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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001824 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
1) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
2) President Bush when he meets Prime Minister Fukuda at the G-8 
Summit will pledge close cooperation to work to resolve the 
abduction issue  (Sankei) 
3) Ambassador Schieffer meets abductee families, convinces Sakie 
Yokota the U.S. is "serious" about helping resolve the abduction 
issue  (Sankei) 
4) Schieffer tells the Yokotas and other abductee families the U.S. 
will put in every effort to help resolve the abduction issue 
(Nikkei) 
5) The G-8 Summit in Hokkaido will take up weapons of mass 
destruction as theme, focusing especially on pressing the DPRK to 
abandon nuclear programs  (Nikkei) 
6) New testimony from former North Korean agent traces the life of 
Megumi Yokota during 1982-83, so far a missing period  (Sankei) 
 
7) Russian President Medvedev in interview says there is a chance 
for a resolution of the northern territory issue, hints at revision 
of policy line  (Asahi) 
 
8) As part of peace process, Japan to build agro-industrial park in 
Palestinian territory  (Asahi) 
 
9) Japan, U.S. to agree on Africa aid initiative at the upcoming G-8 
Summit  (Yomiuri) 
 
10) Prime Minister Fukuda will fly to Beijing August 8 for the 
Olympics opening ceremony in an ASDF U-4 aircraft instead of 
official government plane  (Sankei) 
 
11) Komeito leader believes Fukuda may step down if his popularity 
in the polls continues to drop  (Yomiuri) 
 
12) DPJ reportedly broke and needs 10 billion yen to fight in the 
next election  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Prime Minister's schedule, July 2 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 3, 2008 
 
08:56 
G-8 International Lawmakers' Conference on Population and 
Sustainable Development at a Tokyo hotel. 
 
09:30 
Met with Special Advisor Ito at the Kantei. 
 
10:04 
Met with Deputy Foreign Ministers Sasae and Kono, and Economic 
Affairs Bureau Director General Otabe. 
 
11:00 
Person of Merit for Safety Award ceremony. Then met with Deputy 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 
 
13:31 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura. 
 
TOKYO 00001824  002 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
 
13:59 
Met with former Prime Minister Abe at the Members' Office Building. 
Abe: "I would like you to send a strong message for a settlement of 
the abduction issue." Fukuda: "Naturally, I am thinking of that." 
 
14:17 
Met with Futahashi, followed by Cabinet Intelligence officer Mitani. 
 
 
15:05 
Met with Hitotsubashi Graduate School Professor Watanabe, followed 
by Foreign Minister Koumura. 
 
16:07 
Met with Palestinian Minister of Planning Abdullah, Israeli 
Environment Protection Minister Ezra, Jordanian Foreign Minister 
Al-Bashir and Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. 
 
17:20 
Met with Agriculture Minister Wakabayashi. 
 
18:17 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
2) U.S. to cooperate closely with Japan for solution to abductions: 
Bush 
 
SANKEI (Page 6) (Full) 
July 3, 2008 
 
WASHINGTON-U.S. President Bush will vow to cooperate closely with 
Japan for a prompt solution to North Korea's abduction of Japanese 
nationals when he meets with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on July 6 
in Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on the sidelines of 
the upcoming Group of Eight (G-8) summit to be held at Lake Toya 
there. National Security Council (NSC) Senior Director for Asian 
Affairs Wilder revealed this to reporters at the White House on July 
¶1. 
 
Japan and the United States last held a meeting of their leaders 
when Fukuda visited the United States last November. This is the 
second time for Fukuda and Bush to meet. Wilder indicated that Japan 
and the United States would confirm cooperation within the framework 
of the six-party talks in order to urge North Korea to abandon its 
nuclear development. Meanwhile, Wilder also touched on criticism 
arising in Japan over the U.S. government's decision to remove North 
Korea from its terrorism blacklist. "The president will promise 
again to the Japanese people that he will never forget the issue of 
North Korean abductions," he said. 
 
Fukuda and Bush are slated to meet the press after their meeting, 
when Bush is expected to play up the abduction issue. The two 
leaders and their wives will dine together on the evening of July 6. 
In the Japan-U.S. summit, Fukuda and Bush will talk about bilateral 
issues, such as moving U.S. Marines to Guam in the planned 
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. In addition, they will also 
discuss how Japan and the United States should deal with 
international issues, such as the Zimbabwe problem and the Doha 
round of trade talks. 
 
