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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001479 
 
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 05/30/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
Prime Minister's daily schedule: Attended the TICAD IV African 
Development Conference in Yokohama 
 
China quake assistance: 
3) Government puts off plan to send ASDF transport planes to deliver 
relief goods to earthquake victims in China but may use civilian 
charters instead  (Yomiuri) 
4) Government pulls back on sending SDF to help China due to trouble 
in Beijing over the dispatch and rising anti-Japanese sentiment in 
China  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
5) Defense Ministry, readying ASDF planes for China trip, taken 
aback by sudden change in plans  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
6) Only party in the Diet against the dispatch of ASDF planes to 
help China quake victims was the Social Democratic Party  (Sankei) 
 
Cluster bomb agreement: 
7) In switch, Japan agrees to total ban on cluster munitions, as 
proposed by Dublin conference  (Mainichi) 
8) Prime Minister Fukuda issued the order to support the 
cluster-bomb ban  (Asahi) 
9) Decision to support the cluster-bomb ban made after prior 
coordination with the U.S.  (Mainichi) 
 
10) Opposition camp in Upper House readying resolution that would 
revise the U.S.-Japan SOFA  (Mainichi) 
 
TICAD IV: 
11) Raised expectations at the African Development Conference of 
Japan's taking the lead, starting with bringing up food crisis at 
the G-8 Summit  (Nikkei) 
12) Prime Minister Fukuda announces decision to produce commercially 
viable biofuel that would not be made from food stocks  (Nikkei) 
13) Fukuda ends marathon of meetings with African leaders  (Nikkei) 
 
 
Political agenda: 
14) Announcement of Okinawa prefectural assembly election in which 
key campaign issue seems to be medical care for elderly and not the 
U.S. bases  (Mainichi) 
15) Former postal rebel and now independent lawmaker Hiranuma 
expects to form a 30 member party  (Sankei) 
 
16) Global warming: 14 research institutes in joint study conclude 
that Japan's average temperature will rise 4.8 percent by 2100 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
17) Yomiuri poll finds 70 PERCENT  of Japanese say they do not 
believe in any religion  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Nippon Paper, Rengo mulling management integration to become the top 
maker 
 
Mainichi & Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00001479  002 OF 013 
 
 
At prime minister's order, Japan turns around its previous policy to 
agree to total ban on cluster munitions 
 
Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Japan gives up on plan to send ASDF aircraft to China in aftermath 
of Sichuan earthquake, meeting with China's disapproval 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Public servant system reform: We welcome this compromise 
(2) Talented personnel for nursing care: Top priority should be on 
wage reform 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Recommendations for decentralization: Both prime minister and 
local governments need enthusiasm 
(2) NHK investigation: Investigations insufficient for regaining 
public confidence 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Government must fully respect decentralization plan 
(2) Nepal decides to abolish the kingship 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Political parties should not make the new health insurance 
system a tool for political fight 
(2) Shareholders' meeting rejected reelection of president 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Decision to forgo ASDF aircraft dispatch to China extremely 
regrettable 
(2) Unreasonable rules for appointments requiring Diet approval 
should be scrapped 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) To dispel distrust in Japan, government forgoes dispatch of SDF 
planes to China 
(2) Internationalization of Haneda airport: Make the best use of 
"24-hour airport" 
 
Akahata: 
(1) TICAD: Japan must seriously made efforts for poverty alleviation 
 
 
3) Gov't forgoes ASDF dispatch 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
May 30, 2008 
 
The government decided yesterday to forgo flying Air Self-Defense 
Force aircraft to China on a mission to airlift emergency relief 
supplies for those affected in the recent devastating earthquake 
that hits Sichuan Province. That is because the Chinese government 
showed reluctance based on the possibility of a public backlash in 
China. The Japanese government is instead planning to charter 
commercial airliners. If ASDF aircraft were actually sent to China, 
it would have been the first postwar dispatch of a Self-Defense 
Forces unit there. However, the government has now forgone the 
decision. The incident sheds light on the Chinese public's mixed 
feelings about the historical past. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001479  003 OF 013 
 
 
China asked Japan for relief supplies. In response, the government 
was coordinating with the Chinese government, while preparing to 
dispatch the Self-Defense Forces. The Foreign Ministry's Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki met with 
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei at the Chinese Foreign 
Ministry in Beijing. Wu apparently told Saiki in the meeting about 
the increasingly severe atmosphere in China against sending SDF 
aircraft. 
 
