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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 002742 
 
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 10/01/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Sankei-FNN poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Sankei) 
 
(2) U.S. Treasury Undersecretary McCormick expects Japan to continue 
to cooperate in efforts to stabilize financial markets (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Interview with Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone: Close 
cooperation with U.S. on North Korea's nuclear arms (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
 
(4) Interview with Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada: Will pursue 
passage of bill for continuing refueling mission in Indian Ocean 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(5) Roadmap rational: Hamada (Okinawa Times) 
 
(6) MSDF to scale down drill due to soaring oil price (Nikkei) 
 
(7) Aso cabinet made of postal rebels? Three postal rebels given 
cabinet posts, two rebels receive Kantei posts; Demonstrates stance 
of separating himself from Koizumi's policy influence (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
(8) Aso's political group received 1.5 million yen in donations from 
firm punished under Antimonopoly Law (Akahata) 
 
(9) Five cabinet members affiliated with the educational policy 
clique in the Diet received 11.97 million yen from firms in 
educational facilities group, with 2.52 million yen to Aso, 2.6 
million yen to Kawamura (Akahata) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Sankei-FNN poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 27, 2008 
 
Questions & Answers 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage. Figures in parentheses denote 
findings from the last Sankei-FNN survey conducted Sept. 10-11. 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 44.6 
No 35.7 
Don't know (D/K), etc. 19.7 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 31.7 (29.1) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 25.9 (23.8) 
New Komeito (NK) 4.1 (3.5) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2.5 (3.2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.3 (1.7) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0.1 (0.2) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.1 (0.0) 
Other answers (O/A) 1.0 (1.2) 
None 32.3 (35.0) 
D/K, etc. 1.0 (2.3) 
 
TOKYO 00002742  002 OF 011 
 
 
 
Q: What's your impression of the Aso cabinet's lineup? 
 
None the better for the change 30.7 
Featureless 24.9 
Balance conscious 16.3 
Competent 9.5 
Fresh 6.1 
Surprising 5.2 
D/K, etc. 7.3 
 
Q: Who is the most hopeful minister in the Aso cabinet? 
 
Health, Labor & Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe 21.6 
Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba 16.7 
State Minister for Declining Birthrate Yuko Obuchi 12.3 
State Minister for Financial Services Shoichi Nakagawa 4.6 
State Minister for Consumer Affairs Seiko Noda 4.6 
State Minister for Economic & Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano 2.5 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone 1.2 
Internal Affairs & Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama 0.8 
Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito 0.4 
Land, Infrastructure & Transport Minister Nariaki Nakayama ASTERISK 
0.3 
Justice Minister Eisuke Mori 0.2 
Economy, Trade & Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai 0.2 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada 0.2 
National Public Safety Commission Chairman Tsutomu Sato 0.2 
State Minister for Administrative Reform Akira Amari 0.2 
Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology Minister Ryu 
Shionoya 0.1 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura 0.1 
O/A 0.6 
None 20.1 
D/K, etc. 13.1 
( ASTERISK Nakayama resigned from his post on Sept. 28, and 
Kazuyoshi Kaneko is in his place.) 
 
Q: What do you want the Aso cabinet to do? 
 
Fiscal policy to cut down on waste 26.9 (30.4) 
Social security, including healthcare and pension systems 25.0 
(29.1) 
Economic stimulus measures 20.4 (18.5) 
Consumer affairs, including food safety 9.1 (---) 
Social divide 5.7 (---) 
Tax reform, including the consumption tax 4.1 (3.9) 
North Korea 2.8 (2.4) 
Global warming 2.5 (4.4) 
D/K, etc. 3.5 (1.1) 
 
Q: Who do you think is most appropriate for prime minister? 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso 22.6 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa 16.1 
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 13.2 
Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike 4.7 
Former LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Nobuteru Ishihara 3.9 
DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan 3.0 
Economic & Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano 2.2 
DPJ Vice President Katsuya Okada 2.1 
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 1.7 
 
TOKYO 00002742  003 OF 011 
 
 
Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba 1.6 
Former DPJ Vice President Seiji Maehara 1.6 
Other ruling party lawmakers 1.5 
Other opposition party lawmakers 2.5 
None 18.4 
D/K, etc. 4.9 
 
Q: What to you think is most important for the extraordinary Diet 
session convened Sept. 24? 
 
