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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2353
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2519

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 TOKYO 003143 
 
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 11/13/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Financial summit: Can the world cooperate to prevent financial 
crisis from spreading? (Mainichi) 
 
(2) With U.S. President Obama's "Japan nothing" policy course, Japan 
might end up submitting to China (Weekly Post) 
 
(3) Six-Party Talks: Japan's Foreign Ministry says U.S. was deceived 
by North Korea, which now refuses nuclear sampling (Mainichi) 
 
(4) U.S. nuclear subs consecutively call at White Beach (Ryukyu 
Shimpo) 
 
(5) Tamogami clearly did not meet the requirements for the top post 
(Asahi) 
 
(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Asahi) 
 
(7) Japan relies on nuclear power plants in cutting greenhouse gas 
emissions; achieving 6 PERCENT  cut difficult? (Asahi) 
 
(8) Target in Kyoto Protocol moving away from Japan, with record 
volume of CO2 emissions in 2007 (Nikkei) 
 
(9) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(10) EDITORIALS 
 
(11) Prime Minister's schedule, November 12 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Financial summit: Can the world cooperate to prevent financial 
crisis from spreading? 
 
MAINICHI (Page 9) (Abridged slightly) 
November 13, 2008 
 
The focus of attention at the first round of the emergency financial 
summit is to what extent industrialized countries, such as Japan, 
the U.S. and European countries, and emerging countries like China 
and Brazil can line up to prevent the escalation of the financial 
crisis and the advent of a global recession. Amid the deteriorating 
real economy because of the spillover of the financial crisis, 
various countries will likely face a challenge of whether they can 
fall in step in order to prevent the global economy from bottoming 
out, by implementing every fiscal and financial measure. In order to 
prevent the spillover of the financial crisis, discussions of a 
revision to the postwar international financing monitoring system, 
centered on the IMF, are to be watched carefully. 
 
Expectations for roles to be played by emerging countries 
 
According to the latest projection by the IMF, growth of the 
economies of Japan, the U.S. and European countries will move into 
negative territory due to the spillover effect of the financial 
crisis for the first time in the postwar decades. European countries 
and the U.S. have successively come up with measures to stabilize 
the financial market. The Bush administration, for instance, has 
decided to inject capital totaling 250 billion dollars since 
September, when stock prices plunged across the board following the 
 
TOKYO 00003143  002 OF 014 
 
 
failure of Lehman Brothers. However, the adverse effect of the 
financial crisis has already reached the real economies of 
industrialized countries because of falling stock prices and credit 
crunches, giving rise to a downturn in corporate activities and 
consumption in the U.S., European countries and Japan. 
 
In response, Japan, the U.S. and European countries have lowered 
their interest rates. Britain and Germany adopted economic 
pump-priming measures, such as a home acquisition tax break. Japan 
has also compiled a package of additional economic stimulus 
measures, featuring a flat-sum cash benefit plan worth 2 trillion 
yen. However, since there is a limit to efforts to expand spending 
due to a fiscal restriction, the package's effect of shoring up the 
economy is unclear. There is little room for Japan and the U.S. to 
further cut their interest rates -- 0.3 PERCENT  and 1.0 PERCENT 
respectively. In addition, it is difficult for the U.S. to come up 
with a large-scale economic pump-priming package before next 
January, when President-elect Barack Obama will come into office. 
 
Amid such a situation, industrialized countries' thoughts are that 
emerging countries, such as China, Brazil and India, will 
proactively move to prevent the global economy from bottoming out, 
by committing themselves to expanding domestic demand. 
 
As a matter of fact, emerging countries are making moves that would 
heighten industrialized countries' expectations, including China's 
announcement on the 9th of an economic stimulus package totaling 4 
trillion yuan, However, since it is not possible to solely depend on 
emerging countries in supporting the global economy, Japan, the U.S. 
and European countries will likely be pressed to make more efforts 
in terms of fiscal disbursement and financial policy so that 
participants will fall in step in preventing a global recession. 
 
Reform of IMF will also come into focus 
 
The ways overseeing and regulating financial institutions should be 
and reforming international financial institutions, such as the IMF, 
are also main agenda items in preventing the financial crisis from 
escalating or from recurring. 
 
