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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 003000 
 
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 10/28/08 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
4) Asahi poll: Aso Cabinet support rate stays about the same at 41 
PERCENT , but public suddenly averse to early election, with 57 
PERCENT  saying no hurry  (Asahi) 
 
Diplomatic agenda: 
5) Prime Minister Aso still wants a "Narita summit" that would 
follow the upcoming financial summit in U.S.  (Sankei) 
6) Coordination begins to have Aso meet the U.S. president-elect at 
the mid-November financial summit  (Sankei) 
7) Coordination to hold a trilateral Japan, China, South Korea 
summit meeting  (Mainichi) 
8) Meeting today between U.S. and Japanese chief delegates to the 
Six-Party Talks on North Korea  (Yomiuri) 
9) South Korea's National Assembly passes resolution calling on 
Japan to "apologize" for WWII comfort-women issue  (Yomiuri) 
10) Decision to put off a two-plus-two meeting between Japanese, 
Australian leaders  (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense affairs: 
11) Due to opposition party resistance, possibility now that the 
Indian Ocean refueling extension bill may not pass the Diet this 
month as planned  (Nikkei); Controversial reply in Diet on Oct. 23 
by Foreign Minister Nakasone has the opposition riled  (Nikkei) 
12) MSDF may have supplied fuel to ships involved in anti-piracy 
operations  (Asahi) 
 
Political agenda: 
13) Strong likelihood now that the Lower House election will be 
postponed until after the end of the year  (Mainichi) 
14) Democratic Party of Japan President Ozawa grudgingly would go 
along with a postponement of the election until early January but no 
later  (Nikkei) 
15) DPJ heightening confrontational stance in Diet, making 
deliberations very difficult  (Mainichi) 
16) New Komeito frenzied, seeing their goal of an early Lower House 
election slipping away  (Nikkei) 
17) Prime Minister Aso, despite efforts to issue emergency economic 
measures, sees no impact on the markets, as stocks tumble to 
incredible lows  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Nikkei: Sankei: Tokyo Shimbun: Akahata 
 
TSE nosedives to 26-year low, closing at 7,162; Bank shares plummet; 
Asian markets also collapse 
 
Mainichi: 
Lower House election not to be held this year: Prime minister to 
avoid political vacuum to give top priority to measures to deal with 
financial crisis 
 
Yomiuri: 
Hironobu Takezaki to take office as chief justice of Supreme Court: 
 
TOKYO 00003000  002 OF 011 
 
 
Will take lead in creating lay judge system 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
Market panic and general election 
(1) Use every possible stabilization measure 
(2) Is it all right to put off general election endlessly? 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Record-low stock prices: Prevent political recession by seeking 
voter mandate through general election 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Record-low share prices: Ruling and opposition camps must work 
together to respond 
(2) Local governments' financial standing: Quick approach needed to 
recapitalize their financial base 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Immediate and bold measures needed to deal with extreme stock 
plunge and strong yen 
(2) Sloppy judgment by Itoham Foods 
 
Sankei: 
(1) TSE dives to 26-year low: Take every possible measure to 
stabilize market 
(2) Tsushima -- Island on national boundary: Deepen defense 
discussion 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Market stabilization measures: Use benefits of strong yen to 
ease blow 
(2) Food crisis: Mechanism to contain speculative money urged 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Sales tax increase: Government's destructive policy will harm 
domestic demand 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, Oct. 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
10:08 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura at the Kantei. Issued an 
official appointment to BOJ Deputy Governor Yamaguchi, with Kawamura 
and others present. 
 
10:53 
Met JICA President Ogata, with Foreign Ministry's International 
Cooperation Bureau Director General Kitera.. 
 
11:27 
Met LDP Policy Research Council Chairman Hori, New Komeito Policy 
Research Council Chairman  Yamaguchi, LDP global financial crisis 
project team chairman Yanagisawa, Finance Minister Nakagawa, 
Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Yosano and others. 
 
14:00 
 
TOKYO 00003000  003 OF 011 
 
 
Met Foreign Ministry Foreign Policy Bureau Director General Bessho. 
Followed by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 
 
15:15 
Met Upper House member Yoriko Kawaguchi, chairman of the 
international nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament council, and 
other members. Followed by People's Political Association Chairman 
Nobuo Yamaguchi. 
 
