VZCZCXRO6548
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2594/01 2630817
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190817Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7353
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 2292
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 9932
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 3673
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 8039
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 0508
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5404
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1403
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1704

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002594 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/19/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Agricultural Minister Ota quits, taking responsibility for the 
tainted rice issue, with only five days left for the Fukuda Cabinet 
(Mainichi) 
 
(2) Vice MAFF minister to be replaced: Prime Minister makes issue 
over his response to incident involving contaminated rice (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Aso negative about holding Lower House election on Oct. 26, 
saying, Lower House will not be dissolved until supplementary budget 
bill secures Diet approval (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(4) Aso certain to become next LDP president; Party's attention 
already shifted to personnel appointments (Nikkei) 
 
(5) LDP presidential election losing substance: Yosano cancels 
campaign speech due to U.S. financial crisis (Mainichi) 
 
(6) Former LDP member Koichi Hamada: Five presidential candidates 
cannot talk about future of Japan 10 years from now (Mainichi) 
 
(7) Interview with Deputy DPJ President Naoto Kan: Form of country 
must be changed first (Asahi) 
 
(8) Gulf nations counting on Japan to continue refueling mission in 
Indian Ocean (Yomiuri) 
 
(9) G-8 foreign ministerial may be postponed (Nikkei) 
 
(10) Foreign, justice ministries differ on U.S. military status 
(Okinawa Times) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Agricultural Minister Ota quits, taking responsibility for the 
tainted rice issue, with only five days left for the Fukuda Cabinet 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
Eve., September 19, 2008 
 
Minister of Agriculture Seiichi Ota has firmed up his intention to 
resign his post, taking responsibility for the ministry's 
ill-equipped inspection system in connection with the improper sales 
of tainted rice, as well as for his own statements. Treating it as a 
de facto replacement, the prime minister has accepted his 
resignation. Since the cabinet today just accepted the resignation 
of Vice Minister Toshiaki Shirasu, the unusual situation exists of 
the top two officials of a ministry resigning at one time. 
 
(2) Vice MAFF minister to be replaced: Prime Minister makes issue 
over his response to incident involving contaminated rice 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 19, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Fukuda, taking seriously the spread of the illegal 
resale of tainted rice, such as moldy rice and residual 
pesticide-contaminated rice, decided on September 18 to replace Vice 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Minister Toshiaki 
Shirasu. The decision will be formally adopted at a cabinet meeting 
on the 19th. Forestry Agency Director General Michio Ide will 
 
TOKYO 00002594  002 OF 009 
 
 
succeed his post. The tainted rice incident has created an unusual 
situation, in which the top administrative official in the ministry 
will take responsibility by resigning. 
 
Referring to the tainted rice incident, Shirasu denied MAFF's 
responsibility, saying, "At the present stage, I do not think that 
the ministry is responsible for what happened." Receiving criticism 
both from the ruling and opposition parties, he withdrew this 
comment. However, he has repeatedly insisted that he had no 
intention of stepping down, because it was necessary for him to find 
out what really happened and ready measures to prevent a 
recurrence. 
 
The prime minister, who from the start of his cabinet has called for 
a shift to a government that attaches importance to consumers, has 
made the response of MAFF, including Shirasu, into an issue. In the 
end, he reached a decision to press the ministry to make a fresh 
start by replacing the vice minister. 
 
(3) Aso negative about holding Lower House election on Oct. 26, 
saying, Lower House will not be dissolved until supplementary budget 
bill secures Diet approval 
 
Tokyo Shimbun Online (Abridged) 
13:13, September 19, 2008 
 
Secretary General Taro Aso, who has a commanding lead in the Liberal 
Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential race, announced today his 
stance of giving priority to holding Diet deliberations on the 
fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill in the next extraordinary Diet 
session. He took a negative view about the rumor circulating in the 
party that the Lower House might be dissolved on October 26. 
 
During a debate hosted by the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan, 
Aso underscored, "The government has adopted a set of emergency 
economic stimulus measures. Since the word "emergency" is attached 
to the package, we must have it deliberated by the Diet 
immediately." Touching on reports by some news organizations that 
the LDP and the New Komeito had agreed to set the election for 
October 26, Aso said, "Even though Japanese dailies reported so, 
there is a strong possibility you made a mistake if you had sent a 
cable to your head office saying just as they reported." He added, 
"I would never speak too soon about the timing of dissolving the 
Lower House." 
 
