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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2151

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 002920 
 
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 10/20/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Aso eyes new legislation to dispatch MSDF ships to waters off 
Somalia as anti-piracy measure (Nikkei) 
 
(2) Prime Minister Aso to attend APEC summit starting on 22nd, may 
meet with U.S. and Chinese presidents (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Japan elected to nonpermanent UNSC seat, to accelerate effort 
for bid for permanent seat (Nikkei) 
 
(4) Foreign Minister Nakasone: No change in Japan's policy of giving 
priority to abduction issue (Yomiuri) 
 
(5) Financial, economic crisis -- what should be done now?: Kazumasa 
Iwata calls for additional measures that will spur structural change 
(Nikkei) 
 
(6) State Minister Noda finding it difficult to show her face in 
dealing with frozen green beans case; Her own comments supporting 
multilevel marketing also hurt her (Sankei) 
 
(7) Jiyu Rengo fails to return 7.2 billion yen in loan from 
Tokushukai; Money might have been political donations in actuality 
(Asahi) 
 
(8) Former secretary of LDP lawmaker Kurata involved in bringing in 
300 Filipino women to worked in pubs in Japan (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(9) GOJ to offer 450-billion yen loan to India, largest ever for 
single project, to fund construction of freight railway (Nikkei) 
 
(10) Japan Atomic Energy Agency estimates number of nuclear power 
plants to increase to 231, degree of dependence on oil at 0 PERCENT 
(Mainichi) 
 
(11) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(12) EDITORIALS 
 
(13) Prime Minister's schedule, October 17 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Aso eyes new legislation to dispatch MSDF ships to waters off 
Somalia as anti-piracy measure 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
In a meeting of the Antiterrorism Special Committee in the House of 
Representatives yesterday, Prime Minister Taro Aso said he would 
like to study a proposal for the dispatch of Maritime Self-Defense 
Force escort ships to pirate-infested waters off Somalia in Africa 
to guard commercial freighters and other ships from possible attacks 
by pirates. He also has new legislation in mind. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) member Akihisa Nagashima made the 
proposal. In response, Aso expressed a positive view, saying: "The 
act itself of armed warships cruising would have a deterrent effect. 
The ruling coalition is ready to discuss the possibility with the 
opposition camp." The possibility of maritime patrol action by P3C 
 
TOKYO 00002920  002 OF 012 
 
 
patrol planes may also be taken up as an agenda item. 
 
As for the legal grounds for the dispatch of MSDF escort ships to 
waters off Somalia, Japan will have no other way but to depend on a 
provision under the Self-Defense Force Law pertaining to the 
issuance of an order for maritime patrol action. 
 
The issuance of such an order is limited only to special cases in 
which some action must be taken to protect human lives or assets at 
sea. The provision is premised on action in waters near Japan. A 
government source said: "If MSDF vessels are dispatched overseas for 
a long period of time to guard other countries' vessels, new 
legislation will become necessary." 
 
Aso replied to a question by reporter last night: "Assume that two 
ships are attacked. If Japan helps only a Japanese ship without 
reaching out a helping hand to the other ship, the international 
community will not understand Japan's action." He thus indicated a 
willingness to look into new legislation if necessary in order to 
enable MSDF vessels to guard other countries' ships. 
 
In the meeting, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone also expressed 
his eagerness about new legislation, saying: "We would like to 
discuss a legal framework to control piracy." Even so, some point 
out that Japan will have to ease its weapon-use standard in order to 
enable MSDF members to counterattack pirates, so this issue may 
trigger controversy. 
 
(2) Prime Minister Aso to attend APEC summit starting on 22nd, may 
meet with U.S. and Chinese presidents 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso decided on Oct. 18 to attend the summit of 
the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference (APEC), which will be held for 
two days from Nov. 22. Aso plans to meet separately with the top 
leaders of major countries, including the United States, China and 
Russia, on the sidelines of the APEC meeting. He has judged that it 
is necessary for him to take part in a positive manner in an 
international meeting amid the global financial crisis. 
 
