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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0386
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0793

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 001971 
 
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 07/16/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) South Korean newspapers radically reacting to Japan's reference 
to Takeshima issue in teaching manual for middle schools (Sankei) 
 
(2) Taku Yamasaki off to China to exchange views with Vice-Foreign 
Minister Wu and others on North Korean issue and other matters 
(Mainichi) 
 
(3) LDP nomination of candidates creating sources of contention; 
"Koizumi children" left off of selection disgruntled (Asahi) 
 
(4) Editorial: DPJ leadership race -- Can DPJ defeat LDP in the 
Lower House election? (Asahi) 
 
(5) Consul General Maher raises question about Ginowan mayor's visit 
to United States to request closure of Futenma (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(6) Ginowan Mayor Iha urges U.S. consul general to shut down Futenma 
(Okinawa Times) 
 
(7) USFJ commander stresses discipline enforcement (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(8) Naha District Court hands down prison terms to two U.S. Marines 
for robbing taxi driver in 2006 (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) South Korean newspapers radically reacting to Japan's reference 
to Takeshima issue in teaching manual for middle schools 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 16, 2008 
 
The Education, Science and Technology Ministry released its teaching 
manual for middle schools that referred for the first time to the 
territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea over the Takeshima 
(Dokdo in South Korean) islets. In reaction, South Korean Ambassador 
to Japan Kwon Chul Hyun called on Administrative Vice Foreign 
Minister Mitoji Yabunaka at the Foreign Ministry yesterday and 
warned: "Japan has much to lose from this. I demand that Japan take 
proper measures (such as retracting the reference)." In response, 
Yabunaka explained Japan's position over the Takeshima issue and 
said: "It is undesirable that relations between Japan and South 
Korea relations become strained." 
 
After meeting with Yabunaka, Kwon said in criticizing the Japanese 
government: "When (the two countries) have decided to be 
forward-looking and Prime Minister Fukuda has also said he will take 
a pro-ROK stance, this is happening. It's beyond my understanding." 
 
(Kyodo News, Seoul) 
 
Ambassador Kwon left Japan for home temporarily last night. At Kimpo 
Airport in Seoul, Kwon said that unless Japan changes its position, 
repairing bilateral relations would be difficult. 
 
The National Assembly of South Korea yesterday set up a special 
committee to work out measures to protect the Dokdo Islands and 
counter distorted history and decided to send a delegation of 
lawmakers to Japan to lodge a protest. Protest meetings have been 
held in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul everyday. Eggs were 
 
TOKYO 00001971  002 OF 008 
 
 
thrown at the embassy building last night, following the previous 
day. 
 
(Keiko Mizunuma, Seoul) 
 
All newspapers on July 15 sharply criticized the Education, Science 
and Technology Ministry's decision to refer in a teaching manual for 
middle schools to the territorial dispute over the Takeshima (Dokdo) 
islets. 
 
The Chosun Iibo dated July 15 made up a special edition about the 
Takeshima issue. Attaching a chronological table, the major national 
daily expressed the view that the dispute between Japan and South 
Korea over the islets came to surface starting in the latter half of 
the 1990s, when Japan began to lean to the right, attributing the 
cause of the dispute to the Japanese rightists. 
 
Its editorial concluded: 
 
"Japanese ultra-rightists have presented this strategy: Occupy the 
Dokdo islets in a preemptive armed attack and then bring the case to 
the International Court of Justice." 
 
The editorial then stressed the need to carefully watch moves by the 
Japanese government and rightists, claiming: "Whatever Japan says, 
the Dokdo islets are South Korea's territory forever. There is no 
need for us to be affected by the provocations of Japan." 
 
The Dong-A Iibo carried articles related to the Takeshima islets on 
the first and third pages. Its editorial, with the caption "the 
Dokdo Islets are South Korea's territory despite Japan's provocative 
action" stressed: 
 
"Japan might tell us, in a way calculated to make us feel indebted, 
that it refrained from using a direct expression (specifying Japan's 
claim over the islets) out of consideration to Seoul. Japan might 
think such a frivolous, cunning measure will successfully work out. 
But such is nothing but an illusion ... If South Korea-Japan 
relations deteriorate, both sides' peace cooperation in Northeast 
Asia, as well as efforts to solve North Korea's nuclear development 
problem will be negatively affected. Japan will have to assume the 
responsibility as a whole." 
 
The JoongAng Iibo referred to the fact that the Takeshima issue was 
dealt in the teaching manual on the same basis as the Northern 
Territories issue. It then noted that Japan began to demand the 
islets be returned to it, going beyond its conventional claims to 
the islets. 
 
