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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001419 
 
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 05/23/08 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
New "Fukuda Doctrine": 
4) Prime Minister Fukuda in landmark foreign policy speech lays out 
new comprehensive approach to Asia  (Nikkei) 
5) Gist of Fukuda's foreign policy speech  (Yomiuri) 
6) Prime Minister Fukuda in foreign policy speech draws a line with 
the previous administration's stances  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
7) Fukuda in policy speech aims to reverse the tide against his 
administration  (Yomiuri) 
8) METI minister stresses that economic / environmental community 
will be centered on Japan, ASEAN  (Nikkei) 
 
DPRK: 
9) Secretary Rice, Foreign Minister Koumura discuss the North Korea 
issue in a telephone conversation  (Nikkei) 
10) Now there are two competing parliamentary policy groups in the 
Diet that take opposing stands, hardliners vs. conciliators  (Asahi) 
 
11) Senior Foreign Ministry official says Six-Party Talks likely to 
restart next month  (Asahi) 
12) South Korean official: Japan not opposed to U.S. removing North 
Korea from list of countries sponsoring terrorism  (Asahi) 
 
13) Ambassador Schieffer to golf with Aso, other LDP bigwigs 
(Nikkei) 
 
14) Ainu group demonstrates, calls of government to grant them 
"indigenous rights," based on UN declaration  (Asahi) 
 
15) Ruling parties complete draft bill that would toughen the Child 
Pornography Law by making simple possession a punishable crime 
(Asahi) 
 
Defense affairs: 
16) National Defense University head Iokibe present private proposal 
for reforming the Defense Ministry  (Yomiuri) 
17) Yamada Corp. former head Miyazaki tells Upper House committee he 
gave 100 million yen to defense procurement fixer Akiyama  (Yomiuri) 
 
18) Ruling parties boycott Upper House committee session that heard 
testimony by Yamada Corporation's former head Miyazaki  (Asahi) 
 
19) Former Prime Minister Koizumi, DPJ's Kan give stumping speeches 
in Tokyo  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
TEPCO increases quake intensity limit at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear 
plant by five times 
 
Mainichi: Sankei: 
Wooden strips inscribed with poetry from Manyoshu found 
 
Yomiuri: Tokyo Shimbun: 
 
TOKYO 00001419  002 OF 012 
 
 
Education Ministry eyes increasing number of teachers by 25,000 in 
five years, to cope with increased classes; 
 
Nikkei: 
Prime minister proposes disaster, disease prevention network in Asia 
in readiness for new strains of flu 
 
Akahata: 
Scandal involving Defense Ministry: "I felt pressure form former 
Defense Minister Kyuma," testifies Miyazaki, former senior managing 
director of trading house specializing in military procurement 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant: Estimated intensity limit has 
been reversed 
(2) Space development plan: Eliminate waste, secure transparency 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Summoning of former senior managing director of trading company 
specializing in military procurement: Now it is time for Kyuma to 
reply 
(2)   Relocation of Tsukiji Market to Toyozu: Food safety cannot be 
secured 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Crude oil price reach highest reaches peak: Find breakthrough 
with energy-conservation aid 
(2) Baby hatch: Increase consultation centers 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) How can new Fukuda Doctrine be optimized? 
(2)  Defense Ministry reform plan devoid of its initial intention 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Permanent law on SDF dispatch: Rush to map out outline during 
current Diet session 
(2) Consumer affairs agency: Priory should be given to efficacy 
instead of organizational theory 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Economic slowdown: Strength and identity needed in overcoming 
setback 
(2) Defense Ministry reform: Military interest left unquestioned 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Doshu or regional bloc system: Proposed road map will to destroy 
local autonomy 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 22 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
08:57 
Met at the Kantei with Vice Health, Labor and Welfare Minister 
Edogawa, Social Insurance Agency Director General Banno, and 
Internal Affairs Ministry Administrative Evaluation Bureau Director 
General Seki. 
 
TOKYO 00001419  003 OF 012 
 
 
 
10:19 
Met LPD Administrative Reform Promotion Headquarters chief Chuma, 
Secretary General Miyazawa, and others. Later met Economic and 
Fiscal Policy Minister Ota, with Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Saka present. Ota stayed behind. 
 
11:08 
Met Internal Affairs Minister Masuda and Decentralization and Reform 
Promotion Committee Secretary General Miyawaki. Masuda stayed 
behind. Followed by Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Yanagisawa. 
 
