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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000714 
 
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 03/31/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) President Obama and Prime Minister Aso will not have a separate 
meeting at the G-20 due to scheduling problem  (Nikkei) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
2) MSDF ships start first anti-piracy duty in waters off Somalia 
escorting five commercial vessels  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
3) Prime Minister Aso asks China to cooperate to stop North Korea 
from launching its missile  (Yomiuri) 
4) Government studying weather in North Korea to predict time of 
missile launch  (Yomiuri) 
5) Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito agree that if North Korea 
launches its "satellite", Japan should impose additional sanctions 
(Asahi) 
6) Encirclement of North Korea on missile issue finally 
accomplished, sort of, with China, Russia reluctant about sanctions, 
and U.S. not preparing interception  (Nikkei) 
 
7) Foreign Minister Nakasone off to Holland to attend Afghan 
conference  (Yomiuri) 
 
8) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ozawa meets senior 
Chinese Communist Party official  (Yomiuri) 
 
Ozawa conundrum: 
9) Fuji-Sankei poll: 62 PERCENT  of the public want Ozawa to quit 
post as DPJ head; Aso Cabinet support rate improves to the 20 
percent line  (Sankei) 
10) DPJ clamor to topple Ozawa has quieted down for now, but 
disgruntlement at his staying on as party head continues to fester 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
11) Investigators into Nishimatsu Construction case plan to question 
METI Minister Nikai's brother about political office rent being paid 
by Nishimatsu  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Economic policy: 
12) Prime Minister Aso approves issuance of deficit bonds to cover 
new stimulus package  (Asahi) 
13) New economic stimulus package to create 2 million jobs over 
three years  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
14) LDP strategic council plans economic stimulus measures centered 
on curbing global warming, improved nursing care, building social 
infrastructure  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Japan-U.S. summit is off 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
The outlook is that Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President 
Barack Obama will not hold a summit on the sidelines of the summit 
meeting of the Group of 20 countries and regions (G-20 financial 
summit), which will take place on April 2 in London. Obama is 
expected to meet with as many foreign leaders as possible on the 
occasion of his diplomatic debut. The Japanese government looked 
into the possibility of holding an Aso-Obama summit, but it failed 
to coordinate their schedules, since the two leaders had already 
met. The planned meeting between Aso and Russian President Dmitry 
 
TOKYO 00000714  002 OF 010 
 
 
Medvedev will likely be cancelled, although the two leaders agreed 
in their meeting in February in Sakhalin to hold another one in 
London. 
 
2) MSDF starts antipiracy mission off Somalia 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers, Sazanami and Samidare, 
now on an antipiracy mission in waters off the eastern African coast 
of Somalia, started escorting Japanese commercial ships and 
Japan-linked vessels on the evening of March 30 (late at night that 
day). This is the first time for the Self-Defense Forces to engage 
in security activities overseas. The sea there is infested with 
armed pirates, and sources note that the SDF may have to use 
weapons. 
 
The MSDF destroyers have been deployed there for maritime security 
operations invoked under the Self-Defense Forces Law on March 13. 
According to the Defense Ministry, the MSDF destroyers will first 
convoy a fleet of five commercial ships (3 car carriers and 2 
tankers). All the five commercial ships are foreign-registered ships 
chartered by Japanese shipping companies. Japanese nationals are on 
board two of the five ships. 
 
The five commercial ships will form a fleet in the Gulf of Aden's 
eastern area off the coast of Somalia, and the MSDF destroyers will 
convoy them about 900 kilometers to waters off Djibouti. 
 
The MSDF destroyers have special security taskforce members on 
board. In addition, eight personnel from the Japan Coast Guard are 
also on board, ready to arrest pirates. 
 
The use of weapons is limited to legitimate self-defense or 
emergency evacuation only. The MSDF's escort is also limited to 
ships related to Japan. 
 
The MSDF has yet to be allowed to use weapons in carrying out its 
duties, such as firing on pirate ships closing in on merchant ships. 
In addition, the MSDF is not allowed to escort foreign ships under 
the current law. An antipiracy bill allowing these activities is now 
before the Diet. 
 
