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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 002380 
 
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 09/02/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda's resignation: 
3) Prime Minister Fukuda suddenly resigns his post, leaving 
likelihood now of Diet dissolution later this year; Aso the 
frontrunner to replace him  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
4) Fukuda during his one year tenure lacked the ability to 
communicate with the public  (Yomiuri) 
5) Coordination starts to hold LDP presidential election to replace 
Fukuda on Sept. 21  (Sankei) 
6) Strong expectation now of an early Diet dissolution and of LDP 
Secretary General Aso picking up the mantle, but MSDF refueling bill 
is now in deep trouble  (Asahi) 
7) Convening of the extraordinary Diet session could now be greatly 
delayed  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) LDP presidential election: Hopes growing for Aso's popularity 
(Asahi) 
9) Yuriko Koike's name also being mentioned as a candidate to 
succeed Fukuda as prime minister  (Yomiuri) 
10) Opposition parties all blast Fukuda's sudden resignation as 
"irresponsible"  (Yomiuri) 
11) With Fukuda suddenly quitting his prime minister's post, growing 
anxiety in Washington about the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance 
(Asahi) 
12) Fukuda's stepping down creates a foreign-policy vacuum  (Nikkei) 
 
13) No prospect in sight for an early start of North Korea's 
reinvestigation of the abduction issue  (Asahi) 
 
Opinion polls: 
14) Nikkei poll prior to Fukuda resignation: Cabinet support rate 
plunges 9 points to 29 PERCENT , with non-support rate soaring 14 
points to 63 PERCENT   (Nikkei) 
15) Asahi poll: Fukuda Cabinet support rate stays low at 25 PERCENT 
, non-support rate the same at 55 PERCENT   (Asahi) 
 
16) Ichiro Ozawa declares candidacy for 3rd term as DPJ presidency, 
vowing to "topple the LDP-Komeito government"  (Asahi) 
 
17) House Speaker Pelosi, visiting Japan for G-8 meeting in 
Hiroshima, meets Lower House Speaker Kono, asks for extension of 
MSDF mission in Indian Ocean  (Asahi) 
 
18) MSDF postpones naval exercise with Russia due to the Georgia 
dispute  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
All newspapers: 
Prime Minister Fukuda announces resignation 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Prime Minister Fukuda's resignation: Lower House should be 
dissolved as early as possible to correct politics 
 
 
TOKYO 00002380  002 OF 013 
 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Fukuda announces resignation: Another irresponsible abandonment 
of administration; Next premier should immediately dissolve Lower 
House 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Fukuda's resignation: In order to implement policies, strong 
cabinet lineup should be set up 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Fukuda government reaches dead end as it was unable to come up 
with strategy for Lower House dissolution 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Fukuda announces resignation: Prevent political vacuum and 
create strong administration 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Fukuda announces resignation: Two consecutive prime ministers 
give up jobs 
(2) Reelection of Ozawa to third term as DPJ president: Ozawa must 
show new policy vision for taking political helm 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Fukuda's resignation: LDP-New Komeito politics reaches impasse 
 
3) Prime Minister Fukuda to resign; possibility of Lower House 
dissolution before year's end increases; Aso a likely successor 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Full) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda last night abruptly held a press 
conference and announced that he had decided to step down after 
judging that policies should be realized under a new lineup. 
Although the 72-year-old Fukuda shuffled his cabinet in August, he 
was unable to lift his approval ratings, which remained low. He was 
then forced to resign as prime minister just 11 months after taking 
office late last September. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) will have to hurriedly carry out a presidential election. LDP 
Secretary General Taro Aso, who is regarded as a likely candidate to 
replace Fukuda, expressed in the early hours of this morning his 
strong desire to run in the race. Given that, chances are now high 
that a dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general 
election will be carried out before the end of the year. 
 
Fukuda cited the difficulty of his management of the politically 
divided Diet and his cabinet's slump in the polls as reasons for his 
decision to resign. He stated: 
 
"As long as I remain in office, the opposition will prevent me from 
smoothly managing the Diet. There may be no change in the situation 
even under a new government. But in my case, there are various 
problems such as the cabinet support rating." 
 
Asked when he had decided to step down, Fukuda said: "I made a final 
decision late last week." Asked about his announcement to quit 
office only one month after the cabinet shakeup, Fukuda sought 
understanding from the press, saying: 
 
"The new cabinet was able to come up with an economic stimulus 
package. So, I thought that it would be the best time for me to 
 
TOKYO 00002380  003 OF 013 
 
 
resign now so that a political vacuum won't be created." 
 