A government source said yesterday evening: "They said it's also all 
right if we fly SDF aircraft there, but this opinion was not the 
Chinese government's consensus. That's a matter of their 
bureaucratic sectionalism." A Foreign Ministry official also said: 
"News media reported SDF dispatch, so there have been side effects 
in China. It cannot go together with our original purpose that is to 
deliver relief supplies." 
 
There was a meeting of a defense attach to the Japanese embassy in 
Beijing and officials from the Chinese Defense Ministry in Beijing 
on May 27, during which Chinese officials asked Japan to provide 
relief supplies. 
 
In that meeting, China asked Japan to provide tents and blankets. 
Japanese officials there were concerned about a possible backlash 
against the SDF, so they asked about how to deliver these relief 
goods. Chinese officials agreed there to accept SDF airlifts to 
airports in Beijing, Chengdu, or elsewhere. 
 
There has been a strong public backlash in China against Japan 
sending the SDF, with opinions appearing on Internet discussion 
boards linking the SDF to the now-defunct Japanese Imperial Army. 
Following the quake this time, the United States, Russia, and 
Pakistan have already flown their air force planes to airlift relief 
supplies for disaster-stricken areas. However, the Chinese 
government is believed to have deemed it difficult to accept Japan's 
SDF aircraft after weighing the public reaction in China. 
 
4) SDF aircraft dispatch shelved as Tokyo, Beijing give 
consideration to growing anti-Japanese sentiments in China 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 30, 2008 
 
The planned dispatch of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) aircraft 
to China to deliver emergency supplies to victims of the Sichuan 
earthquake was forgone yesterday. Before arriving at this 
conclusion, the governments of Japan and China gave thoughts to 
public opinion in China, where there is stubborn resistance against 
the SDF because of such historical experiences as the Sino-Japanese 
War. In an attempt to avoid the Chinese public opinion against Japan 
from worsening, the two governments have decided to forgo the SDF 
aircraft dispatch. 
 
The prevailing view in the Japanese government, centering on the 
Defense Ministry, was that the dispatch of SDF planes would make 
sense, one official calling it, "Epoch-making." 
 
Such response in Japan appears to have stoked anti-Japanese 
sentiments on the Internet. A high government official expressed 
concern, saying: "China might have been surprised at a great 
reaction in Japan such as that Japanese newspapers were reported the 
matter as a top news item." 
 
TOKYO 00001479  004 OF 013 
 
 
 
In the Japan-China summit held earlier this month, the two top 
leaders exchanged the joint statement vowing their efforts to move 
forward with "a strategic reciprocal relationship." Therefore, 
behind the decision this time around, there was the determination by 
Tokyo and Beijing to prevent the trend of improved relations from 
retreating. 
 
5) Government forgoes planned dispatch of SDF aircraft; Senior 
Defense Ministry official stunned 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 27) (Abridged slightly) 
May 30, 2008 
 
Reversing its previous policy course, the government has now decided 
to forgo its plan to dispatch Self-Defense Force aircraft to 
quake-hit areas in Sichuan, China. The decision created a stir in 
the Defense Ministry, which was making preparations until late last 
night for sending C-130 transport planes to Sichuan's capital of 
Chengdu. 
 
