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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000139 
 
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//09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
4) Obama has 90 PERCENT  support rate - in Japan! (Internet poll) 
(Nikkan Sports) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
5) With ruling parties' approval, government to order MSDF to 
prepare for departure to waters off Somalia for anti-piracy 
operation  (Asahi) 
6) Ambassador posted to coastal African states: "Young people long 
to be pirates"  (Asahi) 
7) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lawmaker Nagashima lauds MSDF 
dispatch for anti-piracy mission  (Mainichi) 
8) LDP panel discusses defense planning  (Asahi) 
9) Yokohama Marine Accident Tribunal finds MSDF Aegis ship Atago to 
be the primary cause of the accident that sunk a fishing boat in 
Tokyo Bay last Feb.  (Mainichi) 
10) Government to cut budget for project in China to dispose of WWII 
chemicals  (Sankei) 
 
Diplomatic affairs: 
11) Foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea to meet Feb. 11 
(Mainichi) 
12) Foreign ministry directors general from Japan, ROK to discuss 
Afghanistan assistance  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) Iran's president sends letter to Prime Minister Aso  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
14) Heizo Takenaka, Koizumi's economic tsar and now on board of 
Davos Conference, invites Prime Minister Aso to attend the 
conference  (Mainichi) 
 
Economy: 
15) Bank of Japan predicts minus 2 PERCENT  growth in fiscal 2009, 
which would be the worst in postwar history  (Asahi) 
16) Second supplementary budget likely to pass on Jan. 26  (Nikkei) 
 
 
Politics: 
17) DPJ strategy to lure out rebels from the LDP fizzles  (Yomiuri) 
 
18) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike, faced with new weekly 
allegations, denies that he leaked classified information to his 
female companion  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
BOJ expects real GDP to fall 2 PERCENT  in fiscal 2009 
 
Mainichi, Tokyo Shimbun & Akahata: 
Tribunal finds destroyer Atago primary cause of collision with boat 
 
Yomiuri: 
Nippon Steel to additionally suspend shaft furnace in Chiba 
 
Nikkei: 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
BOJ predicts economic contractions two years in row 
 
Sankei: 
Government to freeze project to dispose of chemical weapons 
abandoned in China 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) MSDF must take recommendations by tribunal seriously on 
collision between Atago, fishing boat 
(2) BOJ should offer large-scale capital-procurement aid for 
companies 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Reflecting on Atago incident, give priority to "safety" in MSDF 
reform 
(2) Two-stage consumption tax hike plan: Seek people's judgment 
first 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) New legislation needed to fight piracy 
(2) Measures to prevent deflation urgently needed to contain 
economic crisis 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) BOJ urged to prepare full measures to prevent more serious 
economic tumble 
(2) MSDF reform urgently needed 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Confusion in LDP on consumption tax hike disappoints people 
(2) MSDF should shape up in response to unusual recommendations in 
trial on Aegis collision 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) In debating consumption tax hike, public trust in government 
needed first 
(2) Conduct thorough debate on SDF dispatch to Somalia 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Expansion of SDF overseas missions impermissible 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 22 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
07:35 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
11:32 
Met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura at the Kantei. 
 
14:31 
Met with Kawamura and his deputies Matumoto and Iruma, joined in by 
another deputy Konoike. Matsumoto stayed on. 
 
15:32 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitsuya. 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
 
16:01 
Met with Keio University Prof. Takenaka and LDP Election Strategy 
Council Deputy Chairman Suga, followed by Vice Foreign Minister 
Yabunaka. 
 
17:24 
Met with Iranian presidential envoy Hashemi Samareh, in the presence 
of Kawamura. 
 
18:17 
Held a summit meeting with Prime Minister Godmanis of Latvia. 
 
19:33 
Met with LDP Upper House first-term lawmakers at the Hotel New 
Otani. 
 
21:52 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) 90 PERCENT  support Obama in Japan 
 
NIKKAN SPORTS (Page 21) (Abridged) 
January 23, 2009 
 
New U.S. President Obama, 47, started his work on Jan. 21, a day 
after his historic inaugural address. Obama retook his oath of 
office at the White House because a word was out of sequence when he 
was sworn in on Tuesday. However, Obama has now set about to bring 
change. To begin with, Obama has frozen pay raises for high-ranking 
government officials and has started his administration. Across the 
Pacific, Obama's support rate reached 89.7 PERCENT  in Japan, 
according to an online poll. In Japan as well, all eyes are on 
everything he does. 
 
