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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001234 
 
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 06/02/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Aso, Steinberg meet, confirm bilateral cooperation on N. Korea 
(Sankei) 
 
(2) Aso, Steinberg agree to cooperate closely on N. Korea (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
(3) Prime Minister Aso to U.S. deputy secretary of state: "Give more 
importance to dealing with North Korea" (Mainichi) 
 
(4) Aso, Steinberg agree to call on China for cooperation in dealing 
with North Korea (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
(5) Kawamura presents outlook that Diet will be dissolved during 
current session (Mainichi) 
 
(6) Extension of Diet session by 55 days: Prime minister 
demonstrating leadership in Diet dissolution, toning down image of 
"forced hand" (Nikkei) 
 
(7) Diet dissolution strategy still undecided; Diet session extended 
for 55 days until late July (Asahi) 
 
(8) First meeting of top DPJ, Nippon Keidanren leaders in three 
years seen to be in anticipation of Lower House election (Nikkei) 
 
(9) Editorial: Designation of new U.S. ambassador to Japan: First 
step toward building new relationship with Obama administration 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(10) Mechanism to set date for Lower House election (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
 
(11) Greenhouse gas emissions: UN taskforce meeting on Post-Kyoto 
Protocol international framework; Japan, U.S. to propose mandating 
emerging countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions (Nikkei) 
 
(12) NPA, Internet service providers to tackle child porn issue 
(Yomiuri) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Aso, Steinberg meet, confirm bilateral cooperation on N. Korea 
 
SANKEI (Online) (Full) 
June 2, 2009 (12:16) 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso met this morning at his office with visiting 
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg and others. In the meeting, 
Aso and Steinberg agreed that North Korea should implement its 
complete and verifiable denuclearization. In addition, the two also 
confirmed that Japan and the United States would closely cooperate 
in and outside the United Nations Security Council. 
 
"There is a neighboring country that conducted nuclear tests," Aso 
said at the beginning of the meeting. "In terms of security in 
Northeast Asia," he added, "this situation is far more serious than 
the Middle East." 
 
Steinberg told reporters after the meeting: "China has taken 
positive part in the discussions at the United Nations and has also 
 
TOKYO 00001234  002 OF 013 
 
 
come up with its own ideas. I think we will probably be able to find 
common ground." With this, Steinberg expressed his expectations for 
the United Nations to adopt a resolution for additional sanctions on 
North Korea. 
 
(2) Aso, Steinberg agree to cooperate closely on N. Korea 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Online) (Full) 
Eve., June 2, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso met this morning at his office with visiting 
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg. In the meeting, Aso and 
Steinberg agreed that the Japanese and U.S. government would closely 
cooperate on North Korea. 
 
Aso expressed his strong concern, saying: "A country that conducted 
nuclear tests is next door to Japan. Such a situation is far more 
serious than the Middle East from the perspective of security." Aso 
and Steinberg confirmed that the Japanese and U.S. governments would 
work together to draft a new resolution of the United Nations 
Security Council regarding North Korea's nuclear testing. 
 
After the meeting, Steinberg told reporters: "We will have to bring 
North Korea back to the path of complete and verifiable 
denuclearization. Our close relationship will be the key to 
success." 
 
(3) Prime Minister Aso to U.S. deputy secretary of state: "Give more 
importance to dealing with North Korea" 
 
MAINICHI ONLINE (Full) 
12:17 PM, June 2, 2009 
 
Ai Yokota 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James 
Steinberg at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on the 
morning of June 2. At the beginning of the meeting, Aso stated: "We 
perceive this situation where we have a neighbor that has conducted 
nuclear tests (North Korea) as much more serious than the Middle 
East from the standpoint of security in the Far East. We would like 
to re-emphasize this point." He asked that the United States give 
more importance to dealing with North Korea's nuclear issue. 
 
The two agreed at the meeting that Japan and the U.S. will cooperate 
closely to bring the DPRK back to the path of complete and 
verifiable denuclearization. 
 
