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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000484 
 
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 03/03/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Asahi) 
 
(2) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Mainichi) 
 
(3) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Nikkei) 
 
(4) Ozawa political support groups to be investigated in connection 
with contributions from Nishimatsu Construction (Asahi) 
 
(5) CO2 emissions cuts: Cost also challenge; Six proposals for 
mid-term goal to be narrowed down (Asahi) 
 
(6) TOP HEADLINES 
 
(7) EDITORIALS 
 
(8) Prime Minister's schedule, March 2 (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 21, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. Bracketed figures denote 
proportions to all respondents. Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of the last survey conducted Feb. 7-8.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 13 (14) 
No 75 (73) 
 
Q: Why? (One reason only. Left column for those marking "yes" on 
previous question, and right for those saying "no.") 
 
The prime minister is Mr. Aso 15(2) 15(11) 
It's an LDP-led cabinet 40(5) 20(15) 
From the aspect of policies 22(3) 51(39) 
Cabinet lineup 6(1) 9(7) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 25 (22) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 26 (25) 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2 (3) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (0) 
None 39 (43) 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K) 4 (3) 
 
Q: Do you think the House of Representatives should be dissolved as 
early as possible for a general election, or do you otherwise think 
there is no need to hurry? 
 
TOKYO 00000484  002 OF 009 
 
 
 
Dissolve as early as possible 64 (60) 
No need to hurry 28 (31) 
 
Q: If you were to vote now in a general election for the House of 
Representatives, which political party would you vote for in your 
proportional representation bloc? 
 
LDP 22 (22) 
DPJ 42 (42) 
NK 3 (3) 
JCP 4 (3) 
SDP 2 (1) 
PNP 0 (0) 
RC 0 (0) 
NPN 0 (0) 
Other political parties 1 (1) 
N/A+D/K 26 (28) 
 
Q: Which one between Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ichiro 
Ozawa do you think is more appropriate for prime minister? 
 
Mr. Aso 19 (20) 
Mr. Ozawa 45 (39) 
 
Q: Would you like Mr. Aso to remain in office as prime minister, or 
would you otherwise like him to quit early? 
 
Remain in office 15 
Quit early 71 
 
Q: Finance Minister Nakagawa has resigned for being woozy during a 
press conference after an international conference. Do you think 
Prime Minister Aso, who appointed Mr. Nakagawa to his ministerial 
post, is very responsible, or not very responsible? 
 
Very responsible 50 
Not very responsible 43 
 
Q: Do you think Prime Minister Aso's response over Finance Minister 
Nakagawa was appropriate? 
 
Yes 37 
No 52 
 
Q: Prime Minister Aso, looking back on the days when he was internal 
affairs and communications minister in the Koizumi cabinet, said he 
was not in favor of postal privatization. Is this convincing? 
 
Yes 14 
No 79 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted from the evening of 
Feb. 19 through the night of Feb. 20 over the telephone on a 
computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. Respondents were 
chosen from among the nation's voting population on a three-stage 
random-sampling basis. Valid answers were obtained from 1,044 
persons (59 PERCENT ). 
 
(2) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000484  003 OF 009 
 
 
February 23, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 11 (19) 10 12 
No 73 (65) 76 70 
Not interested 14 (15) 13 15 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the above question) Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 26 
(29) 24 28 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
9 (12) 12 7 
Because there's something friendly about the prime minister 24 (26) 
25 23 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 31 (18) 34 28 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 5 
(6) 7 4 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
44 (33) 41 47 
Because there's something imprudent about the prime minister 19 (14) 
20 18 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 31 (45) 32 30 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
 T P M F 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 20 (20) 20 19 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 29 (26) 37 21 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (5) 2 3 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2 (3) 1 4 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 1 1 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 0 0 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 0 0 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 0 -- 
Other political parties 1 (1) 1 2 
None 42 (42) 36 48 
 
Q: The government and the ruling parties plan to hand out a per 
capita benefit of 12,000 yen. Do you appreciate this cash payout? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 20 (22) 22 19 
No 73 (74) 74 73 
 
Q: Finance Minister and Financial Services Minister Nakagawa has 
resigned to take responsibility for drunkenly meeting the press 
after an international conference. Do you think Prime Minister Aso 
is responsible for appointing Nakagawa to his cabinet ministerial 
posts? 
 
TOKYO 00000484  004 OF 009 
 
 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 58  61 55 
No 37  36 37 
 
Q: Who do you think is more appropriate for prime minister between 
Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Ozawa? 
 
 T P M F 
Prime Minister Aso 8 (16) 7 8 
DPJ President Ozawa 25 (25) 35 15 
Neither is appropriate 61 (55) 54 68 
 
Q: Which party between the LDP and the DPJ would you like to see win 
in the next election for the House of Representatives? 
 
 T P M F 
LDP 22 (27) 20 23 
DPJ 51 (50) 64 40 
Other political parties 16 (16) 10 23 
 
Q: With Finance Minister and Financial Services Minister Nakagawa's 
resignation as an opportunity, there are calls from within the LDP 
insisting that Prime Minister Aso should step down. How long do you 
think Prime Minister Aso should remain in office? 
 