Aso has looked into the possibility of dissolving the House of 
Representatives in early November and calling a snap election on 
Nov. 30. While closely watching the moves of the financial market, 
he will make a final decision. If a general election is held on Nov. 
30, the official campaign for the election should be kicked off on 
Nov. 18. If so, it will be unusual for a prime minister to go 
overseas during an election campaign. 
 
The total gross domestic product of the APEC member countries 
accounts for about 60 PERCENT  of the entire world's GDP. It is 
certain for the APEC to discuss the U.S.-originated global financial 
crisis, in addition to economic integration, which is a major 
conventional issue for the APEC. Therefore, Aso, who attaches 
priority to economic measures, predicts that the APEC conference 
would be a good opportunity for him to display his political 
presence to the world. 
 
(3) Japan elected to nonpermanent UNSC seat, to accelerate effort 
for bid for permanent seat 
 
 
TOKYO 00002920  003 OF 012 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
Japan was elected before dawn on Oct. 18 to a nonpermanent seat on 
the UN Security Council and will serve in that capacity from next 
January. Five nonpermanent seats, the terms of which expire at the 
end of this year, were up for reelection. With the election of 
Japan, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone released a statement 
welcoming the victory: "This proves that Japan is highly regarded in 
the international community for its many years of achievements and 
stances in the United Nations. Further contributions are expected 
from Japan by the international community." 
 
Referring to government-to-government talks on reform of the UNSC, 
which will start by next February, Nakasone expressed Japan's 
determination to become a permanent UNSC member by fulfilling its 
role as a nonpermanent member in a positive manner. 
 
Judging that it would be necessary for it to win by a wide margin in 
the UN election, Japan actively approached many countries to garner 
their votes. Since Japan won the votes that largely exceeded the 
number necessary for victory, Foreign Minister Nakasone expects this 
will give momentum to Japan's bid for a permanent UNSC seat. 
 
(4) Foreign Minister Nakasone: No change in Japan's policy of giving 
priority to abduction issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 17, 2008 
 
The U.S. government's decision to delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism was not a total surprise. The United States had 
said that it would remove the North from its list of states 
sponsoring terrorism if Pyongyang cooperated on the verification of 
its nuclear programs. I assumed that (the United States) would do so 
soon or later. 
 
The U.S State Department spokesman has explained the effect of the 
delisting is a "symbolic thing." The reason is because the United 
States will continue such measures on North Korea as the ban on 
assistance and the control of exports and imports. Although some say 
that North Korea will benefit in financial terms, the U.S. 
government has decided to oppose financing North Korea by the World 
Bank and other financial institutions. Japan, too, will probably 
oppose it. 
 
What's important from now on is to carry out effective verification 
of North Korea's nuclear report and to move ahead with the 
denuclearization of that country. To that end, it is necessary to 
adopt a document on the verification at the Six-Party Talks. We must 
deal with the issue in cooperation with the countries concerned. 
 
Japan will not take part in an international effort to provide North 
Korea with economic and energy assistance, including the supplying 
of heavy oil, as long as there is no improvement in Japan-DPRK 
relations, including the issue of abductions of Japanese nationals. 
Relevant countries understand the fact that Japan has placed 
importance on the abduction issue. President George W. Bush, too, is 
very concerned about the abductees. He has said that Washington 
continues to cooperate with Japan. The Japanese government will 
negotiate with North Korea in a conventional manner. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002920  004 OF 012 
 
 
Japan is, however, aware of the importance of support for 
Pyongyang's abandonment of its nuclear programs. Japan provided 
500,000 dollars for surveillance activities that the International 
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has conducted in North Korea. Japan will 
consider how to contribute to the North's abandonment of its nuclear 
ambitions, while consulting with other countries. 
 
(5) Financial, economic crisis -- what should be done now?: Kazumasa 
Iwata calls for additional measures that will spur structural 
change 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 20, 2008 
 
-- The financial crisis gripping the U.S. and Europe will likely 
work as downward pressure on the global economy. What is your view 
on that? 
 
