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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3141

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000020 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/06/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) DPJ projects it will independently win 297 seats in next Lower 
House election (Sankei) 
 
(2) DPJ to revise the Futenma plan to relocate the base outside the 
prefecture or even outside the country: What will happen to the 
Japan-U.S. alliance? (Sankei) 
 
(3) Training system for highly skilled foreign workers in order to 
secure human resources; Residence qualifications to be revised 
(Nikkei) 
 
(4) Editorial: More refugees should be accepted (Asahi) 
 
(5) Interview with Yukio Okamoto, president of Okamoto Associates, 
on the future of the world -- United States must accept diversified 
values (Nikkei) 
 
(6) Discord created in Japan-U.S. relations in 2008 (Yomiuri) 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, January 5 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) DPJ projects it will independently win 297 seats in next Lower 
House election 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 3, 2009 
 
The Sankei Shimbun learned on Jan. 2 that the task force to support 
the general election of the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) caucus 
in the House of Councillors has prepared an internal analytical 
report on the predicted outcome of the next general election for the 
House of Representatives. According to the task force's analysis, 
the probability is high that the DPJ will single-handedly gain 297 
seats, which would be far more than a majority (241) of Lower House 
seats. The task force drafted the internal document in mid-December 
based on the party's opinion polls and its own survey. It has 
reported its analysis to President Ichiro Ozawa. 
 
According to the analysis, the DPJ will independently win 213 of the 
300 single-seat constituency seats and 84 seats of the proportional 
representation segment, a total of 297 seats -- almost the same as 
the 296 seats that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won in the 
2005 Lower House election when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi used 
postal privatization as the major campaign issue. If the projection 
is true, the LDP-New Komeito ruling coalition will become a minority 
in the Lower House as a result. 
 
The 297 seats exceed the absolute stable majority (269 seats), which 
allows the DPJ to secure all Lower House committee chairmanships, as 
well as be the majority in the various committees. 
 
The task force projected that the number of seats likely to be won 
by the DPJ, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party 
(PNP) combined will be at least 221 district seats. Adding the 
 
TOKYO 00000020  002 OF 011 
 
 
number of proportional representation seats that the task force 
projected gives the three opposition parties a total of 311 Lower 
House seats. 
 
Looking at by bloc, the task force projected that the DPJ will win 
ten district elections of Hokkaido's 12 electoral districts, and 
that the party will win all the district seats in Iwate and Aichi 
prefectures, in which its chapters are strong, and that the DPJ 
candidates, including independent Makiko Tanaka, will defeat all LDP 
candidates in Niigata prefecture. 
 
In the previous Lower House election, the DPJ candidates for the 
Tokyo bloc, excluding Deputy President Naoto Kan, were defeated in 
the 24 single-seat constituencies of the Tokyo bloc. The task force, 
however, analyzed that the DPJ will gain 10 to 12 district seats in 
the next Lower House election. 
 
The task force came up with the analysis based on the assumption 
that the DPJ's election cooperation with the SDP, PNP and New Party 
Nippon would smoothly be conducted. It made the projection at a time 
when support rates for the Aso cabinet were plummeting in the polls. 
It considers the analysis of the current situation accurate, 
according to a senior party member. 
 
Therefore, the task force will step up its support for candidates 
for the election, with one senior member saying: "LDP candidates are 
now desperately carrying out campaigns in single-seat 
constituencies. Should DPJ candidates relax their efforts, they may 
face an uphill battle." It also will strengthen its approach behind 
the scenes to industrial associations, small and medium-sized 
companies, and religious organizations that have supported the LDP. 
 
The task force, formed in February 2008, supports mainly the 
allocation of new-face candidates and incumbent junior lawmakers, 
who secured proportional representation seats in the previous Lower 
House election after being defeated in district elections, to 100 
single-seat constituencies. 
 
Result of 2005 Lower House election DPJ's projection for next Lower 
House election 
Party Number of seats obtained Party  Number of seats to be secured 
LDP 296 DPJ 297 
New Komeito 31 SDP, PNP 14 
DPJ 113 
Other parties, independents 40 
The Lower House seats total 480. 
 
