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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 16 TOKYO 001151 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 05/20/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Roos named U.S. ambassador to Japan; displayed skills in aiding 
IT business startups; no diplomatic experience (Nikkei) 
 
(2) U.S. government replies to Shii's letter (Akahata) 
 
(3) Spot poll on Aso cabinet, political parties, DPJ election 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(4) Spot poll on Aso cabinet, political parties, DPJ's Ozawa (Asahi) 
 
 
(5) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Nikkei) 
 
(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Mainichi) 
 
(7) Which will voters choose, Aso or Hatoyama? Key lies in to what 
extent Hatoyama can control bureaucracy and how Aso can eliminate 
discord in policymaking (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(8) Interview with Yasunori Sone, professor at Keio University, 
about prospects and tasks for Hatoyama-led DPJ: Party is required to 
present consistent policy goal (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(9) "Seiron" column: "Concerns about the DPJ's foreign and security 
policies" (Sankei) 
 
(10) DPJ elated with "best" new leadership; Can Hatoyama demonstrate 
his policy imprint? Some factors could destroy harmony (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
(Corrected copy): Senior U.S. official agrees to consider 
President's visit to Hiroshima in response to Shizuka Kamei's 
request, calling it "very interesting" (Jiji) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Roos named U.S. ambassador to Japan; displayed skills in aiding 
IT business startups; no diplomatic experience 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, May 20, 2009 
 
Hiroshi Marutani, Washington 
 
The decisive factor in the selection of the U.S. Obama 
administration's ambassador to Japan was "economic expertise." 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had wanted to appoint the 
prominent international relations scholar, Professor Joseph Nye of 
Harvard University. However, President Barack Obama, whose top 
priority is economic recovery, gave more importance to an economic 
background in this ambassadorial appointment. 
 
Google, others among his customers 
 
Ambassador-designate John Roos grew up in San Francisco, California. 
He went to college and law school at Stanford University. 
 
He is currently the CEO of the major law firm Wilson Sonsini 
 
TOKYO 00001151  002 OF 016 
 
 
Goodrich & Rosati in Silicon Valley, where many IT businesses are 
located. He has been involved not only with corporate legal affairs 
and governance, but also with assisting startups and venture 
capital. He is more like a business consultant. Google and Apple are 
among his customers, and he has been instrumental for the IT boom 
behind the scenes. 
 
While he has not been involved with Japan directly, over 50 Japanese 
companies have contracts with his law firm. He is said to be 
well-versed in business practices in Japan and the U.S. and other 
matters. 
 
Obama has appointed Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who runs a business 
that has plants in China, as the new ambassador to the PRC. A U.S. 
government source said that "the basis for appointing the ambassador 
to Japan was the same." 
 
Meanwhile, since supporting former vice president Walter Mondale in 
the 1984 U.S. presidential election, Roos has also displayed his 
talents as a fund raiser for the Democratic Party. One aspect of 
this appointment is a "reward" for his services. 
 
However, Roos has no experience in public administration and 
diplomacy. It is uncertain whether he will be able to skillfully 
steer Japan-U.S. relations - often ruffled by such issues as how to 
deal with North Korea. 
 
Japanese government surprised by "unexpected appointment" 
 
According to a source connected to Japan-U.S. relations, 
ambassador-designate John Roos is a well known figure among lawyers 
dealing in corporate law in California. He has been actively 
involved with supporting Democratic candidates in previous 
presidential elections. However, his diplomatic capability is an 
unknown factor, and the Japanese government is surprised by this 
appointment. A senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official says: "He 
is not on the list of expected appointees." During a news conference 
on the morning of May 20, Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura 
said: "We exchange various information with the U.S. government that 
is not limited to the appointment of the ambassador to Japan. We do 
not reveal the details of diplomatic exchanges." 
 
(2) U.S. government replies to Shii's letter 
 
AKAHATA (Top Play) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Japan Communist Party (JCP) Chairman Kazuo Shii on May 19 held a 
press conference in the Diet building to announce that he had 
received a letter from the U.S. government replying to one that he 
sent to President Obama in late April. In his letter, he urged 
President Obama to take the initiative in eliminating all nuclear 
weapons. The statement that Shii gave at the outset of the press 
conference is as follows. 
 