"The economies of Japan, the U.S. and European countries will slow 
down after the July-September quarter this year. The economies of 
China and Brazil are solid. Some say that this is the G-3 recession 
involving the U.S., Europe and Japan." 
 
Deflationary risk 
 
"The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) in its July report 
pointed out that though the domestic economy is facing an 
inflationary risk, there will appear an inflationary risk, if the 
economy takes a downturn due to the protracted turmoil on the 
financial market. Should that occur, demand would sharply drop, 
causing a deflationary risk. Crude oil prices have fallen recently. 
In my view, a deflationary risk has emerged after the collapse of 
Lehman Brothers." 
 
-- The dominant view is that the Japanese economy has entered a 
recessionary phase. 
 
"According to the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) 'Tankan' survey of business 
confidence, the confidence index for major manufacturing companies 
moved into the negative column for the first time in five years and 
three months. The margin of the decline is smaller than that in past 
recessionary phases. The supply and demand index on the labor market 
is not excessive. However, it does not fully reflect the situation 
after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. There is fear that the 
Japanese economy will remain in a slump for a long period of time." 
 
-- How do you assess international cooperative steps? 
 
"It was good that the meeting of finance ministers and central bank 
governors from the Group of Seven Nations has mapped out the action 
program and proposed increasing capital injection into financial 
institutions using public money, in the sense that they made clear 
their sense of crisis. It is also praiseworthy that Japan proposed 
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) provide fund aid to emerging 
countries. However, the procedures for capital injections into 
financial institutions using public money are left up to each 
country to work out. The U.S. is lagging behind European countries 
in terms of providing financial assistance to banks." 
 
-- When do you think the financial turmoil in the U.S. end? 
 
"The U.S. housing market has triggered the turmoil. Excessive 
 
TOKYO 00002920  005 OF 012 
 
 
financing amounting to the 20 PERCENT -30 PERCENT  of the GDP have 
given rise to bad loans. S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, a 
representative housing price index, have fallen 21 PERCENT  from the 
level of the peak period of the summer in 2006. Given futures 
indexes, those indexes will drop another 15 PERCENT  by early 2010. 
The housing market will not recover before fiscal 2009." 
 
-- Will the long-term slump like Japan experienced after the 
collapse of the asset-inflated bubble economy continue in the U.S.? 
 
"Japan's land prices continued dropping for 15 years. If what is 
suggested by the Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes is correct, the 
decline of the housing market in the U.S. will continue for a fairly 
shorter period than in Japan. 
 
"However, unlike Japan, asset-inflated bubble economies have kept 
occurring in the U.S. In 2000, the IT-inflated bubble economy 
collapsed. And yet, housing prices rose between 1997 and 2006. 
Commodity prices, mainly crude oil prices, kept dropping, even after 
housing prices took a downward turn. Even now, you never know where 
a bubble economy might occur. It is very difficult to deal with this 
problem." 
 
Strict asset assessment needed 
 
-- What is important in containing the financial crisis? 
 
"It is necessary to strictly examine assets held by financial 
institutions before injecting public money. If public money is 
injected into troubled financial institutions without full 
examination of the size of losses caused by deterioration in asset 
value, losses would continue to snowball. As a result, it becomes 
uncertain whether financial institutions that received public money 
can start on a recovery track. 
 
"In Japan, the Resolution and Collection Corporation purchased bad 
loans. It in the end, it purchased more than 90 PERCENT  of bad 
loans. In purchasing assets from banks, it is most important to do 
so, based on appropriate prices that can gain tax payers' 
understanding." 
 
-- What policy will Japan need? 
 
"It is important for the government to change the economic structure 
from the mid- to long-term perspective, instead of coming up with 
short-term demand-boosting measures. It is also imperative for it to 
introduce a tax system that can boost workers' incentive to work and 
encourage companies and households to make efforts to save energy 
and resources. 
 