Enact the supplementary budget 31.1 
Dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election 28.7 
Respond to the U.S. financial crisis 22.6 
Pass a bill to establish a consumer affairs agency 6.6 
Amend a law to extend the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean 4.3 
D/K, etc. 6.7 
 
Q: What's your image of the LDP and the DPJ? 
 
Good policy 
LDP 37.5 
DPJ 44.8 
D/K, etc. 17.7 
 
Action 
LDP 54.1 
DPJ 26.1 
D/K, etc. 19.8 
 
Political stance 
LDP 36.0 
DPJ 45.2 
D/K, etc. 18.8 
 
Favorite party in next election for the House of Representatives 
LDP 40.7 
DPJ 48.5 
D/K, etc. 10.8 
 
Q: What do you think about the Aso cabinet and DPJ President Ozawa? 
 
Prime Minister Aso's imprint shows in his cabinet's lineup 
Yes 63.0 
No 27.8 
D/K, etc. 9.2 
 
Prime Minister Aso's appointees to his cabinet were disappointing 
Yes 33.4 
No 50.8 
D/K, etc. 15.8 
 
The Aso cabinet will fail to push for reforms 
Yes 59.7 
No 30.4 
D/K, etc. 9.9 
 
Sorry for former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike because she is the 
only one with no important post among the five candidates in the LDP 
presidential election 
Yes 30.3 
No 66.0 
 
TOKYO 00002742  004 OF 011 
 
 
D/K, etc. 3.7 
 
Questionable about 2nd-, 3rd-generation lawmakers becoming prime 
minister 
Yes 58.2 
No 37.9 
D/K, etc. 3.9 
 
Wanting DPJ President Ozawa to become prime minister 
Yes 43.5 (30.5) 
No 51.6 (62.7) 
D/K, etc. 4.9 (6.8) 
 
DPJ President Ozawa should run only from his home electoral district 
in Iwate Prefecture 
Yes 42.5 
No 42.0 
D/K, etc. 15.5 
 
Wanting DPJ President Ozawa to field showcase candidates like women 
and celebrities in the next election for the House of 
Representatives 
Yes 16.5 
No 78.0 
D/K, etc. 5.5 
 
Q: Which political party would you like to vote for in your 
proportional representation bloc at the time of the next election 
for the House of Representatives? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 36.0 (34.3) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 39.3 (34.6) 
New Komeito (NK) 5.1 (5.1) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3.9 (4.8) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2.1 (2.4) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 1.2 (0.6) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.3 (0.6) 
O/A 4.6 (6.6) 
D/K, etc. 7.5 (11.0) 
 
Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next 
election for the House of Representatives? 
 
LDP-led coalition government 24.1 (21.1) 
DPJ-led coalition government 32.1 (29.8) 
Grand coalition involving both the LDP and the DPJ 38.5 (41.4) 
D/K, etc. 5.3 (7.7) 
 
Q: Do you support the idea of extending the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean? 
 
Yes 43.6 
No 43.7 
D/K, etc. 12.7 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 25 by the Sankei 
Shimbun and Fuji News Network (FNN) over the telephone on a 
computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, a 
total of 1,000 persons were sampled from among men and women, aged 
20 and over, across the nation. 
 