Fukuda became the 22nd LDP president, defeating Aso in the party's 
leadership race in September 2007 conducted following the abrupt 
resignation of his predecessor Shinzo Abe. Fukuda was elected the 
91st prime minister on Sept. 25, 2007. He was the oldest son of the 
late Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda. It was the first time in Japan's 
history that a father and son became prime minister. 
 
In an attempt to put an end to the divided Diet, Fukuda suggested 
last November the idea of creating a "grand coalition" to Ichiro 
Ozawa, president of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ). Ozawa, however, turned down his proposal. The ruling 
coalition was unable to get cooperation on important bills from the 
largest opposition party, which repeatedly disapproved the 
government's nominations for a governor of the Bank of Japan. 
Therefore, the ruling camp had no choice but to use two-thirds 
overriding votes in the Lower House in order to enact such bills as 
one to continue the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
operation in the Indian Ocean, as well as measures to reinstate 
provisional taxes, including a gasoline tax. 
 
After shuffling his cabinet, Fukuda expressed his intention to put 
his all energy into creating a consumer affairs agency and compiling 
an economic stimulus package, but a rift surfaced between him and 
the New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, over when to open the 
next extraordinary Diet session. Also with the discovery of 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry Seiichi Ota's office 
expense problem, uncertainty was looming over Fukuda's management of 
his administration. 
 
4) Fukuda steps down: Lack of ability to send message to people, 
"negative legacies" from Koizumi administration seal premier's fate 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda put an end to his "cabinet launched with its 
back to the wall" with an abrupt announcement of his resignation. 
Fukuda continued to manage the government that gave priority to 
realizing policy goals under the motto of "conducting state affairs 
from the people's viewpoint", but he was not able to send a 
clear-cut message speedily. He was also pressed with the "negative 
legacies left by the Koizumi and Abe administrations," such as the 
pension problem. As a result, he was unable to win a satisfactory 
evaluation from the people. 
 
Fukuda proposed a plan to create a consumer agency in fiscal 2009 as 
a measure to strengthen governance to benefit consumers under the 
slogan of "pursuing people-oriented administrative and fiscal 
reform." He also addressed the challenge of freeing up road revenues 
starting in fiscal 2009. On the diplomatic front, Fukuda devoted 
himself to upgrading Asia policy, including relations with China. In 
the Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July, he succeeded in bringing about 
an agreement on a plan to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as 
a long-term global goal. 
 
Despite such efforts, public support for his cabinet remained low. 
One of the main reasons for it was his lack of ability to send a 
message to the people. 
 
Fukuda dislikes performances. He continued to silently do his duty, 
 
TOKYO 00002380  004 OF 013 
 
 
calling his effort to deal with policy tasks "a silent revolution." 
An aide to Fukuda said last night: "The prime minister had said that 
he would not take the same stance as the Koizumi administration in 
conveying his views to the public. We regretted to see that he was 
unable to properly relay his views." 
 
The government was also slow to deal with pending issues, dashing 
the expectations harbored by those close to him. When the government 
announced a plan to equally compensate all hepatitis C patients in a 
lawsuit later last year, some claimed that the political judgment 
came too slow as a result of priority given to legal procedures. On 
the occasion of the earlier cabinet shuffle, as well, since the 
prime minister did not easily reveal his true intentions, many in 
the ruling camp expressed their frustration. 
 
5) Choosing post-Fukuda prime ministerial candidate a chaotic 
situation: Coordination under way with possibility of setting LDP 
presidential election date for September 21 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Following Prime Minister Fukuda's announcement of his decision to 
step down from the post, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) launched 
coordination with the possibility of officially announcing the 
holding of a presidential election to choose the next president on 
September 8 and holding the election on the 21st. The LDP aims at 
spurring public interest in the election, by holding its 
presidential election on the same day as the selection of the 
president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto). The 
party election board will formally set the date for the presidential 
election on the 2nd. Secretary General Taro Aso has already been 
tipped as a possible successor to Fukuda. There is also the 
possibility of former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike and Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura declaring their candidacies. 
The selection of the successor to Fukuda is likely to be a chaotic 
situation. 
 
