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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001141 
 
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 05/20/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
President Obama on the move: 
4) Japanese government informed that new U.S. ambassador to be 
California lawyer John Roos, a top Obama election contributor 
(Asahi) 
5) Japanese Communist Party Chairman Shii receives White House reply 
to his letter to President Obama praising his Prague speech on 
global disarmament  (Sankei) 
6) U.S. would like to build momentum toward a nuclear free world: 
Letter to Shii  (Asahi) 
 
7) Prime Minister Aso to announce at Island Summit 50 billion yen in 
assistance to island nations  (Nikkei) 
 
Defense and security affairs: 
8) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) lawmaker denounces anti-piracy 
mission to waters off Somalia as waste of taxpayers' money  (Asahi) 
 
9) Maritime Self-Defense Force operating in waters off Somalia 
receiving information of suspicious boats from naval ships of other 
countries  (Sankei) 
 
Whaling: 
10) IWC conference pits Japan against Australia and Europe on effort 
to restart whaling  (Asahi) 
11) Decision at IWC conference on resuming commercial whaling put 
off  (Sankei) 
 
12) U.S. again asks Japan to make competitive conditions equal for 
selling cancer insurance in Japan  (Nikkei) 
 
Political agenda: 
13) DPJ President Hatoyama wavering in setting strategy for the Diet 
 (Nikkei) 
14) Internal Affairs Minister Kunio Hatoyama calls his brother Yukio 
Hatoyama, now DPJ president, a "puppet" of former president Ozawa 
(Sankei) 
15) In debate of party heads on May 27, Hatoyama will try to erase 
image that he is under Ozawa's influence  (Yomiuri) 
16) Ozawa has resumed electioneering as part of his new DPJ post but 
he will avoid all contacts with the press  (Nikkei) 
17) Liberal Democratic Party Election Committee Chair Koga: It would 
be better for our party if there is a low election turnout  (Asahi) 
 
18) Splitting the Health and Labor Ministry into two agencies will 
be Prime Minister Aso's showpiece in the party's Lower House 
election campaign  (Sankei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Prosecutor recognizes sending direct mail via discount system as 
illegal 
 
Mainichi & Tokyo Shimbun: 
Ex-kanji testing body executives arrested over breach of trust 
 
TOKYO 00001141  002 OF 011 
 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
Kobe to conduct genetic screening over new flue at specific 
facilities 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan, U.S., Europe to introduce new international rule to tighten 
taxation of overseas branches 
 
Sankei: 
Tokyo to recruit superior teachers from local areas 
 
Akahata: 
JCP Chairman Shii receives letter from U.S. government expressing 
welcome of his enthusiasm for nuclear elimination 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Lay judge system to start tomorrow 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Lay judge system expected to change citizens' consciousness 
about trials 
(2) Executives arrested for overlooking misuse of discount postal 
system assume heavy responsibility 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Big banks must shed risk, raise capital 
(2) Ex-executives of Kanji test body arrested after investigation 
into their involvement in shady dealings 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) We expect lay judge system to generate awareness in the public 
of the need to share judicial role 
(2) Big banks urged to carry out reform 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Lay judge system: Let's retain the "sense of public" 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Arrest of Japan Post ranch head: Stop taking attitude of 
depending on government 
(2) Sri Lanka: Peace will never be brought only with weapons 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Keidanren's proposal on mid-term target for greenhouse gas 
emissions improper 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, May 19 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
07:30 Took a walk around his official residence. 
09:56 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura at the Kantei. 
10:00 Attended a cabinet meeting. 
11:30 Received a telephone call from President Rajapaksa of Sri 
Lanka in the presence of government representative Akashi. 
12:13 Met DPJ President Hatoyama and Secretary General Okada in the 
 