15:58 
Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
16:59 
Attended a party executive meeting in the Diet Building. Upper House 
Chairman Otsuji, Upper House Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Suzuki, 
and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kounoike stayed behind. 
 
18:30 
Dined with Secretary General Hosoda and Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Oshima at a Japanese restaurant in the Hotel Okura. Joined 
by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. Hosoda and Kawamura stayed 
behind. 
 
21:47 
Returned to his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
4) Poll: "Snap election" dips to 33 PERCENT , "No need to hurry" at 
57 PERCENT 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Ahead of a potential general election for the House of 
Representatives, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based 
public opinion survey on Oct. 25-26. In the survey, 33 PERCENT 
answered "yes" when asked if they thought the House of 
Representatives should be dissolved for a general election at an 
early date, with 57 PERCENT  saying there was no need to do so. In a 
survey taken Sept. 2-3 right after former Prime Minister Fukuda's 
announcement of his resignation, "yes" accounted for 56 PERCENT , 
with "no" at 33 PERCENT . In the survey this time, however, the 
situation has changed. The cabinet support rate was 41 PERCENT  (42 
PERCENT  in the last survey taken Oct. 11-12), and the nonsupport 
rate leveled off at 38 PERCENT  (38 PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
Among those who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, "yes" 
for an early snap election" accounted for only 16 PERCENT , with 
"no" overwhelming at 78 PERCENT . In the September survey, "yes" and 
"no" were 46 PERCENT  and 47 PERCENT  among LDP supporters. As 
compared to these figures, the fever for Diet dissolution has 
extremely cooled down in the latest survey. Among those who support 
the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto), "yes" 
accounted for 64 PERCENT , with "no" at 34 PERCENT . Among those 
with no particular party affiliation, however, "yes" and "no" were 
at 33 PERCENT  and 53 PERCENT . 
 
In the survey this time, respondents were also asked if they had 
expectations for Prime Minister Aso in dealing with the financial 
crisis. To this question, "yes" accounted for 52 PERCENT , with "no" 
at 40 PERCENT . "Yes" was at 27 PERCENT  among those who do not 
support the cabinet and 36 PERCENT  even among DPJ supporters. Among 
those who answered "yes," 21 PERCENT  said the Diet should be 
 
TOKYO 00003000  004 OF 011 
 
 
dissolved for a general election at an early date, with 72 PERCENT 
saying there is no need to hurry. Among those who answered "no," 51 
PERCENT  called for a snap election, with 42 PERCENT  negative about 
it. 
 
Respondents were further asked which political party they would vote 
for in their proportional representation blocs if they were to vote 
now in an election for the House of Representatives. To this 
question, 33 PERCENT  chose the LDP, while 30 PERCENT  opted for the 
DPJ. In the last survey, the LDP and the DPJ were even at 32 PERCENT 
. When asked about the desirable form of government, however, 37 
PERCENT  chose a DPJ-led coalition government, while 33 PERCENT 
picked an LDP-led coalition government. 
 
5) Prime Minister Aso still trying to find way to hold "Narita 
summit" after G-20 summit 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
It was learned yesterday that the government, ordered by Prime 
Minister Taro Aso, has continued coordinating with other countries 
and regions an emergency summit in Narita, Japan, aimed at 
alleviating the global financial crisis. Some government officials 
revealed this. The government appeared to have given up the idea, 
since it has been decided that an emergency summit of the Group of 
20 economies will be held on Nov. 15 in Washington. The government, 
however, is feeling out the possibility of holding a Narita summit 
as a second emergency summit with the possibility of the global 
financial crisis being unresolved in mind. 
 
Aso ordered yesterday relevant ministers to come up with a second 
economic stimulus package. Aso's aim is to play up his efforts and 
leadership in dealing with the financial crisis as chair of the 
Group of Eight (G-8). 
 
Asked about his "Narita summit" notion in a House of Councillors 
Budget Committee session on Oct. 16, Aso revealed that he gave up on 
the idea of holding a summit in Narita, saying: 
 
"I though it would be possible to hold a summit in Narita. So we 
started (coordination with various countries). But some countries 
did not show any interest in the idea." 
 
A government official, however, said: 
 
"The U.S. government had stressed that it would hold a summit its 
own responsibility, since the financial crisis set of by the United 
States has greatly impacted on the global economy. So, Japan gave up 
its idea." 
 
