VZCZCXRO4419
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3373/01 3470622
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120622Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9375
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 3742
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1385
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5176
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 9370
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 1952
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6788
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2781
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2893

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 003373 
 
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 12/12/08 
 
Index: 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
1) MSDF refueling mission bill to pass Diet today by a Lower House 
override vote  (Mainichi) 
2) Although MSDF to continue refueling operations in the Indian 
Ocean, anxieties remain about their mission  (Asahi) 
3) Yokosuka sailor charged with slaying cabbie to undergo mental 
tests  (Mainichi) 
4) Japan, Australia to meet next week for strategic talks, agreement 
to strengthen cooperation  (Nikkei) 
 
North Korea problem: 
5) Six-Party Talks close without agreement; now it is the problem of 
the incoming Obama administration  (Mainichi) 
6) Nothing happening also on the Japan-North Korea dialogue 
(Nikkei) 
7) Japan expects Six-Party Talks to restart in several months 
(Mainichi) 
8) North Korea's strategy failed in the Six-Party Talks as Japan, 
U.S., ROK held together in common front  (Mainichi) 
 
Economy in dire straits: 
9) Government plans a 40-trillion yen economic stimulus package 
(Yomiuri) 
 
10) Government plans to set aside 3 trillion yen to assist middle to 
large scale companies suffering in the economic crisis  (Asahi) 
 
11) Prime Minister Aso tangled in political wrangling over 
consumption tax hike issue  (Asahi) 
 
12) DPJ plans own economic stimulus package to shake up Aso 
administration in the Diet  (Nikkei) 
 
13) LDP's Hidenao Nakagawa, now openly opposed to the prime 
minister, has gathered a group of 57 for his new anti-Aso 
parliamentary league  (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Refueling bill to clear Diet today 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
The House of Councillors Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense 
yesterday voted down a bill amending the new Antiterrorism Special 
Measures Law to extend Japan's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
by a majority of lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ), the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and the Social 
Democratic Party. The bill is expected to be voted down today in the 
Upper House plenary session, as well. 
 
With this, the ruling parties will readopt and enact the refueling 
bill by a two-thirds overriding vote in the House of 
Representatives' plenary session today. 
 
The bill is designed to extend by one year the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling operation, which will expire on Jan. 15. In a 
debate ahead of taking a vote in the Upper House committee, DPJ's 
Hisashi Tokunaga pointed out: "Since security in Afghanistan has 
 
TOKYO 00003373  002 OF 009 
 
 
been deteriorating year after year, the refueling mission will not 
resolve the issue." Masayoshi Hamada, however, emphasized the 
meaning of the refueling mission, saying: "Now is a critical time 
for improving security (in Afghanistan)." 
 
In an Upper House Financial Affairs Committee session yesterday, the 
DPJ presented a revised bill to amending the Financial Functions 
Strengthening Law, which suggests that ShinGinko Tokyo be excluded. 
Since the number of pros and cons were the same, Committee Chairman 
Naoki Minegishi, a DPJ member, decided that the bill was approved. 
The DPJ voted for the bill, while the LDP, New Komeito, and the JCP 
were against it. 
 
2) Refueling assistance fraught with 3 concerns; Revised law to be 
enacted today 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
December 12, 2008 
 
The House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met 
yesterday and voted down a government-introduced bill amending the 
Refueling Assistance Special Measures Law for a one-year extension 
of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the 
Indian Ocean with a majority of votes from the Democratic Party of 
Japan (Minshuto) and other opposition parties. The 
government-proposed legislation will be voted down in a plenary 
sitting of the opposition-controlled upper chamber today. However, 
the House of Representatives-where the ruling coalition of the 
Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito have a majority of the 
seats-will take a second vote on the bill in its plenary sitting 
today to override the upper chamber's decision. Prime Minister Aso 
has now forgone dissolving the lower chamber in defiance of the 
opposition bloc's calls for an early dissolution, and the upper 
chamber's deliberations on the legislation have been drawn out. 
However, there are now three points at issue. 
 
Afghan dispatch may become a political issue again 
 
In a Nov. 6 House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense 
Committee meeting, Satoshi Inoue, a House of Councillors member of 
the Japanese Communist Party, asked why the government sent a 
fact-finding team to Afghanistan. "Did the government send the team 
there for the purpose of dispatching ground and heliborne troops?" 
Inoue asked. Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura replied: "It was not 
premised on a dispatch. It was for general study." 
 
In June this year, the government sent a fact-finding team to 
Afghanistan and its neighbors. That was because the United States 
and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had sounded out 
Japan on dispatching the Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan. The 
team is said to have explored the possibility of sending Air 
Self-Defense Force C-130 transport planes and Ground Self-Defense 
Force heavy-lift helicopters for airlift activities. 
 
