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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000554 
 
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 03/12/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Editorial: Form coalition against North Korea, centered on 
Japan, U.S., South Korea (Nikkei) 
 
(2) Uruma's remarks causing major stir (Yomiuri) 
 
(3) Kamei calls for prosecutor general's explanation about why 
Ozawa's secretary was arrested at this time (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(4) U.S. military permits on-site inspection over Futenma fuel 
spills (Okinawa Times) 
 
(5) SDF set to sail for waters off Somalia: Weapons-use standards 
for Somalia mission rarely different with those for past missions; 
SDF personnel unfamiliar with judgment on responding to attacks 
(Mainichi) 
 
(6) Japan and United States must shift from tatemae to honne in 
taking action (Sankei) 
 
(7) IWC working group to issue final report in May: Interim meeting 
ends with division over coastal whaling left unfilled (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
(8) Human-rights group denounces Soichiro Tahara's remark, "Tanaka, 
Ozawa were both done in by Jews" (Nikkan Gendai) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Editorial: Form coalition against North Korea, centered on 
Japan, U.S., South Korea 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 12, 2009 
 
Former North Korean agent Kim Hyon Hui met family members of Yaeko 
Taguchi, an abduction victim, in Busan, South Korea, for the first 
time. Kim was sentenced to death and later pardoned for blowing up a 
Korean Air Lines passenger jet in 1987. 
 
Taguchi was abducted by North Korea around 1978. Kim told (South 
Korean investigators) that she had learned Japanese from a Japanese 
woman with the Korean name of Lee Eun Hye. The National Police 
Agency identifies the Japanese woman as Taguchi. 
 
Kim encouraged the family members with the words, "Keep up your 
hope." Much information about new facts reportedly was not provided, 
but the meeting must be meaningful for them in that they were 
informed about how Taguchi was living in North Korea. 
 
The meeting was arranged through cooperation between the governments 
of Japan and South Korea in response to the desires of both parties 
concerned. The realization of the meeting was greatly attributed to 
the inauguration of the conservative administration of President Lee 
Myung-bak. It would have been difficult to bring about such a 
meeting under the previous administration of President Roh Moo-hyun, 
who placed emphasis on a policy of reconciliation. 
 
North Korea promised in talks with Japan last August to 
reinvestigate past kidnapping cases of Japanese nationals, but no 
progress has been made at all. Many South Korean citizens were also 
 
TOKYO 00000554  002 OF 010 
 
 
abducted by North Korean agents. We hope that Japan and South Korea, 
encouraged by this meeting, will strengthen cooperation in an 
attempt to throw light on the abduction issue. 
 
It is also imperative for the two countries to jointly address the 
North Korean nuclear and missile issues, not limited to the 
abduction issue. In the six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear 
development problem, no agreement has been reached on ways to verify 
nuclear information supplied by North Korea. 
 
Signs have been observed since later this January of North Korea 
preparing to launch the long-range ballistic missile Taepodong-2 at 
a missile base in Musudan, which is located on the side of the Sea 
of Japan. 
 
North Korea claims that it is preparing to launch a satellite for 
the peaceful use of space, but it must be just an excuse. It is 
apparent that Pyongyang is aiming to inflame tensions by launching a 
missile that has a sufficient range to land on the U.S. and push 
ahead with negotiations with the Obama administration in its favor. 
 
 
It is necessary for Japan, the U.S., and South Korea to form a 
strengthened coalition against North Korea in an effort to prevent 
the North from launching a missile. Such plans are floating as 
tightening sanctions against the North based on a resolution of the 
UN Security Council and intercepting the launch. Countries 
concerned, centered on the three countries, should jointly urge 
North Korea to exercise self-restraint through various diplomatic 
efforts and warnings. 
 
(2) Uruma's remarks causing major stir 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 10, 2009 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Iwao Uruma remarked there was no 
possibility that the investigation into the scandal involving 
alleged illicit donations from Nishimatsu Construction Co. would 
spread to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Uruma's remarks 
created a major stir. Although he denied the remarks in such 
occasions as a press conference, the opposition parties have said 
his explanation was insufficient. Therefore, the issue will not be 
resolved soon. 
 
