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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 TOKYO 000161 
 
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 1/26/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
U.S.-Japan relations: 
4) Joseph Nye said picked as ambassador to Japan  (Yomiuri) 
5) By selecting Nye, Obama administration sends message to Japan 
about importance of the alliance, wiping away anxiety that U.S. will 
tilt toward China  (Yomiuri) 
6) Danny Russel, Japan Desk director at State, selected to move over 
the White House to head Japan-Korea NSC desk  (Yomiuri) 
 
7) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is speeding up its overseas 
diplomacy in order to ready itself to assume power from the Liberal 
Democratic Party  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Pirate chasing: 
8) Defense Minister Hamada unhappy with stop-gap measure to send 
MSDF to Somalia to protect Japanese ships from pirates, prefers 
proper new law  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) DPJ cannot make up its collective mind whether to support or 
oppose MSDF dispatch for anti-piracy mission  (Sankei) 
10) Prime ministers Aso, Lee during their Jan. 12 summit meeting 
agreed to have warships cooperate in dealing with pirates in waters 
off Somalia  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
11) Japan-Russia summit meeting being set up for next month  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
Opinion polls: 
 
12) Nikkei poll: Aso Cabinet support rate sinks again to 19 PERCENT 
, with non-support rate now at 76 PERCENT ; DPJ support rate tops 
LDP's, 37 PERCENT  to 29 PERCENT   (Nikkei) 
 
13) Mainichi poll: Cabinet non-support rate jumps 7 points to 65 
PERCENT , 2nd worst in Mainichi series since 1949, while support 
rate slips to 19 PERCENT :  (Mainichi) 
 
Political agenda: 
14) DPJ seems to be pulling back from its all-out confrontational 
stand against the ruling camp in the Diet on the second 
supplementary budget  (Mainichi) 
15) First time for a woman to win a gubernatorial race in the Tohoku 
(northern Honshu) region; Campaigned on "change" slogan modeled 
after Obama  (Yomiuri) 
16) The opposition-backed gubernatorial win in Yamagata Prefecture, 
a previously LDP stronghold, deals a heavy blow to that party 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
17) Government to set short to mid-term targets for reduction of 
greenhouse gases, 6-25 PERCENT  cuts, based on base year 1990 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Potential relocation site of Tsukiji fish market found contaminated 
 
TOKYO 00000161  002 OF 014 
 
 
with 115 times higher concentration of cancer-causing substance than 
reported 
 
Mainichi & Tokyo Shimbun 
Yoshimura backed by DPJ beats LDP-supported incumbent in Yamagata 
gubernatorial election 
 
Yomiuri: 
Accountant, others swindle 38 billion yen from former Goodwill Group 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Government to introduce new system this summer to light taxation on 
energy-saving investment 
 
Sankei: 
Transport Ministry eyes support for ferry industry to ease damage 
from reduction in express tolls 
 
Akahata: 
Poverty surrounding children becoming serious 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Direct talks urged to break impasse on Iran's nuclear 
development problem 
(2) Molestation in sports world: System needed to produce more 
female coaches 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Obama diplomacy: "Fairness" key to dissolving distrust 
(2) China sharply increasing defense budget, according to white 
paper 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Can Obama's Green New Deal serve to contain economic crisis? 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Japan still conducting inward-looking debate on emissions-cut 
goals 
(2) Proposal for shortening period of clinical training 
questionable 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Banks should positively make use of public funds-injection 
system 
(2) China's white paper on national defense remains ambiguous about 
military expansion 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Change of temporary staff to regular workers will enhance 
morale 
(2) Lead integrated system of junior high and senior high schools to 
reviving confidence in public education 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Party subsidies: Political parties have not reflecting on 
seeking tax money 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
 
TOKYO 00000161  003 OF 014 
 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 24 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 25, 2009 
 
10:00 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
12:57 
Arrived at his private office in Nagatacho. 
 
14:16 
Returned to his private residence in Kamiyamacho. 
 
15:13 
Visited Fuji Glasses in Otemachi. 
 