At the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's 
request, the government came up with an outline of the fact-finding 
team's report. However, the government did not reveal anything 
specific about the team's findings. "Disclosing specific information 
could affect the safety of personnel and would seriously mar the 
international community's trust," Kawamura stated before the 
committee. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003373  003 OF 009 
 
 
However, an SDF dispatch to Afghanistan will likely become a 
political issue again when the new U.S. administration is 
inaugurated under President-elect Obama in January. There is growing 
frustration among the opposition parties. "The government did not 
show even the fundamental information that is a premise for 
deliberations," said Hisashi Tokunaga, a House of Councillors member 
from the DPJ. 
 
Antipiracy legislation in the pipeline 
 
The LDP and the DPJ are at odds over the issue of continuing the 
MSDF's refueling mission. However, the two parties moved closer to 
agreement. 
 
Akihisa Nagashima (DPJ): "They (commercial ships) are being exposed 
to the threat of pirates. It's vitally important to secure the sea 
lanes." 
 
Prime Minister Aso: "We would like to study what we have under the 
law." 
 
In an Oct. 17 House of Representatives Antiterrorism Special 
Committee meeting, Nagashima, who knows well about security policy, 
suggested the need for the government to take measures (for tankers 
and other Japanese commercial ships) against pirates that are 
rampant in waters off the coast of Somalia. In response, the 
government began a full-fledged study to create a new law against 
pirates, giving heed to the option of sending MSDF vessels. 
 
"In the Indian Ocean, there is drug trafficking and there are 
pirates. There is also the issue of shipping safety." With this, 
Foreign Minister Nakasone made an appeal on the MSDF's refueling 
activities in the Indian Ocean, meaning to say the MSDF's presence 
there for refueling activities contributes to antipiracy measures. 
However, the Refueling Assistance Special Measures Law stipulates 
nothing about antipiracy measures. "You said that as foreign 
minister. That is a problem, isn't it? You're stretching the law. 
That's strange." With this, Shinkun Haku, a House of Councillors 
member from the DPJ, made a countercharge to Nakasone. 
 
The Air Self-Defense Force will withdraw its airlift detachment from 
Iraq at the end of the year. In the meantime, the Diet will open its 
ordinary session early next year. Its security debate will likely 
focus on antipiracy legislation. 
 
Overly optimistic thinking about civilian control 
 
Another issue in the Diet debate has been civilian control. ASDF 
Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami was sacked for his release of an 
essay that justified Japan's wartime aggression. However, the 
government had little awareness of the problem. The prime minister 
said, "Civilian control was exactly in place, so immediate dismissal 
was possible." 
 
The opposition bench pursued Tamogami's view of history. However, 
the government reiterated that it would not comment on the essay's 
descriptions. Defense Minister Hamada noted yesterday: "The essay 
has inappropriate portions regarding the government's view and the 
Constitution, but this does not come under the heading of a 
political act." 
 
3) U.S. sailor on trial for taxi driver slaying to under go mental 
 
TOKYO 00003373  004 OF 009 
 
 
tests ordered by the court 
 
MAINICHI (Page 27) (Excerpt) 
December 12, 2008 
 
In the second hearing of U.S. Navy Seaman Apprentice Olatunbosun 
Ugobogu, a 22 year-old Nigerian attached to the U.S. Navy base at 
Yokosuka who is on trial for robbery and murder of a taxi driver in 
Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the Yokohama District Court 
yesterday ordered that he undergo mental tests that have been 
requested by the defendant's lawyer. 
 
Head judge Masaaki Kawaguchi gave as the reason: "The facts are 
critical, so I wish to proceed cautiously." The testing will be 
carried out in tandem with the trial and should take three months. 
 
4) Japan-Australia security talks set for next week; Foreign and 
defense ministers to agree on increased bilateral cooperation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
The governments of Japan and Australia decided yesterday to hold a 
Japan-Australia Security Committee meeting of the foreign and 
defense ministers (2 plus 2) late next week in Tokyo. The two 
countries are expected to reach an agreement to strengthen bilateral 
cooperation on the security front to deal with major disasters and 
the threat of terrorism. 
 
With Australia reportedly willing to provide energy aid to North 
Korea in place of Japan, in line with the six-party agreement, the 
two countries are also expected to look for ways to coordinate their 
North Korea policies. 
 
From Japan, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and Defense Minister 
Yasukazu Hamada will attend the meeting. The two countries will 
upgrade bilateral security cooperation by revising a memorandum on 
the development of defense exchanges, inked in 2003, for the first 
time in five years. 
 