(2) DPJ to revise the Futenma plan to relocate the base outside the 
prefecture or even outside the country: What will happen to the 
Japan-U.S. alliance? 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Full) 
January 6, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has set a policy course of 
revising the current plan to relocate MCAS Futenma (Ginowan City, 
Okinawa Prefecture) to the U.S. forces' Camp Schwab (Nago City, same 
prefecture) as part of the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. The 
party will draft a new plan that envisions a removal of the Futenma 
base to outside the prefecture or Japan. The party has been watching 
to see how the incoming Obama administration that comes into office 
Jan. 20 will revise the national security policy of the Bush 
 
TOKYO 00000020  003 OF 011 
 
 
government. It is thinking of seeking the understanding of the U.S. 
government for its new plan. There is a strong feeling in the party 
that the next election will see a change of government putting the 
DPJ into power, but some specialists are worried about the impact on 
the security arrangements and the Japan-U.S. relationship. 
 
Sense that change of government could be a reality 
 
The last time that the Futenma Relocation Council, which includes 
the central government and Okinawa Prefecture, met to discuss the 
relocation of Futenma Air Station to Camp Schwab's coastline was 
last year on July 18. No further meetings have been scheduled. 
 
Okinawa Prefecture Governor Hirokazu Nakaima has indicated his 
intention to allow a relocation of the base to a site within the 
prefecture, depending on the conditions. But the relocation plan 
ground to a standstill after the ruling parties lost their majority 
in the prefectural assembly election last June, as seen in such 
actions as the prefectural assembly adopting a resolution last July 
opposing the relocation to the coastline of Camp Schwab. 
 
According to several senior DPJ officials, the party, with that 
situation in mind, judged that the current plan should be make a 
blank slate. One DPJ lawmaker with experience as party president 
stated: "If a change of government becomes a reality, we will 
reconsider the Futenma relocation plan." 
 
There is an expectation in the party that with the launching of the 
Obama administration in the United States, "We can settle this by 
revising it," said one mid-level lawmaker. The party is considering 
sending senior officials to the U.S. prior to the Lower House 
election for prior consultations about the USFJ realignment issue. 
 
The DPJ aims to relocate Futenma to outside the prefecture or Japan, 
but the proposal for a Kadena merger that would relocate Futenma to 
unused land space on Kadena Air Base is also being floated in the 
party. However, there are concerns being raised by experts, and as 
one source related to Japan-U.S. relations put it: "It is 
impractical, just like the plans of the old Japan Socialist Party. 
This could have a major impact on Japan-U.S. relations, if we don't 
consider it in the context of Okinawa in its entirety and the 
bilateral security relationship in its entirety." 
 
The new Obama administration, too, has shown an interest in the 
security policy of the DPJ and when party vice presidents Naoto Kan 
and Yukio Hatoyama and other party officials attended a conference 
in Tokyo last Dec. 19 in Tokyo, they met persons connected with the 
U.S. Democratic Party. At the time, former Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State Joseph Nye drove him this point home by saying: 
"If there are moves to revise the Status of Forces Agreement or to 
revise the relocation of Futenma base, it will be taken as 
anti-U.S." For that reason, the party has adopted a course of 
cautiously coordinating with the U.S. a soft-landing approach so 
that the bilateral alliance will not suffer. 
 
(3) Training system for highly skilled foreign workers in order to 
secure human resources; Residence qualifications to be revised 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
January 3, 2009 
 
The government's Council to Promote Acceptance of High-Level Human 
 
TOKYO 00000020  004 OF 011 
 
 
Resources, chaired by Naoki Tanaka, executive director of the Center 
for International Public Policy Studies, will begin a study of a new 
training system and a revision to the current residency 
qualifications in preparation for receiving more highly skilled 
foreigners in legal, research and manufacturing fields. It has 
already set up a taskforce to start discussing specific approaches. 
Many countries are making efforts to secure human resources in order 
to gain the edge in international competition. The government will 
start full-scale efforts, too, to draft a strategic plan. 
 