Bush, meeting the press yesterday, touched on climate change. On 
 
TOKYO 00001824  003 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
this issue, Bush revealed his perception, maintaining that it would 
be less effective for the G-8 nations alone to take action, given 
the rapid expansion of greenhouse gas emissions from China, India, 
and other newly emerging markets. With this, Bush repeated the U.S. 
government's position that setting a long-range global target for 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions needs a framework involving all 
major emitters. 
 
3) Abductees' families meet U.S. Ambassador 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
July 3, 2008 
 
The U.S. government has started procedures for delisting North Korea 
as a state sponsor of terrorism, changing the circumstances 
surrounding the issue of North Korea's past abductions of Japanese 
citizens. In that environment, family members of abduction victims 
met yesterday with Ambassador Thomas Schieffer at his official 
residence. One family member emphasized: "We truly regret the U.S. 
delisting decision. We hope that the U.S. will not delist the North 
if there is no progress on the abduction issue." Meanwhile, the 
family members have begun to question the Japanese government's own 
approach to resolve the issue. 
 
The Ambassador met four family members: Shigeo Iizuka, 70, chairman 
of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North 
Korea, Shigeru Yokota, 75, Sakie Yokota, 72, and Teruaki Masumoto, 
¶52. 
 
The U.S. Embassy suddenly extended an unexpected invitation to the 
families on the evening of July 1. The Ambassador has long indicated 
great interest in the abduction issue. He once visited the site in 
Niigata where Megumi Yokota, then 13 years old, was kidnapped. 
 
The Ambassador repeatedly quoted President Bush's remarks: "The U.S. 
promises to do its best to resolve the abduction issue;" and "The 
U.S. will never forget the abduction issue." Sakie commented after 
the meeting: "I felt he was serious about the issue, just as he used 
to be. I believe him." 
 
Before meeting the Ambassador, Mr. and Mrs. Yokota gave a press 
conference at the Foreign Correspondent's Club of Japan. Speaking 
before the foreign press, Shigeru Yokota said: "We are asking the 
U.S. for cooperation but not to resolve the issue," posing a 
question about the Japanese government's capability to do such. 
 
4) U.S. Ambassador in meeting with abductees' families: "We will do 
our best to resolve the issue" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 38) (Full) 
July 3, 2008 
 
Family members of victims abducted by North Korean agents met with 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer at his official residence 
yesterday. The Ambassador sought their understanding regarding 
Washington's decision to delist North Korea as a terrorism sponsor, 
stating: "The abduction issue is important before and after the 
decision." Noting that North Korea's had withdrawn its assertion 
that the abduction issue had already been settled, Schieffer said: 
"This might be a small step forward, but we will do our best so that 
the issue is resolved." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001824  004 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
The meeting was held at the request of the Ambassador. Shigeo 
Iizuka, 70, elder brother of abduction victim Yaeko Taguchi (who 
went missing at the age of 22), told reporters after the meeting: 
"Although we regret the U.S. decision, the Ambassador said, 'Unless 
there had been this decision, not even the topic of the abduction 
issue would have ever come up'. We gained the impression that the 
U.S. is trying hard to help." Iizuka serves as chairman of the 
Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Koreas. 
Iizuka added: "We asked the Ambassador that the U.S. include 
progress on the abduction issue among the conditions for 
implementing the delisting decision." 
 
Shigeru Yokota, 75, father of Megumi Yokota, another abduction 
victim (13 at that time) commented: "The Ambassador explained that 
the designation of the North as a terrorism sponsor is just one of 
many sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the North and is not a very 
big one. We will watch carefully now to see how things will 
develop." 
 
Teruaki Masumoto, 52, younger brother of abduction victim Rumiko 
Masumoto (24 at that time), said disappointedly: "We had continued 
telling (the U.S.) in a strong tone that the delisting issue would 
affect the fate of the families of the abduction victims. It might 
be impossible to develop a shared understanding of this issue." 
 
5) G-8 to urge N. Korea for complete nuke abandonment 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 3, 2008 
 
Japan will soon host this year's Group of Eight (G-8) summit at Lake 
Toya in its northernmost main island of Hokkaido, and the political 
agenda for the G-8 summit includes strengthening a multilateral 
regime for the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. When 
it comes to nuclear weapons, the G-8 will call on all nuclear 
powers, including major countries, for transparent disarmament. 
Specifically, the G-8 summit will call for North Korea-which has now 
declared its nuclear programs-to abandon its nuclear development 
completely, and will step up international pressure. In addition to 
a summit declaration and a chair summary, the G-8 summit will also 
adopt a special antiterror document. 
 