Envisaging cooperation in nuclear and arms nonproliferation and UN 
peacekeeping operations, the meeting will also discuss joint 
exercises between the Australian military and Japan's Self-Defense 
Forces. 
 
The upcoming meeting will be the second following the previous one, 
held in June 2007 during the then Abe administration. In the 
previous meeting, then Foreign Minister Taro Aso promoted 
cooperation between Japan, the United States and Australia by 
advocating the arc of freedom and prosperity initiative promoting 
the democratization of Asia. Prime Minister Aso just agreed in 
October on expanded security cooperation with India through 
Japan-India summit. Planned coordination with Australia follows such 
developments. 
 
5) Six-party talks fails to reach agreement on verification 
protocol 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
Mayumi Otani, Beijing 
 
TOKYO 00003373  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
The fourth day of the six-party head-of-delegation meeting on North 
Korea's nuclear program ended yesterday without producing any 
agreement stipulating a verification protocol for the North's 
nuclear declaration, nor setting a date for a next meeting. The 
chief negotiators were unable to fill the gaps between the three 
countries -- Japan, the United States and South Korea, which 
insisted that nuclear sampling should be codified -- and North 
Korea, which refused to comply. 
 
According to sources close to the six-party talks, the chief U.S. 
envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill explained to 
the participants the White House's official instruction that the 
Bush administration would not allow bilateral talks between the U.S. 
and North Korea before its term ends. The next round of the 
six-party talks is now certain to be held after the administration 
of President-elect Barack Obama is inaugurated in January. 
 
The statement announced by China's chief envoy Wu Dawei, vice 
foreign minister of China, host of the six-party talks, confirmed 
only one thing, namely, that the next meeting would be held as soon 
as possible. Japan's chief negotiator, Foreign Ministry Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka Saiki said: "Nobody 
thinks that the meeting was satisfactory." 
 
With the failure in reaching an agreement on the codifying of a 
verification protocol, South Korean chief envoy Kim Sook stated: "We 
will consider whether to continue energy support." Meanwhile, North 
Korean chief negotiator Kim Kye Gwan reported rebutted in the 
meeting, arguing: "We will adjust the speed of disablement in 
accordance with the aid we receive." 
 
6) Japan-DPRK dialogue not realized 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
December 12, 2008 
 
Takeshi Nagasawa, Beijing 
 
In the latest six-party talks held in Beijing to discuss the 
denuclearization of North Korea, Japan tried to find ways to have a 
dialogue with the North to seek progress on the issue of Japanese 
nationals abducted by the North. But Japan's efforts did not pay 
off. Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau 
Director-General Akitaka Saiki emphatically said on the night of 
Dec. 11: "I want to continue to search for opportunities for a 
dialogue." As is the case with the talks on the nuclear issue that 
broke off, there are no prospects to break the deadlock regarding 
the abduction issue. 
 
A chairman's statement, released on the same day, simply urges Japan 
and North Korea to make sincere efforts for resolving outstanding 
bilateral issues and the normalization of bilateral relations. In 
the six-party talks, the North held separate talks with the United 
States, China, South Korea and Russia, but it declined Japan's call 
for dialogue. 
 
Dialogue between Japan and North Korea has not occurred since 
bilateral working-level talks in August. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Takeo Kawamura said in a press briefing: "Channels have not been 
closed, but it is a fact that we have not been able to have direct 
talks (with the North)." 
 
TOKYO 00003373  006 OF 009 
 
 
 
7) Japan thinks next round of six-party talks will not take place 
for several months 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
December 12, 2008 
 
Mayumi Otani, Beijing 
 
Through the latest six-party talks, the Japanese government has 
concluded that the North has shifted its attention to the incoming 
Obama administration of the United States, with a senior government 
official saying: "The possibility has vanished that the next round 
of talks will take place anytime soon." The government thinks it 
will be several months before the Obama administration firms up its 
diplomatic strategy and sets a clear policy (toward North Korea). 
How to coordinate policy approaches with the Obama administration, 
including the abduction issue, will be a challenge for the 
government. 
 
"We have agreed to meet again at an early date, but that will not be 
easy," Japan's chief delegate and Foreign Ministry Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General Akitaka Saiki told the 
press corps in Beijing on the night of Dec. 11. 
 
The Japanese government upheld the policy of seeking verification 
methods, including the sampling of nuclear materials that would 
leave no room for distortion or misunderstanding. The policy 
approach reflected Japan's concern that the Bush administration in 
its closing days might make compromises with the North. The results 
have spread a sense of relief in Japan, with a senior Foreign 
Ministry official commenting: "Although substantial fruits have not 
been produced, that's better than an ambiguous agreement." 
 
