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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1257

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002244 
 
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 08/15/08 
 
Index: 
 
WWII anniversary: 
1) Japan marks 63rd war-end anniversary  (Nikkei) 
2) Ruling, opposition parties release comments  (Nikkei) 
3) Yasukuni Shrine visit difficult for Prime Minister Fukuda and his 
future successors  (Mainichi) 
 
North Korea problem: 
4) Gov't to probe abductions from scratch  (Nikkei) 
5) Abductees' kin express hopes for progress  (Asahi) 
6) Abductions Minister Nakayama says Tokyo will keep an eye on 
Pyongyang's reinvestigation  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Political topics: 
7) Prime Minister Fukuda in action to boost popularity  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
8) Yomiuri poll shows LDP's Aso tops all others in popularity rating 
for premiership, Prime Minister Fukuda ranks 4th  (Yomiuri) 
9) DPJ bloc members, supporters total over 260,000  (Yomiuri) 
 
Japan-China ties: 
10) Food poisoning from frozen Chinese-made 'gyoza' dumplings likely 
to rekindle in extra Diet session  (Mainichi) 
11) Foreign Minister Koumura off to China tomorrow  (Nikkei) 
 
South Ossetia: 
12) Japan welcomes Russia-Georgia peace plan  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) 63rd anniversary of end of WWII today 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
The government will hold the annual Memorial Ceremony for the War 
Dead at the Nippon Budokan (Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo) today, the day 
marking the 63rd anniversary of the end of WWII. The ceremony will 
be attended by about 5,500 people, including the Emperor, the 
Empress, and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. The participants will pay 
tribute to the memory of about 2.3 million servicemen and civilians 
in the military service, as well as about 800,000 civilians who 
sacrificed their lives for the country. 
 
At the ceremony, after Fukuda gives an address, all participants 
will pay one minute's silent tribute to the war dead at noon, 
followed by memorial addresses by the Emperor, the head of both 
houses of the Diet, bereaved family members, and others. 
 
2) Ruling, opposition parties issue statements commemorating end of 
war 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Ruling and opposition parties issued the following statements, 
commemorating the 63rd anniversary of the end of the war. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party: We are determined to positively advance 
discussion on the issue of extending the new Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law. In order also to reward the feelings of the war dead, 
 
TOKYO 00002244  002 OF 007 
 
 
we aim at building peace in the international community. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan: Squarely facing past history, we will 
continue to make steady efforts to make use of the lessons of 
history for peace in the future. 
 
New Komeito: Japan as the victim of atomic bombing should 
demonstrate strong leadership in the drive to eradicate nuclear 
weapons. We aim at abolishing nuclear weapons, based on the idea 
that their use is an absolute evil. 
 
Japanese Communist Party: We will make efforts to turn Japan into a 
nation that contributes to the world, based on the principles of 
peace and democracy in the Constitution. 
 
Social Democratic Party: There are still a lot of problems left even 
though the war is over. We will continue to oppose the introduction 
of a permanent law pertaining to the dispatch of Self-Defense Force 
troops overseas. 
 
People's New Party: We are now resolved that we should never opt for 
the path to war again. 
 
New Party Nippon: We will fulfill a mission to bring about a world 
without nuclear weapons. 
 
3) 63rd anniversary of end of war today: Prime ministerial visits to 
Yasukuni becoming difficult 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Nearly full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Today is the 63rd anniversary of the end of the war. The situation 
has significantly changed from the situation under then Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi two years ago, and the issue of Yasukuni 
Shrine now has a low profile. Prime Minister Fukuda has said even 
from before assuming office that he would not visit Yasukuni Shrine. 
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Taro Aso, who is aiming 
to become Fukuda's successor, also intends to forgo a shrine visit. 
The friction caused inside and outside the nation by prime 
ministerial visits to the shrine has made it difficult for an 
incumbent prime minister to pay official homage at Yasukuni Shrine. 
The Japan War-Bereaved Association has long asked for official 
Yasukuni visits by the prime minister and cabinet ministers, but it 
is also being pressed to make a historic policy switch. 
 
