VZCZCXRO4965
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1097/01 1350106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150106Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2949
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 6316
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 3986
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 7788
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 1613
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 4517
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9262
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 5280
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5046

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 001097 
 
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 05/15/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
DPJ race: 
4) DPJ to elect its new leader tomorrow  (Mainichi) 
5) Hatoyama in pole position over Okada  (Yomiuri) 
6) Ozawa a key person in race  (Nikkei) 
7) Main points from campaign pledges  (Yomiuri) 
 
Political & defense issues: 
8) Former Prime Minister Abe says LDP manifesto should incorporate 
collective self-defense for general election  (Nikkei) 
9) Secretary of Defense Gates indicates before House committee it 
would be difficult to lift embargo on F-22 Raptor  (Yomiuri) 
10) Canadian air force allowed to use ASDF bases  (Asahi) 
 
China ties: 
11) Ex-Xinhua reporter states Japan's envoy paid 3 million yen in 
exchange for state secrets  (Sankei) 
12) Japan's overseas posts abide by local laws: CCS Kawamura 
(Nikkei) 
 
Russia ties: 
13) Visa-free exchange program called off  (Yomiuri)    8 
 
ROK ties: 
14) S. Korean premier vows to cooperate with Japan in environmental 
area  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: Mainichi: 
Hatoyama, Okada show determination on DPJ presidential race 
 
Yomiuri: 
Hatoyama takes early lead in DPJ leadership poll 
 
Nikkei: 
Major companies also to raise health insurance premiums 
 
Sankei: 
DPJ presidential election: Hatoyama - "I will devote myself to a 
change in power"; Okada - "I will regain public confidence" 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
DPJ presidential election: Okada's manifesto includes early 
implementation of 300-day administrative reform plan once DPJ takes 
reins of government 
 
Akahata: 
Worker dispatch law needs drastic reform 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) DPJ presidential election: Choose new president with eye on 
upcoming general election 
(2) Extra budget sent to Upper House: Question folly of "anything 
 
TOKYO 00001097  002 OF 008 
 
 
goes" mentality 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Hatoyama vs. Okada: Both candidates should fight it out in 
campaign broadcast 
(2) Futenma relocation: Revise plan so that local residents can 
accept it 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Major firms' account settlements post massive deficits: What is 
needed to restore business performance? 
(2) Honeybee shortage: Impact on agriculture cannot be taken 
lightly 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Eco-point system should be made more convenient 
(2) Guam agreement voted down in Upper House: Possibility of 
rejection becoming burden in future 
 
Sankei: 
(1) DPJ leadership poll: Will DPJ sweep illegal donations scandal 
under carpet? 
(2) Isolation period shortened: Do not hesitate to change policy 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Solar energy generation: Expand discussion to national debate 
(2) Situation in Burma: International pressure indispensable 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Extra budget clears Lower House: Pork-barrel budget does more 
harm than good 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 14 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
07:31 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
10:00 
Met at Kantei with METI Vice Minister Mochizuki and Economic and 
Industry Director General Matsunaga, followed by Environment 
Minister Saito, Environment Vice Minister Minamikawa, and Global 
Environment Bureau chief Terada. 
 
11:00 
Met with Mayor of Sao Paulo Kassab. Telephoned Venezuelan President 
Chavez, accompanied by Natural Resources and Energy Agency chief 
Ishida. 
 
12:00 
Met with Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry Vice Minister 
for Policy Coordination Terasaki. Met afterwards with Ambassador to 
France Saito and Ambassador to Belgium Yokota. 
 
14:40 
Met with Vice Foreign Minister Yabunaka. 
 
15:12 
 
TOKYO 00001097  003 OF 008 
 
 
Met with Cabinet Office Vice Minister for Policy Coordination 
Fujioka. Met later with Canadian Foreign Minister Cannon. 
 
16:15 
Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
17:00 
Met with Takeo Hiranuma, chairman of the informal council of Diet 
members. 
 
17:40 
Met with advisors to the Cabinet Kusaka and Nishimura, Foreign 
Ministry Global Issues Director General Sugiyama, METI Industrial 
Science and Technology Policy and Environment Bureau Director 
general Suzuki, and Environment Ministry Global Environment Bureau 
chief Terada. 
 
