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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000128 
 
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 1/22/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) DVD of Obama speeches a great hit in Japan  (Sankei) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
2) Japan worried that President Obama may ask for Self-Defense 
Forces dispatch to Afghanistan  (Sankei) 
3) Government to enter talks with countries neighboring Somalia, 
like Kenya, about handing over pirates captured on the high seas 
(Nikkei) 
4) Japanese commercial ships hit by pirates 12 times in 2008, three 
times directly off the coast of Somalia  (Asahi) 
 
Diplomacy toward U.S.: 
5) Government to send delegation to U.S. as part of effort to 
strengthen ties with new Obama administration  (Yomiuri) 
6) Prime Minister Aso wants to strengthen the alliance with U.S. but 
his words are limited to abstract phrases  (Mainichi) 
7) Japan wants an early summit meeting between Aso and Obama in 
order to push for resolution of the abduction issue with North Korea 
 (Sankei) 
8) Tokyo is worried that Obama policy toward North Korea will be 
flexible  (Yomiuri) 
9) Japan, concerned that trade protectionism may rise, seeks 
pre-G-20 summit meeting  (Yomiuri) 
 
Opposition party diplomacy toward U.S.: 
10) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to send delegation to U.S. as 
part of effort to build "equal relationship" with Obama 
administration  (Mainichi) 
11) DPJ expects that the launching of the Obama administration will 
be a tailwind for its "change" of government campaign in Japan 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Political agenda: 
12) Parallel deliberations in the Diet on the supplementary budget 
and main budget turning into a war of nerves between the ruling and 
opposition camps  (Nikkei) 
13) Former Prime Minister Mori urges former LDP Secretary General 
Hidenao Nakagawa to leave the Machimura faction over his anti-Aso 
stance  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Obama speech DVD now on sale 
 
SANKEI (Page 28) (Abridged slightly) 
January 22, 2009 
 
DVDs containing Barack Obama's past speeches went on sale in Japan 
on January 21, the day he was sworn in as the President of the 
United States. A copy of the DVD titled "Barack Obama," published by 
Pony Canyon, is now available at a bookstore for 3,150 yen (tax 
included). 
 
Many businessmen, drawn to the charisma of Obama, who is often 
referred to as a second John F. Kennedy, picked up copies of the 
DVD. 
 
President Obama grabbed the hearts of American voters with such 
catchphrases as "Yes, we can" and "change." The DVD contains Obama's 
significant campaign speech for presidential candidate John Kerry, 
 
TOKYO 00000128  002 OF 010 
 
 
delivered in a 2004 Democratic convention, as well as comments by 
actor Robert De Niro, 65, and other celebrities. 
 
Hideki Sato, 46, a teacher, made this comment at a Kinokuniya 
bookstore in Shinjuku: "(Obama) uses key words skillfully. I think 
(the DVD) will help me become a good public speaker." 
 
2) Obama administration might ask Japan to send SDF to Afghanistan 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
The issues of realignment of U.S. forces in Japan and Afghanistan 
hold the key to the Japan-U.S. alliance under the new Obama 
administration. The Defense Ministry, focusing on Robert Gates 
continuing to be defense secretary in the new administration,' 
anticipates no major change in the U.S. policy stance on these 
issues over the next six months. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada 
hopes to visit the U.S. in May to confirm that the new 
administration will maintain what the two countries agreed on. 
 
Japan and the U.S. compiled a U.S. forces realignment plan in 2006. 
But no progress has been made in domestic negotiations on the 
transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan 
City, Okinawa, to a coastal are of Camp Schwab in Nago City as 
Okinawa Prefecture has called for moving the construction site 
further offshore. The plan will run until 2014, but if the 
completion was delayed, the plan might be called off. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan, led by President Ichiro Ozawa, has 
decided to review the Futenma relocation plan, even eyeing a plan to 
relocate the facility outside the prefecture or the nation, in an 
attempt to undermine the government's efforts. Prime Minister Taro 
Aso told reporters yesterday: "There will be no change" in the plan 
of completing the construction work by 2014. The government hopes to 
confirm through a visit by the defense minister to the U.S. and on 
other occasions that there will be no change in the outline of the 
realignment plan and to work on the U.S. to keep the realignment 
issue on the right track. 
 