Reflects serious stance and eagerness 
 
I sent a letter to U.S. President Obama on April 28, asking for his 
leadership in abolishing nuclear weapons. As I received a reply to 
that letter recently, I would like to make it public. The letter was 
written by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East 
Asian and Pacific Affairs Glyn T. Davies on behalf of the 
 
TOKYO 00001151  003 OF 016 
 
 
President. 
 
I would like to distribute copies of the letter written in English, 
and the Japanese translation we prepared. I would like to withhold 
the segment that carries the signature of Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of State Davies in order to protect personal information. 
 
The President made a proposal in Prague for pursuing a nuclear-free 
world. My letter to the President, written from the perspective of 
welcoming his proposal, expressed my thinking about how we can work 
effectively to make the President's proposal come true. 
 
The letter I received in reply expressed appreciation to me for my 
impression of the President's speech delivered in Prague and for 
conveying my ideas on how we can best realize a world free of 
nuclear weapons. The letter praised my letter, noting, "We 
appreciate your passion for this issue." It ends with the line, "I 
once again thank you for your thoughtful letter." 
 
The fact that such a letter was officially sent to me indicates that 
President Obama has a sincere and enthusiastic attitude toward 
eliminating all nuclear weapons, and I welcome that. 
 
Public opinion and movements will decide trends 
 
I made two requests in my letter: (1) starting international talks 
on the issue of abolishing nuclear weapons; and (2) nuclear powers 
unequivocally committing themselves to achieving the complete 
abolition of their nuclear weapons at the 2010 Nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. I would like to 
closely watch how President Obama will make a specific response to 
those proposals with anticipation. 
 
In this regard, President Obama's sending a message to the 
preparatory committee for the NPT Review Conference, underscoring 
his stance of pursuing peace and safety, namely a world free of 
nuclear weapons, and noting that the U.S. will fulfill an NPT 
commitment, is a forward-looking step, the first to move away from 
the stance of the former Bush administration, which rejected making 
a pledge as a nuclear power. I am carefully watching President 
Obama's next move. 
 
Only public opinion and movements in the world will decide the fate 
of the nuclear weapons issue. In the run-up to the NPT Review 
Conference next year, there is an international signature-collecting 
drive seeking the immediate start on talks for a treaty to ban and 
scrap nuclear weapons, which the World Conference against Atomic and 
Hydrogen Bombs called for last year. It is decisively important that 
grass-roots opinion and movements aiming to abolish nuclear weapons, 
starting with that signature-collecting drive, will spread 
throughout the world, in particular, in Japan, the only country on 
which nuclear weapons have been used. Our party is determined to do 
its utmost to achieve that end. 
 
(3) Spot poll on Aso cabinet, political parties, DPJ election 
 
YOMIURI (Page 6) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage) 
 
 
TOKYO 00001151  004 OF 016 
 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 30.0 
No 60.4 
Other answers (O/A) 1.1 
No answer (N/A) 8.5 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? Pick only one. 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 28.4 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 30.8 
New Komeito (NK) 3.8 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 2.1 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1.1 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) --- 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) --- 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0.1 
Other political parties --- 
None 30.6 
N/A 3.4 
 
Q: Mr. Yukio Hatoyama has been elected as the new DPJ president. Do 
you have any expectations for DPJ President Hatoyama? 
 
Yes 39.5 
No 52.7 
N/A 7.8 
 
 
Q: When comparing Prime Minister Aso and DPJ President Hatoyama, who 
do you think is more appropriate to be prime minister? 
 
Prime Minister Aso 31.8 
DPJ President Hatoyama 41.9 
N/A 26.2 
 
Q: What's your impression of the DPJ with its leadership change to 
Mr. Hatoyama? 
 
Improved 21.8 
Worsened 7.5 
Unchanged 67.4 
N/A 3.4 
 
Q: DPJ President Hatoyama says there's no need to discuss raising 
the consumption tax for at least four years. Do you appreciate 
this? 
 
