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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1992

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002802 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/08/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
3) War on terror: U.S. expects Japan to pick up a portion of Afghan 
war costs to the tune of an estimated $20 billion over five years 
(Nikkei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
4) Special envoy Sung Kim to brief Japanese officials today on 
recent U.S.-DRPK talks  (Yomiuri) 
5) U.S. may have compromised with North Korea during Assistant 
Secretary Hill's Pyongyang visit to get agreement on inspections 
(Sankei) 
 
6) Japan to seek at G-7 meeting U.S. commitment to inject public 
money by end of month in order to free up capital  (Yomiuri) 
 
Diet affairs: 
7) Prime Minister Aso eager to pass new anti-terrorist bill allowing 
MSDF refueling mission to continue  (Yomiuri) 
8) Prime Minister in Diet replies skirts the issue of Yasukuni 
Shrine  (Yomiuri) 
9) Supplementary budget to pass the Lower House  (Asahi) 
 
10) Democratic Party of Japan to approve passage of the 
supplementary budget  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
11) Aso orders drafting of an additional economic package by the end 
of the month that will include tax cut for capital investment 
(Yomiuri) 
12) Diet dissolution schedule is up in the air  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) Anxiety over the financial crisis has changed the political 
equation in the Diet  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
14) Aso tells Shizuka Kamei of the People's New Party that he has 
been "reading to many gossipy weeklies" when talking about 
Komeito-Soka Gakkai relations  (Yomiuri) 
15) DPJ President Ozawa's in question; He is hospitalized with 
sore-throat symptoms  (Sankei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Nikkei, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun: 
3 Japanese scientists win Nobel Prizes in Physics 
 
Akahata: 
Chairman Shii calls for amendments to Worker Dispatch Law in Lower 
House Budget Committee session 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Three Japanese scientists win Nobel Prizes in physics 
(2) Prime Minister Aso must answer questions earnestly 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Nobel Prizes encourage basic research 
(2) Worldwide stock plunge: U.S., European nations urged to employ 
every possible means 
 
 
TOKYO 00002802  002 OF 010 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Enough economic talk, it's time for tough action 
(2) Nobel Prize: Effort and reform necessary for fostering 
scientists 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Universal stock plunge: U.S. and European countries must 
eliminate root cause of financial crisis 
(2) Latent power of particle research demonstrated by Nobel Prize 
winners 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Nobel Prize winners prove latent strength of theoretical 
research in Japan 
(2) Japanese, U.S. stock markets tumble: G7 must come up with solid 
measures 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Three scientists win Nobel Prizes 
(2) Nikkei dips below 10,000 mark 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Large companies must improve work environment 
 
3) Afghanistan war costs: U.S. expects Japan to share up to 20 
billion dollars over five years 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned on October 7 that the Washington has 
conveyed to Tokyo its expectations for Japan to share up to 20 
billion dollars (approximately 2 trillion yen) of part of military 
assistance costs to Afghanistan, where public security is worsening. 
Japan was sounded out because it was deemed difficult for it to make 
personnel contributions in mainland Afghanistan for the time being. 
The U.S. government therefore has approached Japan about the 
possibility of it expanding its contribution in terms of providing 
funds as an alternative measure. The issue of shouldering funds used 
for the stabilization of Afghanistan and the continuation of 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean will likely surface as 
challenges to Japan. 
 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Central Asia Wilkes 
conveyed this request by the U.S. to Japan, when he visited Japan in 
late July. Prior to this, then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during 
his talks with President Bush in early July had explained Japan's 
position of finding it difficult to dispatch Self-Defense Forces 
personnel to mainland Afghanistan. Wilkes was sent to Japan in such 
a context. Twenty billion dollars is equivalent to approximately 150 
PERCENT  of what Japan contributed in funds to the Gulf war effort 
in 1991. 
 