Aso cabinet's inaugural ratings from media polls (Yes = support; No 
 
TOKYO 00002742  005 OF 011 
 
 
= don't support) 
Media sources Yes No Date 
Sankei Shimbun 44.6 35.7 9/25 
Asahi Shimbun 48.0 36.0 9/24-25 
Mainichi Shimbun 45.0 26.0 9/24-25 
Yomiuri Shimbun 49.5 33.4 9/24-25 
Nikkei Shimbun 53.0 40.0 9/24-25 
Kyodo News 48.6 32.9 9/24-25 
 
Cabinet ratings upon inauguration (Yes = support; No = don't 
support) 
Prime Minister Yes No Date 
Taro Aso 44.6 35.7 9/08 
Yasuo Fukuda 55.3 28.7 9/07 
Shinzo Abe 63.9 17.0 9/06 
Junichiro Koizumi 80.9 6.9 4/01 
Yoshiro Mori 37.6 29.6 4/00 
Keizo Obuchi 26.5 52.5 7/98 
Ryutaro Hashimoto 58.3 19.2 1/96 
Tomiichi Murayama 47.7 47.1 6/94 
Tsutomu Hata 62.1 32.4 4/94 
Morihiro Hosokawa 83.4 11.0 8/93 
 
(2) U.S. Treasury Undersecretary McCormick expects Japan to continue 
to cooperate in efforts to stabilize financial markets 
 
NIKKEI (Internet edition) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
By Yusuke Yoneyama in Washington 
 
U.S. Undersecretary of the Treasury for International Affairs in a 
briefing to members of the international press corps on Sept. 30 
lauded efforts by major countries to stabilize international 
financial markets, saying, "Combined cooperative actions were taken, 
and we hope progress will continue." He stated his intention to 
strengthen policy cooperation in such areas as supplying liquidity 
to the market. 
 
Undersecretary McCormick praised Japan for "being an extremely 
active collaborator in such areas as supplying liquidity." "We hope 
to see continued cooperation," he added. 
 
On the spreading global credit crunch, he pointed out, "We have kept 
in close contact with monetary authorities and central banks of 
every country in monitoring the markets." However, on actions to 
stabilize markets, he noted, "It is not necessary for every country 
to take the same countermeasures as the United States." He indicated 
that in his view there was no insistence on such steps as purchasing 
non-performing assets from financial institutions using public 
funds. 
 
Commenting on the financial stabilization act that the U.S. House of 
Representatives had rejected, he explained, "We will continue our 
efforts to seek the understanding of the public that the impact of 
turmoil in the financial market would extend to their daily lives." 
He stressed the government's plan to closely cooperate with the 
Congress, aiming at swift passage of the act. 
 
(3) Interview with Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone: Close 
cooperation with U.S. on North Korea's nuclear arms 
 
 
TOKYO 00002742  006 OF 011 
 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
-- The six-party talks to discuss North Korea's nuclear development 
program have come to a standstill. What do you think will be Japan's 
role in finding a breakthrough? 
 
"I met with U.S. Secretary of State Rice during the recent UN 
General Assembly. We confirmed that both countries should take joint 
steps by working in close cooperation. We must make that nation 
resume its disablement process at Yongbyon. I have hopes for 
Assistant Secretary of State Hill's visit to Pyongyang." 
 
-- North Korea has pledged to reinvestigate abduction cases 
involving Japanese nationals. However, it informed Japan of its 
decision to put off the investigation. Do you think this is due to 
the effect of a political vacuum created by the resignation of 
former Prime Minister Fukuda?" 
 
"Given the situation, it is regrettable that North Korea has 
suspended the commitment in that way. I am not sure whether the 
suspension was due to a political vacuum. The LDP held a 
presidential election, but I do not know what that country's 
intention now is. However, there is no change in the Japanese 
government's stance from that of the Fukuda administration. I want 
North Korea to start an investigation as soon as possible so as to 
settle the issue. I will work on North Korea aggressively." 
 
-- It appears difficult for the ruling camp to secure a two-thirds 
majority in the Lower House. In that case, how will the ruling 
parties try to enact a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law for US-led Antiterrorism Operations in the Indian 
Ocean? 
 
"For a start, we will do our utmost to maintain a two-thirds 
majority. It is important to strongly appeal the importance of the 
bill to the public and secure its understanding. All we can do is to 
tenaciously call on the opposition camp to cooperate. 
 
-- Premier Putin is expected to come to Japan before the end of the 
year. What is your approach to settling the (Northern Territories) 
issue? 
 