According to one international financial source, European and 
emerging countries have a strong belief that the failure of the 
U.S.-style of market-based principles being everything, as 
represented by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Greenspan is to 
be blamed for the escalation of the financial crisis that started in 
the U.S. For this reason, ways to strengthen regulations, including 
making all financial institutions, including hedge funds, which are 
hardly regulated at present, subject to oversight by authorities, 
will likely be discussed at the meeting. 
 
Discussions will also cover the issue of overseeing credit-rating 
agencies, which prompted the dissemination of securitized products, 
which served as a tool to spread the financial crisis throughout the 
world, among investors. 
 
A plan to monitor the operations of financial institutions' 
activities throughout the world, by strengthening the authority of 
the financial market stabilization forum consisting of the IMF and 
financial authorities of various countries has been floated in 
France and some other countries. However, the U.S. and Britain are 
opposing the idea of adopting excessive regulations with one senior 
U.S. government official saying, "The financial summit is not a 
 
TOKYO 00003143  003 OF 014 
 
 
venue for discarding market-based principles and unifying financial 
authorities of various countries." As such, to what extent such an 
initiative can be materialized is unclear. 
 
Concerning reform of the IMF, since there is a possibility of its 
assistance to emerging countries sharply increasing due to the 
escalation of the financial crisis, participants are expected to 
discuss ways to expand its capital base. Japan will announce its 
plan to actively contribute to the IMF, including fund contribution 
from its foreign currency reserves. On the other hand, emerging 
countries, such as Brazil, China and Russia, are seeking a revision 
to the IMF's management system itself with the aim of expanding 
their right to speak in the international financing area. How 
industrialized countries, such as the U.S. and European countries, 
which want to defend their leadership, will respond to their call is 
drawing attention. 
 
(2) With U.S. President Obama's "Japan nothing" policy course, Japan 
might end up submitting to China 
 
SHUKAN POSUTO (Weekly Post) (Abridged slightly) 
November 21, 2008 
 
On Election Day in the United States, several hundred people, 
including American diplomats, scholars, journalists, and government 
officials, gathered at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo's Toranomon 
district to watch CNN's live coverage of the election results on the 
large screen. 
 
An American woman shed tears as she watched Barack Obama declare 
victory in the battle to become the president of the United States 
on January 20. A  Japanese Foreign Ministry official said 
bewilderedly: "This is not necessarily good for Japan." 
 
The reason the official was worried is because the Foreign 
Ministry's North American Affairs Bureau has been under the gun to 
revamp the country's U.S. policy since September, when Obama's lead 
became clear. The first difficult challenge for Japan will be to 
dispatch Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to Afghanistan. 
 
Obama has been calling for an early withdrawal of U.S. troops from 
Iraq. At the same time, he has taken a proactive attitude toward 
pursuing the war on terror in Afghanistan, calling for additional 
troops to be sent to that country to find a way out from the 
quagmire-like situation there. 
 
Japan has been engaged only in the refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean as the main part of its assistance to Afghanistan. The Obama 
administration may ask Japan for additional contributions. 
 
A senior North American Affairs Bureau official noted: 
 
"There is a high likelihood that the Obama administration will Japan 
ask to dispatch ground troops to Afghanistan. Before the Lake Toya 
summit, the Bush administration, too, requested then-Prime Minister 
Fukuda to send a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter unit. Japan 
rejected the idea through diplomatic channels after sending a 
fact-finding team to the country. The team judged the situation in 
Afghanistan was even more unstable than in Iraq. How to deal with 
the matter is difficult because the government cannot easily change 
its policy with the changeover of the U.S. President." 
 
 
TOKYO 00003143  004 OF 014 
 
 
What is also bothering the Foreign Ministry is the strong criticism 
in the U.S. Democratic Party about Japan's colonial rule before the 
war. 
 
In July 2007, the U.S. House passed a resolution seeking the 
Japanese government's apology for the comfort women issue, submitted 
by Democratic lawmakers and others. (Then) House Foreign Affairs 
Committee Chairman Tom Lantos (of the Democratic Party) said: 
"Japan's refusal to apologize formally is disturbing to all who 
value relations between the United States and Japan." 
 