Wilkes during talks with the Japanese government asked for the 
continuation of the refueling mission by the SDF. As aid activities 
sought from Japan in Afghanistan he cited logistical support for the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), participation in the 
Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and transporting goods by 
transport planes and helicopters. He expressed U.S. expectations for 
increased funding in the event of Japan finding it difficult to make 
personnel contributions in those areas. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002802  003 OF 010 
 
 
Military assistance expenses, which Wilkes had referred to, appear 
to include the reinforcement of Afghanistan's own military forces. 
However, it is not necessarily clear whether the U.S. is hoping that 
Japan will shoulder the full amount. That is because there is the 
possibility that it has asked other countries that are not 
dispatching troops to Afghanistan to share the expenses. 
 
Wilkes' request to Japan was reportedly endorsed by President Bush. 
Japan has kept the request pending in part due to the recent cabinet 
replacement. It is likely that the U.S. will once again make a 
similar request, now that the Aso cabinet is now in full swing. 
 
4) Sung Kim to visit to Tokyo today to report on U.S.-DPRK talks 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
U.S. special envoy for the six-party talks Sung Kim will visit Japan 
today to brief the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs 
Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki on the details of the talks 
between the United States and North Korea on the verification 
procedure of the North's nuclear report, according to government 
sources yesterday. The U.S.-DPRK talks were held in Pyongyang on 
Oct. 1-3 between U.S Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill 
and North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan. 
 
5) N. Korea's agreement needed for inspections; U.S. gives way, soon 
to delist N. Korea as terror backer 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Hill, chief U.S. delegate to the 
six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, visited 
North Korea on Oct. 1 and reached a basic agreement with his North 
Korean counterpart on procedures to verify North Korea's nuclear 
facilities. One of the agreed procedures is that the United States 
and other six-party members need North Korea's concurrence when 
inspecting its nuclear facilities. The United States made the 
concession since North Korea threatened to resume its nuclear 
facilities' operation. The United States has so far demanded spot 
inspections over North Korea's declaration of its nuclear programs. 
 
"It's very regrettable, but the United States will shortly delist 
North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism," a government source 
said yesterday in connection with the basic agreement reached 
between the United States and North Korea with the U.S. having made 
such a concession. 
 
The United States has now given way to North Korea. What lies behind 
this is that President Bush's term of office is to end in January. 
"The Bush administration wants to give some kind of shape to the 
situation within its term," a senior official of the Foreign 
Ministry said. 
 
Hill reported the basic agreement in detail to Secretary of State 
Rice yesterday. With Rice's approval, Sung Kim, the special envoy to 
the six-party talks who is now staying in Seoul, was to have visited 
Japan yesterday to convey details about the agreement to Japan as 
well. However, his visit to Japan has been postponed "probably 
because the U.S. government was taking time to go through procedures 
or otherwise the agreement was still being discussed within the U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00002802  004 OF 010 
 
 
administration," according to a Foreign Ministry source. 
 
6) Japan at G-7 to call on U.S. to inject public money 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
A meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the 
Group of Seven Nations (G-7) is to be held in Washington starting on 
October 10. The likelihood is now Japan will urge the U.S. to inject 
public money into ailing financial institutions. Its judgment is 
that in order to calm the financial crisis, which has spread across 
the world, it is inevitable to inject as quickly as possible public 
money into those financial institutions that have triggered the 
havoc. The global economy is clearly slowing down, compared with the 
time when the previous G-7 meeting was held in April. G-7 members 
will likely share a sense of crisis toward the present state of the 
world economy, for the financial crisis is beginning to have an 
adverse effect on the real economy. 
 
The G-7 will focus on talks on measures to stabilize the 
international financial market, where tension is increasingly 
mounting, triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, a leading 
U.S. investment bank. Member nations are expected to reach an 
agreement to strengthen cooperation over the continuation of a 
measure to supply dollars to assist leading financial institutions' 
cash management. The EU is pressing ahead with the nationalization 
of financial institutions with public money. Japan along with 
European members will insist on the need for the U.S. to inject 
public funds into financial institutions at an early date in order 
to help them reinforce their capital. 
 
Proposals for strengthening cooperation among G-7 member nations 
will include: 1) determining a system of monitoring the financial 
soundness of leading financial institutions in the world and their 
cash management; 2) verifying the effects of the supply of a total 
of 620 billion dollars carried out by leading central banks of 
member nations and looking into additional measures; and 3) 
verifying financial system stabilization measures taken by various 
countries, including the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of the 
U.S. and European countries' public money injection measures. 
 
