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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 TOKYO 002176 
 
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 08/07/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Foreign Ministry orally asks U.S. deputy chief of mission for 
participation of U.S. forces in nuclear disaster prevention drill; 
Director-general directly afterward stresses that it was an "unusual 
measure" (Nishinippon Shimbun) 
 
(2) Interview with Minister of State for Okinawa Motoo Hayashi: The 
pollution left on returned base land is the central government's 
responsibility (Okinawa Times) 
 
(3) Yomiuri survey of LDP prefectural chapters find 16 that would 
prefer to go into the next election under Prime Minister Fukuda, 10 
that want the election under Aso (Yomiuri) 
 
(4) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(5) EDITORIALS 
 
(6) Prime Minister's schedule, August 6 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Foreign Ministry orally asks U.S. deputy chief of mission for 
participation of U.S. forces in nuclear disaster prevention drill; 
Director-general directly afterward stresses that it was an "unusual 
measure" 
 
NISHINIPPON SHIMBUN (Internet edition) (Full) 
August 7, 2008 
 
In connection with the release of radiation by the U.S. 
nuclear-powered submarine Houston, the prefecture and Sasebo City 
have been repeatedly urging the U.S. forces to participate in a 
nuclear disaster prevention drill. On that issue, the Foreign 
Ministry today revealed that North America Bureau Director General 
Shinichi Nishimiya orally transmitted the local governments' request 
to James Zumwalt, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in 
Japan. The ministry, which has been sharply criticized by the 
cabinet for ignoring the information from the U.S. about the 
radiation leak, stressed, "This was a rare high-level step." 
 
Deputy Chief of Mission Zumwalt is the American representative next 
to Ambassador Schieffer. According to the Japan-U.S. Status of 
Forces Agreement Office of the Foreign Ministry, after Governor 
Genjiro Kaneko met Vice Minister Yabunaka, Director General 
Nishimiya on the afternoon of Aug. 5 reportedly transmitted to 
Deputy Chief of Mission Zumwalt the following as a request from the 
local governments: 1) to present information quickly that clears up 
the cause of the radiation leak and that shows the steps to prevent 
a recurrence; 2) to have the U.S. forces participate in a nuclear 
disaster prevention drill that will take place in Sasebo City; and 
3) lift the embargo on prior announcements of port calls by 
nuclear-powered submarines. 
 
A responsible official at the same office stated: "The U.S. and we, 
too, are accountable for such matters as clearing up the cause (of 
the leak). It would not do if this were carried out lackadaisically; 
we are looking to the U.S. to take a strong stance." 
 
(2) Interview with Minister of State for Okinawa Motoo Hayashi: The 
pollution left on returned base land is the central government's 
 
TOKYO 00002176  002 OF 005 
 
 
responsibility 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 7, 2008 
 
-- On the relocation of Futenma Air Station, two working teams from 
the central and local governments have been launched. How will they 
tackle this issue? 
 
"Our role is to serve as a bridge between the central government and 
local government. We will take the views of the local communities 
seriously and our desire is to transmit them to the government and 
put them into shape. We will efforts toward that end." 
 
-- What about moving the site into the ocean as Governor Nakaima is 
seeking? 
 
"I would like to listen to the voices of the local communities. 
Whether it will be carried out as is will be subject to discussion 
next." 
 
-- On the use of the land being returned south of Kadena, the local 
governments have requested the central government for fiscal 
backing. 
 
"Since the use of the returned land must move ahead smoothly, I 
think it probably should be the responsibility of the central 
government for a survey to see if there is polluted materials and 
cleaning them up." 
 
(3) Yomiuri survey of LDP prefectural chapters find 16 that would 
prefer to go into the next election under Prime Minister Fukuda, 10 
that want the election under Aso 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 7, 2008 
 
With the shuffling of the Fukuda Cabinet, the Yomiuri Shimbun has 
carried out a survey targeting one executive each in Liberal 
Democratic Party's (LDP) 47 prefectural chapters, with Diet members 
being excluded. The question was asked, "Do you think it desirable 
to go into the next Lower House election under Prime Minister Fukuda 
(LDP president)?" In response, the executives in 16 prefectural 
chapters chose Fukuda as "desirable," while another 20 executives 
chose the answer, "I can't say which." The executives in 10 
prefectures, however, found him "undesirable." Those 10 prefectures 
instead supported Aso, stating, "He would be an appropriate prime 
minister for facing the next Lower House election," 
 
The survey was carried out Aug. 2-6 in a questionnaire form, with 
responses coming from every prefectural chapter. The Shizuoka 
chapter, however, replied that the members had not yet finalized 
their thinking so it could not answer the questions. 
 
