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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000856 
 
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 04/15/09 
 
Index: 
 
North Korea problem: 
1)  North Korea has ordered IAEA and American observers out of 
nuclear facility: U.S. official source  [Yomiuri] 
2) U.S. list disclosed of 11 North Korea military-connected firms it 
wants slated for assets freeze  [Yomiuri]    3 
3)  North Korea threatens to leave 6-party talks in a sign of usual 
brinksmanship diplomacy; Japan limited as to what it can do on its 
own  [Sankei] 
4) Prime Minister Aso plans to discuss with Chinese president how to 
convince North Korea to return to 6-party talks  [Nikkei] 
5) -- Japan, U.S., South Korea not exactly lined up as North Korea 
switches to a hard-line policy stance  [Asahi] 
6) -- Some LDP lawmakers against independent sanctions on North 
Korea, calling such meaningless and ineffective  [Nikkei] 
7) -- Government watching U.S. moves on North Korea with wariness 
[Yomiuri] 
 
8) How will Japan respond to pirate retaliation in the Gulf of Aden? 
 [Sankei] 
 
Guam agreement: 
9) Agreement to transfer Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam clears 
the Lower House and will be soon passed by the Diet  [Mainichi] 
10) Democratic Party of Japan remains against the Guam relocation, 
and may cancel it should it become the ruling party after next 
election  [Mainichi]    8 
 
11) Pakistan donors' conference: Japan to announce a goal of 
providing assistance totaling $4 billion over two years  [Mainichi] 
 
 
12) Abe and Maehara off to the same conference in Washington 
[Yomiuri] 
 
13) Consumer Affairs Agency will be launched this fall  [Tokyo 
Shimbun] 
 
14) Lehman Brothers' shock: 3,000 less employees at 
foreign-affiliated firms in Japan now  [Mainichi] 
 
Articles: 
 
1) N. Korea ordered observers out 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Takeo Miyazaki, Washington 
 
A group of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and U.S. 
observers overseeing the work of halting and disabling nuclear 
facilities at Yongbyon, North Korea have been ordered by North 
Korean authorities to leave there, a U.S. government official 
revealed April 14. The nuclear-related facilities at Yongbyon 
include a 5,000-kilowatt graphite-moderated nuclear reactor and a 
reprocessing facility extracting plutonium. North Korea is expected 
to take off the seals attached to the facilities, remove the 
monitoring cameras, and reinstall equipment and the like. 
 
IAEA personnel and other foreign officials have stayed at Yongbyon 
 
TOKYO 00000856  002 OF 010 
 
 
since 2007 to observe the work of disabling the facilities there. 
 
In the fall of 2008, North Korea moved to restore the nuclear 
facilities. At that time, however, the North did not order the 
observers. 
 
The North Korean foreign ministry yesterday blamed the United 
Nations Security Council presidential statement on North Korea's 
recent missile launch and announced its intention to break away from 
the six-party talks over its nuclear issue. Pyongyang had indicated 
that the North would resume reprocessing spent nuclear fuel rods at 
the Yongbyon facilities. 
 
2) U.S. list of asset freezes as sanction against North Korea 
includes 11 military-related companies 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
April 15, 2009 
 
The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a presidential statement 
condemning North Korea's recent missile launch and calling on the 
North to comply with a previous resolution. Following this 
development, the U.S. revealed on April 14 its list of asset freezes 
of North Korean companies. It plans to submit the list to a UN 
sanction committee shortly. The list includes 11 trading houses and 
financial institutions engaged in dealings linked to ballistic 
missiles. The committee will designate companies subject to the 
sanction by the 24th and urge the UN members to thoroughly carry out 
the sanction measure. 
 
The UNSC adopted Resolution 1718 in reaction to North Korea's 
nuclear testing in 2006. This resolution demanded that the assets of 
companies dealing in goods in connection with North Korea's 
suspected nuclear weapons and missile development programs be frozen 
but designated no specific targets. The presidential statement, 
adopted on the 13th, notes that a list of companies subject to the 
sanction will be prepared by the end of this month. The members of 
the UNSC will hold a discussion at the sanction committee, based on 
the lists of Japan, the U.S. and other member countries. 
 
