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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001109 
 
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 05/18/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
DPJ election: 
4) Democratic Party of Japan picks Yukio Hatoyama as new president, 
edging out Katsuya Okada, but can he shake off the influence of 
Ichiro Ozawa?  (Asahi) 
5) Okada to be DPJ secretary general and Ozawa will be acting 
president in charge of elections  (Nikkei) 
6) Concern that there might be a dual structure of power in the DPJ 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
7) Accusations already that Hatoyama may be Ozawa's "puppet"  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
8) Opposition camp with Hatoyama's election expects to tighten its 
united front against the ruling camp  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) Profile of Yukio Hatoyama  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Opinion polls: 
10) Yomiuri poll: 53 PERCENT  of public have no expectations of 
Hatoyama as new DPJ president, but support for the DPJ rises to 
exceed that for LDP  (Yomiuri) 
11) Asahi poll: 47 PERCENT  have expectations for Hatoyama and his 
new team in the DPJ, while 38 PERCENT  will vote for DPJ in election 
 (Asahi) 
 
12) Nikkei poll: Public split in expectations about Hatoyama as DPJ 
president, but DPJ now exceeds LDP in support, 38 PERCENT  vs. 33 
PERCENT   (Nikkei) 
13) Kyodo poll: Hatoyama has an 11point lead over Aso on question of 
who is more appropriate to be prime minister  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
14) Mainichi poll: 34 PERCENT  of public favor Hatoyama compared to 
21 PERCENT  for Aso  (Mainichi) 
15) Jiji poll: Aso cabinet support rate inches up to 26.3 PERCENT 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
16) Defense Ministry report estimates the range of North Korea's 
long-range missile at over 3,000 kilometers  (Nikkei) 
17) Defense Minister Hamada issues order for P-3c patrol aircraft to 
be sent for anti-piracy duty over waters off Somalia   (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
18) Justice Ministry data: 80 PERCENT  of incidents involving U.S. 
forces in Japan are never indicted  (Akahata) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi and Mainichi: 
New flu infection spreads to 96 people in Hyogo, Osaka prefectures, 
including primary and middle school students and teachers; Schools 
and facilities closed 
 
Yomiuri: 
92 infected with new flu in Osaka, Hyogo, over 1,400 schools closed 
 
Nikkei: 
Listed firms likely to report 8 PERCENT  drop in pretax profit in FY 
2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00001109  002 OF 013 
 
 
Sankei: 
DPJ President Hatoyama appoints Ozawa as deputy president and Okada 
as secretary general 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
New flu infection spreads to 100 people; 1,000 schools in Osaka, 
Hyogo closed 
 
Akahata: 
Lack of daycare centers ascribable to local governments with powers 
to authorize centers; MHLW's assertion raises questions 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Measures necessary to prevent widespread of new influenza 
(2) New lay judge system: Experience must be shared by judges 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Aso vs. Hatoyama: Strong expectations for change 
(2) Indictment of Suu Kyi a case of excessive political suppression 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Kyoto Protocol overreach must not be repeated 
(2) Fukuoka High Court decides Imabayashi should face charge of 
dangerous driving 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Intel fined by EU for anti-competitive practices 
(2) Will reform be implemented after ruling coalition's victory in 
India? 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Schools must take thorough measures to prevent spread of new 
influenza 
(2) Corporate account settlements: Market-sensitive management 
strategy essentials 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Thought at beginning of week: What is happening at school 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Dispatch of P-3Cs: Overseas dispatch of SDF enters a new phase 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 16 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 17, 2009 
 
10:00 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
 
14:59 
Met with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Crisis Management Ito at 
his official residence. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 17 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00001109  003 OF 013 
 
 
 
10:07 
Took a walk around his official residence. 
16:54 
Had a haircut at "Barber Sato" in Hotel Pacific in Takanawa. 
18:25 
Met at his official residence with Finance Minister Yosano, BOJ Gov. 
Yamaguchi, Vice Finance Minister Sugimoto, Financial Services Agency 
Director General Sato, and Vice METI Minister Mochizuki. 
 