12:01 
Had lunch with reporters assigned to the Prime Minister's Office. 
 
14:29 
Met Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers members who just returned 
to Japan and others, with Japan International Cooperation Agency 
President Sadako Ogata present. Followed by finance Minister 
Nukaga. 
 
15:26 
Met Education Minister Tokai and Vice Minister Zeniya, with Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Machimura present. Later met LDP Parliamentary 
League to Consider Measures to Boost Schools' Quake Resistance 
Chairman Kawamura and others. 
 
16:12 
Met President of Laos Choummaly. 
 
17:30 
Attended a meeting of ministers responsible for producing monthly 
economic reports. 
 
18:34 
Attended a banquet of an international conference "Asia's Future" at 
the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. 
 
20:37 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Fukuda proposes building network to prepare for new strains of 
influenza in Asia 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda revealed in a speech at a banquet of an 
international conference yesterday the nation's new diplomatic 
doctrine based on increased cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region 
and an initiative to build a network with nations outside the 
region. He proposed an initiative to build a network involving 
emergency aid agencies and research institutes to better prepare for 
disasters and pandemics in Asia. As a countermeasure against new 
strains of influenza, the government plans to double its financial 
aid to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to make it 
possible to stock Tamiflu and other antiviral drugs for one million 
persons. 
 
In the speech titled: "Toward the day when the Pacific Ocean becomes 
an inland sea - five commitments to Asia as our partner," Fukuda 
 
TOKYO 00001419  004 OF 012 
 
 
proposed removing the mental barrier existing between the East and 
the West. He reiterated the need for the countries along the Pacific 
Ocean to take down fences and promote cooperation. The prime 
minister also expressed Japan's willingness to seek boundless 
possibilities with its friends in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
The new diplomatic doctrine looks back over the Asian situation 
developed since his father, the late Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, 
announced the Fukuda Doctrine in 1977. The concept, which can even 
be called "the new Fukuda doctrine," calls for promoting a resonance 
diplomacy that places emphasis on both the Japan-U.S. alliance and 
relations with Asia. It also stressed the stance of viewing the 
economic growth of China and India as giving a good opportunity for 
the countries in the region to strengthen collaboration, and not as 
a threat to them. 
 
Fukuda presented the priority areas Japan should address in order to 
promote regional cooperation as five commitments. The five are: (1) 
Absolutely support ASEAN's efforts to build a community; (2) 
strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance; (3) make Japan a peace-fostering 
nation; (4) beef up human exchanges; and (5) fight climate change. 
Regarding the Japan-U.S. alliance, Fukuda emphasized a common asset 
for the Asia-Pacific region. He indicated his willingness to promote 
regional cooperation based on the alliance. 
 
Five commitments cited in Fukuda's speech 
 
(1) To absolutely support ASEAN's efforts to build a community by 
establishing a representative of Japan to ASEAN in the near future. 
(2) To reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance to make it as an instrument 
of stability in the Asia-Pacific region. 
(3) To make Japan a peace-fostering nation by quickly building a 
network to better prepare for disasters and pandemics in Asia. 
(4) To build infrastructure to promote intellectual and generational 
exchanges, significantly expanding exchanges between college 
students, with those in Europe as a model case. 
(5) Fight climate change, offering cooperation to realize a 
low-carbon society. 
 
5) Gist of Asia policy speech by Prime Minister Fukuda 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
The following is a gist of an Asia policy speech delivered by Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda on May 22: 
 
ASEAN 
 
Japan will firmly support ASEAN's effort to establish a community by 
¶2015. The government will appoint an ambassador and permanent 
representative of Japan to ASEAN after the association's charter 
comes into force. Japan will endeavor to eliminate economic 
disparities in Asia over the next 30 years. 
 
Strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
Japan will strengthen its alliance with the United States a common 
asset in the Asia-Pacific region. The Japan-U.S. alliance signifies 
a stabilizer in the region. 
 
Peace-fostering nation 
 
TOKYO 00001419  005 OF 012 
 
 
 
Japan will endeavor to bring about peace as a peace-fostering 
nation. Pursuing disaster cooperation diplomacy, Japan will work 
closely with other countries' emergency relief organizations in the 
wake of a major disaster. Japan will expedite the effort to 
establish an Asia disaster and epidemic prevention network, with 
measures against an avian influenza in mind. 
 
