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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000039 
 
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 1/08/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Text of Ambassador Schieffer's Asahi (1/7) interview (Asahi) 
2) Asahi editor on Ambassador Schieffer's remarks during interview 
(Asahi) 
 
Security affairs: 
3) Ambassador Schieffer in Yomiuri interview urges Japan to 
hurriedly join anti-piracy operations in waters off Somalia 
(Yomiuri) 
4) Text of Ambassador Schieffer's Yomiuri interview (Yomiuri) 
5) Ruling parties set up a project team to study anti-piracy 
measures (Yomiuri) 
6) Anticipated new law for MSDF dispatch for anti-piracy duty would 
ease weapons-use rules to allow firing in cases other than pure 
self-defense (Asahi) 
7) Ruling camp facing potential hurdle in setting up new law to deal 
with pirates: New Komeito remains cautious about dispatch of MSDF 
for such duty (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) Okinawa Governor Nakaima in Washington presses for prevention on 
incidents by U.S. military personnel (Asahi) 
 
9) Second supplementary budget that includes controversial 
cash-handout scheme likely to pass the Lower House on Jan. 13 
(Mainichi) 
10) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) reveals policy platform to be 
used in the upcoming Lower House election (Sankei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Main points of interview with U.S. Ambassador Schieffer: A 
nuclear-free Korean Peninsula will be in every country's national 
interests 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
January 7, 2009 
 
Issue of abductions by North Korea 
 
The United States understands the importance of the abduction issue. 
In the end, North Korea, too, will come to realize that the key to 
having relations with Japan is resolving the abduction issue. 
 
I would advise the Obama administration to take the abduction issue 
seriously. No one can remain unmoved after listening to Sakie 
Yokota. Mr. Obama, who has two children, will understand this issue. 
The Yokotas are extremely courageous and splendid parents. What 
impressed me most deeply was walking along with them at the spot 
where Megumi-san was abducted. 
 
Six-Party Talks on the North Korean nuclear issue 
 
What should be first resolved in the Six-Party Talks is the nuclear 
issue. Otherwise, the other issues cannot be settled. We continue to 
tell North Korea that possessing nuclear weapons will be of no 
benefit. Even though we have an action-for-action agreement, North 
Korea is not fulfilling its commitment. It is unacceptable for North 
Korea to possess nuclear weapons. A denuclearized Korean Peninsula 
will be in the best interests of all concerned countries. 
 
Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
 
TOKYO 00000039  002 OF 010 
 
 
The Bush-Koizumi era was the golden age of the U.S.-Japan alliance. 
But with the Liberal Democratic Party losing the Upper House after 
the pension issue was brought to light, the political situation 
changed greatly. Japan is a great country. I don't want it to lose 
confidence. I want it to fulfill its role in the world. (Democratic 
Party of Japan) President Ichiro Ozawa said he would not meet with 
foreign ambassadors.  When I was ambassador to Australia, I 
frequently met with the opposition camp's leaders. I would like Mr. 
Ozawa to be more open to meeting the ambassador who succeeds me. 
That would be in the best interests of both Mr. Ozawa and the U.S. 
 
Relations with China 
 
(Having a dialogue among the U.S., Japan and China) is a good idea. 
The U.S.-Japan relationship is the key to the stability of Asia. 
Neither the U.S. nor Japan should fear China. I don't think that the 
U.S. will ever build the same kind of relationship with China as it 
has with Japan. We should urge China to assume more responsibility 
in the international community. The U.S.-Japan relationship is the 
lynchpin of our Asia-Pacific foreign policy. I am sure the Obama 
administration will understand that. 
 
Financial crisis 
 
There are many things that we can learn from Japan's experience 
after the economic bubble burst. I would like Japan to give us 
advice. If the economies of the U.S. and Japan further integrate, 
the chances for success are increased. I urge the elimination of 
trade barriers that lead to protectionism and the promotion of 
competition. Japan must not lose confidence. It is vital that it as 
a major power play a role in the global economy and international 
security. 
 