15:53 
Did some shopping at Wako Main Building, Wako Watch Salon, and Wako 
Namiki Building in Ginza. 
 
16:34 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
17:30 
Received a telephone call from Russian President Medvedev. 
 
19:00 
Met Toyohisa Asada of his support association, wife Chikako, and 
others. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 25 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
January 26, 2009 
 
06:16 
Departed from JR Tokyo Station on Nozomi No. 3. 
 
08:28 
Arrived at JR Kyoto Station. 
 
09:03 
Met past Junior Chamber International Japan presidents and others at 
the Kyoto International Conference Center. Afterward attended a JCI 
New Year ceremony with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike. 
 
11:22 
Dined at a Japanese restaurant in the city with past JCI 
presidents. 
 
13:53 
Met LDP Kyoto chapter secretary general Setsuko Tanaka and others at 
JR Kyoto Station. 
 
14:22 
Departed from the station on Nozomi No. 24. 
 
16:33 
Arrived at JR Tokyo Station. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000161  004 OF 014 
 
 
17:07 
Watched Sumo bouts at the Kokugikan Hall. Handed an award of merit 
and the Prime Minister's Cup to Grand Champion Asashoryu. 
 
18:20 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Konoike at his official 
residence. 
 
19:30 
Dined at a Japanese restaurant in Kita-aoyama with his support 
association members. 
 
22:00 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Nye picked as U.S. ambassador to Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 25, 2009 
 
By Satoshi Ogawa in Washington 
 
Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye, a former assistant 
secretary of defense, was informally designated as ambassador to 
Japan by the U.S. Obama administration. The formal decision is 
expected later this month. 
 
Nye is known as an expert on Japan and was the coauthor with former 
Deputy Secretary of State Armitage of the "Armitage Report," which 
proposed a deepening of the Japan-U.S. alliance. He is an 
international affairs expert who has advocated the importance of 
"soft power," under which a country's culture and values come into 
diplomatic play. He has been highly praised for his practical 
experience as well, having served as deputy assistant secretary of 
state and assistant secretary of defense. 
 
Recently, Nye has proposed that the Obama administration use "smart 
power," which is the wise mixing together of "hard power," as 
represented by military power, and "soft power."  Smart power may 
become the diplomatic guideline for the Obama administration. 
 
Instead of the ambassadorship, Nye at first was considered for 
selection to a high-level appointment to the State Department in 
charge of policy. Former Senator Chuck Hagel, the most likely 
candidate for ambassador to Japan, was sounded out for the post but 
turned it down, so the ambassadorship then went to Nye. According to 
an informed source, Nye is expected to arrive at post after 
mid-March, when the approval process by the Senate should be 
complete. 
 
5) Appointment of Nye as ambassador to Japan sends message about 
importance attached to Japan, aimed at wiping away anxieties about 
U.S. tilting toward China 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
January 25, 2009 
 
By Satoshi Ogawa in Washington 
 
The selection of former Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye by 
the Obama administration to serve as ambassador to Japan reflects 
the importance it gives to the Japan-U.S. alliance. It also aims at 
 
TOKYO 00000161  005 OF 014 
 
 
erasing the anxiety that exists among some in Japan the under the 
Obama administration the Japan-U.S. relationship will weaken in 
relative terms. While the Obama administration plans to maintain 
strong relations with Japan, it also aims to strengthen its dialogue 
and engagement with China, which now has major political and 
economic influence in the world. According to a source connected to 
U.S-Japan relations in the U.S. Democratic Party, since there was a 
possibility of distrust of U.S. on the Japanese side that the Obama 
administration would tilt toward China, "It was important to send a 
message about the importance of the bilateral alliance by appointing 
the right person." 
 
6) Russel, Japan expert, becomes NSC director 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
Evening, January 24, 2009 
 
Satoshi Ogawa, Washington 
 
Daniel Russel, director for Japanese affairs at the U.S. Department 
of State, has been appointed as White House National Security 
Council director for Japan and South Korea. He is also in charge of 
the six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program. 
 