He also categorically said during a TBS talk show on the morning of 
the 19th: "I want to secure Diet passage of the emergency economic 
stimulus package by all means. Top priority should be given to the 
supplementary budget. Dissolving the Lower House comes after that." 
He continued, "Whether the other side will agree to deliberate on 
that is another story. We have been deceived by them many times." He 
hinted at the possibility of dissolving the Lower House before 
passage of the supplementary budget bill only in the event the DPJ 
adopted tactics delaying Diet deliberations. 
 
(4) Aso certain to become next LDP president; Party's attention 
already shifted to personnel appointments 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
September 19, 2008 
 
With Secretary General Taro Aso running way ahead of the other four 
 
TOKYO 00002594  003 OF 009 
 
 
candidates in the ongoing LDP presidential race, LDP members' 
attention has already shifted to who will join the next cabinet and 
assume the party's key posts after the Sept. 22 election. Aso has 
revealed a plan to give posts to even his political rivals in order 
to enhance party unity. Chances are high that Aso will offer cabinet 
posts to Economy and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano and former 
Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The lineup of an Aso cabinet may 
vary depending on who comes in second after Aso. 
 
There is strong speculation in the Aso camp that he will replace a 
large part of the Fukuda cabinet in a bid to place a clear Aso 
imprint on his administration. 
 
The posts of secretary general and chief cabinet secretary are now 
being considered. In fact, Aso has already been asked for major 
posts, such as secretary general and chief cabinet secretary, by 
former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, the supreme adviser of the 
Machimura faction, which is the largest in the LDP. Aso has secured 
70 PERCENT  of the Machimura faction votes. With Aso likely to give 
some consideration to the Machimura faction, such persons as Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Machimura and former Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hiroyuki Hosoda are being mentioned. 
 
Further, Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima and 
Election Strategy Council Vice Chairman Yoshihide Suga, who are 
close to Aso, are being bandied as the possible next chief cabinet 
secretary, the cabinet's spokesman. Some are also pointing to former 
Policy Research Council Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa and former Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe as candidates for the foreign minister's 
portfolio. There is a possibility that Nakagawa, a close friend of 
Aso, will obtain one of the four LDP top executive posts, if not a 
major portfolio. 
 
Aso is also expected to consider keeping Environment Minister Tetsuo 
Saito of the New Komeito, Defense Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and 
others who were appointed only two months ago by Prime Minister 
Fukuda. 
 
The ability to answer questions at the Diet and stability are 
usually critical factors in selecting cabinet ministers and party 
executives. Given the likelihood that the next Lower House election 
will take place in October, individual images can be an important 
criterion in making decisions this time around. 
 
Who will come in second after Aso is also drawing much attention. 
 
Many in the Aso camp are dismissive of giving a cabinet post to 
former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, whose economic policy differs 
from Aso's. But some think that if Koike or former Policy Research 
Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara becomes the runner-up, Aso will 
offer a portfolio or an executive party post to one of them. 
Ishihara might become the next secretary general. 
 
(5) LDP presidential election losing substance: Yosano cancels 
campaign speech due to U.S. financial crisis 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 19, 2008 
 
With Secretary General Taro Aso (67) securing prospects for sweeping 
to victory in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential 
election, the interest of Lower House members of the party have now 
 
TOKYO 00002594  004 OF 009 
 
 
completely shifted to their own elections. State Minister for 
Economic and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano (70), one of the five 
presidential candidates, canceled a stumping speech scheduled to be 
given in Akita City and Ichinoseki City in Iwate Prefecture on 
September 18 in order to deal with the financial crisis originated 
in the U.S., including the collapse of Lehman Brother, a leading 
U.S. security firm. The presidential election is showing signs of 
losing substance just when it has entered the final phase. 
 
Lawmakers now eye on Lower House election 
 
Aso said in a speech given in Ichinoseki City on the 18th: "Japan 
must take measures to handle the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Mr. 
Yosano is not here today, because he is a minister in charge of 
that." Four other candidates made a public appeal there on their 
policy of providing assistance to that area, which was hit by the 
Iwate-Miyagi Quake. Aso stressed his determination to challenge the 
Lower House, saying, "I have renewed my resolve to contend 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) President Ichiro Ozawa, 
whose home constituency is Iwate and who is extremely strong here." 
 
Former Secretary General Nobuteru Ishihara (51) was also supposed to 
abstain from the joint campaign speech meeting. He was scheduled to 
go to Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture to make a campaign speech 
for an assembly member, with whom he has an association. However, he 
all of a sudden appeared in Ichinoseki City, saying, "I was able to 
leave part way." 
 