According to government officials, Aso has predicted that there is a 
possibility that another summit will be needed after the emergency 
G-20 summit in Washington. Aso is also considering calling on the 
G-20 member countries and regions in Washington to hold a summit 
again in Narita. 
 
6) Coordination underway on meeting between Aso and U.S. 
president-elect 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00003000  005 OF 011 
 
 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has sounded out close aides of the two U.S. 
presidential candidates about arranging a meeting with the winner in 
the Nov. 4 presidential election on the sidelines of an emergency 
summit of the Group of 20 economies, which will take place on Nov. 
15 in Washington, it was learned yesterday. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Takeo Kawamura stated in a press conference yesterday: "It is an 
issue that we should consider whether it is possible or not, since 
it is a great opportunity." 
 
7) Coordination underway with possibility of holding Japan-China-ROK 
summit on December 14 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
The government on October 27 entered into coordination with the 
possibility of holding a Japan-China-South Korea summit in Fukuoka 
City on December 14, according to several diplomatic sources. Prime 
Minister Taro Aso will chair the meeting, joined by Chinese Premier 
Wen Jiabao and South Korea President Lee Myung Bak. This will be the 
first talks three countries will hold separately from an 
international conference. 
 
Aso met with Wen and Lee in Beijing on the sidelines of the 
Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference. On that occasion, the three 
leaders agreed to hold trilateral talks before year's end. The East 
Asia Summit (EAS) is set to be held in Thailand on December 15. The 
three leaders will likely head for Thailand directly from Japan. 
 
8) Japan, U.S. chief delegates to six-party talks to meet today 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
The Foreign Ministry announced yesterday that a meeting of the 
Japanese and U.S. heads of delegation to the six-party talks on the 
denuclearization of North Korea would take place in Washington on 
Oct. 28. They will discuss how to proceed with the six-party talks 
that are expected to resume in early November and a verification 
protocol that will apply to North Korean nuclear programs. They are 
also expected to exchange views on Washington's policy course of 
allowing Australia and others countries to take over Japan's share 
in economic and energy aid to North Korea. 
 
The meeting will be attended by Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau Director-General Akitaka Saiki, U.S. Assistant 
Secretary of State Christopher Hill, and others. It is going to be 
the first meeting between the Japanese and U.S. officials 
responsible for North Korean policy since the U.S. government 
removed the North from its list of terrorism-sponsoring nations on 
Oct. 11. 
 
Vice Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka held a press conference 
regarding the meeting yesterday in which he said: "We would like to 
make efforts for resuming the six-party talks at the earliest 
possible time. The next round of talks would center on the 
verification of (North Korean nuclear programs)." 
 
9) South Korean parliament adopts resolution seeking Japanese 
apology for comfort women issue 
 
 
TOKYO 00003000  006 OF 011 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Yoshiharu Asano, Seoul 
 
The South Korean parliament at its plenary meeting on Oct. 27 
adopted by an overwhelming majority vote a resolution seeking an 
official apology from the Japanese government for the issue of the 
so-called comfort women during WWII, compensation to the victims, 
and descriptions in Japanese history textbooks. 
 
The resolution reads "the Imperial Japanese Army forcibly mobilized 
and abducted women of various Asian counties, including Korean 
women, during World War II and forced them into sexual slavery 
(comfort women)." Further, the resolution expresses "deep concern" 
that the Japanese government has not accepted the international 
community's repeated admonitions. 
 
10) Two plus two meeting with Australia put off 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Tetsu Okazaki, Sydney 
 
The governments of Japan and Australia have decided to postpone a 
(two plus two) bilateral meeting of foreign and defense ministers 
scheduled for early November in Australia. Sources familiar with 
Japan-Australia relations told the Yomiuri Shimbun yesterday. 
 
At the request of the Australian side, the two governments had 
decided to hold a bilateral foreign and defense ministerial on Nov. 
2-3 in Perth, from which Foreign Minister Stephen Smith comes. 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone, Defense Minister Yasukazu 
Hamada, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and Defense Minister Joel 
Fitzgibbon had panned to attend the meeting. 
 
However, the Australian government sounded out Japan about putting 
off the planned bilateral ministerial through a diplomatic channel, 
saying: "We can't coordinate the schedule since one minister will 
not be able to attend." The Australian government seems to have 
given consideration to a dissolution of the House of Representatives 
and a snap election in Japan. 
 