"Regarding monetary policy, it is important for the government to 
find the most appropriate level of policy interest rate, while 
carefully determining the rate of price increases and economic 
growth for the next one to two years, in particular, one year's 
ahead. The BOJ is urged to make a clear-cut decision." 
 
Kazumasa Iwata, executive director of Cabinet Office Socioeconomic 
Research Center: Entered the former Economic Planning Agency in 
¶1970. After entering academia, he once served as a professor at 
Tokyo University. He served as deputy Bank of Japan governor in 
2003, after serving as a Cabinet Office director general. Once voted 
against then BOJ Governor Toshihiko Fukui's proposal for hiking an 
 
TOKYO 00002920  006 OF 012 
 
 
interest rate. 62 years old. 
 
(6) State Minister Noda finding it difficult to show her face in 
dealing with frozen green beans case; Her own comments supporting 
multilevel marketing also hurt her 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 20, 2008 
 
Questions in favor of the multilevel marketing industry (pyramid 
sales) supposedly raised at a Diet session by Seiko Noda, the State 
Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs, who is supposed to take the 
lead in consumer administration, will likely have an unavoidable 
impact on the outcome of proposed legislation to establish a 
consumer affairs agency.  Noda has failed to make known her presence 
as a state minister in dealing with issue of tainted frozen green 
beans from China. It has also been revealed that a multilevel 
marketing company bought fundraising party tickets from her.  Her 
own vow made immediately after her reappointment in the Aso cabinet 
to "tackle such matters as food safety and consumer administration" 
appears to have got off to a bad start. 
 
At a press conference on October 17, Noda ruled out stepping down 
over the issue of having ties to  with the multilevel marketing 
industry, Noda said she raised questions only once (at a Diet 
session) and has not received donation, stressing the difference 
from the lawmaker Yukichi Maeda who left the DPJ.  In addition, Noda 
disclosed the fact that the Amway Japan, Ltd., representatives of 
whom she met before raising questions (at the Diet session) in 1996, 
had purchased her fundraising party tickets worth 160,000 yen three 
times since 2002.  Noda indicated she will return the money to the 
company. 
 
However, Noda can hardly escape being criticized for her questions 
in favor of the industry.  Her question posed an objection to 
tightening control over the multilevel marketing by saying that it 
was regrettable that a growing market of good quality products was 
shrinking.  The opposition parties are expected to severely grill 
her on the issue, once deliberations on the Consumers Agency-related 
bills begins. 
 
Meanwhile, Noda has not made any remarkable comment on the frozen 
green beans issue to which the MHLW and the MFA are mainly 
responding.  Entrusted by the then PM Fukuda, Noda devised 
countermeasures against the illegal resale of contaminated rice in 
September after making a fuss, holding a meeting after meeting every 
consecutive day.  This time, however, she is sitting by and 
watching, as she herself has been affected by the multilevel 
marketing issue. 
 
(7) Jiyu Rengo fails to return 7.2 billion yen in loan from 
Tokushukai; Money might have been political donations in actuality 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) 
October 20, 2008 
 
It has become clear that the political group Jiyu Rengo (Liberal 
League) led by former Lower House lawmaker Torao Tokuda, 70, is 7.26 
billion yen in debt to the medical corporation Tokushukai group, for 
which Tokuda also serves as chairman of board of directors. Chances 
are slim for Jiyu Rengo, which has lost its status as a political 
party and has no special assets, to return the money to the 
 
TOKYO 00002920  007 OF 012 
 
 
Tokushukai group. As such, the loans to the political group are 
likely to become political donations. The Tokushukai group and Jiyu 
Rengo share not only Tokuda but also many other executives. Such an 
approach is possible because the Political Funds Control Law has no 
regulations on borrowing. 
 
Quantitative restrictions toothless 
 
Jiyu Rengo's failure to return the huge amount of money to the 
Tokushukai group would eventually be tantamount to political 
donations. Formal political donations are subject to various 
restrictions, such as ceilings on amounts. Money provided in the 
pretext of loans is free from such restrictions, however. The 
approach of turning loans into donations would effectively make the 
quantitative restrictions toothless. 
 