The Obama administration might pressure Japan to make more 
contributions to help reconstruct Afghanistan. The Department of 
Defense unofficially requested Japan to dispatch troops to 
Afghanistan during the previous administration.  In addition to his 
decision to keep Gates in the post of defense secretary, President 
Obama has advocated shifting emphasis from Iraq to Afghanistan. Many 
observers expect the new administration will ask Japan to expand its 
contributions. 
 
The government intends to play up its eagerness to support 
Afghanistan by distributing 2 billion dollars in aid, the third 
largest donor, following Britain and the U.S., as well as by 
dispatching civilians to the Provisional Reconstruction Team in the 
public welfare area. But if the U.S. comes up with a request for 
Japan's cooperation in the international effort to restore civil 
order in the same way as various countries sending troops, Japan 
might be under pressure to reconsider a plan to dispatch 
Self-Defense Force troops to Afghanistan. 
 
3) Gov't to hold talks with Somalia's neighbors on antipiracy 
measures 
 
 
TOKYO 00000128  003 OF 010 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
The government is planning to send the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
for maritime security operations against pirates in waters off the 
eastern African coast of Somalia. In this regard, the government 
will enter into full-fledged consultations with Somalia's neighbors 
to turn over arrested pirates to their authorities. The government 
will have arrested pirates brought to Japan in the case of serious 
incidents, such as killings involving Japanese nationals. In other 
cases, however, the government intends to turn over arrested pirates 
to neighboring countries. Kenya is on the list of countries expected 
to assume custody of the arrested pirates, and the government is 
considering entering into an agreement with Kenya on turning over 
pirates to authorities there. 
 
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Taro Aso is expected to order the MSDF 
this week to be prepared for maritime security operations against 
pirates under the Self-Defense Forces Law. The government will enter 
into final coordination over how to handle pirates. Japan Coast 
Guard sheriffs, vested with judicial authority, will embark on MSDF 
vessels to arrest and interrogate pirates. 
 
Meanwhile, the ruling coalition's antipiracy project team will meet 
today and formally decide to send an MSDF squadron for maritime 
security operations. 
 
4) Twelve pirate attacks on Japan-related commercial ships in 2008 
 
ASAHI (Page 38) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
The Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry said yesterday there 
were 12 pirate attacks on Japanese or Japanese-chartered ships in 
2008, two more attacks than in the preceding year. There were no 
injuries, but the cargo was taken in most cases. 
 
Three of those pirate attacks took place in the Gulf of Aden north 
of Somalia, where damage from piracy has become a serious problem 
internationally. In April, a Japanese oil tanker, bound for Saudi 
Arabia with seven Japanese crewmen onboard, was attacked there by 
pirates. In July and August, two Panamanian ships were also 
attacked. In both incidents, pirates used weapons to fire on the two 
ships. Pirate ships chased the two ships, but they zigzagged to 
escape, the ministry says. 
 
In addition, there were five attacks in waters near Southeast Asia, 
two attacks near India, and two near Africa, excluding the Gulf of 
Aden. Japanese crewmen were onboard a tanker when it was attacked in 
the Gulf of Aden in April. 
 
According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), there were a 
total of 293 pirate attacks around the world, an increase of 30 
attacks over the preceding year. In the Gulf of Aden, there were as 
many as 92 attacks, an increase of 79 attacks. 
 
The Gulf of Aden is a crucial sealane for Japanese merchant ships, 
so the Japanese Shipowners' Association has repeatedly asked the 
government to take such measures as sending Maritime Self-Defense 
Force vessels. The government and the ruling parties have plans to 
send MSDF vessels for maritime security operations under the 
Self-Defense Forces Law. 
 
TOKYO 00000128  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
5) Japan to go all out to build closer ties with U.S. 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
Now that the administration of President Obama has been launched, 
the government is going to do all it can to communicate with the new 
administration. The government will send a special delegate, Shotaro 
Yachi, a former administrative vice foreign minister, to the United 
States as soon as possible. In addition, the government has started 
coordinating with the U.S. government on holding a foreign 
ministerial meeting before Prime Minister Aso visits the United 
States. 
 