4) Hatoyama elected as new DPJ president 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
May 17, 2009 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on May 16 held 
its presidential election at a Tokyo hotel and chose Secretary 
General Yukio Hatoyama, 62, as its new president. In the election by 
DPJ members of the two Diet chambers, Hatoyama defeated Vice 
President Katsuya Okada by a vote of 124 to 95. At a press 
conference after the election, Hatoyama revealed that he would give 
Okada and his predecessor Ichiro Ozawa important party posts. 
 
In order to bring about a change in government in the next House of 
Representatives election, Hatoyama will now move quickly to regain 
party strength. The term of the new DPJ leader will run until 
September next year, which is the time left to serve out by Ozawa. 
Hatoyama has again assumed the presidential post, having resigned in 
the past to take responsibility for causing turmoil over his plan to 
form a new party with the former Liberal Party. 
 
Can Hatoyama break away from depending on Ozawa? 
 
Commentary 
 
With the sudden resignation of its President Ichiro Ozawa over the 
indictment of his chief secretary for accepting illegal donations 
from Nishimatsu Construction Co, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
had to hold a presidential election unexpectedly. The key question 
in the leadership race was whether a new party leader would be able 
to break away from the party's nature of relying on Ozawa. 
 
The leadership race was rough going from the beginning. The DPJ 
leadership decided to take a vote five days after Ozawa's 
announcement of his resignation on May 11. DPJ lawmakers estranged 
from Ozawa opposed the leadership's decision, citing the early 
election was aimed at having Hatoyama succeed to Ozawa as party 
leader. With this, the pattern of confrontation between the pro- and 
non-Ozawa groups was made clear. 
 
Hatoyama had supported Ozawa when he was secretary general and had 
been deeply involved in Ozawa's resignation. He was elected, 
defeating Katsuya Okada, who called for leaving the Ozawa policy 
line. Hatoyama must first clearly wipe away the suspicion that the 
new DPJ leadership will be "a puppet regime of Ozawa." 
 
Actually, Ozawa rendered distinguished service to the DPJ. After 
assuming the DPJ presidency in 2006, Ozawa, who accumulated his 
political experiences through power struggles in the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), urged the DPJ members to carry out 
grassroots door-to-door election, citing their daily political 
activities lacked such. He united the party, which was seen as 
 
TOKYO 00001109  004 OF 013 
 
 
disorganized. He was like a Spartan who strengthened the weak DPJ. 
As a result, the DPJ's base has become strong. 
 
In return for this, however, the DPJ has lost its freshness. Okada, 
therefore, played up his determination to regain that freshness, 
using the words, "a new DPJ" and "opening the DPJ." Although Okada 
does not have his own group, he secured 95 votes. Taking this 
seriously, the new DPJ president's challenge is to graduate from the 
"Ozawa school." 
 
5) New DPJ President Hatoyama picks Okada as secretary general 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Yukio Hatoyama, the new president of the main opposition Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ), announced the lineup of the DPJ new 
leadership. He picked former Vice President Katsuya Okada, who 
competed with Hatoyama in Saturday's presidential election, to be 
secretary general, a key post in the party. Former President Ichiro 
Ozawa, meanwhile, was appointed DPJ acting president in charge of 
election strategy. There is a strong possibility that Ozawa will 
hold the real power. Naoto Kan and Azuma Koshiishi will be retained 
in their current deputy president posts. The Hatoyama-led DPJ 
leadership will get started soon, after it is approved in a meeting 
of the party lawmakers from the two Diet chambers, which will be 
held in a day or two. 
 
Hatoyama met yesterday with Okada and others at party headquarters 
and decided the new leadership lineup. Other senior party executive 
members will likely be retained. Asked about the appointment of 
Ozawa by reporters, Hatoyama said: "He nurtured the DPJ into a party 
that is strong in elections. I highly value his achievements." He 
then added: "Although I will manage election funds, I want Mr. Ozawa 
to take charge of election affairs. I want Mr. Okada to understand 
this." 
 
