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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002209 
 
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 08/12/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Yomiuri poll shows Fukuda Cabinet support rate inches up 1.7 
points to 28.3 PERCENT , but non-support still a high 59.7 PERCENT 
(Yomiuri) 
 
North Korea problem: 
2) U.S. spokesman confirms that delisting of North Korea as country 
sponsoring terrorism will be delayed  (Yomiuri) 
3) First day of talks between Japan, North Korea produced little but 
generalities  (Yomiuri) 
4) North Korea in talks with Japan to reply today with concrete 
proposal for reinvestigation of abduction issue  (Mainichi) 
5) Japan now seeking own card to use in talks with North Korea 
(Asahi) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
6) Okinawa State Minister Hayashi meets Governor Nakaima  (Yomiuri) 
 
7) Increased calls in ruling camp for Japan to find counter-plan to 
oil refueling in the Indian Ocean, which will expire in Jan. 
(Nikkei) 
8) Komeito head Ota in interview discusses anti-terrorist law and 
other issues  (Nikkei) 
 
9) Comprehensive economic stimulus package outlined: Government 
considering supplementary budget  (Asahi) 
 
10) Opposition parties plan to thoroughly pursue farm minister 
during Diet session for disparaging remark about consumers being 
"noisy"  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Poll: Cabinet support at 28 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a face-to-face nationwide public 
opinion survey on Aug. 9-10, in which the rate of public support for 
Prime Minister Fukuda's cabinet was 28.3 PERCENT , up 1.7 percentage 
points from the last face-to-face survey taken July 12-13. The 
nonsupport rate for the Fukuda cabinet was 59.7 PERCENT , down 1.6 
points. The support rate changed for the better in a telephone-based 
spot survey taken Aug. 1-2 after Fukuda's shuffle of his cabinet. 
However, the survey taken this time, a week after the cabinet 
shuffle, shows that the effect of the cabinet shuffle was 
transient. 
 
In the survey, those who do not support the Fukuda cabinet were 
asked to pick up to two reasons. In the breakdown of their reasons, 
43 PERCENT  answered that they could not appreciate the Fukuda 
cabinet's political stance, with 42 PERCENT  saying they could not 
expect anything from its economic policy. Respondents were also 
asked if they thought the Fukuda cabinet was appropriately dealing 
with the recent rising prices. To this question, "yes" accounted for 
only 7 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 89 PERCENT . 
 
The Fukuda cabinet's public approval ratings, though the figures 
cannot be easily compared, shrank from the 41.3 PERCENT  approval 
rating and the 47.0 PERCENT  disapproval rating in the telephone 
 
TOKYO 00002209  002 OF 009 
 
 
survey taken right after the cabinet shuffle. The public is 
apparently dissatisfied with the new Fukuda cabinet's failure to 
take swift action against the rising prices. On the incident of food 
poisoning from frozen dumplings made in China, the government did 
not make public the fact that there were victims in China as well. 
This is also believed to have affected the Fukuda cabinet's public 
approval rating. 
 
However, when respondents were asked which political party they 
would like to vote for in the next election for the House of 
Representatives, 31 PERCENT  chose the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party (up 6 points from the last survey), with the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) at 25 PERCENT  (down 
2 points). The LDP outstripped the DPJ for the first time since May. 
Respondents were further asked about the desirable form of 
government. To this question, 43 PERCENT  chose an LDP-led coalition 
government, with 35 PERCENT  opting for a DPJ-led government. On the 
sidelines of his cabinet shuffle, Fukuda appointed LDP Secretary 
General Aso for his appointment of a new lineup of executives for 
the LDP. This seems to have boosted public expectations. 
 