Uruma made the remarks during an informal meeting with reporters on 
the evening of March 3 at the Prime Minister's Office, when he was 
asked whether (the investigation) would reach the LDP. He was then 
asked whether the public would consider it a politically motivated 
investigation if the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) case was the 
only one targeted by prosecutors. He responded: 
 
"The amount of donations received by (the LDP) is different. I think 
it's difficult to prove (a person's) awareness of the illegality of 
donations in a case involving such a small amount of money." 
 
It is unusual for Uruma -- a former director general of the National 
Police Agency and key player at the heart of the government -- to 
speak of the outlook of an investigation currently under way. News 
organizations, including Yomiuri Shimbun reported the remarks on 
their morning editions on March 6. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000554  003 OF 010 
 
 
However, Uruma made the remarks off-the-record talk. Such meetings 
take place when reporters need further explanations from politicians 
and bureaucrats about policies. Uruma normally holds this kind of 
meeting with reporters daily during the week. Therefore, Uruma's 
name was withheld in reports, and he was described as "a government 
source" or "high-level government official." 
 
Uruma's remarks drew a barrage of protest from the ruling and 
opposition parties, with DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama 
saying, "I couldn't help but suspect that the investigation was 
being political manipulated by prosecutors and the government." 
 
On the night of March 6, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura 
cautioned Uruma, saying: "Your remark was a common view that could 
cause misunderstanding." Uruma said another off-the-record meeting 
said: "That was just a generalization how difficult it is to prove 
awareness of illegality." 
 
Asahi Shimbun effectively broke the off-the-record agreement in an 
article linking the remarks to Uruma: "The DPJ will pursue the issue 
in the Diet, believing the high-level government official to be 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Uruma," in its March 7 morning 
edition, along with Uruma's above explanation. After that, the 
cabinet reporters' club, to which Yomiuri Shimbun and other media 
companies belong, called for a revocation of the off-the-record 
status of the remarks. Uruma, however, refused, saying: "I can't 
have what I've said made public retroactively." 
 
Kawamura phoned Prime Minister Taro Aso, who had returned to Tokyo 
that night from Okinawa, and asked his instruction. Aso told 
Kawamura: The deputy chief cabinet secretary should fulfill his 
responsibility for explaining himself," indicating that Uruma should 
officially respond to the allegation. Following this, Kawamura, 
appearing on Fuji TV and NHK talk shows on the morning of March 8, 
revealed for the first time that the person in question was Uruma. 
 
However, Uruma dined the remarks at a press conference in the Prime 
Minister's Office, saying: "I don't remember whether I said the 
investigation will not reach politicians belonging to a specific 
political party." 
 
Various media companies, including Yomiuri, Asahi, Mainichi and 
Nikkei, carried similar articles in their morning issues on March 6. 
Kyoto News also dispatched a similar article. In a press conference, 
a reporter questioned: 
 
"Almost all reporters (attended the off-the-record session) the 
deputy chief cabinet secretary's remarks, but he said neither he nor 
his secretaries remember him making such remarks. Is this 
questionable?" 
 
Uruma just stated: "There are differences in the memories of a 
person talking about a general view and those questioning whether 
the investigation will reach the LDP." 
 
Uruma's remarks and reaction to them 
 
March 5 During off-the-record meeting at the Prime Minister's 
Office, Uruma said the investigation into the Kanematsu Construction 
Co.' illegal donation scandal would not reach the LDP. Uruma's name 
was withheld in the first reports and he was described as a senor 
government official. 
 
TOKYO 00000554  004 OF 010 
 
 
March 6 The ruling and opposition parties criticized the remarks. 
Uruma told reporters that he just talked about how difficult to 
probe a person's awareness of illegality. 
March 7 Asahi Shimbun reported that the DPJ would pursue the issue 
in the Diet, believing the senior government official to be Uruma. 
 
