VZCZCXRO9154
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3323/01 3400814
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 050814Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9224
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 3631
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1271
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5062
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9267
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1841
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6677
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2674
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2797

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 003323 
 
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 12/05/08 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Scope column: Aso administration has ceased to function; 
Election shift going wrong (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(2) Liaison meeting of Council of Governors Hosting U.S. Bases and 
governments of Japan and U.S. put on show of establishing friendly 
relations; Gaps remain over local conditions, perceptions (Ryukyu 
Shimpo) 
 
(3) Questioning economic stimulus package (Nikkei) 
 
(4) Japan needs to swiftly deploy alternative weapons (Yomiuri) 
 
(5) Editorial: Gov't must go all out to retain deterrence (Sankei) 
 
(6) Editorial: Door to textbook screening likely to open slightly 
(Asahi) 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 4, 2008 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Scope column: Aso administration has ceased to function; 
Election shift going wrong 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 5, 2008 
 
The government of Prime Minister Taro Aso is becoming unstable even 
before it marks 100 days since its inauguration. In the United 
States, the term 100 days is called the honeymoon period. The 
government and ruling parties have ceased to function, chucking the 
basic principles for compiling a state budget for fiscal 2009 by 
shelving the fiscal reconstruction policy. The prime minister of 
course is responsible for the malfunction, but the absence of a 
coordinator is another main reason for it. 
 
"The running of the government is really being carried out by the 
cabinet," said a senior ruling coalition member. 
 
The prime minister picked his cabinet lineup and the executives of 
the Liberal Democratic Party on the assumption that he would 
dissolve the House of Representatives immediately after taking 
office and call a snap election. The blame should be centered on the 
prime minister, who will lead the LDP in the next Lower House 
election. 
 
LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda and Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Takeo Kawamura were ridiculed as foils for the prime minister and 
seen as lightweights. Aso even whispered to members who received a 
cabinet post for the first time: "With this, let's campaign in the 
election." 
 
Aso's close aides such as Shoichi Nakagawa and Akira Amari, who 
should have played behind-the-scenes roles, assumed the posts of 
finance minister and minister for administrative reform which are 
top-billed cabinet posts. Although Yoshihide Suga was retained as 
 
TOKYO 00003323  002 OF 010 
 
 
deputy chairman of the LDP Election Strategy Council, there is no 
Aso close aide in the government. Kawamura, who has not served in 
any key party post and got a high post in the Prime Minister's 
Office for the first time, has failed to fulfill his coordinating 
role. Since Aso has delayed Lower House dissolution, his formation 
of the "election shift" has gone wrong. 
 
Therefore, the combination of Aso and Kawamura, who are 
inexperienced in managing the government, has often formulated 
policy on an ad hoc basis. Discord broke out between the government 
and the LDP leadership over: (1) whether to cut three percent in 
public works spending from the previous year, and (2) whether to 
freeze the policy of curbing natural increases in social security 
expenses by up to 220 billion yen in compiling a state budget for 
fiscal 2009. 
 
General Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa declared in a meeting on 
Dec. 2: "The council gives its concurrence to an idea of abolishing 
the ceiling (budgetary request guidelines)," as many committee 
members called for a review of the spending cut policy. 
 
At a press conference soon after the meeting, the four LDP 
executives stated that they would propose it. 
 
Policy Research Council Chairman Kosuke Hori got upset about it. It 
is the tradition that the Policy Research Council makes decisions on 
party policy ahead of the General Council. At that time, the Policy 
Research Council was discussing the handling of the ceiling. Hori 
expressed his reluctance to the idea of proposing it to the prime 
minister. Therefore, Sasagawa alone had to convey to Aso the 
proposal of removing the ceiling. 
 
A junior lawmaker said in disgust: "What on earth is the secretary 
general (coordinator) doing?" 
 
A senior ruling coalition member said: "The cabinet cannot be 
shuffled," since it is only about two months since the cabinet was 
launched. The prime minister cannot find any way to make his 
administration function. 
 
(2) Liaison meeting of Council of Governors Hosting U.S. Bases and 
governments of Japan and U.S. put on show of establishing friendly 
relations; Gaps remain over local conditions, perceptions 
 
RYUKYU SHINPO (Page 2) (Full 
December 4, 2008 
 
A tripartite liaison meeting among the governors of 14 U.S. 
base-hosting prefectures and representatives of the central 
governments of Japan and the U.S. was held in response to a call by 
the governors for a direct dialogue with the U.S., following a 
series of incidents involving U.S. servicemen in Okinawa and 
Kanagawa. Winding up their first meeting, participants extolled the 
significance of the meeting with Kanagawa Prefectural Governor 
Shigefumi Matsuzawa saying, "This is ground-breaking in the history 
of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty." U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas 
Schieffer noted, "This is an excellent approach." Participants 
affirmed that friendly relations had been established between the 
U.S. forces in Japan and local communities. 
 