2) Listening to U.S. Ambassador to Japan Schieffer: Japan, don't 
slip into obscurity; Raises alarm about inward-looking trend; Urges 
building relations what include China 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
January 7, 2009 
 
Editor in Chief Yoichi Funabashi 
 
"Japan, I don't want you to lose self-confidence." That was the one 
message U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer wanted to send to 
Japan as he left his position. 
 
Japan now has a tendency to turn inward as if it has forgotten it is 
a power, which may mean that it has lost its self-confidence, and 
Japan has yet to make clear what role it wants to play in the world, 
for it is not fully showing what it can do. On these points, 
America, as its ally, is worried about Japan. When one digests the 
concerns expressed by the Ambassador, it seemed so. The 
"inward-looking" tendency seems to be manifested by what might be 
called Japan's almost having "left the stage" in supporting 
stability in Afghanistan and in assisting the war on terror. The 
Ambassador is not the only one who remembers with nostalgia the 
golden era of the Bush-Koizumi days. 
 
One might say, however, that this "golden age" probably should not 
be regarded as the form that an alliance should take. The Koizumi 
administration neglected Asia diplomacy. There is an illusion being 
entertained that if ties with the U.S. are strengthened, Asia 
 
TOKYO 00000039  003 OF 010 
 
 
diplomacy will go well. As a result of such self-righteousness, the 
government and ruling parties were completely flustered by progress 
in U.S.-North Korea talks that excluded Japan, as well as by 
U.S.-China talks. The result was a feeling of national isolation and 
even worse, a growing feeling of dislike toward America. 
 
The Ambassador said that what he had to rack his brains the most 
about was how to keep Japan and the U.S. in step on the North Korea 
nuclear issue and to get through the tangle of emotions involved. 
Japan has felt uneasy about the slight gap in threat perception that 
had grown up between it and the U.S. on such issues as 
denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, maritime defense in the East 
China Sea, and rising China. The U.S.' stance on the abduction issue 
has become a symbolic barometer divining whether or not the U.S. has 
"abandoned" its ally Japan. The Ambassador in Oct. 2007 went so far 
as to send a special cable directly to President Bush asking that 
the removal of North Korea from the U.S. government's list of states 
sponsoring terrorism in order to avoid damaging Japan-U.S. 
relations. One year later, the U.S. government removed North Korea 
from the list. The Ambassador asked Japan for cool-headedness. He 
pleaded with Japan to look at the North Korea nuclear issue and 
national security in strategic terms. 
 
One more appeal from the Ambassador was on the importance of forming 
a multilateral framework for the Asia-Pacific region. He stressed 
that in the Asia-Pacific from now "there is need not just for 
bilateral alliances centered on the United States, but also a 
multilateral framework that includes China." Here, in addition to 
policy talks among Japan, the U.S. and South Korea, as well as 
Japan, the U.S. and Australia, policy talks should also include one 
more involving Japan, the U.S. and China. Although the Ambassador 
recognized the importance of having policy talks among Japan, the 
U.S. and China, he indicated that he visualized this as not having 
the image of being triangular but being like a see-saw. The dynamics 
would involve having a stable relationship with Japan and the U.S. 
on the one side and China seated on the other side. 
 
The Ambassador guaranteed that even in the Obama administration, the 
importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance would not change. However, the 
Ambassador once told a Japanese friend the following: "History is 
repeated every time there is a change in administration in the U.S., 
the importance of Japan is always rediscovered. However, if things 
continue as they are now, the process of rediscovering Japan under 
the next administration will probably be ended. There is danger that 
the U.S. will be overwhelmed by China, and that Japan will be put 
off in the corner." 
 
Ambassador Schieffer, who has served in Australia as well as Japan, 
sees political parties in Japan using diplomacy as a political 
football. Even finding the opportunity to meet Democratic Party of 
Japan President Ozawa for the first time proved difficult. In 
Australia, there is no problem for either the U.S. president or the 
U.S. ambassador having separate meetings with opposition leaders. 
But that is not the case in Japan. He urged mature politics from 
both the ruling and opposition camps that does not use foreign 
policy or security affairs as political tools. 
 