A Japanese delegate, including LDP lawmakers and Foreign Ministry 
officials, visited the United States and futilely attempted to 
prevent the House from adopting the resolution. The aforementioned 
North American Affairs Bureau official added: "The U.S. Democratic 
Party is alarmed, regarding hawkish Prime Minister Aso as a 
nationalist. The prime minister quickly decided to dismiss Toshio 
Tamogami from the post of Air Self-Defense Force chief of staff over 
his essay in consideration of a possible reaction of the Democratic 
Obama administration which would be sensitive to the question of 
Japan's wartime responsibility." 
 
Obama's inauguration as President of the United States seems to be 
disturbing to the inner circles of the government, including the 
Foreign Ministry. 
 
10-member Japan team, 20-member China team 
 
During a visit to the United States by former Prime Minister Shinzo 
Abe, Obama delivered a speech before the Senate in which he 
described the U.S.-Japan alliance as one of the great successes of 
the postwar era and called Japan one of America's closest allies. 
 
But that could have been out of politeness. Under the Obama 
administration, the United States might prioritize China and ignore 
Japan. 
 
Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who appeared with Obama on the stage 
to also declare victory, is regarded as a dyed-in-the-wool pro-China 
legislator in U.S. political circles. The incoming administration is 
likely to draft a diplomatic strategy under the initiative of 
Biden. 
 
Kazuyuki Hamada, an international politics and economics scholar who 
is well-versed in U.S. political circles, explained: "By launching a 
Japan team and a China team, the Obama camp has been formulating an 
Asia strategy over the past two years. The Japan team consists of 
some 10 members, including former Boeing Japan President Robert Orr. 
In contrast, the China team consists of some 20 members centering on 
the Brookings Institution's Richard Bush, a foremost expert on 
China. 
 
A former senior U.S. government official who served as a go-between 
with Japan under the Republican administration predicted: "Under the 
Obama administration, the United States will shift the axle of its 
Asia diplomacy from the Japan-U.S. alliance to China." 
 
A former senior U.S. Defense Department official took this view on 
the day Obama declared victory: "Many of Mr. Obama's foreign and 
defense staff think only of China. In his Asia policy, China might 
play a central role and Japan a supporting role." 
 
 
TOKYO 00003143  005 OF 014 
 
 
Former National Security Council Asian Affairs Director Michael 
Green said: "How to deal with the issue of Japanese nationals 
abducted by North Korea would be a litmus test to determine the 
incoming administration's stance toward Japan." Obama, who welcomed 
the U.S. government's decision to delist North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism, does not show any signs of applying strong 
pressure on the North. This can easily be explained by his 
consideration to China which wants to bring the North Korean issue 
to a soft landing. 
 
What cannot be overlooked in projecting Obama's Asia policy is his 
contribution to the Foreign Affairs July 2007 issue. It reads: "We 
need a more effective framework in Northeast Asia that goes beyond 
bilateral agreements, occasional summits, and ad hoc arrangements, 
such as the six-party talks on North Korea." 
 
Washington-based international affairs analyst Yoshihisa Komori 
(Editor-at-Large for the Sankei Shimbun) is concerned that the Obama 
administration might carry out a review the Japan-U.S. alliance, 
which is the backbone of Japan's security policy. Komori said: 
 
"Reading Mr. Obama's article, I felt that he would disregard Japan - 
the so-called 'Japan nothing' syndrome - for he wants to build a 
multilateral security framework like an Asian-version NATO led by 
the United States and China that would reject the Japan-U.S. 
alliance. The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of the security 
system in Asia, and the Obama administration's pursuit of his own 
vision would weaken Japan's presence, raising serious diplomatic 
concerns." 
 
The solid teamwork between Japan and the United States is the 
backbone ensuring Japan's voice in the international community, 
including the military front. Should that collapse and U.S.-China 
teamwork become the new cornerstone, Japan would naturally lose the 
diplomatic backing that makes it able to countering China's pressure 
in its own bilateral relations with that country. Japan might end up 
having to kowtow to China. 
 
Engagement policy 
 
This magazine interviewed Vice President-elect Biden's assistant 
Frank Jannuzi, who sits at the center of the Obama administration's 
Asia policy. Jannuzi emphasized that the incoming administration 
would place high priority on economic relations with China, saying: 
"Do you know how much China has invested in America? Actually, it 
has invested 400 billion dollars in two government-affiliated 
mortgage banks. The current financial crisis cannot be resolved 
without China. Obama therefore is trying to push ahead with an 
engagement policy toward China." 
 