Okinawa already has a three-party liaison conference consisting of 
the central government, the prefecture and the U.S. forces in 
 
TOKYO 00003323  003 OF 010 
 
 
Okinawa. This can be called a local version of the liaison council. 
However, few meetings have been held recently. A Foreign Ministry 
source said, "We all know that the three-way liaison meetings have 
been a failure. We cannot hope for success if we simply file 
protests with the U.S. military." The source stressed that in order 
to have the U.S. side come to the negotiating table, there has to be 
tangible benefit for it to take part in such a meeting. 
 
Ambassador Schieffer during the liaison meeting called for setting 
up a system designed to boost cooperation between the U.S. military 
and local communities, instead of holding meetings only after 
incidents occurred. He underscored, "It is important to obtain the 
cooperation and understanding of local communities in order to 
achieve the objectives of USFJ realignment." What he meant is that 
if communication with local communities goes smoothly, it would 
become easier to obtain cooperation. 
 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima requested the U.S. to allow the Japanese 
side access to U.S. bases in connection with environmental issues. 
Kanagawa Prefectural Governor Matsuzawa sought implementation of the 
USFJ realignment without delay. 
 
However, the Okinawa Prefectural Congress has adopted a resolution 
opposing the construction of facilities replacing Futenma Air 
Station under the USFJ realignment agreement. The resolution, 
however, might be conveying to the U.S. a request that does not 
represent the consensus of Okinawa's residents. The meeting exposed 
differences in situations in each local government and difficulty in 
unifying their views. 
 
Winding up the first meeting, one delegate from a certain local 
government said, "We will naturally ask the Japan-U.S. Joint 
Committee to reflect on the outcome of the meeting." One government 
official welcomed the meeting, saying, "It was meaningful that such 
a meeting was held. 
 
However, one U.S. participant said, "The liaison council is not an 
official body," indicating a perception gap between the two sides. 
Timetables for the next meeting and operating procedures have yet to 
be set, according to the Foreign Ministry. Although the liaison 
meeting has got underway, it will remain fraught with complex 
issues. 
 
(3) Questioning economic stimulus package 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
December 5, 2008 
 
Political News Section Chief Ryosuke Harada: Implementation, instead 
of ostensible figures 
 
The economy is deteriorating both at home and abroad at an 
unprecedentedly fast pace. Few experts would oppose a call for 
taking additional economic stimulus measures and effective policies 
quickly. The situation is as serious as that. 
 
More bureaucrats giving up Aso cabinet 
 
To begin with, it is now impossible to resort to demand from foreign 
countries. The real growth of the economies of Japan, the U.S. and 
European countries has simultaneously sunk into negative territory 
for the first time in the postwar period. The situation is totally 
 
TOKYO 00003323  004 OF 010 
 
 
different from the business slumps in the late 1980, when exports in 
quantitative terms did not fall, despite the strong yen and the 
collapse of the asset-inflated bubble economy starting in the late 
1990s. 
 
The manufacturing industry, Japan's forte, could become weakened. An 
executive of a certain leading bank said, "It is a mistake to say 
that the impact of the financial crisis on Japan is relatively 
small. Since Japanese companies are operating all over the world, 
they would suffer the greatest impact." As a matter of fact, 
business confidence and consumption in Nagoya, where Toyota Motors 
is located, has rapidly deteriorated. 
 
The job of the government and the Diet at the time of the 
unprecedented crisis is to analyze what is happening, make out a 
prescription to find a breakthrough and consider how to find funding 
resources and raise money out of scarce fiscal resources. However, 
when it comes to the question of whether there are such 
arrangements, the answer is regrettably 'no.' The postponement of 
the submission and enactment of the second supplementary budget bill 
to the regular Diet session to be convened early in the new year is 
emblematic. 
 