Koizumi and Shinzo Abe, both of whom served as prime minister, are 
scheduled to visit Yasukuni Shrine today. Abe had to forgo a visit 
during his term of office, saddled with the task of improving 
diplomatic relations with China, though he had insisted that the 
prime minister should visit the shrine on Aug. 15. 
 
In an effort to resolve the Yasukuni issue, Aso announced his 
personal plan in 2006 to change Yasukuni Shrine into a nonreligious 
corporation, although he takes a conservative stance. 
 
4) Government briefs abductees' families: Investigation of 
abductions will start over with clean slate 
 
NIKKEI (Page 34) (Slightly abridged) 
August 15, 2008 
 
 
TOKYO 00002244  003 OF 007 
 
 
The government last evening held a briefing for the families of 
victims of kidnapped by North Korea on such matters as the method of 
the reinvestigation, which had been agreed on in recent 
working-level talks between Japan and North Korea. Akitaka Saiki, 
director general of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau, told them that North Korea would set up an 
investigation panel to carry out reinvestigation. He then sought 
their understanding, saying: "I would like you to think that the 
(result of the past investigation) will be returned to the drawing 
board and investigation will start again from scratch." 
 
Kyoko Nakayama, state minister for abduction issue, underscored: 
 
"We would like to bring about a situation under which North Korea 
will be able to decide to have the victims return home. We must not 
put an end to the investigation (without their return home)." 
 
Shigeo Iizuka, 70, representative of the Association of the Families 
of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, voiced hope, saying: "Different 
from the situation up until now, we can now see movement toward a 
solution." 
 
Regarding the effectiveness of North Korea's reinvestigation, Iizuka 
said: "Japan should take a strong position and push the 
investigation, and I want Japan not to forget to verify the 
outcome." 
 
5) Families of abductees looking forward to North Korea's 
investigation of abductions, as agreement includes specific date for 
conclusion 
 
ASAHI (Page 26) (Slightly abridged) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Following the agreement between Japan and North Korea on Aug. 13 on 
the specific method of the North's reinvestigation into its 
abductions of Japanese nationals, the Association of the Families of 
Victims Kidnapped by North Korea was briefed yesterday by the 
Foreign Ministry. Since the accord stipulates that the investigation 
will be completed by this fall to the extent possible, Shigeo 
Iizuka, 70, representative of the association, expressed hope in a 
press conference yesterday. 
 
In the briefing session, Akitaka Saiki, director general of the 
Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, explained the 
contents of the agreement to 11 association members and other 
persons concerned. Saiki told them that people who have not been 
recognized by the government as abduction victims will also be 
included as subjects of the investigation. 
 
Referring to the fact that Japan will lift sanctions against North 
Korea following the establishment of Pyongyang's reinvestigation 
panel, Iizuka said: "We will watch the situation." Teuraki Masumoto, 
chief of secretariat of the association, expressed his concern, 
noting: 
 
"The talks seem to have been conducted at the pace of North Korea, 
because Japan is making new concessions in order to get the DPRK to 
implement the reinvestigation it promised in 2004." 
 
After the briefing, Kyoko Nakayama, state minister for the abduction 
issue, stated: "I wonder whether North Korea will seriously deal 
 
TOKYO 00002244  004 OF 007 
 
 
with the issue. Tough negotiations will begin." 
 
6) Minister Nakayama: Japan will strictly check North Korea's 
investigation into abductions of Japanese nationals 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Asked by reporters about the recent talks between Japan and North 
Korea, in which the two countries agreed that North Korea would 
complete the reinvestigation into its abductions of Japanese 
nationals by this fall to the extent possible, Kyoko Nakayama, state 
minister for the abduction issue, yesterday stated: "The question is 
whether North Korea will seriously deal with the matter as it 
promised. Tough negotiations will take place. Future negotiations 
are important." She then indicated that Japan would strictly check 
the progress of the North's investigation so that missing abductees 
will be found and can return home. 
 
