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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000226 
 
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 1/30/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
U.S.-Japan relations: 
4) Impatient at having had to wait, Prime Minister Aso pushing for 
an early meeting with President Obama  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
5) Aso carried out his telephone conversation with Obama completely 
in English  (Yomiuri) 
 
Anti-piracy measures: 
6) Answering question in Diet, Prime Minister Aso explains why Japan 
Coast Guard (JCG) unable to carry out anti-piracy mission in distant 
ocean  (Asahi) 
7) Maritime Self-Defense Force and JCG to carry out joint training 
prior to dispatch to waters off Somalia for anti-piracy mission 
(Yomiuri) 
8) Vice Defense Minister Masuda tells press that new anti-piracy law 
will contain provision easing weapons-use restrictions  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
9) Defense Ministry fears that the new anti-piracy law will shelve 
provision easing weapons-use restrictions  (Asahi) 
10) Defense Ministry sending fact-finding team to countries 
neighboring Somalia to set stage for anti-piracy mission  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
Korean Peninsula affairs: 
11) Japan, U.S., and South Korea to work closely together under the 
six-party formula  (Mainichi) 
12) Japanese, South Korean delegates to Six-Party Talks agree to 
continue efforts toward North Korea  (Yomiuri) 
 
13) Japan seeking consultations with Russia on the embarkation card 
issue that is halting visits and aid to the northern islands 
(Nikkei) 
 
14) Foreign Ministry announces that Japan's ODA disbursements have 
slipped from 3rd to 5th place among world donors  (Mainichi) 
 
Diet interpellations: 
15) Text of Prime Minister Aso's answers to Diet questions on 
anti-piracy mission, abduction issue, and U.S.-Japan relations 
(Yomiuri) 
16) Diet interpellations have turned into a "propaganda war" between 
the ruling and opposition camps  (Sankei) 
17) Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka, a vocal critic of the Aso 
administration, has her chance to ask stinging questions during 
interpellations  (Nikkei) 
18) Aso finally makes a clear statement of not allowing watari or 
post-retirement job-hopping, but he is not prepared to legally ban 
the practice  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Mainichi: Yomiuri: Sankei: 
Japan Post freezes plan to sell "Kampo" inns 
 
Nikkei: 
 
TOKYO 00000226  002 OF 011 
 
 
NEC, Toshiba in talks to integrate chip-manufacturing operations 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Hospitals in Itabashi ward to offer emergency child-care services 
for first time in country 
 
Akahata: 
Longest economic expansion in post-war decades: Significant increase 
in profits and dividend payment, but salaries decreased 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Diet questioning: Is DPJ serious about taking power? 
(2) Visa-free visit program among Japanese and Russian residents 
living in Northern Territories: Do not spoil long standing effort 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Interpellations: DPJ head Ozawa should not avoid verbal 
confrontation 
(2) Reform of agricultural administration with enthusiasm to make 
agriculture growth industry needed 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Diet questioning: Steady debate on sales tax urged 
(2) Outlook by IMF: Global recession becoming increasingly serious 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Clarify in Diet debate campaign issues for next Lower House 
election 
(2) Decision to freeze plan to sell "Kampo" inns puzzling 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Suspension of humanitarian assistance to Russia: Russia should 
abide by its pledge 
(2) One year since poisoned gyoza dumpling incident: China should 
release truth promptly 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Shed light on nontransparent sale of "Kampo" inns 
(2) Poisoned gyoza dumpling incident: Remove obstacle lying between 
Japan and China 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Japan-U.S. alliance: Pressing need to emerge from subordinate 
relation 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, January 29 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
07:41 
Met at his official residence with Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura, 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto, and Assistant Deputy Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Hayashi. 
 
08:10 
Talked on the phone with U.S. President Obama, with Kawamura and 
others present 
 
TOKYO 00000226  003 OF 011 
 
 
 
09:27 
Met Matsumoto at the Kantei. 
 
10:24 
Met Deputy Foreign Minister Otabe, Foreign Policy Bureau Director 
General Bessho, and Director General for Global Issues Sugiyama. 
 
