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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002754 
 
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 10/02/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Hawkish lawmakers repeatedly make "homogeneous race" remarks; 
"Coelacanth" inadvertently reveals his real feelings; Emperor felt 
kinship with Korea (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(2) Interview with Seiji Maehara, vice president of the Democratic 
Party of Japan: Security requires pragmatic responses (Yomiuri) 
 
(3) Iwakuni being floated as possible "assassin candidate" against 
Ota in Tokyo No. 12 district; Ozawa will not switch to another 
district? (Sankei) 
 
(4) Economic fundamentalism that does not see reality (Sankei) 
 
(5) JICA to draw up ODA plan for each country, region, aiming to 
make operations more effective under unified system (Nikkei) 
 
(6) U.S. military possibly prepared for delay in Futenma relocation 
to Henoko: Gabe (Okinawa Times) 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, October 1 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Hawkish lawmakers repeatedly make "homogeneous race" remarks; 
"Coelacanth" inadvertently reveals his real feelings; Emperor felt 
kinship with Korea 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Pages 26 & 27) 
October 1, 2008 
 
Former Land and Transport Minister Nariaki Nakayama excoriated the 
Japan Teachers Union (Nikkyoso), described those engaging in the 
struggle against expansion of Narita Airport as "squeaky wheels," 
and called Japan "ethnically homogeneous." Hawkish lawmakers have 
repeatedly used the phrase "Japan is a homogeneous country" to tell 
the Japanese people how "superior" they are. What is the purpose for 
using such a phrase? The newspaper looked back at similar remarks 
made in the past. 
 
Nakayama, who had previously served as an education, science and 
technology minister, resigned as land and transport minister only 
five days after assuming the post. Although his name recognition is 
low, Nakayama, who is also the secretary general of the Machimura 
faction, is regarded as a heavyweight. History tells us that hawkish 
heavyweights are prone to make "homogeneous race" remarks. 
 
An LDP convention was held in Kannai Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, on 
September 22, 1986, in which then Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone 
delivered a speech. When the topic turned to international affairs, 
Nakasone said that Japanese had a higher intellectual level than 
other peoples, adding that the intellectual level of the United 
States was much lower because the country had a population of blacks 
and other minorities. His remarks drew fire from the United States, 
and Nakasone had to hold a press conference two days later to offer 
an apology. He said: "What I intended to say was that because Japan 
is a nation with a homogenous race, providing (education) is easy." 
 
TOKYO 00002754  002 OF 010 
 
 
But his explanation then drew fierce protests from the Hokkaido 
Utari Association as ignoring the Ainu, a race indigenous to Japan. 
 
On July 2, 2001, Lower House member Muneo Suzuki and then METI 
Minister Takeo Hiranuma made "homogeneous race" remarks one after 
another. Suzuki, in his speech in Tokyo's Yurakucho district, said: 
"(The Ainu people) have been assimilated into the Japanese race." 
Hiranuma at a political party in Sapporo described Japan as a 
"highly homogeneous country." 
 
On October 15, 2005, then Internal Affairs and Communications 
Minister Taro Aso in a speech in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture, 
praised Japan for having "one culture, one civilization, one 
language, and one ethnic group." 
 
That is not all. In an LDP Nagasaki chapter convention held on 
February 25, 2007, then Education, Science and Technology Minister 
Bunmei Ibuki said: "Japan has been historically governed by the 
Yamato (Japanese) race. Japan is an extremely homogenous country." 
This raised questions about Ibuki's suitability as a lawmaker. 
 
All those statements drew strong objections from minority groups, 
such as the Hokkaido Ainu Association, as well as from human rights 
organizations, like Amnesty International, Japan. 
 
The UN General Assembly adopted last year a declaration on the 
rights of indigenous people. Japan, too, later adopted a Diet 
resolution recognizing the Ainu as Japan's indigenous people. The 
Indigenous Peoples Summit was held in Hokkaido in July ahead of the 
G-8 Summit. The understanding of minorities should have deepened 
over the last year. 
 
