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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 002708 
 
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 09/30/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Mainichi) 
 
(2) Prime Minister in Diet policy speech, filled with a 
confrontational mood, aimed at Diet dissolution, throws questions 
back at the DPJ (Asahi) 
 
(3) Obuchi-headed LDP branch received donations from companies 
punished by former Defense Agency (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(4) Consul General Maher says Futenma is key to returning six 
facilities (Okinawa Times) 
 
(5) U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier arrives at Yokosuka amid protests 
by civic groups (Akahata) 
 
(6) Editorial: Yokota airspace returned-Metropolitan skies made more 
convenient (Yomiuri) 
 
(7) Nippon Oil to expand oil production in Vietnam, followed by 
Idemitsu (Nikkei) 
 
(8) Post-Kyoto Protocol: Japan's plan for measures to combat global 
warming revealed; Proposal for new protocol; Efficiency goal for 
developing countries (Mainichi) 
 
(9) Government proposal for post-Kyoto protocol framework obligates 
emerging countries to achieve goals (Asahi) 
 
(10) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(11) EDITORIALS 
 
(12) Prime Minister's schedule, Sept. 25 & 26 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 26, 2008 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 45 (25) 45 45 
No 26 (52) 30 23 
Not interested 27 (21) 23 29 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the above question) Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 15 
18 13 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
42  43 42 
Because there's something friendly about the prime minister 20  12 
24 
 
TOKYO 00002708  002 OF 012 
 
 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 16  22 14 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 29 
34 25 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
10  7 12 
Because there's something imprudent about the prime minister 21  16 
25 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 36  39 33 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
 T P M F 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 28 (24) 32 26 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 22 (24) 32 17 
New Komeito (NK) 4 (4) 4 4 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3 (3) 3 3 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2 (1) 1 2 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (1) 0 0 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 0 0 
Other political parties 1 (1) 1 1 
None 37 (39) 25 43 
 
Q: Do you appreciate Prime Minister Aso's appointees for his 
cabinet's posts and for the LDP's executive lineup? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 36  32 38 
No 48  58 43 
 
Q: Prime Minister Aso, in his campaign for the LDP presidential 
election, insisted that the government should prioritize economic 
stimulus measures over fiscal reconstruction for the time being. Do 
you appreciate this standpoint? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 66  69 65 
No 24  25 24 
 
Q: In the LDP presidential election, whether to continue or review 
former Prime Minister Koizumi's structural reforms was also a 
campaign issue. Do you think the policy course of structural reforms 
should be continued or reviewed? 
 
 T P M F 
It should be continued 29  36 25 
It should be reviewed 61  57 63 
 
Q: Which do you think should come first, dissolving the House of 
Representatives for a general election or passing a supplementary 
budget to deal with rising oil and food prices? 
 
 T P M F 
General election 22  28 19 
Supplementary budget 68  65 70 
 
Q: Who do you think is more appropriate for prime minister between 
 
TOKYO 00002708  003 OF 012 
 
 
Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa? 
 
 T P M F 
Prime Minister Aso 42  41 42 
DPJ President Ozawa 19  28 14 
Neither is appropriate 30  24 34 
 
Q: Which one between the LDP and the DPJ would you like to see win 
in the next election for the House of Representatives? 
 
 T P M F 
LDP 41 (31) 40 42 
DPJ 37 (46) 46 32 
Other political parties 11 (12) 6 14 
 
Q: Two successive prime ministers, namely Prime Minister Abe and 
Prime Minister Fukuda, stepped down a year after coming into office. 
Will you take this into consideration when voting in the next 
election for the House of Representatives? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 44  46 44 
No 47  47 47 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "0" indicates that 
the figure was below 0.5 PERCENT . "No answer" omitted. Figures in 
parentheses denote the results of the last survey conducted Aug. 
1-2. The previous cabinet support rate for the Fukuda cabinet. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 24-25 over the 
telephone across the nation on a computer-aided random digit 
sampling (RDS) basis. A total of 1,299 households with one or more 
eligible voters were sampled. Answers were obtained from 786 persons 
(61 PERCENT ). 
 