11) Refueling extension bill's passage this month uncertain 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
October 28, 2008 
 
"No matter how much we compromise, the prime minister won't listen. 
So we are going to have to take a tough approach." With this, 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) Secretary General Hatoyama 
hinted at a hard-line stance against the prime minister in Diet 
deliberations when he was in a meeting of DPJ lawmakers yesterday. 
 
Nagatacho-Japan's political center-is now enveloped in a mood for 
putting off a dissolution of the House of Representatives. This had 
direct repercussions on a bill extending the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the DPJ yesterday held a 
meeting of their Diet affairs committee chairmen from the House of 
 
TOKYO 00003000  007 OF 011 
 
 
Councillors. In the meeting, the DPJ's Susumu Yanase refused to hold 
a vote on the bill in a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign 
Affairs and Defense Committee today. "This is not a situation where 
we can pass the bill with no objections like before," Yanase said. 
Partly because Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's reply in a 
recent meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and 
Defense Committee was confused, the DPJ is now geared up to attack 
the LDP. 
 
The ruling coalition, regarding the bill as a pillar of Japan's 
international contributions, had envisioned voting down the 
legislation today in the opposition-dominated House of Councillors 
Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, voting it down tomorrow in a 
plenary sitting of the House of Councillors, and seeing it passed by 
the House of Representatives in a second vote on Oct. 30. Meanwhile, 
the prime minister has now told ruling party executives that he will 
delay his decision to dissolve the Diet. As it stands, the DPJ is 
about to change its tactic of accelerating Diet deliberations. 
 
Turmoil over Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone's reply 
 
Foreign Minister Nakasone definitively stated before the House of 
Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in its Oct. 23 
meeting that activities conducted by such entities as the 
International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan do not 
constitute the use of armed force. Under international law, such 
activities are not seen as the use of armed force. However, the 
government has taken the position that careful studies are needed 
about whether such activities can be taken as the use of armed force 
under the Constitution. The DPJ then said that if that were not the 
use of armed force, the SDF also could go to Afghanistan. The 
committee discontinued its deliberations. 
 
Nakasone was also asked when the Japanese government was notified by 
the U.S. government of its decision to delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism. The foreign minister reiterated, "I cannot say 
anything specific about when." The committee's deliberations again 
stopped over this statement. The committee's chair, Toshimi Kitazawa 
(DPJ), cautioned the foreign minister: "It's only natural that the 
lack of a report from you has thrown the committee into confusion." 
 
12) MSDF fuel possibly used for antipiracy purpose 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force, currently engaged in the task of 
refueling foreign naval vessels for antiterror operations in 
Afghanistan, has been found to have provided fuel in waters near 
Somalia where the U.S. Navy has been conducting antipiracy 
operations. The provided fuel could have been used for other 
purposes. However, the Defense Ministry sees no problem about it. 
"If the ships provided with fuel are mainly tasked with antiterror 
operations, there is no problem even if they are concurrently 
engaged in antipiracy activities," said a senior official of the 
ministry. 
 
According to a Defense Ministry document, the MSDF, since the 
Refueling Special Measures Law's enactment in January this year, has 
conducted refueling activities in such areas as the Gulf of Oman, 
the North Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aden is 
situated between Somalia in the eastern part of Africa and the 
 
TOKYO 00003000  008 OF 011 
 
 
Arabian Peninsula. This year has seen a sharp increase in the number 
of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden. The United States has been 
patrolling the Gulf of Aden since August, and its naval vessels and 
airplanes, which have been tasked with maritime interdictions for 
antiterror operations in Afghanistan, are also engaged there in 
antipiracy activities as well. An MSDF supply ship provided fuel to 
two U.S. naval ships and also provided fuel for a helicopter. Among 
other countries receiving MSDF fuel, Canada, France, and Germany 
have also been engaged in antipiracy activities in waters off 
Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. 
 
The Defense Ministry has not unveiled which country's naval vessels 
had received MSDF fuel in the Gulf of Aden. However, the ministry 
admits that the weight of operations has now been shifted to 
antipiracy activities, with an official saying: "They are now 
downsizing their maritime interdiction operations for antiterror 
activities, but pirates are rampant, so it's not strange even if the 
purpose of U.S. naval activities there has changed in nature." 
Another government official explains that the MSDF fuel has never 
been used for any other purpose because Japan has only provided fuel 
that is needed for maritime interdiction operations. However, it is 
difficult to verify how the MSDF fuel was used. 
 