Russel, a Japan hand, who has the experience of working in Japan for 
a long time, served as consul general at the Osaka-Kobe Consulate 
General until last summer. During his assignment in Seoul from 1992 
to 1995, he took part in negotiations for the Agreed Framework 
between the United States and North Korea. 
 
A source related to bilateral relations analyzes Russel's 
appointment, saying his assignment was meant to demonstrate unity 
among Japan, the United States and South Korea, as well as prevent 
policy schism on North Korea between Tokyo and Washington, which 
occurred last October when the U.S. delisted North Korea as a state 
sponsor of terrorism. 
 
(09012603kn) Back to Top 
 
7) DPJ accelerating diplomatic activities, with other countries 
expecting change of government in Japan 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 25, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has accelerated its diplomatic 
activities to ready itself for assuming political power in the next 
House of Representatives election. Senior party members have begun 
to move forward to develop a relationship with the U.S. Obama 
administration in particular. But President Ichiro Ozawa alone has 
drawn a line with other party members. 
 
DPJ diplomacy has moved into high gear since early this year. 
Tadashi Inuzuka, vice foreign minister in the shadow cabinet, held a 
press conference after returning home from Afghanistan, in which he 
underscored the party's determination to make efforts to end armed 
conflict in that country. Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama and other 
senior members met with the ambassadors to Japan of both sides to 
discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, which was attacked by 
Israel. 
 
A senior DPJ member said: "The party has received a considerable 
 
TOKYO 00000161  006 OF 014 
 
 
number of requests for meetings with its members from diplomatic 
officials of various countries." This remark indicates that many 
countries are hoping to meet DPJ members in anticipation of a change 
of government in Japan. 
 
In an effort to establish a firm relationship with the U.S., to 
which the main opposition party gives priority in its foreign 
policy, the party has made key contacts in U.S. political circles 
since last December, ahead of Barack Obama's assumption of office as 
president. 
 
Vice President Katsuya Okada visited Washington and New York to meet 
with people in the political world. Later, Deputy President Naoto 
Kan, Hatoyama, Okada, and Vice President Seiji Maehara, all of whom 
once served as party president, met former Assistant Secretary of 
Defense Joseph Nye, whose assumption of the ambassadorship in Japan 
has been unofficially decided, and others in Tokyo. They exchanged 
views on policy toward Afghanistan and other issues. The DPJ is 
planning to send its members to the U.S. possibly in February. 
 
Recent diplomatic activities by the DPJ 
 
Date Lawmakers Content 
Early December Okada Visited the U.S. 
Dec. 19 Kan and others Met Joseph Nye and others. 
Dec. 19-Jan. 4 Inuzuka Visited Afghanistan and other countries and 
met with leading figures in political circles, those related to the 
Taliban, and members of the U.S. military. 
Jan. 14 Hatoyama Met the speaker of the Russian Federal Council. 
Same day Yoshio Hachiro (foreign minister in the shadow cabinet) Met 
Palestinian ambassador to Japan. 
Jan. 15 Hatoyama Met the Central Foreign Affairs Committee chair of 
the Vietnamese Communist Party. 
Jan. 19 Hatoyama Met the Israeli ambassador to Japan. 
Jan. 20 Hachiro Same as above. 
 
8) Defense minister reluctant about sending MSDF to Somalia on 
anti-piracy mission; New law to be enacted later 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 25, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada is expected to order this month the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force to prepare for dispatching its 
destroyers on an anti-piracy mission in waters off Somalia, Africa. 
The order will be based on a maritime policing provision of the SDF 
Law. Although Hamada had been reluctant to dispatch the MSDF under 
this provision, he has been steamrollered by Prime Minister Aso and 
the Foreign Ministry. 
 
On Jan. 23, Hamada reported to the prime minister the challenges 
associated with the envisioned maritime policing operation. In a 
press conference that followed, Hamada suggested that he was 
reluctant to dispatch the MSDF, saying: "What is lacking must be 
considered. We cannot afford to do nothing about such." 
 