After the meeting, Steinberg told reporters at the Kantei: "I 
understand that China is coming up with its own positive ideas. I 
think we will probably be able to take a common stand," indicating 
the possibility of adopting a strong UN Security Council resolution 
with China's participation. 
 
(4) Aso, Steinberg agree to call on China for cooperation in dealing 
with North Korea 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN ONLINE 
June 2, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso exchanged views on North Korea's (nuclear) 
problem with Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and other 
 
TOKYO 00001234  003 OF 013 
 
 
senior U.S. government officials at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence this morning. They agreed on the need to call on China and 
other countries involved in the Six-Party Talks to jointly make 
efforts to denuclearize North Korea. Aso emphasized: "I said this to 
President Obama as well, but this is a serious situation in which 
our neighbor is a country that has conducted a nuclear test." 
 
After the meeting, Steinberg indicated his confidence about 
obtaining China's cooperation in adopting a new UN Security Council 
resolution on North Korea's latest nuclear test. He said: "China is 
responding actively and has presented its own ideas. We will be able 
to take a common stance with China." 
 
(5) Kawamura presents outlook that Diet will be dissolved during 
current session 
 
MAINICHI ONLINE (Full) 
June 2, 2009 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura presented in a press 
conference this morning an outlook that Prime Minister Taro Aso 
would dissolve the Diet during the current session. He specifically 
said in connection with the government's and the ruling coalition's 
decision to extend the current Diet session through July 28: "As far 
as our (House of Representative lawmakers) term is concerned, this 
is going to be the last Diet session. In that respect, we would like 
to bring this session to a successful conclusion." 
 
There is an option of convening an extraordinary session of the Diet 
in August and then dissolving the Diet instead of dissolving the 
Diet in the current session. Kawamura effectively ruled out that 
option. The Diet extension is expected to be decided at a Lower 
House plenary session this afternoon. 
 
(6) Extension of Diet session by 55 days: Prime minister 
demonstrating leadership in Diet dissolution, toning down image of 
"forced hand" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
June 2, 2009 
 
The ruling parties agreed on June 1 to extend the current Diet 
session by 55 days. By overruling the proposal to extend the session 
by more than 60 days, Prime Minister Taro Aso is attempting to 
demonstrate "leadership by the Prime Minister's Office Residence" as 
well as tone down the image of "dissolving the Diet after his hand 
was forced." Meanwhile, he has left the option of holding the 
election as late as early September open. However, it is unclear 
whether the mood for "postponing the dissolution of the House of 
Representatives" that has begun to spread in the ruling parties will 
subside. 
 
At a meeting of government and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
executives on the afternoon of June 1, Diet Affairs Committee 
Chairman Tadamori Oshima argued strongly that, "If we extend the 
session too much, it will only give an excuse to the DPJ to 
filibuster. We should go into the election in a dignified manner." 
The prime minister also nodded his approval. 
 
The LDP and New Komeito had agreed at a meeting of their secretaries 
general and Diet Affairs Committee chairmen on May 29 to extend the 
Diet session by over 60 days into mid-August, taking into account 
 
TOKYO 00001234  004 OF 013 
 
 
the possibility of a second vote in the House of Representatives on 
the bills to amend the Development Bank of Japan Law and other 
legislations relating to the FY09 supplementary budget. The prime 
minister had also agreed to this plan. 
 
However, Oshima took steps to change the plan. He stated in Miyazaki 
City on May 31: "If you steer Diet affairs on the assumption from 
the beginning (that a second vote will be taken in the Lower House), 
there will be no sense of urgency." On that same evening, Aso also 
asked New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota to come to a top secret meeting 
at a hotel in Tokyo to exchange views on the strategy for Diet 
dissolution. 
 
One reason for this change of plan is the unexpected prevalence of 
the "mood for postponing dissolution." Election Strategy Council 
Vice Chairman Yoshihide Suga, who is a close aide to Aso like 
Oshima, stated clearly in Sapporo City on May 31: "The prime 
minister's assessment that later is better is beginning to change." 
This resulted in widespread speculation that the election will take 
place on August 30, after the Obon holidays, or September 6. A 
senior New Komeito official explains that, "The prime minister might 
have been averse to such a mood." 
 