13) House election not to be held this year: Prime minister to avoid 
political vacuum to give top priority to measures to deal with 
financial crisis 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has decided to put off the holding of the 
next Lower House election within the year. Several government and 
ruling party sources revealed on October 27. His judgment is that it 
would not be good to create a political vacuum, by dissolving the 
Lower House at a time when the global financial crisis is causing 
stock plunges and affecting the real economy. Aso plans to release a 
set of additional economic stimulus measures at a press conference 
on the 30th. On that occasion, he will announce the decision not to 
hold a Lower House election this year. 
 
Ruling party members are divided between those who are seeking an 
early dissolution, envisaging a scenario of official announcement on 
November 18 and a vote on the 30th, and those who want to see a 
House election put off until a later date. The New Komeito had been 
strongly seeking an early dissolution of the Lower House. However, 
when he met with New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota, the prime minister 
told him his intention to put off the election, noting, "When the 
international financial situation is at a critical juncture, I 
cannot possibly create a political vacuum." Some New Komeito members 
are still seeking an early dissolution. However, Soka Gakkai (lay 
Buddhist group), New Komeito's power base, is inclining to approve 
the postponement of the election. 
 
It appears that the prime minister at first had intended to dissolve 
the Lower House at the outset of the extraordinary Diet session. 
However, the harsh result on the LDP's election situation survey has 
partly affected his decision to put off the election. Various views 
have been voiced in the government and ruling parties regarding the 
timing of dissolving the Lower House, including "at the end of the 
year after the completion of budget compilation" and "after passage 
a second supplementary budget during a frontloaded regular Diet 
session in early January. The prime minister will search for the 
 
TOKYO 00003000  009 OF 011 
 
 
timing after the completion of the fiscal 2009 budget compilation. 
 
If Lower House dissolution is postponed, the DPJ is bound to switch 
to a confrontational stance, affecting deliberations on key bills, 
including one amending the new Antiterrorism Law to extend the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission. A point has been 
made that the Aso administration would become lame-duck, tossed 
about by the divided Diet. 
 
14) Ozawa predicts the Lower House election in January 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Speaking about the next House of Representatives election, 
Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa said in a party 
convention in Nagoya yesterday: "Even if Prime Minister Aso tries 
hard to delay it, I believe the election will be held in January," 
according to a participant. Ozawa had predicted that the election 
would be called in late November. 
 
15) Prime minister decides to postpone Lower House election; DPJ to 
reinforce its confrontational stance; Deliberations on refueling and 
financial legislations to face difficulties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has decided to drop a plan to dissolve the 
Lower House before the end of the year. This is because the global 
financial crisis, which has also spread to the Japanese economy, has 
necessitated prioritizing economic stimulus measures for the time 
being. The prime minister's decision is also certain to prompt the 
major opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which has been calling 
for early Lower House dissolution, to reinforce its confrontational 
stance, causing difficulties in Diet deliberations. A sense of 
disappointment with the prime minister is simmering in the ruling 
coalition, as well. The environment surrounding the prime minister, 
including plummeting stock prices, is becoming increasingly severe. 
 
The prime minister in an LDP executive meeting yesterday expressed a 
strong sense of crisis over the current state of the Japanese 
economy, saying: "The situation is such that the U.S. financial and 
securities markets that cannot see the bottom are dragging down 
other countries." The prime minister also ordered his party to draw 
up market stabilization measures before the end of the week, saying: 
"It is important to do things under the initiative of lawmakers with 
a sense of speed beyond the administrative framework and timing." 
 
It is unknown to what extent the government's and the ruling 
coalition's emergency measures will work for the nation's economy 
which has entered a contraction phase. The prime minister, who has 
run a company in the past, has highlighted the importance of 
economic stimulus measures. The future economic trend is closely 
associated with the fate of his administration. The prime minister 
expressed to the press corps last night his hope for revision talks 
between the ruling and opposition camps on a bill amending the 
Financial Function Early Strengthening Law, saying, "I would like to 
see the best plan resulting from the DPJ counterproposal and the 
government and ruling bloc plan." 
 