The cabinet reporters' club called for a revocation of the 
off-the-record status of the remarks. But Uruma refused the request, 
saying: "I can't have what I have said made public retroactively." 
March 8 Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura identified "a government 
source" as Uruma in NHK and Fuji TV programs. 
March 9 Prime Minister Aso, in an Upper House Budget Committee 
session, said: "The remarks during the off-the-record session were 
misreported." In a committee session that afternoon, Aso retracted 
what he had said in the morning, saying: "There were discrepancies 
between Uruma's memory and how the reporters received his remarks. 
Uruma, in a press conference in the afternoon, said: "It may be that 
either of my memory and the reporters' is correct." 
Aso told the press corps at the Prime Minister's Office: "The 
remarks were not misreported. But there were discrepancies. 
 
(3) Kamei calls for prosecutor general's explanation about why 
Ozawa's secretary was arrested at this time 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 12, 2009 
 
People's New Party Acting President Shizuka Kamei yesterday called 
for an explanation by Prosecutor General Toshiaki Hiwatari about why 
the first state-funded secretary of Democratic Party of Japan 
President Ozawa was arrested on charges of violating the Political 
Funds Control Law at this juncture. In a press conference yesterday, 
Kamei said: 
 
"Why did prosecutors arrest him (at this time), upon fully aware 
that it will have an overwhelming effect on the recent trend that 
would change national politics? It is necessary for the top 
prosecutor to give an explanation to the people. ... It is 
undesirable to amplify public distrust in the prosecutors' office. 
If Mr. Ozawa were also arrested, the people would see reasons, but 
if the investigation ends only with the arrest of his secretary, the 
top prosecutor should give an explanation in public. 
 
(4) U.S. military permits on-site inspection over Futenma fuel 
spills 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 27) (Full) 
March 12, 2009 
 
Concerning the issue of jet fuel spills from a fuel tank in a 
northern area of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, U.S. 
Marines Okinawa's foreign policy staff section (G-5) yesterday 
informed Ginowan City and Okinawa Prefecture through the Okinawa 
Defense Bureau that the U.S. Marine Corps would allow local 
officials to enter the base for an on-site inspection, conditioning 
it on "eye observation" with "no photographing or sampling." The 
city will accept this condition in order to confirm the site. 
However, a city official is critical of this condition, saying: 
"Photographing and sampling are not allowed. The Japanese 
government, which has accepted such a condition, has problems." 
 
The Okinawa Defense Bureau does not know why the U.S. military 
 
TOKYO 00000554  005 OF 010 
 
 
allows no photographing or sampling, officials said. 
 
According to the Okinawa Defense Bureau, three officials each from 
Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, and the Okinawa Defense Bureau 
will enter the base for an on-site inspection. The bureau is now 
coordinating the date and time with the U.S. military, officials 
said. 
 
Ginowan City's Mayor Yoichi Iha noted: "The U.S. military is 
concerned about environmental pollution being brought to light in 
any case, so they will not allow sampling." He also said: "The U.S. 
military has accountability about how the fuel spills could affect 
the environment and whether the fuel that leaked has been handled 
properly." 
 
According to U.S. Marines Okinawa's press division and other 
sources, the fuel spills-initially estimated at about 3,000 liters 
(800 gallons)-amounted to about 760 liters (200 gallons) and about 
380 liters (100 gallons) has already been recovered. However, the 
press division said, "Only a small grass area and soil were 
affected." The U.S. military is going to replace the grass area's 
grounds with uncontaminated soil and will sow grass seeds, the press 
division said. 
 
When jet fuel spilled at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in 2007, the U.S. 
military allowed sampling a small amount of withered grass but 
allowed no soil sampling. 
 
(5) SDF set to sail for waters off Somalia: Weapons-use standards 
for Somalia mission rarely different with those for past missions; 
SDF personnel unfamiliar with judgment on responding to attacks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 11, 2009 
 
The biggest difference of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) activities 
in waters off Somalia with those carried out in the past is that the 
use of weapons does not directly lead to constitutional debate. 
Unlike terrorists, piracy has no political background and is nothing 
more than robbery and kidnapping. Piracy does not fall under the 
category of "nations and organizations equivalent to nations." 
 