TOKYO 00001141  003 OF 011 
 
 
Diet building in the presence of LDP Secretary General Hosoda. 
Hosoda stayed on. 
12:50 Attended an Upper House Budget Committee session. 
14:05 Met Vice-METI Minister Sugimoto and Vice Minister of Finance 
for International Affairs Shinohara at the Kantei. Afterword met 
Lower House member Seiichi Ota, followed by Director of Cabinet 
Intelligence Mitani. 
15:44 Met Prime Minister Somare of Papua New Guinea 
16:20 Met Prime Minister Natapei of Vanuatu, followed by State 
Secretary for Foreign Affairs Hashimoto, Deputy Foreign Minister 
Sasae, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director-General Saiki, 
Economic Security Division Director Tamaki, Global Environment 
Division Director Terada, in the presence of Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Matsumoto. 
18:07 Met a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting. 
19:48 Met Finance Minister Yosano. 
19:57 Met at a Hotel New Otani dining and bar LDP president special 
assistant Shimamura and Public Relations Headquarters chief Furuya. 
21:49 Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Lawyer John Roos named as U.S. envoy to Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Yoichi Kato, Washington 
 
The Obama administration has now decided to name John Roos, 54, to 
the post of ambassador to Japan and has notified the Japanese 
government of the decision on May 19. Roos is a Silicon Valley-based 
lawyer, who handles the merger and acquisition of information 
technology businesses as his main area of activities and did much to 
help Obama win the presidential election. The Obama administration 
had been in the final stage of coordination to name Harvard 
University Professor Joseph Nye, but it eventually chose Roos, based 
on consideration given to his close relationship with President 
Obama. 
 
Washington, now waiting for Tokyo's reply, is expected to announce 
the decision shortly. Roos will be appointed U.S. envoy to Japan 
once the Senate confirms him. 
 
The Obama administration has forgone its final decision regarding 
the post of ambassador to Japan due to a delay in the whole process 
of political appointments. However, the administration last week 
announced its ambassador to China. Giving heed to the balance of 
Japan and China, the administration chose Roos in a hurry. 
 
Roos is a Stanford Law School graduate. He entered a law firm in 
Silicon Valley, California, and is currently its chief executive 
officer. According to the law firm's website, Roos has expertise in 
corporate fundraising, business-related laws, and corporate 
governance. The website cites "Israel" as his foreign experience, 
and the "foreign language" section is left blank. 
 
To put U.S. media reports together, Roos has backed Obama through 
such activities as holding fundraising parties at his home before 
Obama's announcement of his candidacy in the presidential race. The 
New York Times reported in August 2008 that Roos was one of Obama's 
top fundraisers at the earliest stage. There is nothing in the U.S. 
media about whether he has had anything to do with Japan. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001141  004 OF 011 
 
 
It may safely be said that the Obama administration weighed Roos' 
close personal relationship with Obama over knowledge and experience 
like Nye's regarding foreign relations with Asia and Japan. Former 
Ambassador Schieffer, known for his close ties with President Bush, 
was such a case. The White House chose the Schieffer model and 
dropped Nye, according to an informed source. 
 
5) Shii jumps for joy that "response is here!"; Head over heels in 
love with President Barack who "listens" 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
It is said that Chairman Kazuo Shii and other senior Japanese 
Communist Party (JCP) officials "jumped for joy" that a response to 
the letter the JCP had sent to U.S. President Barack Obama was 
received through the Department of State (according to a JCP 
watcher). The JCP had sent several letters to U.S. presidents in the 
past, but this is the first time in the party's history that an 
official reply has been received. 
 
According to a news conference by Shii on May 19, the reply was 
received at the JCP headquarters in Sendagaya, Tokyo via 
international mail on May 16. The letter says: "I appreciate your 
(Shii's) enthusiasm. We hope to cooperate with the Japanese 
government to make concrete progress toward the goal of the 
abolition of nuclear weapons," among other things. Shii had sent a 
letter expressing his "heartfelt welcome" for Obama's speech in 
Prague calling for the abolition of nuclear arms. Shii appeared to 
be touched, saying that, "I am convinced that we now have a 
president who will listen to various opinions." 
 