(2) Prime Minister in Diet policy speech, filled with a 
confrontational mood, aimed at Diet dissolution, throws questions 
back at the DPJ 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
Eve., September 29, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Aso this afternoon delivered his first policy speech 
before the two chambers of the Diet since coming into office. He 
brought up five points: 1) the formation of agreements in the Diet; 
2) the supplementary budget; 3) the creation of a Consumer Affairs 
Agency; 4) the Japan-U.S. alliance and the United Nations; and 5) 
continuation of refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. The 
contents of each of the five points brought up in the speech were 
unusual in that they were posed as if answering questions by the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) with specific responses.  He seemed 
to be making an opening move to draw out the opposition camp into 
policy talks, and if they refused to respond, to dissolve the Lower 
House. He also aimed to lay out the points at issue for the general 
election campaign. 
 
In the speech, he first brought up the issue of Diet management. 
Using the example of the gasoline and other provisional taxes, which 
were briefly scrapped, he criticized: "The DPJ consistently has 
taken a stance that places politics first and the lives of the 
people second and third." He proposed rules for agreement formation 
among the two parties, saying, "Is the DPJ prepared to do that?" 
 
TOKYO 00002708  004 OF 012 
 
 
 
On economic policy, the Prime Minister brought up his pet argument 
of immediate economic stimulation, mid-term fiscal reconstruction, 
and mid to long-term economic growth through reforms. He appealed 
for a swift passage of the supplementary budget for this fiscal year 
in order to implement the comprehensive economic package that was 
compiled in late August. To the DPJ, he asked, "If there is 
something in it that you cannot swallow, I would like you to state 
it in the interpellations along with your argument." He challenged 
the party: "It would be fine if you present your own proposal. 
However, I would like you to tell me where the fiscal resources will 
come from." 
 
(3) Obuchi-headed LDP branch received donations from companies 
punished by former Defense Agency 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 31) (Full) 
September 29, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party Gunma Prefecture fifth election branch 
headed by Declining Birthrate Minister Yuko Obuchi received at least 
a total of 7.36 million yen in donations from six companies that had 
been punished with suspension from the list of designated 
contractors and other penalties by the Land, Infrastructure, and 
Transport Ministry and municipal governments, it was learned on 
Sept. 26. 
 
"We want to act quickly to return the money in a way convincing to 
the public," a branch source said. 
 
According to the branch's political funds reports between 2003 and 
2007 and other documents, the donations came from the six companies, 
including Sanko Air Conditioning Co. (Kita Ward, Osaka City) and 
Daikin Industries, Ltd. (Nishi Ward, Osaka City) that had been 
punished with the suspension from the list designated contractors 
over a bid-rigging scandal involving the now-defunct Defense 
Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA) as well as other penalties. 
 
Among the six companies is one that was punished with a three-month 
suspension of designation by the Shimane prefectural government 
after a warning from the Fair Trade Commission. 
 
Each company donated between 100,000 yen and 1 million yen a year. 
Ikeno Tsuuken Corp. (Kita Ward, Tokyo) made a contribution even in 
March 2006 when it was not allowed to take part in biddings due to a 
punitive step equivalent to the suspension of designation. 
 
In March 2006, the Defense Agency took a punitive step equivalent to 
the suspension of designation not allowed to join tenders against 
178 companies, including those that submitted bids for a 
DFAA-ordered project over which persons concerned had been arrest 
and indicted over bid-rigging. 
 
(4) Consul General Maher says Futenma is key to returning six 
facilities 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full) 
September 29, 2008 
 
U.S. Consul General for Okinawa Kevin Maher delivered a speech, 
"Current Situation and Future Prospects of U.S. Force Realignment, " 
at an International Visitors Program reunion held in Naha City on 
 
TOKYO 00002708  005 OF 012 
 
 
Sept. 26. 
 
He explained that the return of six installations south of Kadena 
Air Base were connected the timeframe for the relocation of Futenma 
Air Station and the completion of the removal of U.S. Marines to 
Guam that are set for 2014. He added: "It is not clear when the 
facilities south of the base will be returned as the next step. The 
return is conditioned on whether the relocation of Futenma 
succeeds." 
 
"The two governments have been able to confirm whether or not the 
capabilities of the facilities to be returned can be relocated to 
other existing installations." The consul general also explained 
that final coordination for drawing up the master plan, initially 
planned for March 2007, has stalled. 
 