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Kurt Campbell, who is 
likely to be appointed assistant secretary of state for East Asian 
and Pacific affairs, took part in the negotiations on realigning and 
reducing U.S. military bases in Okinawa when the Clinton 
administration was in office. Timothy Geithner, who has been 
designated to become treasury secretary, once served in Japan. The 
Japanese government is therefore taking a positive view of these 
appointments. "They show consideration for relations with Japan," a 
senior Foreign Ministry official noted. 
 
The government is also planning to refurbish and develop the 
Japan-U.S. Economic Partnership for Growth, an intergovernmental 
consultative body on economic issues, into a new framework to 
discuss environmental issues. 
 
6) Prime minister's intention to strengthen Japan-U.S. alliance too 
abstract 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
Tamotsu Takatsuka, Ryo Matsuo 
 
In the wake of the launch of the administration of U.S. President 
Barack Obama, Prime Minister Taro Aso intends to hold a Japan-U.S. 
summit in March ahead of the second (G-20) financial summit to be 
held on April 2 in London with the aim of building relations of 
trust between the two leaders. But the Aso administration's 
approaches to deadlocked bilateral issues, such as the realignment 
of U.S. forces in Japan, remain unclear. As seen in the phrase 
"strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance," words coming out of the mouth 
of Prime Minister Aso are all abstract. 
 
"There are not many outstanding issues for Japan-U.S. relations," a 
Japan-U.S. diplomatic source said. For this reason, a Japan-U.S. 
summit is not high on Washington's agenda. 
 
Because President Obama places top priority on economic issues, the 
prime minister intends to strengthen collaboration in the economic 
area, in which he takes pride. The prime minister showed confidence 
to the press corps yesterday, saying: "I am now certain that the 
world's largest and the second largest economies can join hands to 
move forward." Hit hard by a sudden economic downturn, the recovery 
of the Japanese economy relies heavily on the revival of U.S. 
consumption. "Specific measures are not in sight for collaboration," 
a senior Foreign Ministry official said. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000128  005 OF 010 
 
 
As for the U.S. force realignment issue, there are expectations in 
the Defense Ministry that the approach would change under the new 
U.S. administration. Still, the government is caught between 
affected local areas and the United States, and no change is 
expected in that picture. 
 
Okinawa is calling for moving the envisaged Futenma Camp Schwab 
replacement facility offshore, but the government has repeatedly 
told affected areas, "Making changes is difficult unless there is a 
logical reason." The two sides remain wide apart. Growing 
increasingly distrustful of Japan's response, the United States is 
poised to implement the relocation plan, as was agreed upon. 
 
7) Government ascertaining Obama administration's approach to North 
Korea, aiming at early Japan-U.S. summit to resolve abduction issue 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 22, 2009 
 
Following the inauguration of the new U.S. government of President 
Barack Obama, the government is aiming to set a meeting between 
Obama and President Taro Aso in March, at the earliest, to have them 
establish a relation of trust. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo 
Kawamura said: "Japan has proposed to the U.S. holding their first 
meeting as soon as possible." If the Obama administration assumes a 
policy of dialogue toward North Korea, the move may open a rift 
between Japan and the U.S. over the issue of abductions of Japanese 
nationals by North Korea. 
 
Aso told reporters yesterday: "Both countries have the same 
perception about the ongoing economic crisis. I have been convinced 
that the largest and second largest economic powers can work 
together to contain the crisis." Yet, the government appears not to 
have ascertained what approach the U.S. might take toward North 
Korea on the nuclear and abduction issues, both matters of greatest 
concern for Japan. 
 
A senior Foreign Ministry official indicated that the Obama 
administration might take an approach that contradicts that of his 
predecessor George W. Bush, who called North Korea "a rogue nation." 
The official noted: "Once a new administration comes in, it tends to 
reject 60 to 70 PERCENT  of its predecessor's policies in an attempt 
to highlight the differences between the two presidencies. Such 
might occur in policy toward North Korea." Vice President Joseph 
Biden has advocated a policy of reconciliation with the North. He is 
said to have backed up conciliatory stance toward the North taken by 
then Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill when speaking to 
the Congress," according to a government source. 
 