13:02 
Attended a Lower House plenary session. 
 
16:25 
Met at the Kantei with the chairperson and other members of the 
national women's liaison council. Followed by Cabinet Intelligence 
Director Mitani, Defense Ministry's Defense Policy Bureau Director 
General Takamizawa, and Defense intelligence Headquarters Chief 
Shimohira. Mitani stayed behind. 
 
17:05 
Attended a meeting of the ambassadors to Latin American countries. 
Later, attended a meeting of the overseas economic cooperation 
conference. METI Minister Nikai stayed behind. Followed by 
Kawamura. 
 
18:19 
Attended a meeting of the consumer administration promotion 
council. 
 
19:00 
Met Kawamura. 
 
19:30 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Fearing Obama might put off meeting with Japan until later on, 
impatient Aso calls for early summit in phone conversation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso is frantically seeking an early summit 
meeting with President Barack Obama. Behind his eagerness for 
meeting soon with the President is an expectation of his being able 
to tap into the "Obama boom" to give a boost to his administration. 
He also fears that the Obama administration might put off a meeting 
with Japan until after those with other major countries. 
 
Aso held his first telephone conversation with Obama yesterday. 
Based on prior coordination between the two governments, the two 
leaders planned to confirm the need for their countries to closely 
cooperate in dealing with the ongoing global economic crisis and to 
strengthen the bilateral alliance first and then Aso planned to call 
for bilateral talks. 
 
But Aso, ignoring this arrangement, called for a Japan-U.S. summit 
at the very outset of the conference. He seems to have been obsessed 
with winning a commitment from Obama to bring about an early 
meeting. 
 
Tokyo is working on Washington to arrange a visit to the U.S. by the 
prime minister before the financial summit to be held in London on 
April 2. But it will not be easy to set up such a meeting with the 
 
TOKYO 00000226  004 OF 011 
 
 
busy president. 
 
Focusing on Obama's high popularity, many Japanese government 
officials are hopeful of arranging an early Japan-U.S. summit. A 
government source said: "If the prime minister shakes hands with 
President Obama, it would be good publicity for the Aso 
government." 
 
Aso's impatience also reflects his inability to figure out Obama's 
diplomatic approach. The Clinton administration of the Democratic 
Party placed emphasis on China, and Japan had the bitter experience 
of "Japan passing." 
 
Obama started teleconferences with the leaders of Middle Eastern and 
European countries. His call to Japan came after more than a dozen 
calls. A Japanese government source talked tough: "The reason is 
that it was difficult to adjust both sides' schedule due to time 
differences and other circumstances." But an aide to the prime 
minister expressed anxiety: "If (the U.S.) sets summits with the 
leaders of China and South Korea ahead of that with Japan, it will 
carry a different meaning." 
 
5) Prime Minister Aso talks with President Obama in English over 
phone 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Reportedly Prime Minister Taro Aso and President Barack Obama held 
their first telephone conversation in English. However, some have 
contended that the prime minister should have spoke in Japanese in 
the interests of accuracy. 
 
A Foreign Ministry interpreter attended the 10-minute telephone 
conversation with President Obama that Aso made from his office in 
the prime minister's official residence. But Aso, who is confident 
of his English ability, exchanged views on such issues as North 
Korea's nuclear program without the interpreter's help. Some 
question his style, with one foreign embassy official in Tokyo 
saying: "The native language is used even if our leader speaks 
Japanese fluently." 
 
However, the telephone conversation this time around was held 
following the inauguration of President Obama in order to confirm 
cooperation between the two leaders. There is also a view that he 
should be allowed to use English for formality's sake. 
 
6) Far-off dispatch difficult for JCG: Aso 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Aso, attending a plenary sitting of the House of 
Representatives yesterday, indicated that it would be difficult for 
the Japan Coast Guard to engage in continuous activities in the sea 
that is far off from Japan. Aso was replying to a question about the 
government's decision to send the Maritime Self-Defense Force for an 
antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia. "Primarily, the JCG is 
responsible for this," Aso stated. "Given the distance from Japan 
and other factors, it is difficult as a matter of fact," he added. 
Meanwhile, he stressed that the MSDF's deployment, which is based on 
an action for maritime security policing under the Self-Defense 
 
TOKYO 00000226  005 OF 011 
 
 
Forces, is a temporary measure until a new law is established. 
 