We have hardly heard that the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy 
had even tried to come up with effective economic stimulus measures 
under the initiative of Prime Minister Taro Aso. Economic growth 
policy and structural reforms have been put on the shelf. Regarding 
the reorganization of field agencies of the government, the showcase 
of the decentralization policy, government agencies are putting up 
strong opposition to the transfer of operations services to local 
governments. There is no end to backpedaling discussions, such as a 
revision to the privatized postal services and tax revenues for road 
construction. More bureaucrats in Kasumigaseki have given up the Aso 
cabinet, viewing it as an election-destined provisional 
administration. 
 
Confusion in the ruling camp over the compilation of the budget has 
left it in shambles. Generous figures, such as 10 trillion yen or 30 
trillion yen for additional economic stimulus packages, are going 
round. What they are for and where funding resources are to be found 
are unclear. However long Lower House dissolution is delayed, a 
general election is bound to take place by next fall. Fear of a 
devastating defeat is mounting in the form of a call for an 
increased spending. 
 
The turmoil was presumably triggered by the sharp decline in cabinet 
support ratings in the Nikkei poll released in its December 1 
edition. The support rate dropped to 31 PERCENT , down 17 points 
from a month earlier. What was more shocking was that the number of 
respondents who cited Prime Minister Aso as a person appropriate as 
a prime minister after a general election dropped to 17 PERCENT , 
the same rate of respondents who recommend Democratic Party of Japan 
President Ichiro Ozawa. 
 
It has been about two months since the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) chose Aso as prime minister, saying that it is impossible to 
go into the next general election under then Prime Minister Fukuda. 
Now that it has become impossible to expect Mr. Aso to show any 
potential as prime minister, the only way the ruling camp can secure 
support from voters is adopting additional economic stimulus 
measures -- they are making such a stop-gap approach. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003323  005 OF 010 
 
 
The control tower is isolated at a time when it should find a 
breakthrough, gathering the wisdom of many, and the Diet remains at 
an impasse. What is most important about economic stimulus package 
is whether effective measures can be taken promptly. Coming up with 
additional figures as a slogan will make people skeptical about 
whether the government has the ability to get things done. Voters 
would give up on the government, if it toys with policies for the 
sake of the election. 
 
(4) Japan needs to swiftly deploy alternative weapons 
 
YOMIURI (Page 13) (Abridged slightly) 
December 4, 2008 
 
Takushoku University Professor Satoshi Morimoto thinks cluster bombs 
are extremely effective in attacking enemy troops who have landed in 
Japan. Many experts share his view. The reason is because it is 
difficult for Japan, a country with a long coastline, to be prepared 
for enemy landings. 
 
Some in the government wondered if national defense can be possible 
without cluster munitions. But this May, then Prime Minister Yasuo 
Fukuda decided to ink the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 
deference to growing criticism at home and abroad. 
 
At present, the Self-Defense Forces possess four types of cluster 
bombs: (1) vehicle-borne rocket bombs, (2) howitzers; (3) bombs 
dropped by fighters, and (4) anti-tank rocket bombs dropped by 
helicopters. The treaty requires the signatories to abolish their 
cluster munitions in eight years after the treaty goes into force. 
Scrapping all cluster bombs is projected to cost 20 to 30 billion 
yen. 
 
It is imperative for Japan to deploy weapons that replace the 
cluster bombs. 
 
The convention allows the possession of new types of cluster bombs 
that have an extremely low rate of unexploded bomblets. The 
government does not intend to introduce such bombs, with a Defense 
Ministry source saying: "They have small numbers of bomblets, so we 
cannot expect much from them." Instead, the government plans to 
introduce laser JDAM GPS-guided bombs that can attack targets with 
high accuracy. A Defense Ministry source said: "Precision-guided 
bombs that attack the enemy at certain 'points' cannot substitute 
for cluster bombs that attack enemies on the 'surface.' We must 
continue to study alternative weapons." 
 
The United States has not joined the convention. 
 
The convention allows its signatories to carry out a degree of 
military cooperation and military operations with non-signatories. 
But according to the Foreign Ministry, the Self-Defense Forces are 
allowed to act in concert with vessel of U.S. forces in Japan 
carrying cluster bombs but are not allowed to ask the U.S. military 
to use cluster munitions. 
 
In the trend of abolishing cluster bombs, how should Japan prepare 
for contingencies? The country needs to swiftly work things out with 
the United States. 
 
(08120407st) Back to Top 
 
 
TOKYO 00003323  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
(5) Editorial: Gov't must go all out to retain deterrence 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 5, 2008 
 
A signing ceremony was held in the Norwegian capital of Oslo for the 
Convention on Cluster Munitions (Oslo Treaty), which bans cluster 
bombs. The treaty was signed by about 100 countries, including 
Japan, Britain, Germany, and France. 
 