Yes 40.8 
No 47.2 
N/A 12.1 
 
Q: Do you think the DPJ will be able to take the reins of government 
in the next election for the House of Representatives? 
 
Yes 30.9 
No 55.1 
N/A 13.9 
 
Q: Which one, DPJ President Hatoyama or Mr. Katsuya Okada, did you 
think was appropriate to become the DPJ's new leader? 
 
 
TOKYO 00001151  005 OF 016 
 
 
DPJ President Hatoyama 28.4 
Katsuya Okada 53.5 
N/A 18.1 
 
 
Q: Former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa has resigned from his party 
post to take responsibility for his state-funded secretary's 
indictment for allegedly receiving illicit donations. Do you think 
his resignation was necessary? 
 
Yes 76.0 
No 20.2 
N/A 3.8 
 
Q: Do you think former DPJ President Ozawa will continue to have a 
strong influence within the DPJ? 
 
Yes 80.7 
No 13.2 
N/A 6.1 
 
Q: Do you think the House of Representatives should be dissolved for 
a general election right away, or do you think there's no need to 
hurry? 
 
Right away 36.9 
No need to hurry 54.0 
N/A 9.1 
 
Q: If an election were to be held now for the House of 
Representatives, which political party would you like to vote for in 
your proportional representation bloc? 
 
LDP 27.4 
DPJ 40.9 
NK 3.8 
JCP 2.4 
SDP 1.2 
PNP 0.4 
RC --- 
NPN 0.2 
Other political parties --- 
Undecided 18.1 
N/A 5.6 
 
 
Q: What form of government would you like to see after the next 
election for the House of Representatives? 
 
LDP-led coalition government 16.0 
DPJ-led coalition government 23.5 
LDP-DPJ grand coalition government 23.9 
Government under new framework after political realignment 31.5 
O/A --- 
N/A 5.1 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted from the evening of 
May 16 through May 17 across the nation on a computer-aided random 
digit dialing (RDD) basis. Households with one or more eligible 
voters totaled 1,736. Valid answers were obtained from 1,059 persons 
(61.0 PERCENT ). 
 
 
TOKYO 00001151  006 OF 016 
 
 
(Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not add up to 100 
PERCENT  due to rounding. 
 
(4) Spot poll on Aso cabinet, political parties, DPJ's Ozawa 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. Bracketed figures denote 
proportions to all respondents. Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of the last survey conducted April 18-19.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 27 (26) 
No 56 (57) 
 
 
Q: Why? (One reason only. Left column for those marking "yes" on 
previous question, and right for those marking "no.") 
 
The prime minister is Mr. Aso 14(4) 7(4) 
It's an LDP-led cabinet 40(11) 24(14) 
Political aspects 28(7) 53(30) 
Cabinet lineup 10(3) 12(7) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 25 (25) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 26 (21) 
New Komeito (NK) 4 (4) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3 (2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (0) 
None 33 (40) 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K) 8 (7) 
 
Q: If you were to vote now in a general election for the House of 
Representatives, which political party would you vote for in your 
proportional representation bloc? 
 
LDP 25 (27) 
DPJ 38 (32) 
NK 5 (4) 
JCP 3 (3) 
SDP 2 (2) 
PNP 0 (0) 
RC 0 (0) 
NPN 0 (0) 
Other political parties 1 (1) 
N/A+D/K 26 (31) 
 
Q: Would you like the current LDP-led coalition government to 
continue, or would you otherwise like it to be replaced with a 
DPJ-led coalition government? 
 
LDP-led coalition 28 (29) 
DPJ-led coalition 45 (41) 
 
TOKYO 00001151  007 OF 016 
 
 
 
Q: What do you think about Prime Minister Aso's job performance? 
 
Beyond expectations 3 
Up to expectations 17 
Short of expectations 26 
No expectations from the start 50 
 
Q: Do you have expectations for Prime Minister Aso's economic 
stimulus measures? 
 
Yes 31 
No 64 
 
Q: DPJ President Ozawa has resigned from his party post. Do you 
think it was good? 
 