7) MSDF, JCG to conduct joint training for Somalia antipiracy 
mission 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
The government is considering an open joint training session of the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard for an 
antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia, officials said yesterday. 
The joint drill will be conducted in Japanese waters, where an MSDF 
destroyer, while escorting a ship, is to encounter a "pirate ship." 
The destroyer will have JCG rangers onboard for judiciary 
procedures. 
 
8) Vice-defense minister calls for eased weapons-use rules for 
anti-piracy operations 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Vice-Defense Minister Kohei Masuda, touching on the ruling bloc's 
plan to submit new anti-piracy legislation to the Diet, indicated in 
a press conference yesterday that it is advisable to ease 
restrictions on the use of weapons. He said: "If as a result of 
discussions on the weapons-use framework for maritime policing 
activities (under the Self-Defense Forces Law) we find 
insufficiencies, I would like to see restrictions eased." 
 
9) Defense Ministry unsettled by anti-piracy measures 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Aso is keen to send the Maritime Self-Defense Force 
for antipiracy security policing in waters off Somalia. However, the 
Defense Ministry has been opposed to doing so to the last. The 
reason is because the Ministry is concerned about possible 
repercussions on Diet discussions for easing the government's 
weapons use guidelines. On the other hand, the MSDF, which wants to 
earn redemption due to a series of scandals, is positive about the 
mission. 
 
"The Self-Defense Forces' antipiracy mission should be based on a 
new law," Defense Minister Hamada said yesterday after directing the 
MSDF chief of staff and other MSDF brass officers to prepare for an 
offshore security policing order. 
 
"If the weapons use guidelines are not good enough for maritime 
security policing operations, we'd like the guidelines to be eased." 
With this, Administrative Vice Defense Minister Kohei Masuda also 
stressed his view in a press conference yesterday. 
 
The MSDF's maritime security policing is intended primarily for the 
MSDF to act in Japanese waters against unidentified vessels 
violating Japan's territorial waters. The Defense Ministry is 
strongly dissatisfied with the idea of invoking this maritime 
security action for antipiracy measures. "The weapons use guidelines 
are ambiguous," one official said, "so the commanding officer over 
there cannot decide what to do." Another official said, "Foreign 
ships will be left in the lurch?" 
 
TOKYO 00000226  006 OF 011 
 
 
 
Hamada, who is in a position to speak for the MSDF, had to get a 
promise from the prime minister's office to create a new law for 
antipiracy measures during the current Diet session. It was a 
categorical imperative for Hamada's acceptance of offshore security 
policing. 
 
The Defense Ministry, as well as the Self-Defense Forces brass, 
wants the MSDF allowed under a new law for antipiracy measures to 
use weapons in order to carry out its duties, anticipating such 
cases as firing to halt pirate ships. If the government criteria of 
weapons use-or the so-called "rules of engagement" (ROE)-is expanded 
under a new law, the Defense Ministry thinks it will be reflected in 
a permanent law that will allow Japan in principle to send the SDF 
overseas as needed, an "earnest wish" according to a senior official 
of the Defense Ministry. 
 
In other words, if the MSDF's antipiracy offshore security policing 
activities obtain results, it will dampen the necessity of easing 
the weapons use guidelines, which is a dilemma for the Defense 
Ministry. This is also one of the reasons why the Defense Ministry 
was reluctant to send the MSDF for an antipiracy mission that is 
based on a maritime security policing action. 
 