The weapons-use standards for the maritime policing activities in 
the Somalia mission are rarely different with those for the past 
missions. Applying article 7 of the policemen's duty performance law 
correspondingly, shooting that will harm the other side is allowed 
only in "self-defense" or during an "emergency evacuation." The SDF 
bears responsibility for proving its activities are such. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso said: "Are there any pirates who would dare 
attack SDF personnel?" He is optimistic, but since pirates arm 
themselves with rocket artillery and machine guns, they cannot be 
placed on the same level with domestic criminals. There was a case 
in which an Indian navy ship mistakenly sank a Thai fishing boat. 
There remains a risk that SDF personnel would kill or injure pirates 
due to excessive return fire. There is concern that it will be 
difficult for SDF personnel who are unfamiliar with criminal law to 
judge in a moment. 
 
An implementation plan the Defense Ministry revealed on March 4 
stipulates that deterring and driving off pirates are vital. The 
major purposes are that the SDF destroyers will intimidate pirate 
 
TOKYO 00000554  006 OF 010 
 
 
boats in order to keep them out and find pirates quickly by patrol 
helicopters. SDF destroyers will disperse them with warning shots. 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada stated that the rules of engagement 
(ROE), which stipulates the procedure of weapons-use, will be 
restrained. A senior Defense Ministry officials even said: "The SDF 
destroyers will just run away from pirates. 
 
(6) Japan and United States must shift from tatemae to honne in 
taking action 
 
SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) 
March 11, 2009 
 
James E. Auer, director of the Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and 
Cooperation at the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies 
 
No action, talk only 
 
I did not expect the Democratic Obama administration's relations 
with Japan would make a good start. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 
and President George W. Bush, who maintained a close relationship, 
have left their posts and (former Deputy Secretary of State) Richard 
Armitage, who played a major role, has also left the front stage. 
Nevertheless, Hillary Clinton visited Japan as her first foreign 
destination as secretary of State, and President Barack Obama 
invited Prime Minister Taro Aso to the White House as the first 
foreign leader he met. 
 
President Obama might have had a greater interest in China than in 
Japan. There was no mention of Japan in Secretary Clinton's essay on 
Asia policy, written last year when she was a presidential 
candidate. But this time around, all media reports said that both 
Clinton's visit to Tokyo and Prime Minister Aso's trip to Washington 
were extremely friendly, while emphasizing that maintaining and 
strengthening U.S.-Japan relations was of crucial importance for the 
two countries. 
 
Some take the view that the expressions of friendship were just pro 
forma words or tatemae, however. 
 
Describing Japan-U.S. relations as "no action, talk only," my 
Japanese friend cynically said that the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty 
should be renamed a "NATO treaty." The time has come for both Japan 
and the United States to take action with determination, according 
to my friend. 
 
Providing railway technology an idea 
 
Prime Minister Aso's political base has markedly weakened. There may 
be a scenario in which Kaoru Yosano of the Liberal Democratic Party 
or Ichiro Ozawa of the Democratic Party of Japan becomes prime 
minister before long. In either case, I have given thought to what 
they could do to turn "tatemae" or pro forma expressions into the 
honest and sincere action or honne in collaboration with President 
Obama. As a result, I have come up with many possibilities, 
including the following: 
 
1) Congress has approved the Obama administration's economic 
stimulus package that includes 9 billion dollars for high-speed 
railways. The Washington-New York line is regarded as most 
important. Even the fastest Amtrak train takes about three hours. 
With the introduction of maglev technology, which was developed by 
 
TOKYO 00000554  007 OF 010 
 
 
Japan's JR Tokai and will be used between Tokyo and Nagoya, travel 
time between America's central political and economic cities can be 
shortened to less than one hour. 
 
Reportedly, JR Tokai Chairman Yoshiyuki Kasai will gladly provide 
this technology to the U.S. side. Mr. Aso or his successor should 
consider this option as an assistance measure for the U.S. economy. 
Meanwhile, the United States can provide Japan with F-22 fighter 
technology to deal with the buildup of the Chinese Army. 
 