Yes 68 
No 17 
 
Q: Mr. Ozawa took the position that his decision to resign as DPJ 
president is for his party's unity, saying he has nothing to be 
ashamed of. Is this account for his resignation convincing? 
 
Yes 14 
No 78 
 
Q: Mr. Yukio Hatoyama has become the DPJ's new president. Do you 
have expectations for the DPJ led by him? 
 
Yes 47 
No 43 
 
 
Q: The DPJ president has now changed from Mr. Ozawa to Mr. Hatoyama. 
What's your impression of the DPJ now? 
 
Better than before 16 
Worse than before 6 
Unchanged 75 
 
Q: Who do you think is more appropriate for prime minister, Prime 
Minister Aso or DPJ President Hatoyama? 
 
Mr. Aso 29 
Mr. Hatoyama 40 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted from the evening of 
May 16 through the evening of May 17 over the telephone on a 
computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) basis. Respondents were 
chosen from among the nation's voting population on a three-stage 
random-sampling basis. Households with one or more eligible voters 
totaled 1,897. Valid answers were obtained from 1,123 persons (59 
PERCENT ). 
 
(5) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures shown in percentage. Parentheses denote findings from the 
 
TOKYO 00001151  008 OF 016 
 
 
last survey conducted in March.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
Yes 30 (32) 
No 62 (59) 
Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 8 (9) 
 
 
Q: Which political party do you support or like? 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 33 (36) 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 38 (28) 
New Komeito (NK) 4 (3) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3 (4) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (2) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 0 (1) 
None 16 (19) 
C/S+D/K 4 (7) 
 
(Note) The total percentage does not become 100 PERCENT  in some 
cases due to rounding. 
 
Polling methodology: 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 ). 
 
(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 18, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 24 (27) 26 22 
No 58 (52) 58 58 
Not interested 18 (20) 16 20 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the above question) Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 35 
(34) 35 35 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
8 (10) 7 9 
Because there's something familiar about the prime minister 21 (22) 
23 19 
Because something can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 29 (30) 32 26 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the above question) Why? 
 
 
TOKYO 00001151  009 OF 016 
 
 
 T P M F 
Because the prime minister is from the Liberal Democratic Party 9 
(8) 12 5 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's leadership 
26 (28) 21 32 
Because there's something imprudent about the prime minister 19 (21) 
19 18 
Because nothing can be expected of the prime minister's policy 
measures 45 (42) 45 45 
 
Q: Which political party do you support? 
 
 T P M F 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 23 (27) 27 19 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 30 (24) 36 24 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (6) 2 3 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 3 (3) 3 4 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 1 (1) 1 1 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (0) 0 -- 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) -- (0) -- -- 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 0 -- 
Other political parties 2 (2) 1 3 
None 37 (36) 29 45 
 
Q: The DPJ has now elected Yukio Hatoyama as its new leader. Do you 
have expectations for him? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 49  52 46 
No 49  47 51 
 
Q: DPJ President Ozawa has resigned from his party post, and Mr. 
Hatoyama has now become the DPJ's new leader. What's your rating of 
the DPJ? 
 
 T P M F 
Up 17  18 17 
Down 13  16 10 
Unchanged 68  65 71 
 
Q: Who do you think is more appropriate for prime minister, Prime 
Minister Aso or DPJ President Hatoyama? 
 
 T P M F 
Prime Minister Aso 21  25 17 
DPJ President Hatoyama 34  36 31 
 
Q: The House of Representatives' current membership is due to end in 
September. Do you think the House of Representatives should be 
dissolved for a general election at an early date? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 48  51 46 
No 49  47 50 
 
Q: Which party, the LDP or the DPJ, would you like to see win in the 
next election for the House of Representatives? 
 
 T P M F 
LDP 29 (34) 30 27 
DPJ 56 (45) 61 51 
Other political parties 11 (17) 6 16 
 
TOKYO 00001151  010 OF 016 
 
 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "0" indicates that 
the figure was below 0.5 PERCENT . "--" denotes that no respondents 
answered. "No answer" omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the 
results of the last survey conducted May 12-13. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted May 16-17 over the 
telephone across the nation on a computer-aided random digit 
sampling (RDS) basis. A total of 1,607 households with one or more 
eligible voters were sampled. Answers were obtained from 1,003 
persons (63 PERCENT ). 
 