Maritime policing is based on an intrusion into waters near Japan 
and other events. Even if a foreign vessel irrelevant to Japan is 
attacked by pirates, the MSDF cannot deal with the situation. 
 
Further, the use of arms is limited to legitimate self-defense in 
response to an attack by pirates and emergency evacuation. Depending 
 
TOKYO 00000161  007 OF 014 
 
 
on circumstances, responsibility of SDF personnel might be 
questioned for their use of weapons. 
 
Hamada, a defense policy specialist knowledgeable of such problems, 
wanted to avoid sending the MSDF under the maritime policing clause. 
He has now determined to seek the enactment of a new law authorizing 
such operations. 
 
Hamada remained reluctant about the dispatch even after the 
government largely tilted toward the maritime policing operation and 
the prime minister ordered him to consider the dispatch. It was 
because Even though Hamada realized issuing an order for maritime 
policing activities was unavoidable as a stopgap measure, he felt 
there was a need to ensure a new law for the future. 
 
In consideration of Hamada's wishes, the ruling bloc will conduct 
discussions for submitting a bill on new legislation to the Diet in 
early March. Whether the discussions will advance smoothly in the 
ruling camp is unclear. 
 
9) DPJ remains rudderless on Somalia anti-piracy mission in 
consideration of joining efforts with other opposition parties; 
Views in party still divided 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
January 26, 2009 
 
Kito Harakawa 
 
The government has now decided to dispatch Maritime Self-Defense 
Force destroyers on an anti-piracy mission in waters off Somalia, 
Africa. But the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan's stance 
remains undecided. That is because views in the party have yet to be 
consolidated and also because there is strong opposition to the MSDF 
dispatch in the Social Democratic Party and in the People's New 
Party, with which the DPJ envisages to launch a coalition 
administration after taking power. 
 
In the wake of formal endorsement of the MSDF's Somalia mission by 
the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito, 
Prime Minister Taro Aso will order before long Defense Minister 
Yasukazu Hamada to prepare for the dispatch. The defense minister 
will then order the MSDF to prepare for the dispatch and the 
destroyers are expected to be dispatched in March. 
 
Meanwhile, such opposition parties as the SDP and PNP, in addition 
to the Japanese Communist Party, are opposing the MSDF mission, 
saying, "Primarily, the matter must be dealt with by the Japan Coast 
Guard." On Jan. 23, the secretaries general of the two parties urged 
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama to jointly oppose the 
government's decision. Putting high priority on joining efforts with 
them, Hatoyama said: "We will try hard to act in concert with you as 
much as possible." 
 
But acting out Hatoyama's words seems difficult. Encompassing a wide 
range of views from conservatism to liberalism, consolidating them 
into a single official DPJ view will be difficult. 
 
Ironically enough, the question of dispatching the MSDF was 
triggered by a question at the Die by a DPJ lawmaker. In a Lower 
House Anti-piracy Special Committee meeting on October 17, 2008, the 
DPJ's Akihisa Nagashima elicited from the government the response 
 
TOKYO 00000161  008 OF 014 
 
 
that it would be difficult for Japan Coast Guard patrol boats to 
deal with pirates in waters off Somalia. Nagashima went on 
proposing, "Escorts by the MSDF would be effective in dealing with 
piracy." 
 
The prime minister openly welcomed Nagashima's proposal, saying, "I 
highly appreciate your idea." 
 
But anti-piracy discussions in the DPJ have since made little 
progress, and the party has been just watching responses by the 
government and the ruling bloc on the sidelines. 
 
10) Japan, S. Korea agreed to cooperate on antipiracy measures 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
January 26, 2009 
 
It became known yesterday that Prime Minister Taro Aso and South 
Korean President Lee Myung Bak had agreed during a meeting in Seoul 
on Jan. 12 to cooperate on measures to cope with serious damage from 
pirates in waters off Somalia. Japan and South Korea will send naval 
vessels there in March. Specifically, the two countries are 
considering such measures as escorting each other's commercial ships 
at their respective requests and sharing information about 
commercial ships at sea. In addition, Japan will provide South Korea 
with information about measures taken against pirates in the Straits 
of Malacca where Japan has been cooperating with neighboring 
countries. 
 