Korean Mining Development Trading Corp. is on the top of the U.S. 
list, according to its copy obtained by the Yomiuri Shimbun. It is 
noted that the company, as North Korea's main trader of weapons, has 
played the chief role of exporting goods and equipment related to 
ballistic missiles and has promoted selling weapons through offices 
in several companies. Korea Yongbong General Corp. is also included 
in the list. It is explained that the company is exclusively engaged 
in procuring military goods and supporting the sale of materials 
linked to military affairs. 
 
Tanchon Commercial Bank is the sole financial institution that is 
included in the list. The bank takes on the responsibility of 
settling accounts of transactions in ballistic missiles and 
conventional weapons. Its predecessor reportedly earned profits from 
selling weapons to the Middle East and Africa. The U.S. points out 
that the profits on sale have financed North Korea's nuclear 
development and purchases. 
 
The list also includes eight subsidiaries of Korean Mining 
Development Trading Corp. and Korea Yonbong General Corp. 
 
3) North Korea to boycott six-party talks; Japan troubled by the 
 
TOKYO 00000856  003 OF 010 
 
 
North's brinkmanship; Limits to Japan's unilateral response 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Hiroshi Sakai 
 
In reaction to the UN Security Council's issuance of a presidential 
statement, North Korea has announced that it would stop attending 
the six-party talks on that country's nuclear issue and resume the 
reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. But the government strongly 
believes that this is an act of brinkmanship to elicit compromises 
from the international community. In the days ahead, Japan intends 
to strengthen cooperation among the other five countries, excluding 
the North, to increase international pressure on the DPRK. But 
convincing other members will not be easy and it is impossible for 
Japan alone to prevent North Korea from further reckless actions. 
Japan is now faced with a severe reality. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso told the press corps at his official 
residence last night: "The UNSC presidential statement is the 
international community's answer. It is most important for North 
Korea to lend its ear to international opinion." The prime minister 
avoided severe criticism because he has judged that playing into the 
hands of the North's provocation would not be advisable. Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura, too, said in a press briefing: "We 
would like to strongly urge North Korea to return to the six-party 
talks and enforce UN Resolution 1718." 
 
A senior government official noted coldly: "This is North Korea's 
modus operandi. A grace period is necessary. We must not delve too 
deeply into this." Another government official said calmly: "If 
China halts its aid, North Korea will be in trouble. I wonder how 
long it can keep saying that it will not attend the six-party 
talks." 
 
Nevertheless, North Korea has always been able to elicit concessions 
from the international community with its brinkmanship. In its early 
days, the Bush administration criticized the North by calling it an 
"axis of evil" and set force a strong stance to make the country 
abandon its nuclear programs. But the administration later shifted 
to a dialogue policy course. The North launched missiles in July 
2006 and conducted a nuclear test in October that year. In reaction, 
the UNSC adopted resolutions 1695 and 1718, respectively. But no 
major country except for Japan has taken effective sanctions 
measures against the DPRK. 
 
4) Aso ready to meet with Chinese president, discuss issues over 
North Korea, including withdrawal from six-party talks 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has decided to discuss with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao and other Chinese government officials, when he 
visits China on April 29-30, on how to respond to North Korea, which 
has announced its intention of withdrawing from the six-party talks. 
He is expecting to solicit measures, through talks with the Chinese 
government officials, to bring North Korea back to the six-party 
talks, as well as to break the impasse in negotiations on the North 
Korean nuclear, missile, and abduction issues in a package. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000856  004 OF 010 
 
 
Aso told reporters yesterday: "The UN Security Council presidential 
statement reflects the opinion of the international community. It is 
most important for North Korea to sincerely listen to such a view." 
He also expressed his hopes for China's approach to Pyongyang, 
remarking: "I think that they [China] will work on [the North], even 
if we do not make a request to do so." Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo 
Kawamura also said during a press briefing yesterday: "China must 
make full use of its authority as the nation hosting the six-party 
talks." 
 
5) Questions remain about unity among Japan, U.S., and South Korea; 
North Korea may reinforce its hard-line stance 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Aihiro Makino, Seoul 
 
The North Korean Foreign Ministry has released a statement 
expressing its determination to boycott the six-party talks, but 
Japan, the United States and South Korea are remaining calm on the 
surface. The reason is because they had obtained China and Russia's 
support in the recent UN talks on reaction to the North's missile 
launch. They also believe the North, due to its economic plight, has 
its back against the wall. Still, there are no signs that Pyongyang 
will soften its hard-line stance, and unity among Japan, the United 
States, and South Korea is not solid. There is a possibility that 
the North will again launch another missile and conduct a nuclear 
test. 
 