(7) Which will voters choose, Aso or Hatoyama? Key lies in to what 
extent Hatoyama can control bureaucracy and how Aso can eliminate 
discord in policymaking 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama appointed 
Ichiro Ozawa, Naoto Kan, and Azuma Koshiishi as deputy presidents 
and Katsuya Okada as secretary general in his new leadership. Such 
aides as Hirofumi Hirano, Sakihito Ozawa, and Yorihisa Matsuno will 
support the leadership. 
 
Critics point out a lack of unity in the DPJ, but the new party 
leader managed at least ostensibly to establish an all-party setup, 
backed by awareness of the need to seal off internal discord in the 
run-up to the next House of Representatives election in addition to 
the personality of Hatoyama, who has few enemies. 
 
Hatoyama said in a joint plenary meeting of party members of both 
Houses of the Diet yesterday: "I am determined to score a victory in 
the Lower House election and make efforts to jointly build a new 
Japan with you." The question is what vision he has about a DPJ 
government that will build a new Japan. 
 
When Ozawa was president, secretary general Hatoyama conducted a 
study on the details of a DPJ administration. Because Ozawa was 
taking the stance of giving priority to winning elections, the study 
was not conducted officially. Even so, the study group has already 
decided to: (1) Include more than 100 politicians in the cabinet; 
and (2) abolish department meetings of the Policy Research Council 
and make policies in the cabinet. 
 
When these policies were adopted, discussants envisioned an Ozawa 
administration. The task of implementing these policy measures has 
been shifted to Hatoyama himself. 
 
Hatoyama has repeatedly said: "We will bring about a form of 
politics that puts people first, to replace the Liberal Democratic 
Party's politics that focus on the bureaucracy." The guidelines 
worked out for an administration of the Ozawa-led DPJ also called 
for smashing bureaucrat-let politics and creating politician-led 
politics. The party plans to shortly launch a regime transition team 
on the premise of the party winning the Lower House election. 
 
The DPJ was cynically dubbed as "a think-tank political party" 
because many members are well-versed in policy matters but cannot 
make proper judgments on the political situation. The party is 
preparing for a leadership struggle with the bureaucracy in 
Kasumigaseki (the government office area), the largest think tank in 
 
TOKYO 00001151  011 OF 016 
 
 
Japan. Hatoyama is not an aggressive type of politician and has 
never been placed in any cabinet post. Attention is being paid to 
what extent this leader can control bureaucrats. 
 
The LDP has long assumed political power. It has maintained the 
policymaking process in which the party examines bureaucrat-drafted 
bills and then enacts them without any change after checking and 
approving them. 
 
This system, though, has not functioned properly in recent times. In 
some cases, senior LDP members oppose a policy set forth by Prime 
Minister Taro Aso. There are also many cases in which discords over 
a certain policies comes to surface. 
 
Aso leads a faction with only 20 members. Given this, his political 
ground is weak. It is not easy for him to control cabinet members or 
even ruling party members. 
 
He can rely only on these three aides: Former finance minister 
Shoichi Nakagawa, State Minister in Charge of Administrative Reform 
Akira Amari, and Election Strategy Council Vice Chairman Yoshihide 
Suga. The group of the four lawmakers, including Aso, is called 
"NASA." A number of decisions have been made under the framework of 
NASA since the Aso administration was launched last September. 
 
NASA is expected to take the lead in mapping out a strategy for the 
Lower House election. A cause of concern is that out of the three, 
only Suga holds an important post. 
 
(8) Interview with Yasunori Sone, professor at Keio University, 
about prospects and tasks for Hatoyama-led DPJ: Party is required to 
present consistent policy goal 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
-- The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will start preparations for 
the next House of Representatives election. What do you think the 
party should give priority to? 
 