Tokyo and Seoul are currently coordinating to hold a meeting of 
Foreign Minister Nakasone and Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Yu 
Myung Hwan on Feb. 11. On that occasion, they are expected to 
discuss antipiracy cooperation. 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force will be ordered to send destroyers 
for maritime security operations under the Self-Defense Forces Law. 
MSDF destroyers are to escort Japanese ships and Japanese-chartered 
freighters. In many cases, Japanese exports are transshipped to 
South Korean freighters at Pusan, South Korea, for lower costs. 
Accordingly, many South Korean freighters are expected to be under 
protection. 
 
However, a senior official of the Defense Ministry says, "We don't 
know which ship is carrying which country's cargoes." As it stands, 
information sharing is needed immediately. 
 
The MSDF has constraints on its escort of ships and its use of 
weapons. Accordingly, MSDF destroyers cannot act in concert with 
South Korean naval vessels. The MSDF is therefore not expected to 
form a fleet with South Korean naval vessels to convoy. 
 
11) Russian president proposes Japan-Russia summit next month 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
January 25, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso held a teleconference with Russian President 
Dmitry Medvedev last evening, in which Medvedev expressed his 
intention to invite Aso to a ceremony to be held on the Sakhalin 
Island on Feb. 18 to commemorate the start of exports of liquefied 
natural gas (LNG) to Japan. He then proposed holding a Japan-Russia 
summit, saying: "I would like to discuss all bilateral pending 
 
TOKYO 00000161  009 OF 014 
 
 
issues with you." Aso replied: "I will make a reply after 
consideration." The prime minister will make a decision after giving 
consideration to schedules for Diet deliberations and diplomatic 
events. 
 
The teleconference was held at the request of the Russian 
government. The president said that Russia has highly evaluated 
Japan's contributions to the Sakhalin-2 project to exploit oil and 
natural gas off Sakhalin. Aso replied: "The Sakhalin-2 project is 
based on typical reciprocal cooperation between Japan and Russia. 
The start of LNG production will mark a symbolic step for relations 
between the two countries." 
 
Aso and Medvedev met in Lima, Peru, last November for the first time 
and agreed on more exchanges between them. The governments of Japan 
and Russia are also making coordination to bring about an early 
visit to Japan by Prime Minister Putin. 
 
12) Poll: Aso cabinet's support rate down to 19 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 26, 2009 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet 
fell 2 points from December last year to 19 PERCENT , the Nihon 
Keizai Shimbun found from its joint public opinion survey conducted 
with TV Tokyo on Jan. 23-25. The support rate fell below 20 PERCENT 
for the first time since February 2001 when the Mori cabinet was at 
its last stage. The nonsupport rate rose 3 points to 76 PERCENT . 
The support rate for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party dropped 6 
points to 29 PERCENT . Meanwhile, the support rate for the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) rose 4 points to 37 
PERCENT , outstripping the LDP for the first time in eight months 
since May last year. 
 
In the breakdown of reasons (multiple-choice answers) for supporting 
the cabinet, "because it's an LDP cabinet" accounted for 43 PERCENT 
, and "he is trustworthy" was at 26 PERCENT . Among those who do not 
support the cabinet, "he lacks leadership" accounted for 51 PERCENT 
, followed by "its policies are bad" at 49 PERCENT  and "it's 
unstable" at 42 PERCENT . 
 
The government and the ruling parties will make it possible to raise 
the consumption tax in fiscal 2011, premised on an economic 
turnaround. In the survey, respondents were asked if they would 
support this plan. To this question, 24 PERCENT  answered "yes," 
with 67 PERCENT  said "no." Even among LDP supporters, "yes" 
accounted for only 41 PERCENT , with "no" at 48 PERCENT . Among DPJ 
supporters, "yes" accounted for 16 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 80 
PERCENT . Among those with no particular party affiliation, "yes" 
accounted for 13 PERCENT , with "no" at 77 PERCENT . 
 