In this connection, Prime Minister Aso on the evening of the 7th met 
at the Kantei with Finance Minister and State Minister for Financial 
Policy Nakagawa and Central Bank Governor Masaaki Shirakawa, who 
will take part in the G-7. He ordered them to explain Japan's 
experience of having tided over the crisis with capital 
reinforcement using public money in the 1990s, saying, "I would like 
you to send a message to the world, based on Japan's experience." 
Aso apparently intends to call on the U.S. to take a similar 
approach. 
 
The U.S. during the meeting asked Shirakawa: "The present situation 
could affect the real economy. I want you to exert all-out efforts 
to stabilize the financial market." State Minister for Economic and 
Fiscal Policy Yosano was also present at the meeting. Emerging from 
the meeting, the prime minister told reporters, "The G-7 is drawing 
attention for the first time in a long while. It means that the 
world is experiencing a high crisis awareness regarding the current 
financial crisis." 
 
7) Premier eyes passing antiterror bill 
 
TOKYO 00002802  005 OF 010 
 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
The fiscal 2008 supplementary budget, one of Prime Minister Aso's 
top priorities, is expected to clear the Diet on Oct. 16. As it 
stands, the focus of the political situation will now be on when to 
dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election. The 
government has now introduced a legislative measure amending the new 
Antiterrorism Special Measures Law in order for Japan to extend the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian 
Ocean, and the prime minister wants the legislation passed. However, 
it is still unclear whether the Diet will enter into deliberations 
on the bill. In addition, the economic situation is also showing 
even more difficult aspects. The prime minister will carefully 
explore timing for a snap election, with an eye to Nov. 16 or a 
later date, while keeping tabs on the leading opposition Democratic 
Party of Japan (Minshuto). 
 
The prime minister attended a House of Representatives Budget 
Committee meeting yesterday, during which he indicated that he would 
like to focus on Japan's international contributions toward the 
general election for the House of Representatives through Diet 
deliberations. 
 
DPJ President Ozawa is opposed to continuing the MSDF's refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean as "unconstitutional." The prime 
minister apparently wants to make it a campaign issue in the general 
election by clearly differentiating his policy stance from Ozawa's 
over the war on terror and Japan-U.S. relations. 
 
If the DPJ votes against the antiterror bill in the House of 
Councillors at an early date, the bill will likely be passed in 
October with the House of Representatives' second vote overriding 
the upper chamber's decision. In that case, the prime minister can 
dissolve the House of Representatives for a general election in 
mid-November or in late November. 
 
Meanwhile, the prime minister stated before the House of 
Representatives Budget Committee yesterday that Japan's economy is 
even more difficult than it was when the supplementary budget was 
compiled. With this, the prime minister underscored his intention to 
tackle additional economic stimulus measures. 
 
"I cannot say that I have fulfilled my role until we win the battle 
with the DPJ in the general election for the House of 
Representatives." With this, in his ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party's presidential election last month the prime minister had 
implied his intention to dissolve the House of Representatives for a 
snap election at an early date. In the aftermath of the recent 
international financial crisis, however, the prime minister has 
prioritized economic pump-priming measures over an early snap 
election for the House of Representatives. 
 
The prime minister eyes dissolving the House of Representatives for 
a general election within the year. One possible scenario in that 
case-according to an LDP lawmaker-is that the prime minister will 
dissolve the House of Representatives with a campaign pledge to 
implement large-scale economic stimulus measures. 
 
The LDP recently probed the nation's electorate for the House of 
Representatives. But the LDP is said to have found that it was 
 
TOKYO 00002802  006 OF 010 
 
 
delicate whether the ruling coalition can secure a majority of the 
seats. One LDP executive has voiced concern: "It's a minus to 
dissolve the House of Representatives under such economic 
circumstances. The economy is in a slump, so we will get scolding." 
Some LDP lawmakers are beginning to say it is desirable to put off 
the general election until early next year. 
 
Meanwhile, the New Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner, is now 
gearing up for the general election, with an eye on a date in early 
November for voting and vote-counting. "It's desirable to dissolve 
the House of Representatives for a general election within the year 
at the latest," one New Komeito executive said. 
 