In Japan, public support for Obama hit an overwhelming 89.7 PERCENT 
rate. This data, which came out on Jan. 22, is a finding from an 
online questionnaire survey conducted on Jan. 9-13 by Lifenet 
Insurance Co., an Internet life insurance firm. The poll was 
conducted of males and females in their teens and in their 20s, 30s, 
40s, and 50s. Valid responses totaled 968. The figure is 5.7 points 
higher than the 84.0 PERCENT  rating in a recent CNN poll, which was 
conducted in the United States and revealed on Jan. 18. 
 
The Japanese public's feeling of expectations for Obama may be 
stronger than the American public's. In the Lifenet survey, those 
who support Obama were further asked to answer what they would like 
him to do (up to three choices). The results are: 
 
¶1. Overcome the financial crisis (78.7 PERCENT ) 
¶2. Favorable impact on the Japanese economy (48.0 PERCENT ) 
¶3. Environmental policy (37.3 PERCENT ) 
¶4. North Korea problem (34.0 PERCENT ) 
¶4. Middle East stabilization (22.7 PERCENT ) 
 
These issues should be undertaken by the Japanese government. 
However, the latest rate of public support for the Aso cabinet, 
which holds Japan's fate, is as low as 19.2 PERCENT , according to a 
Kyodo News telephone poll released on Jan. 12. Asked about the Aso 
cabinet's 2-trillion-yen cash handout plan, 70.5 PERCENT  gave 
negative answers. The figure shows public disappointment at such a 
policy. The online poll this time seems to reflect the sad reality 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
of Japan that has no choice but to hang its hopes on a foreign 
country's new president. 
 
5) MSDF to be ordered to prepare for security operations 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
January 23, 2009 
 
The government has decided to order the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
to prepare for maritime security operations against pirates in 
waters off the eastern African coast of Somalia. The Defense 
Ministry says the MSDF needs a month or two for training and other 
purposes. The actual order is expected to be issued in or after 
March. 
 
The New Komeito-the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's coalition 
partner-was cautious about sending MSDF vessels. However, the New 
Komeito held a meeting of its executive officers yesterday and 
approved guidelines worked out by the ruling coalition's antipiracy 
project team for the MSDF. The LDP and the New Komeito will reach a 
formal agreement in a meeting of their policy chiefs on Jan. 27. 
Prime Minister Aso will receive a report from the two parties' 
policy chiefs and will direct Defense Minister Hamada to order the 
MSDF to be prepared for maritime security operations. Aso and Hamada 
are expected to meet today to discuss a future course of action. 
 
6) Young people admire pirates: envoy 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
January 23, 2009 
 
Ambassador to Ethiopia Kinichi Komano, concurrently serving as 
ambassador to Djibouti and covering Somalia, told the Asahi Shimbun 
in an interview that it would be difficult to find a fundamental 
solution to the issue of piracy in waters off Somalia. "Piracy is an 
occupation that attracts local young people," Komano said. He also 
indicated that the MSDF would not be in a state of battle with 
pirates there. 
 
According to Komano, many of those pirates used to be coast-based 
fishermen. Somalia has been in a state of anarchy since 1991, and 
they went armed to drive foreign fishing boats away due to their 
reckless fishing. Later on, they joined hands with a private army 
and became pirates hunting hostages for ransoms. 
 
7) DPJ's Nagashima positively assesses planned Somalia dispatch 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Akihisa Nagashima, in the taping 
of a BS 11 Digital program yesterday, positively evaluated the 
government's policy course to dispatch (Maritime Self-Defense Force) 
destroyers to engage in anti-piracy operations in waters off Somalia 
under a maritime policing provision. He said: "They will engage in 
policing operations; their conducting international cooperation 
activities will contribute to our national interests." Nagashima is 
a main member of the anti-piracy nonpartisan parliamentary league. 
 