Jiyu Rengo is in debt to two companies in the Tokushukai group -- 
one of the largest medical groups in the nation based in Kita Ward, 
Osaka City, with over 260 hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes -- 
and their board members. The two companies in question are 
International Medical Lease (IML), a medical equipment leasing 
company based in Osaka City, and International Hospital Services 
(IHS), a real-estate leasing company in Osaka City. Both of them do 
business mainly with hospitals affiliated with Tokushukai. 
 
According to its political funding report for fiscal 2007, Jiyu 
Rengo borrowed a total of 7.065 billion yen from IML, head and local 
offices combined. It also borrowed 88 million yen from IHS and 110 
million yen from their board directors. 
 
Jiyu Rengo's predecessor was an independent lawmakers' policy group 
established in 1990. It became a political party in 1994. During 
Tokuda's four terms as a Lower House lawmaker and as its head, Jiyu 
Rengo fielded many celebrity candidates for elections. The group 
temporarily lost all its Diet seats, but it became eligible to 
receive political subsidies as a result of garnering over 2 PERCENT 
of votes nationwide in the 1998 and 2001 Upper House elections. 
Torao Tokuda retired as party head in September 2005 because of 
illness, handing the post to his second son, Takeshi Tokuda, 37, 
representing Lower House Kagoshima Constituency No. 2. Takeshi 
Tokuda left the party and joined the Liberal Democratic Party in 
November 2006. Although Torao Tokuda, who was still recuperating, 
came back to head the group, it failed to field any candidates for 
the July 2007 Upper House election, thereby becoming ineligible to 
receive political subsidies. At present, the group is unable to 
receive either corporate donations or political subsidies. 
 
Jiyu Rengo treasurer and Tokushukai group secretary general 
Katsuyuki Noso gave this account: The borrowed money was used for 
election campaigns to disseminate Jiyu Rengo policy. Liking it to a 
corporation, it is true that (Jiyu Rengo) has become unable to raise 
funds, but the practice is not illegal. (Jiyu Rengo) would not have 
been able to conduct such election campaigns if it weren't for Torao 
Tokuda. The Tokushukai group has been generating earnings 
independently and spending reserve capabilities for political 
activities. Political activities are necessary in order to 
disseminate the importance of what the state does not do, such as 
medical services at remote areas and isolated islands. In terms of a 
company, the funds correspond to advertisement expenses, and in 
light of the size of Tokushukai's earnings, the amount cannot said 
to be huge. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002920  008 OF 012 
 
 
(8) Former secretary of LDP lawmaker Kurata involved in bringing in 
300 Filipino women to worked in pubs in Japan 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 25) (Full) 
October 20, 2008 
 
A former secretary of Senior Vice Minister of Internal Affairs and 
Communications Masatoshi Kurata (LDP member elected in the Tokai 
region proportional representation bloc) was found to have allegedly 
been involved in making arrangements for Filipino women to illegally 
work in Japan. In this scandal, Shizuoka Prefectural Police has 
found that the secretary and others had dispatched such women to 
five shady bars across the nation. Upon denying an interview with 
the Tokyo Shimbun the allegation that his deeds were illegal, the 
former secretary said: "I made arrangements to enable about 300 
Filipinos to visit Japan over the past two years as of this 
September." 
 
According to an investigation by the prefectural police, the women 
worked in bars in Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 
Toyohashi City, and in Utsunomiya City, in addition to one called 
Class-Metz in Hamamatsu City. In that bar, the owner and four 
employees were arrested on suspicion of violating the Immigration 
Control and Refugee Recognition Law (encouraging illegal work) and 
another law. 
 
The former secretary and others dispatched the Filipino women who 
had entered Japan on short-term visas to the five bars through two 
organizations in which the former secretary serves as director 
general - Mirai Charity Organization and MIRAI - both located in 
Aoiku, Shizuoka Prefecture. The two organizations started 
dispatching Filipino women to pubs around October 2006. The women 
worked in the bars for several months on average. 
 