 T P M F 
He should quit right away 39  40 37 
He should remain in office until next fiscal year's budget passes 
the Diet 39  38 40 
He should remain in office until around this summer 7  8 7 
He should remain in office as long as possible 8  10 7 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "0" indicates that 
the figure was below 0.5 PERCENT . "--" denotes that no respondents 
answered. "No answer" omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of the last survey conducted Jan. 24-25. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Feb. 21-22 over the 
telephone across the nation on a computer-aided random digit 
sampling (RDS) basis. A total of 1,593 households with one or more 
eligible voters were sampled. Answers were obtained from 1,067 
persons (67 PERCENT ). 
 
(3) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 23, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote findings from the 
last survey conducted in January.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 15 (19) 
No 80 (76) 
Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 5 (5) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support or like? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 34 (29) 
 
TOKYO 00000484  005 OF 009 
 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 35 (37) 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 4 (5) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (1) 
None 17 (16) 
C/S+D/K 5 (6) 
 
(Note) The total percentage does not become 100 PERCENT  in some 
cases due to rounding 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was taken Feb. 20-22 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 1,531 households with one or 
more eligible voters were sampled, and answers were obtained from 
960 persons (62.7 PERCENT ). 
 
(4) Ozawa political support groups to be investigated in connection 
with contributions from Nishimatsu Construction 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
Eve., March 3, 2009 
 
In connection with political contributions from the Nishimatsu 
Construction Company (Tokyo), a semi-large-scale general contractor 
that has been associated with large sums of bribery money at home 
and abroad, the Tokyo District Special Prosecutors Office as of 
March 3 has firmed up its intention to investigate the political 
organizations of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro 
Ozawa on suspicion of violation of the Political Funds Control Law. 
The various political support groups of President Ozawa have 
received large sums of money from two political organizations where 
retired officials from Nishimatsu Construction Company have worked. 
Reportedly, there is suspicion that persons connected with Ozawa's 
political groups knowingly accepted the money from Nishimatsu 
Construction. It is prohibited under the Political Funds Control Law 
for a corporate contribution to be given under another person's name 
or to go to anything but a political party. If persons connected 
with the political organization of the politician knew the money 
came from Nishimatsu Construction via a group of retired company 
officials, there is a possibility of the law having been broken, 
including false reporting in the report of income from political 
contributions. 
 
(5) CO2 emissions cuts: Cost also challenge; Six proposals for 
mid-term goal to be narrowed down 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Full) 
March 2, 2009 
 
With the setting of mid-term goals to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) 
emissions by various countries coming into focus of upcoming 
international talks, Japan is pressed to make a decision on the 
extent of such cuts to be achieved by 2020. However, discussions of 
the cost of cutting CO2 emissions are going along divergent lines. 
The effort to set out a vision of at what level global warming 
should be constrained is being left behind. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000484  006 OF 009 
 
 
Major differences in estimations by research institutes 
 
Prime Minister Aso paid close attention to the cost of measures to 
cut greenhouse gas emissions during discussions on the adoption of a 
mid-term goal, noting: "We must set a mid-term goal that is 
implementable in economic terms as well. Just setting a goal high 
will not do." 
 
The government's Mid-Term Goal Review Committee, chaired by 
Toshihiko Fukui, former Bank of Japan governor, has started 
discussions on four options, using such data as the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry's (METI) long-term energy supply-demand 
outlook, etc. It is now conducting an analysis of more detailed six 
proposals. 
 
The six proposals are varied, ranging from a case in which carbon 
emissions are to be constrained to a 6 PERCENT  increase from the 
1990 level with such efforts as maintaining existing technologies 
and systems but replacing existing equipment with energy-saving 
types (proposal 1) to a case in which a 25 PERCENT  cut compared 
with the 1990 level is aimed at, by increasing the number of 
detached houses equipped with a solar energy generation system 
(proposal 6). 
 
The higher the goal is, the more the cost to achieve it is. However, 
estimates for actual amount of money differ among various research 
centers. 
 
The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ) under the 
jurisdiction of METI has estimated, centered on a case in which CO2 
emissions are cut 4 PERCENT  from the 1990 level with the maximum 
introduction of energy-saving technologies but without setting new 
restrictions, such as emissions trading or an environment tax 
(proposal 3). It has calculated that this would require additional 
investment worth about 52 trillion yen by 2020. Likewise, it has 
estimated that achieving a 25 PERCENT  reduction would require 
additional investment worth approximately 380 trillion yen. 
 
On the other hand, the National Institute for Environmental Studies 
(NIE) under the jurisdiction of the Environment Ministry has 
estimated that in a case in which energy-saving technologies are 
introduced to a maximum extent, no additional investment will be 
required. The organization stresses that even the cost needed for a 
25 PERCENT  cut would be about 27 trillion yen. 
 
One cause of the differences in calculations is how to view future 
prices of energy saving-type equipment. If the adoption of solar 
energy generation spreads, the production cost would drop, which 
will be reflected in prices. NIE has taken the margin of a drop in 
prices into account. The IEEJ has made estimation, based on current 
prices, viewing that a fall in future prices would be limited. 
 