Concerning the antiterror bill as well, the New Komeito has 
concurred on taking a second vote in the House of Representatives to 
enact the bill in case the DPJ votes against it in the House of 
Councillors in a short time. The prime minister's aides will 
carefully coordinate with the New Komeito and its backer, Soka 
Gakkai. 
 
8) Prime minister speaking in Lower House Budget Committee is 
elusive about visiting Yasukuni Shrine 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 8, 2008 
 
Asked in yesterday's Lower House Budget Committee session about the 
possibility of his paying homage at Yasukuni Shrine during his 
tenure of office, Prime Minister Taro Aso said: "Right now, I will 
not answer whether I will go or not." When he was serving as foreign 
minister, he did not go to the shrine on the August 15 
end-of-the-war anniversary. 
 
The prime minister made this comment about the situation surrounding 
Yasukuni Shrine: "The current situation is such that the state is 
prohibited from respecting those who sacrificed themselves for the 
country with the highest honor. Such a situation is wrong. The root 
cause lies in the decision to leave honoring the war dead to one 
religious corporation." Since from before becoming prime minister, 
Aso has called Yasukuni Shrine to voluntarily dissolve itself as a 
religious corporation and shift its functions to a special 
corporation involving the state. Regarding this fact, Aso said: 
"There is no other option but for Yasukuni Shrine and the Japan 
War-Bereaved Association to make a final decision." 
 
9) Supplementary budget to clear the Lower House today 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpt) 
October 8, 2008 
 
The fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill will be adopted by the 
full session of the House of Representatives today and then be sent 
on to the House of Councilors. This is because the Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ, in the directors' meeting of the Lower House Budget 
Committee yesterday, yesterday agreed to the approval of the budget 
bill on the 8th in committee and adoption by the Lower House full 
session later on the same day. The DPJ plans to vote for adoption of 
the supplementary budget in the Lower House. The ruling parties aim 
to have the Upper House approve and pass the budget bill by the 
middle of next week. The DPJ in the Upper House has taken the 
position of agreeing to passage of the budget from the standpoint 
that this will spur on an early dissolution of the Diet. 
 
TOKYO 00002802  007 OF 010 
 
 
 
10) DPJ to approve extra budget bill, aiming to press Aso for early 
Lower House dissolution 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has decided to approve a fiscal 
2008 supplementary budget bill, turning around its confrontational 
stance. The decision stems from the judgment that if the party 
opposes the bill, it may be subject to public criticism, against the 
backdrop of the U.S.-triggered financial crisis. The approval is 
also aimed at urging Prime Minister Aso to act quickly to dissolve 
the House of Representatives. 
 
The main opposition confirmed in its executive meeting yesterday its 
agreement to take a vote in a meeting of the Lower House Budget 
Committee and a plenary session today in response to a request by 
the ruling camp. The DPJ left the decision on the bill entirely to 
its leader Ichiro Ozawa. 
 
Although the DPJ cites the need to deal with the emergency financial 
situation as the reason for its approval, its ultimate aim is to 
bring about an early Lower House election. 
 
Aso has said that he will give priority to the economic measures 
over Lower House dissolution. Keeping this in mind, the DPJ judges 
that once the extra budget bill clears the Diet, the obstacle to the 
prime minister's decision to dissolve the Lower House will be 
removed, as a senior DPJ member saying: "We are aiming to make 
arrangements first and then urge the government to dissolve the 
Lower House." 
 
Aso, however, has also expressed his desire to hold deliberations on 
a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to enable 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force to continue its refueling mission in 
the Indian Ocean. It therefore is uncertain whether things will go 
as the DPJ plans. Given this, some members are suggesting that the 
party should revert to a confrontational stance in the House of 
Councillors 
 
11) Government plans to draw up additional economic stimulus 
measures later this month, including tax breaks on capital 
investment 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
In the wake of the Nikkei Stock Average's huge plunge, Prime 
Minister Taro Aso decided yesterday to draw up an additional 
economic stimulus package later this month, following passage of a 
fiscal 2008 supplementary budget. Given growing economic uncertainty 
amid the international financial turmoil, the prime minister has 
recognized the need to expand domestic demand. The package is 
specifically expected to include tax cuts to encourage corporate 
capital investment, the extension and expansion of mortgage tax 
breaks, and flat-sum income tax cuts. The prime minister will order 
later this week the relevant cabinet ministers to earnestly consider 
additional measures. 
 