But Nakayama soon after becoming transport minister uttered these 
words: "Japan is very introverted, or what may be called ethnically 
homogenous." 
 
The series of "homogeneous race nation" remarks tend to prompt us to 
conclude that the hawkish lawmakers simply tried to fly balloons or 
disseminate propaganda. 
 
Political analyst Minoru Morita thinks otherwise. He said: "They 
just let their real feelings slip out inadvertently, just like they 
do in their everyday conversations." 
 
Morita also disgustingly commented on Nakayama: "Over the last 
couple of decades, the country has been remorseful for the 
oppression of the indigenous people. Nakayama is just too ignorant 
and has a warped perspective. His view is unacceptable 
internationally. Such a person should not have served as education 
and science and technology minister even for a short period of time. 
Japan's commonsense is being questioned." 
 
Kichiya Kobayashi, another political analyst, thinks Nakayama's 
remarks are worse than other ethnically discriminatory comments in 
the past. He said: "The adoption in June of the Diet resolution on 
the indigenous people clearly tells us that Japan is not a nation 
with a homogenous race. There is an understanding even in the 
conservative camp that the matter must not be mentioned ever again. 
It is outrageous for him now to call Japan ethnically homogeneous." 
 
Keio University Professor Eiji Oguma was disgusted: "There is a 
clear distinction between modern day conservatives debating such 
 
TOKYO 00002754  003 OF 010 
 
 
historical issues as the number of casualties in the Nanjing 
Incident and Nakayama's comments. He does not understand the 
times." 
 
Oguma added: "The conservatives' argument that Japan is an 
ethnically homogeneous country was a product of the economic 
nationalism that thrived during the country's high growth period 
from the late 1960s through the 1980s. It thrived along with the 
argument that the Japanese people are a diligent, superior race. I 
thought the theory died out with the deterioration of the economy in 
the late 1990s. Nakayama's remarks indicated as if his world view 
stopped two or three decades ago. To me, he is like a coelacanth (a 
primitive fish once thought extinct). From his appointment, I can 
sense the LDP has a dearth of talented lawmakers." 
 
Kobayashi thinks Nakayama has dampened the enthusiasm of committed 
LDP supporters. Kobayashi further noted this about Nakayama's 
anachronistic opinions: "In the LDP, there are only a handful of 
hawks comparable to Nakayama. Most LDP members are moderate 
conservatives who are not uncomfortable with the ideas of Democratic 
Party of Japan. Since Nakayama's remarks, some in the LDP are 
leaning toward raising the white flag. His remarks have pushed the 
establishment of a coalition opposition administration or an 
independent administration to within reach of the DPJ." 
 
Morita further commented: "Nakayama does not qualify for a Diet 
seat. The LDP should expel him from the party. If this situation 
persists, a change of government would occur. What Nakayama said is 
tantamount to a death sentence to the LDP." 
 
In a press conference in December 2001, the Emperor said: "I feel a 
certain kinship with Korea, given the fact that it is recorded in 
the "Shoku-Nihongi" (Chronicles of Japan) that the mother of Emperor 
Kanmu was of the line of King Muryong who ruled the Paekche 
Kingdom." The Emperor's statement is taken as a reference to the 
kinship between the Imperial Family and the people living on the 
Korean Peninsula, as well as to the antiquity of exchanges between 
Japan and Korea. 
 
Those conservative lawmakers who tend to insist on Japan being 
ethnically homogeneous seem to care less about their remarks' 
consistency with the Emperor's kinship statement. 
 
Morita noted: "They are imbued with outmoded thinking of the kind 
that fabricated history. They respect the Emperor at their own 
convenience. They respect themselves most of the time." 
 