Asked about his aim of picking Okada as secretary general, Hatoyama 
said in a strong tone: "There are many DPJ lawmakers supporting Mr. 
Okada. So, it is important to quickly form party unity with them. He 
stated: "I want them (to cooperate with me) to make the DPJ a party 
that will be able to bring about a change in government." 
 
6) New DPJ leadership: Okada as key person in election; Ozawa for 
actual work involved in election; Concern about double power 
structure remaining 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 18, 2009 
 
In selecting the line-up of party executives, Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama placed top priority on party 
unity and measures to deal with the next Lower House election. In 
doing so, he focused on role-sharing between Ozawa and Okada by 
leaving the actual work involved in the upcoming election to 
newly-appointed Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa and characterizing new 
Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who is more popular than Hatoyama 
among the public, as the key person in the election. There is 
concern that criticism saying this system is a double power 
structure will mount, depending on to what extent Ozawa will seize 
power in dealing with the election campaign. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001109  005 OF 013 
 
 
Referring to the appointment of Ozawa as the person responsible for 
the upcoming election, Hatoyama on the 17th stressed to reporters, 
"I will control everything. However, I will basically ask Mr. Ozawa 
to be in charge of the upcoming election." 
 
Hatoyama expects Ozawa to display his ability to deal with 
elections, as he did in realizing the switch between the ruling and 
opposition parties in the 2007 Upper House election. 
 
Hatoyama paid special attention to the treatment of Ozawa. There is 
still deep-rooted dissatisfaction with Ozawa, who did not lay the 
groundwork properly or provide full explanations to party members 
when he was president. There is a sense of wariness, mainly among 
lawmakers who distance themselves from Ozawa, that if he is in 
charge of the election campaign, he might seize control of power and 
money. 
 
7) Ruling camp start criticizing new DPJ leader Hatoyama as "puppet 
of Ozawa," fearing recovery of public support for DPJ 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 17, 2009 
 
Following Yukio Hatoyama's election as president of the Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ), members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
and the New Komeito yesterday voiced criticism of the new DPJ 
leadership as a "puppet" in the hands of former president Ichiro 
Ozawa, who has been dogged by the fallout of a fund-raising scandal 
involving Nishimatsu Construction Co. By underscoring the image that 
Ozawa is stage-managing Hatoyama, they expect to deal a blow to the 
main opposition party, eyeing the next general election. 
 
Ruling coalition members did not want to see Okada elected in the 
presidential race, because he has given a clean image and has 
distanced himself from Ozawa. Their judgment was that if Hatoyama, 
who supported Ozawa as the party's secretary general, became his 
successor, they would be able to keep the tactics of criticizing 
Ozawa. 
 
Immediately after Hatoyama won the election, the ruling camp 
launched an offensive against Hatoyama. LDP Election Strategy 
Council Chairman Makoto Koga said about Hatoyama: "Mr. Ozawa's 
influence will be kept as is." Election Strategy Council Vice 
Chairman Yoshihide Suga also stressed: "The DPJ will have a dual 
structure." 
 
Such an offensive strategy is also intended to contain moves by 
Ozawa, in addition to the aim of swaying the DPJ under Hatoyama. 
Concern is rising in the ruling parties that Ozawa might actively 
move behind the scenes in preparation for the next general election. 
A senior LDP member said: "Mr. Ozawa is expected to pour all his 
energy into election strategy. We are scared." Former Prime Minister 
Yoshiro Mori commented: "The question is to what extent Mr. Hatoyama 
will be able to act based on his own judgment." This remark sounds 
like advice to Hatoyama that he should be independent but probably 
is aimed to undermine relations between Ozawa and Hatoyama. 
 
The ruling coalition has not changed its initial plan to dissolve 
the Lower House for a snap election after having the fiscal 2009 
extra budget and related bills pass the Diet. Coalition members take 
the view that the key to the outcome of the election lies in how to 
boost public support by effectively attacking the Hatoyama DPJ. 
 