Youth exchanges 
 
Japan will make efforts to significantly expand inter-college 
exchanges in the Asia-Pacific region. 
 
Climate change 
 
Japan will make efforts to swiftly reach an agreement on a 
Post-Kyoto framework, as well as to realize a low-carbon society. 
 
6) Prime minister's Asia policy follows Fukuda doctrine; Draws line 
from previous administration 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Commentary 
 
Policy toward Asia, announced yesterday by Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda who attaches importance to Asia, will become a pillar to 
realize his objective of turning Japan into a peace-fostering 
nation. 
 
He has defined ASEAN as Japan's partner. Expanding the focus from 
Southeast Asia to the Asia-Pacific region, he has also defined China 
and Russia as Japan's partners. 
 
In Manila in 1977, his father, the late Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, 
set out the so-called Fukuda doctrine to forge new relations with 
Southeast Asian nations as allies on an equal footing. The prime 
minister's speech yesterday can be called a new doctrine that has 
inherited the spirit of the original Fukuda doctrine. 
 
The prime minister used to say this about the Fukuda doctrine: "It 
has beautifully accomplished its historical mission. We have to 
respond to the demands of the new age." It has been about 30 years 
since the Fukuda doctrine was delivered. Looking at the next 30 
years, the prime minister, too, vowed to make efforts to eliminate 
disparities in Asia. 
 
Advocating diplomacy based on common values, such as freedom, 
democracy, and basic human rights, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe 
aimed at enhanced cooperation between Japan, the United States, 
Australia and India. The policy direction intended to apply pressure 
on China and Russia forced the two countries to increase their 
guards against Japan. 
 
The new doctrine seemingly intended to make a clear distinction with 
the diplomatic principles of the previous administration. 
 
7) Prime minister also aims to turn around situation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
May 23, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00001419  006 OF 012 
 
 
 
The "new Fukuda doctrine," announced yesterday by Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda, is the epitome of enhanced relations with Asia based 
on the idea of synergy of the Japan-U.S. alliance and Asia 
diplomacy. 
 
The prime minister has indicated to his aides that the word 
"doctrine" does not quite fit in describing his speech. It has been 
approximately 30 years since his father, the late Prime Minister 
Takeo Fukuda, unveiled the so-called Fukuda doctrine, vowing to 
contribute to the peace and prosperity of Southeast Asia. The prime 
minister, who thinks that Japan shares the same perspective with 
other Asian nations in view of the changes in the political and 
economic situations in the region since then, apparently did not 
like the word "doctrine" that sounds like Japan is looking down on 
others. 
 
At the same time, the prime minister, who is suffering from 
dwindling approval ratings, apparently wanted to turn around the 
situation with his foreign policy speech that emphasized relations 
with Asia, his forte. His vision to enhance cooperation with Pacific 
Rim countries, including the United States and Russia, clearly shows 
his determination to turn around the situation. The true worth of 
the "new doctrine" will be tested through the government's efforts 
to establish an international emergency aid system in the wake of 
the 2004 Sumatra tsunami disaster, measures against an avian 
influenza, closer cooperation between Japan, China and South Korea, 
and other pressing issues. 
 
8) Asian community initiative in economic, environmental fields, 
based on Japan-ASEAN cooperation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Minister Akira Amari at the 
international exchange conference "The Future of Asia" held talks 
with visiting Vietnamese Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang. 
With the United Economies and Environment of Asia Initiative, the 
showcase of the economic growth strategies, which the government 
will reveal in June, in mind, Amari during the meeting pointed out, 
"Japan's helping the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 
settle its environmental and energy issues and being involved in 
such a process would boost the Japanese economy." He thus indicated 
his desire to make cooperation with ASEAN the center of the drive to 
realize the initiative. 
 
Touching on the earlier bilateral agreement on nuclear energy 
development, Amari stressed that Japan's energy-conserving 
technology is prominent in the world. He also noted that Japan's 
contribution to such areas as addressing concerns about power supply 
and peaceful use of nuclear energy is high. 
 
Hoan during an interview with the Nikkei after the talks expressed 
earnest expectations for an early signing of an economic partnership 
agreement with Japan. He sought Japan to open its labor market, 
including the acceptance of Vietnamese nurses and attorneys, an 
issue which some disagree with on the Japanese side. He urged Japan 
to make concessions on the matter, noting, "There are few remaining 
problems. As for the rest, we will make a political judgment." 
 