A Lower House member, who backs former Defense Minister Shigeru 
Ishiba (51), candidly said, "The Lower House election is more 
important." He accompanied Ishiba on his canvassing tour just once. 
This lawmaker is actively visiting his supporters in his home 
constituency. One party executive complained, "We should get off the 
presidential election. The government and the ruling parties should 
come up with countermeasures against the financial crisis. This way, 
we can better appeal to voters." 
 
(6) Former LDP member Koichi Hamada: Five presidential candidates 
cannot talk about future of Japan 10 years from now 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 19, 2008 
 
Question: Five candidates are running in the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) presidential election. 
 
Koichi Hamada: The candidacy of five LDP lawmakers gave the public a 
sense of community. The candidates are now debating whether the 
consumption tax should be raised or not. This is unprecedented. 
However, Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Sadakazu 
Tanigaki and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura, who had previously 
run in the presidential leadership race, did not run this time. They 
should have come forward again. If they had come out, debates on the 
tax system and foreign policy would have deepened. I wanted them to 
stand in the election this time around, as well. 
 
Question: Are you satisfied with the policies of the five 
candidates? 
 
Hamada: I haven't heard their visions on the future of Japan ten 
years from now. They should talk about policies for our country's 
future, not just immediate issues. 
 
TOKYO 00002594  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
Question: What is your impression of the five candidates? 
 
Hamada: It is good that former Policy Research Council Chairman 
Nobuteru Ishihara has a pleasant way of presenting himself, and that 
former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba talks about what kind of 
foreign policy Japan should take. It is significant that Economic 
and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano stated that he would 
increase the consumption tax. I don't need to praise Secretary 
General Aso because he is the most likely candidate to become the 
next president. I think he is way ahead of the other candidates as a 
prime ministerial candidate. 
 
Question: You didn't mention the name of former Defense Minister 
Yuriko Koike. 
 
Hamada: Since former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is supporting 
her, I don't need to refer to her. I don't know her at all. 
 
Question: Compared to the past elections, what do you think of the 
ongoing leadership race? 
 
Hamada: I think the factional influence has weakened. The election 
campaigns give an impression of cleanliness since lawmakers are 
required to submit all receipts for every item costing one yen and 
over. But in the election campaign, I don't sense the kind of pluck 
and tenacity for the nation and people I had expected. 
 
Question: What is your biggest request of the new LDP president? 
 
Hamada: The new president must pass the supplementary budget for 
fiscal 2008 through the Diet. Small and medium-sized enterprises, 
transportation companies, and fishermen desperately want measures 
that would help them. 
 
Question: The Lower House will likely be dissolved at the outset of 
the upcoming extraordinary Diet session. 
 
Hamada: A person who thinks about such is not qualified to become 
our country's prime minister. Since the economy has slowed down, the 
public needs specific economic measures, including a supplementary 
budget. Japan also should continue its refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean. 
 
Question: Yet, the opposition camp controls the House of 
Councillors. 
 
Hamada: What the LDP should do is to make efforts to increase the 
number of its supporters in the Upper House. Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa shook hands with Peoples' New 
Party (PNP) leader Tamisuke Watanuki. Someone in the LDP should meet 
with Mr. Watanuki and get down on his hands and knees and apologize. 
At least such an effort should be made. 
 
Question: Have you cast a vote in the Chiba prefectural chapter's 
primary election? 
 
Hamada: I cast a vote on Sept. 16. 
 
Question: For whom did you vote? 
 
Hamada: Well, I voted for a candidate who will win. Ha ha ha. That 
 
TOKYO 00002594  006 OF 009 
 
 
person has fighting spirit because the new president will have to 
fight with the opposition. 
 
Question: Do you think the LDP can win the Lower House election 
under the leadership of Mr. Aso? 
 
Hamada: Since many want the DPJ to take over the reins of government 
at least once, I can say now that the DPJ would win. For that 
reason, the Lower House should be dissolved after the supplementary 
budget is adopted and the refueling operation is extended. I think 
the consumption tax should have been hiked while the popular Prime 
Minister Koizumi was in office. 
 
(7) Interview with Deputy DPJ President Naoto Kan: Form of country 
must be changed first 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 19, 2008 
 
-- How do you view the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) presidential 
election? 
 
"Following former Prime Minister Abe, Prime Minister Fukuda has now 
abandoned his government. The LDP should first apologize to the 
people that two prime ministers they chose have successively 
abandoned their administration. I must say strongly that what 
happened manifests the irresponsible predisposition innate in the 
LDP as a whole." 
 