TOKYO 00001109  006 OF 013 
 
 
 
But a senior ruling party member takes the view that the resignation 
of Ozawa as party president will undoubtedly contribute to buoying 
up public support temporarily. Some members urged Prime Minister Aso 
to rouse himself. Former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa 
commented: "We will not be able to win the election as long as we 
rely on the enemy's errors." New Komeito President Akihiro Ota also 
said: "It is most important for us to brace ourselves." 
 
8) Opposition bloc expects strengthened joint-struggle structure 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
May 17, 2009 
 
In response to the election of Yukio Hatoyama as Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) president, Social Democratic Party President Mizuho 
Fukushima said: "(Hatoyama) is very approachable. I would like to 
proactively hold talks with him and strengthen the joint-struggle 
structure among the opposition parties." But she added: "It is 
strange that a person who had to step down continues to have an 
influence. I hope that the new leadership will settle the 'politics 
and money' issue and take action under the new structure." She asked 
Hatoyama to eliminate the "Ozawa color." 
 
People's New Party Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei welcome 
Hatoyama's election, saying: "His has been responsible for 
maintaining cooperative relations with us on Diet affairs, policies, 
and election, so there will be no concern." New Party Nippon 
President Yasuo Tanaka commented: "I hope we will reinforce the 
joint-struggle structure and win a victory as the face of regime 
change." 
 
Meanwhile, Japanese Communist Party Secretary General Ichida said 
cynically: "I was surprised by the fact that neither of the 
candidates referred to Nishimatsu Construction. 
 
9) Profile of the new DPJ President Hatoyama: Lived through such 
fiascos as the fake e-mail and grand coalition scheme but hardships 
enabled him to outgrow himself 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 17, 2009 
 
A number of politicians say that Hatoyama is mild and gentle but is 
not so powerful. Focusing on his advocacy of "fellowship" as his 
political principle, former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone once 
said, "He is like soft ice cream." 
 
In a press conference held just after he was elected to head the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Hatoyama emphasized: "Over the past 
several years, the DPJ faced a number of problems, such as the fake 
e-mail and grand-coalition fiascos, but we overcame them one after 
another. I do not easily lose energy and give up." He thus indicated 
that he has outgrown his old self through overcoming a number of 
hardships in supporting the DPJ under the lead of presidents Maehara 
and Ozawa, for whom he has served as secretary general for nearly 
four years. 
 
He was first elected to the House of Representatives on the Liberal 
Democratic Party's ticket in 1986 and is now in his seventh term. 
Battling for political reform, he left the LDP and joined the New 
Party Sakigake in 1993. In 1996, he established the DPJ with Naoto 
 
TOKYO 00001109  007 OF 013 
 
 
Kan. After the party was reorganized in 1998, Hatoyama served as 
president for three years starting in 1999. 
 
Prime Minister Aso's grandfather Shigeru Yoshida was a prime 
minister, while Hatoyama's grandfather Ichiro Hatoyama, was also a 
prime minister. The grandsons are likely to face off in the next 
Lower House election. 
 
10) Poll: 53 PERCENT  don't have expectations for Hatoyama 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
May 18, 2009 
 
In the wake of the election of Yukio Hatoyama as new Democratic 
Party of Japan (Minshuto) president, the Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a 
telephone-based spot nationwide public opinion survey from the 
evening of May 16 through May 17. In the spot poll, respondents were 
asked if they had expectations for Hatoyama. To this question, "yes" 
accounted for only 40 PERCENT , with "no" reaching 53 PERCENT . In 
the breakdown of public support for political parties, however, the 
DPJ outstripped the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, with the DPJ 
sharply rising from 23.4 PERCENT  in the last poll taken a week ago 
to 30.8 PERCENT  and the LDP at 28.4 PERCENT  (26.8 PERCENT  in the 
last poll). In the popularity ranking of political parties for 
proportional representation in the next House of Representatives 
election as well, the DPJ outdistanced the LDP, with the DPJ 
tallying 41 PERCENT  (30 PERCENT  in the last poll) and the LDP 
remaining flat at 27 PERCENT  (27 PERCENT  in the last poll). 
Hatoyama's popularity is not high, but the public's expectations for 
the DPJ are now back with an end put to the Ozawa problem. In the 
poll, respondents were also asked to choose between Prime Minister 
Aso and Hatoyama as more appropriate for premiership. To this 
question, 42 PERCENT  preferred Hatoyama, with 32 PERCENT  picking 
Aso. 
 