(2) Interview with Seiji Maehara, vice president of the Democratic 
Party of Japan: Security requires pragmatic responses 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
September 2, 2008 
 
Interviewed by Shoji Minami 
 
-- Prime Minister Taro Aso is considering postponing the next Lower 
House election. 
 
"There are moves in the Diet that envisage dissolution, so lawmakers 
are not in the mood to discuss important state affairs. It is 
necessary to dissolve the Diet at an early date and deal with a 
variety of issues under a new structure." 
 
TOKYO 00002754  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
-- You raised questions about the DPJ's campaign pledges, such as 
how to cover the costs of what was promised in last summer's Upper 
House election was unclear. 
 
"I didn't mean to criticize President Ozawa. I raised those 
questions, thinking the party needed a sense of crisis in order to 
be able to be serious about taking over the reins of government. Our 
party's campaign pledges for the next Lower House election are 
supposed to come with a road map, so this time, I think things will 
be easier for the public to understand." 
 
-- In yesterday's Lower House interpellation session, President 
Ozawa said security can be ensured through UN peace-building 
operations. 
 
"What Mr. Ozawa said is correct. But leaving everything to the 
United Nations is an idealistic theory. We need to consider our 
responses more in line with reality." 
 
-- What is your view about hiking the consumption tax rate? 
 
"It will be unavoidable in the future to drastically reform the tax 
system, including a review of the consumption tax rate, after 
thoroughly implementing administrative reform." 
 
-- What is the win-lose line for the upcoming Lower House election? 
How should Mr. Ozawa take responsibility in the event the party 
suffers a defeat? 
 
"I have no intention of setting minimum number that would require 
President Ozawa to take responsibility if it was not attained. The 
party members are united in their aim of the DPJ becoming the 
largest party, and if possible, achieving an independent majority." 
 
-- Do you have any intention of seeking political realignment by 
teaming up with former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa and 
others after the Lower House election? 
 
"All I can say for now is that I will aim at a change of government 
as a member of the DPJ. That's all I can say." 
 
-- Is your party going to cooperate with the Japanese Communist 
Party in election campaigns in Kyoto, your home turf? 
 
"Our party has vied with the LDP and JCP in Kyoto. There is no 
possibility for us to cooperate with the JCP." 
 
(3) Iwakuni being floated as possible "assassin candidate" against 
Ota in Tokyo No. 12 district; Ozawa will not switch to another 
district? 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 2, 2008 
 
The idea is being floated in the main opposition Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) that Lower House member Tetsundo Iwakuni, 72, should be 
fielded in the Lower House Tokyo No. 12 district for the next House 
of Representatives election, according to sources connected to the 
DPJ. There recently was a rumor that DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa 
might run from the Tokyo No. 12 constituency. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002754  005 OF 010 
 
 
Iwakuni is serving in his fourth term in the Lower House. After 
running unsuccessfully for the governorship of Tokyo in 1995, he was 
elected from the Tokyo No. 6 district to the Lower House for the 
first time in 1996. He was elected from the proportional 
representation Tokyo bloc in the 2000 Lower House election. Before 
entering national politics, he served as mayor of Izumo City in 
Shimane Prefecture. Before that, he was senior vice-president of 
Merrill Lynch in Japan. 
 
The Tokyo No. 12 district is the home turf of New Komeito leader 
Akihiro Ota. The DPJ aims to fight against Ota by filing the 
candidacy of high-profile Iwakuni, according to a senior DPJ member. 
If this is the case, another senior member said: "Mr. Ozawa would 
run in the Iwate No. 4 district, his home constituency of Iwate 
Prefecture." 
 
However, Iwakuni, whose home turf is currently the Kanagawa No. 8 
district, yesterday told the Sankei Shimbun: "I haven't heard 
anything about it. I have switched the electoral district twice for 
the sake of the party. It is impossible for me to switch to another 
district." He denied the rumor. 
 
A senior DPJ Election Campaign Committee member said: "Ozawa has 
direct control" over the selection of a candidate for the Tokyo No. 
12 district. Therefore, attention is being fixed on Ozawa's moves. 
 
