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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002342 
 
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 08/27/08 
 
Index: 
 
North Korea problem: 
1) North Korea halts nuclear disablement in reaction to not being 
removed from U.S. terror list  (Yomiuri) 
2) Japanese abduction issue thrown into confusion by North Korea's 
halting nuclear disablement  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Afghan assistance: 
3) Taliban suspected of kidnapping Japanese NGO aid worker in 
Afghanistan  (Mainichi) 
4) Foreign Ministry receiving muddled information about abduction of 
NGO worker in Afghanistan  (Nikkei) 
5) Government at a loss on providing anti-terrorist cooperation to 
Afghanistan, now that a Japanese aid worker has been kidnapped 
(Nikkei) 
6) Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Matsunami departs for local 
scene in Afghanistan upon news of kidnapped aid worker  (Nikkei) 
 
Political agenda: 
7) Another scandal over political office expenses: Calls for 
Agricultural Ota to resign his post coming even from the ruling 
coalition partner New Komeito  (Nikkei) 
8) Money scandal involving Agricultural Minister Ota's office 
expenses traced back to year 2000  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
9) Ota scandal another example of poor screening of cabinet 
appointees  (Mainichi) 
10) Ota money scandal a serious blow to administration of Prime 
Minister Fukuda  (Mainichi) 
11) Extraordinary Diet, set for 70 days, to be tumultuous; "October 
crisis" feared  (Nikkei) 
12) Upcoming Diet session could lead to Diet dissolution and even 
the resignation of the prime minister  (Asahi) 
 
13) Defense Ministry reform plan to be implemented in fiscal 2010 
(Asahi) 
 
14) Yomiuri national poll: 55 PERCENT  think women can be happy if 
unmarried  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Pyongyang halts nuclear disablement in reaction to U.S. decision 
to postpone delisting; Restoring Yongbyon facilities also suggested 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
August 27, 2008 
 
Yasuhiro Maeda, Seoul 
 
A North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Aug. 26 
that the country has stopped disabling its nuclear facilities in 
defiance of a six-party agreement, the Korean Central News Agency 
(KCNA) has reported. The KCNA also indicated that the step was taken 
in response to the United States' failure to delist the North as a 
state sponsor of terrorism, adding the country will consider 
returning the half-disabled facilities at the Yongbyon nuclear 
complex to their original state. 
 
Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kazuo Kodama indicated in a press 
conference last evening that the ministry had obtained information 
 
TOKYO 00002342  002 OF 010 
 
 
on the suspension ahead of the announcement by the North, saying: 
"We have known all along that the North stopped disablement work on 
Aug. 14." There has been no direct information from the North, 
according to a senior ministry official. 
 
Revival of intimidation strategy 
 
The North's abrupt Aug. 26 announcement of a halt to its disablement 
work means the revival of its usual strategy of brinkmanship. The 
U.S.-DPRK talks on a nuclear declaration verification regime are 
reaching their most crucial phase. If the talks reach an agreement, 
the North will be removed from the U.S. list of nations supporting 
terrorism. Faced with the United States' strong demand for strict 
verification procedures toward the total abandonment of its nuclear 
programs, the North is trying to avoid rigid verification steps by 
keeping its "nuclear card" in reserve. Chances are high that the 
Pyongyang's renewed hard-line stance is part of its efforts to be 
delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism. 
 
Meanwhile, Japan's relations with the North have significantly been 
affected by U.S.-DPRK ties. With the North reinforcing its 
confrontational stand toward the United States, there is a 
possibility that the reinvestigation in Japanese abductees by the 
North, as was agreed upon in bilateral talks last month, will stall. 
For Japan, there is nothing to do but watch the moves of the United 
States and North Korea. 
 
2) North Korea halts denuclearization: Fear that abduction issue 
could be derailed again; "Cannot look ahead," says premier 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2008 
 
Following North Korea's announcement on August 26 that it has 
stopped disabling its nuclear reactor at Yongbyon, concern is 
mounting in the Japanese government over the future of the North 
Korea problem. The future course of the reinvestigation into 
abduction cases involving Japanese nationals, which North Korea 
agreed on at the bilateral working-level talks in mid-August, is now 
unclear. 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda yesterday admitted in front of reporters at 
the Kantei that he could not see what might happen next, noting, "To 
be honest, I cannot tell what impact this will have on the abduction 
issue." He hinted at his intention to deal with the abduction issue 
separately from the nuclear issue, saying, "I will leave the 
abduction issue aside and continue to deal steadily with it." 
 