In the Foreign Ministry's statement, Pyongyang declared that it 
would discontinue the disablement of its nuclear facility and would 
return it to the original state. But of the 8,000 fuel rods attached 
to the nuclear reactor, some 6,700 have been removed. The cooling 
tower was also destroyed in June 2008. Given the situation, the 
South Korean government thinks that returning the facility to its 
original state would take at least several months. 
 
The South Korean Unification Ministry projects North Korea will have 
a shortage of 1.17 million tons of grain this year. Some government 
sources think the United Nations will reinforce its sanctions on the 
North and that will make the country's trade with China, its 
traditional ally, difficult. 
 
But there have been no signs of the North lowering its fist. 
According to the South Korean government, the North has yet to 
express its wishes via diplomatic channels. "The North has learned 
from its experiences that Japan, the United States and South Korea 
make concessions if it applies pressure on them," Ewha Women's 
University Professor Cho said. 
 
There is a residue of doubt about the solidarity and role-sharing of 
the three countries, as well. In UN Security Council talks, the 
three countries initially sought a new resolution, but the United 
States probed for a way to issue a presidential statement, as well. 
This led Japan and South Korea to suspect that the United States 
might have been using two separate approaches in dealing with Tokyo 
and Seoul, who both remained tough toward the North, and toward 
Beijing and Moscow, who were conciliatory toward Pyongyang. Whether 
Japan and South Korea will support the United States' plan to launch 
an early dialogue with the North remains unclear. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000856  005 OF 010 
 
 
The North's statement said that it would reinforce its nuclear 
deterrence on every front. A South Korean national defense institute 
fellow noted: "If (direct dialogue with the United States) is not 
realized, the North might conduct another nuclear test and a missile 
launch. The situation resembles the year 2006 when the North 
conducted missile launches and a nuclear test." 
 
6) LDP members object to Japan unilaterally imposing additional 
sanctions on North Korea 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
Many Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers yesterday voiced 
objections to the option of Japan unilaterally imposing additional 
sanctions on North Korea. For instance, General Council Chairman 
Taksashi Sasagawa called "meaningless" the option of lowering the 
cap on the amount of cash travelers to North Korea are allowed to 
carry without notification from 1 million yen to 300,000 yen. In the 
General Council meeting, one member said, "The effectiveness of such 
an approach is questionable," while another said: "The government 
should come up with more solid ideas." About the UN Security Council 
presidential statement that condemned North Korea's missile 
launching, House of Councillors member Ichita Yamamoto said in the 
meeting: "The Security Council should have adopted a resolution. 
[The presidential statement] is not a diplomatic victory." 
 
7) Government wary about U.S. future moves 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
The Japanese government has cool-headedly taken a statement issued 
by North Korea saying that it "will never take part" in the 
six-party talks. A Foreign Ministry source commented: "The response 
is what we had anticipated. We are not surprised at it." 
 
Speaking before reporters at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday, 
Prime Minister Aso criticized North Korea's stubborn attitude, 
saying: 
 
"The UN issued a presidential statement. I think the statement 
reflects the international community's opinion, so it is most 
essential for North Korea to take the stance of sincerely listening 
to it." 
 
Placing importance on collaboration among Japan, the U.S. and South 
Korea, as well as cooperation with China, the chair of the six-party 
talks, the government intends to continue applying pressure on North 
Korea. Aso will visit China on April 29 and 30 to discuss North 
Korean and other issues with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao 
and other ranking government officials. They are expected to 
exchange views with an eye on a resumption of the six-party talks, 
which have ben stalled since last December. 
 
Foreign Ministry officials will also discuss a response to the North 
with U.S. government officials, including Special Representative for 
North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth. The Japanese government takes 
the view that North Korea is hoping for talks with the U.S. It 
U.S.-North Korea talks are to take place, the Japanese government 
intends to ask the U.S. government to boost its cooperation with 
Japan and South Korea. 
 