The G-8 leaders appreciate the fact that the United States, Britain, 
France, and Russia have been promoting disarmament while showing the 
number of nuclear weapons remaining in their arsenals. In this 
regard, the G-8 summit will confirm that its members will make 
further efforts for nuclear disarmament. This is also meant to 
constrain China, which is not necessarily pushing for disarmament in 
a visible way. 
 
In addition, the G-8 leaders will discuss how to deal with North 
Korea, which has declared its nuclear programs, and with Iran, which 
is enriching uranium. The G-8 will also urge North Korea to give up 
its nuclear development completely through the six-party talks. 
However, Russia is cautious about clear pressure. 
 
The G-8 summit will also feature casting a dragnet on biochemical 
weaponry. Its members will make still greater efforts for the safe 
control of materials that could be used to develop weapons. The G-8 
has already established a regime that helps Russia dismantle its 
retired nuclear-powered submarines. In this connection, the G-8 
summit will consider expanding its framework for former Soviet 
 
TOKYO 00001824  005 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
states, Southeast Asian countries, and Middle East countries. 
 
The G-8 leaders will also talk about enhancing international 
cooperation against the threat of terrorism. 
 
6) Former North Korean agent: Megumi Yokota was at guest center in 
1982-1983 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2008 
 
Ruriko Kubota, Seoul 
 
A former North Korean agent, who uses the pseudonym of Kang Yong Il, 
provided some details to the Sankei Shimbun July 2 on the life in 
North Korea of Megumi Yokota, who was kidnapped in 1977 at the age 
of 13. According to the 44-year-old former North Korean agent, who 
now lives in South Korea, Megumi lived for about one year from 1982 
in a guest center for agents in Pyongyang where Kang lived as well, 
and he saw her again at a hospital for agents in 1986. Since the 
whereabouts of Megumi in 1981 and 1982 has been unknown, the focus 
is now on what the former North Korean agent has revealed about 
Megumi's life as an abductee. Kang also revealed that he had 
witnessed about 10 Japanese who had been abducted. 
 
In 1997, former North Korea agent An Myong Jin was the first to 
provide testimony regarding Megumi. Kang was an agent of the 
International Department of the Workers' Party of Korea. He was 
arrested in a third country in the first half of the 1990s and 
transferred to South Korea. 
 
Kang, who was selected as an agent of the International Department, 
was educated at an isolation facility in Pyongyang called "guest 
center" for about one year from 1982. During that period, he often 
saw a young Japanese woman who was living with a North Korean woman 
in the same room in the guest center. According to Kang, about 10 
years later in South Korea he learned that the Japanese woman was 
Megumi. 
 
When Kang was at the isolation facility, Megumi told him that she 
was Japanese and she would return to Japan in three years. Kang said 
that she was a person with a sunny disposition and wore 
Japanese-made training wear. There is also information that Megumi 
was told that if she mastered Korean, she would be able to go back 
to Japan where her mother lives, according to a Japanese source 
familiar with the abduction issue. 
 
Kang met Megumi again in the summer of 1986 in the agent hospital 
called the 915 Guest Center in Pyongyang. Megumi came to Kan, and 
said: "Mr. Kang." They stood chatting. At that time, too, she was 
accompanied by a North Korea woman and she wore a black suit. She 
told him that she had undergone a gynecological examination. Kang 
said that her Korean was extremely fluent and that she was a 
beautiful woman. 
 
 Megumi told Kang that she was living in a guest center in the 
Samsok district and she left the hospital along with the North 
Korean woman in a Mercedes-Benz, according to Kan. 
 
7) Russian president expresses willingness to resolve territorial 
issue with Japan: Possibility of modifying policy line 
 
 
TOKYO 00001824  006 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2008 
 
Russian President Medvedev on July 1 gave an interview to the Asahi 
Shimbun and other major dailies of the G-8 nations. Referring to the 
Northern Territories issue, Medvedev said, "Japan and Russia should 
confer on the issue, based on the various past statements and make 
progress on it." He indicated a strong desire to settle the issue, 
saying, "If we work in an amicable way without allowing our contacts 
to slacken, we will have a chance to reach an agreement."  Chances 
are that talks on the territorial issue, which are at a deadlock, 
will gain impetus, occasioned by the bilateral summit with Prime 
Minister Fukuda slated to be held at the G-8 summit in Hokkaido 
starting on July 7. 
 
This is the first time for Medvedev to meet a Japanese news company 
since he took office in May. He also gave high scores to North 
Korea's submission of a nuclear declaration, based on the six-party 
agreement, and its blowing up of a nuclear facility, as a step in 
the right direction. He then indicated his government's stance, 
"Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations, including fuel 
assistance to Pyongyang, in order to bring about an overall 
normalization of the situation on the Korean Peninsula." 
 