Foreigners with specialized skills are given residency status in 
Japan. However, only about 158,000 foreigners, excluding those in 
the entertainment area, such as singers and dancers, have obtained 
residence status as of the end of 2006. The challenge for Japan is 
to improve a system to allow in more highly skilled foreign 
workers. 
 
As one concrete measure, the panel will look into a system of 
receiving foreigners with high skills under a training framework. 
Since persons with specialized skills can serve as valuable workers 
in the manufacturing sector, industrial circles are eager to employ 
such foreigners. The panel is mulling establishing a training system 
to provide higher skills than those provided under the existing 
training and on-the-job training systems. The panel will pursue 
discussions on such a system as well as a mechanism to prevent 
irregularities. 
 
The panel will also look into the present residency qualification 
system. Professions eligible for the residency status, such as 
attorneys, doctors and language teachers, are described in detail. 
The challenge is to increase those professions eligible for such a 
status. The Justice Ministry is mulling extending the stay of 
residency from the current three years to five years. The panel will 
look into a system allowing foreigners with broad-based skills to 
stay longer in Japan. 
 
However, concerning a high-level skill training system, government 
officials are divided on their views on whether Japan's working visa 
should be granted after the completion of the training or whether 
trainees should first return to their home countries. 
 
Regarding the extension of the residency status, it is difficult, 
depending on the type of job, to distinguish unskilled labor from 
skilled workers. As a result, some are calling for cautious 
discussion of the issue. 
 
(4) Editorial: More refugees should be accepted 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
January 6, 2009 
 
It has long been said that Japan is negative about accepting 
refugees. It is now time for that to change. 
 
Japan has decided to tackle a third-country refugee resettlement 
program designed to receive, starting this year, those who are 
living at overseas refugee camps with no prospects for returning to 
their homelands. The government intends to start preparations this 
spring so as to be able to accept Burmese refugees living in 
Thailand, starting in fiscal 2010. 
 
The project is characterized as a three-year trial program. This is 
 
TOKYO 00000020  005 OF 011 
 
 
the first step for Japan to open its society to refugees. We want to 
see the program take root by all means. The UN also welcomes Japan's 
decision, with one official noting, "This is the first case in Asia. 
Japan's decision can become a model case in the region." 
 
In the world, there are 11.5 million refugees who left their 
homelands for fear of persecution, of whom approximately 6 million 
refugees have been taking shelter for more than five years. The 
number of children who only know a small world inside a barbed-wire 
fenced enclosure is increasing. It is evident that their extended 
stays at refugee camps have had an adverse effect on them. 
 
Nevertheless, few countries open their doors to international 
refugees. Only about 10 countries, such as European countries and 
the U.S., have adopted the third-country refugee resettlement 
program. Japan will now join them. 
 
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) makes a 
list of recommendees, and officials in charge in the Japanese 
government interview recommended refugees and decide whether to 
accept them. 
 
However, under the program, Japan will accept only 30 refugees a 
year -- 90 in three years. It is only natural for the government to 
conduct screening in a cautious manner. However, the number of 
refugees Japan will accept is far too small. In order to prevent 
refugees from being isolated, it would be desirable for the 
government to accept a large number of refugees so that they can 
form a community to help one another. 
 
Detailed approaches are needed in receiving people who were brought 
up in foreign cultures. Cooperation from host communities will hold 
the key to whether accepting refugees will be successful or not. It 
is necessary for local governments, companies and schools to create 
a set-up in an integrated manner for their learning Japanese, 
securing employment and children's school attendance. Economic 
conditions are severe now. However, we want them to give warm 
consideration to refugees. 
 
Japan signed the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees in 
¶1981. However, it has recognized only 451 refugees as of 2007. It 
was exposed to criticism as a country that excludes refugees for its 
strict screening in recognizing refugees. However, the number of 
applicants for refugee status has sharply increased in the past 
several years, reaching approximately 1,500 last year. The number of 
refugees Japan has recognized is increasing. There have been cases 
in which refugees, though not recognized as such under the 
Convention, are allowed to settle in Japan out of humanitarian 
consideration. 
 