He also had this view about new anti-piracy legislation, now being 
studied by the government and the ruling parties: "The Japan Coast 
Guard Law will be applied to the SDF. The weapons use standards 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
should be relaxed under the law. Caution must be practiced in 
establishing a new law." 
 
8) LDP panel meets to discuss defense plan 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party held a meeting of its defense 
policy review subcommittee yesterday at its headquarters to discuss 
the National Defense Program Guidelines, which is expected to be 
revised late this year. In the wake of changes in the international 
situation, such as China's military buildup and North Korea's 
nuclear development, the panel will discuss the Japan-U.S. alliance, 
international cooperation, the Self-Defense Forces' organization and 
deployment, and the use of outer space for defense. It will work out 
a report of recommendations by the end of May. 
 
In the meeting, one participant insisted that Japan should have a 
comprehensive security strategy including foreign and energy 
policies. In addition, another suggested the need for Japan to 
enhance its antiterror capability and maintain deterrence on China 
and North Korea. 
 
9) MSDF destroyer Atago was main cause of collision with fishing 
boat: Tribunal determines 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Lead para.) 
January 23, 2009 
 
The Yokohama Marine Accident Tribunal on January 22 recommended in 
its decision reached in connection with the collision of the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) Aegis-equipped destroyer Atago 
with the fishing boat Seitoku-Maru in February last year that the 
3rd Escort Division of the 3rd Escort Flotilla (former 63rd Escort 
Division deployed in Maizuru City, Kyoto), to which the destroyer 
belongs, provide thorough instructions on safe navigation. Chief 
Judge Koji Orito determined that the Atago's failure to avoid the 
course of the Seitoku-Maru due to its insufficient surveillance is 
the main cause of the accident. The councilors -- equivalent to 
public prosecutors in criminal trials -- will unlikely apply for the 
second instance. If the ruling is finalized, this would be the first 
issuance of such a remonstrance against the MSDF. 
 
10) Government to freeze project to remove leftover chemical weapons 
in China for three years 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
January 23, 2009 
 
The government has decided to freeze for the next three years a 
project to construct plants related to disposing of chemical weapons 
abandoned by the Imperial Japanese Army in Haerbaling, Jilin 
Province, China. The government also plans to significantly scale 
down the project, according to government sources yesterday. Most of 
leftover weapons are still buried in Haerbaling. The government 
intends to carry out recovery and detoxifying works in small-scale 
excavation and recovery projects across the nation first. The 
government expects the construction cost to be reduced to one-tenth 
of the initial estimate. The weapons-disposal project has been 
criticized as containing uncertain elements. 
 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
According to the responsible office in the Cabinet Office, the 
headquarters of the Kwantung army was located near Haerbaling, and 
300,000 to 400,000 munitions are considered to be still underground 
in the foothills of Haerbaling Mountains. 
 
The government started the disposal project in fiscal 1999 and 
injected approximately 54 billion yen in it by fiscal 2007. The 
governments of Japan and China agreed in April, 2004, to construct a 
facility for excavation and recovery, as well as a plant to detoxify 
the recovered shells. The total cost of the project was estimated at 
more than 200 billion yen. 
 
The project has been at a standstill due to slow progress in 
coordination on the Chinese side. In the fall, 2007, a fraud case 
involving Abandoned Chemical Weapons Disposal Corp., the sole agent 
to manage the project, was revealed. Around that time, In response 
to questions by the Japanese government to several Japanese 
companies about instructions for excavation and recovery equipment, 
they reportedly sought an additional investigation, citing a lack of 
information. 
 
Many ruling party members criticized the project for a heavier 
financial burden on Japan. In March 2008, the Japanese government 
cancelled the contract with the said company and started 
reconsidering the project. Based on the judgment that the project to 
construct big facilities in Haerbaling is not practical, the 
government decided to freeze the project for the time being and 
scale down it. 
 