-- Some of policies advocated by presidential elections are similar 
to those of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), 
including the reallocation of special-purpose road-construction 
revenues and the use of a so-called hidden slush fund. 
 
"I don't have such an impression at all. The DPJ's policy proposals 
are based on the notion that the country's way of leaving matters to 
the bureaucracy to work out should be changed. The LDP's proposal 
does not include its basis. What the DPJ is trying to do is changing 
the current feudalistic Tokugawa-like system to Meiji 
Restoration-like government, so to speak. The LDP is talking like a 
feudal lord about paying rice as land tax. Although it is necessary 
to change the system from central government to decentralized 
government, and move from reliance on the bureaucracy to a system 
where everything is open to the people, the candidates for the LDP 
presidency are not talking about decentralization at all." 
 
-- Do you think that depending on the results of the LDP 
presidential election and the general election that will follow, 
there is a possibility of political realignment? 
 
"If the result of the general election brings in an administration 
centered on the DPJ, there is a good possibility of the LDP 
collapsing. It was that way in 1993." 
 
-- Is the DPJ asserting that it as the number one opposition party 
be entrusted with managing the election? 
 
"The question is what responsibility does the LDP and the New 
Komeito - particularly the LDP - feel. Since the LDP like before has 
a majority in the Lower House, the prime minister has been changed a 
number of times without there being an election. Is that acceptable? 
From the point of view of the public, the LDP does not notice that 
 
TOKYO 00002594  007 OF 009 
 
 
it is not a party of responsibility." 
 
-- What will the DPJ be doing during the LDP presidential election? 
 
"The party head elections of the two major parties are like the 
semi-finals. We are now drafting a manifesto that hears the wishes 
of the people and plan to use it in the general election that will 
be the main election." 
 
(8) Gulf nations counting on Japan to continue refueling mission in 
Indian Ocean 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
September 19, 2008 
 
By Akira Mizuguchi, head of Keiai University International Exchange 
Center 
 
Following a tour of Dubai this January, I visited Qatar and Bahrain 
in August. These countries are enjoying unprecedentedly marked 
economic growth. During my travel, I felt that in Gulf Cooperation 
Council (GCC) states undergoing significant changes, Japan might 
lose its political presence, focusing particularly on its 
involvement in projects to help urban development in those countries 
and in the war against terror. 
 
Japanese companies have been slow to take part in the urban 
development projects because they have given priority to making 
profit and have little understanding of the purpose of these 
projects. Even so, Japanese firms are gradually becoming aware of 
their importance through serious analysis of the present situation. 
I hope many more firms will participate in the projects. 
 
The nation's commitment to the war on terror will be affected by 
whether the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law can be extended 
beyond its expiration on Jan. 15. The said law was previously 
rejected in the House of Councillors but was then reinstated by a 
two-thirds lower chamber overriding vote, the first time in 57 years 
for such a vote to be taken. The Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
(MSDF) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean is to support Maritime 
Interception Operation (MIO) incorporated in Operation Enduring 
Freedom (OEF), which is aimed at rooting out terrorism. There were 
allegations that MSDF-supplied fuel had been illegally diverted for 
the U.S. mission in Iraq. Remembering this, some Japanese people are 
opposed to a plan to extend the refueling mission. 
 
Overseas, however, there are different views from such negative 
views in Japan. British Ambassador to Japan Warren has asked the 
Japanese government to continue its refueling operation. Afghan 
President Hamid Karzai reportedly expressed hopes for Japan's 
continued refueling service, given intensifying activities by the 
Taliban in his country. 
 
The GCC countries, which are deeply involved in Japan's energy 
security, also know that Japan has been participating in the war on 
terror. Many of them expect Japan to continue the mission. For 
instance, when I was in Qatar, one-fourth of the space in a local 
newspaper was devoted to the news that aid worker Kazuya Ito 
belonging to NGO Peshawar-kai had been slain in Afghanistan The 
newspaper quoted Foreign Minister Koumura as saying that there will 
be no change in Japan's commitment to reconstruction assistance in 
Afghanistan and to the war on terror. 
 
TOKYO 00002594  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
The GCC countries have improved their media environment, so we can 
obtain information on global affairs at the international level 
here. My acquaintance in this region emphasized the importance of 
international cooperation in resolving global issues. Pointing out 
that Japan has begun to pay more attention to domestic affairs than 
foreign affairs, the acquaintance expressed apprehension about a 
possible suspension of Japan's refueling mission. 
 