3) Interview with U.S. Ambassador Schieffer to Japan: Urges Japan's 
participation in anti-piracy operations 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 8, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00000039  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan, who is about to leave his post following 
the launching on January 20 of the new Obama administration in the 
U.S., gave an interview on the 7th to the Yomiuri Shimbun at his 
official residence in Tokyo. Concerning measures to cope with 
pirates active in waters off Somalia, Africa, the Ambassador urged 
Japan to hurriedly join the international effort, saying, "I do not 
understand why it takes such a long time for Japan to protect its 
own people and commercial ships from pirates. 
 
Referring to anti-terrorist and public security measures in 
Afghanistan, to which the new Obama administration will attach 
importance, the Ambassador said, "Even if Japan cannot dispatch 
Self-Defense Forces' troops due to the constitutional restriction, 
it can make a contribution by dispatching civilians." He expressed 
his hope that Japan would expand its contributions in such areas as 
medical services, building water-supply and sewer systems and 
election assistance. He also noted, "If Japan makes a list of 
assistance activities it can do in Afghanistan, it would send a 
powerful message to the next U.S. administration." 
 
Regarding the North Korea issue, the Ambassador categorically said 
that he would advise the Obama administration that it should give 
priority to the abduction issue, noting, "It is most regrettable 
that we failed to achieve more progress in the abduction issue." 
 
Touching on Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa, the 
Ambassador said, "I would like him to meet with my successor. It 
would be to in the best interest of both the DPJ and U.S.-Japan 
relations." He made this comment, based on a past incident, in which 
Ozawa was reluctant to meet with the Ambassador over the issue of 
the extension of the Indian Ocean refueling mission by the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force. He indicated that in his view Ozawa should 
deepen communications with the next U.S. ambassador to Japan. 
 
Referring to the DPJ's opposition to the U.S. forces Futenma Air 
Station relocation plan, on which the governments of Japan and the 
U.S. had agreed, the Ambassador said, "I am afraid if the DPJ takes 
over the reins of government rein, it might say, 'Let's start all 
over again by throwing the agreement out the window. The U.S. did 
not just reach an agreement only with the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) and the New Komeito." 
 
4) Interview with U.S. Ambassador Schieffer: Asia's stability 
depends on Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) 
January 8, 2009 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer responded to an interview 
with the Yomiuri Shimbun yesterday. 
 
-- What significance does the planned participation of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in international anti-piracy efforts off 
Somalia have to the U.S.? 
 
That is important not for the U.S. but for Japan. It is hard to 
believe there is a country that cannot protect its own people or 
vessels from attacks by pirates. Some argue that Article 9 of the 
Constitution makes the issue complicated, but pirates are stateless 
criminals, although the argument would be convincing if our enemy 
were a state. I can hardly understand why it takes so long for Japan 
 
TOKYO 00000039  005 OF 010 
 
 
to (decide to) protect its people from piracy? 
 
-- What are your thoughts of Japan's contributions in Afghanistan? 
 
Constitutional restrictions might stand in the way of Japan's plan 
to send SDF troops, but Japan should be able to make contributions 
through a civilian dispatch. There are many areas in which Japan can 
render services, for instance, medical care, water supply, and 
monitoring of elections. If Japan presents a list of assistance 
operations that it could carry out in Afghanistan, in addition to 
the MSDF's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, it would be a 
powerful message to the incoming (Obama) administration. 
 
-- What view do you have of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
President Ozawa? 
 
I hope Mr. Ozawa will meet my successor. Dialogue is beneficial for 
the DPJ, as well as for Japan-U.S. relations. I am worried that the 
Japan-U.S. alliance could be turned into "a political football," 
that is, a tool of political bargaining. 
 
-- Even if a change of government takes place in Japan, do you think 
the Futenma-relocation plan agreed on between the two countries 
should be abided by? 
 
That is right. Our negotiating partner was not the Liberal 
Democratic Party and the New Komeito but the Japanese government. I 
fear that the DPJ, once it assumes power, might say, 'let us throw 
the accord out the window and start from scratch. I am anxious about 
Japan becoming less confident as a result of the current political 
confusion. 
 
-- How about the abduction issue? 
 