Meanwhile, there were such incidents as the MSDF's cover-up of a 
mistaken amount of fuel supplied to U.S. naval ships and the 
Aegis-equipped destroyer Atago's collision with a fishing boat. The 
MSDF has been involved a string of incidents and scandals since the 
year before last. Embarking on the antipiracy mission is a chance 
for the MSDF to clean its tarnished image. Late this year, the 
government will revise the National Defense Program Guidelines. If 
the MSDF obtains actual results from its deployment on the 
antipiracy mission, it will be a "plus" to the Defense Ministry in 
maintaining the SDF's manning level and hardware, according to a 
senior official of the Defense Ministry. 
 
The government has now made a snap decision to send the MSDF for 
antipiracy measures. The MSDF's deployment, however, has a high 
risk. In Iraq and in the Indian Ocean, the SDF used to be in the 
rear. However, a senior Defense Ministry official noted that the SDF 
will be on the front for the first time. The SDF is highly likely to 
use weapons overseas for the first time. The MSDF may injure pirates 
or civilians, and MSDF members may be injured. In such 
eventualities, the SDF's international contributions could stray off 
course. 
 
10) Defense Ministry fact-finding team off to Somalia's neighboring 
countries next week 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
The Defense Ministry decided yesterday to send a fact-finding team 
next week to Djibouti and other neighboring countries ahead of the 
planned dispatch of the Maritime Self-Defense Force on an 
anti-piracy mission in waters off Somalia, Africa. The team is 
expected to be composed of a dozen or so members from the MSDF, 
Joint Staff Office, and internal bureaus. 
 
In addition to closely checking ports and facilities to be used by 
the MSDF destroyers, the team will inspect airports that are fit for 
landings and takeoffs by P-3C patrol planes. After receiving a 
 
TOKYO 00000226  007 OF 011 
 
 
report from the team, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada will order 
the MSDF for the dispatch possibly in early March. 
 
11) Japan-U.S.-South Korea cooperation to get under way 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Akitaka Saiki, director general of the Foreign Ministry Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau, now visiting South Korea, met with Kim 
Sook, of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's 
envoy and director for Korean Peninsular peace negotiations and 
discussed ways to resume the six-party talks. They reportedly agreed 
to launch cooperation among Japan, the U.S. and South Korea, once a 
U.S. official in charge of the six-party talks is appointed. 
 
12) Japanese, South Korean representatives agree on need to continue 
six-party talks 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Jun Kato, Seoul 
 
Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Bureau Director General Akitaka 
Saiki, Japan's chief negotiator in the six-party talks on the North 
Korean nuclear development problem, met with Kim Sook, South Korean 
envoy and director of Korean Peninsula peace negotiations, in Seoul 
yesterday. Both agreed on the importance of the six-party talks in 
resolving the problem. They also agreed to hold a trilateral meeting 
of Japan, the U.S., and South Korea immediately after the U.S. Obama 
administration picks its chief envoy. 
 
After meeting with Kim, Saiki told reporters that Japan has started 
coordination with South Korea to arrange a meeting between Kim 
Hon-hui, who had been arrested in the incident of the bombing of a 
KAL airliner, and family members of Yaeko Taguchi, an abduction 
victim. 
 
13) Government trying to avoid halt of visa-free exchange program in 
negotiations with Russia 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Russian authorities requested that Japanese government officials on 
a humanitarian mission submit disembarkation cards before landing on 
disputed Kunashiri Island. Since the officials rejected the request, 
Japan's humanitarian aid has been temporarily suspended. In an 
effort to resolve this problem, the government has started 
negotiations with Russia. Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura 
said in a press conference yesterday: "We are strongly calling for 
the other side's cooperation so that Japan will be able to resume 
humanitarian aid." Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Bureau 
Director General Yasuaki Tanizaki is expected to meet Russian 
Ambassador to Japan Bely next week. 
 
Humanitarian aid to the four northern territories is part of the 
visa-free exchange visit program among Japanese and Russian 
residents on the four islands. The submission of disembarkation 
cards would mean that Japan accepts the Russian claim that the 
island belong to Russia. Given this, the officials rejected the 
 
TOKYO 00000226  008 OF 011 
 
 
Russian authorities' request. The Russian government intends to 
continue calling for such submission in the future. If both sides 
fail to find common ground, the exchange program, which was 
introduced in 1992, might be suspended. 
 