TOKYO 00000856  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
Even so, it is hard to figure out what policy the Obama 
administration has taken toward North Korea. Some officials of the 
government and the ruling coalition have expressed a sense of 
wariness about U.S. moves, one senior Liberal Democratic Party 
member remarking: "If its stance is conciliatory, Japan must speak 
harshly [to the U.S.]; otherwise, [North Korea] will listen to what 
the country that speaks out louder."  In Japan, many are calling on 
the government to take a tougher stance toward North Korea, as shown 
by LDP Upper House Secretary General Shuzen Tanigawa's remark: "I 
hope diplomatic authorities will show a stronger attitude." Under 
such a situation, the government remains unable to make any 
compromise in the future. 
 
8) How will Japan respond to retaliation? 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
This March, the government sent out Maritime Self-Defense Force 
destroyers for maritime security operations in waters off Somalia 
under the Self-Defense Forces Law. The dispatched MSDF destroyers 
have now been engaged in the task of escorting Japanese ships there 
since late March. However, the MSDF is allowed to fire on pirates 
for legitimate self-defense or emergency evacuation only. If pirates 
ignore a warning shot, the MSDF will have no means of removing 
them. 
 
The government-introduced antipiracy bill therefore allows the MSDF 
to fire on pirate ships for the purpose of halting their ships, even 
though they do not fire, if they do not stop their act of piracy in 
spite of a warning shot. In addition, the bill also stipulates that 
the MSDF will escort foreign ships, as well. 
 
The leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) insisted 
in a plenary sitting of the House of Representatives that the Japan 
Coast Guard should deal with pirates, saying: "Driving the pirates 
away with battleships will not lead to the eradication of pirates, 
so naval police should crack down on the pirates." The DPJ then 
proposed sending out the Shikishima, a JCG patrol ship with a 
battleship structure, and dispatching MSDF vessels as JCG vessels. 
 
The DPJ yesterday held a meeting of its foreign affairs and defense 
division on its antipiracy counterproposal. In the meeting, the DPJ 
worked out an outline of revisions to the government bill. In 
concrete terms, the DPJ proposes establishing an "antipiracy 
headquarters" when sending out the Self-Defense Forces. At the same 
time, the DPJ also proposes transferring SDF members to the 
antipiracy headquarters. 
 
However, various foreign countries have been deploying naval vessels 
to Somalia waters and conducting military operations in order to 
rescue hostages. A number of pirates have been shot to death, so the 
pirates have now declared their retaliation. In such an intensifying 
situation, it is even more difficult for the JCG's policing 
activities to deal with the pirates. "Other countries are taking 
considerably strong actions," MSDF Chief of Staff Keiji Akahoshi 
said in a press conference yesterday, adding: "When it comes to what 
our country should do, we will have to make a judgment after seeing 
how things are going for a while." 
 
The DPJ's counterproposal requires the government to ask for Diet 
 
TOKYO 00000856  007 OF 010 
 
 
approval before sending out the SDF for antipiracy missions. This is 
also a point at issue in Diet debate on the bill. Prime Minister 
Aso, in his Diet reply yesterday, noted that the government can 
fulfill its accountability to the Diet (with its parliamentary 
report prescribed in the antipiracy bill). 
 
The government and ruling parties, bearing the Diet schedule in 
mind, will respond flexibly to talks with the DPJ over its proposal 
of revisions to the antipiracy bill. The government wants the 
legislation to clear the House of Representatives by April 27 when 
the government plans to present the Diet with a supplementary budget 
for fiscal 2009. The ruling and opposition parties have already 
begun working-level talks about revisions behind the scenes. "We are 
ready to accept the DPJ's proposal of establishing the antipiracy 
headquarters," one of the ruling coalition said. 
 
Meanwhile, the DPJ has also concurred on the necessity of antipiracy 
measures. However, the DPJ is exploring revisions to the bill in a 
way that involves the Social Democratic Party and other opposition 
parties remaining cautious about dispatching the SDF. There is no 
knowing if the ruling and opposition parties will agree. 
 
9) Lower House approves Guam relocation of U.S. Marines 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
The House of Representatives approved in a plenary session yesterday 
an agreement for facilitating the relocation of U.S. Marines from 
Okinawa to Guam by a majority of lawmakers from the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner New Komeito. The 
accord was then sent to the House of Councillors. The main 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Japanese Communist 
Party, the Social Democratic Party, and the People's New Party voted 
against it. The opposition-controlled Upper House will start 
deliberations on it today. The Upper House is expected to reject the 
pact. However, the pact, which is treated as a treaty, will 
eventually be passed within 30 days of its passage through the Lower 
House because a constitutional provision gives a decision by the 
Lower House precedence over the Upper House. 
 