Finance is not the only area in which the United States has shifted 
toward China. Supported by labor unions, the Democratic Party tends 
to make extra efforts to protect domestic industries. During the 
Clinton administration, Japan-U.S. trade disputes occurred over 
autos, semiconductors, steel and other products. 
 
In his campaign speeches, Obama criticized trade with Japan, saying, 
"Japanese people have not imported enough automobiles," and "You 
can't get beef into Japan, even though, obviously, we have the 
highest safety standards." 
 
Hamada thinks Obama's tilt toward China in the security and the 
 
TOKYO 00003143  006 OF 014 
 
 
economic areas runs the risk of coming up with tough demands toward 
Japan. Hamada predicted: "Expectations of Japan would not stop with 
pressure on it to buy beef and cars. The (Obama administration) 
would, for instance, ask for Japan to dispatch troops to Afghanistan 
and make a greater financial contribution to the war on terror. A 
failure to comply with its requests could very well result in 
'economic sanctions' like the boycott of Japanese products in the 
past." 
 
Japan should not be engulfed in pessimism. Foreign affairs 
journalist Ryuichi Teshima noted: "The United States is saddled with 
many challenges, such as its current financial turmoil, none of 
which can be overcome independently. At a time like this, Japan 
should tell the U.S.: 'If you ignore Japan, you cannot resolve 
anything." 
 
Japan's reserve strength will soon be tested. 
 
(3) Six-Party Talks: Japan's Foreign Ministry says U.S. was deceived 
by North Korea, which now refuses nuclear sampling 
 
MAINICHI (Internet edition) (Full) 
November 13, 2008 
 
In connection with the revelation that North Korea has refused to 
allow sampling as means of verifying its accounting of nuclear 
programs, a senior official in Japan's Foreign Ministry expressed 
dissatisfaction by saying, "It varies too much (from the explanation 
of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Hill). It can be said that (the 
U.S.) has been deceived by North Korea." According to the official, 
after the agreement between the U.S. and North Korea, China, the 
chair of the Six-Party Talks, reportedly expressed strong distrust 
when hearing of the contents of the report received from the two 
countries, saying, "One of the two is lying." 
 
(4) U.S. nuclear subs consecutively call at White Beach 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Top play) (Full) 
Eve., November 12, 2008 
 
URUMA-The USS Ohio, a 18,750-ton nuclear-powered submarine of the 
U.S. Navy with a crew of about 150, entered port for the first time 
at White Beach in Uruma City today at around 11:40 a.m. and left 
port later in the day at around 12:20 p.m. The Ohio, once a 
strategic nuclear-powered submarine loaded with nuclear-warheaded 
missiles, is now a state-of-the-art nuclear-powered submarine loaded 
with cruise missiles after its renovation last year for launching 
ground attacks and landing special troops. Earlier in the day, the 
USS Hampton, a 6,082-ton nuclear-powered submarine of the Los 
Angeles class with a crew of 138, entered port at White Beach a 
little after 10 a.m. and left port after staying in waters off White 
Beach for about 40 minutes. The two nuclear submarines were off 
White Beach for maintenance services and supplies. 
 
This year, U.S. nuclear-powered submarines have made a total of 35 
port calls in Okinawa, outnumbering those in the past. 
 
Okinawa Prefecture's Military Base Affairs Division received prior 
notification yesterday from the Foreign Ministry and then requested 
again that the Japanese government ensure safety and explain why 
there has been an increase in the number of nuclear sub port calls 
in Okinawa. The Okinawa Peace Movement Center held a rally near 
 
TOKYO 00003143  007 OF 014 
 
 
White Beach today at noon. 
 
The Ohio, commissioned in 1981, is a strategic nuclear-powered 
submarine, which is loaded with 24 ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, 
the United States and Russia held talks to reduce their forces. As a 
result, the Ohio has now been renovated into an enhanced submarine, 
which is additionally loaded with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 
is also for special troops to carry out covert landings. Last year, 
the Ohio was re-commissioned. This time, she has been assigned to 
the U.S. 7th Fleet. On Oct. 16, she called at the U.S. Navy's 
Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture for the first time. 
 