I am aware that Japan is concerned that it might be left behind (at 
the six-party talks due to its stance of attaching importance to the 
abduction issue). But I think that is not a possibility. Such evil 
acts as abduction will never be tolerated. Needless to say about the 
need of its recognizing the abductions, North Korea must clear up 
the total picture of what had happened and have all the survivors to 
Japan. 
 
-- Will the Obama administration give priority to China over Japan? 
 
There is no need to worry about it. Stability in Asia depends on the 
solid Japan-U.S. alliance. I liken relations among the U.S., Japan 
and China to a seesaw. A balance can be formed if the U.S. and Japan 
sit on one side while China is on the other side. If Japan loses its 
confidence in the U.S. and tries to adopt a policy of distancing 
itself from the U.S., the three countries will be involved in a 
three-cornered relationship and eventually be poorly balanced. Such 
a case is dangerous both for Japan and the U.S. 
 
-- What do you think are the greatest achievement and the most 
vexing failure you made while in office as ambassador? 
 
I am most disappointed at the lack of progress on the abduction 
issue. I am proud of being able to strengthen the U.S.-Japan 
alliance. 
 
5) Ruling camp to set up anti-piracy project team 
 
 
TOKYO 00000039  006 OF 010 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 8, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito on January 7 
held a meeting of their policy chiefs and decided to set up a 
project team on measures against piracy. Former Defense Minister Gen 
Nakatani will chair the envisaged panel. Security Affairs Division 
chief Shigeki Sato will serve as a person in charge at the New 
Komeito. The panel will hold its first meeting on January 9 to 
confer on how to deal with piracy off Somalia in terms of both the 
existing law and the enactment of a new law. 
 
Prime Minister Aso on the evening of the 7th told reporters at the 
Kantei: "No Japanese has been taken hostage at the moment. However, 
such a possibility is high. It is important for the government to 
look into what it can do." The government intends to submit a bill 
tentatively called a piracy punishment enforcement law, which 
focuses on regulating requirements for the use of weapons, to the 
current Diet session. This is because many New Komeito members are 
cautious about authorizing the firing of weapons at pirate vessels 
in carrying out duties. 
 
In the meantime, some in the Defense Ministry are cautious about 
dispatching Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel, by issuing 
defense action on the seas under the SDF Law, a measure now under 
consideration as a stop-gap measure until the new law is enacted, 
citing such reasons as that vessels to be protected are limited and 
there are restrictions, such as the use of weapons. New Komeito 
Secretary General Yamaguchi at the meeting warned against a view 
that MSDF troops must be dispatched, in the belief that the Japan 
Coast Guard should primarily be responsible for such a matter. 
 
6) Government plans to relax weapons-use rules to deal with piracy; 
New legislation designed to allow SDF to use weapons in other than 
justifiable defense 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
January 8, 2009 
 
The government plans to submit anti-piracy legislation to the 
current session of the Diet. The use of weapons has been limited to 
justifiable defense and other instances for Self-Defense Force 
troops on overseas missions. It has become clear, however, that the 
government is considering easing the rules to allow the SDF to use 
weapons for the purpose of cracking down on piracy. The step is 
likely to craw criticism as opening the door for the use of force 
overseas, which is prohibited under the Constitution. 
 
 
According to the outline presented to the ruling bloc from the 
government, the legislation is tentatively called the Law Concerning 
Treatment of Acts of Piracy. The government has been studying the 
option of sending the Maritime Self-Defense Force to deal with 
piracy in waters off Somalia. As a result, the law specifies the 
protection of foreign vessels, as well, indicating the need for 
Japan to take measures under against acts of piracy against foreign 
ships and foreign shipmen under domestic legislation. As an item to 
be studied for deterring and clamping down on acts of piracy, the 
legislation specifies such powers as the use of weapons, as 
necessary in carrying out duties. 
 
SDF troops on overseas missions were allowed to use weapons only in 
 
TOKYO 00000039  007 OF 010 
 
 
such cases as justifiable defense and emergency evacuations under 
the UN Peacekeeping Operations Cooperation Law, the Antiterrorism 
Special Measures Law, and the Iraq Reconstruction Special Measures 
Law. 
 