3) Prime Minister Aso seeks China's cooperation for preventing North 
Korea's missile launch 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso met yesterday with Li Changchun, a senior 
member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of 
China. Referring in it to North Korea's planned ballistic missile 
launch under the guise of launching a satellite into orbit, Aso 
asked Li to urge North Korea to cancel its planned rocket launch. He 
said: 
 
"A rocket launch is unacceptable and it would violate a UN Security 
Council resolution. I would like to obtain cooperation from China as 
the host of the six-party talks (on North Korean nuclear 
ambitions)." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000714  003 OF 010 
 
 
Li replied: 
 
"We understand Japan's concern. Denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula 
would benefit both Japan and China. China is hoping that the 
countries concerned will take action to contribute to peace and 
stability on the peninsula." 
 
4) Gov't analyzes N. Korea's weather 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
North Korea is now preparing to launch a ballistic missile that 
North Korea calls a satellite. On this issue, the government is 
trying to forecast the weather of Musudanri, where the missile site 
is located, and the government is analyzing the weather there and 
reconnaissance satellite intelligence to explore when the missile 
will be launched. 
 
According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and other 
sources, a rocket or missile launch factors in the weather 
conditions of its location and flight course, such as winds, rains, 
cumulonimbus clouds , and thunders. In the case of winds, 
high-altitude winds (upper level winds) are also important as well 
as ground-level winds, JAXA says. 
 
North Korea has announced its plan to launch a "satellite" between 
April 4 and 8. According to the government's analysis as of 
yesterday, the weather of Musudanri is "cloudy" on April 4, "cloudy 
with intermittent rain" on April 5-6, and almost "clear" on April 
7-8. 
 
A missile can be launched in cloudy weather. However, Musudanri is 
situated near the Sea of Japan coast and there are a number of 
2,000-meter mountains in western areas. According to a government 
source, a moist wind from the Sea of Japan will blow against the 
mountains and will likely generate clouds, so it is difficult to 
accurately forecast the strengths of winds. 
 
According to satellite intelligence, a missile, which is believed to 
be a three-stage projectile, has now been set on a launch pad. The 
government will continue to analyze weather conditions in detail. 
 
5) LDP, New Komeito agree on additional sanctions following the 
North's "satellite" launch 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday met with New Komeito 
Representative Akihiro Ota. In the meeting, the two agreed that 
Japan would impose additional economic sanctions on North Korea in 
the event that country launched a "satellite." If the launch is 
carried out between April 4 and 8 as announced, the government would 
adopt additional sanctions at a cabinet meeting along with a 
decision to extend the current economic sanctions that are to expire 
on April 13. 
 
In the meeting, Aso said: "We must consider the option of stepping 
up economic sanctions." Some ideas are being floated in the 
government, including the option of expanding a ban on exports to 
North Korea that is currently limited to luxury goods, and the 
 
TOKYO 00000714  004 OF 010 
 
 
approach of giving strict guidance to local governments not to use 
reduced property tax rates or exemptions regarding the General 
Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) and facilities 
connected to it. 
 
In the wake of North Korea's missile launch in July 2006 and its 
nuclear test in October 2006, Japan has imposed its own sanctions on 
that country, such as a ban on North Korean ships from calling at 
Japanese ports and a total ban on imports from the North, in 
addition to sanctions under a UN Security Council resolution. 
Exports to North Korea dropped to 800 million yen in 2008 from 6.9 
billion yen in 2005. The volume further declined to 44 million yen 
for the January-February period this year. 
 
6) A lack of unity evident in building encircling net around North 
Korea; China, Russia cautious about imposing sanctions on the North; 
U.S. has no plan to intercept North Korean missile 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Given North Korea's preparations for launching a ballistic missile 
under the name of a "satellite," the government is accelerating its 
diplomatic efforts for strengthening pressure on North Korea. But 
gaps in positions with such countries as China and Russia are 
standing in the way of Japan's intention to build an encircling net 
around North Korea. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso, meeting yesterday at his office (Kantei) 
with New Komeito Representative Akihiro Ota, discussed the country's 
response to the planned North Korean missile launch and other 
matters. "If the North carries out the launch, it is important for 
us to step up our economic sanctions and work upon the United 
Nations, as well," Ota said in the meeting. In response, Aso showed 
a stance that once the North conducted the launch, Japan would go 
ahead and apply additional sanctions on the country even 
independently, saying, "I completely agree with you." 
 