Nevertheless, Japan was not able to find a lead for making progress 
on the abduction issue. Saiki said discouragingly: "The North did 
not come with a policy intention of having a point of contact with 
Japan." 
 
8) North Korea's strategy fizzles in six-party talks; Japan, U.S., 
and South Korea remain firmly united 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
December 12, 2008 
 
Shoji Nishioka, Beijing 
 
In the six-party talks that took place in Beijing, North Korea 
applied pressure on other countries that demanded nuclear 
verification methods be put into writing. But because Japan, the 
United States and South Korea that sought the sampling of nuclear 
facilities remained firmly united, the North could not achieve its 
objectives, including obtaining energy aid. Amidst a rumor that 
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is suffering from ill health, the 
six-party talks have now been forced to readdress the North Korean 
denuclearization issue with an eye on the Jan. 20 inauguration of 
the Obama administration in the United States. 
 
9) Government plans economic stimulus package worth 40 trillion yen 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
December 12, 2008 
 
TOKYO 00003373  007 OF 009 
 
 
 
In an effort to deal with the current economic downturn and the 
deteriorating job market, the government decided yesterday to 
significantly expand the additional package it had earlier 
announced. It plans to boost measures related to the people's 
livelihoods worth 27 trillion yen and job security measures worth 2 
trillion yen. Since a bill amending the Law for Strengthening 
Financial Functions authorizing the government to pour public funds 
into financial institutions will clear the Diet today, the 
government also plans to increase the amount of public funds to be 
injected in domestic financial institutions from the current 2 
trillion yen to 12 trillion yen. The size of projects in the 
additional package is expected to reach 40 trillion yen. Prime 
Minister Aso will hold a press conference today and spell out the 
package. 
 
The government intends to come up mainly with expanded employment, 
monetary, and tax measures in the additional economic package. 
 
Recently, there are many cases in which troubled companies cancel 
job offers to new graduates and dismiss irregular part-timers. To 
deal with this social problem, the package will include measures to 
stabilize the job market and to assist companies in providing 
dismissed workers with housing and daily necessities over the New 
Year holidays. 
 
In an effort to resolve financial institutions' credit crunch and 
facilitate small businesses to raise funds, the government will 
augment the amount of public funds to be used for financial 
institutions under the new legislation from the current 2 trillion 
yen to 12 trillion yen and will also take satisfactory measures to 
secure the soundness of local financial institutions and to 
stabilize the financial system. 
 
On the Law for Strengthening Financial Functions, the Democratic 
Party of Japan's revision bill was adopted in a meeting of the House 
of Councillors' Fiscal and Financial Committee yesterday. The bill 
will be sent to the House of Representatives today, but the ruling 
parties will reject it and bring the government's bill back into the 
Lower House for a revote. 
 
10) Government to assist medium and large firms by disbursing 3 
trillion yen 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 12, 2008 
 
The government decided yesterday to map out 3 trillion yen worth of 
assistance measures for medium and large companies as emergency 
economic stimulus measures. The Development Bank of Japan will 
purchase commercial paper (CP), a kind of debenture issued by 
companies to procure short-term funds, at the scale of 2 trillion 
yen. In addition, low-interest loans worth 1 trillion yen will be 
offered. It will be the first time for the Development Bank of Japan 
to buy CP. 
 
The measure to purchase CP is aimed to help medium and large firms 
raise funds. The government has already come up with a set of 
assistance measures for small businesses, but it is also becoming 
difficult for larger businesses to procure funds, given the ongoing 
serious financial crisis. Specifically, Japan Financial Corporation 
will lend money accrued by issuing investment-and-loan bonds to the 
 
TOKYO 00003373  008 OF 009 
 
 
Development Bank of Japan, and the bank will buy CP on the market 
with the money. The total amount of purchase is estimated at 2 
trillion yen. The government will insert necessary provisions in the 
second supplementary budget bill for fiscal 2008 and next fiscal 
year's budget bill, both of which will be submitted to the next 
ordinary Diet session. 
 
Growing financial instability has decreased the underwriters of CP. 
The amount of CP newly issued in October was about 9 trillion yen, 
down about 30 PERCENT  from the same month a year ago. It has been 
said that with few buyers, the market has been in a state of 
collapse. Given this, market players have placed high expectations 
on the government for assistance. 
 