Cluster munitions contain a large number of smaller submunitions or 
bomblets that widely scatter in the air. The weapons cause greater 
damage to enemy troops. However, unexploded bomblets kill or injure 
civilians after battles. Everybody would wish to have such weapons 
eliminated. 
 
However, we must not forget about national security that affects the 
lives of many people. How will this treaty affect the peace and 
security of Japan? Is the treaty really effective? These points have 
been little discussed. We are concerned that an idealistic argument 
went ahead and ended up with signing. 
 
The Self-Defense Forces currently has four types of cluster 
munitions, including those dropped from fighter planes. Japan, 
surrounded by the seas, has long coastlines and many outliers. Given 
such geographic features, Japan has no other effective means to 
repel landing enemy troops. Moreover, Japan's neighbors-such as 
China, Russia, South Korea, and North Korea-and even the United 
States do not participate in the treaty. The Cold War still remains 
strong in Northeast Asia, where Japan is the only country that is 
without effective weapons. 
 
It seems that cluster munitions in the possession of nonsignatories 
account for more than 70 PERCENT  of all cluster bombs in the world. 
The United States and other nonsignatories have not used 
antipersonnel landmines in actual fighting since a treaty banning 
such weapons came into effect. Some therefore argue that cluster 
bombs also cannot be used. However, there is no guarantee for the 
effectiveness of prohibiting cluster bombs. 
 
The United States, China, and Russia are moving to regulate cluster 
munitions within the framework of the Convention on Certain 
Conventional Weapons (CCW). The Oslo Treaty, which is even stricter, 
is now in place. In a way, however, it is difficult to expect 
effective restrictions. 
 
Japan is mandated to scrap its cluster munitions within eight years 
after the treaty comes into effect. Scrapping costs total over 20 
billion yen. The Oslo Treaty allows its signatories to possess 
state-of-the-art types that can hardly fail to explode. However, 
Japan has chosen not to introduce such weapons. It will take more 
than 10 years to develop and deploy alternative weapons. Will this 
not leave Japan defenseless? 
 
What concerns us is the Oslo Treaty's possible impact on Japan's 
alliance with the United States. The Oslo Treaty allows its 
signatories to engage in military cooperation and operations with 
nonsignatories. However, Japan is not allowed to ask U.S. Forces 
Japan to use cluster bombs. We want the government to do all it can 
so that Japan's deterrence will not be marred. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003323  007 OF 010 
 
 
(6) Editorial: Door to textbook screening likely to open slightly 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
December 5, 2008 
 
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEXT) has 
unveiled a reform plan to increase transparency in school textbook 
screening. Once the screening process is over, how textbooks have 
been screened will be made public in outline. 
 
The screening system is designed for the government to examine the 
contents and expressions in nominated school textbooks produced by 
the private sector and to order to make modifications as necessary. 
 
Under the system, the Textbook Authorization Council made up of 
experts inspects an opinion paper produced by MEXT textbook 
examiners who were selected from among scholars and others. Based on 
its results, publishing companies are asked to make changes to their 
textbooks. 
 
The whole process is completely kept from public view. Council 
meetings are held behind closed doors and the contents of an opinion 
paper and what was discussed by the council are not disclosed. Even 
the names of textbook examiners and council members are kept secret. 
The ministry's logic is that discussions must take place in a quiet 
environment. 
 
The ministry's attempt to open the door slightly follows an episode 
in which the ministry during the former Abe cabinet ordered some 
publishers of high school history textbooks to delete descriptions 
of the Battle of Okinawa that stated the Imperial Japanese Army had 
forced people in Okinawa to commit mass suicide and later revised it 
effectively. 
 
The improvement plan calls for the disclosure of the names and 
subjects of examiners, examiners' opinion papers, contents of 
discussions in outline, and the names of council members. This seems 
to be the limit of the ministry which fears that if what is being 
discussed becomes clear in the process, it might come under pressure 
from outside. 
 
It is a step forward. People would be able to know, though after the 
screening, who said what to prompt the council to decide to make 
modifications. The disclosure of the screening process would make 
discussions more earnest and cautious. People would be able to use 
it as a reference in monitoring the next screening process. 
 
That is not enough, however. Even if a situation similar to the 
mass-suicide description case occurs, people would not be able to 
know it until after a conclusion is reached. If the opinion paper 
had been revealed during the screening process, experts on the 
Battle of Okinawa would have offered their input. 
 