The LDP rules on the official selection of its president stipulate 
that if its president resigns suddenly, a presidential election must 
be held. In cases of an emergency, the president can be selected at 
a joint plenary meeting of members of both houses of the Diet 
instead of at a party convention. A presidential election will 
likely take place this time. 
 
In order for a potential candidate to be eligible to run in an LDP 
presidential election, he or she needs to be recommended by 20 
lawmakers belonging to the LDP, excepting oneself. The present 387 
lawmakers, excluding Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono and Vice 
President of the Upper House Akiko Santo, and local chapters will 
take part in the election. Votes cast by members of each chapter and 
its friends will be allocated to each relevant candidate. If the 
results of the voting find that there is no candidate who has won a 
majority, the top two candidates would square off against each other 
in the runoff taken part by lawmakers. 
 
Aso, whose name recognition among the public is high, will be the 
center of the attention in the LDP presidential election to choose a 
successor to the prime minister. 
 
Many New Komeito members are welcoming Aso as the next prime 
minister. However, the party is not unanimously supporting him with 
 
TOKYO 00002380  005 OF 013 
 
 
one mid-ranking member saying, "Even if Mr. Aso succeeds Mr. Fukuda, 
we would still find the next general election tough." Some New 
Komeito members are recommending Koike or others as rival candidates 
to Aso. The outcome of the short-term runoff is unpredictable. 
 
6) Fukuda's resignation may affect extension of refueling mission in 
Indian Ocean 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpt) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Following Prime Minister Fukuda's announcement of his resignation, 
it has become uncertain whether Japan will be able to extend the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
Fukuda was said to be determined to resort to a revote in the House 
of Representatives. The current law endorsing the mission is to 
expire in January. Unless the law is extended, the mission will be 
suspended. In such a case, Japan will fail to meet the prime 
minister's slogan of Japan being a "peace-cooperation state" and may 
disappoint Western countries. 
 
7) Long delay in convening extraordinary Diet session likely, as LDP 
will hold presidential election before end of month 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Following Prime Minister Fukuda's (president of the Liberal 
Democratic Party) announcement of his decision to step down from the 
post, the LDP will hold a presidential election before the end of 
September. The process of choosing a successor to the prime minister 
and the LDP president will likely be moved forward with the focus of 
attention on Secretary General Taro Aso, whom many party members 
support. 
 
Since this is going to be the third replacement of a prime minister 
without a Lower House election, following the replacements of 
Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe since the last dissolution of the 
Diet in September 2005 over the issue of postal privatization, there 
is a growing possibility of the Lower House being dissolved for a 
snap election before the end of the year under the new prime 
minister. 
 
Following the prime minister's announcement, the LDP decided to 
leave the setting of a date for a presidential election and the 
choosing of a method of voting to the party election board, chaired 
by Hideo Usui, to work out. The party election board is expected to 
hold a meeting on the afternoon of September 2. Concerning the 
voting method, there is the issue of whether in addition to 
lawmakers there should be a vote by party members by prefecture, 
each of which gets three votes. The LDP intends to leave the matter 
to each prefecture's local chapter to work out. 
 
Once the new president is elected, there will be a Diet nomination 
for prime minister in both Diet chambers at the outset of the fall 
extraordinary Diet session. The new LDP president is set to be 
elected as the 92nd prime minister by a majority vote of members of 
the LDP and the New Komeito, which hold a majority in the Lower 
House. 
 
The extraordinary Diet session was originally scheduled to be 
convened on the 12th. However, the timetable will likely be 
 
TOKYO 00002380  006 OF 013 
 
 
extensively delayed due to the LDP presidential election. 
 
8) LDP presidential election: Hopes growing for Aso's popularity 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Following Prime Minister Fukuda's sudden announcement of his 
decision to step down, the political situation has become fluid. 
Secretary General Taro Aso is the frontrunner in the presidential 
election, and the focus of attention is on who will stand against 
him. The opening day of the next extraordinary Diet session is set 
for Sept. 12, but the date is likely to be delayed to later 
September. The new prime minister to be appointed in the upcoming 
Diet session will have to engage in heated Diet debate between the 
ruling and opposition camps. The possibility is also growing 
stronger that the new prime minister will be pressed to dissolve the 
House of Representatives early next year or later this year. 
 
The successor to Fukuda must be the "face" of the Liberal Democratic 
Party, because the next Lower House election will certainly be held 
under the next prime minister. Aso indicated a willingness to run in 
the presidential election last night. In the past three presidential 
races, Aso announced his candidacy. Last year, Aso was defeated by 
Fukuda, but he won more votes from party members around the nation 
than Fukuda. 
 