"We must aim for the establishment of a peace treaty, using every 
opportunity. The territorial issue is Japan's long-standing pending 
issue. (The Northern Territories) are an integral part of Japan." We 
must fairly and squarely advocate our view at the upcoming summit." 
 
(4) Interview with Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada: Will pursue 
passage of bill for continuing refueling mission in Indian Ocean 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
-- There is a strong criticism of Japan for continuing its refueling 
mission in the India Ocean due to the sharp rise in crude oil 
prices. 
 
"It is not a judgment that is made based on whether oil is costly or 
not in Japan. We can only make our public appeal with sincerity 
regarding the importance of doing things together (with the 
international community) from an internationally cooperative view." 
 
TOKYO 00002742  007 OF 011 
 
 
 
-- It seems that if the Lower House is dissolved, it would become 
impossible to take a revote on the bill extending the refueling 
mission. 
 
"Uncertain factors are still gripping the issue, because it is the 
prime minister who must make that decision. I want to tenaciously 
pursue passage of the bill as long as there is a possibility." 
 
-- What is your view on establishing a permanent law to enable the 
dispatch Self-Defense Forces' personnel as needed? 
 
"Amid various disputes emerging throughout the world, it is very 
important for Japan to take part from the perspective of 
international cooperation. If Japan wants to swiftly take part (in 
international cooperation), then it is better for it to have a 
permanent law. I want to discuss the issue by all means." 
 
-- Prime Minister Aso mentioned his intention to approve the 
exercise of the right of collective self-defense. What is your view 
on that? 
 
"I think I must follow the government's stance. If Japan has the 
right of collective self-defense, it could have closer connection 
with various countries in Asia." 
 
-- What makes you think that it is better for Japan to have the 
right of collective self-defense? 
 
"For instance, there is the piracy issue. Even if various countries 
try to prevent piracy by dispatching their vessels, Japan cannot do 
so. What I mean is that we would build a relationship of trust among 
the militaries of various countries." 
 
-- Local communities in Okinawa are demanding that the government 
revise the plan and shift the relocation site for Futenma Air 
Station's facilities into the sea. 
 
"I would like to consider to what extent we can respond to their 
request, while taking into account their stance. I want them to 
understand that the government will not flatly turn down their 
request." 
 
(5) Roadmap rational: Hamada 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
TOKYO-New Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada assumed his post on Sept. 
24, and the Okinawa Times interviewed him yesterday afternoon to 
hear his views regarding such issues as building an alternative 
facility for Futenma airfield, reforming the Defense Ministry, and 
refueling in the Indian Ocean. 
 
-- Concerning the planned relocation of Futenma airfield, Okinawa 
wants the alternative facility's construction site moved out into 
the sea. 
 
Hamada: The roadmap (to realign U.S. forces in Japan) is rational. 
It's considerably difficult to alter (the Futenma relocation plan). 
However, I will listen to Okinawa's views so we can obtain Okinawa's 
understanding, and we will have to scrutinize what we can do and 
 
TOKYO 00002742  008 OF 011 
 
 
what we cannot do. I'd like to listen to Okinawa while making 
effective use of the working teams. 
 
-- The government says it will not change the relocation plan 
without rational reason. Okinawa Prefecture has been maintaining 
that it is rational to move the construction site out into the sea, 
given such factors as suffering from the noise. 
 
Hamada: Whether that is rational or not, we will take it into 
consideration. We will also have to consider (the outcome of) an 
environmental impact assessment. We will listen to local 
communities, and we will look into their opinions including whether 
that is viable. 
 
-- The government has so far discussed the issue of Futenma 
relocation under the initiative of the prime minister's office. Some 
of the key members are now gone. How will this affect the 
government's discussion? 
 
Hamada: The government has handled this matter under the initiative 
of the prime minister's office. This way of doing things will not 
change suddenly. I don't think our discussion will be affected. I 
want to do what I can. 
 
-- When it comes to the Defense Ministry's reform, there is some 
discrepancy between the plan you worked out in the Liberal 
Democratic Party and the plan the government has. How will you take 
it over? 
 