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kazuo Kodama during a press conference 
simply said, "We will continue to do our utmost, including 
negotiations with that nation, so that the abduction issue will make 
headway." 
 
North Korea had conveyed to the Japanese side its plan to launch an 
investigation of the abduction issue possibly this month, raising 
hopes in the Japanese government that progress would be made this 
time. Since North Korea's aim has been to have its name removed from 
the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, it was necessary for 
it to show a stance of making a serious effort to improve its ties 
with Japan, as well. 
 
All the more for that reason, North Korea's statement that contained 
 
TOKYO 00002342  003 OF 010 
 
 
open hostility to the U.S. is being taken with serious concern by 
Japan, according to a senior Foreign Ministry official.  The reason 
is because if North Korea has decided to confront the U.S., its 
desire to improve ties with Japan could also weaken. 
 
However, some take a cool-headed view of the situation with another 
senior Foreign Ministry official noting, "North Korea, which is a 
good tactician, may be throwing various pitches to see what response 
the other side will make." The government expects that North Korea 
will start investigation into abduction cases as promised to Japan 
in order to avoid becoming isolated from the international 
community. 
 
In any case, the statement this time has clearly implanted the 
impression that the nation has toughened its stance. This raises the 
possibility of domestic views cautious about the idea of easing 
sanctions gaining ground, seeing North Korea as untrustworthy. 
 
3) Taliban's involvement suspected; NGO worker kidnapped in 
Afghanistan by 4 armed men 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) 
August 27, 2008 
 
A worker of the nongovernmental organization Peshawar-kai was 
abducted on Aug. 26 in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan. A spokesman 
for the Taliban has told the Mainichi Shimbun that they were 
involved in the abduction. Although the authenticity of the claim is 
unclear, local militant groups have been working in close 
cooperation with the Taliban. Some observers think the abduction was 
carried out by a group linked to the Taliban. 
 
According to the Peshawar-kai, the Foreign Ministry antiterrorism 
office, and other sources, the person kidnapped is Kazuya Ito, 31, 
of Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. Ito was abducted, along with 
his Afghan driver, by four armed men at 6:00 a.m. Aug. 26 (10:30 
a.m. Aug. 26, Japan time). There were no escort members. There has 
been no demand for ransom. 
 
According to the Peshawar-kai, Ito, along with four other Japanese 
workers, has been providing support for improving agriculture based 
at a clinic some 30 kilometers north of Jalalabad. Ito is believed 
to have been abducted near a village one to two kilometers southeast 
of the clinic near an experimental farm. 
 
Peshawar-kai head Manji Fukumoto indicated in a press conference in 
Fukuoka City that the four men are not local antigovernment rebels 
and that there is a possibility that Ito was involved in a conflict 
of local residents. 
 
According to information the Peshawar-kai has obtained from its 
local workers, Ito's driver was able to escape when the four armed 
men were driven by a local vigilante group. 
 
The search, which was temporally called off last night, is expected 
to resume at dawn Aug. 27. According to Fukumoto, there is 
unconfirmed information that Ito will be handed over on the morning 
of Aug. 27 and that the vigilante group will head for a designated 
site. 
 
Meanwhile, some Taliban sources said upon admitting the group's 
involvement in the kidnapping that a gunfight with security 
 
TOKYO 00002342  004 OF 010 
 
 
authorities had caused casualties and deaths. They explained that 
the abduction was committed to demand the release of their 
comrades. 
 
4) Foreign Ministry receives conflicting information due to lack of 
independent confirmation channels 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
August 27, 2008 
 
The Foreign Ministry's response to the abduction of Kazuya Ito was 
chaotic, temporarily releasing information on Aug. 26 that Ito had 
been released. It reflects the fact that the ministry, without its 
own confirmation channels, has to rely on Afghan authorities in 
obtaining information amid the deteriorating security situation in 
the country. 
 