Before the Lower House Budget Committee yesterday, the prime 
minister announced his intention to come up with measures to prop up 
 
TOKYO 00002802  008 OF 010 
 
 
the economy in connection with the U.S.-triggered international 
financial crisis. He said: "It is as grave as (the Great Depression) 
of 1929. This time around, European nations are also involved, and 
it is certain to have a negative impact on Japan. Priority must be 
given to near-term economic and financial measures." Ahead of the 
Budget Committee meeting, the prime minister attended an informal 
cabinet meeting in which he said, "It is going to be necessary to 
take steps to expand domestic demand, as well." 
 
To fund the flat-amount tax cuts, the government will consider using 
the so-called "buried treasure," such as the reserve fund in the 
Fiscal Investment and Loan Program special account. 
 
Possible additional measures include the expansion of dept guarantee 
for small and mid-sized companies experiencing difficulty raising 
funds and expanding the tax breaks for securities. 
 
12) LDP Koga: Timetable for Lower House dissolution is wrapped in 
fog 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
09:00: Prime Minister Aso was engaged in debate with Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) Deputy President Naoto Kan, the first 
questioner in a meeting of the House of Representatives Budget 
Committee. 
 
11:30: Liberal Democratic Party Executive Council Chairman Takashi 
Sasagawa said: "Some in the ruling and opposition camps are calling 
on the government to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election at 
an early date before we lose momentum, but it is essential to first 
deal with the issues that are causing anxiety among the people 
before dealing with the loss of our momentum. 
 
11:40: LDP Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga delivered a 
speech in a party held by Koga faction members. He said: "I feel 
that the timetable for Lower House dissolution for a snap election 
is still wrapped in fog." 
 
17:20: DPJ Vice President Katsuya Okada told reporters regarding the 
party's response to the fiscal 2008 supplementary budget bill: "The 
bill contains some deficiencies, but we will not take it upon 
ourselves to oppose the bill." 
 
13) Lower House dissolution still not on the horizon due to 
financial fears, with some LDP members calling for a prolonged 
delay 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 8, 2008 
 
With the key Nikkei index dropping to below the 10,000 mark at one 
point yesterday, the impact of the U.S.-triggered financial crisis 
is becoming serious in Japan. Under this situation, the view that 
the dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap election 
should be significantly delayed from the expected date is gaining 
influence in the government and the ruling coalition. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party's Election Committee Chairman Makoto Koga 
emphasized yesterday: "Drastic second and third economic packages 
are needed. We should devote ourselves to mapping out economic 
 
TOKYO 00002802  009 OF 010 
 
 
stimulus measures, rather than discussing the timing for Lower House 
dissolution for a general election." Koga was calling for an early 
Lower House dissolution, but even he has begun to say that the 
government has no choice but to defer Diet dissolution. 
 
Prime Minister Aso has decided to come up with additional economic 
measures after the supplementary budget bill clears the Diet. If the 
government decides to compile and enact a second extra budget bill, 
the timing for the general election will be delayed still further. 
 
In addition, Aso expressed his desire yesterday to push ahead with 
deliberations on a bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law. The Prime Minister's Office is apparently wishing to 
delay Lower House dissolution. 
 
Some in the ruling camp who have started preparations for election 
campaigning, eyeing an election in November, were initially 
irritated at the idea of putting off Diet dissolution. But an 
increasing number of the lawmakers have begun to accept the prime 
minister's proposal for prioritizing economic measures over Lower 
House dissolution, seeing the impact of the financial crisis on the 
Japanese economy becoming serious. 
 
If the Aso government dissolves the Lower House, setting aside the 
task of working out measures to deal with the financial crisis, and 
then sees the economic situation worsening, the government will 
inevitably come under heavy fire. In such a case, that will work as 
a negative factor for the ruling camp in the Lower House election. 
 