The DPJ has proposed measures to provide farmers with income 
subsidies and to support child-rearing parents. But Hatoyama has not 
presented any consistent policy goal. Even if the DPJ stresses the 
need to avoid wasteful spending, it has not explained what it 
considers to be wasteful. 
 
-- In the Lower House election campaign, economic policies are 
expected to take center stage. 
 
The economic policies worked out so far are intended for those 
applicable for peacetime. Since the outbreak of the ongoing 
financial crisis last year, a manifesto designed to deal with a 
crisis has become necessary. Calls for fiscal disbursements are 
growing across the world, but there are wise and silly ways of 
spending. It is necessary to show a wise, effective way of spending. 
 
 
-- Where do you think will be different between a Hatoyama policy 
manifesto and Ozawa's? 
 
Mr. Ozawa took such (irresponsible) views as: "It would be enough to 
present three policies;" and "if the party presents this policy 
 
TOKYO 00001151  012 OF 016 
 
 
measure, we will be able to get votes." But Mr. Hatoyama is expected 
to address policies more seriously. 
 
-- Hatoyama, though, seems to have no intention to significantly 
change the party's conventional policies. 
 
Even if the same materials are used, if the order of priorities is 
changed, the taste will change; the question is whether the new 
president starts with a hors d'oeuvre or a main dish. The party 
head's character must be reflected in its policy stance. 
 
-- Hatoyama has set forth "fellowship" as his political principle 
and reportedly intends to put the slogan on the cover of the policy 
manifesto. 
 
I think this principle stems from the French Revolution's slogan: 
"Freedom, equality, and fellowship." Its details, though, have yet 
to be discussed. Like former prime minister Shinzo Abe's concept of 
"a beautiful country, Japan," it sounds nice, but if asked about its 
contents, Hatoyama probably will be embarrassed. That is why I 
expect the media to continue to ask him about what policy he intends 
to take to turn the slogan "fellowship" into action, so that 
specifics will be included in the party's policy manifesto. 
 
(9) "Seiron" column: "Concerns about the DPJ's foreign and security 
policies" 
 
SANKEI (Page 7) (Full) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Satoshi Morimoto, professor at Takushoku University Graduate School 
 
Qualitative change in U.S. status and role 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has just come under the 
leadership of Yukio Hatoyama, and according to opinion polls, it is 
already more popular than the ruling camp. This has great 
significance for domestic politics when one thinks about the general 
election fast approaching. I hope that this will represent an 
opportunity to introduce a breath of fresh air into politics. 
 
I was unimpressed, though, by the DPJ's debate on foreign and 
security policy issues during the presidential campaign. For sure, 
it is understandable that the party paid more attention to avoiding 
giving the impression of internal divisions, since this was an 
election to pick a president who would lead the fight in the general 
election in light of Ichiro Ozawa's resignation. Yet, is it right 
that the president of the main opposition party, who may possibly 
become the next prime minister, is elected without spelling out a 
clear vision on the basic national policies on foreign affairs and 
security? What is his thinking about the Japan-U.S. alliance and how 
he would deal with China and Russia, for example? 
 
The world is in turmoil today. Many countries are struggling to 
extricate themselves from the financial crisis. The upheavals in the 
Middle East and South Asia are serious, and there is a possibility 
that terrorists groups may acquire and use nuclear weapons. North 
Korea's is developing nuclear arms and missiles, and depending on 
how the United States responds, it will probably go ahead with 
another nuclear test. China and Russia are each engaged in an 
unbridled military buildup. There has been a qualitative change in 
the United States' status and role. President Barack Obama has 
 
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proposed nuclear disarmament, but how to reconcile nuclear 
deterrence with disarmament will be a tough task. Nuclear 
proliferation, pirates, a new strain of influenza - all these are 
difficult high-risk problems. 
 
Specific policies based on national interest 
 
In domestic politics, the Diet is in a serious state of impasse due 
to the ruling and opposition camps each controlling a chamber of the 
Diet. It has become difficult to enact crucial legislation, while 
politicians and even bureaucrats busy themselves with maneuvering 
among the parties. Even though there is global turbulence, Japanese 
politics continues to move on without the public's involvement. 
 
