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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 000753 
 
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 04/03/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
U.S-Japan relations: 
4) President Obama to visit Japan, China in the latter part of this 
year  (Nikkei) 
5) Obama's trip to Japan this year underscores priority placed on 
relationship, aims to further strengthen alliance  (Nikkei) 
 
Pyongyang rocket: 
6) Japan, U.S., South Korea agree that if North Korea launches 
missile, they will seek new UNSC resolution with sanctions against 
that country  (Asahi) 
7) Defense Minister Hamada, Defense Secretary Gates in telephone 
conference agree to cooperate closely on DPRK missile launch, 
respond coolly  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) North Korea's "satellite" rocket lacks a control system, hides 
real intent of testing warhead-capable missile  (Sankei) 
9) Government analysis about mock-satellite rocket concludes that it 
could be armed at some point with a nuclear warhead  (Sankei) 
10) North Korea deploying jets to the area around missile test, 
likely for MD-reconnaissance purpose  (Sankei) 
 
11) EU commander of anti-piracy operations in waters off Somalia 
welcomes MSDF to the effort of dealing with pirate attacks on 
commercial ships  (Yomiuri) 
 
Aso's G-20 diplomacy: 
12) Prime Minister Aso announces ODA package for Africa at the G-20 
Summit in London  (Yomiuri) 
13) Aso taking pains to display his diplomatic presence at the G-20 
meeting  (Nikkei) 
14) Japan's presence at the G-20 being outshined by other leaders 
(Mainichi) 
15) Aso ends up at the end of the protocol line at the G-20 
(Sankei) 
16) Aso meets Russian president briefly at the G-20 and puts in a 
plug for the northern territories being discussed during Putin visit 
later this year  (Nikkei) 
 
17) Yomiuri's annual poll finds 52 PERCENT  of Japanese favoring 
amending the Constitution (Yomiuri) 
 
18) Government and ruling camp plan to present the supplemental 
budget with stimulus package to the Diet on April 27  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
19) Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Hatoyama emerges as 
party head Ozawa's chief backer to stay on despite cool attitude of 
others toward that idea  (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Tokyo Shimbun: 
G-20 vows 500 billion yen fiscal expansion: IMF funds to be 
reinforced 
 
 
TOKYO 00000753  002 OF 011 
 
 
Mainichi: Nikkei: Sankei: 
G-20 seeks world growth of over 2 PERCENT  in 2010 
 
Yomiuri: 
G-20 aims to push growth up 4 PERCENT  through fiscal spending 
 
Akahata: 
Health ministry found to have cut back on nursing-care expenditures, 
by changing method of recognizing those who need nursing care 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) U.S.-Russia relations reset: Speed up efforts to go to the next 
stage 
(2) Yokohama case: History of errors made by law courts 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) U.S.-Russia summit: Take step to abolish nuclear weapons 
(2) High school baseball tournament: Final game inspiring 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Financial summit: Discord concealed with priority given to 
solidarity 
(2) U.S.-Russia summit: Fulfill responsibility to prevent nuclear 
proliferation 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Financial summit: Resolve to find way to overcome crisis 
indicated 
 
Sankei: 
(1) G-20 and North Korea: Tighten noose around North Korea to 
prevent its missile launch 
(2) New Israeli administration: Avoid friction with international 
community 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Financial summit: G-20 as center of global economy 
(2) U.S.-Russia summit: time to take action for nuclear disarmament 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Guam base agreement: Scrap it through conclusive Diet 
deliberations 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 2 &2 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
April 1 
Night 
Attended a summit meeting on a project to protect tropical rain 
forests, hosted by Prince Charles at his official residence in 
London. Attended a banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at 
Buckingham Palace. Met with Indian Prime Minister Singh at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence. Attended a dinner party hosted by 
British Prime Minister Brown. Stayed at the Intercontinental London 
Park Lane. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000753  003 OF 011 
 
 
April 2 
Morning 
Attended a breakfast meeting at the Excel Center, the hall for the 
summit. Posed for photos with other leaders. Chatted with Russian 
President Medvedev while standing. Attended the first-round plenary 
session of the financial summit. 
Afternoon Attended a working luncheon meeting. Attended the 
second-round plenary session. 
 