Learning of the government's decision to forgo the dispatch before 
dawn today, a senior Defense Ministry official said with a stunned 
look, "We haven't heard of anything about it." Yesterday morning, 
the planned first ever dispatch of SDF aircraft to China made 
front-page headlines. Feeling anxious, the official said yesterday 
morning, "I hope this will not irritate China." 
 
Following the decision, the SDF will cease its preparatory work. 
Nevertheless, quake-hit areas still need relief supplies, such as 
blankets and tents. The official commented, "Will the relief 
supplies be transported by commercial planes?" 
 
The dispatch of SDF aircraft was decided in response to a request 
from China. But the development prompted Chinese people to post all 
sorts of messages on the Internet, including one that said, "This is 
worse than the earthquake." 
 
Military commentator Tetsuo Maeda took this view: 
 
"The only conceivable explanation for the eleventh-hour cancellation 
of the SDF dispatch is that China harbors unexpectedly strong 
aversion toward the SDF. The Imperial Japanese Army indiscriminately 
bombed Sichuan Province between 1938 and 1941. People in Chengdu, 
which was also harshly bombed, have strong anti-Japanese sentiment. 
I thought it was significant for Japanese military planes, which 
used to carry bombs, to transport relief supplies. Still, I think 
Japan should continue providing assistance by using commercial 
planes of high transport capability." 
 
6) SDP alone opposed ASDF dispatch 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
May 30, 2008 
 
Opposition parties reacted in their respective ways to the 
government's consideration to send Air Self-Defense Force planes to 
transport relief supplies to quake-hit areas in response to a 
request from China. 
 
The Social Democratic Party's reaction particularly stood out. SDP 
head Mizuho Fukushima said in a press conference on May 28, "In 
 
TOKYO 00001479  005 OF 013 
 
 
consideration of China's national sentiment, we are opposed to 
(sending the SDF)," despite the fact that the SDF conducted relief 
activities in the wake of the earthquake off Sumatra in 2005. 
 
In contrast, Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii made the 
following comment in a press conference on May 29: "At the time of 
the Sumatra earthquake, we made it clear that we do not reject the 
idea of the SDF engaging in relief and rescue operations (overseas) 
in the wake of extremely massive natural disasters. There is no 
change in our stance this time around." 
 
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan Upper House Caucus Chairman 
Azuma Koshiishi said: "Because the matter concerns human lives, the 
decision was made to extend cooperation." DPJ shadow cabinet foreign 
minister Yoshio Hachiro commented, "There is no problem in actively 
transporting relief supplies in response to a request from a foreign 
country." The DPJ exhibited a stance to promote the dispatch from a 
humanitarian viewpoint. 
 
7) At prime minister's order, Japan turns around its previous policy 
and now will agree to total ban on cluster munitions 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Full) 
May 30, 2008 
 
Keiichi Shirado 
 
The Japanese government yesterday adopted a policy line to agree to 
a draft treaty immediately banning cluster munitions except for a 
portion of "newer smart cluster bombs." The agreement gives 
consideration to the serious human harm caused by unexploded duds. 
The draft treaty is expected to be adopted today in the Dublin 
Conference of the international disarmament talks called the Oslo 
Process. Japan will declare on the scene that it will accept the 
draft treaty. Until recently Japan had been unwilling to endorse the 
draft treaty in consideration of its alliance with the United 
States, which has not taken part in the Oslo Process, but at the 
request by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, the government has decided 
to accept the draft treaty. 
 
In this connection, a government source late yesterday noted, "We've 
completed the process of coordinating views with the U.S.," and 
revealed that Tokyo told Japan's chief delegate to the Dublin 
Conference, Takeshi Nakane, ambassador and director-general of the 
Disarmament, Nonproliferation and Science Department of the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), that Japan would accept the draft treaty. 
The U.S. government appeared to show its understanding toward the 
Japanese government's policy of accepting the draft treaty because a 
provision stipulating that the draft treaty will not stand in the 
way of joint military operations with "non-members states of the 
Oslo Process," such as the U.S., is now included in the draft 
treaty. 
 