Asked if the return of bases south of Kadena Air Base has not moved 
forward because the realignment of U.S. forces is a package deal, 
the consul general explained: "Unless Futenma functions are 
relocated to Camp Schwab and the 8,000 Marines moved to Guam, the 
support facilities at Camp Kinser (Makiminato Service Area) cannot 
be relocated to Camp Hansen, Camp Schwab, and Guam. They are all 
interrelated as a package deal." 
 
(5) U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier arrives at Yokosuka amid protests 
by civic groups 
 
AKAHATA (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
September 26, 2008 
 
The (97,000-ton) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George 
Washington (that accommodates about 5,600 crew members) arrived at 
Yokosuka Naval Base in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sept. 25, amid civic 
groups staging rallies against the deployment. 
 
The carrier replaces the conventional aircraft carrier USS Kitty 
Hawk, which completed its mission in Japan in May. It is the first 
time for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to be deployed in Japan. 
About 70 PERCENT  of the Yokosuka citizens are opposed to the 
deployment, keeping in mind risk from the permanent deployment of an 
aircraft carrier and fearing nuclear incidents, remembering a fire 
that broke out while crew members were smoking on the USS George 
Washington. Civic groups staged rallies in many locations from 
morning to night yesterday. 
 
The world's largest warship entered the Bay of Tokyo around 08:00 
and then was berthed at No.12 Pier in the base at 10:05. 
 
In a ceremony held by the governments of Japan and the U.S., 
Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter said that the deployment of a 
nuclear-powered aircraft carrier "is part of the commitments to the 
Japan-U.S. alliance." U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer 
expressed his appreciation for Yokosuka Mayor Ryoichi Kabaya for 
concurring with the deployment of the nuclear aircraft carrier, 
saying: "I appreciate him for his firm friendship and 
understanding." A message from Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone 
was also read at the ceremony. On the fire on the George Washington 
and a series of radiation-leak incidents, however, there was 
reference neither to their causes nor what  preventive measures 
would be taken. 
 
(6) Editorial: Yokota airspace returned-Metropolitan skies made more 
 
TOKYO 00002708  006 OF 012 
 
 
convenient 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
September 23, 2008 
 
Flight routes can now be easily set for westward-bound passenger 
planes from Haneda Airport in Tokyo. 
 
That is because the Yokota airspace, which expands over the west of 
the airport and is under the air traffic control of the U.S. Air 
Force's Yokota Air Base, has now been returned in part to Japan. 
 
The skies over the metropolitan area are now more crowded. 
Accordingly, it is very significant that new air routes have been 
secured for flights to and from Haneda. 
 
The Japanese and U.S. governments have also agreed to consider 
necessary conditions by fiscal 2009 for the United States to return 
the Yokota airspace in its entirety. We want the two governments to 
push ahead with talks for specifics about the airspace's overall 
reversion. 
 
The Yokota airspace came under the Allied Powers' control after the 
end of World War II. After that, its traffic control was transferred 
to the U.S. military. Since then, the U.S. Air Force, based on the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, has controlled the air 
traffic of U.S. military and Self-Defense Forces aircraft to and 
from the Yokota, Atsugi, and Iruma bases. 
 
In May 2006, the Japanese and U.S. governments agreed on the Yokota 
airspace's partial reversion as a step in the process of realigning 
U.S. forces in Japan. This is the eighth time for the United States 
to return part of the airspace. This time, however, the United 
States has returned 20 PERCENT  of the airspace's area and 50 
PERCENT  of its volume. 
 
In the past as well, civilian aircraft was allowed to pass through 
the airspace with permission from the U.S. military. For safety and 
other reasons, however, the greater part of civilian airplanes from 
Haneda Airport to such destinations as Kyushu, South Korea, and 
China used to turn and make a steep climb over Tokyo Bay to fly over 
the Yokota airspace. 
 
With the airspace's reversion this time, the Yokota airspace's 
altitude is now markedly lower. Civilian aircraft can now easily fly 
over the Yokota airspace without needing to make a steep climb. 
 
The flight time of westbound flights from Haneda to destinations 
will be three minutes shorter on average, according to the Ministry 
of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Its economic effect, such as 
reducing fuel costs, will total 9.8 billion yen. 
 