4) U.S. President Obama to visit Japan this year to stress 
importance placed on Japan, aiming to strengthen alliance 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
Eve., April 2, 2009 
 
By Tadashi Oishi in Washington 
 
President Obama's decision to visit Japan later this year comes from 
concern that his going only to China for a summit meeting, as agreed 
on April 1st, would give the impression that he was "bypassing 
Japan." There are many important policy areas for Japan-U.S. 
cooperation, including overcoming the financial crisis and finding 
measures to deal with the piracy problem, so the aim seems to be to 
express the importance of Japan in a visible way and further 
strengthen the alliance relationship. 
 
5) President Obama to come to Japan later this year as part of Asia 
trip that includes China 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
Eve., April 2, 2009 
 
It was learned today that President Obama plans to visit Japan later 
this year for a summit meeting with Japan's prime minister. 
According to a source in the U.S. government, the schedule will now 
be nailed down in coordination with a planned visit to China. The 
Japanese government has been informed. Although the timeframe for 
the visit has not yet been set, the outlook is that it will be after 
the next general election, according to a U.S. government source, in 
order to reaffirm with the new administration in Japan such policy 
courses as the strengthening of the bilateral relationship. 
 
6) Japan, U.S., South Korea to aim at UNSC resolution with sanctions 
if North Korea launches missile 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Yoshihiro Makino, Seoul 
 
Japan, the United States, and South Korea have decided that in the 
event North Korea launches a ballistic missile under the name of a 
satellite, they would immediately call a UN Security Council meeting 
for the purpose of adopting a new resolution asking all countries to 
strictly implement a sanctions resolution adopted in 2006 in the 
wake of the North's nuclear test. 
 
According to some relevant sources, this policy course was proposed 
by the United States in a trilateral meeting held in Washington on 
March 27. Japan and South Korea basically agreed to the plan. 
Further, President Barack Obama conveyed this policy to South Korean 
President Lee Myung Bak in a U.S.-ROK summit held in London on April 
 
TOKYO 00000753  004 OF 011 
 
 
2, according to South Korean government authorities. 
 
The position of China and Russia, permanent UN Security Council 
members with veto power, is that a satellite launch does not 
constitute a violation of past UN resolutions. As such, adopting a 
new sanctions resolution seems difficult. (Japan, the U.S., and 
South Korea) are believed to have decided to aim at a resolution 
reconfirming the past resolution that has a better chance for 
adoption. 
 
The reality is that many countries have not implemented the 2006 UN 
sanctions resolution. "Reconfirming (the old resolution) would be as 
significant as adopting a new one," a concerned source said. 
 
It is still unclear whether China and Russia will agree to a 
resolution of such contents. Many observers think the Security 
Council would settle in the end on a chairman's statement which has 
no binding force. 
 
7) Hamada, Gates confirm that Japan, U.S. will calmly deal with 
North Korean missile launch in close cooperation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada spoke with U.S. Secretary of 
Defense Robert Gates on the phone yesterday. In their conversation, 
the two leaders confirmed that in the event North Korea launched a 
long-range ballistic missile in the guise of a satellite, Japan and 
the United States would deal with the matter in close cooperation. 
 
Secretary Gates told Hamada: "The situation this time would provide 
a chance for our two countries to improve our operational 
coordination and cooperation. I would like to see continued 
cooperation in missile defense (MD)." Defense Minister Hamada 
replied: "I agree with you." 
 
Secretary Gates also said: "Washington is ready to announce that the 
launch, although the North is claiming to be a satellite, would be a 
violation of UN Security Council resolutions." 
 
The telephone conversation took place at the request of the U.S. 
side. 
 
8) N. Korea seems to have no ground control facility for its 
"satellite" 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 3, 2009 
 
North Korea has now entered the final stage of preparations to 
launch an advanced Taepodong-2 long-range-ballistic missile that it 
claims to be an "artificial satellite." But it has yet to be 
confirmed that North Korea has a ground-based receiving and 
controlling station that is needed to adjust the orbit of a 
"satellite" if it deorbits, sources familiar with military affairs 
between Japan and the United States revealed yesterday. This means 
that "its payload, given it is a satellite, cannot be controlled 
after it is launched," according to a government source. This seems 
to indicate that North Korea will test-fire a missile as a means of 
delivering a warhead rather than putting a "satellite" in orbit. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000753  005 OF 011 
 
 
In February, North Korea announced plans to launch the "Kwang Myong 
Song 2," an experimental communications satellite, on the "Unha 2," 
a launching vehicle. In March, North Korea joined the Space Treaty, 
which stipulates basic rules for its signatories to use outer space, 
and that country also joined the Convention on Registration of 
Objects Launched into Outer Space, asserting that its planned 
missile launch is intended to "use outer space for peaceful 
purposes." 
 