The Japanese people's involvement was absent from the recent DPJ 
president election. It is impossible to see where Hatoyama's DPJ is 
taking this country. The freeze on proposals for constitutional 
revision will be lifted in May 2010. The DPJ's position on 
constitutional revision is also unclear. The only thing that is more 
or less known is that Hatoyama is positive about constitutional 
revision, while Katsuya Okada is negative. 
 
The DPJ's manifesto and policy index talk about such things as 
"establishing an  independent diplomacy," "a true alliance with 
relations with the U.S. on an equal footing," "U.S. Forces Japan 
(USFJ) realignment without the people's involvement," "revision of 
the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement," and "developing an 
independent foreign policy toward North Korea." Yet, the overall 
picture of foreign policy cannot be discerned from these. The DPJ 
has opposed in Diet deliberations the extension of the Special 
Anti-Terrorism Measures Law, the deployment of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force (MSDF) for anti-piracy operations in waters off 
Somalia, budget allocations for the relocation of U.S. Marines from 
Okinawa to Guam, HNS (host nation support), and the construction of 
the Futenma (replacement) facility. 
 
If the DPJ takes over the reins of power, will it withdraw the 
Self-Defense Forces (SDF) from the Indian Ocean and Somalia? Or will 
it shelve what it has been saying in the Diet once it is in power? 
 
Hatoyama, who has been criticized by some as "Ozawa's puppet," 
should spell out the impact of each policy stance on the credibility 
of the Japan-U.S. alliance and the damage such would inflict on 
Japan's national interest. 
 
So far, Ozawa has been the guiding hand in the DPJ's policies. Ozawa 
is now deputy president under Hatoyama, but in reality, he will 
continue to have control in the DPJ. 
 
China once reacted strongly to Ozawa's statements on nuclear 
weapons. He opposed both the SDF's dispatch to Iraq and the MSDF's 
mission in the Indian Ocean on grounds that they violate the 
constitution, but claims that participation in the ISAF 
(International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan is 
constitutional because this is based on UN Security Council 
(resolutions). He has made remarks to the effect that, "If Japan 
plays its role in global strategy with the United States and takes 
up more responsibilities born by the USFJ, it will not be necessary 
to station active troops in Japan." "The Seventh Fleet will be 
sufficient for the United States' presence in the Far East." 
 
Questionable ability to govern 
 
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Among the U.S. forces stationed in Japan, the Army and the Navy are 
support forces, while the Marines and the Air Force are combat 
troops. However, the Seventh Fleet is a combined force engaged in 
maritime operations and is not part of the USFJ. 
 
The Seventh Fleet operates across the West Pacific and is not in 
waters near Japan all the time. However, it cannot conduct its 
activities without support from the U.S. Navy and Marines in Japan. 
The Seventh Fleet is inseparable from the USFJ. An extension of 
Ozawa's thinking will be either withdrawing USFJ combats troops and 
stationing only contingency units or Japan's rearmament to take on 
the functions the USFJ is currently responsible for. 
 
The proposal to station only contingency units underestimates the 
deterrence the USFJ represents, so this move would only please China 
and North Korea. On the other hand, if the U.S. forces are withdrawn 
and Japan is to replace them, it will have to rearm. This will be 
unacceptable not only to other Asian countries, but also to the U.S. 
The Japan-U.S. alliance will be endangered. Most Japanese would not 
favor either of these options. 
 
One cannot afford any risks in security policy. Anything that would 
result in a major rift in the Japan-U.S. alliance would be 
detrimental to Japan's security. Hatoyama's DPJ should lay out for 
the Japanese people what its foreign and security policies are, in 
the event it takes over the administration. The people can then 
judge whether the DPJ is truly capable to govern on this basis. The 
party should not forget that this is being watched not only by 
Japan's ally, but also by the international community. 
 