11) Poll: DPJ rebounds to 38 PERCENT  in popularity ranking for 
proportional representation; 47 PERCENT  attaching expectations on 
new DPJ President Hatoyama 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
May 18, 2009 
 
In the wake of the election of Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) 
President Hatoyama, the Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based 
spot nationwide public opinion survey on May 16-17. In the poll, 
respondents were asked which political party they would vote for in 
their proportional representation blocs if they were to vote now for 
the House of Representatives. To this question, 38 PERCENT  chose 
the DPJ, up from 32 PERCENT  in the last poll taken April 18-19. The 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party was at 25 PERCENT , down from 27 
PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties as well, 
the DPJ rose to 26 PERCENT  (21 PERCENT  in the last poll). The LDP 
was at 25 PERCENT  (25 PERCENT  in the last poll). Asked about the 
desirable form of government, 45 PERCENT  picked a "DPJ-led 
coalition" (41 PERCENT  in the last poll), with 28 PERCENT  choosing 
an "LDP-led coalition" (29 PERCENT  in the last poll). 
 
In the poll, respondents were also asked if they had expectations 
for the DPJ led by Hatoyama. In response to this question, public 
opinion was split, with 47 PERCENT  answering "yes" and 43 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO 00001109  008 OF 013 
 
 
saying "no." 
 
The Aso cabinet's support rate was 27 PERCENT  (26 PERCENT  in the 
last poll). The nonsupport rate was 56 PERCENT  (57 PERCENT  in the 
last poll). As seen from these figures, the approval and disapproval 
ratings leveled off from the last poll. 
 
12) Poll: Public split over new DPJ President Hatoyama 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Public opinion was split over newly elected Democratic Party of 
Japan (Minshuto) President Yukio Hatoyama in a spot public opinion 
survey conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun with TV Tokyo on May 
16-17. When respondents were asked if they had expectations for 
Hatoyama, 47 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 49 PERCENT  saying "no." 
The DPJ's support rate was 38 PERCENT , up 10 points from the last 
poll taken in late April. The DPJ outstripped the LDP, which dropped 
3 points to 33 PERCENT . 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet 
dropped 2 points to 30 PERCENT . The nonsupport rate rose 3 points 
to 62 PERCENT . 
 
In the poll, respondents were also asked who they thought would be 
more appropriate for prime minister after the next House of 
Representatives election. In response to this question, 16 PERCENT 
chose Aso, with 29 PERCENT  preferring Hatoyama. "Neither" accounted 
for 52 PERCENT . 
 
The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc. by telephone on a 
random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the survey, samples were 
chosen from among men and women aged 20 and over across the nation. 
A total of 1,395 households with one or more eligible voters were 
sampled, and answers were obtained from 880 persons (63.1 PERCENT ). 
When the poll was conducted, little was known about how Hatoyama 
would treat his predecessor, Ichiro Ozawa, and Katsuya Okada, who 
also ran in the DPJ race. 
 
13) Poll: Hatoyama leads Aso by 11 points as one most suitable for 
premiership; But 50 PERCENT  have no expectations of Hatoyama 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
In a nationwide telephone survey that Kyodo News Agency carried out 
on May 16-17, following the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
presidential election, newly-elected President Yukio Hatoyama 
secured 43.6 PERCENT  of the support of respondents as being more 
appropriate for the premiership, topping by 11.6 points the 32 
PERCENT  level secured by Prime Minister Taro Aso. In the survey 
conducted in late April, Aso had the lead over then DPJ President 
Ichiro Ozawa by 13.7 points. The outcome of the latest poll reflects 
the effect of replacing the president. 
 