But the United States and South Korea still have not confirmed the 
existence of any ground control facility despite intensified 
surveillance with reconnaissance satellites, according to the 
sources familiar with military affairs between Japan and the United 
States. A control facility adjusts an orbited satellite by moving it 
up or down. 
 
According to the sources and experts, a large receiving antenna and 
a tracking radar system are needed on the ground to stabilize an 
orbiting satellite. 
 
Meanwhile, North Korea may insist that it has only to orbit a 
satellite even though it does not have any control facilities. 
However, a government source notes that once a satellite is 
launched, it cannot play any role without facilities to control it. 
"Even if its warhead payload is a satellite, it will soon fall out 
of orbit and burn up," a person connected to the U.S. government 
said. 
 
9) North Korean missile launch may be a test for loading nuclear 
warhead; Observation helped government's response 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
April 3, 2009 
 
There is strong analysis that North Korea has no facility to control 
a satellite's orbit. As a result, the view has emerged in the 
government that the purpose of the planned missile launch is a test 
for loading a nuclear warhead rather than for the operation of a 
satellite. This view is said to have propelled the government's 
steps to date, such as the deployment of PAC-3 ground-to-air guided 
missiles. Japan, the United States and South Korea intend to demand 
that Pyongyang, which claims the missile to be a satellite, disclose 
such information as to whether it has a control facility. 
 
The government has not been totally free from doubt from the 
beginning. 
 
In Security Council meetings, held as necessary since early 
February, Prime Minister Taro Aso has repeatedly instructed relevant 
government agencies to make completely certain that what the North 
was planning to launch was not a satellite. 
 
In August 1998, when the North launched a Taepodong-1 ballistic 
missile, Pyongyang continued to insist that it was satellite 
Kwangmyongsong-1. The Korean Central News Agency reported on October 
1 that year that the satellite was visible to naked eyes anywhere in 
North Korea. In reaction, a Japan-U.S. military affairs source 
mockingly said: "What kind of eyesight does it take to see the 
satellite that is flying at an altitude of nearly 300 kilometers?" 
 
This time around, the North has again stubbornly insisted that it is 
about to launch a satellite. Helped by strong analysis that the 
 
TOKYO 00000753  006 OF 011 
 
 
North does not have a ground station to control a satellite, the 
government has concluded that even if a satellite is mounted on the 
warhead, it is the same as a missile launch basically. 
 
10) North Korea moves fighters to area near missile base to 
reconnoiter MD system 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
North Korean fighters are reconnoitering the Self-Defense Force's 
(SDF) missile defense (MD) system, according to informed sources 
yesterday. North Korea is apparently aiming to get information on 
the position of the Maritime Self-Defense Force's (MSDF) 
Aegis-equipped destroyers now stationed in the Sea of Japan and 
other details of Japan's MD system. It has also been learned that 
the North has mobilized its fighters to the area near the base in 
which North Korea are preparing to launch a long-range ballistic 
missile, which it claims a satellite. The SDF is on high alert, 
keeping in mind a possible provocative action by Pyongyang before a 
missile is launched. 
 
The SDF has completed preparations to shoot down an upgraded 
long-range Taepodong-2 ballistic missile that North Korea plans to 
launch or its booster in the event that such objects fall on 
Japanese territory or waters. Two Aegis-equipped destroyers have 
been deployed to the Sea of Japan. The SDF has also been making 
stricter precautions by mobilizing electronic reconnaissance 
aircraft, such as the MSDF's EP3 designed to collect signals from 
North Korean telecommunications and electronic equipment. 
 
North Korea has moved Mig-23 and other fighter planes from another 
base to an area near the missile-launch base in Musudan-ri located 
near the Sea of Japan as of April 1. On the 2nd, several fighters 
flied over the Sea of Japan. The flights are seen to have been aimed 
to check the position of the two destroyers and the flight 
conditions of EP-3. 
 