The Foreign Ministry set up a taskforce on the evening of Aug. 26 
and began collecting information from Afghanistan for the early 
release of Ito. According to Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ichita 
Yamamoto, who heads the taskforce, the ambassador at the Japanese 
embassy in Afghanistan received information at around 8:15 p.m. Aug. 
26 from Afghan authorities that Ito had been released. The ministry 
conveyed the information to the Peshawar-kai to which Ito belongs, 
adding that the ministry had yet to come in contact with Ito. The 
ministry was informed by the Afghan side at around 9:15 p.m. that 
the earlier information on Ito's release was incorrect. 
 
According to a senior ministry official, the notice came from a 
senior Afghan Interior Ministry official. Japanese embassy officials 
had not arrived at the abduction site when the information on Ito's 
release came. The ministry simply believed the information from the 
Afghan side that was supposed to be in talks with the group that 
kidnapped Ito. 
 
Senior Vice Foreign Minister Yamamoto said in a press conference: 
"There have been conflicting reports from Afghanistan. I think this 
situation has resulted from the Afghan government's intention to 
provide Japan with as much information as possible." Ichita also 
indicated that embassy officials are expected to arrive at the 
abduction site on Aug. 27. 
 
5) Gov't faced with difficulties in antiterror cooperation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2008 
 
Japan is now facing difficulties in its international antiterror 
cooperation due to such factors as the recent abduction of a 
Japanese man in the eastern part of Afghanistan. In the government, 
there are moves exploring the feasibility of sending the 
Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan to assist with its reconstruction 
instead of continuing the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean. In Afghanistan, however, the 
security situation is going from bad to worse. Meanwhile, Japan has 
few options. 
 
The MSDF's current refueling activities in the Indian Ocean are set 
to terminate in January. The opposition parties are opposed to 
continuing the MSDF's refueling mission, and the government cannot 
expect to extend the refueling mission. "In time we will have to 
consider another option instead of refueling," a government official 
 
TOKYO 00002342  005 OF 010 
 
 
said. 
 
One of the possible options is to send SDF troops to Afghanistan to 
assist with its reconstruction. The Foreign Ministry and the Defense 
Ministry sent a fact-finding survey team to Afghanistan in June to 
explore the feasibility of tasking Air Self-Defense Force C-130 
transport planes and Ground Self-Defense Force helicopters with 
airlift services. In the end, the government decided to forgo an SDF 
dispatch for the time being. However, one official indicated that an 
SDF dispatch to Afghanistan could be one of the possible options if 
the MSDF's refueling mission is called off. 
 
The abduction this time also gives the impression that the local 
security situation is deteriorating. As it stands, the government 
may become even more reluctant to task the SDF with reconstruction 
assistance in Afghanistan. 
 
6) LDP's Matsunami leaves for Afghanistan 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2008 
 
Kenshiro Matsunami, a House of Representatives member of the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party, departed Kansai Airport yesterday evening 
for Kabul in the wake of the abduction of a Japanese man in 
Afghanistan. Matsunami has been tackling Afghan issues for years and 
has a number of local contacts. "I will collect information first, 
and then I want to negotiate with them to help him out," Matsunami 
told a Nikkei reporter before his departure. "I also want to meet 
with President Karzai and ask the Afghan government for 
cooperation," he added. 
 
7) Allegation of shady accounting evoking calls even from New 
Komeito for Ota's resignation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 27, 2008 
 
A new source of trouble is emerging for the Fukuda administration. 
It was found yesterday that a political organization linked to 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Seiichi Ota registered 
the home of his secretary as its office and declared a huge amount 
of office expenses in its political fund report. Ota intends to 
examine the details and make an announcement this week. The focus of 
attention is on whether he will be able to give a persuasive 
explanation. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda is now in a great quandary 
as the opposition camp has seized the chance to take advantage of 
the government's weakness prior to the start of debate in an 
extraordinary Diet session on such controversial bills as one to 
extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
 
Ota said in a press conference: "The secretary registered his home 
as the organization's office as the second-best measure. We have 
disclosed the registration, so transparency has been ensured," 
adding: "There is no problem." But when he was asked for what 
purpose the reported office expenses were used, Ota replied: "I 
don't know," although Ota had said that rent had not been paid. 
 