11) Japan-South Korea foreign ministerial set for Feb. 11 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
It has generally been decided that a Japan-South Korea foreign 
ministerial will take place in Seoul on February 11 between Foreign 
Minister Hirofumi Nakasone and Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu 
Myung Hwan, according to a Japanese government source yesterday. In 
the wake of the launch of the administration of U.S. President 
Barack Obama, they are expected to discuss, among other things, the 
maintenance of cooperation between Japan, the United States and 
collaboration between Japan and South Korea on reconstruction 
assistance to Afghanistan. Prime Minister Taro Aso, in a Japan-South 
Korea summit on Jan. 12, announced his intention to have Foreign 
Minister Nakasone visit South Korea at an early date. 
 
12) Japan-ROK bureau director-level talks on Afghan aid occur on 
Jan. 30 in Seoul 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
Kaname Fukuda, Seoul 
 
The governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have 
decided to hold on Jan. 30 working-level talks of bureau 
director-level officials on bilateral cooperation in implementing 
measures supporting the reconstruction of Afghanistan. 
 
Coinciding with the upcoming Japan-ROK foreign ministerial, the 
outcomes of the talks will be clarified. The South Korean Foreign 
Affairs and Trade Ministry revealed the decision yesterday. 
 
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Prime Minister Taro Aso and President Lee Myung Bak agreed in their 
recent meeting to hold the working-level talks. As U.S. President 
Barack Obama plans to give priority to the Afghan issue, Japan and 
South Korea are aiming to jointly carry out projects with an eye on 
collaboration with Washington. According to the South Korean Foreign 
Affairs and Trade Ministry, Tokyo and Seoul are looking into the 
possibility of assisting Afghanistan in vocational training and 
agricultural areas. 
 
13) Aso receives letter from Iranian president 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso met with Iranian presidential envoy Hashemi 
Samareh at his office yesterday. From the envoy, Aso received 
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter expressing his wishes to 
cooperate with Japan for the peace and stability of the Middle East, 
including the Palestinian Gaza Strip. 
 
In response, the prime minister said: "It is important to make the 
ceasefire (in Gaza) lasting. I expect that Iran will play a 
constructive role." The prime minister also expressed his hope 
regarding the reconstruction of Afghanistan, saying: "Iran's role is 
important as its neighbor." 
 
14) Takenaka asks Aso to attend Davos meeting 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
Kuniaki Kinoshita 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso met at his office yesterday with Keio 
University Professor and former Internal Affairs and Communications 
Minister Heizo Takenaka. Takenaka asked the prime minister to attend 
the annual World Economic Forum (Davos meeting), scheduled to open 
on Jan. 28 in Switzerland's Davos, as a board member to engage in 
the meeting's operation. In response, the prime minister indicated 
that he would attend the meeting, saying, "I am fully aware of the 
importance of the meeting." 
 
Takenaka served as economic and fiscal policy minister and internal 
and communications minister during the former Koizumi 
administration. With Prime Minister Aso having underlined a shift 
away from the Koizumi policy course recently, the two are on 
cat-and-dog terms, so to speak. Takenaka has recently criticized 
Aso's consumption tax hike plan. 
 
The meeting lasted about 40 minutes. Takenaka did not reveal 
specifics to the press, saying, "We did not discuss such." The 
meeting was also attended by Liberal Democratic Party Election 
Strategy Council Deputy Chairman Yoshihide Suga, and this has 
stirred some conjectures about the contents of the meeting. 
 
15) BOJ expects real GDP to be minus 2 PERCENT  in fiscal 2009: 
Projects economic contraction at record pace in postwar era 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
January 23, 2009 
 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on January 22 revised downward its outlook 
for the growth of the nation's real domestic products in fiscal 2008 
from 0.1 PERCENT  as of October last year to negative 1.8 PERCENT 
and that for fiscal 2009 from 0.6 PERCENT  to negative 2.0 PERCENT . 
The central bank reported that outlook in an interim assessment of 
its biannual Outlook for Economic Activity and prices released in 
October, which it finalized at a policy-setting meeting held the 
same day. 
 
The government in its economic outlook issued in December last year 
estimated the growth of the GDP in fiscal 2008 at negative 0.8 
PERCENT  and that for fiscal 2009 at zero growth. However, if the 
BOJ projection is realized, the growth of the GDP would fall below 
the negative 1.5 PERCENT  marked in 1998 to become the lowest-ever 
recorded since 1956. This would be the second year in a row for GDP 
to fall. 
 