7) Prime minister calling ministers into his office even during Bon 
holidays 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Since August 13 Prime Minister Fukuda has been spending his days at 
the official residence adjacent to the Kantei, where he is usually 
at work. He is supposedly taking summer holidays. However, he is 
actually working hard, calling in ministers to his office and giving 
orders to them in an attempt to put the cabinet's approval ratings, 
which have picked up following the cabinet shuffle, on a recovery 
track. 
 
The prime minister took a six-day summer vacation starting on July 
¶16. He spent most of the time at a Tokyo hotel. 
 
His second vacation is five days starting from August 17. However, 
he will attend the Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead on August 15. 
He will also attend a cabinet meeting. He also needs to coordinate 
views with senior ruling party officials on an economic stimulus 
package and the timing of convening the next extraordinary Diet 
session. It appears impossible for him to completely rest. Asked by 
reporters about how he is going to spend his vacation, the prime 
minister on the evening of August 12 stressed, "I will work as 
usual." 
 
He separately called in Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito and State 
Minister for Financial Services and Administrative Reform Toshimitsu 
Motegi to the official residence on the 13th and Economy, Trade and 
Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai and State Minister for Consumer 
Administration Seiko Noda on the 14th and discussed policy issues in 
areas of their responsibility. 
 
Emerging from the meeting with Fukuda at the official residence, 
Nikai stressed the prime minister's enthusiasm, "We discussed issues 
for two hours without a break." 
 
8) Poll: Aso ranks top in popularity rating for premiership, Fukuda 
in 4th place 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00002244  005 OF 007 
 
 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Secretary General Aso ranked 
top at 25 PERCENT  in popularity rating for premiership, the Yomiuri 
Shimbun found from its recent face-to-face nationwide public opinion 
survey conducted Aug. 9-10. Prime Minister Fukuda was in fourth 
place at 3 PERCENT . Fukuda aimed to maintain his initiative with 
his installation of Aso to the post of LDP secretary general when he 
shuffled his cabinet and appointed a new lineup of LDP executives. 
However, Fukuda fell far behind Aso in the popularity ranking. 
 
Former Prime Minister Koizumi ranked second at 13 PERCENT , and the 
leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan's President Ozawa 
ranked third at 10 PERCENT . Health, Labor and Welfare Minister 
Masuzoe and DPJ Vice President Kan also ranked fourth at 3 PERCENT , 
as well as Fukuda. 
 
A similar question was asked in a survey conducted this March. In 
that survey as well, Aso topped all others at 21 PERCENT . This 
time, however, Aso rose in popularity with the effect of his LDP 
secretary general post. Aso scored 43 PERCENT  among LDP supporters, 
and he ranked top among those with no particular party affiliation. 
Meanwhile, Fukuda further dropped from the 4 PERCENT  rating (4th 
place) in this March's survey. Among LDP supporters Fukuda ranked 
third at 9 PERCENT . Among those unaffiliated, however, Fukuda 
ranked seventh at 1.4 PERCENT , as well as former Defense Minister 
Yuriko Koike. 
 
Meanwhile, Ozawa markedly rose from the 5 PERCENT  rating (3rd 
place) in the March survey. In the latest survey, respondents were 
further asked which one between Fukuda and Ozawa they would support 
when it comes to their efforts to tackle recent political issues. To 
this question, however, Fukuda stood at 41 PERCENT , with Ozawa at 
34 PERCENT . 
 
9) Number of DPJ members, supporters reaches record high of over 
260,000 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
The number of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) members and supporters 
in fiscal 2008 reached a record high of 266,747. In the party 
presidential election in September (official announcement on the 
8th, election on the 21st), 269,124 people, with 224 lawmakers and 
2,153 local assembly members who belong to the DPJ added to members 
and supporters, will be eligible voters. 
 
The DPJ confirms the number of its members and supporters every 
fiscal year, closing registration at the end of May. The numbers of 
members and supporters in fiscal 2008 are 44,340 and 222,407, 
respectively, 67,489 more than the previous fiscal year and the 
highest figure since the current registration system was introduced 
in fiscal 2004. 
 