Its editorial claimed: 
 
"If Japan reflected on its past imperialist aggression and gave 
consideration to a future-oriented South Korea-Japan relationship, 
Japan naturally should have refrained from mentioning the Dokdo 
issue. ... That's why Japan is defined as a nation that betrays 
others behind its smile and is not qualified to become a leader. ... 
Japan's provocation is tantamount to a virtual declaration of war 
over the right of possession. ... Teaching children that the Dokdo 
islets are Japan's territory is a different matter from Japan's 
claim to the islets." 
 
(2) Taku Yamasaki off to China to exchange views with Vice-Foreign 
 
TOKYO 00001971  003 OF 008 
 
 
Minister Wu and others on North Korean issue and other matters 
 
MAINICHI NET (Full) 
1:37 p.m., July 16, 2008 
 
Former LDP Vice-President Taku Yamasaki departed this morning from 
Haneda Airport for Beijing. During his stay there until July 18, 
Yamasaki is expected to meet with Chinese government officials, 
including Vice-Foreign Minister Wu Dawei, to exchange views on North 
Korea's denuclearization, normalizing diplomatic ties between Japan 
and North Korea and other matters. Yamasaki is accompanied by former 
Defense Agency Director-General Gen Nakatani, Lower House Foreign 
Affairs Committee Chairman Katsuei Hirasawa and Senior Vice-Finance 
Minister Hiroshi Moriyama of the Parliamentary League to Promote 
Diplomatic Normalization between Japan and North Korea chaired by 
Yamasaki. 
 
(3) LDP nomination of candidates creating sources of contention; 
"Koizumi children" left off of selection disgruntled 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Almost full) 
July 12, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is now endorsing candidates for 
single-seat constituencies for the next Lower House election. Since 
it cannot expect in the next general election to do as well as it 
did in the previous one due to the sagging approval ratings for the 
Fukuda cabinet, it is drastically axing would-be candidates for 
competitive constituencies, based on the criterion whether they have 
a solid support base or not. "Koizumi children" who have been left 
off of the selection are increasingly dissatisfied with the move. 
 
The LDP Election Committee on July 4 informally chose new candidates 
for three constituencies, including the Lower House Hokkaido No. 1 
Constituency. It is set to informally endorse a new candidate for 
the Nagano No. 2 Constituency on the 16th. Apart from constituencies 
where the selection of candidates is underway, only seven 
constituencies -- three in Hokkaido, two in Iwate, one in Fukushima 
and one in Hiroshima -- remain unfilled. It is now possible for the 
LDP to endorse candidates in most of the 300 single-seat 
constituencies. 
 
There is only about a year to go until the term of office of Lower 
Hose members expires in September 2009. Since the LDP won a 
landslide victory in the 2005 Lower House election, it has no choice 
but to make adjustments with regard to candidates, including the 
possibility of not endorsing incumbent Lower House members. At this 
time of year when the regular Diet session has been adjourned and 
Lower House members are soon to visit their home constituencies, the 
Election Committee has hurriedly undertaken final coordination for 
the selection of candidates for constituencies where this has yet to 
be done. Chairman Makoto Koga on the 10th underscored at a study 
meeting of his faction, "There is not much time left until the term 
of office of Lower House members expires." 
 
However, even if the party's Election Committee officially endorses 
candidates, there remain sources of contention in many 
constituencies. In particular, "Koizumi children," first-term Lower 
House members elected in bulk in the previous election, are having 
trouble being officially endorsed by the party. 
 
Gaku Hasegawa, a corporate executive, was informally endorsed as a 
 
TOKYO 00001971  004 OF 008 
 
 
candidate to run in the Hokkaido No. 1 Constituency. However, Taizo 
Sugiura, one of the "Koizumi children," for the Minami Kanto 
proportional representative bloc at the end of last year revealed 
his intention to run in the next Lower House election from that 
constituency. He is determined to run in the election even as an 
independent, saying, "There is no need to be officially endorsed by 
the party when looking to the opinion of voters." 
 
There are similar sources of contention in constituencies where 
those who opposed postal privatization and officially endorsed new 
candidates competed in the previous election. The Election Committee 
informally endorsed candidates for five out of six constituencies 
where two incumbent lawmakers have been competing for official 
endorsements. Former General Council Chairman Mitsuo Horiuchi won 
party endorsement for the Yamanashi No. 2 Constituency. 
 
Former Education Minister Kosuke Hori has been informally chosen as 
a candidate for the Saga No. 3 Constituency. Motoko Hirotsu, a 
first-term Lower House member, on June 26 went to the Election 
Committee Headquarters. Koga told her, "We have determined that you 
would not be able to win." However, Hirotsu was not convinced, 
saying, "I volunteered to run in the previous election because I 
thought the party needed a candidate who was in favor of postal 
privatization for last year's election, in which postal 
privatization was a campaign issue. The informal selection of a 
candidate this time is inconsistent with that." 
 