9) Koumura, Rice hold telephone conversation 
 
TOKYO 00001419  007 OF 012 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura held a telephone discussion with 
U.S. Secretary of State Rice yesterday evening. According to a 
Japanese official, Koumura and Rice confirmed that Japan, the United 
States, and other countries concerned would work on North Korea to 
declare its nuclear programs at an early date. The two also agreed 
to work together for progress on pending issues between Japan and 
North Korea, including the issue of Japanese abductees. 
 
10) Two parliamentary leagues on diplomacy toward DPRK established, 
as if playing respective roles of the "North Wind and Sunshine" 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Two parliamentary leagues, whose positions are opposite to each 
other in terms of diplomacy toward North Korea, were established 
yesterday. One is the supraparty Parliamentary League to Promote 
Diplomatic Normalization between Japan and North Korea, which aims 
to send a delegation to North Korea. The other is the League to Move 
Cautiously in Diplomacy toward North Korea, a group of lawmakers 
from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) calling for a 
hard-line policy toward North Korea. These two groups appear to 
serve respectively as "the North Wind and the Sunshine" of North 
Korea policy. 
 
The supraparty parliamentary league's meeting drew some 40 lawmakers 
from the LDP, its junior coalition partner New Komeito, the major 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Japanese Communist 
Party (JCP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the People's New 
Party. The chairperson is former LDP Secretary General Taku 
Yamasaki, with advisors' posts assumed by DPJ Deputy President Naoto 
Kan, New Komeito Deputy Representative Junji Higashi, and SDP 
President Fukushima. In the meeting, Yamasaki said: "Nearly six 
years have passed since the issuance of the Japan-North Korea 
Pyongyang Declaration. Five former abductees and their family 
members have returned home, but no progress has been seen on other 
pending issues. We want to give the government a boost from the 
standpoint of legislators' diplomatic efforts." 
 
Meanwhile, the LDP's league, launched yesterday by six lawmakers, 
including House of Representatives member Hakubun Shimomura and 
House of Councilors member Ichita Yamamoto, held a session on the 
same day, inviting Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Kyoko 
Nakayama to the session. The group declared that it would prioritize 
"pressure" on North Korea in order to resolve the abduction issue. 
After the meeting, Yamamoto tried to forestall the moves by the 
supraparty parliamentary league, saying, "We want to drive a wedge 
into any quick move for diplomatic normalization." 
 
11) Senior MOFA official: Six-party talks "may be restarted next 
month" 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
A senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) 
yesterday revealed the outlook that six-party talks on the North 
Korean nuclear issue would be resumed possibly in June. The official 
 
TOKYO 00001419  008 OF 012 
 
 
referred to the possibility that North Korea would present a 
declaration of its nuclear programs to the six-party host nation 
China later this month or early June. Chances are increasing that 
the international effort to address the issue of denuclearize the 
Korean Peninsula, which has been stalled for more than six months, 
will again start to move. 
 
A high-level official, who confirmed that Assistant Secretary of 
State Christopher Hill and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim 
Kye Gwan would meet in Beijing possibly next week, noted: "If the 
meeting goes successfully, the six-party talks could be restarted 
sometime in June." 
 
The United States is expected to begin the procedures to remove 
North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism once North 
Korea's declaration is judged as being "complete and accurate." 
Meanwhile, the Japanese government's position is that it is 
undesirable to delist North Korea before the abduction issue is 
resolved. If the U.S. delists the North in the current situation, it 
would deal a blow to the Fukuda administration. A senior Foreign 
Ministry official implied that Japan was working on the U.S. behind 
the scenes not to delist it. 
 
12) ROK official: "Japan will not oppose" delisting DPRK as state 
sponsor of terrorism 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Yoshihiro Makino, Seoul 
 
A South Korean government official yesterday mentioned the 
trilateral meeting held in Washington on May 19 among Japanese, 
U.S., and South Korean chief delegates to the six-party talks on the 
North Korean nuclear issue and indicated that Japan had begun to 
soften its attitude. The official noted: "Japan expressed concern 
about (America's possible removal of North Korea) from the list of 
state sponsors of terrorism, but it did not voice opposition to 
such." 
 