The accords agreed in 2006 by the governments of Japan and the 
United States stipulates that some 8,000 marines and their 
dependents will move to Guam by 2014 based on a so-called road map 
for the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan; and that Japan will 
bear up to 2.8 billion dollars (approximately 280 billion yen) of a 
total cost of 10.27 billion dollars (approximately 1.270 trillion 
yen). The accord also stipulates that the relocation of U.S. Marines 
to Guam depends on progress on the relocation of U.S. Marines' 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) to someplace in 
Okinawa, as well as on Japan's financial contribution. 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone stressed again the necessity of 
(passing) the accord in a press conference yesterday. He stated: "It 
is part of the realignment of the U.S. forces in Japan. Okinawan 
residents have long waited for this." 
 
10) DPJ against relocation of Futenma Air Station to Henoko: Policy 
after power transfer has yet to be decided 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00000856  008 OF 010 
 
 
 
Following the outlook that the agreement to transfer Marines 
stationed in Okinawa to Guam will now secure Diet approval, 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Ichiro Ozawa during a 
press conference on April 14 indicated his stance of opposing the 
relocation of U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to the offing 
of Henoko, Nago City. He revealed his intention to confer with the 
U.S. on a revision of the agreement, which is premised on the 
relocation of Futenma facilities to Henoko, after the DPJ takes over 
the reins of government. However, the DPJ has yet to hold 
working-level talks to work out details of the matter. The reality 
is the party has to decide everything about the relocation issue 
after coming into power, as a senior official of the Policy Research 
Council put it. 
 
Ozawa during the press conference agreed on the transfer of Marines 
to Guam, saying, "It is not necessary to deploy major military 
capabilities to the frontline." However, concerning the relocation 
of Futenma functions to Henoko, he pointed out: "There is a 
beautiful coral sea and the northern-most habitat of dugongs near 
Henoko. To me, it is questionable to build an air station at such a 
place at any cost." He continues: "If such facilities are absolutely 
necessary, there are many alternative places. Japan should hold 
talks with the U.S. government properly." 
 
Working-level officials responsible for foreign affairs and security 
policies in the DPJ have yet to solidify their stance on the issue. 
Referring to the relocation of Futenma Air Station, a certain senior 
member of the foreign affairs and defense division council pointed 
out, "The DPJ in its Okinawa Vision noted that it is searching for a 
site outside the prefecture and wants a site chosen to be chosen 
outside the country. It is necessary to sign a new agreement." 
Another senior member said: "Talks should be held as a set with 
those to revise the Japan-U.S. Status-of-Forces Agreement. At 
present, we have yet to decide how to negotiate with the U.S." 
 
11) Donors to announce 400 billion yen in total assistance to 
Pakistan at conference 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
The government yesterday confirmed that countries participating in 
the Pakistan donors' conference, which Japan and the World Bank will 
jointly host, will announce financial assistance totaling roughly 4 
billion dollars or about 400 billion yen over two years. The 
Government of Japan intends to extend up to 1 billion dollars. 
However, with coordination of views with the Pakistani government on 
the specific use of loans meeting complications, the financial 
assistance will likely be announced but without a specific plan 
regarding its usage. Representatives of about 30 countries, 
including Pakistani President Zardari, and international bodies are 
expected to take part in the meeting. 
 
As a result of coordination among donor nations, the U.S. will 
extend approximately 1 billion dollars like Japan. The European 
Union (EU) as a whole will also provide about 1 billion dollars, 
with the largest portion of approximately 500 million dollars coming 
from Britain. The World Bank and other countries will contribute 
altogether approximately 1 billion dollars, making the total of 
pledges 4 billion dollars. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000856  009 OF 010 
 
 
Japan's assistance of 1 billion dollars will likely be focused on 
helping Pakistan reform its economy. It will be used for the purpose 
of Pakistan being able to reduce its fiscal deficit without 
expanding income disparities. It will also be extended as assistance 
to impoverished people in the region bordering Afghanistan, which is 
said to be a hot bed of terrorism. 
 