6) JCP Chairman Shii "wants to build friendly ties" after receiving 
U.S. government response 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Shuichi Honda 
 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Chairman Kazuo Shii disclosed at a 
news conference on May 19 that the U.S. government's response to his 
letter sent in late April to President Barack Obama, asking him to 
exercise leadership in abolishing nuclear weapons, was sent to him 
by assistant secretary of state-designate for East Asia and Pacific 
affairs J.C. Bancroft Davis on behalf of Obama. Shii said: "This is 
the first time we have received an official response from the U.S. 
government (since the party's founding 87 years ago). I can really 
feel that the American society has changed greatly," voicing his 
support for Obama. 
 
A copy of the response dated May 5 was distributed at the news 
conference. It says: "I appreciate your enthusiasm. We would like to 
cooperate with the Japanese government to move forward steadily 
toward this goal." Shii said at his news conference that, "An 
official channel for dialogue with the U.S. government is now open. 
While we criticize U.S. policies frequently, we do not negate the 
United States per se. We would like to build friendly relations." 
 
7) Aso to announce 50 billion yen program for Pacific Island nations 
to provide environmental technology 
 
 
TOKYO 00001141  005 OF 011 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
A summit between Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (Pacific Island 
Leaders Meeting - PALM) will be held in the village of Shimukappu, 
Hokkaido, on May 22-23. A draft of the summit declaration - unveiled 
yesterday - proposes establishing a fund worth 50 billion yen in the 
next three years to finance measures to expand environmental 
technologies, for instance, to turn seawater into fresh water and to 
generate solar power. The draft also proposes fostering more 3,500 
human resources. Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is to co-chair of the 
summit, will announce this program. 
 
Identifying Japan and the participating countries as equal partners 
that share the Pacific Ocean, the draft comes up with a Pacific 
community initiative designed for these countries to jointly address 
the challenge of containing global warming. Based on the view that 
climate change mitigation and adapting measures are imperative for 
regional development, the summit-participating countries will aim to 
jointly tackle this challenge. The draft declaration proposes a 
program to disburse 50 billion yen in official development 
assistance (ODA) funds over the next three years for environmental 
technical cooperation and other measures. In the previous summit in 
2006, Japan released a plan to disburse 45 billion yen. This year, 
Japan will propose a larger amount, in an attempt to play up its 
eagerness to help other participant countries in the environmental 
area. 
 
Japan will establish a fund designed to urge the countries in the 
region to make use of Japanese companies' advanced desalination and 
solar power-generation technologies. The government plans to 
disburse the funds in response to each nation's needs. In addition 
to financial aid, Japan will call on the Forum members to take 
measures to prevent illegal dumping and other acts to pollute the 
environment. 
 
The draft also includes a program to develop human resources by 
inviting engineers to Japan to learn environment-related 
technologies. 
 
PALM has been held in Japan every three years since 1997. The fifth 
meeting this time will be joined by the leaders of 14 island 
countries and regions in the South Pacific region, such as Papua New 
Guinea, and Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Prime Minister 
Aso. 
 
8) MSDF convoys 3.2 ships on average in waters off Somalia 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
A squadron of Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers, currently on 
an antipiracy mission in waters off Somalia, escorts 3.2 ships on 
average each time, the Defense Ministry revealed yesterday in its 
documentation presented to the leading opposition Democratic Party 
of Japan (Minshuto) in a meeting of the party's foreign affairs and 
defense division. "This is a half of the government 's prior account 
and is a waste of the taxpayers' money," a DPJ executive said. The 
DPJ will pursue this in the House of Councillors' deliberations that 
will begin shortly to debate a government-introduced antipiracy 
bill. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001141  006 OF 011 
 
 
The MSDF, which started its antipiracy mission in late March, has 
been escorting Japanese-registered and Japan-linked ships in the 
900-kilometer Gulf of Aden, taking two days each way. According to 
the document, the MSDF carried out a total of 17 escorts up to May 
13 and convoyed a total of 55 ships, or 3.2 ships each escort on 
average. Prime Minister Aso, in his Diet reply in late January, 
stated that the average number of Japanese and Japan-linked ships 
escorted there was about five or six per day on average. 
 