11) Time for consumption tax hike not specified in ruling camp's 
mid-term program, due to New Komeito's opposition 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
December 12, 2008 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito decided early this 
morning not to specify the timing for hiking the consumption tax in 
their mid-term program, a roadmap for future tax reform. The New 
Komeito is against mentioning the time, with an eye on the next 
general election. The LDP accepted its ruling partner's intention. 
Prime Minister Aso instructed State Minister in Charge of Economic 
and Fiscal Policy Kaoru Yosano last evening to put down "three years 
later" as the timing for increasing the tax, but this instruction 
was turned down the same day. Aso's political strength will 
inevitably be dampened further. 
 
LDP Tax System Research Committee Chairman Yuji Tsushima and his New 
Komeito counterpart Yoshihisa Inoue held consultations at a Tokyo 
hotel until early morning today and agreed to use this expression in 
the ruling camp's tax reform outline for fiscal 2009 to be 
incorporated in its mid-term program: "Drastic tax reform, including 
a consumption tax hike, should be implemented after the economy 
turns around." As the time for the hike, the expression "by the 
mid-2010s" will be used. LDP tax panel subcommittee chairman Hakuo 
Yanagisawa told reporters: "Since the New Komeito put up strong 
resistance to the inclusion of a specific figure, we had to give 
in." 
 
Aso told Yosano at the Prime Minister's Office last evening: "I have 
so far declared that the government will hike the consumption tax 
three years from now. I hope my pledge will be reflected in the 
mid-term program." Later, Aso also told reporters: "The principle is 
to increase the consumption tax three years from now." 
 
Based on the prime minister's intention, the LDP specified in its 
initial draft that "the government will work out necessary legal 
measures in 2010, and implement tax reform measures, including a 
consumption tax hike, starting in fiscal 2011 and completing them in 
2015." Meanwhile, the program inserted a provision noting that "a 
flexible response will be made in accordance with changes in 
economic conditions," showing a flexible stance of not raising the 
tax if the economy remains stagnant. But New Komeito strongly 
reacted to the initial draft, claiming that even if a flexible 
provision is included, "three years later" might take on a life of 
its own. As a result, the LDP made a significant concession. 
 
12) DPJ plans strategic moves for the regular session of the Diet, 
 
TOKYO 00003373  009 OF 009 
 
 
presenting bill with economic stimulus measures, tying up the 
administration by continuing deliberations 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
December 12, 2008 
 
With the passage of two major bills, one extending refueling 
operations in the Indian Ocean and the other recapitalizing banks, 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has begun to work out its 
strategy for pursuing the Aso administration in the regular Diet 
session next year. The plan is to tie up the ruling camp in the 
regular Diet session by greatly continuing deliberations on bills 
related to economic stimulus measures that the DPJ presented to the 
Upper House on Dec. 11. The DPJ also will hold in reserve its 
argument for presenting a censure motion against Prime Minister Aso 
and a no-confidence motion against the cabinet to the regular Diet 
session. 
 
13) Hidenao Nakagawa, 56 other LDP lawmakers meet 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
December 12, 2008 
 
A group of 57 Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers, led by 
former Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa, held a meeting yesterday 
at LDP headquarters. The group was formed by Nakagawa to plan relief 
measures for the public. With the public's support for Prime 
Minister Taro Aso's cabinet plummeting, junior and mid-level LDP 
members such as former Administrative Reform Minister Yoshimi 
Watanabe, who has stepped up criticism of Aso, and former Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki, flocked to the meeting. 
Nakagawa also showed up in a study session yesterday of lawmakers 
from the LDP, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), and New Komeito. 
As seen in his activities, he is now in the forefront, with 
political realignment in mind. 
 
In the meeting held yesterday afternoon at LDP headquarters, 
Nakagawa stated: 
 
"I'm truly sorry for that our group is rumored to be a precursor to 
a new party. I want you to discuss matters to create a social 
security system under which the people can live with peace of 
mind." 
 
Nakagawa denied that his group was working on creating a new party. 
He made an effort to play up that the group was formed only for the 
purpose of discussing policy issues, by calling on former Prime 
Minister Shinzo Abe and Election Strategy Council Deputy Chairman 
Yoshihide Suga, who are close to Aso, to take part in the meeting. 
In yesterday's meeting, Abe gave the group a warning, saying: "Now 
is the time to pull together and support the Aso administration in 
order to win back the trust of the people." 
 
However, some LDP members are alarmed by Nakagawa's moves. Nakagawa 
fielded former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike in the party leadership 
race as a candidate to vie with Aso. He has repeatedly referred to 
the possibility of political realignment, noting: "(The will of the 
public) demands drastic change in politics." He also stated: "I will 
make my decision the moment the election is over." 
 
SCHIEFFER