13) Koizumi, ex-LDP execs to play golf with U.S. envoy 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and two former secretaries 
general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Taro Aso and Hidenao 
Nakagawa, will play golf tomorrow with U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
Schieffer in Yamanashi Prefecture. Seishiro Eto, who is close to 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, called on the ambassadors to Japan of 
the Group of Eight (G-8) member nations in an aim to enliven the 
mood of friendship toward this July's G-8 summit conference that 
Japan will host at Lake Toya in Hokkaido. 
 
14) Ainu stage protest, seeking indigenous rights 
 
ASAHI (Page 33) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
The Hokkaido Utari Association, the largest Ainu ethnic 
organization, headed by Tadashi Kato, yesterday handed to Chief 
Cabinet Secretary a petition calling on the government to recognize 
 
TOKYO 00001419  009 OF 012 
 
 
them as indigenous people, as well as to set up in the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) an informal panel of experts 
to discuss the rights of the ethnic group. There is a move to adopt 
a Diet resolution advocating the respect of ethnic rights. The 
government intends to establish the requested expert panel if the 
Diet adopts such a resolution. Yesterday the Utari group staged a 
protest around the Diet building. 
 
A nonpartisan group of Diet members also took part in the protest 
demonstration yesterday. The parliamentary group is expected to 
draft by May 23 a Diet resolution to recognize them as indigenous 
and respect them. Shizuka Kamei of the People's New Party and Social 
Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima newly joined the group. 
 
15) Ruling bloc's bill to impose harsh punishment on simple 
possession of child pornography 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Kunio Katsumata 
 
The project team on child pornography (headed by Mayumi Moriyama) of 
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition 
partner New Komeito yesterday finalized a bill amending the Law for 
Punishing Acts Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. 
The bill aims to impose harsher punishment, and in principle bans 
"simple possession," meaning the act of individuals collecting and 
possessing child pornography. If individuals possess child 
pornography to satisfy their sexual desires, the bill imposes a jail 
term of up to one year or a fine of up to one million yen. 
 
In the case of images being sent unilaterally, no punishment will be 
imposed. The bill says the punitive measures will be applied one 
year after the amendment takes effect. 
 
The amendment obligates Internet providers to cooperate with 
investigative agencies and make efforts to take measures to prevent 
(child pornography) from being posted on websites. However the 
amendment forgoes a measure to prohibit simple possession of 
cartoons and animated cartoons depicting child pornography and a 
measure to cut off access to child pornography websites. These 
measures are left to be discussed in the future. 
 
Like the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which has 
already worked out a bill amending the Law for Punishing Acts 
Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, including 
adding changes to the definition of child pornography, the ruling 
bloc also intends to submit its bill to the current session of the 
Diet, but as both bills are wide apart in contents, it appears 
difficult for both bills to be enacted into law during the current 
Diet session. 
 
16) Iokibe presents own proposal for Defense Ministry overhaul 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
A government panel to discuss how to reform the Defense Ministry met 
at the prime minister's office on May 21, and one of its members, 
National Defense Academy President Makoto Iokibe, revealed there 
that he had submitted his own plan for a reform of the Defense 
 
TOKYO 00001419  010 OF 012 
 
 
Ministry. This fact became known yesterday. Iokibe insists on 
maintaining the framework of the Defense Ministry's internal bureaus 
and the Joint Staff Office as well as the Ground, Maritime, and Air 
Self-Defense Forces' respective staff offices. The Iokibe plan holds 
the line against the Defense Ministry's reform plan. Iokibe is one 
of Prime Minister Fukuda's advisers on foreign and security affairs. 
His plan will likely affect the panel in its discussions from now 
on. 
 
The panel's discussion on a reform of the Defense Ministry is now 
being focused on what to do about the current setups of the Defense 
Ministry's internal bureaus and the SDF's staff offices. In this 
respect, Iokibe clearly describes that the Defense Ministry should 
basically retain its current organizations, adding that the Defense 
Ministry should involve its civilian officials and the SDF's 
uniformed staff officers in its policymaking process. 
 