16) Second extra budget: Coordination under way for holding vote on 
the 26th; Bridging bill likely to be put on hold 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) on January 22 began coordination of views with the possibility 
of holding on a vote on the fiscal 2008 second supplementary budget 
in the Upper House on the 26th. The ruling parties had originally 
been seeking a vote on the 23rd. The DPJ's side is leaning toward 
agreeing on an early vote, because if it delays the timetable, it 
could draw criticism from the public. In connection with this, one 
high-ranking government official said that it might be all right not 
to submit a bridging bill aimed at extending tariff reduction 
measures for a certain fixed period -- an idea floated in the ruling 
camp. 
 
The Upper House Budget Committee at its directors meeting held on 
the 22nd discussed how to handle the second extra budget. 
 
One LDP source, however, revealed that Diet Policy Committee 
Chairman Tadamori Oshima had already reached an agreement with 
senior DPJ officials on holding a vote on the 26th. The budget bill 
is set to secure Diet approval after the joint committee of both 
Houses, once it is voted down in the opposition party-ruling Upper 
House. 
 
In this case, the ruling camp intends to put off to the 27th four 
speeches by government officials, including Prime Minister Aso's 
policy speech, slated for the 26th. The ruling camp will thus give 
consideration to the opposition parties, which are strongly opposing 
holding parallel Diet deliberations -- starting deliberations on the 
fiscal 2009 budget before passage of the second supplementary 
budget. 
 
Many DPJ members also take the stand that holding a vote on the 
second extra budget should not be delayed intentionally, as one 
senior official said. However, since senior officials, such as 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, are set to decide the party's 
stance on the 23rd, there still remain some unclear elements. 
 
17) DPJ's strategy of drawing out rebels in LDP ends in failure 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
 
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SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 1//09 
 
January 23, 2009 
 
With the settlement of coordination between the government and 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) regarding a supplementary 
clause on a consumption tax hike of a government bill on tax system 
reform for fiscal 2009, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the 
largest opposition force, has now lost a winning hand to force the 
Aso administration to resign at an early date, although the DPJ 
looked forward to bringing out many rebels in the LDP to vote 
against the bill. The party will likely have to modify its national 
strategy. 
 
DPJ Deputy President Naoto Kan said in a strong tone: "If I say we 
didn't expect rebels, it would be lying. But we did not look forward 
to rebellions alone," when asked by reporters about the low 
possibility of LDP members defying the party leadership. Kan then 
criticized the result of coordination between the government and 
LDP, saying: 
 
"Prime Minister Aso again made a policy flip-flop. The government 
has lost its reason for existence, having made such an unreasonable 
decision." 
 
The DPJ's strategy for the current Diet session was to focus on the 
cash-handout program and a consumption tax hike, to which many LDP 
lawmakers were opposed. It planned to force Aso to resign or to 
dissolve the Lower House by drawing out rebels in the LDP when the 
bill was voted on in the Lower House. To that end, the party was 
preparing for fighting the next general election, by doing such 
things as deciding final candidates after conducting a survey on the 
single-seat constituencies before the end of January. 
 
However, only two LDP lawmakers, including former Administrative 
Reform Minister Yoshimi Watanabe, defied the party leadership in 
taking a vote on the second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008, 
including the cash-handout program. The situation is that the DPJ 
cannot expect many LDP revels going again a revote on the 
budget-related bills in the Lower House. The party also cannot 
anticipate many rebellions toward the consumption tax bill. 
 
18) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike rebuts weekly magazine: 
No leakage of classified information 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 23, 2009 
 
When asked by reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
about a weekly magazine Shukan Shincho article pointing out the 
possibility of his leaking classified information to his female 
friend, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshitada Konoike yesterday 
rebutted: "I have never leaked confidential information." The weekly 
magazine in question was on sale on Jan 22. 
 
In a press conference yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo 
Kawamura stated: "I confirmed that there was no leakage of 
information related to national secrets," taking testimony from 
Konoike. 
 
Kawamura also revealed that he told Konoike: "Full-fledged 
deliberations on the fiscal 2009 budget will start. I want you to 
further heighten your guard." 
 
 
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ZUMWALT