As it stands, Ota's explanation was not clear-cut. Hidehisa Otsuji, 
chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party's caucus in the House of 
Councillors, said in reference to Ota's willingness to reveal the 
receipts: "If there is a problem somewhere, he will have to examine 
 
TOKYO 00002342  006 OF 010 
 
 
it. He should make the receipts public." Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura listened to detailed circumstances through a 
secretary. A government source commented: "If political expenses 
have been properly reported and if activities have been 
appropriately carried out, we see no problem." 
 
LDP Secretary General Taro Aso expressed hope that Ota will fulfill 
his responsibility to clarify the matter, but his aide flatly said: 
"The government should try to put an end to this scandal before it 
is pursued in the upcoming Diet session. This is a problem linked to 
the crisis management of the Prime Minister's Office." New Komeito 
President Akihiro Ota told a press briefing: "We have not talked 
about whether he should resign," but he added: "He must explain the 
circumstances in detail." Another senior New Komeito member 
categorically said: "The agriculture minister should quit with good 
grace before being pressed into a corner." 
 
8) Agriculture Minister Ota's political organization found to have 
logged 24.8 million yen as operating expenses from 2000 through 
2002 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
August 27, 2008 
 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Seiichi Ota's political 
organization, Ota Seiichi daigishi o sodateru kai, has reported 
operating expenses using his secretary's home as its main office. 
Regarding this issue, it was also found from political fund reports 
carried in the Tokyo metropolitan government's gazette issued on 
August 26 that the organization registered the same address as the 
address of its office from 2000 through 2002 and logged a total of 
24.8 million yen in operating expenses, including abut 9.5 million 
yen as expenses for operating the office. 
 
Operating expenses of the office at the current address total 48.2 
million yen, including expenses for 2005 and 2006. 
 
It has also become clear that the organization in 2005 donated 25 
million yen to Ota's  supporters' association in his constituency 
using funds raised at various meetings, such as the "Morning 
Seminar," and 1.8 million yen in 2006 to the Liberal Democratic 
Party faction to which he belongs. It was found that the 
organization did not use his fund management organization or the 
LDP's local chapter, which he heads, but via another route. 
 
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Electoral Management Committee, 
the organization was established under its jurisdiction in Shibuya 
Ward in 1995 under the name Ota Seiichi kun o sodateru kai. It was 
relocated to the present address in 2000. The name of the 
organization was changed to the present name in 2003. When Ota lost 
his parliamentary seat in the 2003 Lower House election, the 
organization again changed its name to Ota Siichi zen daigishi o 
sodateru kai. The office was then relocated to Roppongi, Minato 
Ward. However, when Ota regained his position as a parliamentary 
representative in 2005, the organization again adopted the present 
name. It also registered the address of his secretary's home as its 
address. 
 
9) Fukuda on hot seat over appointment of Ota as agriculture 
minister 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Lead paragraph) 
 
TOKYO 00002342  007 OF 010 
 
 
August 27, 2008 
 
The issue of "politics and money" has emerged again. When asked 
about his political organization's murky office fees included in its 
political funding reports, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 
Minister Seiichi Ota stressed yesterday: "I don't think there is a 
problem." However, it will inflict major damage on the Fukuda 
administration, which was set to go on the offensive. Why do the 
same kinds of unclear expenditures continue to happen? Prime 
Minister Yasuo Fukuda's responsibility for appointing Ota will be 
called into question. Prior to maneuvering between the ruling and 
opposition camps in the upcoming extraordinary Diet session, the 
political situation has already been thrown into turmoil. 
 
10) Fukuda to be forced further into corner 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
August 27, 2008 
 
The issue of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Seiichi 
Ota's political organization's nuclear office expenditures is 
expected to force the Fukuda administration, which has yet to 
overcome its slump in the polls, further into a corner. There is a 
view among government officials and senior ruling coalition members 
that there is no legal problem. However, with the government 
politically weak, the laxity of its administration has been 
exposed. 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda told reporters last evening: "Since this 
is Minister Ota's political activities, what I can say is that he 
should give a thorough explanation as a politician." 
 
However, Ota is not just one politician, he is a cabinet minister 
appointed by Prime Minister Fukuda. This is a political problem. 
Fukuda appears to have felt responsibility for having appointed him. 
 