Among the executives who replied that it was not desirable to carry 
out the election under Prime Minister Fukuda there were such 
comments as: "We can't win (the election) with Prime Minister 
Fukuda, for there have been no accomplishments, including the bad 
handling of the issue of the system of medical care for the elderly" 
(Haruto Oda, policy research chair at the Okayama Prefectural 
Chapter); "There is a problem with his leadership" (Akashi Nekoda, 
secretary general of the Gifu Prefectural Chapter), and. "The 
 
TOKYO 00002176  003 OF 005 
 
 
impression is that he lacks leadership, and his support ratings are 
low" (Toshihiko Takeishi, secretary general of the Kochi Prefectural 
Chapter). All wanted a change in the prime minister before the next 
election. Den Chiba, the secretary general of the Iwate Prefectural 
Chapter brought up this reason for promoting Aso for the prime 
minister's post: "He is popular across the nation, and there are 
high expectations of him." 
 
Among those executives who chose the answer, "Can't say who," Minoru 
Kasahara, secretary general of the Ehime Prefectural Chapter said 
this about changing prime minister's before a general election, "It 
depends now on the efforts of the current prime minister." 
 
On the cabinet shuffle, 44 of the prefectural chapters gave it high 
marks, while 33 indicated that with the shuffle, their evaluation of 
the prime minister had risen. Another question was, "What would be a 
good time to dissolve the Lower House and call a snap election?" In 
response, 25 chapters, the highest number, chose the answer "after 
the fiscal 2009 budget is passed." Another 14 preferred the election 
be at the end of the members' term, while four chapters chose the 
end of the year or the beginning of the next year. 
 
(4) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Hiroshima, Nagasaki urge major nuclear powers to eliminate nuclear 
weapons 
 
Mainichi: 
Key gauge in June shows economy worsening 
 
Yomiuri: 
China confirms dumplings poisoning case 
 
Nikkei: 
China eases lending restrictions, indicating greater emphasis on 
economy 
 
Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun 
Beijing Olympics to open tomorrow, with gloomy predictions for 
weather, mood 
 
Akahata: 
63rd anniversary of atomic bombing: Joint international action 
starts to create nuclear weapons-free world 
 
(5) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Publicize actual facts about Chinese dumpling poisoning case 
(2) Shut off lure of "debts" as means to buoy up economy 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) China should make Beijing Olympics as step toward an open 
nation 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) In dumpling poisoning case in Japan, products found contaminated 
in China, as expected 
(2) Hammer out measures to ease shock of economic deterioration 
 
Nikkei: 
 
TOKYO 00002176  004 OF 005 
 
 
(1) China urged to pin down cause of dumpling poisoning case 
(2) Panel decides on minimum wage rise 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Opening of peaceful festival, Beijing Olympics 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Olympics and terrorism: China's excessive guard concerned 
(2) Guerrilla downpour shows tremendousness of flood damage in 
cities 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Significantly raise minimum wage, reflecting actual situation 
 
(6) Prime Minister's schedule, August 6 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 7, 2008 
 
07:47 
Left Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima where he stayed overnight. 
 
07:55 
Attended the Peace Memorial Service for the Atomic Bomb Victims and 
Peace Memorial 
 
08:54 
Inspected the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, accompanied by 
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe. 
 
09:37 
Press conference at Rihga Royal Hotel in Hiroshima. Then attended a 
meeting to hear requests from a representative of atomic bomb 
victims 
 
11:07 
Inspected the Nursing Home Kurakake Nozomi for atomic bomb victims. 
Met with Hiroshima Mayor AKiba and Kamata, chief of the nursing 
home. Masuzoe was present. 
 
13:42 
Left Hiroshima Airport on JAL 1608. 
 
14:49 
Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
 
15:48 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura at the Kantei. 
 
16:30 
Attended a special cabinet meeting. State Minister for Economic and 
Fiscal Policy Yosano remained. 
 
17:18 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 
 
17:38 
Issued a letter of appointment to parliamentary secretaries. Then 
photo session, followed by parliamentary secretaries' meeting. 
 
18:02 
Met with Machimura and Futahashi. 
 
TOKYO 00002176  005 OF 005 
 
 
 
18:40 
Arrived at the official residence. 
 
SCHIEFFER