2) Japan and the United States, the world's two largest economies, 
have (the option of concluding) an economic partnership agreement 
(EPA), which opens up great possibilities. But Japan's agricultural 
policy is not appealing to the United States. The fundamental 
improvement of that agricultural policy will benefit U.S. farmers 
and Japanese consumers (though the farming population is small.) 
This will help strengthen the complementary relationship between the 
two countries. 
 
In the industrial field, for example, Boeing, which is producing the 
world's best passenger planes and military aircrafts, is in need of 
Japan's excellent components, such as fibers. I believe such 
relations can be expanded in the agricultural sector, as well. 
 
Spell of right to collective self-defense must be broken 
 
3) Security in the Asia-Pacific regions is a matter of paramount 
importance. North Korea is an immediate threat to the two countries, 
and in the mid- to long terms, China's moves are a threat. Up until 
the 1980s, Japan contributed significantly to blocking the 
activities of Soviet submarines. That was because unlike today, the 
Soviet Union did not think Japan would not use its right to 
collective self-defense for the United States. 
 
North Korea today might think that Japan will not cooperate with the 
United States in blocking North Korea's attack. It is not 
unreasonable for the North to assume that Japan, which thinks it 
cannot exercise the right to collective self-defense, will not shoot 
down an incoming missile until it reaches the sky over it. 
 
(The government) should swiftly order the (Cabinet) Legislation 
Bureau director general to make clear that Japan can exercise the 
right to collective self-defense. It is also necessary to consider 
replacing the director general with someone like former 
Administrative Vice-Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi, who is highly 
strategic. He would be able to eliminate the illogical spell that 
puts Japan at risk. 
 
If such happens, Japan would be able to expect the U.S. government 
to wield significant influence. (The United States) would strengthen 
its support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security 
Council. (The United States) would be able to urge North Korea to 
take responsibility for the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by 
the North. In terms of policy toward China, (the U.S. government) 
would try to increase moderates who support cooperation with Japan 
rather than with the Chinese people who are supportive of the 
unclear military buildup and seizing Japan's marine resources. 
 
DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa said, "The U.S. 7th Fleet is enough for 
the defense of Japan." This shows that he does not have a good 
knowledge of the U.S. forces in Japan or of the U.S.-Japan alliance. 
Relations are strengthened by multiple actions, as was discussed 
 
TOKYO 00000554  008 OF 010 
 
 
above, and evolve into an alliance of mutual trust. 
 
(7) IWC working group to issue final report in May: Interim meeting 
ends with division over coastal whaling left unfilled 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
March 12, 2009 
 
Toshiro Shimizu, Rome 
 
An interim meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 
Rome ended its three-day session on March 11 with arguments between 
anti-whaling countries and Japan remaining along divergent lines. 
Discussions on specific issues, such as the extent of reduction of 
catches in Japan's coastal whaling (if resumed), did not take 
place. 
 
The IWC last month released a compromise plan that would allow Japan 
to resume coastal whaling in compensation for its drastically 
cutting back on scientific research whaling in the Southern Ocean in 
stages or totally abolishing such. The proposal has drawn attention, 
but Japan took a position that it cannot accept the total abolition 
of scientific whaling. It released a statement condemning the Sea 
Shepherd, an environmental protection group, for obstructing the 
activities of Japan's scientific whaling vessels. 
 
Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Britain and the U.S. criticized 
Japan's scientific whaling as de facto commercial whaling and called 
for total abolition of such. 
 
The IWC will aim at having pro-whaling countries and anti-whaling 
countries reach an agreement in the run-up to a plenary meeting to 
be held in Portugal. It has decided to compile a final report by May 
18, based on the working group's compromise plan. 
 
Akira Nakamae, executive director of the Fisheries Research Agency, 
who took part in the meeting, representing Japan, told reporters: 
"Discussions have yet to be finalized. However, in my view, 
participating countries have agreed on the direction of helping the 
IWC create rules." 
 