In October 2010, a fourth runway will be placed in service at Haneda 
Airport. This will make it possible for the airport to handle an 
annual total of more than 400,000 flights, an increase of 140 
PERCENT  from the airport's current handling capacity. The annual 
number of international flights to and from such cities as Shanghai 
and Seoul is also expected to increase to 60,000. 
 
Setting new westbound flight routes will also give a significant 
impetus to the internationalization of Haneda. It is essential to 
further improve flight routes before the airport's reextension and 
 
TOKYO 00002708  007 OF 012 
 
 
make the most of the effects of airspace reversion. 
 
The task left to Haneda is how to set flight routes over the heart 
of Tokyo. 
 
In principle, the skies over the heart of Tokyo are currently 
excluded from flight paths out of consideration for the noise 
problem and other circumstances. Instead, there are many flight 
routes over Chiba Prefecture. This has caused a strong feeling of 
unfairness. 
 
If the skies over the heart of Tokyo can be better used for civil 
aviation, there will be more leeway for flight paths, and the 
metropolitan skies can be more convenient. The Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure and Transport and the Tokyo metropolitan government 
should discuss this matter in earnest. 
 
(7) Nippon Oil to expand oil production in Vietnam, followed by 
Idemitsu 
 
NIKKEI (Page 7) (Full) 
September 28, 2008 
 
(Takashi Nishioka, Ho Chi Minh) 
 
Nippon Oil Corp. has started producing crude oil at a new oil field 
off the southwest coast of Vietnam. The company will increase 
production in that nation by about 20 PERCENT . Idemitsu Kosan Co. 
will also begin producing oil in Vietnam for the first time. 
Although the domestic market of gasoline and other fuels, key 
products for oil wholesalers, has been shrinking, oil prices remain 
high. Given this, the companies decided to quickly expand oil 
production in Vietnam. 
 
Nippon Oil developed the new Phuong Dong oil field jointly with 
state-run Petrovietnam. The field is located north of the Rang Dong 
field, where the two companies have jointly produced crude oil. The 
daily output at Phuong Dong is expected to increase from the current 
12,000 barrels to 15,000 barrels in 2009, of which Nippon Oil will 
have an interest of about 5,000 barrels. 
 
Nippon Oil has an interest of 16,000 barrels in the daily output at 
Rang Dong, but now that 10 years have passed since production 
started there, production volumes are on the decline. 
 
To cover the reduced volume, the company will boost the daily output 
at Phuong Dong to about 19,000 barrels in 2009. The company also 
plans to excavate about seven wells with Petrovietnam by investing 
approximately 9 billion yen in 2009 as part of efforts to increase 
oil production. 
 
Idemitsu Kosan plans to develop an oil field off the southern coast 
of Vietnam with Petrovietnam and a Russian oil company. About 70 
billion yen will be invested in building production facilities, of 
which Idemitsu will shoulder about 5 billion yen. 
 
The project team plans to start production in the latter half of 
fiscal 2009. The estimated daily output will be about 20,000 
barrels, and Idemitsu will be given an interest of about 1,500 
barrels. 
 
Produced in Vietnam is light oil from which such high-value-added 
 
TOKYO 00002708  008 OF 012 
 
 
oil as gasoline and diesel oil can be extracted considerably easily. 
Since the Vietnamese crude is low-sulfur, the product is priced 
high. Nippon Oil and Idemitsu intend to sell the Vietnamese oil to 
China, Singapore, Australia, and other countries. 
 
Sales of gasoline in Japan in July dropped by 6.8 PERCENT  below the 
same period a year ago, recording the third consecutive monthly 
decline. Sales of all kinds of fuel oil, including light oil, also 
decreased 3.5 PERCENT , showing that the Japanese oil market is 
reducing as a whole. 
 
Oil prices are staying high, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) 
exceeding 100 dollars per barrel, seen from a historical angle. 
Since there are few cases of entry of U.S. and European oil majors 
into Vietnam, unlike their proactive access to oil-producing 
countries in the Middle East and other regions, Japanese firms are 
expected to accelerate moves to expand oil production in Vietnam in 
the future. 
 
