingness to 
establish a future-oriented relationship. Vice Foreign Minister 
Mitoji Yabunaka said: "Japan will respond to the situation in a 
cool-headed manner," but the territorial issue may be politicized 
depending on what expression will be used and how the South Korean 
people will react. 
 
11) Ruling parties to establish joint project team to consider 
permanent SDF overseas dispatch law 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito decided yesterday 
to set up a joint project team on a permanent law specifying a set 
of rules for the overseas dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces. 
Former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki is expected to become the 
team leader. Coordination is underway to hold the group's inaugural 
meeting later this week. 
 
The New Komeito had been cautious about establishing a permanent 
law. Nevertheless, the opposition camp is certain to oppose 
extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law, which is to expire 
next January. Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers are in favor of a 
permanent law. Given the situation, the two parties will study the 
option of permanent legislation to explore the possibility of 
reaching an agreement (with the opposition camp). 
 
12) Trade White Paper calls for strengthened economic cooperation 
through environment-protection measures 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) yesterday 
outlined the 2008 White Paper on International Trade. The paper 
advocates the initiative of "United Economies and Environment of 
Asia" involving 16 countries that include Japan and the Association 
of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries. It calls for the 
countries to pursue both economic growth and environmental 
protection by taking such measures as spreading energy-conservation 
technology across the region, based on an economic partnership 
agreement (EPA) in the region. 
 
The 16 countries are Japan, China, South Korea, and the 10 ASEAN 
countries, which are the member countries of the East Asia Summit, 
India, Australia, and New Zealand. The draft takes up problems 
dogging the region, such as the increasing degree of dependence on 
imported oil due to its economic growth, deteriorating air 
pollution, the aging of working population, and over-concentration 
in urban areas. The draft stresses the need for the countries to 
jointly address these tasks, in order to grow achieve their economic 
growth in a stable way. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001367  009 OF 012 
 
 
Specifically, the draft emphasizes the need for the 16 countries to 
realize an "East Asia EPA" for trade liberalization, as well as 
improving the environment to boost investment by stepping up efforts 
to protect intellectual property rights and other measures. The 
draft also calls on the countries to cooperate in storing oil by 
saving oil consumption in the region with Japanese firms' technology 
to save energy. Furthermore, the report suggests promoting the 
division and specialization of production in the region, as well as 
accelerating market integration by establishing international 
distribution networks and developing necessary infrastructure for 
online electronic commerce. The report specifies that the region 
aims to make 60 %  of the population middle-class people by 2030. 
The ministry plans to submit the outlined draft to a meeting of the 
Liberal Democratic Party's Economy and Industry Division today. 
 
13) Japan, Indonesia sign notes on Japan's acceptance of nurses 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
Japan and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding in Jakarta 
yesterday on Japan's acceptance of nurses and caregivers from 
Indonesia. This is a main feature in the economic partnership 
agreement (EPA) concluded by the two countries. In late July, 
Indonesia is scheduled to send up to 500 such workers to Japan. They 
will aim to pass a national examination while doing a subordinate 
job at hospitals or nursing facilities in Japan. 
 
In negotiations, Indonesia called for the minimum level of wage to 
be guaranteed, but Japan declined it. Instead, Japan has promised to 
convey to these facilities Indonesia's request that more than 
200,000 yen be paid to a nurse and more than 175,000 yen be paid to 
a caregiver per month. 
 
14) Agriculture ministry looking into sending 200,000 tons of MA 
rice worth 14 billion yen to Philippines 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The government has revealed that it is looking into sending 200,000 
tons of rice from stocks purchased in compliance with the minimum 
access (MA) clause, adopted at the Uruguay Round in 1993, which 
mandates Japan to import rice. The aid, if realized, would be the 
largest scale ever since the shipment of 500,000 tons of domestic 
rice in stocks to North Korea in fiscal 2000 as emergency rice aid 
to any single country. 
 
Vice Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Minister Toshiro 
Shirasu revealed this during a regular press conference on May 19. 
He said that MAFF Minister Wakabayashi on May 16 received through a 
diplomatic channel a letter asking for 200,000 tons of rice aid from 
Philippine Agriculture Secretary Yap. Shirasu said, "We want to 
consider the request in a positive way, while undertaking 
coordination with fiscal officials." 
 
There was about 1.2-1.3 million tons of MA rice in stock as of March 
this year. Whether the planned aid will be provided as grant aid or 
loan aid, or whether the rice will be sold has yet to be decided. 
One ton of MA rice imported in fiscal 2005 is about 700,000 yen on 
average. Grant aid of 200,000 tons of rice translates into 14 
billion yen to be shouldered by Japan.  MAFF will undertake 
 
TOKYO 00001367  010 OF 012 
 
 
coordination regarding whether to allocate the funds from the 
government's ODA budget or cover such with its special food control 
account. The Philippines is the largest rice importing-country in 
the world. It imports approximately 2 million tons or about 20 %  of 
its annual consumption. A rice shortage has occurred, because 
Vietnam, a major rice exporter to the Philippines, began restricting 
exports in late 2006 due to damage caused to rice crops by pests and 
typhoons. 
 
15) U.S. will not voluntarily refrain from exporting offspring of 
cloned cows 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) yesterday held a public 
hearing in Tokyo regarding the safety of cows, pigs cloned from 
somatic cells, and the meat and milk of their offspring. The MHLW 
during the hearing revealed that the U.S. had removed offspring of 
cloned livestock from the list of animals subject to a voluntary 
shipment ban. An MHLW official explained, "We have yet to assess the 
real intention of the U.S., but such a possibility cannot be ruled 
out." This official made this comment as a reason for his ministry 
consulting on the matter with the government's Food Safety 
Commission. 
 