The government is considering a total ban on exports to the North 
and other independent steps. But because the effectiveness of such 
independent steps would be limited, Prime Minister Aso and Foreign 
Minister Hirofumi Nakasone have repeatedly called for close 
cooperation on the missile issue in separate talks since last month 
with such countries as the United States, China, and South Korea. 
 
Above all, the key is held by responses by the five permanent 
members of the UN Security Council: the United States, Britain, 
France, China and Russia. There still remain wide gaps in views with 
China and Russia, which do not want to see heightened tensions. 
 
Meeting yesterday at the Kantei with Li Changchun, a member of the 
Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of 
China (CPC) Central Committee, Prime Minister Aso said: "The launch, 
which would be a violation of a UN Security Council resolution, 
cannot be tolerated. I would like to ask for your country's 
cooperation as the host nation of the six-party talks." In response, 
Li simply said: "I understand Japan's interest. I will convey the 
prime minister's remarks to President Hu Jintao." 
 
According to a government source, China and Russia alluded to the 
view that if the North carried out the launch, as was notified to an 
international organization, that would not be a violation of the UN 
 
TOKYO 00000714  005 OF 010 
 
 
Security Council resolution. Further, there are gaps in views 
between Japan, the U.S. and South Korea, although they all think the 
launch would be a violation of the Security Council resolution. 
 
Tokyo plans to intercept a missile intruding into Japan's 
territorial waters or its soil by activating a missile defense (MD) 
system. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, appearing 
on a TV program on March 29, said: "I think if we had a missile that 
was heading for Hawaii, that looked like it was headed for Hawaii or 
something like that, we might consider it. I don't think we have any 
plans to do anything like that at this point." South Korean 
President Lee Myung Bak, too, indicated in an interview with a 
British newspaper that he would not oppose Japan's policy course to 
intercept an incoming missile, while expressing his expectations for 
Japan to deal with the matter cautiously. 
 
Asked in a press briefing yesterday about Gates' remarks, Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Kawamura said: "I think the difference comes 
basically from a missile that could fly over Japan's territory and 
that does not." North Korea could launch the missile as early as 
April 4. The clock is ticking for Japan. 
 
7) Foreign Minister Nakasone off to Holland to attend Afghan 
conference 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone yesterday left Narita Airport for 
the Netherlands to attend an international conference for the 
stabilization of Afghanistan. Nakasone is expected announce in the 
conference Japan's policy of continuing to help Afghanistan improve 
public security and infrastructure. He will also underscore Tokyo's 
view that stabilizing Pakistan and other neighboring countries is 
indispensable for pushing ahead with measures against terrorists and 
extreme radicals. 
 
8) DPJ head Ozawa states with confidence to senior Chinese Communist 
Party official: My views are gaining ground 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President met yesterday at DPJ 
headquarters with Li Changchun, a member of the Politburo Standing 
Committee of the Communist Party of China. According to an attendee, 
Ozawa referred in the meeting to his criticism of prosecutors for 
"unfairly" indicting his secretary for allegedly violating the 
Political Funds Control Law, and he told Li with a confidence: "My 
assertion has gradually been understood." 
 
The attended include DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, Diet 
Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka, and Wang Jiarui, head of 
the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party's 
Central Committee. According to a participant, Wang questioned: "The 
issue of politics and money is now becoming a major issue. Can the 
DPJ really bring about a change in government?" As Ozawa's temper 
was starting to show, Li made an intercession to Ozawa for Wang, 
saying: "Since you are our old friend, he just asked you about 
such." 
 