(8) Post-Kyoto Protocol: Japan's plan for measures to combat global 
warming revealed; Proposal for new protocol; Efficiency goal for 
developing countries 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 27, 2008 
 
The government is expected to submit a proposal for a framework for 
measures to address global warming to be adopted in 2013 (post-Kyoto 
protocol) to the 14 Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (COP14) to be held in December. A full 
version of the draft was revealed on September 26. According to the 
draft, the government will propose adopting a new protocol, instead 
of extending the Kyoto Protocol framework. Though the proposal does 
not seek main developing countries, such as China, to set global 
warming greenhouse gas reduction targets, it imposes a certain 
designated obligation on them, by asking them to set caps on global 
warming gas emissions with binding power. 
 
The first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, during which 
Japan and the European Union (EU) are obligated to cut carbon 
emissions, is 2008-2012. For a framework for 2013 and beyond, talks 
are under way with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of 
next year. The U.S., the largest carbon emitter in the world, has 
opted out of the framework, dissatisfied with developing countries 
assuming no obligation to cut emissions. Japan has decided to seek 
the adoption of a new framework in order to urge the U.S. and China 
to joint it. 
 
The new framework will mandate advanced countries to set a 
nation-specific cap to be achieved as the Kyoto Protocol does. 
 
In the meantime, it seeks main developing countries, such as China 
and India, to set an energy improvement goal, such as the amount of 
energy needed to produce 1 ton of iron. The goals are obligatory 
with binding power attached to them. Industrialized countries will 
set nation-specific reduction targets by determining their own total 
emissions amount and work out reduction rates, by comparing that 
amount with the amount of emissions in more than one base year. 
Under the Kyoto Protocol, reduction goals were set, based on the 
base year of 1990. However, under the new framework, more than one 
base year, such as a year with the latest data and 1990, will be 
adopted. 
 
TOKYO 00002708  009 OF 012 
 
 
 
Outline of Japanese proposal 
 
? Adopt a new protocol or a revised protocol as the next framework 
? Set nation-specific caps for industrialized countries and obligate 
them to achieve their goals. 
? Goals are to be indicated in terms of reduction rates from more 
than one base year, including a year with the latest data, and total 
emissions cuts. 
? Main developing countries are to set energy efficiency goals in 
main areas and in the economy as a whole as a goal with binding 
power. 
? Other countries are to submit a national action program. 
 
(9) Government proposal for post-Kyoto protocol framework obligates 
emerging countries to achieve goals 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
September 27, 2008 
 
A proposal for a next-term framework to combat global warming to be 
adopted in 2013 (post-Kyoto Protocol framework) prepared by the 
Japanese government was revealed on September 26. According to the 
proposal, the post-Kyoto Protocol framework will treat fast growing 
emerging countries, such as India and China, whose carbon emissions 
are sharply increasing, separately from developing countries, 
characterizing them as major developing countries, and obligate them 
to achieve energy efficiency goals consisting of nation-specific and 
major industry-specific targets. 
 
In the run-up to the 14 Conference of the Parties of the UN 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP14) to be held in Poland 
in December this year, the government will shortly submit the 
proposal to the UN. This is the first time for the Japanese 
government to come up with a specific proposal regarding the 
obligation of emerging countries, a major focus of attention in the 
upcoming framework talks. Emerging countries, such as China and 
India, are expected to fiercely oppose the proposal. 
 
A major feature of the proposal is a focus on the categorization of 
main developing country, in addition to two other existing groups -- 
industrialized countries and developing countries -- under the 
present Kyoto Protocol. At present, industrialized countries are 
obliged to achieve a nation-specific emissions cap. However, since 
China, which is viewed as having become the largest emitter in the 
world, and India, the fifth largest emitter, are regarded as 
developing countries, there is no institutional way to stop them 
from increasing carbon emissions. 
 
Under the Japanese plan, major developing countries will be mandated 
to set an energy efficiency goal in such main industry areas as 
steel, cement, aluminum and electric power, as well as an efficiency 
target for energy conservation to be achieved by a country as a 
whole. Though it will not seek them to set a nation-specific 
emissions cap, which could hamper economic growth, it urges them to 
constrain carbon emissions, by obligating them to set an efficiency 
goal with the aim of urging them to conserve energy. Energy 
efficiency goals envisage a reduction in gas emissions when 
producing 1 ton of crude steel in the steel industry, for instance. 
As a nation-specific goal, the improvement of the ratio of gas 
emissions to the GDP is assumed. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002708  010 OF 012 
 
 
Guidelines for defining major developing countries will be worked 
out later. A "graduation" mechanism of main developing countries 
being upgraded to industrialized countries, once they meet 
designated conditions, will also be set. Other developing countries 
will be obligated just to compile an action program and check 
progress. 
 