Among refugees from Indochina countries -- Vietnam, Cambodia and 
Laos, whom Japan accepted after the Vietnam War, some are now active 
as doctors and business persons. Refugees can be valuable human 
resources, as can be seen in the case of Albert Einstein, who 
continued his activities in the U.S. where he lived in exile. 
 
We should welcome international refugees as new neighbors. We want 
to see the first small step lead to an open Japanese society. 
 
(5) Interview with Yukio Okamoto, president of Okamoto Associates, 
on the future of the world -- United States must accept diversified 
values 
 
TOKYO 00000020  006 OF 011 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
January 6, 2009 
 
-- President-elect Barack Obama will lead a United States that is 
quite different from the United States President George W. Bush took 
over. 
 
"The United States was in good shape when President Bush took over. 
American people I met in those days used to say, 'We are not a 
superpower but a hyper-power.' I think President Bush was 
overconfident. He has spread the war to Iraq that should have been 
confined to Afghanistan, thereby antagonizing the Muslims the world 
over." 
 
"President Obama will be forced to face the most difficult era since 
the Second World War. Above all, I pin hopes (on his ability to 
value) diversity. It is important to recognize the value of 
religion, forces, and ethnic groups of each country." 
 
-- The United States is becoming less dominant. 
 
"People say the United States is finished, but there is no other 
country that can lead the world. There are countries that are young 
and with growing populations. There are countries that are rich in 
resources. Some countries have technologies. There are countries 
with clear economic systems and accountability. But the United 
States is the only country that has all those four factors." 
 
-- China is rising remarkably. Will Japan be able to sustain its 
position in Asia? 
 
"China will grow into an overwhelming economic power in Asia. We 
Japanese have not been able to deal with that fact psychologically. 
I am wary of China taking responsible action in Asia and Japan being 
regarded as an outlier in the international community as a result. 
There are already signs of it." 
 
"Only some 40 Japanese people are engaged in UN peacekeeping 
operations in contrast to China's 2,000. Such countries as China and 
Malaysia have sent naval vessels to the Indian Ocean to deal with 
piracy. Japan has done nothing. China has begun fulfilling its 
responsibilities more thoroughly (than Japan) for the security of 
the world. Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick 
always said, 'China is a true partner in Asia.' Japan's presence is 
overshadowed (by China)." 
 
-- How should Japan play out its diplomacy? 
 
"Japan must determine its position. Japan has yet to determine its 
position, but it is now bent on expanding its role. Japan has 
expressed its desire for a permanent seat on the UN Security 
Council. But others countries' views of Japan are cold, with one 
saying, 'Do you want to become a permanent member in order to have 
other countries send their troops to join the International Security 
Assistance Force in Afghanistan based on a UN decision?'  (Japan) 
says let us joint the Quartet on the Middle East and the six-party 
talks to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue. Japan should first 
determine what it should do." 
 
"Japan can boast its honesty and goodwill, and these virtues should 
be exported. Japan's aid workers overseas are most dependable. They 
 
TOKYO 00000020  007 OF 011 
 
 
do not say anything to aid-receiving countries highhandedly. I 
believe such war-torn countries as Afghanistan and Sudan are in 
serious need of such soft power from Japan." 
 
-- Japanese people seem to have lost their interest in the world. 
 
"Everyone has become inward looking. The level of interest drops 
rapidly unless Japanese people are involved in a major overseas 
incident. The level of interest in international affairs is 
critically low." 
 
-- What do you expect of young Japanese people? 
 
"I want them to be open-minded. They should turn their eyes to the 
world, and study English, as well. They should increase their 
vocabulary. They don't have to be fluent in English, like returnees 
(from English-speaking countries). A person who knows necessary 
words can get his or her thought across without making any 
compromises. A person with limited vocabulary makes compromises in 
his or her thinking." 
 
(6) Discord created in Japan-U.S. relations in 2008 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 31, 2008 
 
This fall a shadow fell across the Japan-U.S. relationship, which 
had been praised as being in the best shape of the postwar period. 
The cause was the U.S. government's removal of North Korea from the 
list of states sponsoring terrorism. 
 