9) Poll: 62 PERCENT  urge Ozawa to resign; Cabinet support rebounds 
 
TOKYO 00000714  006 OF 010 
 
 
to top 20 PERCENT 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
March 31, 2009 
 
The Sankei Shimbun conducted a joint opinion poll with Fuji News 
Network (FNN) on March 28-29. In the poll, 62.3 PERCENT  of the 
respondents answered "yes" when they were asked if they thought 
Ichiro Ozawa, president of the leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto), should resign from his party post over the 
recent indictment of his state-funded secretary on the charge of 
violating the Political Funds Control Law. The figure is up 14.9 
points from the last survey conducted March 7-8 shortly after the 
arrest of his secretary. Meanwhile, "no" accounted for 30.8 PERCENT 
. The public approval rating for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet 
was 20.8 PERCENT , up 3.8 points from the last survey. The Aso 
cabinet's support rate rebounded to top 20 PERCENT  for the first 
time since last November's poll. The disapproval rating was 66.3 
PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Liberal Democratic Party tallied 27.5 PERCENT , up 0.9 points from 
the last survey. The DPJ was at 22.2 PERCENT , down 1.7 points. The 
gap is wider than in the last survey. The poll results are severe 
for Ozawa and the DPJ. 
 
In the public's preference of political parties for proportional 
representation in the next election for the House of 
Representatives, the DPJ scored 36.4 PERCENT , with the LDP reaching 
34.7 PERCENT . Even in the aftermath of the incident this time, the 
DPJ is still basically above the LDP. However, the gap between the 
LDP and the DPJ has been narrowing. 
 
10) DPJ Hatoyama emphasizes, "Mr. Ozawa will decide whether to 
resign before general election" in effort to quiet down calls for 
resignation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama has 
expressed his view that party head Ichiro Ozawa would decide on his 
course of action prior to the next House of Representatives 
election. He has also indicated he would also take responsibility 
with Ozawa if he steps down. In reaction to the defeat of the 
DPJ-backed candidate in the Chiba gubernatorial election on March 
29, some members are expected to renew their call for Ozawa's 
resignation. Hatoyama is trying to unite the party by preventing 
such calls from growing louder. 
 
Speaking before reporters yesterday, Hatoyama recognized the illegal 
donations by Nishimatsu Construction Co. to Ozawa's office had some 
repercussions on the gubernatorial election. He said: "I have to 
admit that the election was a tough battle for the party in the 
aftermath of an illegal donation scandal involving the president's 
first secretary. I cannot say that there was no effect of the 
problem on the election outcome." 
 
Hatoyama has persistently backed Ozawa even after the illegal 
donation scandal came to light, but he has also indicated his 
understanding of party members' dissatisfaction and criticism of 
Ozawa. By showing understanding toward their feelings, he has tried 
 
TOKYO 00000714  007 OF 010 
 
 
to prevent the internal dissension over the question of whether 
Ozawa to resign from intensifying. 
 
In a meeting of party lawmakers on March 27, two participants 
criticized Ozawa's decision to stay on and his explanation about the 
illegal donation scandal involving his secretary. In response, 
Hatoyama said: "I understand your feelings." He has also indicated 
his intention to set up a third-party committee on Ozawa's 
accountability. 
 
Appearing on a TV program aired on the morning of the 29th, Hatoyama 
said: "If we find the public still looks at a change of government 
with severe eyes even just before a general election, we will both 
take responsibility." Some observers take the view that Hatoyama, in 
anticipation of the party's defeat in the Chiba gubernatorial 
election, made this remark to deflect dissatisfaction among party 
members. 
 
A senior DPJ member said about Hatoyama's TV remark: "He meant that 
since the president has said he would make a judgment by using a 
victory in the next election as a yard stick, party members must not 
say he should resign." A junior member critical of Ozawa's decision 
to remain in office also said: "I take the remark as meaning Mr. 
Ozawa will step down at the best time." Their responses show that 
Hatoyama's strategy has worked well for the time being. 
 
Even so, if Ozawa clings onto his post even if public support for 
his party continues to drop, "the secretary general should tell Mr. 
Ozawa to consider resigning," said a mid-ranking party member. 
Hatoyama has been under even more intense pressure to steer the 
party in the form of being pressed to take collective 
responsibility. 
 