The MSDF is now thinking of cutting each of its fleet convoys from 
two destroyers to one for more frequent escorts. 
 
9) MSDF gets info from foreign navies on suspicious vessels 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force - currently on an antipiracy mission 
in waters off the eastern African coast of Somalia - has been 
provided with information about nearby suspicious vessels via a 
network used by foreign navies, the Defense Ministry revealed 
yesterday. The Diet has not deepened its discussion of anything 
specific about information exchanges or cooperation with foreign 
naval forces. Meanwhile, the MSDF is presumably asked to exchange 
information or cooperate with foreign naval ships on stage there. 
 
According to the Defense Ministry, the MSDF shares information about 
suspicious vessels via the Internet and can exchange information 
with foreign naval ships via email. Actually, the MSDF has already 
responded twice based on this information. This could affect Diet 
deliberations on a government-introduced antipiracy bill that will 
allow the MSDF to escort every ship. 
 
10) Serious discord between Japan and Australia, Europe as IWC 
working group results in failure to reach whaling consensus 
 
ASAHI (Page 10) (Full) 
Evening, May 19, 2009 
 
Shigeo Tosa, London 
 
The International Whaling Commission (IWC - headquarters in 
Cambridge, United Kingdom) issued a report of its Small Working 
Group (SWG) charged with drafting a proposed agreement for the next 
annual convention to be held in Portugal this June on May 18. 
 
The report says that the SWG failed to resolve the disagreement 
between Japan, a whaling nation, and anti-whaling Australia and 
European countries over the resumption of coastal whaling in Japan 
and research whaling in the Southern Ocean, and that it is now 
certain that an agreement will have to be deferred to the 2010 
convention. 
 
In order to normalize the IWC, which has become dysfunctional due to 
the longstanding conflict between pro- and anti-whaling nations, IWC 
Chair William Hogarth proposed in February a compromise in the form 
of temporary measures allowing limited whaling by Japan in its 
coastal waters in exchange for phasing out research whaling in the 
Antarctic and reducing the catch in five years. It was agreed at the 
IWC intersessional meeting in Rome in March that the SWG would 
strive to reach a consensus. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001141  007 OF 011 
 
 
However, Japan maintained its position of opposing the 
discontinuation of research whaling and attempted only to reach 
agreement on reducing the catch. This was rejected by the 
anti-whaling nations, and as a result the SWG failed to reach a 
consensus. 
 
(For the full text of the SWG report, go to 
http://www.iwcoffice.org/ documents/commission/IWC61docs/61-6.pdf) 
 
11) IWC forgoes whaling decision 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Jiji, London 
 
The International Whaling Commission (IWC) released its working 
group's report on May 18 regarding consensus overtures on specific 
matters such as resuming Japan's coastal whaling. According to the 
report, there has been no compromise between pro-whaling nations and 
anti-whaling nations. It is now almost certain that the IWC will 
forgo its conclusion until its annual meeting in 2010. 
 
12) Kampo Life Insurance's cancer insurance: U.S. calls on Japan to 
provide level playing field 
 
NIKKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Yusuke Yoneyama, Washington 
 
The governments of Japan and the U.S. on May 18 held a high 
working-level meeting to discuss regulatory reform and completion 
policy. In connection with the consolidation of a high-speed 
railroad system, the Japanese side expressed concern about the 
possibility of the Buy-American Clause that mandates the use of 
U.S.-made products being applied. The U.S. side asked for a level 
playing field for private companies, including American companies, 
in competing with Kampo Life Insurance for the sale of cancer 
insurance. 
 