(8) Human-rights group denounces Soichiro Tahara's remark, "Tanaka, 
Ozawa were both done in by Jews" 
 
NIKKAN GENDAI (Full) 
March 12, 2009 
 
A statement made by Soichiro Tahara in a TV Asahi program on the 8th 
has developed into an awful mess. 
 
Tawara said: "Mr. (Takuei) Tanaka was done in by the Jews. Like him, 
Mr. Ozawa was also done in by the Jews." The Simon Wiesenthal 
Center, a Jewish-affiliated human-rights organization based in Los 
Angeles, has flared back at this remark. 
 
Former Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka was also present in the 
program as a guest. Touching on the arrest of a secretary of Ozawa, 
she said: "There must be persons who will be distressed if the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) assumes political power." In 
response, Tawara, citing the case of Kakuei Tanaka arrested in the 
Lockheed case, emphasized: "He was done in by Jews (Yudaya ni 
yarareta)." 
 
TOKYO 00000554  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
The Simon Wiesenthal Center posted on its website on March 9 a 
statement ASTERISK  titled: "We denounce Japanese TV news 
personality for blaming political scandals on America and the Jews." 
In the written statement, deputy chief of the center says: 
 
"There was no conspiracy by Jews and the U.S. It is outrageous and 
unacceptable for Soichiro Tahara in a news program to have made a 
statement that gives mistaken view to Japanese people. ... TV Asahi 
should immediately retract this ludicrous statement and it and Mr. 
Soichiro Tahara should make a public apology." 
 
The Simon Wiesenthal Center was established in 1977 by Simon 
Wiesenthal, an activist who pursued Nazi war criminals involved in 
the Holocaust during World War II. The group is mainly known for its 
effort to prevent the memory of the Holocaust from fading away. It 
protests against anti-Semitic remarks and media reports that accuse 
Jews of conspiracies. According a publishing company source, there 
is a case in Japan of magazine carrying an article that denied the 
existence of the gas chambers (that were used to kill Jews during 
the Holocaust). Because of fierce protests from the Center, the 
magazine ceased publication. 
 
Regarding the controversial remark by Tahara, a spokesman for TV 
Asahi said: "We have received no protest (from the center) as of the 
10th."  What then will TV Asahi do when it comes? 
 
(Statement: March 9, 2009) 
 
WIESENTHAL CENTER DENOUNCES JAPANESE TV NEWS PERSONALITY FOR BLAMING 
POLITICAL SCANDALS ON AMERICA AND THE JEWS 
 
The Simon Wiesenthal Center strongly criticized Soichiro Tahara, 
host of TV Asahi's Sunday Project program for anti-Semitic and anti- 
American accusations made during a March 8th exchange with former 
Japanese Foreign Minister Makiko Tanaka. In the live broadcast, 
Tahara told Tanaka that her father, former Prime Minister Kakuei 
Tanaka was "done in by America, by the Jews and Ozawa, (leader of 
the Democratic Party of Japan) too, was done in (by America and/or 
the Jews)." 
 
"It is outrageous and unacceptable that in 2009, a time of 
international uncertainties and increased anti-Semitism, that a host 
of a news program meant to inform the Japanese people about 
political developments would instead conjure up non-existent 
conspiracies to blame domestic scandals on Jews or America," said 
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Wiesenthal Center in a 
statement from Jerusalem. 
 
Rabbi Cooper found it all the more disturbing since Tahara made this 
statement during a direct exchange with a former Foreign Minister, 
Makiko Tanaka and that it was unfortunate she did not challenge his 
falsehood immediately during the live broadcast. "Instead, all the 
viewers heard was a remark by the show host that the Foreign 
Minister's late father and the current president of the Democratic 
Party of Japan were both victims of outside plots against them," he 
said. 
 
"TV Asahi should immediately dissociate itself from this ludicrous 
statement and TV Asahi and Mr. Tahara owe all concerned a public 
apology," he concluded.) Back to Top 
 
 
TOKYO 00000554  010 OF 010 
 
 
ZUMWALT