The time was 8:00 pm in the evening of Oct. 11. The Foreign Ministry 
was suddenly contacted by the American Embassy in Tokyo. A voice 
said: "There has been a decision to announce the removal of North 
Korea from list of states sponsoring terrorism. President Bush has 
said that he would like to contact Prime Minister Aso." 
 
The Foreign Ministry was in a panic. If North Korea was delisted, 
international pressure on it would weaken. But the Foreign Ministry 
had expected that it was something still off in the future. 
Moreover, the key person Aso was then at a hotel in Shizuoka 
addressing the former local heads of the Japan Junior Chamber of 
Commerce. 
 
"Are you really going to remove North Korea from the list?" The 
question came from Asia Pacific Bureau Director General Saiki, who 
is in charge of North Korean affairs, and was directed to U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan Schieffer by phone. He asked that the plan be 
changed. Although negotiations continued until late at night, the 
U.S. resolve was firmly set. The Japanese government finally had no 
choice but to accept the request for a telephone conference. The 
Foreign Ministry transmitted the request to the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence, apologizing to the prime minister's secretary 
and others about the lateness of the contact. 
 
Aso at the time was in the hotel lounge, having joined a group for 
drinks afterward. Aso, who was seated at the back of the group, 
suddenly at a little past 11:00 PM said that he wanted to eat a 
cutlet sandwich. So while his secretary rushed around looking for 
the food, he sat back in a relaxed mood. 
 
However, after he received the call from the Foreign Ministry, the 
 
TOKYO 00000020  008 OF 011 
 
 
secretary prepared a room close to the lounge that could be used to 
take the U.S. President's call. 
 
The conversation began at 11:30 PM. At the beginning of the call, 
President Bush made this announcement: "In order to get North Korea 
moving on the nuclear issue, we need to remove its name from the 
terrorist-sponsoring list." The United States and North Korea on 
Oct. 3 had reached a certain agreement on verifying the North's 
nuclear report, so the delisting had the meaning of being a 
"payback" for that. 
 
In responding to the President's statement, Prime Minister Aso did 
his best to tell the President his concerns: "I understand the 
President's explanation, but it is essential that the verification 
method be confirmed properly in a document." The telephone 
conversation ended in ten minutes or so. 
 
Disgruntlement 
 
Discord between Japan and the United States had started even before 
this with the issue of Japan's assistance to Afghanistan. On July 6, 
a summit meeting between then Prime Minister Fukuda and President 
Bush occurred at the Hokkaido Toyako G-8 Summit. In a room with an 
unbroken view of the scenery outside, Fukuda spoke directly: "We 
will hold out to the bitter end on continuing the refueling 
operations by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean. 
But contributions by the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) that go beyond 
that are not possible due to the political situation." 
 
The President was shocked because he had expected reconstruction 
assistance by the SDF on the Afghanistan mainland. The U.S. 
government after the meeting sent a special envoy to Japan to probe 
into the prime minister's statement. The envoy proposed a menu of 
specific contributions including dispatching large-scale SDF 
transport helicopters. 
 
Responding to the U.S. strong desire, the Aso administration has 
been considering increasing assistance to the Afghan government and 
expanding its human contribution as part of its humanitarian and 
reconstruction assistance. However, with the worsening of the public 
security situation in that country and because of Japan's worsening 
fiscal situation, the issue has yet to be settled. 
 
Rebuilding 
 
"This is the Japanese prime minister's official residence." "I am 
Barack Obama, the president elect in the U.S."  Aso, early on Nov. 
7, held a telephone conversation with Barack Obama just after he had 
been elected president of the United States. Aso, delighted to be 
able to use his English, transmitted his congratulations to Obama, 
saying, "It was splendid that you captured the presidency with one 
try. I had to run four times before becoming prime minister." He 
used soft words and projected a friendly mood. After the 
conversation, Aso told those around him that he had gained a good 
impression of Obama and felt he could build a good personal 
relationship with him. "Obama came on directly when the telephone 
call to Japan was made," he said. 
 