8:50 
Dined with TV networks' economic bureau heads at Japanese restaurant 
in Yurakucho. 
 
21:15 
Met Aso Co. President Yasuhi Aso at bar in Imperial Hotel. 
 
23:34 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) DPJ presidential race tomorrow: Okada expresses resolve to take 
over political power; Hatoyama shows willingness to build united 
party 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Lead Paragraph) 
May 15, 2009 
 
Following Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, Vice President Katsuya 
Okada formally declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party of 
Japan's (DPJ) presidential election on May 16 during a press 
conference yesterday. Meanwhile, Deputy President Naoto Kan 
announced yesterday he would not run in the election. The upcoming 
election will be a one-on-one fight between Hatoyama and Okada. 
Hatoyama is building up a lead through his strong support base of 
lawmakers close to outgoing leader Ichiro Ozawa and other members. 
Okada, who does not have his own group, is aiming to secure support 
from junior and mid-ranking party members, based on the high public 
support for him shown in polls. 
 
5) DPJ presidential race: Hatoyama takes lead over Okada 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
May 15, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Vice President Katsuya Okada, 55, 
held a press conference at party headquarters yesterday afternoon to 
formally announce his candidacy for the May 16 party leadership 
election to determine the successor to outgoing president Ichiro 
Ozawa. With Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, 62, having announced 
his candidacy earlier in the day, the race is likely to become a 
head-on clash between the two. According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey 
of DPJ lawmakers with votes, Hatoyama has gained the upper hand over 
Okada by obtaining support from the group supporting Ozawa and House 
of Councillors members. Okada is fiercely closing the gap on 
Hatoyama owing to support from the groups led by Vice President 
 
TOKYO 00001097  004 OF 008 
 
 
Seiji Maehara and Public Relations Committee Chairman Yoshihiko 
Noda. 
 
6) Treatment of Ozawa comes into focus 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
May 15, 2009 
 
In response to an interview yesterday with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Yukio Hatoyama, 
who has formally announced his candidacy for the party presidency, 
revealed that he would like to have both DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, 
who has now announced his resignation, and Vice President Katsuya 
Okada in the new leadership if he becomes party president. Amid the 
party leadership poll increasingly building a confrontational scheme 
of a pro-Ozawa group vs. a non-Ozawa group, how to treat Ozawa has 
surfaced as a key issue. 
 
Concerning the treatment of Ozawa, Hatoyama said of the present 
so-called troika plan involving Ozawa, Deputy Vice President Naoto 
Kan and Hatoyama. He noted, "For instance, I would set up a new 
troika plan in the form of involving Mr. Okada. I would like to take 
time to consider how to treat Mr. Ozawa until I become party 
president." He also said, "Even if I need to change the leadership, 
it would be a minor change. It is necessary to first set up a system 
that can ensure the DPJ's victory in the upcoming election (for the 
House of Representatives)." 
 
Okada, appearing on an NHK TV program aired yesterday evening, 
pointed out, "I have stuck to my policy of not joining the 
leadership over the past four years. That is because my view differs 
from the method of party management and the party policy under 
President Ozawa." He then indicated his stance by saying, "If Mr. 
Hatoyama becomes president, I will ask him about details of his 
party management policy. If I can agree, I might join the 
leadership." 
 
Okada during a press conference held to announce his candidacy 
implied that he could ask Ozawa and Hatoyama to join the new 
leadership. Both Hatoyama and Okada are upholding an all-party 
setup, presumably because they want to avoid bringing about strains 
in the party over the issue of whether to take over or switch the 
Ozawa policy line. 
 
7) Hatoyama and Okada's campaign pledges for DPJ presidency 
 
YOMIURI (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
Yukio Hatoyama - To realize a fraternal society 
 
¶1. Aiming at a fraternal society based on the independence and 
dignity of individuals; compiling budgets under the leadership of 
lawmakers; reforming the civil servant system, including a total ban 
on amakudari (the practice of senior bureaucrats landing 
postretirement jobs at entities related to the sections they 
formerly supervised) and post-retirement job-hopping practices by 
bureaucrats; banning corporate and organizational donations, 
restricting the Diet seat hereditary system, reducing the number of 
Lower House proportional representation seats by 80; establishing a 
single pension system; abolishing the medical system for people 75 
and older; improving labor conditions for caregivers; providing 
 
TOKYO 00001097  005 OF 008 
 
 
312,000 yen in childrearing allowance annually; making high school 
education free of charge; reinforcing the unemployment insurance 
system; and creating a job-seeker assistance system. 
 