The North Korean fighters have not entered the Air Defense 
Identification Zone, in which unauthorized incursions are subject to 
scrambles by Air Self-Defense Force's fighters. North Korea has 
about 590 combat aircraft, including Mig-23 and Mig-29. 
 
11) EU commander welcomes MSDF's activities in Somalia waters 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Saki Ouchi, Northwood, Britain 
 
British Royal Navy Rear Adm. Phillip Jones, who commands the 
headquarters for "Operation Atalanta," an antipiracy campaign of the 
European Union, welcomed the security activities of Maritime 
Self-Defense Force destroyers in waters off Somalia. "Even if there 
are 100 naval ships, that is not enough to ensure perfect security," 
Jones told the Yomiuri Shimbun in an interview on April 1 at the 
headquarters in Northwood. "Every country's contribution is 
important," the admiral added. 
 
According to the headquarters, the "danger zone" in waters off 
Somalia is 4 million square kilometers, about 10 times larger than 
Japan. There are eight EU naval vessels in Somalia waters. In 
 
TOKYO 00000753  007 OF 011 
 
 
addition, there are also vessels from such countries as Japan, 
China, and Russia, convoying their respective merchant ships. All 
included, there are about 25 naval vessels being engaged in warning 
activities. 
 
"It's important for various countries to share the big picture of 
what is going on in the sea," Jones said, stressing the importance 
of collaborations. He also said the EU naval forces are about to 
carry out unprecedented cooperation with China and other countries 
that are under different political regimes, noting that such 
cooperation is for such purposes as: 1) coordinating to use vessels 
and other limited resources in an effective way; and 2) sharing 
experiences for what was effective in cracking down on pirates. 
Asked about cooperation with the MSDF, he said,  "They are trying to 
learn our experiences in a serious manner." With this, he indicated 
that there is no problem about cooperation with the MSDF. 
 
12) Prime Minister Aso announces ODA to Asia 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Hiroshi Oyama, London 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso yesterday announced that Japan would 
continue contributing to recovery of the world economy, revealing 
the plan to provide Asian countries with as much as 2 trillion yen 
in official development assistance (ODA), as well as additional 
economic stimulus measures, during a series of meetings with leaders 
of the second financial summit. 
 
Aso stressed that in order for economic recovery, Asia needs to 
become an open growth center. He formally announced his government's 
policy of providing as much as 2 trillion yen in ODA, including 300 
billion yen in yen loans for emergency financial aid to Asian 
countries. He also revealed that Japan would extend 22 billion 
dollars in two years to developing countries by using trade 
insurance. 
 
13) Aso aims to demonstrate presence in financial summit by 
announcing assistance plan for developing countries 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Nakayama, London 
 
Group of 20 (G-20) economies' leaders held their second-round 
meeting (on April 1-2) in London. The framework of G-20 financial 
summit is now likely to be set in as a regular forum for 
industrialized and emerging countries to discuss global challenges. 
Those calling for expanding the Group of Eight (G-8) summit may be 
encouraged by this development. 
 
The amount of time given to each speaker is limited in an 
international conference joined by more than 20 leaders. In the 
financial summit, Prime Minister Aso announced Japan's new plans to 
provide developing countries with 22 billion dollars in financial 
assistance for trade and Asian countries with 20 billion dollars in 
government official assistance (ODA) funds. Aso apparently was 
aiming to play up his presence, anticipating that the G-20 will 
become a major international forum. 
 
TOKYO 00000753  008 OF 011 
 
 
 
In the latest G-20 summit, though, U.S. President Barack Obama, who 
made his debut on the international stage, was in the limelight. 
Bilateral meetings held by Obama were reported in the media of 
various countries. Meanwhile, Japan, which is saddled to the issue 
of North Korea's expected missile launch, was unable to hold 
bilateral summit meetings with any UN permanent member nations, 
including the U.S. and Russia. 
 