Hamada: I will tackle the Defense Ministry's reform as a task of top 
priority. We are expected to explore the best possible system for 
national defense with public faith. I may be taking a different 
approach to that goal, but I share my predecessor's view. It's 
important to create s system under which we can integrate our 
organizations including the Defense Ministry's internal bureaus. 
 
-- If the ruling parties should fail to garner two-thirds of the 
seats in a general election for the House of Representatives, it 
will be difficult to create a similar bill for the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. 
 
Hamada: For now, we have no choice but to clearly explain its 
purpose and Japan's national interests in our public accountability. 
Also, in the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) as well, there are 
people who make a levelheaded judgment. 
 
(6) MSDF to scale down drill due to soaring oil price 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
Referring to a MSDF drill the cancellation of which had been looked 
into, Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Keiji Akahoshi 
stated in a press conference yesterday: "We plan to carry it out by 
downsizing its scale." The drill will be conducted as early as 
mid-November by reducing the scale to one-third of that conducted so 
far. The U.S Navy will likely take part in it. The drill has been 
held every year since 1954 when the Self Defense Forces was 
founded. 
 
(7) Aso cabinet made of postal rebels? Three postal rebels given 
cabinet posts, two rebels receive Kantei posts; Demonstrates stance 
 
TOKYO 00002742  009 OF 011 
 
 
of separating himself from Koizumi's policy influence 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday appointed Shunichi Yamaguchi, a 
postal rebel and former senior vice minister of internal affairs and 
communications, as special advisor to the prime minister (on the 
revitalization of local economies). Three postal rebels, including 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, were picked as members of the 
Aso cabinet. Tadayoshi Konoike, another postal rebel, was named 
deputy chief cabinet secretary, a Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei) staff member. Aso is demonstrating his policy of 
reversing the Koizumi reform initiative by giving postal rebels 
important posts. 
 
At a press conference yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo 
Kawamura denied a connection between the appointment of Yamaguchi 
and the reform policy line, saying: "It is not that (the prime 
minister) dared to give a cabinet post to a postal rebel. It is a 
result of his effort to keep the principle of placing the right 
person in the right position. None (of postal rebels appointed) has 
raised any objection to the reform policy. 
 
During the LDP presidential campaign, Aso asserted that he would put 
priority on economic stimulus measures rather than on structural 
reforms, but he did not reject postal privatization. But as if to 
endorse a policy of separating himself from Koizumi's policy 
influence, Aso has awarded postal rebels cabinet posts one after the 
other. 
 
In the Abe and Fukuda cabinets, only one or two postal rebels were 
given cabinet posts. Aso, however, gave three postal rebels cabinet 
posts and two postal rebels Kantei posts. In an interview with the 
Tokyo Shimbun yesterday, Nakasone stressed: "The LDP is liberal and 
tolerant. It has tried to use each politician's capability." 
 
The resignation of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister 
Nariaki Nakayama is a low point in Aso's selection of his cabinet 
members, even though Aso picked Nakayama as the most suitable person 
for that post. If the postal rebels Aso picked his cabinet members 
fail to exercise their capabilities, the Aso cabinet would be 
criticized for reversing the reform line. 
 
Postal rebels given cabinet or Kantei posts in Abe, Fukuda and Aso 
cabinets 
 
First Abe cabinet  None 
Second Abe cabinet Defense Minister Koumura 
First Fukuda cabinet  Foreign Minister Koumura 
Second Fukuda cabinet  Foreign Minister Koumura 
Consumer Administration Minister Noda 
Aso cabinet Foreign Minister Nakasone 
Consumer Administration Minister Noda 
Declining Birthrate Minister Yuko Obuchi 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike 
Advisor to the Prime Minister Yamaguchi 
 
(8) Aso's political group received 1.5 million yen in donations from 
firm punished under Antimonopoly Law 
 
AKAHATA (Page 15) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00002742  010 OF 011 
 
 
October 1, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's No. 8 Fukuoka Prefecture constituency 
chapter, headed by Prime Minister Taro Aso, received 1.5 million yen 
in donations over a five-year period from 2003 through 2007 from the 
petrochemical manufacturer Tokuyama (in Shunan City, Yamaguchi 
Prefecture), which was ordered to end its illegal business 
practices, according to official documents shown yesterday. 
 