As for the question of a ban on cluster munitions, the government 
had noted, "We will decide our policy, keeping a balance between the 
humanitarian issues and Japan's security." The government's initial 
plan was not to make its attitude clear at the time of taking a vote 
on a total ban on May 30 and instead to reveal its attitude at the 
time of the signing of the treaty in December. 
 
However, when the junior coalition partner New Komeito's Deputy 
Representative Toshiko Hamayotsu visited Prime Minister Fukuda at 
 
TOKYO 00001479  006 OF 013 
 
 
his official residence on May 23 and insisted on the need for Japan 
to agree to a total ban on cluster bombs, Fukuda told Hamayotsu: "I 
deem it necessary for Japan to deal with the matter in a much 
clearer way. Leave it to me." Fukuda then implied the possibility of 
giving the nod to the draft treaty at his own judgment. He also 
instructed relevant ministries and agencies to deal with the matter 
positively. 
 
At a news conference yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka 
Machimura also noted, "The government needs to determine its 
attitude," indicating that discussion in the government on the draft 
treaty reached a final stage just before vote-taking on the draft 
treaty in the Dublin Conference. 
 
Fukuda was affected significantly by the moves by leaders of such 
major countries as Britain, France, and Germany who decided to 
accept the draft treaty based on political decisions. By following 
them, Fukuda apparently wanted to avoid the case of Japan being 
isolated internationally and also highlight his leadership as the 
host nation of the upcoming Group of Eight Hokkaido Toyako Summit in 
July. 
 
8) Government to endorse cluster bomb treaty 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 30, 2008 
 
An agreement has been reached on a draft treaty banning cluster 
bombs. Unexploded cluster bombs continue to kill and wound civilians 
even after conflicts are over. Although Japan, too, has decided to 
support the draft treaty, reversing its previous stance, there are 
no signs that major cluster-bomb producers and holders, such as the 
United States, will make moves. The envisioned treaty will soon be 
tested. 
 
Japan shifts stance under prime minister's initiative 
 
The government had long exhibited a cautious stance. A person 
familiar with the government explained the government's about-face 
this way: "It reflects Prime Minister Fukuda's thinking. He has 
concluded that it is necessary to align with the international 
community from a humanitarian perspective." 
 
On May 23, New Komeito deputy representative Toshiko Hamayotsu 
called for a total ban on cluster bombs. In response, the prime 
minister said, "I will bring the matter to a soft landing. Please 
leave it to me." 
 
Upper House lawmakers who were also present in the meeting had the 
same impression as the government's policy shift over the landmine 
ban treaty. Although Tokyo had been reluctant to sign the treaty, 
the government inked the pact in 1997 under the initiative of then 
Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi in response to growing public calls 
for the elimination of landmines. They saw Obuchi in Prime Minister 
Fukuda. 
 
The government considers cluster bombs to be indispensable in 
blocking an enemy landing. The government was also concerned about a 
possible impediment to joint operations with the United States, 
which uses cluster bombs. Japan's concerns weakened with the 
drafting of the treaty that made it possible for member countries 
and nonmember countries to carry out military cooperation and 
 
TOKYO 00001479  007 OF 013 
 
 
operations. A supra-partisan parliamentary league calling for a ban 
on cluster bombs was launched in April. The league chaired by Lower 
House Speaker Yohei Kono includes many influential members from both 
the ruling and opposition camps. This seems to have given a boost to 
the prime minister. 
 
Once the treaty goes into effect, the use of all cluster bombs 
possessed by the SDF will be banned. Although the government has not 
revealed the number of bombs as a defense secret, the Air 
Self-Defense Force has since 1987 equipped its fighters with cluster 
bombs holding 202 bomblets. The Ground Self-Defense Force, too, 
possesses cluster rockets holding 644 bomblets and howitzers holding 
dozens of bomblets. 
 