Sluggish growth in public support for the Aso administration is also 
behind the growing calls for postponing the election. The judgment 
that the government needs a certain amount of time to accumulate 
positive results by postponing Lower House dissolution is 
contributing to making more lawmakers believe there is need to put 
off the election. 
 
14) Prime Minister Aso tells Shizuka Kamei: You spend too much time 
reading tabloid weeklies 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 8, 2008 
 
Shizuka Kamei, deputy chief of the People's New Party, took up the 
lawsuit filed by former New Komeito chairman Junya Yano against the 
religious sect Soka Gakkai, the main backer of the New Komeito, at a 
Lower House Budget Committee session yesterday: He asked Prime 
Minister Taro Aso: "Is the Soka Gakkai the largest supporter of the 
Liberal Democratic Party?" 
 
Kamei, quoting Yano's remarks, pointed out that the Soka Gakkai 
carried out election campaigns by using its religious facilities." 
Aso said: "You may be reading too many weekly magazines." 
 
Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito, a New Komeito member, criticized 
the opposition party for planning to summon Yano to testify as a 
Diet witness. He said: "The opposition is trying to use the Diet for 
politics." 
 
15) Anxiety about DPJ President Ozawa being hospitalized with a sore 
throat 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
 
TOKYO 00002802  010 OF 010 
 
 
October 8, 2008 
 
It was learned yesterday that Ichiro Ozawa, president of the 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), has been hospitalized 
since late Monday in a Tokyo hospital suffering a sore throat after 
developing complications from a cold. With the hospitalization of a 
prime ministerial candidate ahead of a dissolution of the House of 
Representatives and a general election, all eyes are now again being 
focused on Ozawa's health condition and physical strength. Senior 
DPJ members were desperate to put a cap on the rumor that Ozawa's 
health condition was serious. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama made 
this comment: 
 
"He has had a sore throat with a touch of a cold for a couple of 
days, but there is no concern about his condition. Whenever the 
Lower House is dissolved, we will take over the reins of government 
under the leadership of President Ozawa." 
 
Ozawa's aide last night sent an email to DPJ lawmakers. The email 
wrote: "Since the president has swollen tonsils, he is being put on 
an IV drip for a rest.  He, however, is attending a meeting at 5:00 
p.m. He is sorry for making you worry." The aide stressed on the 
email that Ozawa's health condition was not serious. 
 
Soon after 5:00 p.m. yesterday, Ozawa wearing a mask showed up at 
the entrance door of the hospital and drove off in a car. He was 
temporarily discharged to attend the meeting. Almost the same time, 
Ozawa, on the phone, received a report on the party's manifesto (set 
of campaign pledges) for the next Lower House election from Policy 
Research Committee Chairman Masayuki Naoshima. Ozawa told him: "I 
understand." 
 
Ozawa has weak tonsils. Hiroshi Nakai, former justice minister, 
said: "Ozawa has a sore throat twice a year. He always says that he 
can rest himself at the hospital most, since when he is at home or 
office, he has to meet visitors and reply to phones." 
 
Ozawa complained of a soar throat on Sept. 16, when he held talks 
with People's New Party head Tamisuke Watanuki. After that, he has 
been busy with his stumping nationwide to pick candidates for the 
Lower House election, as well with representative interpellations at 
the Diet. Reportedly he has been in pain more than 20 days. 
 
There are no comments on Ozawa's health condition from the ruling 
parties. However, a senior ruling coalition member said ironically: 
"Since election campaigning is tough, he should stop for a while for 
the sake of his health." Meanwhile, a veteran DPJ lawmaker said: "It 
might be the president's trap to draw about an early Lower House 
dissolution, making the ruling camp think this is a good chance for 
it." 
 
It is a practice in the political world that even a minor illness is 
rumored as being serious. A senior DPJ Diet Affairs Committee member 
telephoned to Ozawa's aide, saying: "The LDP side seems to have 
circulated a rumor that he is in a serious condition. I want him to 
attend a Lower House plenary session tomorrow." 
 
Ozawa was hospitalized on Sept. 25, 2006, feeling symptoms of angina 
and discharged on Oct. 5. 
 
SCHIEFFER