The president prior to the G-8 summit talked about Russia's internal 
affairs and the international situation, including foreign affairs, 
financial uncertainties and the energy issue, in an interview with 
news companies of G-8 member nations, which lasted for about an hour 
and a half. He also highly evaluated the present state of 
Japan-Russia relations, saying: "Prospects for bilateral trade are 
favorable as can be seen in the fact that the trade has topped 20 
billion dollars. Both countries are also in agreement on their 
stances toward issues facing human beings, such as terrorism and 
climate change." 
 
Outline of interview 
 
? Japan and Russia should confer on and bring progress to the 
Northern Territories issue, based on the various past statements. 
? Russia will continue to fulfill its obligations for the 
normalization of the Korean Peninsula. 
? A new financial system is necessary, because various international 
economic systems created in the 1960s and 1970s are not functioning 
well. 
? In order to settle the soaring energy price issue, it is necessary 
for consumer nations, producer nations and transporter nations to 
confer on the matter. 
? There is no change in my policy priorities from the Putin 
administration. However, the accentuation of the implementation of 
policy will change. 
? Tackle the corruption issue. 
 
8) Japan to construct agricultural complexes in West Bank as part of 
assistance for Middle East peace process 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 3, 2008 
 
Cabinet ministers from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan and 
Japan met yesterday, July 2, in Tokyo, in connection with Japan's 
initiative of creating a "Corridor for Peace and Prosperity" that 
would promote the economic independence of the Palestinians. 
 
TOKYO 00001824  007 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
Participants agreed to start building infrastructure needed for the 
construction of agricultural complexes, the key part of the concept, 
possibly in 2009. 
 
The Japan-proposed concept is aimed at indirectly helping move the 
peace process forward through the use of economic assistance at a 
time when peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority 
have stalled. The participants for the first time issued a press 
statement that included specific details. 
 
According to the statement, the envisaged agricultural complexes 
will be constructed in the southern part of Jericho in the 
autonomous area governed by the Palestinians on the west bank of the 
Jordan River. The project envisages a future expansion into 
neighboring areas. Foreign Minister Koumura stated, "It would be 
possible to create up to 6,000 jobs, as the project progresses. The 
project will create jobs for people in the area and offer hopes for 
the future." The Tokyo meeting, joined by Israeli Environment 
Protection Minister Ezra, Palestinian Minister of Planning Abdullah 
and Jordanian Foreign Minister Al-Bashir, is the third ministerial, 
following the one held in Jericho in August 2007. 
 
Japan wants to show a stance of being engaged in the Middle East 
peace process as a country hosting the Lake Toya Summit in Hokkaido. 
However, tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are 
rising due to Israel's move to expand its settlements.  The 
autonomous area is split with the Fatah effectively ruling the West 
Bank and the Gaza Strip ruled by the Hamas. As such, the project 
only targets the West Bank. 
 
9) Japan, U.S. to agree in upcoming bilateral summit to assist 
Africa in combating infectious diseases 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
July 3, 2008 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States decided yesterday to 
jointly extend assistance to Africa in the field of healthcare, such 
the eradication of cholera and endemic diseases. An agreement will 
be reached in a Japan-U.S. summit to be held on July 6, the day 
before the Group of Eight Lake Toya Summit begins. Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda also will ask other G-8 members for cooperation during 
their talks on July 7. 
 
Japan and the United States will jointly assist Africa in combating 
14 neglected tropical diseases (NTD), such as cholera, dengue, and 
filarial disease, plus three major infectious diseases -- AIDS, 
tuberculosis, and malaria. Taking countermeasures is imperative in 
order to stem spreading diseases and high death rates in developing 
countries that are the results of poor hygiene. 
 
Of all subjects to be discussed in the G-8 summit, President George 
¶W. Bush is said to place top priority on African issues. The 
President announced in February this year the United States would 
contribute 350 million dollars to a program providing medical 
supplies for eradicating the NTD. The policy to use the official 
development assistance budget to curb or eradicate the NTD is 
specified in the Yokohama Action Plan, adopted at the fourth Tokyo 
International Conference on African Development (TICAD) held in 
Yokohama in May. 
 
Japan plans to make special efforts to nurture human resources by 
 
TOKYO 00001824  008 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
giving technological guidance to medical institutions, improve 
habitual patterns, and secure safe water. A senior Foreign Ministry 
official said: "The United States places an emphasis on the 
provision of medical supplies, while Japan aims at enhancing the 
system, such as technology and human sources. A combination of the 
two will add up to effective countermeasures against diseases." 
 