Regarding a base year (1990 under the Kyoto Protocol), more than one 
year will be set as base years, with 2006 or 2007, when the latest 
data are expected to become available, being the two choices in 
mind. 
 
(10) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Yomiuri: Sankei: Tokyo Shimbun: 
Land minister Nakayama resigns after gaffes: Kazuyoshi Kaneko to 
replace him 
 
Mainichi: 
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma apologizes for hepatitis C infections via 
tainted products: Basic agreement signed 
 
Nikkei: 
Concern about economic slump becoming protracted: Global economic 
slowdown that started in U.S. 
 
Akahata: 
Improve corporate culture, General Secretary Ichita calls for in TV 
debate 
 
(11) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Resignation of transport minister: Prime minister makes 
miscalculation 
(2) Shenzhou 7: Bring China into international cooperation 
framework 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Transport Minister Nakayama steps down due to sloppy blunder 
(2) Junichiro Koizumi to step down: We want to hear summary of his 
reform drive from him 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Transport Minister Nakayama steps down: His statements lacked 
temperance 
(2) Space ship Shenzhou: Japan also needs solid strategy 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Thought on opening the country for human resources: Reform 
fabricated system involving unskilled laborers 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Resignation of Transport Minister Nakayama: Do not repeat words 
and actions that would erase confidence 
(2) Release of ibises: It is important to protect before its 
extinction 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Resignation of transport minister: Hideous blunder 
(2) Split of health insurance under government jurisdiction: Improve 
medical service with improved efficiency 
 
TOKYO 00002708  011 OF 012 
 
 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Consumption tax statement by Prime Minister Aso: Prevent 
in-stage hike 
 
(12) Prime Minister's schedule, Sept. 25 & 26 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 27, 2008 
 
Sept. 25 
 
Afternoon 
Arrived at Kennedy International Airport in New York. Met Australian 
Prime Minister Rudd at the Intercontinental Hotel. Held a joint 
press conference. 
 
Evening 
Delivered a speech at UN Headquarters. Later, met Bono, vocalist of 
the rock band U2. Talked without sitting down with U.S. State 
Secretary Rice and British Foreign Minister Miliband. Then met with 
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 
 
Night 
Attended a dinner party hosted by Ban. Later met Iraqi President 
Talabani. 
 
Sept. 26 
 
Morning 
Left New York by a government plane. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, Sept. 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
September 28, 2008 
 
02:53 
Arrived at Haneda Airport by a government plane. 
 
03:35 
Arrived at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
11:26 
Took a walk around his residence. 
 
14:06 
Reported at the Imperial Palace on his return to Japan. 
 
15:18 
Met at the Kantei with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura and deputy 
chief cabinet secretaries Matsumoto and Uruma. 
 
16:40 
Met Kawamura and Uruma. Kawamura stayed behind. 
 
17:06 
Arrived at his private office in Nagata-cho. 
 
18:30 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
TOKYO 00002708  012 OF 012 
 
 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, Sept. 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
September 29, 2008 
 
06:44 
Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
09:17 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura at the Kantei. 
 
09:32 
Met Construction and Transport Minister Nakayama, joined by 
Kawamura. Kawamura stayed behind. 
 
10:01 
Attended a special cabinet meeting. 
 
11:24 
Met LDP Secretary General Hosoda and New Komeito Secretary General 
Kitagawa, joined by Kawamura. Kawamura stayed behind. 
 
12:58 
Met Kawamura and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. Kawamura 
stayed behind. 
 
16:00 
Met editorial writers from press companies. Later met TV news 
commentators. Then met reporters assigned to the Cabinet Office. 
 
18:10 
Met Kawamura. Joined by former Administrative Reform Minister 
Kaneko. Kawamura stayed behind. 
 
19:44 
Dined with his secretaries at the Chinese restaurant in the Hotel 
Okura. 
 
21:58 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
SCHIEFFER