What kind of relationship can Aso build with the new Obama 
administration will hold the key the success of his diplomacy in 
¶2009. On Dec. 27, the day after the last day of work for the central 
government, Aso gathered senior officials from mainly the Foreign 
 
TOKYO 00000020  009 OF 011 
 
 
Ministry, including Vice Minister Yabunaka, at the Hotel Okura in 
Toranomon. While they all ate lunch, they talked about the foreign 
policy course for the next year. 
 
Aso was enthusiastic, noting that he would start with a visit to 
South Korea in January. But he said that with the Diet now in an 
unbalanced situation, it would not be easy to set a date for his 
first meeting with Obama. For Aso, who is full of confidence about 
his diplomacy, he will face a year ahead in which his true worth 
will be fully tested. 
 
(7) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Politicians studying regulations on dispatching workers to 
manufacturers 
 
Mainichi: 
Some LDP, DPJ members planning to run in next Lower House election 
share policies 
 
Yomiuri: 
Government readies marine resources development plan 
 
Nikkei: 
Local government saddled with 30 trillion yen in 'hidden debts' 
 
Sankei: 
DPJ to revise Futenma relocation plan: What will happen to the 
alliance? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Auto sales plunge to 34-year low in 2008, falling below 200,000 unit 
line 
 
Akahata: 
2009 is the year for JCP to win big in the general election 
 
(8) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) International community must make an effort to bring about 
ceasefire in Gaza 
(2) Japan should open doors further to refugees 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Flat-sum cash-payout plan should be separated from 2nd extra 
budget for fiscal 2008 
(2) Politicians must do more to lift the economy 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Nation in need of new political framework 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Quickly dissolve the Lower House after Diet approves 
supplementary fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009 budgets 
(2) We hope to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan should take measures against China's violation of 
agreement on gas exploration in East China Sea 
(2) Look forward to mediation effort for truce in Gaza 
 
TOKYO 00000020  010 OF 011 
 
 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) We want to see Diet debate on improvement of people's 
livelihoods 
(2) International community must urge Israel to pull ground forces 
from Gaza 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Prime Minister Aso's first press conference of the year: 
Consumption tax hike will destroy peace of mind and vigor 
 
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, January 5 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 6, 2009 
 
09:01 
Attended a cabinet meeting at the Kantei. 
 
09:40 
Signed the guest book to congratulate the birthday of Prince 
Tomohito of Mikasa at his palace. 
 
10:29 
Met at the Kantei Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries Matsumoto, 
Konoike, and Uruma, joined in by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura. 
 
11:05 
Began this year's first day of work at LDP headquarters. 
 
11:31 
Attended a general meeting of LDP Diet members from both chambers, 
followed by a meeting of the Lower House members. Afterward met 
Matsumoto and others. 
 
12:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
13:00 
Attended an opening ceremony of the regular Diet session held at the 
Upper House Plenary Session Hall. 
 
13:21 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
14:02 
Attended the Lower House plenary session. Afterward met former LDP 
Secretary General Takebe, Diet Affairs Committee Deputy Chairman 
Murata and others, joined in by former Prime Minister Koizumi, New 
Komeito Representative Ota and others. 
 
14:41 
Attended an Upper House plenary session. 
 
14:57 
Met LDP presidential special assistant Shimamura at the Kantei. 
 
15:06 
Met Kawamura, followed by Japanese Shipowners' Association President 
Maekawa, Vice President Miyahara and others, in the presence of 
maritime state promotion parliamentary league chairman Seishiro Eto 
and Kawamura. Eto and Kawamura stayed on. 
 
TOKYO 00000020  011 OF 011 
 
 
 
15:56 
Attended the Rengo New Year party at the Hotel Lungwood in 
Higashi-nippori. 
 
17:03 
Attended an LDP executive meeting in the Diet building. 
 
17:39 
Met at the Kantei Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Yosano and 
Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda. 
 
18:47 
Dined at a Prince Park Tower restaurant with LDP Secretary General 
Hosoda, Senior Deputy Secretaries General Ishihara and Hayashi. 
 
20:32 
Returned to his private residence in Kamiyamacho. 
 
SCHIEFFER