Former Prime Minister Mori, who supports Fukuda, said in mid-August: 
"We must make use of Mr. Aso's popularity. Many LDP members hope 
that Aso will be the next prime minister." 
 
Even so, when Aso accepted the post of secretary general on Aug. 1, 
the rumor circulated that Fukuda had promised to Aso to smoothly 
transfer the premiership to him. Given this, many LDP members do not 
want a presidential election without a formal vote. Parliamentary 
Secretary for the MEXT minister Hagiuda stressed: "We want to select 
the next prime minister after thorough and open discussion within 
the party on policies." 
 
9) Aso to run for LDP presidential race; Name of Koike also 
mentioned 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Secretary General Aso has already expressed his intent to run in the 
Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, following Prime 
Minister Fukuda's resignation. 
 
At party headquarters early this morning, Aso said, "I must consider 
myself as an appropriated candidate." He indicated he would decide 
to run in the presidential race today. Aso has already conveyed his 
intention to former Prime Minister Mori. The Aso faction will call a 
meeting this morning to start preparations for the presidential 
race. 
 
There are voices also expecting former Defense Minister Yuriko 
Koike, who is close to the LDP's Hidenao Nakagawa, to run for the 
office. Although she said late last night that she was surprised by 
the resignation, she did not reveal how she would respond to the 
presidential election. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002380  007 OF 013 
 
 
10) Opposition parties criticize Fukuda's resignation as 
irresponsible 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda's abrupt announcement last night of his 
decision to step down sent a shock wave across the ruling and 
opposition camps. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Caucus in the House of Councillors 
Chairman Otsuji lamented: "I cannot be convinced by it and cannot 
understand it. I wanted him to do his best and fall on the 
battlefield." A senior LDP member surmised: "He probably lost 
confidence in being able to use override votes in the upcoming 
extraordinary Diet session. 
 
New Komeito President Ota commented: "I think that he came up with 
that judgment after thorough thought. Since he was saying that he 
would not allow a political vacuum to be created and would deal with 
difficult tasks under a new system, I would like to deal with the 
tasks from tomorrow while taking such words by the prime minister 
heavily." 
 
With the prime minister's resignation, some anticipate that it has 
become more likely that the House of Representatives will be 
dissolved this year. 
 
An LDP source said: "A party presidential election is held, and then 
a Lower House election may take place while the new prime minister 
is still fresh." 
 
But former Secretary General Koichi Kato remarked: "The sudden 
resignation of two successive prime ministers will inevitably make 
(the people) feel they are irresponsible. The prime minister's 
resignation is a serious blow (to the LDP)." 
 
All opposition parties lashed out at the prime minister's abrupt 
resignation. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Deputy President Kan emphasized: 
 
"Since the past two administrations, the Fukuda and the former Abe 
administrations, gave up their work halfway through, the coalition 
of the LDP and the new Komeito has proved that it cannot assume 
responsibility for the people. In order to establish a government 
that is responsible for the people as soon as possible, the Lower 
House should be dissolved for a snap election. We are determined to 
form a government led by the DPJ." 
 
Secretary General Hatoyama commented: 
 
"The other side diverts responsibility onto the DPJ, but the LDP was 
unable to decide on the opening date and the duration of the next 
Diet session without a hitch due to awkward relations with the New 
Komeito. Moreover, the LDP had to accept the income tax reduction 
scheme, though the prime minister had opposed it. Depressed by the 
New Komeito's control, the prime minister might have felt things 
were hopeless." 
 
Japanese Communist Party Chairman Shii pointed out: 
 
 
TOKYO 00002380  008 OF 013 
 
 
"The Fukuda administration, following the former Abe one, left its 
work halfway. This shows that LDP-New Komeito politics has reached 
an impasse and that politics is now in a state of dismantlement." 
 
Social Democratic Party of Japan President Fukushima said: 
 
"The LDP threw out Prime Minister Fukuda for the sake of the next 
Lower House election, while the prime minister abandoned his duty 
halfway through. Neither of them thinks of the people. This was a 
cabinet that abandoned the people." 
 
11) U.S. concerned about future course of alliance with Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's abrupt announcement has taken major 
powers by surprise. His decision has cast a pall over a 
Japan-China-South Korea summit planned for later this month, as well 
as over the promised reinvestigation into Japanese nationals by 
North Korea. There is concern in the United States that the 
Japan-U.S. alliance might even become destabilized. 
 