Another senior ministry official, however, offered a different view: 
"Many people say that a Democratic Party government would be soft on 
North Korea, but the party still remembers that the North reneged on 
the 1994 framework accord reached under the Clinton administration. 
I do not think the new administration will simply pursue a policy of 
dialogue." 
 
Before assuming the presidency, Obama gave credit to the agreement 
reached with North Korea last October on a verification regime that 
was advantageous to Pyongyand. He said: "This is a step forward 
toward North Korea's denuclearization." But it remained unknown how 
the president now evaluates the accord. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000128  006 OF 010 
 
 
A senior Liberal Democratic Party member said: "I think Mr. Obama 
does not know the abduction issue well, unlike Mr. Bush, who had met 
Sakie Yokota, the mother of an abduction victim. Japan must make 
efforts to let him know the importance of the issue soon." 
 
8) Obama administration: Government wary of U.S. softening its 
stance toward North Korea; Hopes to hold summit meeting at early 
date 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
The Obama administration was inaugurated on January 20 (21st Japan 
time). Both Japan and the U.S. are geared up to continue to maintain 
the present solid state of the alliance. However, there are a number 
of challenges facing the bilateral relationship. 
 
Commenting on the inauguration ceremony of Barack Obama as the 
president of the United States, Foreign Minister Nakasone on the 
21st told reporters: "An awesome number of people turned out. I 
would like both of our countries to tackle the many challenges to 
peace and stability of the world that we face." 
 
President Obama has stressed that he will shift to multilateral 
cooperation, moving away from the Bush administration's 
unilateralism. However, some take the view that his basic approach 
to America's long-standing alliance ties with such countries as 
Japan would not change but basically continue, according to one 
Foreign Ministry official. 
 
The Japanese government is paying close attention to the Obama 
administration's approach to problems that created friction and 
gulfs between the two countries during the Bush administration, 
despite its having been termed a "honeymoon-like relationship." 
 
 
Regarding the issue of Japanese abducted by North Korea, according 
to a Japan specialist in the U.S. Democratic Party, "The new 
administration does intend to repeat the same mistake it made when 
it delisted North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism, causing 
discord with Japan." There is a growing sense of alarm in Japan that 
President Obama, who attaches importance to dialogue, will soften 
Washington's stance toward Pyongyang. 
 
The President plans to call on European countries and other U.S. 
allies to boost their troop presence in Afghanistan. If Japan 
continues to avoid a dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), 
Obama might ask Japan to assume a large financial burden, including 
funding troop presence in Afghanistan. 
 
The prevailing view regarding the plan to realign U.S. forces in 
Japan that includes the relocation of the Futenma Air Station and 
the issue of reform of the UN Security Council that includes Japan's 
bid for a permanent seat is that the Obama administration will 
continue the previous administration's stances. In such cases, 
Japan's actions and ideas for finding a breakthrough would be 
needed. 
 
Commenting on how Japan could make a good start in relations with 
the Obama administration, one U.S. government source pointed out: 
"Japan is expected to come up with specific proposals in such areas 
as dealing with climate change, which is Japan's strong point. In 
 
TOKYO 00000128  007 OF 010 
 
 
that case, the first bilateral summit meeting would be important." 
 
Prime Minister Aso has expressed a desire for an early visit to the 
U.S.  But with Diet deliberations on the second fiscal 2008 extra 
budget and the fiscal 2009 budget going on, a government source 
predicted that Aso's visit to the U.S. would likely be delayed until 
just prior to the financial summit on April 2. 
 
9) Government hopes for Aso-Obama meeting before G-20; Alarmed about 
protectionism 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
The Japanese government sees the Obama administration, according to 
a senior Finance Ministry official, as "understanding that 
cooperation with Japan is crucial for recovery of the U.S. economy, 
and Washington, too, hopes to deepen its dialogue with Tokyo." 
 
Cooperation between the two governments will be tested at the Group 
of 20 (G-20) financial summit meeting slated for April. The G-20 
members agreed last year to tighten financial regulations, but the 
countries failed to come up with concrete measures, carrying such 
over to the next meeting. All eyes are now focused on whether 
expected achievements can be reached in cooperation with the Obama 
administration on such areas as the transparency of financial 
transactions and strengthening of surveillance of financial 
institutions. To that end, the government wants to hold a bilateral 
meeting between Prime Minister Aso and President Obama ahead of the 
G-20 summit. Shoichi Nakagawa, finance minister and state minister 
for financial services, stated: "As soon as my counterpart is 
appointed, I want to meet or talk on the phone with that person." A 
meeting of the Japanese and U.S. finance ministers on the sidelines 
of the Group of Seven (G-7) finance ministers and central bank 
governors will likely a preparatory meeting for the G-20 summit. 
 