(10) DPJ elated with "best" new leadership; Can Hatoyama demonstrate 
his policy imprint? Some factors could destroy harmony 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
May 20, 2009 
 
Yoichi Takeuchi 
 
The new lineup of the leadership of the major opposition Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) was approved in a general meeting yesterday of 
DPJ Diet members from both chambers. Given the public's favorable 
reaction to the election of Yukio Hatoyama as party president, the 
DPJ is visibly exited. But in reality, only the party's fagade has 
been refurbished. If Hatoyama tries to demonstrate his policy 
imprint with the next House of Representatives election in mind, 
schisms and turmoil might occur in the party. 
 
After the new lineup was approved at yesterday's general meeting, 
Secretary General Katsuya Okada jokingly said: "Besides the 
president, there are three heavyweight deputy presidents. I wonder 
if I can support them." 
 
The new leadership was approved by the DPJ lawmakers with huge 
applause. The meeting ended in just 10 minutes without any 
objections. It made a stark contrast to the May 12 general meeting 
that became tangled over when to carry out the presidential 
election. Coming out of the hall, all DPJ lawmakers described the 
new leadership lineup as the best ever. 
 
At an executive board meeting that followed, Hatoyama expressed his 
eagerness to display leadership, saying, "I will devote myself to 
 
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playing the role of a conductor who can turn your tunes into a 
well-balanced harmony." 
 
At the same time, the supreme leadership composed of three deputy 
presidents -- Ichiro Ozawa, Naoto Kan, and Azuma Koshiishi - plus 
Okada contains some factors that could destroy harmony. 
 
Under the new system, Ozawa will be basically responsible for 
practical affairs for the next Lower House election. At a Rengo 
(Japanese Trade Union Confederation) meeting yesterday, Okada 
emphatically said, "In order to support the president and the deputy 
presidents, information-sharing is essential." There are already 
concerns in the party that Hatoyama might be caught between Ozawa, 
who has held a tight grip on information and funds, and Okada. 
 
Work to formulate a manifesto for the next Lower House election is 
not free from destabilizing factors, either. The DPJ produced its 
manifesto last fall. The party is now trying to review the manifesto 
based on the economic situation thereafter. It will not be easy to 
incorporate in the manifesto anything distinct from Hatoyama's goal 
of building a "fraternal society" and Okada's slogan "no policy 
without funding." 
 
What approach the party is going to take toward Diet deliberations 
is another question. Under Ozawa, there were scenes in which the DPJ 
did not hesitate to use strategies that were criticized by the 
ruling bloc as boycotting or dragging out deliberations. Hatoyama 
declared: "We will not use the strategy of disagreeing for the sake 
of disagreeing. We will play the game fairly and squarely through 
debate." What do DPJ lawmakers think of Hatoyama's approach, which 
is somewhat softer than that of his predecessor, Ozawa? Attention 
will be focused on what the DPJ does in the Upper House Budget 
Committee deliberations that start today. 
 
(Corrected copy): Senior U.S. official agrees to consider 
President's visit to Hiroshima in response to Shizuka Kamei's 
request, calling it "very interesting" 
 
Jiji Com 
10:44, May 14, 2009 
 
Washington, Jiji Press, May 13 
 
Shizuka Kamei, deputy leader of the People's New Party (PNP), held a 
meeting with Gary Samore, coordinator for nonproliferation of 
weapons of mass destruction of the National Security Council (NSC), 
at the White House on May 13. He requested a visit by President 
Barack Obama, who advocates a nuclear-free world, to the atomic 
bombing site in Hiroshima when he visits Japan. Samore responded 
with: "This is a very interesting proposal. We will consider it." 
 
Kamei stressed that, "I greatly appreciate President Obama's 
advocacy of a nuclear-free world. If the President makes his pledge 
for efforts toward denuclearization before the monument at the 
atomic bombing site as a representative of mankind, his appeal will 
carry even more weight." He also pointed out that the impact will be 
even greater if the President makes a speech at the peace memorial 
ceremony held on August 6. 
 
On relations with North Korea, Kamei asked that, "If the U.S. and 
North Korea talk directly, the U.S. should not impose the results on 
Japan ex post facto, but should hold close consultations with Japan 
 
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simultaneously." Kamei also met principal deputy assistant of state 
Glyn Davies and Democratic Congressman Sander Levin on the same 
day. 
 
ZUMWALT