When asked about the government's cash handout plan in its 
additional package of economic stimulus measures, negative answers 
totaled 67 PERCENT , with affirmative answers at 22 PERCENT . Among 
those unaffiliated, "yes" was at 13 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 70 
PERCENT . 
 
Meanwhile, 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. Asked about this 
planned MSDF dispatch, 40 PERCENT  answered that the MSDF should be 
 
TOKYO 00000161  010 OF 014 
 
 
dispatched after a new law is created for antipiracy measures, with 
27 PERCENT  saying the MSDF should not be sent. Only 22 PERCENT 
supported the government's plan to send the MSDF under the current 
law. 
 
The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. by telephone on a 
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were 
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. 
A total of 1,516 households with one or more eligible voters were 
sampled, and answers were obtained from 931 persons (61.4 PERCENT 
). 
 
13) Poll: Cabinet nonsupport rises to 65 PERCENT , support down to 
19 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
January 26, 2009 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based public opinion 
survey across the nation on Jan. 24-25. The public approval rating 
for the Aso cabinet dropped 2 points from December last year to 19 
PERCENT . The disapproval rating rose 7 points to 65 PERCENT , the 
second worst since 1949 when the survey started to ask this 
question. The poll also shows severe figures for the Aso cabinet's 
policy measures. Prime Minister Taro Aso will likely have to 
continue walking a political tightrope. 
 
The highest disapproval rating in the past was 75 PERCENT  for the 
cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in February 2001. About two 
months later, the Mori cabinet stepped down. The 65 PERCENT 
disapproval rating for the Aso cabinet is the second highest level, 
as well as for the cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. About one 
and a half month later, the Abe cabinet also stepped down. 
Meanwhile, the 19 PERCENT  approval rating is the second lowest 
level among the cabinets of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his 
successors, following 18 PERCENT  for the cabinet of Prime Minister 
Yasuo Fukuda in May last year. 
 
Among those who support the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the Aso 
cabinet's approval rating was 52 PERCENT , with its disapproval 
rating at 31 PERCENT . Among those who support the New Komeito, the 
LDP's coalition partner, the support rate was 42 PERCENT  and the 
nonsupport rate at 32 PERCENT . Among floating voters with no 
particular party affiliation, the support rate was 12 PERCENT , with 
the nonsupport rate reaching 66 PERCENT . 
 
14) Second supplementary budget to be adopted on the 26th: DPJ to 
avoid total confrontation out of concern about drawing public 
criticism over stalled Diet session; Ruling camp to press ahead with 
passage of budget within current fiscal year 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged Slightly) 
January 24, 2009 
 
The fiscal 2008 second extra budget is now likely to obtain Diet 
approval on January 26. This is because the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ), which has been refusing to hold a vote on the bill in 
the Upper House at an early date, has accepted to do so in order to 
avoid a total confrontation with the ruling parties. For Prime 
Minister Taro Aso, this is one step forward to the enactment of the 
fiscal 2009 budget. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000161  011 OF 014 
 
 
Referring to his party's approval to hold a vote on the second extra 
budget, DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama during a press 
conference on the 23rd noted, "At least, it is necessary to give 
consideration so that forcible parallel Diet deliberations can be 
avoided." 
 
The DPJ has thus far fiercely criticized entering into deliberations 
on the fiscal 2009 budget in the Lower House, while the second 
supplementary budget is still being deliberated in the Upper House 
-- parallel deliberations, calling it a sacrilegious act against the 
Diet and a slighting of the Upper House. 
 
A meeting between the DPJ and the People's New Party (PNP) was held 
at noon the same day. Deputy DPJ President Naoto Kan and 
participants from the PNP during the meeting called for do-or-die 
resistance, saying that they want to see deliberations on the second 
extra budget extended until the end of next week. 
 