14) G-20 closes: Cooperation with sources of contention left 
unsettled 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Participants in the 2nd emergency summit (financial summit) joined 
by leaders of the Group of 20 Nations (G-20) reached an agreement 
that participating countries take a concerted action to bring the 
ailing global economy around and realize a growth rate of over 2 
PERCENT  in 2010. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) 
estimates the growth of the global economy in 2009 to be between 
minus 0.5 PERCENT  and minus 1 PERCENT . It is indispensable to 
implement economic stimulus measures, including large-scale public 
spending, in order to achieve the goal. Whether G-20 nations can 
shore up the global economy through concerted action depends on how 
they are going to tackle the task of reaching the goal 
 
Japan presence slight 
 
Since Prime Minister Taro Aso is confident that the strong assets he 
brings are the domestic economy and his diplomacy, his enthusiasm 
for the financial summit is more robust than that of most other 
leaders. During the first round of the financial summit in 
Washington in November last year, he came up with a proposal for 
extending loans to the IMF worth up to 100 billion dollars and 
encouraged other participants to make similar contributions. 
 
He was once eager to host the next fnancial summit in Japan. His pet 
argument is that drastic public spending is necessary to shore up 
the economy. He had thought that showing Japan's presence, by 
explaining his efforts, such as that he has ordered the compilation 
of additional stimulus measures, including a fiscal 2009 extra 
budget, would lead to Japan fulfilling a leading role. 
 
However, it was London that was picked as the host nation for the 
ongoing summit. The G-20 was the venue for. President Obama's first 
European tour since taking office. The scheduled launch of a 
long-range ballistic missile by North Korea is close at hand. As 
such, Aso during summit meetings with various countries focused on 
promoting international cooperation over the missile issue. He had 
to refrain from discussing economic issues. 
 
For this reason, Aso during the dinner meeting on the 1st made a 
strong appeal on the importance of stimulus measures, based on 
Japan's experience after the collapse of the bubble economy. He 
tried to enhance Japan's presence by announcing assistance to 
developing countries and measures to promote trade, saying, "Japan 
wants to assist Asia as the growth center." 
 
Japan will expand Asia-bound official development assistance (ODA) 
to roughly 20 billion dollars. It will also expand trade insurance 
for trade with developing countries to about 22 billion dollars over 
 
TOKYO 00000753  009 OF 011 
 
 
two years. 
 
15) G-20: Prime minister at bottom of protocol order 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Morimichi Imabori, London, 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has been placed at the bottom of the 
protocol order at the G-20. 
 
The rank order of participants in terms of the order of their making 
a statement and the like is decided in the order of head of state 
and then chief executive, as well as in accordance with the length 
of the time since taking office. Prime Minister Aso is the chief 
executive. His tenure is the shortest among the 20 leaders. For this 
reason, he is the first among the G-20 leaders to enter the 
conference hall for the financial summit-related meetings and the 
last person to leave. 
 
He is taking it as a matter of fact, saying, "That is the rule." 
However, some sources accompanying Aso on his visit to London said 
with a sigh, "Japan is a major donor, and yet ..." 
 
16) Aso chatted with Russian president while standing 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso chatted with Russian President Dmitry 
Medvedev while standing for a short time at an interval during the 
financial summit on April 2. Medvedev indicated that the Northern 
Territorial issue would be discussed when Prime Minister Putin 
visits Japan in May. He said: "Economic issues are expected to be 
high on the agenda, but we would like to discuss other important 
pending issues, as well." 
 
Aso said: "I am looking forward to talking in the next G-8 summit in 
Italy in July about what we discussed in our previous meeting." He 
expressed his anticipation about progress on the territorial issue 
in their next meeting, keeping in mind that he had asked the 
president in their February meeting in Sakhalin to present Russia's 
reply on the issue of ownership of the Northern territories in the 
next G-8 summit. 
 
17) Poll: 52 PERCENT  favor constitutional revision 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
April 3, 2009 
 
According to findings from a recent face-to-face nationwide public 
opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on March 14-15, a 
total of 51.6 PERCENT  or a majority of the respondents think it 
would be better to amend the Constitution, with 36.1 PERCENT 
thinking it would be better not to amend it. In a survey taken in 
March last year, negative answers accounted for 43.1 PERCENT , with 
affirmative ones at 42.5 PERCENT . In the survey this time, however, 
those in favor of constitutional revision again outnumbered those 
not. This is presumably because many more people actually feel a gap 
between the Constitution and the realities, given such factors as an 
increasing number of overseas missions for the Self-Defense Forces 
 
TOKYO 00000753  010 OF 011 
 
 
and political stagnation resulting from the standoff between the 
ruling and opposition parties in the Diet that has been divided with 
the ruling camp dominating its lower chamber and the opposition camp 
controlling its upper chamber. 
 