In August this year, it was brought to light that the USS Houston, a 
nuclear-powered submarine of the Los Angeles class, had leaked 
radioactive cooling water for over two years at White Beach. On Nov. 
10, the USS Providence, a nuclear-powered submarine of the Los 
Angeles class, entered port at White Beach without prior 
notification due to "a reporting error within the U.S. Navy." There 
was 24-hour notification before the port call today. 
 
(5) Tamogami clearly did not meet the requirements for the top post 
 
ASAHI (Page 15) (Abridged slightly) 
November 13, 2008 
 
By Shinichi Kitaoka, professor of history of Japanese politics and 
diplomacy, University of Tokyo 
 
An essay must be underpinned by solid facts and firm logic 
 
Toshio Tamogami's essay is markedly biased about some facts. For 
instance, the essay says that the movement of the Japanese army into 
China and the Korean Peninsula was not a unilateral advance for it 
had the understanding of those nations. But it is a well-known fact 
that the Manchurian Incident was a plot by the Kwantung Army 
leadership, including Kanji Ishihara. The essay also reads that the 
theory that the bombing of Zhang Zuolin's train was the work of 
Comintern has gained a great deal of prominence recently. Some 
believe in such a theory, but it is not supported by the public. The 
theory that it was the work of the Kwantung Army's Daisaku Komoto 
has not been shaken. 
 
What is essential in discussing history is a sense of balance and 
the ability to make comprehensive judgments. It is important to 
select the most reliable facts from a variety of theories and 
information. The sole selection of convenient theories does not 
constitute an understanding of history. 
 
Tamogami's logic contains many contradictions and leaps. 
 
The essay says that if Japan was the aggressor nation, the great 
powers of that time were all aggressors, suggesting that both Japan 
and the great powers invaded other countries. But he claims in a 
different part that Japan did not invade any place. 
 
To determine if the logic is coherent, matters must be examined from 
different angles. 
 
Tamogami contends that unlike colonial rule by the great Western 
powers, Japan's rule of the Korean Peninsula and Manchuria did not 
discriminate against the people there, but aimed at assimilation 
instead, and that it accomplished tremendous economic results. 
 
TOKYO 00003143  008 OF 014 
 
 
 
That is true to some extent. But can good administration justify 
colonial rule? Have the people ruled come to terms with such a fact? 
If Korea or the Qing dynasty had colonized Japan, deprived Japan of 
its sovereignty, and Japan's economic level improved, would the 
Japanese people have felt happy about it? The answer is 'no.' People 
want to make their own decisions, even if they do not bring about 
good results. That is nationalism. Tamogami does not shed any 
positive light on the fact that the United States has brought 
prosperity to Japan in the postwar period. 
 
The ex-ASDF chief says that if Japan had accepted the Hull Note 
presented by the United States immediately before the outbreak of 
the war between the two countries, the United States would have 
certainly issued demand after demand and Japan would have become a 
"white nation's colony." How could he arrive at such a conclusion? 
It was possible to pursue diplomacy based on the Hull Note. I cannot 
understand why he thinks something worse than unconditional 
surrender would have come as a result. 
 
For some reason, Tamogami's view of international politics is 
masochistic and emotional. He maintains that Roosevelt made Japan 
take the first shot and that Japan was drawn into the war by him and 
Chiang Kai-shek. His argument is not wrong altogether. Maneuvering 
is part of the game of international politics. It is disgraceful for 
an SDF leader to contend that we were tricked. 
 
Tamogami appears to be discontent with today's Japan. He thinks 
Japanese people have yet to be released from mind control. If so, 
the blame rests with the leadership back then who started a losing 
war. But Tamogami is lenient toward them. If he is indignant with 
today's Japan, why does he have to defend the leadership who started 
the war? 
 
Many military top leaders in other countries as well as in Japan are 
sophisticated and gentlemanly persons with a good sense of balance. 
I believe those qualities are required in order to be top leaders. 
In view of those elements, Tamogami was not fit to be in the top 
position. It is surprising that such a person reached the top of the 
SDF. It is truly regrettable that public trust in the SDF has been 
damaged significantly. 
 