The number of respondents who had expectations of Hatoyama, 
combining those who had great expectations and those who had a 
certain amount of expectations, stood at 47.5 PERCENT , less than 
the 50.6 PERCENT  who had no expectations of him. The portion of 
respondents who thought Ozawa's influence over the DPJ would either 
"remain to some extent" or "still be considerable," reached 82.4 
 
TOKYO 00001109  009 OF 013 
 
 
PERCENT . This figure indicates a deep-rooted suspicion that the DPJ 
would have a dual-power structure. 
 
The support rate for the Aso cabinet stood at 26.2 PERCENT , down 
1.8 points from the previous survey carried out on the 11th and 
12th. The non-support rate reached 60.2 PERCENT , up 5.1 PERCENT . 
Asked whether the replacement of the president would work favorably 
for the DPJ or not, 49 PERCENT  replied, "There will be no change," 
followed by 31.9 PERCENT , who replied, "It will work favorably," 
and 16.2 PERCENT , who said, "It will work negatively." Asked which 
party they would vote for in the election, 37.3 PERCENT  said that 
they would back the DPJ, while 25.8 PERCENT  said that they would 
vote for the LDP. The DPJ also secured the support of 30 PERCENT  of 
respondents as a party they support, topping the LDP, which was 
supported by 25.2 PERCENT . 
 
14) MAINICHI Poll: 56 PERCENT  hope to see DPJ win Lower House 
election; 34 PERCENT  see Hatoyama as suitable for premiership, 
topping 21 PERCENT  who chose Aso 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Mainichi Shimbun on May 16-17 conducted a nationwide poll following 
the election of Yukio Hatoyama as president of the Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ) on the 16th. The poll asked respondents if they think 
incumbent Prime Minister Taro Aso or Hatoyama would be more 
appropriate to serve as the next prime minister. Hatoyama secured 
the support of 34 PERCENT , topping 21 PERCENT  who chose Aso. To 
the question of which party pollees want to see win the election, 56 
PERCENT  chose the DPJ, up 11 points from the previous poll 
conducted on May 12-13 before the presidential election, reaching 
nearly double the number of pollees who chose the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP). It seems as if the DPJ has restored the image of the 
party, which was tarnished by the arrest of former President Ichiro 
Ozawa, through the resignation of Ozawa and the presidential 
election. 
 
When Mainichi Shimbun asked in April whether Prime Minister Aso or 
Ozawa is more suitable for the premiership, 21 PERCENT  selected Aso 
and 12 PERCENT  selected Ozawa. 
 
In the February survey conducted before the arrest of the secretary, 
Ozawa secured support from 25 PERCENT  of respondents, outnumbering 
Aso, who secured 8 PERCENT . The number of respondents who supported 
Hatoyama - 34 PERCENT  -- in the poll this time topped those who 
supported Ozawa in that poll. However, 42 PERCENT , the largest 
ratio of respondents, replied, "Neither of them is appropriate." 
 
To a question about which party respondents want to see win - the 
LDP or the DPJ - the percentage of those who supported the DPJ 
exceeded 51 PERCENT  in the February poll. 
 
Respondents who supported the DPJ reached 30 PERCENT  (24 PERCENT 
in the previous survey), surpassing 23 PERCENT  (27 PERCENT  in the 
previous survey), who supported the LDP. The support rate for the 
DPJ recovered to almost the same level as the February survey, which 
logged 29 PERCENT . The ratio of pollees without any party 
affiliation stood at 37 PERCENT . 
 