The revelation of improper donations to Aso follows that of 
donations from Yamato Jushi Kogaku (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), whose 
president was arrested this August over a bribery case involving a 
national hospital. 
 
According to the chapter's political funds reports and Tokuyama, 
Tokuyama donated 300,000 yen every year to the chapter. A member of 
the prime minister's local office (in Iizuka City, Fukuoka 
Prefecture) commented: "We have received and reported donations in a 
proper way." 
 
Tokuyama was advised by the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) in May 2001 
to end its plastic price-fixing practice in violation of the 
Antimonopoly Law. 
 
In August of last year, the FTC handed down a judgment recognizing 
its violation, but Tokuyama filed a complaint with the Tokyo High 
Court, seeking the cancellation of the FTC judgment. This case is 
still pending in court. 
 
It has already been learned that the Fukuoka chapter and Aso's funds 
management group Sowai-kai had received 4 million yen in donations 
over a 13-year period from 1995 until 2007 from Yamato Jushi Kogaku. 
 
 
(9) Five cabinet members affiliated with the educational policy 
clique in the Diet received 11.97 million yen from firms in 
educational facilities group, with 2.52 million yen to Aso, 2.6 
million yen to Kawamura 
 
AKAHATA (Page 15) (Full) 
October 1, 2008 
 
The Aso cabinet is noteworthy for the many lawmakers from the 
educational policy clique (bunkyo-zoku), including those who have 
held the post of education, science and technology minister. It has 
been found that five cabinet members who are members of the 
education clique, including Prime Minister Aso himself and Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, had received a total of 
11.97million yen over a period between 2004 and 2006 from the 
Research Institute of Educational Facilities, an incorporated 
organization that served as a point of contact for collusive 
relationships among politicians, bureaucrats and business leaders in 
construction projects commissioned by the Education, Science and 
Technology Ministry. 
 
Akahata found the above facts by researching the political funds 
reports from 2004 through 2006 of the Liberal Democratic Party's 
constituency chapters headed by the lawmakers belonging to the 
education policy clique, including the Aso-headed No.8 Fukuoka 
Prefecture constitut3ncy chapter. 
 
The late Kakuji Yanagawa, a former House of Councillor member, 
 
TOKYO 00002742  011 OF 011 
 
 
chaired the Research Institute of Educational Facilities for about 
20 years. Many of successive executives there came from the 
Educational Facilities Planning Department of the said ministry. 
 
According to the political funds reports, Prime Minister Aso, who 
served as parliamentary vice education minister and as LDP Education 
Division head, received a total of 2.52 million yen from five member 
companies, including 900,000 yen from Techno Ryowa Ltd. and 600,000 
yen from Dai-Dan Co. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura continued to receive donations from 
companies that were prosecuted for bid-rigging practices even after 
their problems were disclosed. He received 2.6 million yen from 10 
companies, including 360,000 yen each from Hasegawa Sports 
Facilities Co. and Okumura Corp. Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone 
accepted 1.71 million yen from five companies, including 360,000 yen 
from Kokuyo Co. and 410,000 yen from Tonets Corp. 
 
State Minister in Charge of Declining Birthrate Yuko Obuchi, who 
assumed the post of parliamentary secretary in the education 
ministry, was given a total of 4.74 million yen in donations from 
nine firms, including 1.5 million yen from Sanko Air Conditioning 
Co. and 720,000 yen from Uchida Yoko Co. 
 
Education, Science and Technology Minister Ryu Shionoya, who held 
the vice ministerial post in the education ministry, also received 
400,000 yen from Yahagi Construction Co. 
 
Many companies in the Research Institute of Educational Facilities 
have given executive posts to facilities department heads at 
national universities and local construction office heads who had 
moved from the Educational Facilities Planning Department. Donations 
to the lawmakers affiliated with education affairs are part of the 
collusive relationship that exists among politicians, bureaucrats 
and business executives. 
 
SCHIEFFER