If the Diet session is adjourned sooner than early August, "there is 
a risk that the '60-day rule' may not be used for a second vote in 
the Lower House" and the bills related to the supplementary budget 
"may not be enacted" (senior LDP official). Yet Aso and Oshima still 
opted for demonstrating the prime minister's leadership rather than 
giving the impression of "being forced to dissolve the Diet." 
 
Meanwhile, the new Diet schedule is based on calculations to keep 
the option of dates for holding the Lower House election open "until 
the last minute before the expiration of the Lower House's term of 
office on September 10" (prime minister's aide). Article 31 of the 
Public Office Election Law stipulates that an election needs to be 
held "within 40 days of the dissolution" of the Lower House. If the 
Lower House is dissolved on July 28, the 40th day, counting from 
July 29, is September 6, which is the last Sunday before the end of 
the term of office. The result will, in effect, be the same as 
extending the Diet session for over 60 days. 
 
Some ruling party members see the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle 
with the shortening of the Diet session because a reshuffle normally 
takes place when the Diet is not in session. A number of ruling 
party officials visited the prime minister at his official quarters 
in late May and advised him to revamp the cabinet and the LDP 
executives. 
 
(7) Diet dissolution strategy still undecided; Diet session extended 
for 55 days until late July 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has decided to extend the regular Diet 
session for 55 days until July 28. The duration of the Diet session 
is closely linked with the schedule for the dissolution of the House 
of Representatives. By shortening the originally planned "over 60 
days" of extension, Aso intends to dodge allegations of "postponing 
Diet dissolution" and tighten unity in the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP). Meanwhile, there is a proposal in the ruling parties to call 
an extraordinary Diet session for the purpose of dissolving the 
Lower House in August following the Obon holidays after the regular 
 
TOKYO 00001234  005 OF 013 
 
 
Diet session is adjourned in July. Is the prime minister still 
undecided on his strategy for Diet dissolution? 
 
Scenario 1: Election on August 9 - concern about chance of winning 
after Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election 
 
Holding the election on August 9 by dissolving the Diet right after 
the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) election on July 12 is 
regarded as the most likely schedule among the ruling parties. The 
plan is to dissolve the Diet after the prime minister displays his 
"Aso diplomacy" at the G-8 Summit in Italy, July 8-10. A second vote 
on the tax reform bills will also be possible by July 12. 
 
While there is also another proposal in the LDP to dissolve the Diet 
before the Tokyo election and hold the general election on August 2, 
this is opposed by New Komeito, on grounds that "election 
cooperation between the LDP and New Komeito will collapse," (senior 
New Komeito official). If voter turnout in the Tokyo election goes 
up as a result of Diet dissolution, this may disadvantage New 
Komeito, which relies heavily on organized votes. The majority 
opinion in the ruling parties is that "dissolution will take place 
right after the TMA election, at the earliest." 
 
Aso has maintained that "dissolution should ideally take place after 
the enactment of the bills related to the supplementary budget." 
There is no guarantee that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will 
pass these bills in the House of Councillors by the time the TMA 
election is held, but the prime minister does not insist on passing 
all the bills either, so it is believed that this will not be a 
major constraint on the Diet dissolution decision. 
 
The question is the chance of winning. The support rating of the DPJ 
has recovered with the election of Yukio Hatoyama as president. 
There are many causes for concern, such as a repeat performance of a 
"wavering Aso" on the question of dividing up the Ministry of 
Health, Labour and Welfare. If the ruling parties fail to win a 
majority in the Tokyo election, or the DPJ replaces the LDP as the 
number one party, calls for postponing Diet dissolution are certain 
to grow. August 9 is also the anniversary of the atomic bombing of 
Nagasaki, so there are people who are negative about this date. LDP 
Election Strategy Council chief Makoto Koga says: "This will be 
unlikely based on common practice." 
 