(4) Economic fundamentalism that does not see reality 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 2, 2008 
 
Satoshi Higashitani, journalist 
 
A number of failures of financial institutions in the U.S. and 
efforts to bail them out are having an immense impact on the 
Japanese economy. Bankruptcies are already increasing sharply. 
Anxiety is spreading among small and medium-sized businesses. They 
are concerned that the era of credit crunches and forcible 
collecting of loans might return. 
 
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) on September 2 released a policy 
paper titled "Future Measures Designed to Facilitate Finances for 
Small and Medium-sized Businesses." The report calls for fine-tuned 
lending decisions, based on the current status of the management and 
individuality features of small and medium-sized businesses. On 
September 19, it announced a plan to hold an emergency consultation 
session for such businesses throughout the nation with the aim of 
addressing the impact of the failure of U.S. securities houses. 
 
Today, when financial officials mention financing small to 
medium-sized businesses, the days when disorderly financial 
administration based on the Financial Inspection Manual was in place 
-- from 1999 through 2003 -- seem like decades ago. This inspection 
manual was the adaptation of the Commercial Bank Examination Manual 
of the U.S., where circumstances are different. The idea was to 
evaluate companies, based on their capital base. The result was many 
small to medium-sized businesses that had continued corporate 
management with a small amount of capital for a long period of time, 
depending on steady financing by banks, were unduly labeled 
borrowers in danger of going bankrupt. 
 
The new supplementary volume of the Financial Examination Manual, 
 
TOKYO 00002754  006 OF 010 
 
 
issued in March this year, much more correctly reflect the reality 
of Japan's smaller businesses. It approves continuous financing as 
routine. However, this is not reassuring, because the Koizumi 
administration merged government-affiliated financial institutions, 
overcoming fierce opposition from managers of small and medium-sized 
businesses. As a result, financing channels at a time when the 
economy took a downward turn have been narrowed. 
 
The FSA is still adhering to a stance of approving only one 
evaluation for one company. It means that if one financial 
institution labels a certain company a borrower requiring attention, 
it is not possible to change this labeling, even if other financial 
institutions have different information on this company. This is 
irrational. It also denies there is a financial business itself. 
 
For instance, it is fully possible that even if a leading bank 
determines a certain company is a borrower requiring attention 
without elaborately examining its financial standing, credit unions 
or credit associations may judge that company is a normal borrower, 
based on insufficient inspection. 
 
The FSA's policy of allowing one evaluation for one company renders 
management efforts by financial institutions meaningless and set the 
evaluation of companies at the lowest level. 
 
To begin with, the financial standing of small to medium-sized 
companies differs significantly. Some companies are capitalized at 
several million yen. Others are capitalized at nearly 300 million 
yen. Even among companies that are in the same line of business, 
there is a difference in payout time between companies that 
manufacture a variety of products and companies that manufacture a 
small number of products on a limited basis. 
 
It is easy to imagine that the reality with diversity requires 
diverse policies. However, financial officials sometimes try to deal 
with the situation only with one clear-cut principle. Such 
narrow-minded fundamentalism gave rise to credit crunches and 
forcible collecting of loans based on the old Financial Examination 
Manual. 
 
Though the new cabinet is dubbed an election-destined cabinet, it is 
clear that it is aspiring to diverse and comprehensive fiscal and 
financial policies. I want to see policy proposals based on the 
reality of small- and medium-sized companies, the source of economic 
vitality in Japan. 
 