(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 11, 2008 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. Bracketed figures denote 
proportions to all respondents. Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of the last survey conducted Oct. 25-26) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 37 (41) 
No 41 (38) 
 
Q: Why? (One reason only. Left column for those marking "yes" on 
previous question, and right for those saying "no.") 
 
The prime minister is Mr. Aso 25(9) 8(3) 
It's an LDP-led cabinet 28(10) 33(13) 
 
TOKYO 00003143  009 OF 014 
 
 
From the aspect of policies 34(13) 46(19) 
Cabinet lineup 8(3) 10(4) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 30 (32) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 24 (19) 
New Komeito (NK) 4 (4) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2 (2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (0) 
None 33 (35) 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K) 6 (7) 
 
Q: To what extent are you interested in the next general election 
for the House of Representatives? (One choice only) 
 
Very interested 34 (36) 
Somewhat interested 40 (43) 
Not very interested 22 (17) 
Not interested at all 4 (4) 
 
Q: If you were to vote now in a general election for the House of 
Representatives, which political party would you vote for in your 
proportional representation bloc? 
 
LDP 30 (33) 
DPJ 33 (30) 
NK 5 (4) 
JCP 4 (2) 
SDP 1 (1) 
PNP 0 (0) 
RC 0 (0) 
NPN 0 (0) 
Other political parties 1 (1) 
N/A+D/K 26 (29) 
 
Q: Would you like the current LDP-led coalition government to 
continue, or would you otherwise like it to be replaced with a 
DPJ-led coalition government? 
 
LDP-led coalition 29 (33) 
DPJ-led coalition 40 (37) 
 
Q: Which one between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ichiro 
Ozawa do you think is more appropriate for prime minister? 
 
Mr. Aso 49 (52) 
Mr. Ozawa 23 (20) 
 
Q: Do you think it would be better for Japan to have the ruling and 
opposition parties change places at times? 
 
Yes 72 (73) 
No 17 (19) 
 
Q: The government has decided to hand out cash benefits, totaling 2 
trillion yen, to all households, explaining that this payout is 
intended to help ease their financial concerns. Do you think this 
 
TOKYO 00003143  010 OF 014 
 
 
government payout is a necessary policy? 
 
Yes 26 
No 63 
 
Q: Prime Minister Aso has clarified a plan to raise the consumption 
tax in three years premised on an economic recovery. Do you 
appreciate this stance? 
 
Yes 45 
No 44 
 
Q: Prime Minister Aso has forgone a snap election for the House of 
Representatives, explaining that he has given first priority to an 
economic turnaround. Do you appreciate this decision? 
 
Yes 46 
No 37 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted over the telephone on 
a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. Respondents were 
chosen from among the nation's voting population on a three-stage 
random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained from 1,100 
persons (60 PERCENT ). 
 
(7) Japan relies on nuclear power plants in cutting greenhouse gas 
emissions; achieving 6 PERCENT  cut difficult? 
 
ASAHI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 13, 2008 
 
The Environment Ministry yesterday announced that Japan's greenhouse 
gas emissions reached a record high in fiscal 2007 (April 2007 
through March 2008). The major reason for the rise was a decline in 
the operating rates of nuclear power plants. It has now become 
evident that Japan relies on nuclear power plants in cutting 
greenhouse gas emissions in order to attain its goal to cut 
emissions by 6 PERCENT  below 1990 levels, which Japan promised in 
the Kyoto Protocol. 
 
Greenhouse gas emissions, including methane and alternative 
fluorocarbons, totaled 1.371 billion tons in carbon dioxide (CO2) 
equivalent in fiscal 2007, up 2.3 PERCENT  from fiscal 2006. Of the 
1.371 billion tons, CO2 emissions discharged by the consumption of 
fossil fuels totaled 1.21billion tons, up 2.7 PERCENT  from fiscal 
¶2006. 
 
By areas, CO2 emissions in the industrial sector, including 
industrial plants, rose 3.6 PERCENT  due to an increase in 
productions. In particular, CO2 emissions rose 4.8 PERCENT  in the 
iron and steel industry. 
 