Scenario 2: Election on August 30 or September 6 - last chance for 
prime minister to show initiative 
 
With the substantial extension of the Diet session, the schedule of 
dissolving the Diet at the end of its session on July 28 and holding 
the election on August 30 or September 6 has suddenly gained 
prominence among the ruling parties. 
 
On the evening of May 29, after the supplementary budget was passed, 
Yoshihide Suga, vice chairman of the LDP Election Strategy Council, 
gave the following advice to Aso: "The more time you have before the 
election, the more the support rating will rise." In addition to the 
expectation that the effects of the economic stimulation measures 
will be visible by summer, the "congratulatory mood" toward the DPJ 
will subside. 
 
New Komeito also welcomes dissolution at the end of the Diet 
session. It prefers having the election on August 30 rather than on 
August 9, so that it is as far apart as possible from the TMA 
 
TOKYO 00001234  006 OF 013 
 
 
election. An aborted plan by the ruling parties to extend the Diet 
session to early August was actually the idea of New Komeito. 
 
Meanwhile, the prime minister had wanted to extend the Diet session 
only to July 25, fearing the heightened mood for postponing Diet 
dissolution may weaken his leadership. However, since a general 
election has to be held within 40 days of dissolution, this will 
mean that holding the election on September 6 will no longer be an 
option. In the end, he decided on July 28, so that both August 30 
and September 6 will remain options for holding the general 
election. 
 
There is a reason why "September 6 is the time limit" for Aso. 
Although dissolution can take place anytime before the end of the 
Lower House members' term of office on September 10 under the law, 
if the election is held after the term of office expires, this will 
give a stronger impression of an "indecisive (on when to dissolve 
the Diet) prime minister." 
 
Scenario 3: Election on October 18 at the latest - "moves to topple 
Aso" may rekindle 
 
A senior LDP official close to Aso indicated on June 1 that, "It is 
possible to adjourn the current Diet session and then call an 
extraordinary session to dissolve the Diet," which means the 
dissolution of the Diet at an extraordinary session convened in 
August or later is an option. 
 
In this case, the election can take place between mid-September and 
October 18, if the Diet is dissolved on the day the Lower House's 
term of office expires. There is talk in the ruling parties that if 
the right timing is not found during the current Diet session, the 
cabinet should be reshuffled in August to present a fresh lineup and 
then go into the election. 
 
However, dissolving the Diet at such an extraordinary session is 
much more likely to be perceived as "dissolution after being driven 
into a corner." Not only that, the prime minister's leadership may 
weaken further with a defeat in the Tokyo election, declining 
approval rating, and other factors, and moves in the ruling parties 
to "topple Aso" may rekindle. There is even a possibility that Aso 
may be forced to step down before the extraordinary Diet session. 
 
LDP Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Tadamori Oshima told reporters 
unequivocally on June 1: "The prime minister will decide (on 
dissolution) within the 55 days (of the current Diet session). By 
political conventions, it is not desirable to convene a new session 
to dissolve the Diet." This was a statement made out of concern 
about such a possibility. 
 
When asked on the evening of June 1 about the possibility of 
dissolving the Diet by convening an extraordinary session, the prime 
minister would only say: "Of course, we need to think about 
different things in relation to Diet dissolution. I will make my 
decision after considering various factors." 
 
(8) First meeting of top DPJ, Nippon Keidanren leaders in three 
years seen to be in anticipation of Lower House election 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
June 2, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00001234  007 OF 013 
 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama and Nippon 
Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) Chairman Fujio Mitarai held 
the first policy consultation between the top leaders of the two 
organizations in three years at the Keidanren Hall in Tokyo on June 
¶1. While they were unable to narrow their gaps on such key issues as 
the consumption tax hike and global warming prevention measures, 
this meeting gave hints to each side's thinking on the next House of 
Representatives election. 
 
The first policy consultation between the DPJ and Nippon Keidanren 
took place in 2005, and this latest one was the fifth session. About 
300 Nippon Keidanren members attended this session, which exceeded 
the seating capacity. Former president Ichiro Ozawa was absent in 
the 2007 and 2008 sessions. 
 