Yoichi Kato, Bloomington, Minnesota 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda's abrupt announcement to step down shocked the 
United States. There have been no signs of Fukuda's resignation on 
the backdrop of intergovernmental coordination for a visit to the 
United States by Defense Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. A U.S. 
government official said: "There were a series of events leading up 
to the resignation of former Prime Minister Abe. This time, it was a 
total surprise." 
 
Center for Strategic and International Studies Japanese Affairs 
Director and former National Security Council Asian Affairs Director 
Michael Green said: "President Bush has had a favorable impression 
of Prime Minister Fukuda. The question is what will happen to the 
administration after this one leaves office." 
 
Will the country be able to install an administration led by someone 
who is more forceful than Prime Minister Fukuda? It would be good if 
the divided Diet were to be dissolved as a result of political 
realignment. But in the event a political situation emerges where 
the successive administrations end up just as short-lived, the 
Japan-U.S. alliance, which already seems adrift, might lose its 
stability, according to Green. 
 
According to a person concerned, discontent is growing in the U.S. 
government, especially in the Department of Defense, about a lack of 
prospects for Japan's assistance for Afghanistan and for the 
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. People are watching closely how 
Prime Minister Fukuda's resignation will affect the situation, 
according to the source. 
 
12) Diplomatic vacuum inevitable; North Korea policy unclear 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's announcement of resignation is likely 
to cause a vacuum in the country's foreign policy. His decision is 
expected to affect the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North 
 
TOKYO 00002380  009 OF 013 
 
 
Korea as well. With the United States scheduled to have a new 
administration next January, Japan-U.S. relations are also in an 
important transitional period. The prime minister's abrupt decision 
to step down might tremendously undermine the country's national 
interests diplomatically. 
 
There was a view in the government that Pyongyang would set up an 
investigative committee later this week and resume a reinvestigation 
into Japanese nationals abducted by the North, as was promised. "The 
North might take a wait-and-see attitude toward Japan's next 
administration," a senior Foreign Ministry official said. In such a 
case, the abduction issue might again reach a deadlock. 
 
The Fukuda administration had promised that it would partially lift 
its sanctions against the North in exchange for resuming the 
reinvestigation. Given the uncertainty that Japan will truly 
implement this agreement, the North might conclude that there is no 
need to hurry the reinvestigation. 
 
Asia diplomacy will also suffer a blow. Fukuda endeavored to improve 
relations with China and South Korea, which turned icy during the 
Koizumi administration. Coordination is underway for a 
Japan-China-South Korea summit for Sept. 21 independent from any 
international conference. The timetable for that has also become 
unclear. 
 
13) No prospects in sight for reinvestigation into Japanese 
nationals abducted by North Korea 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Makino, Seoul 
 
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's announcement that he will resign has 
clouded the fate of North Korea's promised reinvestigation into 
Japanese nationals abducted by the North despite the agreement 
reached through bilateral working-level talks in August to produce a 
conclusion in the fall. 
 
According to a source close to Japan-DPRK relations, North Korea had 
high regard for Prime Minister Fukuda, who made preparations for the 
2002 Japan-North Korea Pyongyang Declaration as chief cabinet 
secretary. The country had aimed at paving the way for normalized 
ties with Japan under the Fukuda administration. 
 
Pyongyang has kept a close eye on the Fukuda administration, whose 
popularity has not improved even after a cabinet shuffle in August. 
In North Korea, there has been a sense of alarm toward LDP Secretary 
General Taro Aso, who is regarded as a possible successor to 
Fukuda. 
 
North Korea intends to press Japan for a political settlement not to 
delay normalizing ties with the North over to the abduction issue, 
whatever the results of its reinvestigation into the fate of 
Japanese abductees. To that end, a political decision by the 
Japanese prime minister is indispensable. Japan and North Korea held 
working-level normalization talks in September last year, but then 
Prime Minister Abe resigned soon after, causing bilateral relations 
to stall. 
 