Cabinet shuffle's effect disappears 
 
In the latest nationwide public opinion survey taken by the Yomiuri 
Shimbun, the Fukuda cabinet's support rate remained at the level of 
20 PERCENT . Masao Matsumoto, a professor of political science at 
Saitama University and an expert on public opinion surveys, said: 
"If the cabinet lineup changes, there will be more people positive 
about the new lineup, and the support rate rises. That's natural. 
The support rate did not rise so much in the survey. This probably 
shows that there is now nothing fresh about the new Fukuda cabinet, 
as one week has passed since the cabinet shuffle." 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducts periodic public opinion surveys on a 
face-to-face basis. Changes in the cabinet's support ratings need to 
be read out from the results of surveys based on the same polling 
methodology. Accordingly, the Fukuda cabinet's support rate in the 
latest survey is up slightly from the last survey taken in July 
before the cabinet shuffle. The periodic survey this time was 
conducted about a week after the cabinet shuffle, so the cabinet 
shuffle produced little effect. 
 
Meanwhile, the Fukuda cabinet's support rate was over 40 PERCENT  in 
the telephone-based spot survey. That survey was conducted in a 
different way and at a different time. In addition, the periodical 
survey's question is "Do you support the cabinet?" In the spot 
survey, however, the question was "Do you support the new cabinet?" 
This also seems to have affected the public's ratings for the Fukuda 
cabinet. 
 
2) U.S. confirms delaying N. Korea delisting 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
August 12, 2008 
 
WASHINGTON-U.S. Department of State Acting Deputy Spokesman Robert 
Wood, meeting the press on Aug. 11, clarified that it was now 
possible for the U.S. government to delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism but that the U.S. government is unlikely to do 
so unless North Korea puts forward a reliable verification regime 
for its nuclear declaration. In addition, a State Department 
official also confirmed yesterday to the Yomiuri Shimbun that the 
 
TOKYO 00002209  003 OF 009 
 
 
U.S. government has forgone delisting North Korea. Meanwhile, Japan 
and North Korea started working-level talks in China's Shenyang on 
Aug. 11 and discussed such issues as North Korea's abduction of 
Japanese nationals, one of the reasons the United States has listed 
North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. 
 
3) North Korea stops short of indicating its view on reinvestigation 
into abduction cases 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 12, 2008 
 
Formal working-level talks between Japan and North Korea were held 
on August 11 at a hotel in Shenyang, China. The Japanese side during 
the talks called on North Korea to show a concrete approach to the 
reinvestigation into Japanese abductees, which it pledged during the 
previous talks in June. In response, North Korea indicated its 
intention to come up with its opinion at talks slated for the 12th. 
 
Participating in the talks were Akitaka Saiki, director general of 
the Asian and Oceanian Affair Bureau of the Foreign Ministry, and 
Song Il Ho, North Korea's ambassador for normalization talks with 
Japan. 
 
The Japanese diplomat demanded that the reinvestigation into 
abductees must be such that would lead to the discovery of survivors 
and their return to Japan. He also indicated Japan's stand regarding 
a method of the reinvestigation and the duration of such. The North 
Korean side noted that it would indicate its stand at talks on the 
12th. 
 
The Japanese side also sought the extradition of hijackers of the 
JAL jet named Yodo-go. It then conveyed its policy of implementing 
in stages partial easing and lifting of the economic sanctions 
against that nation, while monitoring North Korea's response, 
including its effort to conduct the reinvestigation, which it had 
pledged during the previous talks,. 
 
4) Japan proposes concrete measures for reinvestigation of abduction 
issue 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
Yoso Furumoto, Shenyang 
 
Working-level talks between Japan and North Korea began yesterday at 
a hotel in Shenyang, China, with an eye on resuming negotiations on 
normalization of bilateral ties. Regarding a reinvestigation of the 
issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents, which 
Pyongyang agreed to in June, the Japanese side proposed specific 
measures such as the method of implementing the reinvestigation and 
when to start it. However, a conclusion has been put off to today, 
since the North Korea side said that they would respond after 
considering those measures. 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General 
Akitaka Saiki told the press after the meeting: 
 
"We had very intense discussion. We confirmed anew the 
reinvestigation and I conveyed Japan's view in detail about how, 
who, what and how long the reinvestigation will be carried out to my 
 
TOKYO 00002209  004 OF 009 
 
 
counterpart." 
 
The North Korean side reportedly just said to Saiki: "We would like 
to tell you our view tomorrow." 
 