Furthermore, the improvement plan offers no change to the present 
practice of keeping council meetings behind closed doors and not 
producing conference minutes. The gap with the Central Education 
Council, which discusses the teaching guidelines that serve as a 
guide in compiling school textbooks, is clear. 
 
It makes us uncomfortable that the examiners' views remain 
inaccessible until after the screening is over. It makes us even 
more uncomfortable that what is in their opinion paper is to serve 
 
TOKYO 00003323  008 OF 010 
 
 
as the foundation of subsequent deliberations. 
 
Needless to say, not only history textbooks but also all other 
school textbooks are vital to the children. How are the contents of 
the textbooks determined? Are the textbooks free from absurdities 
and bias? There is every reason for the screening to be placed under 
close public scrutiny. Greater transparency requires more reforms. 
 
How should the screening be? Is the screening necessary at all? 
Discussions must be conducted on such fundamental questions, as 
well. 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
2,000 non-permanent workers protest against job cuts 
 
Mainichi: 
Welfare minister calls for use of reserve funds for pension program 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
Patent Office to expand trademark protection to sound, moving 
images 
 
Nikkei: 
European central banks cut interest rates simultaneously 
 
Sankei: 
First meeting between mid-level Japanese and Chinese officials on 
anti-earthquake measures 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Labor Ministry mulls extending by 60 days unemployed benefits 
 
Akahata: 
JCP Chairman Shii urged government to come up with emergency 
measures for employment and small and mid-sized companies 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Textbook screening: Closed door to open a bit 
(2) Road-related taxes: A plan to free up revenues from road-related 
taxes for general expenditures will not be realized 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) We oppose abolishing the government's share of expenditures for 
employment insurance 
(2) Will merger of Nippon Oil and Nippon Mining lead to Japanese 
version of Major? 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) What came of road tax funds transfer pledge? 
(2) Economic slump affects job market 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Drastic interest rate cuts cannot wipe away concern 
(2) Merger of Nippon Oil and Nippon Mining with resources and 
environment in mind 
 
Sankei: 
 
TOKYO 00003323  009 OF 010 
 
 
(1) Need for speedy court ruling on murder of former vice minister 
and his wife 
(2) Ban on cluster bombs: Take all possible measures to maintain 
deterrence 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Ban on cluster bombs: This trend should be enrooted 
(2) Will merger of two oil companies lead to Japanese version of 
Major? 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Law to help disabled people become independent should be 
abolished and new law to protect human rights is necessary 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 4, 2008 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 5, 2008 
 
10:08 
Met with Education Minister Shionoya and Vice Education Minister 
Zeniya, followed by Special Advisor Yamaguchi. Then met with NHK 
Management Committee Chairman Shigetaka Komori. 
 
11:21 
Met with Lower House member Kentaro Sonoura and former AJSSE 
Chairman Kataoka. Sonomura remained. Then met with journalist 
Soichiro Tawara. 
 
12:18 
Met with Japan Pension Corporation Establishment Committee Chairman 
Okuda. Then met with Internal Affairs Minister Hatoyama and 
Decentralization Reform Promotion Committee Executive Director 
Miyawaki. 
 
13:20 
Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. 
 
14:09 
Met with Foreign Ministry North American Affairs Bureau Director 
General Nishimiya, followed by Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Fukuda and Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry Employment 
Security Bureau Director General Ota. 
 
14:58 
Met with Japanese Trade Union Confederation Chairman Takagi. Welfare 
Minister Masuzoe, Chief and Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries 
Kawamura and Uruma and Fukuda were present. 
 
15:52 
Met with National Small- and Medium size Retailers Summit Planning 
Committee Chairman Toshihiko Kuwajima and others. Shionoya and 
former Chief Cabinet Secretary Shiozaki were present. 
 
16:16 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani, followed by Finance 
Minister Nakagawa, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto and Budget Bureau 
Director General Tango. 
 
17:02 
Met with Executive Director Matsuo Yoshida of the National 
Accounting Education Association (Zenkei), and others. Then met with 
 
TOKYO 00003323  010 OF 010 
 
 
Chairman Tanigaki of the project team on the reallocation of tax 
revenues for road construction, and Secretaries General of the LDP 
and the New Komeito Hori and Yamaguchi, and Kawamura. 
 
18:25 
Met with Polish President Kaczynski. 
 
19:36 
Joint press conference. Dinner party hosted by the prime minister 
and his wife. 
 
22:02 
Arrived at the private residence at Kamiyama-cho. 
 
SCHIEFFER