At the beginning of his speech, Mitarai asked that "the ruling and 
opposition parties compete with their policies." Hatoyama first 
apologized for (Ozawa's) absence for two years and said that, "We 
would like to ask for your cooperation in replacing old politics in 
Japan with new politics." 
 
Gaps on consumption tax, environment 
 
However, the two sides were clearly divided on specific policies. On 
the issue of social security policy, Nippon Keidanren pointed out 
the need to increase the consumption tax rate at an early date to 
secure revenue sources. Masayuki Naoshima, chair of the DPJ's Policy 
Research Committee, argued that, "There is no need to hike 
consumption tax within four years of our party coming into power," 
although he left the possibility of a future tax hike open. 
 
On environmental issues, the DPJ advocated the reduction of 
greenhouse gases by 25 PERCENT  by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, 
while Nippon Keidanren opted for a 4 PERCENT  increase. Their 
positions remained irreconcilable. After the meeting, Hatoyama told 
reporters: "We are now more convinced that Keidanren's position is 
quite different from ours." 
 
The failure to narrow policy gaps had been expected. Nippon 
Keidanren has been rating 20-30 policy proposals of political 
parties on a scale of five. In 2008, 10 Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) policies were given the highest mark, but none for the DPJ. In 
2007, while corporate donations to the LDP were over 2.9 billion 
yen, the DPJ received only 80 million yen. 
 
DPJ can no longer be ignored 
 
Nevertheless, the fact that the top leaders of both sides met again 
for the first time in three years is an indication of a certain 
change in thinking. Nippon Keidanren's links with the LDP remain 
strong. As Mitarai noted, "Policies proposed (by Keidanren) to the 
government and the ruling parties have mostly been reflected in the 
additional economic stimulation measures." However, as the LDP's 
political base becomes shaky in the run-up to the next general 
election, the DPJ can no longer be ignored. 
 
The DPJ is currently doubling up its efforts to flesh out its 
manifesto for the election, so for Nippon Keidanren, this was the 
last chance to make a direct push for its policies before the 
manifesto is finalized. 
 
Meanwhile, one reason why the DPJ "staged" this policy consultation 
 
TOKYO 00001234  008 OF 013 
 
 
with Nippon Keidanren is its desire to shake up the LDP. The DPJ 
began policy consultations with Nippon Keidanren when Katsuya Okada 
was president in an attempt to tone down its reliance on labor 
unions, but Ozawa had refused to attend these meetings since the 
House of Councillors election in 2007. 
 
In an effort to beef up the DPJ's weak local organizations, Ozawa 
had made every effort to strengthen relations with Rengo (Japanese 
Trade Union Confederation), which has a membership of 6.75 million. 
"We have won more votes by strengthening ties with Rengo and taking 
a clear stand against bureaucrats and the business sector." (senior 
DPJ official) 
 
Hatoyama and Rengo Chairman Tsuyoshi Takagi and other senior Rengo 
officials will begin a joint regional stumping tour on June 7, which 
will take them to around 10 locations nationwide for public 
meetings. It seems that the party has also judged that even if it 
holds policy consultations with Nippon Keidanren, this will not 
affect its cooperation with Rengo. 
 
(9) Editorial: Designation of new U.S. ambassador to Japan: First 
step toward building new relationship with Obama administration 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
June 2, 2009 
 
Lawyer John Roos, 54, has been nominated as the new U.S. ambassador 
to Japan. He is scheduled to arrive at the post in Japan as early as 
this summer after obtaining Senate approval. We hope this will 
become the first step toward building a new relationship with the 
Obama administration. 
 
Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye was initially regarded as a 
leading candidate for the post of ambassador to Japan. Nye, who 
served in such posts as assistant secretary of defense, is a 
prominent Japan expert comparable to former deputy secretary of 
state Richard Armitage. There were expectations for "Ambassador Nye" 
on the Japanese side as well. 
 
In the past, many former political heavyweights served as U.S. 
ambassador to Japan. The position was also filled by individuals of 
all sorts of occupations, such as diplomats, the president's 
friends, and business leaders. Being knowledgeable about Japan has 
not been a requirement. 
 