The "Constitution" survey has been conducted since 1981. In the 
1993-2007 polls, those in favor of amending the Constitution 
outnumbered those not. However, the proportion of those in favor of 
amending the Constitution began decreasing after peaking at 65.0 
PERCENT  in 2004. Last year, affirmative answers were less than 
negative ones. This time around, the pro-revision percentage 
rebounded. 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked about Constitution 
Article 9, which stipulates that Japan renounces war and possesses 
no war potential. In response to this question, 38 PERCENT  said "it 
should be amended because interpretation or implementation can no 
longer meet the realities," up from 31 PERCENT  in last year's 
survey. "Meet the realities with interpretation or implementation" 
accounted for 33 PERCENT  (36 PERCENT  in last year's survey), and 
"strictly abide by the Constitution, avoid meeting the realities 
with interpretation or implementation" at 21 PERCENT  (24 PERCENT 
in last year's survey). 
 
18) Government, ruling coalition to submit supplementary budget for 
fiscal 2009 as early as April 27 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
April 3, 2009 
 
The government and ruling parties yesterday launched coordination 
with an eye to submitting to the Diet a supplementary budget for 
fiscal 2009 as early as April 27. The outlook originally was for the 
extra budget to be submitted after the consecutive holidays in May. 
The government and ruling camp appear to have determined to speed up 
the submission plan, aiming at early passage of the extra budget. 
 
It is being rumored in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
that the House of Representatives would be dissolved in May, after 
the extra budget clears the Diet. Prime Minister Aso, too, expressed 
his intention in a press conference on March 31 that if 
deliberations on the budget were prolonged by protests from the 
opposition bloc, he would dissolve the Lower House. 
 
However, should the passage of the budget be delayed even after Aso 
decides to dissolve the Lower House in May, the Lower House election 
will come close to the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election (July 
12), a situation that the New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition 
partner, wants to avoid. The LDP appears to have given consideration 
to the New Komeito by moving up presentation of the budget to late 
April. 
 
The supplementary budget may clear the Diet in the middle of May if 
the government and ruling camp can win cooperation from the main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). A senior LDP member 
said: "(The prime minister's decision to dissolve the Lower House) 
will reach a crucial stage in mid-May." 
 
19) DPJ's Hatoyama and close to President Ozawa back him, but rest 
of party cool 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00000753  011 OF 011 
 
 
April 4, 2009 
 
In an attempt to ease criticism of Ichiro Ozawa's decision to 
continue serving as president of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), party lawmakers close to Ozawa are actively engaged in 
activities to support Ozawa, holding study sessions with experts 
critical of the investigation of the special investigation squad of 
the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors. 
 
The study group called "Group to Realize a Change in Government" led 
by DPJ Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama invited Nobuo Gohara, a 
professor emeritus at Meijo University and former prosecutor, to a 
study session held at Hatoyama's office in Tokyo to hear 
questionable points in the special investigation squad's prosecution 
regarding the Political Funds Control violation scandal involving 
Ozawa's fund management organizations. The study session was 
attended by about 30 DPJ members, including members from another 
group made up of junior House of Representatives members, called the 
Isshin-kai. Hatoyama has revealed that his party will set up an 
investigation team of experts from outside the party and verify the 
use of Ozawa's political funds, the way the investigation was 
carried out by the prosecutors, and media reports. 
 
On the night of April 1, Hatoyama invited Ozawa to his meeting with 
the DPJ vice presidents, providing a meeting between Ozawa and vice 
presidents who dealt with the fundraising scandal. 
 
Ozawa has been mostly staying at a hotel in Yaesu, Tokyo. He has 
often met party employees and lawyers, except holding regular press 
conferences and meeting Upper House Steering Committee Chairman 
Takeo Nishioka and Lower House member Takeshi Shina representing 
Iwate Prefecture, Ozawa's home town. According to a source connected 
with the DPJ, since the party accepted his decision to remain in his 
party post, Ozawa appears to be paying more attention to 
developments in the prosecution's case rather than to moves in the 
party. 
 
ZUMWALT