However, the DPJ at its staff meeting decided to hold a vote in the 
Upper House, turning down their opinions, because it was concerned 
about an impact of a case in which it continues to reject holding a 
vote and the ruing camp enters into parallel deliberations. Should 
that occur, the DPJ would have to take a hard-line stance, including 
boycotting deliberations, inevitably bringing about a total 
confrontation between the two camps. Amid the economic and 
employment situations becoming even more serious, the party wanted 
to avoid the party from coming under fire, as Hatoyama said, "I 
wonder whether people will understand a situation in which the Diet 
comes to a standstill." 
 
This, however, does not mean that the DPJ has retracted its demand 
for the withdrawal of the flat-sum cash handout scheme. It is now 
exploring an opportunity to make a counterattack with a timetable 
for a vote on budget-related bills, which will serve as the basis 
for securing funding resources for cash handouts, as a bargaining 
chip. 
 
In the meantime, following the prospect that a total confrontation 
between the ruling and opposition parties over parallel 
deliberations on two budget bills will be avoided, the government 
and the ruling parties are now envisaging a timetable of four 
government speeches, including Prime Minister Aso's policy speech 
for the 27th and interpellations in plenary sessions of both Houses 
by February 2, followed by actual deliberations on the fiscal 2009 
budget at the Lower House Budget Committee. 
 
15) Yoshimura wins Yamagata gubernatorial race, first female 
governor in Tohoku region 
 
YOMIURI (Page 26) (Abridged slightly) 
January 26, 2009 
 
Mieko Yoshimura, 57, a new-face candidate, won in Sunday's Yamagata 
gubernatorial election, becoming the first woman governor in the 
Tohoku region. In her office in Yamagata City, there were female 
supporters wearing a badge with the words "Change! Yamagata." The 
word "Change" was modeled after U.S. President Barack Obama's 
campaign slogan. They were excited about Yoshimura's victory, with 
one supporter saying: "I never dreamed that we would have a female 
governor in Tohoku." 
 
Receiving a report at around 10:30 p.m. that her victory was sure, 
 
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supporters gave glad cries. Yoshimura said: "Yamagata residents made 
an epochal choice. I really felt that they were calling for 
people-friendly prefectural politics." 
 
Yoshimura once worked at Recruit Co. After giving birth to her first 
baby girl at the age of 26, she moved to her husband home in 
Yamagata City. Her husband, who was a lawyer, died of illness 12 
years ago. Taking advantage of her license of administrative 
scrivener, she raised a daughter, who is now 31, and a son, 25. She 
lives with her parents-in-law. 
 
She decided to run in the election after being persuaded by 
officials of Rengo (Japan Trade Union Confederation) Yamagata, which 
had picked her after seeing her working as a volunteer at a sports 
event for the disabled. 
 
In addition to her lack of publicity, she filed her candidacy only 
about 40 days before the start of official campaigning. On Jan 17, 
she played up her policy before a gathering of about 800 women in 
Yamagata City. 
 
16) DPJ candidate's victory in Yamagata Gubernatorial race great 
shock to LDP 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 26, 2009 
 
A defeat of its candidate in the Yamagata gubernatorial race is a 
great shock to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), causing 
concern about the next general election for the House of 
Representatives. 
 
Three LDP Lower House members representing Yamagata Prefecture, 
including former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato, and most 
prefectural assembly members had supported Hiroshi Saito, the 
incumbent governor, who was defeated in yesterday's election. 
 
The prevailing view is that the reason for Saito failing to defeat 
Mieko Yoshimura, the new-face candidate on the ticket of the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), is the effectiveness of 
her criticism of the Aso administration during the last stage of her 
campaigning. Yoshimura was ready to delay her candidacy, realizing 
she was a low-profile candidate. Saito initially had the advantage 
in the election campaign. However, the public's criticism of Prime 
Minister Taro Aso adversely affected Saito. In the last stage of the 
campaign, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa came to Yamagata to back 
Yoshimura, and he stressed: "A change of government from Yamagata!" 
Ozawa's support was significant. 
 