Both countries agreed on cooperation for the consolidation of a 
high-speed railroad system in the U.S. at the bilateral summit in 
February. However, since the U.S. transportation-related legal 
system has an article stipulating that priority should be given to 
U.S. products in government procurements, the Japanese side called 
for the application of an exemption rule so that the article will 
not hamper Japan from cooperating for the construction of the 
high-speed railroad system in the U.S. in the future. 
 
In connection with the rebuilding of the American International 
Group (AIG), the Japanese side called for revisions to the present 
system of each state regulating and supervising insurers. 
 
13) Hatoyama-led DPJ to employ pressure strategy of extending 
cooperation in Diet deliberations and keeping the Upper House's 
stance ambiguous 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
May 20, 2009 
 
The new leadership of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
 
TOKYO 00001141  008 OF 011 
 
 
(DPJ) got underway yesterday. The party's pressing matter is Diet 
deliberations over the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget bill. The 
party intends to employ the strategy of throwing things into 
confusion for the ruling camp regarding an extension of the Diet 
session and dissolving the House of Representatives by blurring the 
timing of taking a vote in the House of Councillors. The party also 
plans to seek an opportunity to go on the offensive through the 
first party-head debate between Yukio Hatoyama and Prime Minister 
Taro Aso set for May 27. Nevertheless, a political donation scandal 
involving Nishimatsu Construction Co. that led to Ichiro Ozawa's 
resignation as president, might tie down the main opposition's 
hand. 
 
President Yukio Hatoyama called in yesterday morning Secretary 
General Katsuya Okada, three deputy presidents -- Ichiro Ozawa, 
Naoto Kan, and Azuma Koshiishi - and Diet Affairs Committee Chair 
Kenji Yamaoka to discuss future measures for Diet affairs. As a 
result, they confirmed a policy course to allow the Lower House to 
take a vote later this week on four of the five budget-related 
bills, including a bill to amend the Development Bank of Japan Law. 
The DPJ's aim is to block the ruling camp from making an early 
decision on extending the Diet session by demonstrating a 
cooperative stance for Diet deliberations. 
 
Leadership in Upper House 
 
Meanwhile, the Upper House Budget committee will hold a 
question-and-answer session today on the extra budget bill in the 
presence of all cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Aso. If 
the related bills can pass through the Lower House at an early date, 
the DPJ would be able to take the leadership in the 
opposition-controlled Upper House. 
 
The budget bill is scheduled to automatically clear the Diet on June 
12 due to the constitutional superiority of the Lower House. But if 
the opposition bloc votes down or fails to take action on the 
related bills, the Lower House would have to readopt them. The DPJ 
apparently wants to keep the Upper House's stance toward the related 
bills equivocal as long as possible in order to have the upper hand 
in bargaining with the ruling bloc over an extension of the Diet 
session which is closely associated with Lower House dissolution. 
 
This can explain why Hatoyama made the following comment in a press 
conference yesterday: "We should neither drag out deliberations 
unnecessarily nor call for ending deliberations to take a vote for 
an early dissolution of the Lower House. A vote should be taken 
after thorough deliberations and fair debates." 
 
Asked during a BS program on May 18 about the possibility of 
boycotting deliberations, DPJ Upper House member Koshiishi said, "In 
order to get the problems understood by the public, we naturally 
have such a step in mind." 
 
14) My brother is a puppet: Internal Affairs and Communications 
Minister Hatoyama 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
At a press conference after the cabinet meeting yesterday, Internal 
Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama criticized the 
new leadership of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). He said: 
 
TOKYO 00001141  009 OF 011 
 
 
"Everyone thinks that (DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama) is a puppet of 
former President Ichiro Ozawa." Other cabinet ministers made 
critical comments on the new DPJ executive lineup. 
 