Cabinet support rating drops to 24 PERCENT  after hiatus of three 
months 
 
TOKYO 00001109  010 OF 013 
 
 
 
The support rating for the Aso cabinet stood at 24 PERCENT , down 3 
points from the previous survey. After hitting 11 PERCENT  in the 
February survey, cabinet support ratings had been on the rise since 
the March survey, carried out after the arrest of Ozawa's secretary. 
However, the rating has taken a downward turn for the first time in 
three months. The non-support rating reached 58 PERCENT , up six 
points from the previous survey. 
 
15) Poll: Aso cabinet's support rate inches up to 26.3 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 16, 2009 
 
The public approval rating for Prime Minister Taro Aso and his 
cabinet increased 1.1 points from last month to 26.3 PERCENT , 
according to an opinion poll conducted by Jiji Press on May 8-11. 
The disapproval rating decreased 1.8 points to 52.0 PERCENT . 
 
The survey was conducted across the nation on a face-to-face basis 
with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among men and women aged 
20 and over. The response rate was 67.8 PERCENT . 
 
In the popularity ranking of political parties for proportional 
representation in the forthcoming election for the House of 
Representatives, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party tallied 25.2 
PERCENT , down 3.7 points from last month, and the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) was at 28.9 PERCENT 
, up 0.3 points. The DPJ outstripped the LDP again. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the LDP 
stood at 19.9 PERCENT , down 1.5 points from last month, and the DPJ 
at 14.2 PERCENT , up 0.2 points. The New Komeito, the LDP's 
coalition partner, was at 3.3 PERCENT . The Japanese Communist Party 
was at 1.7 PERCENT  and the Social Democratic Party at 0.4 PERCENT . 
"None" accounted for 58.5 PERCENT . 
 
16) Defense Ministry report concludes that North Korean missile flew 
over 3,000 km; Government highly alarmed at the missile's improved 
performance 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
May 16, 2009 
 
The release of the Defense Ministry's report pointing out progress 
in North Korea's long-range ballistic missile technology has set off 
alarms in the government and the ruling parties. With the progress 
likely to result in an increased performance of the Rodong mid-range 
ballistic missile, which has all of Japan in its range, it is likely 
to have an impact on the security of Japan, as well. Calls for 
reinforcing a missile defense (MD) system are expected to grow 
stronger. 
 
Calls for enhanced MD system in ruling bloc 
 
"(North Korea) has succeeded in prolonging the range (of its 
long-range ballistic missile). It is critical that (the missile's) 
performance has been increased," Assistant Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Kyoji Yanagisawa said on April 15. 
 
Rodong a greater threat 
 
 
TOKYO 00001109  011 OF 013 
 
 
Denying North Korea's claim that it launched a satellite on April 5, 
the report says that either a Taepodong-2 long-range missile or its 
improved version dropped its boosters into two oceanic areas, as was 
reported in advance, after flying over 3,000 km. 
 
A Taepodong-1 missile launched in 1998 flew about 1,600 km. A 
Taepodong-2 missile, fired in 2006 to extend its range, fell into 
waters immediately after its launch. The missile launched on April 5 
clearly made progress. 
 
Former director-general Ryojiro Akiba of the Education and Science 
Ministry's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science assessed the 
launch this way: "The ability to put a missile into orbit and 
control its position has reached a certain level. Its technology is 
magnificent (rippa)." National Institute for Defense Studies former 
director Minoru Shibata expressed concern, saying, "The latest test 
is of great significance in that it would eventually increase the 
accuracy rate of the Rodong missile." 
 
17) Even GSDF ordered to be dispatched for "maritime security 
mission"; stretching legal interpretation without Diet involvement 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 16, 2009 
 
Koki Miura 
 
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada issued an order on May 15 for two 
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) P-3C reconnaissance planes to 
proceed to Djibouti, the operational base for pirate surveillance, 
under the anti-piracy measures for the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. 
Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) troops will also be deployed to 
guard the reconnaissance planes. By stretching the legal 
interpretation of "maritime security mission" under the SDF Law, 
GSDF troops will be sent overseas without being checked by the 
Diet. 
 