According to prefecture (including lawmakers and local assembly 
members), Tokyo is the largest at 22,090, followed by 16,039 in 
Hokkaido and 15,706 in Aichi. Iwate, from which President Ozawa 
hails, is fifth with 14,668. Shimane has the smallest number at 608. 
 
 
10) Chinese-made tainted gyoza dumpling incident likely to become 
source of contention in extraordinary Diet session; Government 
 
TOKYO 00002244  006 OF 007 
 
 
defending decision to withhold information provided by China 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
It has been found that Chinese who ate tainted gyoza dumplings made 
in China also were poisoned. Though the Chinese government informed 
the Japanese government of this incident, the Japanese government 
did not reveal the information. The government still stands firm 
about its having withheld information provided by the Chinese side. 
The incident will likely spark controversy in the extraordinary Diet 
session to be convened in the fall, intertwined with Agriculture 
Minister Seiichi Ota's remark that consumers are "noisy." 
 
The Foreign Ministry noted that the information provided by China 
was specific, covering the number of victims, and the time and 
locations of poisoning. However, when it for the first time 
disclosed the information on August 6, it just revealed that there 
were poisoning cases caused by tainted gyoza dumplings in China in 
June. It steered clear of revealing the number of victims and the 
cause of the poisoning. 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura later during a TV program revealed 
that the number of victims is four and the cause of the poisoning is 
attributable to methamidophos. Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Counsellor Masahiro Kohara on August 12 disclosed further 
information that there is a possibility that people connected to 
Tianyang Food Plant, the manufacturer of the dumplings in question, 
ate those dumplings. 
 
The Foreign Ministry had to disclose information piecemeal, while 
monitoring the public response, because criticism of the government 
for having stopped short of disclosing the information mounted, 
sparked by the agriculture minister's remark. The ministry's move 
has nothing to do with the official reason provided by the 
government that Japan is cooperating with China because the 
investigation is still underway, as Prime Minister Fukuda said. 
 
The DPJ and other opposition parties are strengthening their 
criticism of the government, as can be seen in the fact that they 
are seeking an investigation into the matter, though the Diet is in 
recess. There may be an impact on Diet deliberations on bills 
related to the establishment of a consumer agency, which the Fukuda 
cabinet plans to submit to the extraordinary Diet session in the 
fall, playing up its stance of attaching importance to consumers. 
 
11) Foreign minister to visit China starting tomorrow: To ask 
cooperation for investigation into tainted gyoza incident 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura will visit China for three days 
starting on August 16. He is expected to meet with key Chinese 
officials, including his counterpart Yang Jiechi. He will call on 
China to expedite cooperation for an investigation into the tainted 
Chinese-made gyoza dumpling incident so that the issue can be 
settled at an early date. He will also likely explain to the Chinese 
side that Japan and North Korea during the recent bilateral talks 
reached an agreement that North Korea will conduct a reinvestigation 
into the abductions of Japanese nationals. He will ask for China's 
cooperation so that the matter will make progress. 
 
TOKYO 00002244  007 OF 007 
 
 
 
Regarding the tainted gyoza incident, it has been found that Chinese 
who ate frozen dumplings manufactured by the same plant that caused 
poisonings in Japan suffered were also poisoned in June. There is a 
strong possibility of dumplings having been tainted with pesticide 
in China. Such being the circumstance, Koumura also intends to ask 
the Chinese side to provide more information on the matter. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda, who visited China to attend the opening 
ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, on August 8 met with 
President Hu Jintao and discussed the matter with him. They agreed 
to make efforts for an early settlement of the incident. 
 
12) Foreign Minister Koumura welcomes acceptance of peace plan by 
Russia, Georgia 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 15, 2008 
 
Concerning the acceptance of a peace plan by Russia and Georgia to 
settle the South Ossetia dispute, Foreign Minister Koumura on August 
14 released a statement, which went: "Japan welcomes their 
acceptance of the peace plan, taking it as the result of urgings by 
the international community. It expects that the agreement will be 
steadily implemented on the ground." 
 
SCHIEFFER