However, new U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk, a former 
Dallas mayor, has little experience in trade negotiations. Assuming 
that if the U.S. economy fails to get back on a recovery track and 
the jobless rate goes up, some Japanese government officials are 
concerned that protectionist moves might appear in the United 
States. A senior official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry showed concern by saying, "There would be tougher moves to 
control imports of foreign products, such as filing complaints of 
dumping and tightening the trade law." 
 
10) DPJ to hasten approach to Obama administration, with delegation 
to be sent to U.S. in February seeking to build "equal 
relationship" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
Joichi Sato 
 
The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is taking the 
establishment of the Obama administration as "our great chance to 
seek an equal partnership" with the United States, as DPJ Secretary 
General Yukio Hatoyama put it. With a change of government in Japan 
in mind, the party plans to step up its approach to the Obama 
administration in order to realize its policies, such as moving the 
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa, out of 
 
TOKYO 00000128  008 OF 010 
 
 
the prefecture. The party intends to send a delegation to the United 
States as early as February to have talks with Vice President Joe 
Biden, Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton and other U.S. 
leaders. 
 
Hatoyama indicated to the press corps in Tokyo yesterday that his 
party would work upon the Obama administration to relocate Futenma 
Air Station to a site outside Okinawa. He said: "It is important to 
come up with an idea to move quickly the air station out of the 
prefecture. It is necessary to hold talks to reduce the burden on 
the Okinawa public in the future." 
 
Since immediately after Barack Obama won the presidency, the DPJ has 
been in contact with persons connected with the new administration 
behind the scenes. 
 
In December, DPJ leaders exchanged views in Tokyo with former U.S. 
Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye, a leading candidate to 
become the next ambassador to Japan, and others. Regular talks have 
also begun through diplomatic channels in Tokyo. 
 
Talks on DPJ policies are certain to face difficulties, such as a 
revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and opposition 
to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean, in addition to the Futenma issue. A lawmaker with expertise 
in foreign and security affairs thought the party was trying to pick 
a fight with the United States with those issues. DPJ President 
Ichiro Ozawa is willing to visit the United States after this year's 
Lower House election. The DPJ intends to seek the understanding of 
the Obama administration toward the party's positions by moving 
quickly to deepen its ties with it. 
 
11) DPJ hopes to receive boost from inauguration of Obama 
administration 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Hatoyama during a 
meeting of "The Next Cabinet" expressed his feeling of expatiation 
that the launching of the Obama administration would give a boost 
for a change in government in the next Lower House election. He 
said, "The U.S. has achieved a change in government under a 
difficult situation. Such thinking here will help bring substantive 
changes to Japanese politics." 
 
Upper House Diet Policy Committee Chairman Susumu Yanase stressed 
during a press conference: "A change in government will become a 
historical necessity this year. I believe the world and Japan will 
be on the same wavelength." 
 
President Obama will shift foreign policy away from that advocated 
by the previous administration. Some DPJ members expect this could 
favorably impact on their party. They believe that because the DPJ 
has been criticizing the government and the ruling parties on the 
dispatches of Self-Defense Forces' (SDF) troops to Iraq and the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, 
once the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq is realized, the 
party can appeal to the public that their stance was correct. On the 
agreement to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, as 
well, some DPJ members, according to a senior party official, take 
the view that the Obama administration might soften its stance on 
 
TOKYO 00000128  009 OF 010 
 
 
the plan. 
 
In the meantime, with the possibility of DPJ administration in Japan 
in mind, the U.S. has sounded out President Ozawa about his visiting 
the U.S. at an early date. But Ozawa turned down the offer, saying, 
"I would like to visit the U.S. after achieving a victory in the 
next Lower House election." The DPJ plans to launch efforts to 
establish a network of contacts with staffers of the Obama 
administration, by having Hatoyama and other members visit the U.S. 
shortly, but already, some U.S. officials have voiced concern about 
Ozawa's stance. 
 