(5) JICA to draw up ODA plan for each country, region, aiming to 
make operations more effective under unified system 
 
NIKKEI (Page 7) (Full) 
October 2, 2008 
 
The overhauled Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which 
was launched yesterday, will draw up an assistance plan for each 
country and region, giving priority to official development 
assistance (ODA). Until now, research was conducted by separate 
organizations before a decision was made on providing ODA funds, but 
this will be unified under the new JICA. The aim is to establish a 
speedy and effective aid system, reflecting the shrinking ODA 
budget, which has been suffering due to the country's fiscal 
difficulties. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002754  007 OF 010 
 
 
Japan's ODA program includes yen loans, grant aid, and technical 
assistance. Until the end of September, yen loans were offered by 
the former Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), grant 
aid was handled by the Foreign Ministry, and technical assistance 
was provided by the former version of JICA. 
 
The government decided to integrate organizations handling ODA, 
aiming to streamline administrative functions and improving aid 
efficiency. Merging with the yen loan operations of the former JBIC, 
a revamped JICA was launched yesterday, based on the revised JICA 
Law enacted in 2006. 
 
The new JICA has about 1 trillion yen in funds available for 
projects per year, making it the world's largest aid organization. 
The reorganized JICA is tasked with overseeing all ODA activities, 
excluding highly urgent grant aid. 
 
In accordance with the Japanese government's foreign policy, the 
JICA will compile an assistance plan for each country or region that 
includes aid in such areas as infrastructure construction, climate 
change, medicine and health, and disputes and terrorism. The 
projects will be implemented on a priority basis, based on the level 
of urgency for the need of such aid. 
 
JICA will introduce a new system called a cooperative preparation 
research system. Officials handling yen loans, grants, and technical 
assistance related to ODA used to carry out studies separately, but 
this is to be unified under the new JICA. Studies will be conducted 
to find out in which regions aid is most needed and what kinds of 
aid are being sought. 
 
The new system makes it easier to offer aid in a comprehensive 
package, such as offering grants to build a hospital, yen loans to 
build surrounding roads, and technological assistance to train 
doctors and nurses. There were few cases of different types of ODA 
provided in a package. 
 
Overseas offices will be integrated. JICA had 55 offices, and JBIC 
had 19 offices as of the end of September, but these will be 
integrated into 56 offices, with the aim that policy decisions will 
now be quickly delivered. 
 
(6) U.S. military possibly prepared for delay in Futenma relocation 
to Henoko: Gabe 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2008 
 
The U.S. Department of the Navy has released a report unveiling 
specific plans to relocate units and troops from the U.S. Marines in 
Okinawa to Guam in the process of realigning U.S. forces in Japan. 
The plan to move Okinawa-based Marines to Guam is said to be in a 
package with the planned relocation of Futenma airfield. However, 
actual progress is hard to see. The Okinawa Times interviewed 
Masaaki Gabe, a professor of international political science at the 
University of the Ryukyus, to hear his views on the Guam 
relocation. 
 
The U.S. military plans to turn Guam into a hub for its forward 
deployment of troops along with its realignment. However, they have 
yet to map out a final masterplan. That's why they're now at a 
standstill. The U.S. Department of the Navy submitted a document, 
 
TOKYO 00002754  008 OF 010 
 
 
titled "Progress Report on Guam Defense Plans" (as of Sept. 15), to 
the U.S. House of Representatives and the Guam government. According 
to this report, the U.S. military will move Marines from Okinawa to 
Guam by 2014. In addition, the Navy will construct a berth there for 
aircraft carriers. The Air Force will deploy drones tasked with 
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities. The Army 
plans to deploy missiles for theater high altitude area defense 
(THAAD) as ballistic missile defense and low altitude missiles 
(PAC-3). However, the report goes no further than to report on the 
progress of these deployment plans. In other words, it only shows a 
provisional hub base construction plan for the present. 
 
In May 2006, Japan and the United States agreed to realign U.S. 
forces in Japan. Based on this agreement, the U.S. Congress set 
about a budget plan to construct bases on Guam. In this regard, the 
U.S. Congress requested the Department of Defense to formulate a 
masterplan by December 2006. 
 