9) Japan agrees to draft treaty on total ban on cluster munitions, 
with eye on provision on joint operations; Attention paid to 
relations with U.S. 
 
MAINICHI (Page 7) (Excerpts) 
May 30, 2008 
 
Katsumi Sawada, Yoshinori Fukushima, Dublin 
 
Japan yesterday decided to join the draft treaty prepared by the 
Dublin Conference of the Oslo Process," international disarmament 
talks aimed at concluding a treaty banning cluster munitions. Before 
doing so, Japan apparently continued coordinating views with the 
United States. America's other allies, such as Britain, France, and 
Germany, also attach importance to their ties with the U.S., but 
apparently they decided to accept the draft treaty because a 
provision allowing joint military operations with the U.S., which is 
a non-member state of the Oslo Process, has now been incorporated in 
the draft treaty. This provision seems to serve as a dividing line 
to decide the fate of the draft treaty. 
 
Japan has attached importance to three points in the Dublin 
Conference: (1) "Improved" cluster bombs whose failure rates are 
high and which the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) have currently 
possessed should be included in exceptions not subject to a ban; (2) 
a provision allowing joint military operations with the U.S. forces 
should be included in the draft treaty; and (3) a moratorium should 
be set before a total ban is implemented. Japan's calls for 
including improved cluster bombs as exceptions and setting a 
moratorium have not been realized, but regarding joint operations, a 
provision stipulating that "military personnel and the peoples of 
signatory states are allowed to be engaged in military cooperation 
and operations with non-signatory states" has been included in the 
draft treaty. This provision met with criticism from 
non-governmental organizations, but Japan and Britain 
uncompromisingly insisted on the need to add the provision to the 
draft treaty, even hinting that they would walk out of the Oslo 
Process. As a result, the provision was decided to be added to the 
draft treaty. 
 
10) DPJ mulling submission to Upper House of resolution seeking 
revision to SOFA jointly with other opposition parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 30, 2008 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) yesterday started 
looking into submitting to the Upper House a resolution seeking a 
 
TOKYO 00001479  008 OF 013 
 
 
drastic revision to the Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA) 
jointly with other opposition parties. It will start undertaking 
coordination with other parties, based on the draft of a resolution 
adopted by "the Next Cabinet" on May 28. It wants to submit the 
resolution within next week. A resolution seeking a revision to SOFA 
will be submitted to the Upper House for the first time. 
 
Calls for a drastic revision to SOFA are deep-rooted in Okinawa due 
to a series of accidents and incidents involving U.S. servicemen. 
The submission of the resolution is aimed at clarifying differences 
from the stance of the ruling camp, which is calling for improved 
management of SOFA, with an eye on the upcoming Okinawa Prefectural 
Assembly elections. 
 
11) Issue of soaring food prices likely high on agenda at G-8 
Summit, reflecting calls from African countries for Japan's 
cooperation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 30, 2008 
 
The issue of skyrocketing food prices is likely to be high on the 
agenda at the Group of Eight Summit (Lake Toya Summit) in July. In 
the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development 
(TICAD4), which opened yesterday in Yokohama, African countries 
called for Japan's cooperation in dealing with the issue. In 
response, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda intends to announce Japan's 
proactive aid plans in the upcoming Food Summit in early June. He is 
likely to be put to the test in assuming leadership as the chair of 
the G-8 Summit. 
 
Fukuda said in discussions on the food issue held yesterday: "I am 
determined to make utmost efforts to send a powerful message in the 
G-8 Summit." In a meeting with World Bank President Zoellick, Fukuda 
also pledged to cooperate on the food issue. 
 
In the discussions, Fukuda stated: "I am ready to offer more 
contributions" to resolve the food problem. Japan has already 
announced plans to provide developing countries with emergency food 
aid worth 100 million dollars. In the Food Summit starting on June 
3, Japan will propose an additional 50 million dollars in financial 
aid to help developing countries boost the output of agricultural 
products. 
 