¶2. Creating world peace independently to protect Japan; promoting 
fraternal diplomacy to pursue Japan's independence and to coexist 
with societies that have different values; and contributing to 
international organizations. 
 
Katsuya Okada - To increase the people's happiness 
 
(Priority policies) 
 
¶1. Reforming the safety net; establishing a single pension system; 
covering the basic pension entirely with tax revenues; cutting off 
the past debt of 270 trillion yen; creating a childrearing 
allowance; making high school education effectively free of charge; 
expanding the applicable scope of employment insurance; creating a 
job-seeker assistance allowance. 
 
¶2. Eliminating wasteful spending; integrating the government and the 
ruling parties into one body; banning amakudari altogether, 
establishing an administrative reform council to eliminate wasteful 
spending, reducing the total labor cost for national civil servants 
by 20 percent. 
 
¶3. Decentralization; reducing the central government's authority and 
revenue sources; improving support for small businesses; removing 
expressway tolls; increasing the food self-sufficiency rate by 
making the country's agriculture internationally competitive and 
creating an income-subsidy system for farmers. 
 
¶4. Overcoming the economic crisis; creating new industries centering 
on measures against global warming; strategically investing in 
airports and seaports. 
 
¶5. Opening up national interests; addressing global issues in 
collaboration with the Obama administration which shares common 
values; concluding a Northeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone for the 
elimination of nuclear weapons. 
 
¶6. Restoring public trust in politics; completely banning corporate 
and organizational donations; establishing a rule prohibiting 
fielding a candidate of third degree of kinship consecutively in the 
same constituency; amending laws in a way to effectively prohibit 
the inheritance of political funds; reducing the number of Diet 
seats by 10 percent and the number of Lower House proportional 
representation seats by 80 seats. 
 
(The administration 300-day plan) 
 
¶1. Formulating plans; carrying out political and administrative 
reforms in the first reform phase until next year's Upper House 
election; putting the economy on a growth track in the second phase 
of the remaining three years in order to to overcome long-term 
challenges. 
 
¶2. Clarifying financial resources; no policy without financial 
resources. 
 
8) "Include right to collective self-defense in party platform" 
 
 
TOKYO 00001097  006 OF 008 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
In a speech in Tokyo on May 14, former prime minister Shinzo Abe 
stated that, "depending on the circumstances, we should call for the 
exercise of the right to collective self-defense in the next House 
of Representatives election." He asked for consideration of the 
inclusion of a change in the government's constitutional 
interpretation banning the exercise of this right in (the Liberal 
Democratic Party's) campaign platform. 
 
Abe asserted that, "Inability to exercise this right constitutes a 
major impediment to defending the country." He also said that this 
will "serve as a point of contention with many Democratic Party of 
Japan Diet members," pointing out that this will become an issue in 
the election. 
 
9) "Difficult to lift ban on F22 export" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
(Satoshi Ogawa, Washington) 
 
U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates discussed the discontinuation 
of the production of the advanced stealth fighter F22 during his 
testimony at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Armed 
Services on May 13. He said: "We have not designed an export model 
of the F22. We are doing that with the F35," thus disclosing that 
the F35 currently under development will be the fifth generation 
fighter, characterized by its capability to avoid radar detection, 
to be exported to U.S. allies. Japan has designated the F22 as its 
main next generation fighter and is asking the U.S. to lift the 
export ban. It now appears that this will be difficult. 
 
Gates also emphasized that the discontinuation of F22 production 
will not affect the superiority of the U.S. forces. 
 
10) Foreign ministers agree to speed up Canadian military aircraft's 
use of SDF bases 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
Atsuko Tannai 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met with Canadian Foreign 
Minister Lawrence Cannon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) 
Iikura House on May 14. The two ministers agreed to speed up 
procedures to allow Canadian military aircraft to stop over at 
Self-Defense Forces (SDF) bases in order to respond rapidly to 
humanitarian and disaster aid needs in the Asian region. 
 