10) Fukuda to leave for Beijing by ASDF U-4 multipurpose aircraft to 
attend Olympics' opening ceremony 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2008 
 
The government has considered using U-4 multipurpose aircraft, 
instead of government aircraft, as a means to transport Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda to Beijing to attend the opening ceremony of 
the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8, according to informed sources 
yesterday. The U-4 multipurpose craft is small-sized and 
economically efficient. It will be the first time for a prime 
minister to make use of U-4 aircraft for an overseas trip. It will 
also be the first time for Self-Defense Force (SDF) aircraft to land 
on Chinese land, excluding the special government plane belonging to 
the Air Self-Defense Force. The government planned to transport 
rescue goods by SDF aircraft for victims of the massive earthquake 
in Sichuan Province in China in May, but the plan was cancelled due 
to strong reactions from the Chinese public. SDF aircraft's landing 
on China is likely to be finally realized. 
 
When a prime minister makes an overseas trip, the government usually 
flies a reserve plane in preparation against an accident. Based on 
this practice and also out of the need to send personnel 
accompanying the prime minister, the government intends to fly two 
U-4 planes. 
 
Fukuda is scheduled to leave Japan for Beijing by U-4 aircraft on 
the morning of Aug. 8, the day of the opening ceremony. After 
attending the ceremony on the night of the same day, he will leave 
Beijing in the early hours of the 9th. He needs to arrive at Oomura 
Airport in Nagasaki in time for the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Victims 
Memorial Peace Prayer Ceremony to start at 10:40. He also plans to 
attend an atomic bomb victims' memorial ceremony in Hiroshima on the 
6th. 
 
Fukuda initially planned to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Bush while in Beijing, but 
given the tight schedule, he has given up these meetings. 
 
Usually, the government uses government aircraft - a Boeing-made 
jumbo jet (747) with about 150 seats - for overseas trips by the 
Emperor, the Empress, and the prime minister. In contrast, the U-4 
plane has only 19 seats, so it is featured by freedom of movement 
and is economically efficient. The ASDF has five U-4 airplanes. 
 
11) New Komeito's Kanzaki: "Prime Minister might have to resign if 
his support rates remain low" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
July 3, 2008 
 
Takenori Kanzaki, a former representative of the New Komeito, 
delivering a speech in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, last night, 
indicated that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda might have to resign from 
 
TOKYO 00001824  009 OF 009 
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 07//08 
 
the post before the next Lower House election depending on how the 
rate of support for his cabinet shifts. Kanzaki said: "We don't know 
when the next Lower House election will occur. It is also unknown 
whether the lower chamber will be dissolved under Prime Minister 
Fukuda after his support rates rise or whether it will be dissolved 
under the prime minister after Fukuda, who may have to resign due to 
sagging support ratings." Kanzaki has become the first ruling party 
heavyweight to publicly mention the possibility of Prime Minister 
Fukuda resigning. 
 
In the wake of the LDP candidate's defeat in a Lower House Yamaguchi 
by-election in April, there is discontent in the New Komeito, with 
one lawmaker saying: "We cannot fight the next Lower House election 
while the prime minister's support rates are so low." Kanzaki's 
statement apparently reflected such a mood in his party. 
 
12) DPJ lacks funds for summer; Lower House race requires 10 billion 
yen 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 3, 2008 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan has been sending out messages about 
its lack of funds. Although President Ozawa has declared that the 
party will enter full-fledged election mode in summer, a party 
executive complained: "We don't have money. Things could go terribly 
wrong if a Lower House race were to begin now." But their complaints 
are so bold that some take the view that it is a DPJ ploy to lure 
Prime Minister Fukuda into an early Lower House dissolution. 
 
The party's income centers on political subsidies that are 
distributed in accordance with the number of seats and votes 
collected. Its subsidies for fiscal 2008 come to approximately 11.8 
billion yen. Some 10 billion yen is required as campaign funds. 
Because political subsidies are provided in four installments 
annually, only part of the subsidies is in the party's coffers. 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, the "cash-box keeper," has implied 
that his party currently lacks funds, saying to his aide, "We will 
be fully ready when the term of the Lower House members expires (in 
September 2009)." 
 
The DPJ is scheduled to throw a fund-raising party on July 14 with 
the aim of raising 250 million yen. Some described the amount a 
small sum. The party is chronically suffering from a lack of money. 
Even President Ozawa jokingly said to Hatoyama, who has considerable 
wealth, over a dinner in early April, "Give us your assets." 
 
SCHIEFFER