What is more of a shock to the LDP is that Yamagata, in which all 
three LDP candidates won single-seat constituency races in the 2005 
Lower House election, is a stronghold for conservatives. 
 
The defeat of Saito shows the clear trend of voters abandoning the 
LDP even in areas with a strong conservative history. In case a 
Lower House election is conducted at present, the LDP will 
definitely have an uphill battle in the race. Although it was just a 
gubernatorial election, the outcome of the election is a great 
setback to Aso and the LDP. 
 
Meanwhile, the DPJ will gain strength with its candidate's victory 
in the gubernatorial race. 
 
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Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama made this comment: "It is clear 
that national politics affected the election. It is the expression 
of Yamagata voters' desire for bringing about political change." 
 
17) Government panel to consider four options for mid-term goal for 
greenhouse gas emissions cut: Reduction options range between 6 
PERCENT  increase and 25 PERCENT  cut, compared with 1990 level 
 
ASAHI (Top Play) (Abridged Slightly) 
January 24, 2009 
 
A meeting of the government's Mid-Term Goal Review Committee, 
chaired by former Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Toshihiko Fukui, was 
held on January 23 to discuss how much Japan should reduce its 
greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. The panel indicated options 
centered on plans to cut such emissions ranging between a 6 PERCENT 
increase and a 25 PERCENT  cut in comparison with the 1990 level, 
based on the estimates worked out by government-affiliated and other 
research institutes. Discussion focused on four options among 
various proposals. The panel will work out the effect of such gas 
emissions under four options and draft a report on the results. The 
government is expected to set a mid-term goal in April or later. 
However, it appears difficult to choose one of the four options. 
 
Setting a mid-term goal is the main focus of attention in talks on 
an international framework for measures to curb greenhouse gases to 
be applied in 2013, replacing the Kyoto Protocol. The government 
needs to come up with such a goal at the 15th session of the 
Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP15) 
to be held in December this year, with the aim of reaching an 
agreement on the post-Kyoto framework. In the meantime, domestic 
industries are alarmed about the government setting a mid-term goal 
the argument being that such a goal will lead to restrictions to 
economic activities. Among the four options, two are from the 
Long-Term Outlook for Energy Demand, which the Ministry of Economy, 
Trade and Industry (METI) issued in May last year. One is an effort 
continuation case, in which measures to cut greenhouse gas 
emissions, which the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) 
has set on a voluntary basis, will be continued as is. In this case, 
emissions will increase 6 PERCENT  in comparison with the 1990 
level. The other is a maximum introduction case, in which 
energy-saving efforts will be expedited through the active 
dissemination of nuclear power generation and electric vehicles. In 
this case, emissions will decrease 4 PERCENT  from the 1990 level. 
 
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to consider 
global warming, based on science, has indicated a scenario that in 
order to minimize the impact of global warming, all industrialized 
countries need to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 25 PERCENT 
to 40 PERCENT . Under the third option, it is assumed that 
industrialized countries as a whole cut greenhouse gas emissions by 
25 PERCENT , based on the PICC scenario. The government has adopted 
this as one option, on the assumption that if each country is to 
shoulder an equal share in the cost needed to cut 1 ton of 
greenhouse gases, Japan's goal would be a 15 PERCENT  cut, as its 
measures to cub such gasses are already ahead of other countries. 
Under this option, the U.S. goal would be 22 PERCENT  and that of 
the European Union (EU) would be 28 PERCENT . If this option is 
adopted, a sense of unfairness felt by industry circles, which are 
opposing the idea of accepting a uniform reduction goal along with 
other countries, would be allayed. However, whether this plan can be 
 
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accepted in international talks is unclear. 
 
Under the fourth option, Japan should cut its greenhouse gas 
emissions by 25 PERCENT  on its own. 
 
The range of cuts indicated in those four options is the amount of 
greenhouse gas emissions to be cut domestically. In international 
talks aiming at COP15, carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbed by forests and 
CO2 emissions credit to be purchased from abroad will also be taken 
into account. As such, the range of reductions that will become an 
international pledge could further as a result of the talks. 
 
ZUMWALT