Since the next Lower House election is expected to be fierce with 
the reins of government at stake, the LDP has few options. One 
senior official of the Election Committee said, "There cannot be a 
boost like the one we received in the previous election. It cannot 
be helped that those who have been reinstated in the party because 
of a solid support base and those who hail from home constituencies 
are deemed as candidates who can win." 
 
(4) Editorial: DPJ leadership race -- Can DPJ defeat LDP in the 
Lower House election? 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
July 16, 2008 
 
The popularity of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro 
Ozawa appears to have suddenly been given a boost. With the DPJ 
presidential election coming on Sept. 21, a chorus of voices in the 
party supporting the reelection of Ozawa for a third term has become 
increasingly stronger. 
 
Moreover, views calling for the uncontested reelection of Ozawa are 
coming out one after the other in the DPJ. With the possibility of 
dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap election 
drawing closer, the DPJ is trying to solidify itself like a rock. 
 
Although many DPJ lawmakers are unhappy with Ozawa's policies and 
political methods, there are no moves to field rival candidates 
against him. DPJ members are concerned that if the presidential race 
is contested by two or more candidates, cracks would appear in the 
party and it would consequently lose its sense of unity. 
 
Can the DPJ assume the reins of government as the largest opposition 
party? 
 
The DPJ won a landslide victory in last summer's House of 
 
TOKYO 00001971  005 OF 008 
 
 
Councillors election. Its basic strategy is to aim at taking over 
political power by winning the next Lower House election. To that 
end, the party should make the presidential race, which takes place 
once in two years, an opportunity to gain public confidence and 
expectations. 
 
The meaning of the party leadership race is crystal clear. The DPJ 
has to show the public specifically how Japanese politics and 
society will change if it holds the reins of government. It should 
come up with a clear strategy to that end. For short, the DPJ must 
make voters understand its seriousness about assuming power. 
 
Policies are important above anything else. For example, how will 
the party respond to the questions posed by former President Seiji 
Maehara? During the campaign for the Upper House election, the DPJ 
set forth such policy measures as compensating the incomes of 
individual farmers. It argued that the 15.3 trillion yen needed for 
such compensation would be covered by eliminating the wasteful use 
of tax revenues by government agencies. Maehara has reiterated that 
such a plan would not be effective. 
 
It is unusual that the incumbent president and former party heads 
are at odds over such a basic policy. Voters will probably shrink 
away from the DPJ in the election. Although Ozawa is predominant in 
the DPJ, his popularity among the public is low. 
 
According to a poll conducted by the Asahi Shimbun, 61 PERCENT  said 
that they did not particularly appreciate or appreciate at all 
Ozawa's words and deeds. Toward the question about which person -- 
Ozawa or Fukuda -- was suitable for the prime minister's post, 37 
PERCENT  said Fukuda, while 28 PERCENT  said Ozawa. 
 
Criticism is still fresh of Ozawa's negative stance toward Fukuda by 
repeatedly rejecting the prime minister's nominee for governor of 
the Bank of Japan (BOJ). We wonder whether such a strategy is 
effective for bringing about political change. 
 
In order to win over the voters, it is vital to hold open debate on 
policies and strategy for political change by more than one 
candidate. In that respect, the DPJ should be aware that that is the 
way the ruling Liberal Democratic Party operates. 
 
It is regrettable that the DPJ plans to avoid a presidential 
election using the inward-looking argument that bad blood would 
linger in the party if one were carried out. Any DPJ lawmaker who 
thinks he or she is qualified for the presidential post should run 
in the upcoming race. 
 
(5) Consul General Maher raises question about Ginowan mayor's visit 
to United States to request closure of Futenma 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
July 16, 2008 
 
Urasoe 
 
Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha called on U.S. Consul General Kevin Maher 
at the Consulate General in Urasoe on July 15 ahead of his visit to 
the United States to seek the elimination of the danger of Futenma 
Air Station. Explaining that Futenma Air Station is violating the 
(U.S.) safety standards, the mayor asked that the airfield be shut 
down. In response, Consul General Maher repeated the past view, 
 
TOKYO 00001971  006 OF 008 
 
 
saying: "In order to maintain the security arrangements, Futenma Air 
Station cannot be shut down. (To remove dangerous aspects), there is 
no other option but to relocate it to the Henoko district." 
 
Consul General Maher raised a question about the effectiveness of 
Mayor Iha's planned visit to the United States, noting: "I hear that 
one cannot make an appointment with U.S. Pacific Command 
headquarters or with Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, headquarters. The 
point of contact regarding the security setup should be between 
governments." 
 