Regarding Japan's partial removal of sanctions against the North, 
Saiki explained: "I conveyed to my counterpart Japan's principle 
that if North Korea takes a big step, we will take a big step. If a 
step is small, our step will be small, as well." He indicated that 
there would be a step-by-step removal of sanctions depending on 
Pyongyang's response. 
 
Meanwhile, the Japanese side demanded again the handover of 
hijackers of a JAL plane, but there was no specific progress on the 
matter. 
 
5) Denuclearization of North Korea now unclear; Delisting of the 
nation from U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism put off 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Almost full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
The U.S. government on August 11 put the official removal of North 
Korea from its list of state sponsors of terrorism on the back 
burner. The U.S. has paid for its having wrapped up the North 
Korea's nuclear report issue in an ambiguous way. The decision has 
cast a pall over progress on the denuclearization of North Korea 
during the Bush administration, whose term ends last January. In the 
meantime, Japan-North Korea talks to discuss the abduction issue 
started in Shenyang, China on August 11. 
 
Japan searches for its own cards 
 
"I thought at the stage when that nation had failed to agree to 
accept specific verification steps that there could not be the 
delisting of North Korea. This is the natural outcome." 
 
Koumura made this remark, commenting on the U.S. decision to put off 
the removal of North Korea from its list of state sponsors of 
terrorism, which U.S. Secretary of State Rice conveyed to him in a 
telephone conversation 
 
The Japanese government had assumed that seeing through the Bush 
administration's impatience in its desire to achieve satisfactory 
results as its term approached the end, North Korea would persist 
until the deadline. Japan had been determined to protest to the U.S. 
if it decided to take North Korea from its list even though 
sufficient verification had yet to be carried out, according to 
senior Foreign Ministry official. 
 
Japan is relieved for the time being. However, the reason for the 
postponement is insufficient verification. It is within the range of 
expectations that the U.S. could still take the nation from its list 
if it abided by its promise, as Koumura noted. How far Japan could 
apply pressure on North Korea regarding the abduction issue is 
unclear, once the U.S. removed it from its list. Japan during the 
ongoing working-level talks intends to call for the early 
implementation of the reinvestigation into Japanese abductees and 
the extradition of those involved in the hijacking of the JAL jet 
named Yodo-go, using three cards: (1) personnel exchanges; (2) 
acceptance of chartered flights; and approval of North Korean 
vessels transporting humanitarian goods making port calls in Japan. 
 
TOKYO 00002209  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
6) Okinawa minister meets governor 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
State Minister for Okinawa Affairs Hayashi, who visited Okinawa 
Prefecture for the first time since assuming his portfolio, met with 
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima yesterday at the Okinawa prefectural 
government office in Naha. On the issue of relocating the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Nakaima asked Hayashi 
to reach a conclusion to Okinawa's proposal of removing the danger 
of Futenma airfield and moving its replacement facility offshore 
from Camp Schwab's coastal area in the island prefecture's northern 
coastal city of Nago. Hayashi answered, "The government wants to 
work together with Okinawa Prefecture to alleviate the local 
burden." 
 
7) Ruling parties looking for an alternate to the refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
One senior member after another in the ruling camp have begun to 
suggest that the government should look for an alternative to a plan 
to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean by extending the new Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law at the next extraordinary Diet session. New 
Komeito President Akihiro Ota said in an interview with the Nikkei 
yesterday that the ruling and opposition camps should meet to 
discuss new legislation and other matters. Eyeing also such issues 
as when the session should be opened and the timing for the next 
House of Representatives election, the government is now in a 
quandary over the situation. 
 
In the interview, Ota emphasized: "In order for Japan to 
continuously implement antiterror measures, it is imperative for the 
ruling and opposition camps to hold discussion again." 
 
Ota indicated a cautious view about a use of an override vote on a 
bill extending the said law in the Lower House on the assumption 
that the bill would be voted down in the House of Councillors in the 
next session. Ota said: "It is unpredictable what judgment the new 
U.S. administration would come up with on Iraq and Afghanistan. I 
wonder if it would be acceptable for the ruling camp to take the 
same step (of using an override vote) as the one last year," adding: 
"We cannot tell how long the current two-thirds majority will 
last." 
 