Behind the prime minister's eagerness toward the food problem is the 
development of the issue into an international problem. 
 
"We must not allow foods to be reduced as a result of the use of 
agricultural products as biofuel." "We hope Japan will import more 
agricultural products." In a subcommittee at TICAD yesterday, 
discussion was conducted on the effect of soaring food prices on 
Africa and other matters. Participants presented severe requests in 
succession, keeping in mind the U.S., which has promoted producing 
biofuel with corn, and Japan, which has imposed high tariffs on farm 
products. 
 
Four international organizations, including the World Bank and the 
United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), issued a 
statement yesterday calling on industrialized countries to take the 
lead in expanding short-term, as well medium- to long-term 
assistance to Africa. The statement noted: "We must prevent a 
situation in which skyrocketing food prices undermine Africa's 
 
TOKYO 00001479  009 OF 013 
 
 
long-lasting economic growth." Specifically, it urges them to extend 
financial support to small-scale farmers to improve their 
productivity. 
 
12) Fukuda in Food Summit to express resolve to speed up practical 
use of nonfood biofuel 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 30, 2008 
 
The main points of the speech Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will 
deliver in the upcoming Food Summit were revealed yesterday. The 
speech emphasizes the determination of Japan, the world's largest 
net food importer, to make possible contributions to ensure global 
food security. Specifically, the speech stresses a resolve to 
hurriedly put second generation biofuel to practical use. The speech 
also stresses Japan's determination to send a powerful message with 
other participant countries in the July Group of Eight Summit (Lake 
Toya Summit). 
 
Further, the speech points out the need for the international 
community to take joint and coordinated actions in dealing with the 
problem of global food shortage. It underlines Japan's willingness 
to make contributions to stabilizing global food supply-demand 
balance by improving its self-sufficiency in food. 
 
13) Fukuda completes marathon talks with leaders of African 
countries, but receives ambiguous replies on Japan's bid for UNSC 
permanent seat 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
May 30, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda completed marathon talks unprecedentedly 
held separately with the leaders of 40 African countries who visited 
Japan to attend the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African 
Development. Through the talks, Fukuda aimed to solicit their 
support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations 
Security Council (UNSC), but many of them made an ambiguous 
response. 
 
The 53 African countries account for about one-fourth of UN members, 
so they are able to play a key role in reforming the UN. But in the 
talks, only several countries expressed support for Japan's bid for 
a permanent seat on the Security Council, including Ghana and 
Central African Republic. Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana 
made this reply: "I support Japan's position." 
 
14) Medical service system for elderly people over 75 a campaign 
issue for Okinawa Prefectural Assembly 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 30, 2008 
 
The Okinawa Prefectural Assembly elections slated for June 8 will be 
officially announced on May 30. Both ruling and opposition camps are 
staging an all-out battle, airing TV commercials and sending in 
senior party officials. That is because since both camps are equally 
matched in strength, if the opposition parties win, the government 
of Governor Hirokazu Nakaima, who supports the relocation of the 
U.S. Marine Corpse' Futenma Air Station within the prefecture, would 
become a minority government, which is bound to affect the 
 
TOKYO 00001479  010 OF 013 
 
 
relocation issue. In addition, the key campaign issue is the new 
medical service system for elderly people over 75, the focus of 
attention in the final phase of the ongoing Diet session. 
 
The fixed number of seats in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly is 48, 
of which 27 are held by the ruling parties -- the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP), the New Komeito, etc., and 20 are held by opposition 
parties. One seat remains vacant. There are many closely-contested 
constituencies due to mergers of municipalities. One LDP lawmaker 
elected from the prefecture expressed his sense of alarm, "The 
ruling and opposition are equally matched in strength. If the 
opposition camp wins, the Nakaima-controlled prefectural 
administration would be rejected by the public." 
 