16) Prime Minister Fukuda plans to map out measures giving 
preferential treatment to the elderly 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda decided yesterday to hammer out a plan 
to give encouragement to the elderly. In order to prevent his 
cabinet's approval rate among elderly people from declining further, 
Fukuda is considering such policy measures as employment promotion 
and preferential tax treatment. He plans to come up with some policy 
measures in early June, setting up a project team headed by former 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kaoru Yosano. 
 
Concrete measures being considered include: raising the compulsory 
retirement age to more than 65; increasing pension benefits; tax 
reduction for three-generation families; reinstating the tax-free 
small-sum savings system for the elderly; promoting elderly people's 
participation in non-profit organizations; promoting employment of 
the elderly in childcare services; among other measures. Some policy 
measures will be incorporated in "big-boned reform policy 
guidelines." 
 
In an executive meeting yesterday of the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP), Fukuda instructed Policy Research Council Chairman 
Sadakazu Tanigaki to set up a project team, telling him: "I want you 
to ease the mood as (the new medical care system for those aged 75 
and over) has given the impression that the government has treated 
elderly people coolly." 
 
Fukuda told the press in a strong tone last night at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei): "There are many elderly 
people who want to do something. We have to take account of such 
feelings." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001367  011 OF 012 
 
 
17) DPJ to submit to Upper House bill abolishing the new medical 
care system for elderly as early as this week 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Upper House Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Susumu Yanase yesterday told the press that his party will 
submit to the House of Councillors as early as this week a bill 
abolishing the new healthcare system for people aged 75 and over. 
Yanase and his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) counterpart Seiji 
Suzuki reached an agreement yesterday to start deliberations on the 
legislation during the current Diet session. 
 
The bill, if it clears the Upper House, will be voted down by the 
House of Representatives. However, the LDP has given consideration 
to the DPJ, which wants to appeal its policy effort to the public. 
By making such a concession, the ruling camp aims to secure 
cooperation from the opposition bloc for passing 
government-sponsored bills in the Upper House. 
 
Meanwhile, a broad agreement was reached yesterday in the 
Suzuki-Yanase meeting and in a meeting of senior directors from 
relevant committees that four DPJ-sponsored bills would be put to a 
vote successively in tandem with government-sponsored bills in the 
Upper House. The four DPJ bills include a bill verifying the 
consistency of special taxation measures. 
 
18) Enactment of 10 bills difficult during current Diet session 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2008 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New 
Komeito decided yesterday to carry over about 10 of the 
cabinet-sponsored 79 bills to the next Diet session for 
deliberations. The two parties have decided to forgo taking a vote 
on bills to which the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the largest 
party in the House of Councillors, will likely oppose and 
coordination will be difficult. The ruling coalition will continue 
considering the handling of to a bill to reform the national civil 
servant system, on which Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has instructed 
the ruling coalition to take a vote. 
 
LDP Upper House Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Seiji Suzuki and his 
DPJ counterpart Susumu Yanase yesterday confirmed that it would be 
difficult to pass about 10 bills. 
 
The LDP and DPJ also agreed to take a vote on 8 bills submitted by 
the LDP to the Upper House. As a result, about 80 %  of the bills 
submitted to the ongoing Diet session will clear the Diet. The %age 
of passage of bills will likely be lower than the 90 %  of the 
average year due to the present lopsided Diet, in which the 
opposition camp controls the Upper House and the ruling coalition 
has the majority of the Lower House seats. 
 
Bills considered difficult to pass include one reforming the public 
pension system, a bill amending the special law on state subsidies 
for the government-control healthcare program, a bill revising the 
administrative complaint investigation law, a bill turning highly 
advanced medical treatment facilities into independent 
administrative institutions, a bill establishing organizations 
 
TOKYO 00001367  012 OF 012 
 
 
revitalizing regional economies. Bills, passage of which has 
remained uncertain, include a bill amending the national civil 
servant system, a bill revising the Juvenile Law, and a bill 
reforming the Anti-monopoly Law. 
 
19) Machimura faction unable to decide who will succeed Fukuda 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 20, 2008 
 
Daisuke Kondo 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Machimura faction late 
yesterday held a gathering at a hotel in Tokyo, bringing together 
some 5,000 persons, including senior members of other factions, and 
demonstrated its influence as a faction that has produced four prime 
ministers in succession, including incumbent Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda. But the faction has yet to determine who will succeed Fukuda 
and remains unable to have any outlook for the faction. One senior 
faction member complained: "The faction has not been unified well." 
 
Former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, who is the faction's 
manager, emphasized at the gathering: "I want to make a 'hero' or a 
'heroine' from among our faction members in the future, as well." On 
the other hand, Nakagawa noted, "Under the banner of reform, we must 
take the lead in rallying forces beyond the borders of the Machimura 
faction and the LDP," and indicated an intention to seize the 
initiative in political realignment. 
 
One reason why the faction has yet to determine who will succeed 
Fukuda is because Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, who 
serves as chair of the faction, has failed to garner support from 
faction members. As for Nakagawa, too, he is taken by many faction 
members as not being suitable for a candidate to succeed Fukuda 
because he stepped down as chief cabinet secretary in the Mori 
cabinet in part for a scandal involving a woman. 
 
SCHIEFFER