17) Ex-defense contractor exec admits 100 million yen payoff to 
Akiyama 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
The House of Councillors yesterday summoned Motonobu Miyazaki, 69, a 
former managing director of Yamada Corporation, a trading firm 
dealing in defense equipment, to testify as a sworn witness before 
its Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee over a corruption case 
involving the Defense Ministry for its acquisition. Miyazaki has 
been charged with bribery and other crimes. In his Diet testimony, 
Miyazaki admitted to his payoff to Naoki Akiyama, 58, a former 
managing director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural 
Exchange. A Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office taskforce has 
been investigating Akiyama on suspicion of violating the Income Tax 
Law (tax evasion). 
 
Miyazaki, according to his Diet testimony, was asked by Akiyama to 
defray 100 million yen in order for Yamada Corp. to deal with 
fishery cooperatives and gangsters over its contract to dispose of 
poison gas shells in the port of Karita in Fukuoka Prefecture, and 
he did so. In January this year, Akiyama was summoned to testify 
before the committee. At the time, Akiyama denied receiving the 
money. 
 
Miyazaki also stated that Yamada Corp. had annually paid 100,000 
dollars (approx. 11 million yen) to Addback International 
Corporation, a U.S. business firm, as a basic consultant fee. 
Akiyama was an advisor to that firm. In addition, Miyazaki also 
revealed that Yamada Corp., asked by Akiyama, paid 100,000 dollars 
to the Council for National Security, a U.S. nonprofit organization. 
Akiyama was on the board of CNS directors. 
 
Meanwhile, Miyazaki admitted that he was with Finance Minister 
Nukaga at a bar in Tokyo's Akasaka. However, Nukaga has denied it. 
 
18) Ruling parties boycott Upper House committee on bribery scandal 
involving Defense Ministry 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
The House of Councillors' Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee 
yesterday summoned as a sworn witness Motonobu Miyazaki, the former 
 
TOKYO 00001419  011 OF 012 
 
 
managing director of defense equipment trader Yamada Corp. who has 
been accused of bribery involving the Defense Ministry over the 
procurement of defense equipment. While he was testifying, members 
of the ruling parties boycotted the session. The ruling camp opposed 
allowing media organizations to tape or take still images at the 
session on the grounds that such actions would infringe on the 
witness' human rights. The opposition bloc, however, gave the 
permission by taking a vote, urging that the media should be allowed 
access. 
 
Diet testimony is held based on an agreement between the ruling and 
opposition camps. The Diet Testimony Law stipulates that whether to 
allow the media to tape or take still images at a session is 
determined after hearing the witness' view. Therefore, Miyazaki 
conveyed to Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Toshimi 
Kitazawa his view that he did not want the media to have access. 
However, the gaps between the ruling and opposition camps remained 
wide. 
 
After the testimony, asked about why his party allowed the media to 
tape or take still images, Keiichiro Asao, chief committee member of 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), said in a strong tone: "Showing 
the session to the public in a timely manner is the responsibility 
of politics." Ruling Liberal Democratic Party Upper House Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Seiji Suzuki protested to Upper House 
President Satsuki Eda, arguing: "I am highly indignant at today's 
testimony session, which failed to protect human rights." 
 
19) Sparks fly in campaign speeches in Lower House Tokyo No. 5 
constituency; Koizumi: "DPJ opposes everything;" Kan: "Koizumi 
should explanations about new health insurance system for people 
aged 75 and over" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 23, 2008 
 
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a member of the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
Deputy President Naoto Kan yesterday set off sparks in Meguro Ward, 
Tokyo, where they delivered speeches to encaurage those planning to 
run in the Tokyo No. 5 electoral district contest of the next House 
of Representatives election. 
 
In front of the Jiyugaoka station, Kan assumed the stance of facing 
down (Koizumi), saying: "I've heard that Mr. Koizumi will come to 
Meguro. So, I cannot miss this opportunity." 
 
Moreover, referring to the new health insurance system for those 
aged 75 and older, Kan stressed: 
 
"When Mr. Koizumi was prime minister, this system was adopted in the 
face of strong resistance by the DPJ. Why don't we ask him to come 
here and explain the reason why he introduced this health insurance 
system." 
 
Meanwhile, Koizumi gave a speech in a public facility in Meguro 
Ward. Avoiding referring to the new medical service system for the 
elderly, he just criticized the DPJ, saying: 
 
"Since the DPJ has come closer to assuming the reins of government, 
they have begun talking about unreasonable things. They will oppose 
everything until the next Lower House election is held." 
 
TOKYO 00001419  012 OF 012 
 
 
 
SCHIEFFER