Carbon dioxide emissions in offices and shops increased 1.2 PERCENT 
, and those in households rose 8.4 PERCENT . Approximately 60 
PERCENT  of greenhouse emissions in the workplace and household 
sectors were discharged by the use of electrical power. The rise in 
greenhouse gas emissions stemmed from the use of thermal electric 
power plants to make up for the shortfall in nuclear power. 
Greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector dropped 1.6 
PERCENT  because travel distances decreased due to soaring oil 
prices. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003143  011 OF 014 
 
 
Compared with the 1.261 billion tons in the Kyoto Protocol's 
benchmark year of 1990, the CO2 emissions (of 1.371 billion tons) in 
2007 were an 8.7 PERCENT  rise. Japan must cut its greenhouse gas 
emissions to 6 PERCENT  below 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012. It 
is necessary for Japan to cut 9.3 PERCENT  from 2007 levels, even 
excluding forest absorption of carbon dioxide and the government's 
buying of UN carbon offsets. 
 
The Environment Ministry believes that the 9.3 PERCENT  will be cut 
through efforts by power industries. 
 
Since the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant suspended operations 
after a 2007 earthquake, the operating rates of Japan's nuclear 
power plants remained at 60.7 PERCENT  in 2007. The ministry says 
that if the operating rate were 84.2 PERCENT , the highest rate 
marked in fiscal 1998, CO2 emissions would have been reduced 5 
PERCENT . 
 
However, since demands for the safety of nuclear power plants have 
grown, the outlook is that it will be difficult to boost operating 
rates immediately. 
 
Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito said yesterday: "Japan will have 
to consider achieving its target with low operating rates in mind." 
He indicated that Japan would aim at expanding the use of natural 
energy, as well as introducing a domestic emissions trading system. 
 
(8) Target in Kyoto Protocol moving away from Japan, with record 
volume of CO2 emissions in 2007 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 13, 2008 
 
Japan's greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal 2007 amounted to a record 
1.3711 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, a 2.3 
PERCENT  increase over the previous year, according to the 
Environment Ministry yesterday. The rise is attributed largely to 
the suspension of a nuclear power plant. Japan expects to see 
emissions drop because of economic slowdown in 2008, the initial 
year in the period of implementing the obligations set under the 
Kyoto Protocol. But there are many factors of uncertainty over 
Japan's efforts to achieve its target, such as a resumption of 
operations at the currently suspended nuclear power plant. 
 
"This is very shocking data," Environment Minister Tetsuo Saito said 
with a stern look before reporters last evening. 
 
The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata, operated by 
Tokyo Electric Power Co., suffered extensive damage from a great 
earthquake in July 2007 and has been still shut down. Due to the 
suspension of this plant, Japan expanded operations at thermal 
electric power plants, which emit large volumes of CO2. As a result, 
Japan discharged 8.7 PERCENT  more greenhouse gases than in 1990, 
the benchmark year in the Kyoto Protocol. 
 
By sector, the industrial sector emitted 3.6 PERCENT  more gases 
than in the previous year, due to the expansion of production, while 
the household sector saw an 8.4 PERCENT  increase partly because of 
the increasing use of air conditioning during the summer. 
 
Under the Kyoto Protocol, Japan is required to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions by an average of 6 PERCENT  from the 1990 level between 
 
TOKYO 00003143  012 OF 014 
 
 
2008 and 2012. Comparing the 2007 level, Japan needs to cut 
emissions by 13.5 PERCENT . The government plans to take care of 
some portion of the estimated shortfall by purchasing emissions 
quotas from overseas or through forest absorption of CO2. These 
measures are expected to reduce emissions by 5 PERCENT  from the 
2007 level. How to slash the remaining 8.5 PERCENT  will be a 
challenge for Japan. 
 
The operation rate of domestic nuclear power plants is the primary 
factor that will affect the nation's greenhouse gas emissions in the 
future. The operation rate in 2007 was 60.7 PERCENT , down 9.2 
points from the previous year. According to the Environment 
Ministry, if the rate had stayed at the highest ever level of 84.2 
PERCENT  recorded in 1998, gas emissions in 2007 would have been 
about 5 PERCENT  fewer than the actual amount. But once the 
suspended nuclear power plant resumes operations, emissions are 
expected to decrease significantly. 
 
Another factor is business trends. Japan's economic growth and 
greenhouse gas emissions are closely linked to each other. In 1998, 
when the nation's gross domestic product (GDP) experienced negative 
growth, greenhouse gas emissions decreased about 3 PERCENT  from the 
previous year. Emissions began to make an upturn as the economy 
entered an expansion phase. However, given that the Japanese economy 
has slowed significantly since early this year, emissions are 
expected to decrease. 
 