As a condition for financial assistance, Japan has requested that 
the Pakistani government steadily implement the International 
Monetary Fund's program. Most of Japan's financial cooperation will 
come as loan aid. Prime Minister Taro Aso will announce Japan's plan 
at a bilateral summit to be held on the 16th. Pakistan has asked 
Japan to take part in the Benazir Income Support Program designed to 
directly distribute income to the impoverished. However, differences 
in the stances of both countries have been brought out into the open 
with Japan showing reluctance to such a proposal, citing that its 
effect would be limited. A plan surfacing in the government is 
pooling assistance money as a Pakistan assistance fund and extending 
financial cooperation in a flexible manner, while nailing down the 
needs of that nation and progress in assistance by other countries. 
 
12) Nagatacho field note: Destination only one place -- America 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
April 15, 2000 
 
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a member of the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), and Seiji Maehara, former president of the 
main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), yesterday left for 
the United States aboard the same airplane. The two will attend the 
third round of the Japan-U.S. Sea Power Dialogue, a symposium to 
find ways for bilateral cooperation on marine resources development 
and other related issues. 
 
Abe and Maehara share a lot in common regarding security policy. 
Their offices are next to each other in the Diet Members' Building. 
All the more because Maehara's "closeness" to the LDP is often 
talked about, many in political circles take the view that actions 
on their part might lead to political realignment. 
 
However, Maehara is desperately trying to put a cap on such a rumor. 
He told reporters on April 11 in Kobe City: "Mr. Abe and I were 
included among those invited. We will probably not be in touch with 
each other during the conference." Yesterday, he went on board 
earlier than Abe, who was the last person to board the plane. 
 
With the House of Representatives election drawing closer, what kind 
of an impact will the former leaders of the largest ruling and 
opposition parties have on the political world in the future? 
 
13) Consumer Affairs Agency to be launched in the fall 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
April 15, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), the New Komeito, the Japanese Communist Party, the Social 
Democratic Party, and the People's New Party agreed yesterday to 
jointly mark up three government-drafted bills related to the 
establishment of a Consumer Affairs Agency, in a meeting of the 
House of Representatives Special Committee on Consumer Affairs. The 
outlook is that revised bills will be approved in the committee 
 
TOKYO 00000856  010 OF 010 
 
 
tomorrow and will clear the Lower House on April 17. The three bills 
are now certain to clear the Diet before the end of the current 
session. The Consumer Affairs Agency, which is in charge of all 
consumer issues, will be launched as early as this fall. 
 
The six parties also agreed to set up in the Cabinet Office a 
Consumer Policy Committee, which will be made up of experts to keep 
watch on consumer administration, as well as to change the name of 
the committee to "Consumer Committee." They also decided to give the 
committee the right to advise and make recommendations to the prime 
minister, as well as the right to request documents from the 
ministries and agencies. The DPJ withdrew its demand that the 
committee be given the right to investigate business operators. 
 
The six parties also decided to incorporate additional items: 1) To 
consider the establishment of a relief system in three years for 
victims of asset losses; 2) to pay part of the labor costs of 
counseling staff for consumers' affairs from the national treasury; 
and 3) reviewing the 29 laws under the agency's jurisdiction in 
three years. 
 
14) Foreign financial companies cut 3,000 positions over six months 
since Lehman Brothers shock 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
April 15, 2009 
 
A survey conducted by Executive Search Partners, a human resources 
consulting firm based in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, has found that 
approximately 3,000 personnel working for foreign financial 
institutions operating in Japan were forced out of their jobs over 
about six months from the Lehman shock in September 2008 through the 
end of March this year. According to Executive Search Partners, a 
total of 27,800 are being employed by foreign financial institutions 
operating in Japan. That is to say, they reduced their payrolls by 
10%. 
 
Job cuts by foreign financial institutions had been seen only in the 
securities section of financial institutions by around the summer of 
¶2008. However, the move has spread to all sections, including the 
asset management section, after the Lehman shock. The size of 
cutbacks over three months and a half from mid-September through the 
end of 2008 reached approximately 2,000. Foreign financial 
institutions continued to slash workforces anticipating that the 
Japanese market will remain sluggish over a long period of time. 
Additional 1,000 or so jobs were slashed by the end of March. 
 
ZUMWALT