NIE assumed that the use of solar energy generation will help reduce 
utility costs, enabling to recover invested funds over several 
years. However, the IEEJ says that replacements of existing 
equipment with energy-saving types would not increase, unless the 
period needed to recover invested funds is considerably long. 
 
Executive Director Masahisa Naito of the IEEJ at a meeting of the 
review committee pointed out, "Industry circles have criticized 
proposed options, saying that it is difficult to achieve even the 
case of the maximum introduction of energy-saving equipment." 
 
TOKYO 00000484  007 OF 009 
 
 
Discussions by the panel were divided with Shuzo Nishioka, guest 
researcher at NIE underscoring: "Investment for energy-saving 
measures is expenditures for expanding domestic demand. Nurturing 
related industries will strengthen Japan's international 
competitiveness." 
 
It is said that measures to address damages caused throughout the 
world by global warming, such as a rise in sea level, drought and 
floods, would cost dozens of trillions of yen. If sufficient 
measures are not taken now, it would cost extra money later. 
Discussions from such a perspective have been put on hold. 
 
Impact on achievement of long-term goal 
 
Prior to the Hokkaido Lake Toya Summit last summer, the government 
had set a long-term goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to be 
achieved by Japan by 2050 at a 60 PERCENT -80 PERCENT  decrease from 
the current level. If a lenient mid-term goal is set, it would 
become necessary to cut more emissions after 2020. 
 
There is a scenario of cutting emissions sharply after 2020, by 
developing innovative technologies, such carbon dioxide capture and 
storage (CCS) technology, a process whereby CO2 is captured from 
gases produced by fossil fuel combustion, compressed, transported 
and injected into deep geographic formations and a new ironmaking 
process using hydrogen. However, it is not known whether it is 
possible to reduce emissions with those technologies without fail. 
 
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has presented a 
report noting that if the temperature rises by 2-3 degrees, its 
impact would be felt all over the world. 
 
Tokyo Institute of Technology Associate Professor Kanie said that if 
the entire world is to tackle a goal of containing a rise in the 
temperature at 2 degrees, Japan would need to set a mid-term goal at 
an 18 PERCENT  decrease. The government has not yet indicated its 
view on to what level such a rise should be constrained. Kanie said, 
"If it does not come up with a view on that as well as to set a 
mid-term goal, it would miss its purpose of cutting emissions." 
 
(6) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Staffing firm, formally known as goodwill, to stop sending workers 
to manufacturers: 4,000 workers registered for engineering work to 
be trimmed 
 
Mainichi: Yomiuri: 
New York stocks plunge, Dow briefly slips to 12-year low 
 
Nikkei: 
Tripartite emergency forum on employment eyed by government, labor, 
management: Employment adjustment system, work sharing as safety 
net 
 
Sankei: 
Taepodong-2: Launch of later this month possible with eye on 
U.S.-South Korea drill 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
AIG reports 9.7 trillion yen in deficit for October-December quarter 
of 2008 
 
TOKYO 00000484  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
Akahata: 
Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions probes new 
nursing care need certification system 
 
(7) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Local governments' finances: Use economic crisis as tool for 
reform 
(2) Court decision on fake anti-earthquake work: Responsibility for 
authorizing building construction heavy 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Discussion to abolish cost-sharing for public works should be 
pursued with "revolt" of local governments as occasion 
(2) Decline in crimes: Police should attach importance to their role 
of protecting citizens 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Slump in auto industry: Emerging markets, environmental 
technology hold key to secure income sources 
(2) Improving public security should be precondition for pullout of 
U.S. troops from Iraq 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Confrontation between old and new members of EU, where economic 
crisis is deepening, worrisome 
(2) Redevelopment of Central Post Office national disgrace? 
 
Sankei: 
(1) World Baseball Classic (WBC): We hope to see exhilarating games 
by Japanese players 
(2) Pension finances estimate: Government should show realistic 
projection 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) U.S. should give top priority to Iraq's self-support and 
stabilization in pulling out its troops 
(2) Recession and sports: Now is time to reform the consciousness of 
athletes 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Increase in number of children on waiting list to enter nursery 
 
(8) Prime Minister's schedule, March 2 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 3, 2009 
 
07:31 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
11:23 
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura and deputy chief cabinet 
secretaries Matsumoto, Konoike and Uruma. Kawamura stayed behind. 
 
15:05 
Met Central Japan Railway Co. Chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai, CSIS Japan 
Chair Michael Green, Confederation of Indian Industry Chief Mentor 
Tarun Das, and others. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000484  009 OF 009 
 
 
15:45 
Met State Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Yosano. Joined by 
METI Minister Nikai, Vice MITI Minister Mochizuki, and Assistant 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda. 
 
17:00 
Attended an LDP executive meeting in the Diet Building. 
 
17:53 
Arrived at the Kantei. 
 
18:16 
Arrived at his private office in Nagata-cho. 
 
18:41 
Arrived at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
19:02 
Met at his official residence with LDP third-term Lower House 
members, with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsumoto. 
 
ZUMWALT