The women performed dances in shows which the organizers called 
charity concerts designed to support disaster reconstruction and 
chatted with customers during intermissions. The women were supplied 
with 1,500 yen as daily food allowance. They also received tips from 
customers. 
 
The Shizuoka Police charges that the women' performances were not 
for charity but came under the category of working illegally. 
 
(9) GOJ to offer 450-billion yen loan to India, largest ever for 
single project, to fund construction of freight railway 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
The Japanese government has firmed up its policy intention to grant 
an approximately 450-billion yen loan to India for the construction 
of a freight railway connecting New Delhi, the capital of India, and 
Mumbai, a commercial city.  This would be the largest yen loan ever 
granted by Japan for a single project. The project will be agreed on 
at a summit meeting between prime ministers Aso and Singh on October 
¶22.  The loan aims at backing Japanese companies advancing into a 
major market (of India) with a population of 1.1 billion through the 
construction of railway infrastructure. 
 
India is planning on the construction of a dedicated freight railway 
between New Delhi and Mumbai (1,468 km) with an expected opening in 
¶2015.  The yen loan is to cover an about 918-km section between 
 
TOKYO 00002920  009 OF 012 
 
 
Rewari in the suburbs of New Delhi and Vadodara about 300 km north 
of Mumbai. 
 
Japan is to provide about 450 billion yen of the project's total 
cost for the section, which amounts to 518 billion yen.  The largest 
loan so far was an approximately 260 billion yen loan for the 
construction of an already-opened subway in New Delhi.  The first 
portion of the loan of 2.6 billion yen is to be granted for a 
business consultant to work out details of the project plan over the 
next three years and the remaining amount will be provided in 
phases. 
 
(10) Japan Atomic Energy Agency estimates number of nuclear power 
plants to increase to 231, degree of dependence on oil at 0 PERCENT 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 17, 2008 
 
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency predicts in its report released 
yesterday that the ratio of electricity demanded in the nation to 
all energy would increase from the current 24 PERCENT  to 62 PERCENT 
 due to the spread of electric cars and that the degree of 
dependence on fossil fuel would decrease from the current 75 PERCENT 
 to 28 PERCENT . The agency unveiled its first report, "The vision 
on nuclear power in 2100," on energy supply and demand in this 
century and the role of nuclear power plants. 
 
Estimating the population in 2100 at 64.07 million, the report 
predicts the volume of domestic energy consumption would shrink 42 
PERCENT  below the level in 2000, given such factors as a decrease 
in the population and energy-conservation efforts. 
 
The report calculates the ratio of dependence on nuclear fission by 
light water reactors and other means to all domestic demand in 2100 
at 53 PERCENT  but the ratio of oil at zero percent. The agency 
expects the number of nuclear power plants to increase to 231, with 
33 fusion reactors, 120 high-temperature gas reactors, and light 
water reactors. The report says that about five times more 
high-level waste disposal sites will be needed than the number of 
those now on the drawing board. A member of the agency said: "The 
report does not cite suitable construction sites but show technical 
feasibility." 
 
Meanwhile, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development 
(OECD) also released its first report the same day, in which it 
calculated that the generating capacity of nuclear power plants in 
the world in 2050 would increase 3.8 times more than the current 
level if all construction plans across the world are implemented. 
 
(11) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Political group Jiyu Rengo fails to return 7.2 billion yen in loans 
from medical corporation 
 
Mainichi: 
Cabinet support rate drops 9 points to 36 PERCENT 
 
Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Financial summit to be held in U.S. next month 
 
 
TOKYO 00002920  010 OF 012 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Corporate job offers to new graduates decrease for first time in 
five years 
 