Once weapons are allowed to be used against acts of piracy, SDF 
troops would be able to fire at the engine of another vessel to 
bring it to a halt and do harm to crewmembers even if an SDF vessel 
is not attacked. 
 
The relaxation of the weapons-use rules against piracy is likely to 
have an impact on the ongoing discussion on a permanent law 
governing the overseas dispatch of the SDF. 
 
7) New law on Somalia dispatch a tough nut to crack for ruling bloc 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
January 8, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito decided at their 
responsible policy officers meeting yesterday to aim at establishing 
a new law to deal with piracy in waters off Somalia in eastern 
Africa. New Komeito Secretary General Kazuo Kitagawa, however, 
indicated in the session that primarily, anti-piracy measures must 
be taken by the Japan Coast Guard. The New Komeito is reluctant to 
agree to the government and the LDP's plan to dispatch Maritime 
Self-Defense Force vessels. The ruling bloc is now faced with 
another difficult question. 
 
The ruling bloc's project team met for the first time yesterday, and 
decided to aim at producing a bill by the end of March. 
 
Reversing its reluctance, the New Komeito has agreed to establish 
new legislation. That is because Japan, too, is being urged to 
improve its domestic law under the UN Convention on the Law of the 
Sea that calls for the cooperation of its signatories for curbing 
piracy. 
 
Kitagawa in a press conference yesterday acknowledged the need of 
new legislation. At the same time, he said: "Deterring acts of 
piracy is part of policing and it is a matter that concerns the 
Criminal Code. So we must consider a provision in the Criminal Code. 
That is an extremely huge theme concerning the improvement of 
domestic legislation." Kitagawa repeatedly pointed to the dispatch 
of the JCG, expressing reluctance to send MSDF vessels. 
 
But in reality, sending JCG patrol boats all the way to waters off 
Somalia seems difficult, and the LDP wants to push ahead with the 
discussion on new legislation with an MSDF dispatch in mind. 
 
Coordination of views between the LDP and New Komeito is likely to 
encounter difficulties 
 
8) Okinawa Gov. Nakaima in U.S. calls for prevention of incidents 
involving U.S. service members, pointing out Okinawa public's 
distrust 
 
ASAHI (Page 33) (Full) 
January 8, 2009 
 
Takaki Doi, Washington 
 
 
TOKYO 00000039  008 OF 010 
 
 
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, who is visiting the United States to 
ask for the prevention of incidents and accidents by U.S. service 
members, held talks with U.S. government officials responsible for 
East Asian affairs, including Deputy Assistant Secretary of State 
Alexander Arvizu, at the State Department on the afternoon of Jan. 6 
(before dawn Jan. 7, Japan time). In the sessions, Nakaima called 
for tighter military discipline and the removal of the danger of 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa). The governor plans to 
stay in Washington until Jan. 11 to make similar requests to the 
Department of Defense and Congressional members. This is Nakaima's 
first visit to the United States as governor of Okinawa. He took 
office over two years ago. 
 
The meetings were held behind closed doors. A prefectural source 
quoted Nakaima as saying: "U.S. bases in Okinawa form the nucleus of 
the Japan-U.S. alliance. For the maintenance of the Japan-U.S. 
security system, the excessive base burden on Okinawa must be 
reduced." He also explained that in the period between Okinawa's 
reversion to Japan in 1972 and the end of 2007, some 5,500 criminal 
cases involving U.S. service members in the prefecture occurred and 
that of them, 550 were heinous crimes, such as murders and 
robberies. 
 
Touching on an incident in which a U.S. Marine in Okinawa allegedly 
assaulted a middle-school girl in February 2008, Nakaima said: "Such 
an incident has added to the prefectural population's distrust in 
the U.S. military. I would like to see the United States take 
drastic preventive measures that can reduce the number of incidents 
and accidents to zero." 
 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Arvizu was quoted by the same 
source as saying in response: "Now that we were able to hear the 
actual situation from you in detail, we would like to study the 
matter thoroughly. President-elect Obama's transition team is in the 
building, so your visit is timely. The transition team is highly 
interested in the Okinawa issue and the importance of U.S.-Japan 
relations." 
 