Akira Amari, minister of state for administrative reform, pointed to 
the assumption of Ozawa as deputy DPJ president: "He has now assumed 
the position in which he does not bear accountability. even though 
he holds the influence over the party." He blasted at the DPJ, 
saying: "The way of managing the party that Mr. Ozawa believes ideal 
has now been formed. He can now control the party behind the 
scene." 
 
Kunio Hatoyama said: "I have always thought of cooperation between 
our brothers. However, I will not cooperate with him unless he 
distances himself from Ozawa." He then added: "He should not have 
approved holding the presidential election in an undemocratic 
manner." 
 
National Public Safety Commission Chairman Tsutomu Sato emphasized: 
"(Ozawa) has not fulfilled his accountability in most areas." Seiko 
Noda, minister of state for consumer affairs, made ironical remarks: 
"The DPJ executives include no fresh person. Unfortunately, I have 
no rival." 
 
15) First Aso-Hatoyama debate on May 27; DPJ gives priority to 
party-heads debate over political situation? 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
May 20, 2009 
 
At a general meeting of its lawmakers from both Diet chambers, the 
main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday approved 
its new executive lineup. New DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama 
officially launched his party set up yesterday. Hatoyama has already 
decided to accept the holding of a one-on-one debate with Prime 
Minister Taro Aso on May 27. Although he intends to play up his own 
political identity, the ruling parties aim to shed light on the 
Hatoyama-led DPJ's weakness through the upcoming debate at the 
Diet. 
 
At the general meeting, Hatoyama vowed: "Our party must unite to win 
the next House of Representatives election." He retained all 
ministers of the "Next Cabinet," keeping personnel changes to a 
minimum. He has made it clear to give top priority on election 
strategy for the next general election. 
 
Hatoyama intends to proactively respond to the holding of a 
party-heads debate, but not to take a stance of always clashing with 
Aso in the Diet. His aim is to wipe away the image of his being a 
puppet of former President Ichiro Ozawa by demonstrating differences 
between himself and Ozawa. 
 
When he visited Aso at noon yesterday, he said: "I want to hold as 
many head-to-head debates as possible. It is important to have 
debates that are easy to understand for the public." He intends to 
play up the need for a change in government in order to break away 
from the bureaucracy-controlled politics, criticizing the 
government-drafted economic stimulus package as "one year of 
pork-barreling." He also told Aso his intention that he was negative 
about dragging out deliberations. He said: "I will not carry out the 
old-fashioned opposition's Diet management." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001141  010 OF 011 
 
 
However, Aso sought to constrain Hatoyama, noting: "The Diet has 
been divided since the move of forming a grand coalition (in 2007)." 
The two leaders did not shake hands before the press corps. 
 
Despite Hatoyama's words, many observers view that there is little 
leeway for the DPJ to drastically change its strategy for Diet 
management. This is because the DPJ has already decided on whether 
it will approve or not important bills and because other opposition 
parties are calling for taking a confrontational stance against the 
ruling camp. 
 
16) Ozawa may now find it easier to make moves; Responsible for 
election strategy but giving no regular interviews 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) president Ichiro Ozawa has 
now become the party's vice president for election strategy. This 
has sparked speculation that the new post has made it easier for 
Ozawa to maneuver. 
 
Yesterday morning, the new DPJ leadership held its first executive 
meeting with its executive board members attending. In the meeting, 
Ozawa simply said: "I was told by Mr. Hatoyama to take charge of 
elections. I will do my best." Last night, Ozawa dined with 
first-term Lower House member at a Chinese restaurant in Nagatacho. 
There, Ozawa indicated a high likelihood that the next Lower House 
election would take place before the O-bon mid-August holidays. 
 
Earlier in the day, the DPJ held a general meeting of Diet members 
from both chambers. In the session, Secretary General Katsuya Okada, 
who is supposed to take the lead in elections, jokingly said: "Three 
heavyweights have now become vice presidents. I wonder if I can 
support them." In a meeting held later by Rengo (Japanese Trade 
Union Confederation), Okada said, "Primarily, Vice President Ozawa 
will be responsible for practical affairs." 
 