Apparently the State Department backed Mr. Nye but presidential 
aides at the White House supported Roos, who played a major role in 
fundraising during the presidential race, turning the tables for 
Roos. Persons who contributed to (Obama's victory) in the 
presidential race were also nominated as ambassadors to such 
countries as Britain, France, and India. 
 
Lacking experience in foreign affairs, Roos' abilities as ambassador 
are unknown, but reportedly his strength lies in his extremely close 
ties to President Obama. 
 
It is also said that the President has the highest authority in 
Washington and that his close friends hold second place. This means 
that being close to the President with ultimate authority and being 
able to wield influence is vitally important in the U.S. political 
world. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001234  009 OF 013 
 
 
Former ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer was a prime example. He 
was a co-owner of a Major League baseball club with former President 
George W. Bush and could call the president up on the phone and 
speak to him directly. 
 
Taking a strong interest in the issue of Japanese abducted (by North 
Korea), the former ambassador realized a meeting (in 2006) between 
the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea 
and then President Bush. Playing an active role in the realignment 
of U.S. forces in Japan, the former ambassador also worked hard to 
enhance Japan-U.S. relations. 
 
It is unproductive to speculate from Mr. Roos' appointment whether 
the Obama administration attaches importance to Japan or slights it. 
The important thing is for (Japan) to work in close cooperation with 
the Obama administration's Japan and Asia team, including the next 
ambassador (to Japan) and to steadily deal with mounting 
challenges. 
 
North Korea is preparing for yet another missile launch following 
the launches of ballistic missiles and a nuclear test. North Korea's 
nuclear and missile programs will be the biggest issue for the 
Japan-U.S. alliance for the foreseeable future. 
 
How (is the Obama administration) going to face China, which is 
rapidly increasing its presence? How is it going to stabilize 
Afghanistan and Pakistan in the war on terrorism? How is it going to 
address the global environment and energy issues? 
 
President Obama is slated to visit Japan for the first time later 
this year, and next year marks the 50th anniversary of the 
conclusion of the revised U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. In order to 
make the bilateral alliance firmer, concrete results must be 
achieved. 
 
(10) Mechanism to set date for Lower House election: 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
June 2, 2009 
 
Regarding the timing for the next House of Representatives election, 
various options are being suggested. With the expiration of the 
Lower House members' term of office now just around the corner, two 
types of election are conceivable: an election resulting from Diet 
dissolution or one resulting from the expiration of the term of 
lawmakers. So the mechanism to set the voting date is complicated. 
In this column, the Tokyo Shimbun explains the mechanism. 
 
Let's look first at the case in which an election is carried out as 
a consequence of the expiration of members' term. 
 
Article 31 of the Public Offices Election Law stipulates that an 
election should be held during a 30-day period before the day of 
expiration. Since the expiration day is Sept. 10 this time, the 
equivalent period is between Aug. 11 and Sept. 9. Paragraph 2 of 
Article 31 also stipulates that a general election must be held 
sometime during a weeklong period between 24 days and 30 days after 
a Diet session ends, if the period in which the election must be 
held coincides with a Diet session or is within 23 days after the 
end of the session. 
 
These complicated regulations were introduced, with consideration 
 
TOKYO 00001234  010 OF 013 
 
 
given to incumbent lawmakers, because in the case of an election 
held on a date close to the expiration day, incumbent lawmakers 
cannot take enough time for campaigning. 
 
The government decided yesterday to extend the current Diet session 
through July 28. Since the period for an election stemming from the 
expiration of lawmakers' term will start within 23 days after the 
end of the session, the election will be held sometime during a 
period between 24 days and 30 days after the end of the session. 
During this period, Aug. 23 is the only possible Sunday for the 
election. 
 
Even so, this idea is unlikely to be turned into reality, because it 
is inconceivable from a commonsense in the political world that the 
election campaign period includes the nationwide Bon holidays. 
 