Okinawa Assembly election results will influence national 
administration of the Futenma relocation issue. This can be seen in 
a past prefectural referendum held to ask residents about the 
propriety of consolidating and realigning U.S. military bases. 
Because of such a background, both camps are tackling the election 
in an exceptionally serious manner. 
 
The LDP has made TV commercial on the medical service system for the 
elderly, featuring former LDP lawmaker Koichi Hamada (79),  about 
making efforts to revise the system. It will be aired in Okinawa 
from the 30th. New Komeito head Akihiro Ota visited Okinawa from the 
23rd through the 26th and delivered speeches, pledging a revision to 
the medical service system. Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa also 
visited Okinawa to support the election campaign. 
 
Among opposition parties, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or 
Minshuto) Deputy President Naoto Kan, Japanese Communist Party 
Executive Committee Chair Kazuo Shii, Social Democratic Party 
President Mizuho Fukushima and People's New Party President Tamisuke 
Watanuki will visit Okinawa on June 1 to give sidewalk speeches. Kan 
during a press conference yesterday said, "Elderly people are all 
strongly opposing the system. I want to make a public appeal on this 
issue as a key campaign issue." 
 
15) Takeo Hiranuma: Prime Minister Fukuda always stays on sidelines; 
Plans to form 30-member new party before next Lower House election 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
May 30, 2008 
 
Takeo Hiranuma, 68, an independent member of the House of 
Representatives, gave an interview to the Evening Fuji, in which he 
criticized Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who has been suffering the 
low public support ratings, saying: "He has stayed on the sidelines, 
and he does not understand the feelings of the people." 
 
His interview is as followed: 
 
-- The drop in the support rated for the Fukuda cabinet is 
striking. 
 
Hiranuma: Prime Minister Fukuda has not carried out the kind of 
politics that the public expects. A number of thorny issues have 
been left unresolved. His replies to the press seem as if they are 
someone else's problems. He does not understand the feelings of the 
public. The public has become unhappier. 
 
-- There is strong criticism of the new health insurance system for 
 
TOKYO 00001479  011 OF 013 
 
 
those aged 75 and older. 
 
Hiranuma: It is unbelievable. I can say that's mismanagement. Taking 
care of the elderly by younger people should continue to be Japan's 
proud tradition and virtue. It is outrageous that medical pension 
premiums are deducted from the small pension benefits of people aged 
75 and over, who contributed to Japan's economic reconstruction 
since the end of the war. 
 
-- Prime Minister Fukuda has stated that the basis of the system is 
correct. 
 
Hiranuma: That's a bureaucratic statement. He does not stand with 
the public. 
 
-- How do you view the present Liberal Democratic Party? 
 
Hiranuma: I belonged to the LDP for 25 years. I am disappointed with 
the present LDP. A third force is necessary. 
 
-- Do you mean you will form a new party? 
 
Hiranuma: It is good for Japan to have a third political force. What 
I am working on is to nurture robust conservative politicians. I 
have supported 13 people -- five former Diet members, who lost their 
seats in opposition to postal privatization, and eight regional 
lawmakers. 
 
There are talented persons in the LDP such as abut 90 members of the 
policy group led former policy chief Shoichi Nakagawa. I as a 
supreme advisor have close exchanges with them. Since Nagata-cho is 
a pragmatic world, if I asked them to join a new party, though no 
one is saying "yes." But who can tell what will happen immediately 
before the next Lower House election. I have communications also 
with some members of the Democratic Party of Japan and the People's 
New Party." 
 
-- How about the timing for forming a new party and the party's 
scale? 
 
Hiranuma: If I form a new party, I will do so before the Lower House 
election. I'm considering fielding about 30 candidates for the 
single-seat constituencies. I have been steadily carrying out my 
activities, thinking that forming a new party is one of the 
choices. 
 
-- On April 28, you dined with DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa. 
 