14) Japan's ODA slips to fifth place in 2007 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
The Foreign Ministry on January 29 issued its 2008 Official 
Development Assistance White Paper. The track record of Japan's ODA 
in 2007 stood at approximately 7.67895 billion dollars 
(approximately 691.2 billion dollars), down 31 PERCENT  from the 
preceding year. Japan's rank as an ODA donor among members of the 
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) fell 
from third to fifth place, the second year in a row it has slipped. 
The figure is about 60 PERCENT  of the total disbursed in 2000, when 
Japan's ODA reached a 10-year high. 
 
15) Prime Minister Aso's replies in interpellations at Jan. 29 Lower 
House plenary session 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Excerpt) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Anti-piracy measures 
 
Piracy in waters off Somalia poses a threat to the international 
community, including Japan. It must be dealt with urgently. In view 
of the distance from Japan and other factors, it is actually 
difficult for the Japan Coast Guard to deal with the matter. The 
government has begun preparing to dispatch the Self-Defense Force 
under a maritime policing clause as an emergency step until a new 
law is enacted. The question of the use of weapons will be dealt 
with appropriately in accordance with a provision of the SDF Law. 
 
Abductees 
 
The government's policy remains unchanged to comprehensively settle 
outstanding issues, including the abduction, nuclear and missiles 
issues, settle the unfortunate past, and normalize diplomatic ties 
with North Korea based on the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration. The 
government will make utmost efforts for the early repatriation of 
all abductees by strongly urging North Korea to quickly conduct a 
full-fledged reinvestigation. 
 
Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
I had a telephone talk with U.S. President Barack Obama yesterday 
morning in which we confirmed a policy course to further strengthen 
the Japan-U.S. alliance and work together in addressing global 
issues, such as finances, the world economy, terrorism, the 
environment, and climate change. 
 
16) Ruling, opposition parties using Diet interpellations for 
"propaganda war" targeting general election 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
January 30, 2009 
 
The Diet yesterday held a questioning session by party 
 
TOKYO 00000226  009 OF 011 
 
 
representatives on Prime Minister Taro Aso's policy speech in a 
plenary session of the House of Representatives. Yukio Hatoyama, 
secretary general of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), spent more time playing up his party's policies than posing 
questions. Meanwhile, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary 
General Hiroyuki Hosoda bragged about the fiscal 2009 state budget. 
The interpellations have taken an aspect of being a "propaganda war" 
by the ruling and opposition parties in anticipation of the next 
Lower House election. 
 
"If a DPJ-led people's government is inaugurated, political and 
administrative systems will substantially change. Symbiosis society 
based on fraternalism and an independent state with dignity will be 
realized." 
 
Hatoyama's question seemed more like a policy speech promoting the 
next government than a question. He berated the cash-handout 
program, the Aso government's economic package, and its employment 
measures, while playing up the supremacy of his party's policy 
measures such as regulating personnel dispatch and compensating 
farmers' incomes. 
 
Hosoda improvised his prepared questions as follows: 
 
"I've just got a news report that the U.S. House of Representatives 
adopted an emergency budget after only five-hour deliberations. The 
U.S. Congress is great. I call on the DPJ, which has tried to 
prolong deliberations on the cash handout program, to deeply reflect 
on that." 
 
Hatoyama said: "Who is the one that keeps running away, even though 
he says, 'I will not run away'?" Aso responded: "I will ask for the 
people's vote of confidence at an appropriate time after clarifying 
differences in issues with the opposition camp." 
 
17) DPJ using consumption tax issue to clobber prime minister, 
letting Makiko Tanaka take the podium 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
January 30, 2009 
 
The Diet on the 29thb began representative interpellations in the 
House of Representatives by each party on Prime Minister Taro Aso's 
policy speech. This marks the beginning of a fierce battle between 
the ruling and opposition camps over the fiscal 2009 budget. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
tried to upset the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) by 
eliciting answers from Aso regarding such issues as a consumption 
tax hike and the watari practice in which ministries and agencies 
can arrange new jobs multiple times for retiring senior bureaucrats. 
Hatoyama pointed out the vague expressions in tax reform-related 
bills that leave room for postponing the time of implementing a tax 
hike after fiscal 2011. 
 