Meanwhile, the DPJ rejected yesterday to take a vote on a bill 
 
TOKYO 00003000  010 OF 011 
 
 
amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend the 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean at an Upper House Foreign 
Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on Oct. 28. The ruling camp's 
plan to enact the legislation before the end of the month has now 
become uncertain. Diet Affairs Committee Deputy Chairman Jun Azumi 
emphasized the confrontational stance, saying: "If Lower House 
dissolution is postponed, we will face off with (the ruling bloc) by 
using very possible means. We would even consider submitting a 
censure motion against the prime minister." 
 
16) Aso's intent to delay Lower House dissolution irritates New 
Komeito lawmakers; Criticism erupting even from among LDP members 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has decided to put off the dissolution of 
the House of Representatives for the time being. In response, the 
New Komeito yesterday began to take steps to urge Aso to change his 
mind. But New Komeito members are becoming irritated as they cannot 
find any effective cards to prompt Aso to change his mind. Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers who have distanced themselves from 
the prime minister have also voiced criticism of his intention. 
 
In a liaison meeting of the government and the ruling coalition 
yesterday, New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa called on 
the government to dissolve the Lower House right after the 
government-announced economic stimulus package is adopted. Kitagawa 
said: "Depending on a response by the Democratic Party of Japan in 
the Diet, it might become impossible to enact key bills, including 
one to strengthen financial functions, as instructed by the prime 
minister. The market may be negatively affected as time advances." 
 
New Komeito President Akihiro Ota exchanged views over Lower House 
dissolution with Aso at a Tokyo hotel on the night of the 26th, but 
he failed to obtain (the prime minister's) word (about an early 
Lower House dissolution), according to a senior ruling coalition 
member. The party leadership has no cards to play. In its executive 
meeting yesterday, too, participants just decided to work harder on 
the prime minister to change his mind. 
 
A mid-ranking New Komeito member, though, said: "Even if the Lower 
House is dissolved, if the ruling coalition suffers a crushing 
defeat, we will lose everything." An opinion poll conducted by the 
LDP on Oct. 24-26 showed that the ruling coalition would fail to win 
even 200 seats, giving a worse prediction than in the previous poll 
in mid-October. Some junior members in the New Komeito are skeptical 
of the idea of dissolving the Lower House for a snap election amid 
the economic crisis, wondering if the people would understand it. 
 
17) Aso, "confident of economic policy skill," facing crucial 
moment, with economic measures producing no effect 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2008 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday instructed relevant ministers to 
work out a package of emergency measures to stabilize the stock 
market. Despite the announcement of the package, the key index of 
the Tokyo Stock Exchange fell past its post-bubble low yesterday. 
The packages of economic measures that Aso has come up with over the 
past month since he assumed office have not halted falls on the 
 
TOKYO 00003000  011 OF 011 
 
 
stock market. Aso has advocated the need to give priority to 
boosting the economy, but his efforts to that end might come into 
question under the current situation. 
 
The prime minister instructed Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa and 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Policy Research Council Chairman 
Kosuke Hori yesterday morning to lay out an emergency economic 
package. Aso told reporters, "I wonder how market players will 
respond in the afternoon after learning about the new economic 
package," expressing his hope for a rise in stock prices. 
 
Tokyo stocks, however, continued to fall in the afternoon. In the 
evening, the prime minister said before reporters: "Economic 
stimulus measures do not necessarily produce (effects) immediately. 
I am not up and down (about changes in stock prices)." But Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said in disappointment: "It is true 
that the market did not respond as we had anticipated." 
 
The government revealed on Oct. 14 a set of market-stabilization 
measures that includes a measure to revive the bank recapitalization 
law to enable the government to inject funds in financial 
institutions. Following the passage of the fiscal 2007 supplementary 
budget on Oct. 16, the prime minister will announce a package of 
additional economic measures on the 30th, including those to help 
small businesses. 
 
Aides to Aso stresses that the prime minister has steadily done what 
should be done, but no positive results have been produced. 
 
Since the current financial crisis and falling stocks are worldwide, 
the government's measures certainly have limits. All the measures 
announced so far are still in the planning stage and have yet to be 
implemented. 
 
But it is true that stock prices have plummeted by more than 5,000 
yen since he came into office. If stock prices continue to plunge, 
the credit rating for the prime minister's economic skills will 
inevitably come down. 
 
SCHIEFFER