However, the Pentagon had to postpone its work of creating the 
masterplan because it could not finalize a Guam redeployment plan 
for the U.S. Marines and an environmental impact assessment was also 
delayed. The U.S. Congress reset the deadline for the Pentagon to 
come up with the masterplan by Sept. 15, 2008. However, they are 
still at a standstill. 
 
On Sept. 17, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the U.S. 
Congress released a report for deliberations to budget the U.S. 
military's realignment plans. According to the GAO report, the 
Pentagon, at this point, is expected to present the masterplan in 
December 2009 or January 2010. 
 
Tokyo and Washington have now concurred on realigning U.S. forces in 
Japan. According to this accord, the U.S. military was to have 
worked out a plan by March 2007 to integrate the functions of Marine 
bases in Okinawa. This base integration plan, however, has yet to be 
finalized. Meanwhile, the United States has also agreed to return 
the sites of its military bases located south of Kadena Air Base as 
a showcase to mitigate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. However, 
neither of the Japanese and U.S. governments has revealed even an 
outlook for when the masterplan will come out. 
 
According to the GAO report, the Pentagon will start construction 
work in 2010 on Guam as a hub for the U.S. military's forward 
deployment of troops after the Japanese government starts the work 
of constructing a new airfield at Henoko. Simply speaking, the 
construction of a new airfield on Okinawa will determine Guam's hub 
base construction and will affect the U.S. military's realignment. 
 
The progress report that I introduced at the beginning says the U.S. 
Marines to be redeployed to Guam include Futenma-based troops for 
such tasks as air traffic control and logistics. In addition, one of 
the two helicopter squadrons currently based at Futenma airfield 
will be transferred to Guam. The Guam relocation plan may be in 
preparation for the case where the U.S. military sees no progress in 
the relocation of Futenma airfield to Henoko. 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri: 
46-year-old customer arrested on murder charge over video parlor 
arson 
 
 
TOKYO 00002754  009 OF 010 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Fujitsu to sell hard disk drive unit to U.S. Western Digital 
 
Sankei: 
Aso, Ozawa argue on different planes in Diet debate 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Prime minister expresses eagerness to enact extra budget, refers to 
extra economic measures in representatives interpellations 
 
Akahata: 
Temporary worker who was fired for accusation of disguised contracts 
launches counterattack against Canon 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) In interpellation session, points of contention between Aso, 
Ozawa come to light 
(2) Countermeasures urged for to prevent fire at video parlors 
comparable to inns 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Use questions by Ozawa as basis for policy debate 
(2) Video parlor arson: Don't leave dangerous salons with private 
rooms unattended 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Party heads argue on different planes in interpellation session 
(2) Review fire-prevention system at private room salons 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Deepen debate between Aso, Ozawa in party head talks 
(2) U.S. financial crisis cooling business sentiment 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Aso, Ozawa should conduct heated policy debate in party head 
talks again 
(2) Video parlor fire: Raise awareness of disaster prevention to 
higher level than that set in rules 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Aso and Ozawa deliver something like street-corner campaign 
speeches 
(2) Video parlor fire: Learned lessons were not applied 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Agreement over drug-caused hepatitis C debacle: Take best 
measures to eradicate drug diseases, to save patients 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, October 1 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 2, 2008 
 
07:32 
Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
11:26 
Met with Party Youth Division Director Inoue. 
 
13:02 
 
TOKYO 00002754  010 OF 010 
 
 
Plenary session in the Lower House 
 
16:45 
Received phone call from Australian Prime Minister Rudd. Vice 
Finance Minister for International Financial Affairs Shinohara and 
Foreign Ministry Asia-Oceanic Affairs Division Director General 
Saiki were present. 
 
18:35 
Meeting of 21st-term members of the Science Council of Japan held at 
the Gakushi Kaikan Hall in Kanda-Nishiki-cho. 
 
18:56 
Dined with staff members of the Aso Office at a Chinese restaurant 
in Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka. 
 
21:42 
Arrived at the private residence. 
 
SCHIEFFER