9) Tug-of-war over passage on Jan. 13 of second extra budget 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
January 8, 2009 
 
The House of Representatives' Budget Committee decided yesterday in 
a board meeting to hold a basic question-and-answer session on the 
second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008 on Jan. 8-9 in the 
presence of Prime Minister Taro Aso and all cabinet members. The 
ruling coalition forwent passing the second extra budget on Jan. 9 
and the budget will likely clear the Lower House on Jan. 13 or 
after. The committee put off a discussion on the schedule for a vote 
on the budget to a board meeting tomorrow. Bargaining between the 
ruling and opposition will likely intensify over a passage of the 
budget on Jan. 13, the date the ruling coalition considers the time 
limit. 
 
The ruling and opposition parties held a board meeting four times 
yesterday to confer on a schedule for deliberations on the second 
supplementary budget. Although the ruling coalition proposed 
spending two days for the deliberations, the opposition demanded 
five days. Consequently, Budget Committee Chairman Seijuro Eto of 
the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) suggested that basic 
interpellations be held on Jan. 8-9 and wrap-up interpellations and 
 
TOKYO 00000039  009 OF 010 
 
 
vote-taking on 13. Regarding the proposal for taking a vote on the 
13th, the opposition has placed its decision on hold. 
 
The LDP Diet Affairs Committee initially wanted to get the budget 
through the Lower House on the 9th even holding a plenary session. 
However, it later judged that it would be wise to avoid a full-blown 
clash between the ruling and opposition camps ahead of deliberations 
on bills related to the second extra budget and the fiscal 2009 
state budget. It has yet to be decided on when to hold deliberations 
on three budget-related bills. 
 
However, in order for the House of Councillors to secure same the 
number of days as the Lower House, the ruling coalition cannot give 
up on its plan to take a vote on the extra budget on the 13th 
because it intends to submit to the Diet on Jan. 19 the fiscal 2009 
state budget. The probability is that if the voting is put off, 
dissatisfaction will grow in the LDP. A senor LDP Diet Affairs 
Committee member said: "We will take a vote on the 13th even by the 
ruling parties alone." 
 
10) DPJ's action plan for gaining a sole majority in next Lower 
House election 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
January 8, 2009 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday 
revealed its policy action plan for fiscal 2009. The DPJ states in 
the plan that 2009 will be the year for the party to fight to bring 
about a change in government and that intends to prepare well for 
the next election for the House of Representatives with victory in 
mind. The party also stresses in the plan that it will win a sole 
majority in the next Lower House election. The action plan will be 
presented to an executive board meeting on Jan. 13 and adopted at 
the party's convention on Jan. 18. 
 
The title of the action plan is "Japan will change by a change in 
government. Improving the livelihoods of the people is our top 
priority." The subtitle is: "Protect jobs, people's livelihoods and 
local communities." 
 
The action plan states that under the leadership of President Ichiro 
Ozawa, the DPJ will bring about a sound parliamentary democracy by 
taking the reins of government; and that it will form a new 
government based on the voices of the people and public confidence 
and implement policies swiftly and decisively. 
 
The largest opposition party also states in the action plan that it 
will secure a sole majority in the next general election, which 
means that it will not presuppose a coalition with the Social 
Democratic Party (SDP) and People's New Party (PNP). The action plan 
writes that in order for a victory in the general election, the DPJ 
will concentrate on support for candidates who will likely win in 
single-seat constituency races. 
 
Gist of DPJ's action plan for FY2009 
 
  Implement the manifest titled "Top priority on people's 
livelihoods." 
  Pursue the government's idleness to change the Diet and embody a 
new Diet after grabbing the reins of government. 
  Secure a majority in the Lower House election 
 
TOKYO 00000039  010 OF 010 
 
 
  Collect 270,000 rank and file party members and supporters to 
create regional organizations. 
  Strengthen cooperation with Rengo (National Confederation of Trade 
Unions) and obtain support from industrial associations that have 
supported the Liberal Democratic Party. 
  Promote national movements to protect employment. 
  Publicize need for a change in government. 
  Concentrate on public relations before a change in government, 
establish its fiscal condition. 
  Transmit the policies of the new government to the international 
community. 
 
SCHIEFFER