 
In the former Abe government, three agriculture ministers were 
replaced due to money-related scandals, which was a cause for a 
major defeat of the ruling camp in last summer's Upper House 
election. However, Fukuda and senior ruling coalition members have 
not learned from the defeat in the election. 
 
Ota, referring to food safety measures, made a slip of the tongue, 
saying: "Consumers are noisy." The outspoken Ota is certain to come 
under fire in the upcoming extra Diet session. A junior Liberal 
Democratic Party lawmaker said: "Calls for replacing the Prime 
Minister may grow." 
 
11) Extra Diet session expected to have some rough going, given 
discord in ruling camp 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
August 27, 2008 
 
The government has finally decided through thorny negotiations on 
the opening date for the next extraordinary Diet session and its 
duration. Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has indicated eagerness to 
enact key bills to prop up the economy and to extend the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. But 
cooperation from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is unlikely. In 
the ruling camp, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New 
 
TOKYO 00002342  008 OF 010 
 
 
Komeito, the latter of which wants an early dissolution of the House 
of Representatives for a snap election, have been out of step. In 
addition, the alleged shady accounting of office expenses involving 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Seiichi Ota came to 
light yesterday. Developments of the session fraught with potential 
trouble are unpredictable. 
 
On the opening day of the session on Sept. 12, the prime minister 
will deliver a policy speech, followed by representative 
interpellations by each political party on Sept. 16-18 and 
deliberations on a supplementary budget bill in late September. The 
ruling camp envisions this scenario for the early stage of the 
70-day session, but uncertainty is looming over the session. 
 
In the ruling camp, discord has been emerging. Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura yesterday indicated his consideration 
for the New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, with a plan 
to give priority to a supplementary budget bill in the extraordinary 
Diet session. But the LDP remains unable to mend the rift with the 
New Komeito, which insists on the need for large-scale fiscal 
disbursements with an eye on a Lower House election late this year 
or early next year. 
 
The estrangement in the ruling camp will inevitably affect the fate 
of the bill to extend Japan's refueling mission. The government and 
ruling camp hope to expedite deliberations on the bill in the Lower 
House Special Committee. However, since the extra budget bill will 
be enacted in mid-October at the earliest, even if deliberations on 
the bill to continue the refueling operation start afterward, it 
will be impossible to see it passed in the Lower House before late 
October. In such a case, only about one month will be left. 
 
The DPJ has opposed an extension of the refueling mission. If the 
bill is sent to the opposition-controlled House of Councillors, 
there is no possibility that the bill will be voted down during the 
session, according to many party members. In order for the 
government to take a revote in the Lower House based on the rule 
under which the bill is regarded as rejected 60 days after it is 
sent to the Upper House, extending the session will be necessary. 
 
The New Komeito, however, remains cautious about resorting to a 
revote, because the party, which wants an early election, fears that 
the tactic might be criticized as authoritarian management of the 
Diet. If public support for the Fukuda administration remains low, 
the New Komeito might not agree to extend the session. 
 
If the government fails to implement its priority policies due to 
circumstances in the ruling camp, Prime Minister Fukuda will be 
immediately driven into a corner. This is an October-crisis scenario 
that may lead to Fukuda's resignation. 
 
12) 70-day extra Diet session likely to fall into confusion 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 27, 2008 
 
The government and ruling parties have decided to convene the 
upcoming extraordinary Diet session on Sept. 12 and have it run for 
70 days until Nov. 20. Prime Minister Fukuda will not only have to 
face an opposition camp that has stepped up its confrontational 
stance toward the government, he also must deal with the ruling 
coalition, particularly the New Komeito, that is calling on him to 
 
TOKYO 00002342  009 OF 010 
 
 
dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election before the 
end of the year or early next year. He may be forced to make a 
decision that could put his prime minister's post on the line. 
 
In the upcoming extra session, the Prime Minister has given priority 
to enacting three pieces of legislature: 1) a supplementary budget 
containing a package of economic stimulus measures; 2) a bill 
extending the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law enabling Japan to 
continue its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean; and 3) a bill 
establishing a consumer affairs agency. 
 