Akahata: 
Poverty-eradication rally held in Tokyo 
 
(12) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Revamped JICA expected to offer effective aid with loans, grant 
aid and technical assistance 
(2) Disability pension: Amending relevant law urgently needed 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Strictly punish shoplifting 
(2) Two major political parties should present visions on what Japan 
should be in 21st century 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Education boards should weed out inadequate teachers 
(2) Bank transfer scams: Society must strengthen preventive system 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) International cooperation imperative to prevent economic crisis 
in emerging, developing countries 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Quickly prepare effective, specific measures to resolve 
abduction issue 
(2) Clarify actual state of inadequate teachers 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Extra economic measures: Pork-barrel largesse eyeing Lower House 
election unacceptable 
(2) NHK must discuss vision and mission as public broadcasting 
station 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Bill extending New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law: Hasty 
vote outrageous 
 
(13) Prime Minister's schedule, October 17 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 18, 2008 
 
07:54 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto at the Kantei. 
 
09:32 
Attended a cabinet meeting. MLIT Minister Kaneko stayed on. 
Afterward met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 
 
10:00 
Attended a Lower House antiterrorism special committee meeting. 
 
12:03 
Met at the Kantei Taro Aso No. 8 supporter association chairman 
Hamanaka and others, followed by LDP Policy Research Council 
Chairman Hori and Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Yosano. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002920  011 OF 012 
 
 
13:00 
Attended a Lower House antiterrorism special committee meeting. 
 
17:20 
Handed letters of appointment to Council on Economic and Fiscal 
Policy private-sector members, including Toyota Motor Chairman Fujio 
Cho, in the presence of finance ministers. Afterward, attended a 
CEFP meeting. METI Minister Nikai stayed on. 
 
19:32 
Arrived at LDP headquarters. 
 
20:22 
Dined at a French restaurant in Yurakucho with his wife Chikako. 
 
23:38 
Returned to his private residence in Kamiyama. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 18 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
October 19, 2008 
 
07:30 
Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama. 
 
09:52 
Attended an annual ceremony at the Defense Ministry dedicated to SDF 
members killed in line of duty. 
 
11:06 
Had his hair trimmed at a barber in the Hotel Pacific in Takanawa. 
 
13:10 
Visited a tailor and an acupuncture clinic in Kita-aoyama. 
 
16:04 
Met at his private residence Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau Director-General Saiki, joined in by Economic Affairs 
Bureau Director-General Otabe. Afterward had a telephone 
conversation with Australian Prime Minister Rudd. 
 
18:06 
Met the French Cinema Agency Director-General Veronique Cayla at the 
Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills, in the presence of METI Minister Nikai. 
Afterward attended the Tokyo International Cinema Festival opening 
ceremony. 
 
19:09 
Watched the movie Red Cliff with the METI minister, Administrative 
Reform Minister Amari, Japan Business Federation Chairman Mitarai 
and others. 
 
21:48 
Had drinks with secretary at a bar in Roppongi. 
 
23:37 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 19 
 
 
TOKYO 00002920  012 OF 012 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
October 20, 2008 
 
07:27 
Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama. 
 
10:02 
Departed from Defense Ministry on a GSDF helicopter. 
 
10:33 
Met at ASDF Hyakuri Base with Defense Minister Hamada, ASDF Chief of 
Staff Tamogami, ASDF Air Defense Commander Nagata, and base 
commander Shigehisa. Afterward, attended the ASDF review ceremony. 
 
12:59 
Met Hamada, Senior Vice Defense Minister Kitamura, Vice Defense 
Minister Masuda, SDF Joint Staff Chief Saito, and others. 
 
13:53 
Departed from the base on a GSDF helicopter, accompanied by Masuda. 
 
14:47 
Met Hamada and Masuda at the Defense Ministry. 
 
15:19 
Visited the supermarket Santoku in Nishi-waseda. 
 
15:46 
Conversed with a tax driver in front of JR Takadanobaba Station. 
 
16:16 
Arrived at his private office in Nagatacho. 
 
18:14 
Met his secretary at the Imperial Hotel. 
 
20:50 
Met again his secretary at a bar in the hotel. 
 
22:46 
Returned to his private residence. 
 
SCHIEFFER