Some 50 GSDF officers armed with pistols and rifles will be sent on 
this mission. GSDF troops had not been deployed when Air 
Self-Defense Force (ASDF) aircraft were engaged in air transport 
operations for Iraq reconstruction aid in Kuwait, but the Ministry 
of Defense (MOD) says that, "Since civilian airports will be used 
this time, we need our own security measures." 
 
However, the legal basis for this is ambiguous. When the GSDF was 
sent overseas in the past for Japan's participation in UN 
peacekeeping operations (PKO) in 1992 and for the Iraq mission in 
2004, the laws constituting the legal basis of the dispatch were 
debated in the Diet and such deployment had required the approval of 
and reporting to the Diet. 
 
On the other hand, the basis for the current mission is the 
provision on maritime security mission under the SDF Law. This 
provision is originally meant for missions in sea areas close to 
Japan and does not require Diet approval and reporting. 
 
When this legal provision on maritime security missions was used as 
the basis for sending escort ships to waters off Somalia recently, 
there was criticism that this was a case of stretching the legal 
interpretation. Now, this provision is being applied to the GSDF 
dispatch. Although the SDF Law authorizes only "(providing 
assistance to) missions at sea," the MOD is twisting this to 
 
TOKYO 00001109  012 OF 013 
 
 
"providing assistance to maritime missions." The loophole in 
civilian control is widening steadily. 
 
18) Proof of "secret agreement" on waiver of legal jurisdiction: 
Over 80 PERCENT  of USFJ offenders not indicted from 2001-2008 
 
AKAHATA (Top play) (Full) 
May 16, 2009 
 
Ministry of Justice (MOJ) documents show that of the 3,829 members 
of U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and others who committed crimes off duty 
from 2001-2008, 3,184, or about 83 PERCENT , were not indicted. This 
information was obtained by the Nihon Heiwa Iinkai (NHI; Japan Peace 
Committee).from the MOJ through information disclosure procedures 
and was revealed at a gathering held in the Diet on May 15. 
 
NHI obtains documents 
 
The Japanese government reached a "secret agreement" with the United 
States in October 1953 that except for "extremely serious cases," 
Japan would waive its right to primary jurisdiction over crimes 
committed by USFJ members, civilian employees, and their dependents. 
The MOJ documents show that this "secret agreement" still restrains 
Japanese judicial authorities and that crimes committed by U.S. 
soldiers and others are being left unpunished. 
 
According to calculations made by the NHI based on MOJ documents, 
while the prosecution rate for murder, robbery and other 
unmistakable vicious crimes is at the 70 PERCENT  level, offenses 
such as obstruction of the performance of official duties, fraud, 
and embezzlement have not been prosecuted at all. 
 
Furthermore, while the prosecution rate for indecent assault and 
rape (including those resulting in death or injury) in Japan during 
the period in question is about 59 PERCENT , the figures are only 
about 11 PERCENT  for indecent assault and about 26 PERCENT  for 
rape among USFJ offenders. 
 
In addition, prosecution rates for theft, about 7 PERCENT , and 
trespassing, about 18 PERCENT , are also low. 
 
Although the Japanese government claims that "indictment decisions 
are made in the same manner for Japanese citizens and U.S. 
soldiers," prosecutors' statistics of the MOJ (2001-2008) show that 
while there is zero indictment of USFJ-related personnel, the 
prosecution rate for Japanese offenders is about 65 PERCENT  for 
obstruction of the performance of official duties, about 76 PERCENT 
for fraud, and about 58 PERCENT  for indecent assault (sic). 
 
Outcome of criminal cases by U.S. soldiers, others 
 
Year No. of persons prosecuted No. of  persons not prosecuted 
Non-prosecution rate ( PERCENT ) 
2001 53 317 85.6 
2002 76 414 84.4 
2003 99 472 82.6 
2004 116 473 80.3 
2005 77 448 85.3 
2006 132 339 71.9 
2007 53 349 86.8 
2008 39 372 90.5 
Total 645 3,184 83.1 
 
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Statistics compiled by NHI based on MOJ documents 
 
ZUMWALT