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso and Executive 
Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa, both of whom assumed office early 
this month, referred to a plan to task the MSDF with escorting 
Japanese commercial tankers in the Indian Ocean. Ota commented on 
Aso's view: "I think he made the proposal as his personal view. 
Various views should be welcomed." 
 
Even so, views about contribution measures alternative to refueling 
services have yet to be unified in the New Komeito. Party executives 
are cautious about the dispatch of Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops 
overseas. Now that the dissolution of the Lower House for a snap 
election is coming into view, party executives apparently have a 
 
TOKYO 00002209  006 OF 009 
 
 
desire to delay a conclusion to sometime after the general 
election. 
 
Ota spoke of the timing for the next general election: "The key 
point is that we should seek the best timing. The attitude of just 
waiting for the election won't do." The best timing for the New 
Komeito is "sometime between late this year and early next year" in 
order to pour its all energies into the Tokyo gubernatorial election 
next summer. 
 
If talks are held between the ruling and opposition blocs at the New 
Komeito's call, the new administration will be launched in the U.S. 
and a Lower House election might be held in Japan. Some speculate 
that the New Komeito might be judging this option would be better 
than coming under public criticism for a second Lower House vote. 
 
A senior government official said: "Although we have conducted 
discussion on various alternative options, we have yet to find out 
proper services other than refueling activities. Abstract arguments 
are meaningless." If the government aims to continue the MSDF 
refueling mission, approval from the New Komeito is imperative. The 
government is likely to face difficult coordination with the New 
Komeito. 
 
8) Interview with New Komeito President Ota 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
(Lower House dissolution) 
 
It is undesirable for us to just wait for the ideal timing for a 
House of Representatives election. We should not be so optimistic 
that the ideal time will ever arrive. The Fukuda cabinet should have 
a sense of crisis about the current state of people's livelihoods 
and small businesses. 
 
We still take the view that the election should come sometime in the 
fall or later. When considering that (all Lower House members') 
terms of office expire in one year, I think we must prepare for 
action. The central issue in the election will be how to change 
Japan into a 21st-century nation. 
 
(New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law) 
 
The global situation is changing due to such factors as the 
presidential election in the U.S. It is known how long the current 
(the ruling camp's) two-thirds majority (In the Lower House) will 
last. In order for Japan to continuously implement antiterror 
measures, I wonder if it is acceptable to resort to the same tactics 
as those of last year. The people are seriously suffering from 
soaring oil prices. I understand some take the view that since oil 
comes from that region, the government should give top priority to 
action there. It is necessary for the ruling and opposition camps to 
hold discussions again (on options besides the ongoing refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean), focusing also on the situation one or 
two years from now. 
 
(Economic policy) 
 
It think it is possible (to attain the goal of putting the primary 
balance of the central and local governments in the black by FY2011) 
 
TOKYO 00002209  007 OF 009 
 
 
by growing the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) and increasing 
tax revenues. The labor-distribution rate also should be raised. It 
is necessary to inject buried money (surplus funds in special 
accounts) into small businesses under the current situation, though 
it might be temporary. 
 
(Switch from structural reform) 
 
The direction of fiscal reconstruction is correct, but it will be 
undesirable if the weak are left to bear the burden when they are 
suffering from skyrocketing oil and commodity prices. The government 
must do its best to tackle "encouraging reforms" rather than painful 
reforms. 
 
 (Prospect for political situation) 
 
The government should give priority to consumers and ordinary people 
over producers in administering the affairs of state. In this sense, 
the Fukuda cabinet's policy direction is in accordance with this 
line. (On the possibility of forming a coalition with a political 
party other than the Liberal Democratic Party), the situation after 
the election is really unpredictable. Under the current situation, 
it is impossible to forecast the timing for the election and the 
post-election situation. 
 