According to MOFA, it normally takes a week to approve the use of 
SDF bases by foreign military aircraft for supplies and maintenance. 
With the new agreement, Canadian military planes will be able to use 
SDF bases within 48 hours after a request is received. Canada is the 
first country to have such a bilateral arrangement with Japan. 
 
11) Ex-Xinhua journalist admits Japanese Ambassador to China 
Miyamoto handed out 3 million yen 
 
 
TOKYO 00001097  007 OF 008 
 
 
SANKE (Page 3) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
Kyodo, Beijing 
 
Yu Jiafu, 62, former chief of the foreign affairs bureau of the 
state-run Xinhua News Agency, was found guilty of handing out state 
secrets to Japanese Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto. In regard to 
this case, Yu has admitted that he had received 207,000 yuan (about 
3 million yen) in cash directly from Miyamoto, sources revealed 
yesterday. 
 
An official of the Japanese Embassy in Beijing stated: "We are not 
in a position to make a comment on the court ruling." 
 
12) Diplomatic missions abroad observe local laws: Kawamura 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
Asked about the fact that a Chinese court had handed down a guilty 
verdict to a former reporter at the state-run Xinhua news agency for 
handing out state secrets to diplomats, including Japanese 
Ambassador to China Yuji Miyamoto, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo 
Kawamura yesterday stated: "I can't make any comment on individual 
activities. Diplomatic missions abroad respect local laws. There is 
no problem." 
 
13) Visa-free exchanges suspended 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
The visa-free exchange program between Japanese citizens and Russian 
residents of the four Russian-held islands off northeastern Hokkaido 
has been suspended. The exchange program was planned to start for 
the first time this year on May 15. According to the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs, the Russian side on May 13 announced the 
cancellation, citing "a delay in preparations." Administrative Vice 
Minister Mitoji Yabunaka yesterday called Russian Ambassador to 
Japan Mikhail Bely to his ministry and urged him to implement the 
program as quickly as possible. 
 
14) In interview, ROK prime minister expresses eagerness for 
cooperation with Japan in environmental area 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 15, 2009 
 
(Yamaguchi, Seoul) 
 
South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-soo responded to an interview 
with Nikkei at the Government Office Building in Seoul on May 14, in 
which he emphasized his eagerness to promote cooperation with Japan 
in the environmental area, specifically, on energy conservation and 
development of new regenerated energy. He also revealed his 
willingness to assist Japanese small- and medium-sized manufacturers 
of parts and materials related to environmental protection in 
branching out into South Korea. Further, he stressed the need for 
South Korea, Japan, and China to work out a new system to prevent 
the spread of new strains of influenza. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001097  008 OF 008 
 
 
President Lee Myung-bak extended an invitation to the Emperor to 
visit South Korea when he came to Japan in April of last year. In 
reference to this invitation, Han said: "We would like to (see this 
plan realized at an early date and) make use of the visit as an 
opportunity for Japan and South Korea to become closer and resolve 
pending thorny issues." 
 
In discussing environmental issues, the prime minister emphasized: 
 
"For technology to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, there are 
many ways that the two countries can cooperate. Even small- to 
medium-sized companies can take the lead in this area. We would like 
to cooperate fully in the parts and material industries, in which 
Japanese firms are specialized." 
 
He thus revealed that South Korea is aiming at creating jobs by 
fostering domestic environmental industries through cooperation with 
Japanese firms. South Korea is expected to take such measures as 
helping Japanese companies advance into an industrial park intended 
for them and introducing a preferential tax system for Japanese 
firms operating there. 
 
With respect to efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, Han said: "The 
government will push ahead with preparations, with the aim of 
announcing our mid-term target that covers until 2020 by the end of 
this year," with an eye on the 15th session of the Conference of the 
Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held 
in Copenhagen later this year. 
 
Regarding measures to prevent the spread of new strains of flu, the 
prime minister stressed the importance of cooperation among Japan, 
China, and South Korea, citing that the three countries have 
discussed measures to prevent infectious diseases in the past. 
 
ZUMWALT