Of the three top DPJ executives, Ozawa alone will not hold regular 
interviews. Reportedly, Ozawa will have his offices on the eighth 
floor of party headquarters as well as on the fourth floor where 
there is the office of the election strategy council. 
 
17) LDP's Koga: Low voter turnout is better 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Appearing on BS Fuji TV program yesterday, Makoto Koga, chairman of 
the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Election Strategy Council, said: 
"If the turnout of voters is not high, it will be good (for the 
LDP). In the past, high turnout rates did the LDP good, but I am 
concerned recently that the turnout may be high." He revealed his 
perception that a high voter turnout would not do the LDP any good. 
 
During the 2000 House of Representatives election campaigning, then 
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said: "I want (unaffiliated voters) to 
stay home and not vote." His remark created a stir. After the end of 
the TV program, Koga told reporters: "I do not mean that I want 
voters not to go to polling stations. I think my expression was not 
good." However, his comment might cause a commotion. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001141  011 OF 011 
 
 
When asked about whether the election would be held on Aug. 9 as 
speculated, Koga pointed out that day commemorates the dropping of 
the atomic bomb. He then took a negative stance, saying: "I think 
such an idea is not impossible, but difficult in common-sense terms. 
As the only atomic-bombed country, Aug. 9 is a special day." 
 
18) Division of Welfare Ministry as showcase of Lower House election 
campaign 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has ordered the preparation of concrete 
plans for the split and reorganization of the Ministry of Health, 
Labor and Welfare (MHLW), firming up a policy of incorporating such 
a plan to split and reorganize the ministry in the Liberal 
Democratic Party's manifesto (campaign promises) for the next Lower 
House election. His aim is to appeal to the public through a stance 
of giving priority to people's lives when they are highly concerned 
about the future of social security and employment. 
 
Since the LDP has used up all available economic stimulus measures 
in the fiscal 2009 extra budget, it lacks policies that appeal to 
the public. As an LDP member who previously served as an economic 
minister put it, Aso wants to use the proposal as the showcase in 
his campaign pledges for the upcoming Lower House election. However, 
it is unclear whether the plan to split the MHLW can secure public 
support. Some point out that the plan runs counter to the 
government's administrative reform policy. 
 
The LDP will soon launch a project team to consider a manifesto for 
the next Lower House election in parallel with State Minister for 
Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano compiling a 
concrete plan. The plan will become one of the main agenda items to 
be discussed by the panel and a main pillar of the manifesto. 
 
Yosano told a press conference after a meeting of the Council on 
Economic and Fiscal Policy on the evening of May 19, "The order to 
split and reorganize the MHLW came from the prime minister like a 
bolt of lightning." However, as several government and LDP-related 
sources said, "Mr. Yosano is eager to split and reorganize the 
MHLW," Yosano presumably made that comment with displaying the prime 
minister's leadership in mind. 
 
The Round Table to Discuss the Way Welfare and Labor Administration 
Should Be, set up by former prime minister Yasuo Fukuda, looked into 
splitting the MHLW. However, it did not reach a decision because 
although there is a consensus on the split of the MHLW in the party, 
such a plan could spark similar demands from other government 
agencies that want to increase their authorities and posts, 
according to a source related to the LDP Policy Research Council. 
There is, for instance, an argument in the LDP calling for splitting 
up the Internal Affairs Ministry's internal affairs administration 
and communications administration. In order to stave off a chaotic 
state, it is necessary to prevent such arguments from escalating. 
The expansion of spin-off organizations of the MHLW could result in 
criticism that MHLW bureaucrats are enjoying "Prosperity after the 
fire," as a mid-ranking Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) official put 
it. The government and the LDP will likely be asked to provide 
explanations which people can accept. 
 
ZUMWALT