9) Comprehensive economic stimulus package outlined: Government 
considering supplementary budget 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
The government and the ruling camp yesterday outlined comprehensive 
measures for the "realization of peace of mind" to address rising 
crude oil prices and the worsening economy. The package incorporates 
assistance to small- and medium-size businesses and the promotion of 
the development of energy-saving technologies. The government also 
intends to look into compiling a supplementary budget to help 
finance the package. 
 
The outline consists of three pillars: (1) dissolving instability in 
people's lives, including measures to deal with irregular employment 
and the reinforcement of school buildings against earthquakes; (2) 
strengthening the Japanese economy, including accelerating the 
development of energy-saving technologies and new energy; and (3) 
adopting measures to address soaring crude oil prices, including 
assistance for improving the structure of industries that bear a 
heavy fuel burden, and financial assistance to small and medium-size 
businesses. The government will map out specific measures in 
accordance with those key proposals. 
 
State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano told a 
news conference the same day, "Since we have adopted all these 
measures, we cannot possibly drop the plan, saying we do not have 
money." Concerning various measures to be implemented within fiscal 
2008, he indicated the government's stance of looking into 
implementing the package with the compilation of a supplementary 
budget in mind. 
 
The outline also noted that the comprehensive measures would be 
implemented in stages, with the progress on reforming the tax code 
taken into account. Though the government is determined to implement 
economic stimulus measures to shore up the economy, Yosano indicated 
 
TOKYO 00002209  008 OF 009 
 
 
that it would be necessary to discuss ways to boost revenues, 
including a hike in the consumption tax, to secure fiscal resources 
to finance measures to be implemented in and after fiscal 2009. He 
noted, "We cannot stop discussions of major reform of the tax 
code." 
 
10) Opposition parties intend to thoroughly pursue farm minister 
Ota's "noisy" remark; Ruling camp concerned about impact on cabinet 
support rating 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 12, 2008 
 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Seiichi Ota's remarks 
that consumers are too "noisy" about food safety are now creating 
quite a stir. 
 
Ota, appearing on an NHK TV talk show on Aug. 10, stated: "Japan's 
(food) is still safe. However since the public as consumers are too 
noisy, we will take stricter measures for food safety." He explained 
yesterday about his controversial remarks to reporters at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence: "I meant that unlike socialist 
countries, consumers in democratic countries have the right to speak 
up." 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last night told the press corps in a 
strong tone: "They were not appropriate remarks. Japanese consumers 
have a strict discerning eye about matters in the world. This is a 
strong driving force for companies to make better products." Fukuda 
seems to have factored in Ota's remarks. 
 
Minister of State for Consumer Administration Seiko Noda told the 
press: "Consumer administration is the top priority issue for the 
cabinet. I would like (cabinet ministers) to make efforts so as not 
to make remarks that cause public misunderstanding" Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura told Ota yesterday on the phone: "The 
Prime Minister is concerned (about the impact of those remarks). Ota 
reportedly said without resistance: "In understand." 
 
Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio 
Hatoyama made a critical comment: "He represents the notion of 
respecting the bureaucrats and looking down on the citizenry." The 
DPJ intends to demand closed-hearing sessions during the Diet 
recesses. 
 
Yoko Komiyama, vice chair of the DPJ's committee on human rights and 
consumer affairs, indicated that Ota's remarks would affect 
deliberations on a bill establishing an Consumer Affairs Agency, 
which the government will submit to the next extraordinary Diet 
session, saying: "Even if creating a Consumer Affairs Agency under 
the present cabinet, which has such a minister, the agency would 
work well." Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima pointed 
out: 
 
"Such persons as Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General 
Taro Aso (who sought to constrain the DPJ by comparing the party to 
Nazi Germany) and farm minister Ota, who are prone to make gaffes 
have already made slips of the tongue. The cabinet does not 
understand the feelings of the public." 
 
Ota was criticized for making the remarks in 2003 about a gang rape 
showing young men's vitality. A senior LDP Upper House member 
 
TOKYO 00002209  009 OF 009 
 
 
expressed concern, saying: "He has given them the means of attacking 
us. The cabinet support rating that has turned upward after the 
cabinet was shuffled may go down." 
 
SCHIEFFER