In light of this, the upcoming Lower House election is expected to 
be held as a consequence of Diet dissolution, not as a consequence 
of the expiration of lawmakers' term. In this case, the Diet can be 
dissolved anytime. If the Lower House is dissolved on July 28 as 
decided yesterday, it will be possible to set the voting date even 
for Sept. 6, based on Paragraph 3 of the Public Offices Election 
Law, which stipulates that an election should be held within 40 days 
after the Lower House is dissolved. 
 
There also can be a 'trick,' which is to close the current Diet 
session and then to open an extraordinary session. Resorting to this 
tactic, if the Diet convenes this extraordinary session until Sept. 
10 when the current term expires, and if the Lower House is 
dissolved then, it will become possible to put off the election up 
until Oct. 18. 
 
(11) Greenhouse gas emissions: UN taskforce meeting on Post-Kyoto 
Protocol international framework; Japan, U.S. to propose mandating 
emerging countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
June 2, 2009 
 
Shogo Akagawa, Bonn 
 
A UN taskforce meeting to discuss a post-Kyoto Protocol 
international framework to curb global warming to be adopted in 2013 
started in Bonn in western Germany on June 1. Whether to mandate 
emerging countries, which are increasingly emitting greenhouse gases 
as their economies grow, to cut emissions will likely become a 
pillar of the talks. However, emerging countries are insisting that 
such mandatory cuts should be premised on substantial cuts by Japan, 
the U.S. and European countries. With the negotiation deadline 
passing in six months' time, bargaining among the various countries 
will likely become increasingly fierce. 
 
The meeting brought together more than 4,300 participants from 
roughly 180 countries and areas. Meeting the press, United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretary Yvo de Boer 
expressed his hope that Japan, the U.S. and European countries will 
reach a decision to significantly cut carbon dioxide. He said, "It 
is necessary for industrialized countries to become ambitious." He 
also said that it is imperative for emerging countries to commit 
themselves to the global warming issue. He thus clarified his 
stance, indicating that it is necessary for both industrialized 
countries and emerging countries to make concessions in order to 
 
TOKYO 00001234  011 OF 013 
 
 
find a breakthrough in the talks. 
 
The taskforce incorporated in the UN draft, released in May, a 
proposal that developing countries, which are not obligated to cut 
carbon dioxide emissions under the current Kyoto Protocol, 
voluntarily map out a reduction plan. This will serve as a draft for 
a post-Kyoto Protocol framework. Japan and the U.S. during the Bonn 
UN Climate Change Talks will call on mandating emerging countries, 
such as China and India, to reduce emissions, by demarcating them 
from developing countries. 
 
However, emerging countries are bound to oppose this proposal. China 
is expected to announce its view that further emissions reductions 
by industrialized countries are a precondition. China could suggest 
that Japan, the U.S. and European countries cut more than 40 PERCENT 
 from the 1990 level by 2020. 
 
The European Union (EU) has plans to cut such emissions by 20 
PERCENT  as its goal. The U.S. mid-term goal is to constrain such 
emissions to a level equivalent to that of the 1990 level. Japan 
will release a specific plan by mid-June. Secretary de Boer during 
the press briefing pointed out, "To what extent industrialized 
countries will reduce their emissions will hold the key." However, 
various countries and areas cannot easily accept strict conditions 
presented by emerging countries. 
 
The ongoing meeting will continue until the 12th. The UN wants to 
reach a final decision at the 15th session of the Conference of the 
Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP15) to be held in 
Copenhagen in December. 
 
A participant representing Russia at the outset of the meeting 
called on the industrialized group -- Japan, the U.S. and the EU - 
and emerging countries to make concessions, saying, "A global 
agreement is essential." 
 
Government holds meeting to discuss measures to curb global warming: 
Cabinet ministers discuss mid-term goal but remain far apart 
 
The government held a cabinet ministerial meeting yesterday to 
discuss measures to curb global warming. Participants discussed a 
mid-term goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved by 
¶2020. There are six options ranging from a 4 PERCENT  increase to a 
25 PERCENT  decrease in comparison with the 1990 level or from a 4 
PERCENT  cut to a 30 PERCENT  cut in comparison with the 2005 level. 
No conclusion was reached with the participants remaining far apart. 
However, they agreed to make 1995 the base year for comparing 
emissions cuts. 
 