11) Prosecutors to question Nikai's younger brother and others over 
Nishimatsu's payments for rent of his office 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Over allegations that Nishimatsu Construction Co. had been paying 
the rent of an office used by a political group of Economy, Trade 
and Industry Minister Toshihiro Nikai, informed sources have 
revealed that Nikai's younger brother and former Nishimatsu 
President Mikio Kunisawa had agreed to have Nishimatsu pay the rent. 
The political group allegedly did not declare about 20 million yen 
of the money given by Nishimatsu to cover the rent in its political 
funding reports. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office's 
special investigation squad has decided to question Nikai's brother, 
state-funded secretary and other involved persons on suspicion of 
violating the Political Funds Control Law. 
 
According to Nishimatsu sources, Kunisawa, who has been indicted on 
charges of a violation of the said law, lent approximately 40 
million yen to OA Engineering Co. (OAE), a Nishimatsu-linked design 
company, around 1999. The company used the money to buy a 
condominium in Osaka and rent it to Kansai Shinpu-kai, a political 
organization that is operated by the brother for use as an office. 
 
Kansai Shinpu-kai and OAE concluded a lease on the condo at an 
annual rent of 2.8 million yen, but the second-tier general 
contractor provided the Nikai side with 3 million yen annually to 
cover the rent. The company sent 3 million yen in 2006 and 2007 to 
 
TOKYO 00000714  008 OF 010 
 
 
the Liberal Democratic Party's Wakayama Constituency No.3 chapter, 
represented by Nikai, under names of 60 employees and their 
families, with each covering 50,000 yen. Under the relevant law, 
political groups are not required to report donations amounting to 
less than 50,000 yen in political funding reports. 
 
Nikai's younger brother and the Nishimatsu side, including Kunisawa 
and officials in charge of general affairs, agreed around 1999 on a 
method to pay the condo unit rent for the political organization, 
and Nikai's state-funded secretary took over the method. 
 
The political funding reports for 2006 and 2007 of Nikai's political 
group recorded 40 million yen in donations to Nikai Toshihiro 
Shinpu-kai from the LDP Wakayama Constituency No. 3 chapter and 
about 17 million yen from Nikai Toshiro Shinpu-kai to Kansai 
Shinpu-kai.  Prosecutors suspect that Nishimatsu effectively paid 
the rent on the office for Kansai Shinpu-kai. 
 
Nishimatsu won contracts worth approximately 17 billion yen, about 
half of the total construction cost in a project to construct 
Wakayama-run Nanki Shirahama Airport in Nikai's electoral district 
from 1990 through 1994. 
 
Nikai has said in his Diet replies: "I received the money as 
individual donations. I have no recognition that the money was 
intended to cover the rent." 
 
12) Prime minister to approve issuance of deficit-covering 
government bonds: Order to compile additional stimulus package to be 
given today 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Aso is expected to order at noon of March 31 the 
government and the ruling parties to compile additional stimulus 
measures, including a fiscal 2009 supplementary budget. He will also 
reveal his stance of not hesitating to issue deficit-covering 
government bonds. Amid growing calls for a large-scale extra budget 
topping 10 trillion yen in the ruling camp, he wants to underscore 
that the administration is willing to increase public spending, by 
revealing a policy of including the issuance of deficit bonds in a 
list of stimulus measures to be looked into. 
 
To begin with, the prime minister will mention that the envisaged 
extra budget will tap construction bonds and reserves in the fiscal 
investment and loans special account, so-called hidden funds 
(maizokin). He is also expected to indicate his policy of approving 
the issuance of deficit-covering government bonds. 
 
The prime minister intends to order that the package should be 
readied by mid-April. Though the prevailing view in the government 
and the ruling parties has been that such a package should be 
readied around the Golden Week consecutive holidays, the prime 
minister wants to play up speediness in coming up with a stimulus 
package by compiling it earlier than the observed timeframe. By 
doing so, he also aims at securing a free hand regarding the timing 
for Lower House dissolution for a snap election. 
 
The prime minister will also meet with senior members of the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) Tax System Research Commission the same day 
and order them to look into tax reduction measures, including a 
 
TOKYO 00000714  009 OF 010 
 
 
time-limited gift tax cut. He will then hold a press conference on 
the evening of the same day before he leaves for London to attend 
the financial summit on April 2. He wants to make a public appeal on 
the stimulus package. Though he will not touch on the compilation of 
the extra budget, he will announce such, if asked. 
 