Oil consumption has dropped due to the recent steep rise in oil 
prices and the spread of eco-friendly vehicles. This can be also 
cited as a favorable factor to cut CO2 emissions. The domestic sale 
of gasoline in 2007 decreased 2.5 PERCENT  below the previous year, 
resulting in reducing CO2 emissions by 1.6 PERCENT  in the transport 
sector. In the first half of 2008, as well, the sale of gasoline 
dropped 4.7 PERCENT . Although gasoline prices have come down 
recently, the dominant view is that demand for gasoline will remain 
sluggish for a while. 
 
Even so, if the government relies only on such external factors as 
economic trends, emissions may markedly increase when the economy 
turns around. 
 
(9) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Compilation of second supplementary budget to be postponed till next 
Diet session 
 
Mainichi: 
Flat-sum cash handouts to individuals likely to be disbursed through 
transfers to bank accounts in March or later 
 
Yomiuri: 
Income cap for financial aid disbursements to be based on individual 
incomes 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan to propose up to 10 trillion yen fund contribution to IMF to 
aid emerging economies 
 
Sankei: 
Tsushima in danger: Parliamentary league for new legislation to 
defend island to be launched 
 
TOKYO 00003143  013 OF 014 
 
 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
44 government buildings in metropolitan area not armed with flood 
countermeasures 
 
Akahata: 
Chairman Shii urges government to fulfill responsibility to defend 
workers from losing jobs 
 
(10) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Fixed-sum cash benefits: Aso administration's footing 
staggering 
(2) 60 years since Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal: Look squarely at 
history 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Quality more important than quantity for textbooks 
(2) Yodogawa dam project must be reviewed based on local decision 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Cash benefits pose more problems than they solve 
(2) Local governments said 'no' to Yodogawa dam project following 
Kawabegawa project 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Daidogawa dam project must be halted and Kinki Regional 
Development Bureau must be dismantled 
(2) Fixed-sum cash benefit plan contains many questions 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Cash benefits must be distributed in way convincing to everyone 
(2) Organ Transplant Law must be revised at early time 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Cash handout plan must not be used for political reasons 
(2) Former Taiwan president arrested 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Cash benefit plan devised for election followed wild path 
 
(11) Prime Minister's schedule, November 12 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 13, 2008 
 
09:39 
Met at Kantei with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma. 
 
10:45 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. Received telephone call 
from Canadian Prime Minister Harper. Met with Assistant Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Hayashi, joined by Foreign Ministry Economic 
Affairs Bureau chief Otabe. Otabe remained. 
 
13:02 
Met with Finance Minister Nakagawa, Vice Finance Minister for 
International Affairs Shinohara, Deputy Foreign Ministers Kono and 
Sasae, and Otabe, joined by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Matsumoto. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003143  014 OF 014 
 
 
14:09 
Met with former Upper House member Katsutoshi Kaneda. 
 
14:56 
Met at Gakushuin University with Chinese Ambassador Cui Tiankai. 
 
15:09 
Attended closing ceremony for Japan-China Youth Friendship Exchange 
hosted by Japan-China Friendship Center. 
 
16:00 
Met at Kantei with People's New Party President Watanuki and 
Secretary General Kamei, followed by LDP Upper House Chairman 
Otsuji. Met later with New Komeito leader Ota and Youth Committee 
Chairman Taniai, followed by LDP Election Strategy Council Deputy 
Chairman Suga. 
 
17:33 
Met with METI Vice Minister Mochizuki, Vice Minister for 
International Affairs Ishige, Trade and Economic Cooperation Bureau 
chief Fujita, Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka, Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau chief Saiki and International Cooperation Bureau 
chief Kitera. 
 
18:42 
Dined with Keidanren Chairman Mitarai and Nippon Steel Honorary 
Chairman Imai at Japanese restaurant Fukudaya. 
 
2:40 
Met his friends from Gakushuin Elementary School at Bar Capri in 
Hotel New Otani. 
 
21:31 
Met his secretary. 
 
23:27 
Returned to his private secretary. 
 
SCHIEFFER