Hiranuma: Upper House member Yoshihiro Kawakami invited us as his 
benefactors. He won his Diet seat as a DPJ member in last year's 
Upper House election, after having lost his Lower House seat in 
opposition to postal privatization. We did not talk about the 
election. However, Mr. Ozawa urged me to form a new party. 
 
16) Japan's temperature estimated to rise 4.8 degrees centigrade by 
2100: Rice production to increase and then decline; Beach forests in 
Shirakami Mountain to disappear; 1.37 million people along coasts to 
be buffeted by high tides 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
May 30, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00001479  012 OF 013 
 
 
A project team consisting of 14 research institutes looking into 
global warming on May 29 mapped out a projection of the impact of 
global warming on Japan by 2100.  According to the projection, the 
temperature will have risen 4.8 degrees centigrade by the end of the 
century, compared with the 1990 level. The ocean will have risen 36 
centimeters. As a result, 1.37 million people will be affected by 
high tides. Rice yield will have increased in such areas as 
Hokkaido. However, beach forests in the Shirakami Mountain, a World 
Heritage site, will have disappeared. 
 
Projection by 14 research bodies 
 
Global warming will likely hit hardest those areas affected by 
water. In 2030, when the temperature is estimated to have risen 2 
degrees centigrade, the Pacific coasts and mountainous areas will be 
frequently subject to localized torrential rains. The amount of 
damage caused by such floods would cost 1 trillion yen a year. 
Damage caused by high tides in bays of Tokyo, Osaka, Ise and western 
Japan will also increase, causing 50,000 people to suffer. 
 
The rise on the surface of the ocean will destroy resort areas along 
coastal areas. Economic losses of 1.4 trillion yen due to the loss 
of beaches and 5 trillion yen due to the loss of tidelands are 
projected. 
 
Rice yield from 2040 through 2060 is projected to increase. For 
instance, Hokkaido will see a 26 PERCENT  increase in such yield. 
However, rice yield will become unstable after that due to frequent 
crop failures. 
 
The cultivation of rice with increased heat tolerance will increase. 
However, if cold weather causes damage, the impact would be 
immense. 
 
Professor Nobuo Mimura of Ibaraki University, who has led the 
research, noted, "Japan is subject to the effects of climate change, 
because it rains a lot in Japan and 70 PERCENT  of the country is 
mountainous. It must consider measures to adapt itself to climate 
change as well as to make efforts to cut global warming greenhouse 
gas emissions." 
 
The research, which used the largest computer in the world, was 
conducted, assuming the most feasible type of society that is 
achieving a good balance between the use of fossil fuels, such as 
oil, and the use of recyclable energy, such as solar energy 
generation. 
 
17) Poll: 70 PERCENT  don't believe in any religion 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 30, 2008 
 
An estimated 72 PERCENT  of the Japanese public do not believe in 
any religion while only 26 PERCENT  believe in some religion, the 
Yomiuri Shimbun found from its yearlong serial public opinion survey 
conducted May 17-18. However, public opinion was widely split when 
asked about their religious mentality in a broad sense unrelated to 
specific religious sects, with 45 PERCENT  saying they think the 
Japanese people are less religious and 49 PERCENT  saying they do 
not think so. In addition, a total of 94 PERCENT  answered "yes" 
when asked if they had feelings of respect for their ancestors. 
Respondents were also asked if they feel there is something in 
 
TOKYO 00001479  013 OF 013 
 
 
nature that transcends human capabilities. To this question, "yes" 
accounted for 56 PERCENT . 
 
Many Japanese distance themselves from specific religious sects but 
seem to be strongly prone to regard with pious respect the 
possibility of something that goes beyond human intelligence. 
 
The survey was conducted on a face-to-face basis about religious 
beliefs. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked if they thought the souls of 
people who died would be reincarnated. To this question, 30 PERCENT 
answered "yes," topping all other answers. Among other answers, 24 
PERCENT  answered that they would go to another world, with 18 
PERCENT  saying they would be extinguished. 
 
SCHIEFFER