In the region, we heard these views if Japan discontinues the 
refueling operation: (1) Japan should instead participate in 
peacekeeping operations that carry risk in Afghanistan; (2) if Japan 
suspends the service for the reason of domestic political problems, 
as was the previous case, Japan will lose credibility in the 
international community; and (3) Japan will come under fire as a 
free rider in the global effort to prevent piracy. 
 
Japan's international evaluation will be affected by whether Japan 
can extend the Antiterrorism Special Measures Law. But we hear talk 
in Japan about this issue as if it were a domestic issue or an issue 
between Japan and the U.S. The substance of the issue might be 
misunderstood. 
 
It is urgently necessary for us Japanese to be aware of the actual 
situation of the changing international community and review how 
Japan should be involved in the war on terror. In the nation, the 
political situation is in a critical state as Prime Minister Abe and 
his successor Fukuda stepped down after a short period of time. That 
is why I think it is important for Japan to appeal to the world its 
eagerness to continue its international cooperation. 
 
(9) G-8 foreign ministerial may be postponed 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 19, 2008 
 
The annual Group of Eight foreign ministerial is usually held in New 
York in late September timed with the UN General Assembly. The 
possibility has become strong that such a ministerial will be put 
off this year, according to a senior Foreign Ministry official 
yesterday. At the same time, the next foreign minister under a new 
administration is scheduled to attend UNGA. Coordination is underway 
for the next foreign minister to depart for the United States on 
Sept. 25. 
 
(10) Foreign, justice ministries differ on U.S. military status 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) 
September 18, 2008 
 
(Tokyo) 
The full contents of a secret Justice Ministry document on how to 
handle incidents involving U.S. military personnel, civilian 
employees, and their families were revealed yesterday. The Okinawa 
Times has obtained the full text, which describes specific 
instructions to handle incidents, such as a notification that was 
issued in 1953 by the then director general of the Justice 
Ministry's Criminal Affairs Bureau and requested jurisdiction not be 
exercised, except for serious cases. In addition, the disclosed 
document also details a secret agreement reached between Japan and 
the United States that formed the basis for the notification. It 
realistically depicts the Japanese government's subservience to the 
 
TOKYO 00002594  009 OF 009 
 
 
United States and also shows contradictions to the government's 
conventional view. 
 
The document was created by the Justice Ministry's Criminal Affairs 
Bureau as reference material regarding criminal jurisdiction over 
U.S. military personnel, et al. It is 491 pages long, with a stamp 
of "Secret" on its cover, giving instructions in concrete terms for 
specific cases. 
 
In 1953, Japan and the United States reached an intergovernmental 
agreement concerning U.S. military aircraft crashes. The agreement 
says U.S. military authorities are allowed to enter private 
properties "without prior authorization." 
 
However, the Foreign Ministry's description posted on its website 
says U.S. military authorities are allowed to do so "if and when 
there is no time to obtain prior authority." This wording in the 
Foreign Ministry's website-posted description differs substantively 
from that in the 1953 agreement. This difference from the wording of 
the document written in English was noted in the Diet. 
 
The Foreign Ministry has explained that the Japan-U.S. agreement 
requires prior authority in principle. However, the Justice 
Ministry's interpretation is based on the English text's wording. 
The Foreign Ministry's stance will likely be called into question 
again. 
 
However, in 1958, the National Police Agency also issued a 
notification to the chiefs of prefectural police headquarters 
regarding the security of aircraft crash sites, instructing them to 
consider how to secure evidence and prevent secrets from leaking. In 
1959, the NPA instructed local police chiefs to tell the press that 
the U.S. military requested there be no photographing of the site of 
an aircraft crash. In this case, the NPA notification told local 
police chiefs to inform the press of that request. As seen from this 
notification, the NPA set forth its stance of cooperating in a 
positive manner with the U.S. military to secure secrets. 
 
The secret document file containing these instructions is archived 
at the National Diet Library. Since June, however, the file has been 
embargoed to the public-except for Diet members-at the Justice 
Ministry's request. On Sept. 10, Kantoku Teruya, a House of 
Representatives member of the Social Democratic Party, perused the 
document at the National Diet Library. Teruya, meeting the press on 
Sept. 17, noted the difference between the two kinds of 
documentations. "The Foreign Ministry is intentionally trying to 
cover up the facts," he said. 
 
SCHIEFFER