Aso, without changing his expression, said: "I will decide on when 
to implement a tax hike after ascertaining the economic situation. 
But I will do my best so that the economy will recover by fiscal 
2011." As to the tax rate and implementation method, he simply said: 
"I will consider them in the future." 
 
Hatoyama demanded an early Lower-House dissolution, saying: "There 
 
TOKYO 00000226  010 OF 011 
 
 
are no members in the LDP and New Komeito but you who want to fight 
the election under your leadership." Aso, however, did not give his 
word to Hatoyama, just saying: "I will ask for a vote of confidence 
at an appropriate time after clarifying what the issues will be." 
 
In order to further challenge Aso, the DPJ had former Foreign 
Minister Makiko Tanaka, an independent who has joined a 
parliamentary group with the DPJ, take the podium to lead the attack 
against Aso. Tanaka urged the prime minister to quit his post, 
saying: "Since you always wear nice suits, you should immediately 
announce your resignation. If you do so, you will really be a 
stylish dandy." 
 
Whenever Tanaka made provocative remarks, DPJ lawmakers applauded 
her. DPJ President Ozawa, who had returned to the parliamentary hall 
before Tanaka took the floor, applauded her with a smile. Aso gave 
out a stare of hatred. 
 
18) "I will not approve 'watari'," says premier, but refrains from 
touching on abolishing government ordinance 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
January 30, 2009 
 
Senior government employees join public corporations or private 
companies after they retire their ministries or agencies - a 
practice called amakudari (descent from heaven). Their ministries 
then arrange new jobs for them multiple times, allowing them to join 
other companies or organizations after retiring from the original 
corporations or companies. This practice is called "watari" (migrant 
birds) Prime Minister Taro Aso during a Lower House plenary session 
on January 29 revealed his stance of placing a ban on such a 
practice. He said, "I will not grant applications for watari job 
referral services by ministries and agencies in view of harsh 
criticism from the public and discussions pursued in the Diet." He 
made this statement in response to Secretary General Hiroyuki 
Hosoda. 
 
Providing watari job referral services is approved as an exception 
under a government ordinance adopted at a cabinet meeting late last 
year. The prime minister has so far hinted at a possibility of 
approving such a practice, noting, "The government ordinance should 
be implemented strictly." However, with a growing number of 
opposition and ruling camp members seeking a ban on the practice, 
the prime minister changed to a policy of disapproving the 
implementation of the ordinance, although he rejected abolishing it. 
 
 
The revised National Civil Service Law, enacted in 2007, eliminated 
the existing ban on retired bureaucrats from joining corporations 
and companies linked with their ministries or agencies for two years 
after retirement. In the meantime, it unified job referral services 
carried out by each government agency into the government-private 
sector human resources exchange center. The center does not arrange 
watari job referral services. However, the law stipulates that each 
government agency can provide such services during the transition 
period until the center's operation moves into high gear, limited to 
cases approved by the Reemployment, Etc., Monitoring Committee, a 
third-party body. 
 
Appointing committee members requires Diet approval. However, it was 
not possible to do so with proposed appointments meeting opposition 
 
TOKYO 00000226  011 OF 011 
 
 
from the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Since it became impossible 
to launch the committee, the government adopted an ordinance at a 
cabinet meeting late last year. The ordinance incorporates an 
article noting that former staff members can be appointed as 
committee members, if it is indispensable. 
 
Both the ruling and opposition camps are strongly opposed to watari 
job referral services. Moves to submit a lawmaker-sponsored bill or 
views seeking the abolition of the ordinance have surfaced. The 
prime minister wants to avoid criticism over his Diet reply. The 
ruling camp intends to accept his stance. However, the ruling 
parties are geared up to continue to pursue the issue with DPJ 
Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama saying, "If he does not approve it, 
it is better to abolish it." 
 
ZUMWALT