(12) NPA, Internet service providers to tackle child porn issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 35) (Full) 
June 1, 2009 
 
The National Police Agency (NPA) will launch a council on June 2 
with Internet service providers aimed at tackling online child 
pornography by persuading the ISPs to undertake "Net-blocking" 
systems at their own discretion. The Net-blocking systems prevent 
broadband users from accessing illegal websites. The NPA's aim is to 
halt the present situation in which users copy images from illegal 
websites and disseminate them to other similar sites. The NPA will 
begin demonstration experiments as early as the next fiscal year 
 
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with the private sector to examine technical and related issues. 
Japan has been criticized by the international community for lagging 
behind other industrialized countries in measures against child porn 
due to slow legislative action. All eyes are on whether Japan can 
clear its tarnished image. 
 
When the Kanagawa Prefectural Police cracked down on the child porn 
website "Sakuranbo Jogakuin" last September, a senior investigator 
realized that he had seen one of the videos posted on the site 
before. 
 
In March 2005, the prefectural police arrested a man on suspicion of 
violating the Child Welfare Law in connection with a video he 
allegedly recorded. An 11-year-old girl, who was tricked by the man, 
was featured in the video. The police found that a child pornography 
fanatic posted the images of the girl that were subsequently posted 
on the Internet. 
 
The Sakuranbo Jogakuin site, which was launched in May 2005, is a 
popular website. This site was accessed about 50,000 times a day on 
average. It received a total of 61.55 million hits until it was 
unmasked. Even after the police exposed, the images and videos 
continued to be copied. In the case of the images of the 11-year-old 
girl, the police confirmed that there were more than 100,000 images 
with the same title by checking Internet search sites. 
 
According to the NPA, there was a record high of 245 cases involving 
online child porn last year. As in the Sakuranbo Jogakuin case, 
fanatics exchanged child porn images and disseminated them across 
the Internet. 
 
The blocking system enables providers to forbid access to 
blacklisted sites. The lists are drawn up with help from the police, 
and block access to sites known to feature child pornography. The 
system, which also covers overseas websites, is expected to be a 
valuable tool in breaking the vicious circle in which users access 
child porn data, download the data onto personal computers, and 
repost the data on other similar sites. 
 
At least ten other countries have introduced similar blocking 
systems. In Japan, a bill amending the Law for Punishing Acts 
Related to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, including a 
measure to improve blocking technologies, were submitted to the Diet 
last June, but Diet deliberations on the bills have encountered 
difficulties. 
 
The NPA, therefore, intends to adopt as its model the British 
blocking system, which relies on self-imposed restrictions by 
Internet service providers'. The NPA plans to use the council as a 
forum to discuss technology and legislation with the aim of 
encouraging the private sector to operate the blocking system of its 
own accord. As the system also applies to websites accessible via 
cell phone, the NPA will ask cell phone companies to cooperate with 
the scheme. 
 
Major recent online child porn cases 
 
Period of police crackdown Contents of case Scale of website or 
number of times accessed 
September 2008 - March 2009 Kanagawa Prefectural Police arrested 17 
people, including the person who launched the Sakuranbo Jogakuin 
website, and sent two of the cases to the public prosecutor. 
 
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Accessed about 50,000 times per day 
November 2008 Saitama Prefectural Police arrested three people, 
including a company worker, 37, who used file transfer software to 
allow videos of child porn to circulate to websites in Japan and 
abroad. Accessed 10,000 to 30,000 times per day 
February 2009 Fukuoka Prefectural Police and Tokyo Metropolitan 
Police Department arrested eight people, including a company 
president, 41, who distributed videos on a membership child porn 
site. Membership of 6,000 
May 2009 Kanagawa Prefectural Police arrested a 19-year-old boy who 
launched a child porn bulletin board on a cell phone site. Accessed 
about 5,000 times per day 
 
ZUMWALT