The additional stimulus package will likely cover multiple years, 
based on the fiscal 2009 extra budget plan. The showcase of the 
package will be a growth strategy, including the overall check-ups 
of the social security system that provides a peace of mind to the 
people and intensive investment for solar energy generation and the 
dissemination of energy-saving home electronic appliances. 
 
13) Investment in three areas as economic stimulus measures 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
March 31, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Japanese Economy Revitalization 
Strategic Council, chaired by former Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Nobutaka Machimura, on March 30 mapped out a strategic program for 
the revitalization of the Japanese economy, an additional package of 
economic stimulus measures. The program includes policy tax cuts, 
including a gift tax cut intended to back the acquisition of housing 
using elderly people's assets. It also notes that economic growth of 
around 3 PERCENT  over the mid- to long-term will be aimed at, by 
moving key economic indexes into the plus column before the end of 
2010 with intensive investment for the prevention of global warming, 
the consolidation of social infrastructure and the nursing-care and 
medical services area. 
 
The main pillars of the tax code revision include expanding the 
scope of corporate tax cuts by approving small- and medium-sized 
businesses reporting entertainment and social expenses as losses. 
Revising the tax code in the middle of a fiscal year is 
unprecedented. Machimura yesterday evening told reporters at party 
headquarters, "I think it is all right to revise the tax code in the 
middle of a fiscal year, if it is necessary." He thus indicated the 
party's desire to have bills related to the tax code revision secure 
Diet approval during the current Diet session. 
 
As specific measures to stimulate the economy, the panel has come up 
with the speedy consolidation of nursing-care centers, such as 
special elderly nursing homes, to eliminate those on the waiting 
list for such facilities; and the implementation of the installation 
of TV antennas at public facilities earlier than scheduled in the 
run-up to the introduction of the digital terrestrial broadcasting 
system. 
 
In the meantime, the New Komeito's Headquarters to Look into New 
Economic Stimulus Measures, chaired by the party's head Ota, also 
mapped out an interim report yesterday on additional stimulus 
measures that include child and family benefits to pay 36,000 yen a 
year to pre-school children aged three or older. The packages 
readied by the two parties will be submitted to Prime Minister Aso 
today. 
 
14) Additional stimulus measures: Government, ruling parties 
finalize framework, including creation of 2 million jobs over three 
years 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00000714  010 OF 010 
 
 
March 31, 2009 
 
The framework of additional economic stimulus measures, which the 
government and the ruing parties have been looking into, was 
finalized on March 30. The package is aimed at realizing 3 PERCENT 
growth over the mid- to long-term by securing and creating 2 million 
jobs over the next three years through intensive investment in 
infrastructure construction for the future growth area, such as 
environment conservation and the medical services and nursing-care 
areas. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) Strategic Council for 
Revitalization of the Japanese Economy also mapped out the same day 
an interim report with similar contents. The report will be 
submitted to Prime Minister Taro Aso today. 
 
According to the framework of additional stimulus measures, a solar 
energy generation system would be installed at 37,000 public schools 
throughout the nation over three years. This system will also be 
installed at public facilities, such as road networks and 
railroad-related facilities. Efforts will be made for the purchases 
of electricity generated with solar energy. The amount of solar 
energy-generated electricity would be increased to 20 times larger 
than the present level by 2020. The dissemination of 
electric-powered vehicles and hybrid cars would also be aimed at. 
The government will switch its 4,000 vehicles to 
environment-friendly types. Local governments will also switch 
200,000 units to such types. The government would consider 
introducing a subsidy system targeting general users who purchase an 
environment-friendly car. 
 
In the medical services and nursing-care area, the report cites 
creation of 300,000 nursing-care jobs over three years. In order to 
improve the working conditions of caregivers, subsidies would be 
provided to cover part of their wages. A subsidy system will also be 
established with the aim of reducing burdens shouldered by local 
governments. The report also notes that a revision of the tax code 
with the aim of promoting lifetime gifting of elderly people's 
assets will be looked into. 
 
POST