12) War of nerves over simultaneous deliberations on second FY2008 
extra budget and FY 2009 budget 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
The ruling and opposition parties yesterday clashed over whether to 
take a vote on Jan. 23 on the second supplementary budget for fiscal 
2008, including the controversial 2 trillion yen cash-handout 
program and related bills. The ruling coalition intends to have four 
government speeches, including a policy speech by Prime Minister 
Taro Aso, delivered on Jan. 26 in the House of Representatives, even 
if the opposition camp does not respond to the vote on the bills in 
the House of Councillors. The opposition has continued a war of 
nerves, rebutting the ruling bloc's idea of holding deliberations on 
the fiscal 2009 budget before the 2008 second extra budget clears 
the Diet. 
 
In an informal meeting last evening of the Upper House Budget 
Committee, the ruling camp called for holding a general 
question-and-answer session today, a precondition for taking a vote 
tomorrow, but the opposition rejected it. As a result the meeting 
ended in failure. Three budget-related bills have not been referred 
to each committee. Seiji Suzuki, chairman of the Liberal Democratic 
Party's (LDP) Diet Affairs Committee in the Upper House, told his 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) counterpart Susumu Yanase: "We will 
entrust a timetable for the four government speeches to a decision 
by the Lower House," insisting that Yanase had agreed to hold the 
vote on Jan. 23. 
 
The Diet affairs committee chiefs of the LDP and New Komeito, the 
LDP's coalition partner, discussed on Jan. 21 how they would respond 
to the matter. The two confirmed that two ruling parties will convey 
their plan to deliver the four speeches on the 23rd to an informal 
meeting on the 22nd of the Lower House Steering Committee directors 
and that even if their proposal is rejected by the opposition, they 
will take a vote on the 26 without the presence of the opposition 
bloc. The ruling coalition intends not to hesitate to start 
deliberations on the 2009 budget before the passage of the second 
extra budget. 
 
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, in a meeting yesterday of the 
'Next Cabinet', criticized the ruling coalition's idea of holding 
deliberations on the 2009 budget before the extra budget is adopted, 
saying: "The ruling coalition is committing a sacrilege against the 
Diet and neglecting the Upper House." However, if the opposition 
delays a vote on the second supplementary budget, they could come 
under criticism from the public. Therefore, there is a view in the 
DPJ that it would be appropriate to take a vote early next week. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000128  010 OF 010 
 
 
13) Former Prime Minister Mori urges Nakagawa to leave Machimura 
faction 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 22, 2009 
 
Asked in an interview by the Asahi Shimbun yesterday about Hidenao 
Nakagawa, former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secretary general, 
who has stepped up criticism of the Aso administration over such 
issues as the consumption tax hike issue, former Prime Minister 
Yoshiro Mori criticized Nakagawa, saying: "That's a complete revolt. 
He should do so after he quits as a leader (of the Machimura 
faction)." Mori indicated his view that the bonds of collective 
leadership should be reviewed. He then stressed that Nakagawa should 
leave the faction if he continues to criticize the Aso 
administration. 
 
Speaking of Nakagawa's words and actions, Mori said: "I cannot say 
that he is a leading politician." The faction is led by (former 
Chief Cabinet Secretary) Nobutaka Machimura, Nakagawa and Shuzen 
Tanigawa, chairman of the LDP members from the two Diet chambers. 
Mori said: "The present collective leadership should be 
reconsidered." 
 
Mori sought to constrain junior and mid-level lawmakers in the LDP 
who oppose the government's idea of making specific the timing of a 
hike in the consumption tax in a clause attached to a tax reform 
bill, arguing: 
 
"That has been approved by the (party's) Policy Research Council and 
General Affairs Council. They did not say anything at that time. 
They are putting Mr. Aso in an awkward position. They will tarnish 
his image." 
 
Mori added: "Under Mr. Aso's leadership, the LDP as a responsible 
party should fight the (general election). I think the cabinet 
should be shuffled." He indicated his view that the cabinet should 
be shuffled after the passage of the budgets and then a snap 
election should be carried out. 
 
ZUMWALT