14) Poll: Cabinet support down to 29 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO 00002380  010 OF 013 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 1, 2008 
 
The public approval rating for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his 
cabinet was 29 PERCENT , the Nihon Keizai Shimbun found from its 
joint public opinion survey conducted with TV Tokyo on Aug. 29-30, 
down 9 percentage points from the last survey conducted in early 
August right after Fukuda's shuffle of his cabinet. The disapproval 
rating rose 14 points to 63 PERCENT . The ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party scored 37 PERCENT  for its popularity, leveling off from the 
last survey. However, the leading opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (Minshuto) dropped 3 points to 30 PERCENT . A total of 61 
PERCENT  answered "yes" when respondents were asked if they 
appreciated a recent agreement reached between the government and 
the ruling parties on a package of economic stimulus measures, 
including a uniform income tax break. 
 
The Fukuda cabinet's support rate, which was below 30 PERCENT  in 
and after April, rose 12 points after its shuffle. However, the 
figure went back to the level before the cabinet shuffle. 
 
In the breakdown of reasons (on a multiple answer basis) among those 
who do not support the Fukuda cabinet, 59 PERCENT  picked "the prime 
minister lacks leadership," topping all other answers, followed by 
"its policies are bad" at 45 PERCENT  and "it's unstable" at 32 
PERCENT . 
 
The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. by telephone on a 
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were 
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. 
A total of 1,549 households with one or more eligible voters were 
sampled, and answers were obtained from 866 persons (55.9 PERCENT 
). 
 
15) Poll: Cabinet support remains low 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 2, 2008 
 
The latest rate of public support for Prime Minister Fukuda's 
cabinet was 25 PERCENT , still remaining low, while leveling off 
from the 24 PERCENT  rating in the last survey taken Aug. 1-2, the 
Asahi Shimbun found from its telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on Aug. 30-31. The nonsupport rate was 55 PERCENT , 
the same as in the last survey. The cabinet support rate has been 
low at around 20 PERCENT  since this April. The Fukuda cabinet's 
popularity did not rebound even in the survey taken this time right 
after the government launched a comprehensive economic stimulus 
package. 
 
The Fukuda cabinet's inaugural support rate was 53 PERCENT  in a 
survey conducted in September last year right after Fukuda became 
prime minister. However, the Fukuda cabinet's approval rating 
dropped to 31 PERCENT  in a survey taken in mid-December due to the 
government's pension record-keeping flaws. It further went down to 
25 PERCENT  in April this year when the government started a new but 
controversial healthcare insurance system for the elderly, and 
shrank to 19 PERCENT  in a survey taken this May following the 
ruling coalition's taking of a second vote in the House of 
Representatives on a government-proposed bill to use gasoline taxes 
for road-related revenues. 
 
TOKYO 00002380  011 OF 013 
 
 
 
The survey this time introduced the fact that the government's 
economic package, which is to deal with rising prices and economic 
downturn, incorporates a uniform tax break. In the survey, 
respondents were asked if they appreciated this economic package. In 
response to this question, 46 PERCENT  answered "no," with 35 
PERCENT  saying "yes." Even among those who support the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party, there was a split of opinion, with 45 
PERCENT  affirmative and 37 PERCENT  negative. Among those who 
support the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto), 
"yes" accounted for 33 PERCENT , with "no" at 52 PERCENT . 
Respondents were also asked if they were in favor of issuing 
deficit-covering government bonds. To this question, "no" accounted 
for 67 PERCENT , with "yes" at 15 PERCENT . 
 
The government and the ruling coalition plan to present a bill to 
the Diet at its forthcoming extraordinary session to extend the new 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law in order for Japan to continue 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian 
Ocean. In this connection, the survey asked respondents if they 
thought Japan should continue the MSDF's refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. To this question, 50 PERCENT  answered "no," with 37 
PERCENT  saying "yes." 
 
Respondents were further asked which political party they would vote 
for in their proportional representation blocs if they were to vote 
now. To this question, the DPJ scored 31 PERCENT  (32 PERCENT  in 
the last survey), with the LDP at 27 PERCENT  (25 PERCENT  in the 
last survey). In the breakdown of public support for political 
parties, the LDP stood at 26 PERCENT  (23 PERCENT  in the last 
survey), with the DPJ at 20 PERCENT  (22 PERCENT  in the last 
survey). 
 
16) "LDP-New Komeito administration must end," DPJ President Ozawa 
declares in declaring his candidacy to serve as party head for third 
term 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
Evening, September 1, 2008 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) President Ozawa during a 
press conference on the morning of September 1 formally declared his 
candidacy for the party's upcoming presidential election. His 
election without a vote will be determined on the 8th, the day for 
the official announcement of the party presidential election, 
because no other DPJ members have obtained the required number of 
signatures to contest the race. His term will be two years. He will 
be formally selected to the post at the special party convention on 
the 21st. 
 