The government and ruling coalition plan to start first 
deliberations on the supplementary budget bill and then on the 
refueling bill, followed by the consumer affairs agency bill. Since 
the opposition, which controls the Upper House, has opposed these 
bills, the ruling LDP and the New Komeito have no choice but to take 
a two-thirds overriding vote in the Lower House, applying the 
constitutional 60-day rule. It will be difficult to enact the bills 
during the 70-day session. Therefore, Fukuda won't be able to 
accomplish his objective unless he succeeds in convincing the New 
Komeito to go with an extension of the extra session in order to 
carry out an overriding vote in the Lower House. 
 
However, the New Komeito began distancing itself from Fukuda after 
the July Group of Eight (G-8) Hokkaido Summit. There is a growing 
view in the New Komeito that the party won't be able to fight in the 
next Lower House election with the current set up. The reason is 
because Fukuda has shown no sign of being willing to dissolve the 
Lower House at an early time. There is a rumor that the New Komeito 
may urge Fukuda to resign in exchange for its cooperation to enact 
the refueling and consumer agency bills. 
 
Meanwhile, the prevailing view in the government is that Fukuda has 
no intention to dissolve the Lower House until next spring, when the 
national budget for fiscal 2009 clears the Diet; and that he has no 
intention to give up his position. The reason is because Fukuda 
instructed to Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Tatsuya Ito to 
compile an economic vision by next spring. 
 
The question is whether Fukuda can convince the New Komeito without 
using such political cards as the dissolution of the Lower House or 
his resignation. Tension will likely emerge over the timing of Lower 
House dissolution and a general election, as well as Fukuda's course 
of action around November when he is forced to make decisions on 
whether to extend the Diet session and whether to take a second vote 
in the Lower House. 
 
13) Defense Ministry to be restructured in FY2010 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
August 27, 2008 
 
The Defense Ministry yesterday reported its reform plan to Prime 
Minister Fukuda. According to the plan, the Defense Ministry will 
establish special advisory posts in fiscal 2009 to assist the 
defense minister as part of its reform measures. In fiscal 2010, the 
Defense Ministry will restructure its organization involving the 
Self-Defense Forces' staff offices. Specifically, the ministry will 
unify its defense buildup planning sections. 
 
The reform plan is based on a report of recommendations worked out 
in July by a government advisory panel. The Defense Ministry will 
 
TOKYO 00002342  010 OF 010 
 
 
abolish its defense counselor system, under which its internal 
bureaus' senior officials have assisted the defense minister. 
Instead, the ministry will have special advisors as political 
appointees to the defense minister. In addition, the ministry will 
also raise its defense council-a body made up of politicians, 
civilian officials, and SDF officers-to the highest organ. It will 
present the reform plan as a budget-related bill to the Diet at its 
ordinary session next year. 
 
14) Poll: 55 PERCENT  think women can be happy even without 
marriage 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 27, 2008 
 
A total of 55 PERCENT  of the public think women can live a happy 
life even without getting married, with only 39 PERCENT  saying they 
do not think so, the Yomiuri Shimbun found from its recent annual 
public opinion survey. In a 1978 survey, the proportion of those who 
thought women could be happy without getting married was only 26 
PERCENT , while those who did not think so accounted for 50 PERCENT 
. However, the public's awareness of marriage has now changed. 
 
The survey this time was conducted Aug. 9-10 on a face-to-face basis 
to probe the public view of marriage. 
 
"Do you think it is desirable for a man to devote himself to work 
and for a woman to homemaking?" In response to this question, 30 
PERCENT  answered "yes," with 68 PERCENT  saying "no." In the 1978 
survey, respondents were asked if they thought a married couple 
would be happy if a man pursued his work and women kept house and 
took care of family. To this question, "yes" accounted for 71 
PERCENT , with "no" at 22 PERCENT . According to the recent survey, 
however, 65 PERCENT  thought it would be better for people to get 
married, with 33 PERCENT  saying that people do not necessarily have 
to marry. As seen from these figures, the general public remains 
affirmative of marriage. The proportion of those thinking it better 
to marry increased 11 percentage points from 54 PERCENT  in a survey 
taken in 2003 five years ago. The survey this time showed a sharp 
increase in the proportion of those thinking it desirable to marry. 
 
ZUMWALT