About the question of the safety standards of the airfield, the 
consul general indicated that the Henoko relocation plan is the 
best, saying: "The mayor has cited the Air Installation Compatible 
Use Zone (AICUZ) Program (guidelines on the use of areas around 
airport facilities) in describing a violation of the U.S. military 
safety standards. The AICUZ is designed to control building (houses) 
outside bases, and it cannot control that here (in Japan). The 
population density around Futenma Air Station is increasing. That is 
why the governments of the United States and Japan have agreed on 
the relocation." 
 
Mayor Iha is scheduled to visit U.S. Pacific Command headquarters in 
Hawaii and other places on his six-day four-night trip to the United 
States to seek the closure of Futenma Air Station by pointing out 
the airfield's violation of the safety standards and other matters. 
The mayor yesterday made similar requests to the LDP prefectural 
chapter and the New Komeito prefectural headquarters. On July 16, he 
is expected to make requests to the Okinawa Defense Bureau, U.S. 
Marines Corps, Okinawa, foreign policy department, Foreign Ministry 
Okinawa office, and other places. 
 
(6) Ginowan Mayor Iha urges U.S. consul general to shut down 
Futenma 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full) 
July 16, 2008 
 
Ginowan 
 
Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha, who is endeavoring for an early closure 
and return of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, visited on 
July 15 the U.S. Consulate General and LDP and New Komeito 
prefectural headquarters and delivered letters seeking cooperation 
for an early settlement of the matter. Consul General Kevin Maher 
simply repeated the U.S.' previous position, saying: "The United 
States is also aware of Ginowan's concerns and the plan to relocate 
(Futenma functions) to the Henoko district will be quickly 
implemented." 
 
Mayor Iha pointed out that the city's actual condition does not meet 
the Futenma master plan, which specifies the establishment of a 
clear zone (where the use of land is prohibited). Indicating that 
(Futenma Air Station) is not in line with the Air Installation 
Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) Program restricting the use of areas 
around airports in the United States, the mayor emphatically said, 
"A situation that does not meet the safety standards is intolerable; 
the airfield must be shut down." 
 
In response, Consul General Maher said: "The AICUZ is designed to 
control building (houses) in areas around bases in the United 
States; it does not apply to areas in Japan. For the sake of the 
 
TOKYO 00001971  007 OF 008 
 
 
U.S.-Japan security arrangements, we cannot shut down (Futenma Air 
Station). The question of danger will be resolved by relocating it 
to another site in the prefecture." 
 
Mayor Iha will visit the Okinawa Defense Bureau and the Foreign 
Ministry Okinawa office on July 16 and the Defense Ministry, Foreign 
Ministry, and Environment Ministry on the 17th to make similar 
requests. 
 
(7) USFJ commander stresses discipline enforcement 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 2) (Full) 
July 16, 2008 
 
U.S. Forces Japan Commander Lt. Gen. Rice, meeting the press 
yesterday in Tokyo, indicated that the U.S. military would make 
further efforts to strengthen discipline in connection with the 
heinous crimes committed by its personnel. "We want to reduce the 
off-base crime rate of U.S. military personnel to below 50 PERCENT 
of the Japanese crime rate," Rice said. 
 
In May, the USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered aircraft 
carrier of the U.S. Navy, caught fire when she was at sea. "Repair 
work is well underway," Rice said. With this, he indicated that the 
George Washington's deployment to Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture 
would not be delayed too much (from August, the initial schedule for 
arrival). "We are now investigating the cause of the fire, and we 
will announce it as soon as we find it," he said. 
 
In addition, Rice also said North Korea is a "potential threat" to 
security in the surrounding area. He also said, "It's important for 
U.S. forces to further promote military and personnel exchanges with 
China and Russia." 
 
Rice repeatedly stressed that the realignment of U.S. forces in 
Japan would be carried out in accordance with the agreement reached 
between the Japanese and U.S. governments. 
 
(8) Naha District Court hands down prison terms to two U.S. Marines 
for robbing taxi driver in 2006 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 23) (Abridged slightly) 
July 16, 2008 
 
A trial was held on July 15 at the Naha District Court for a 
private, 21, and Pvt. Edward L. Miller Jr., 22, both attached to 
U.S. Marine Corps Camp Schwab, both of whom have been indicted on 
suspicion of injuring and robbing a 64-year-old taxi driver on a 
street in Okinawa City in July 2006. The former was 19, minor in 
Japan, at the time of the incident. Judge Shinichi Rai sentenced 
Miller and the other to two years and 10 months in prison 
(prosecution sought five years in prison each). 
 
Judge Rai said that the two had committed the crime without careful 
consideration even though they were not pressed for money and that 
there was no room for leniency. The judge also said that although 
there were some discrepancies in the statements by the two, they 
played equally major roles in carrying out the robbery. 
 
The judge also indicated that the two were still young and that 
there were some favorable factors indicative of their 
rehabilitation, such as that they had sent letters of apology to the 
 
TOKYO 00001971  008 OF 008 
 
 
victim. 
 
CEKUTA