Ozawa during the press conference noted: "I will run in the party 
presidential election to be officially announced on the 8th. These 
days, many people are finding it difficult to live a decent life 
despite working hard. Politics and the economy are becoming 
increasingly unstable throughout the world. The government led by 
the LDP and New Komeito does not understand ordinary people's 
day-to-day lives and does not have capability to address their 
problems. The DPJ must create a new administration and build a new 
Japan." 
 
Speaking of his determination to serve his third term, Ozawa 
revealed his plan to release on the 8th campaign pledges for the 
 
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presidential election, saying: "I will make clear my policy and 
determination if I am elected on the 21st. I will issue a brief 
policy stance on the 8th." Concerning a manifesto for the next Lower 
House election, he said, "I will compile one based on my policy 
stance." 
 
Regarding the selection of more than 20 supporters needed to run in 
the presidential race, Ozawa said with Deputy President Naoto Kan, 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and Azuma Koshiishi, head of the 
DPJ caucus in the Upper House, in mind, "I left the matter to fellow 
party members to work out." His plan is to demonstrate an all-party 
setup by obtaining endorsements based a broad-based approach. 
 
Concerning the selection of members of the party leadership, he 
simply stated, "I must refrain from mentioning that until the 
presidential election ends on the 21st." The likelihood is that 
Ozawa will keep Kan, Hatoyama and Koshiishi in their present posts. 
The focus of attention will be on the treatment of Vice President 
Katsuya Okada and Public Relations Committee Chair Yoshihiko Noda. 
 
17) Pelosi asks Kono for continued MSDF refueling mission 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, September 1, 2008 
 
Visiting U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi held a 
meeting with Lower House Speaker Yohei Kono in the Diet building 
earlier today. Touching on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, Pelosi said: "We have high 
regard for it. It is the view of not only the Democratic Party but 
also of the United States as a whole, including the Republican 
Party. We earnestly hope Japan will continue the mission." 
 
Indicating that Afghanistan is the main battlefield in the war on 
terror, Pelosi defined in the meeting reconstruction assistance, 
including the refueling operation, as necessary activities in the 
war on terror. Kono said, "The government is considering discussing 
related bills in the upcoming extraordinary Diet session. Stormy 
developments are expected, as the opposition bloc is against it." 
 
Pelosi is visiting Japan to attend the seventh Group of Eight house 
speakers' meeting to be held on Sept. 2 in Hiroshima. 
 
18) MSDF postpones training with Russia 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 2, 2008 
 
The government decided yesterday to postpone a bilateral naval 
search and rescue exercise (SAREX) scheduled for this month between 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force and Russia's Far Eastern navy. The 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia have suspended 
maritime cooperation, including joint training exercises, due to the 
standoff of the United States and Europe with Russia over the 
Georgia conflict. The government judged that it would have to 
carefully watch the situation. SAREX has been conducted since 1998, 
and this is the tenth time for SAREX to be carried out between Japan 
and Russia. It is the only bilateral training exercise between the 
two countries' military forces. SAREX has been conducted in 
anticipation of sea accidents, and the MSDF and the Russian navy 
cooperate to search and rescue missing persons. 
 
 
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Regarding the postponement this time, the government has also 
indicated that Russia has shown understanding on missile defense 
being promoted between Japan and the United States and that the 
security environment of Japan quite differs from that of Europe. 
Japan will postpone the SAREX session for a while. Meanwhile, 
Defense Minister Hayashi will shortly visit the United States. After 
his return home, the government will ask the Russian navy to 
reschedule the exercise. 
 
The joint training exercise had been initially scheduled to be 
carried out in waters off Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, from Sept. 9. 
However, a Russian missile destroyer is to enter the port of Sasebo, 
where the U.S. Navy controls piers. The MSDF therefore changed the 
port to its Maizuru base in Kyoto Prefecture and also changed the 
training area to waters in the Sea of Japan off Maizuru. 
 
Defense exchanges between Japan and Russia started after the first 
official visit of a Defense Agency director general (state minister) 
to Russia in 1996. This fall, following SAREX, Ground Self-Defense 
Force echelon staff officers will visit Russia to see a Russian army 
drill for the first time. In addition, the Air Self-Defense Force's 
Northern Air Defense Force commander is also scheduled to visit 
Russia. 
 
ZUMWALT