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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 001349 
 
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 06/16/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Opinion polls: 
3) Aso Cabinet support rate plummets 8.7 points to low of 17 PERCENT 
 in Kyodo poll; Non-support rate now at an astronomical 70.6 PERCENT 
  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
4) Yomiuri poll: Cabinet support rate drops 6.6 points in a week to 
23 PERCENT , with 65 PERCENT  of public unhappy with Aso's firing of 
Minister Hatoyama  (Yomiuri) 
5) Asahi poll: Aso Cabinet support rate drops from 27 PERCENT  to 19 
PERCENT  in a month; A majority of the public now favor a 
post-election DPJ-centered government  (Asahi) 
6) Aso Cabinet's support rate declines 5 points to 19 PERCENT  in 
Mainichi poll  (Mainichi) 
7) Nikkei poll: Non-support rate for the Aso Cabinet now at 65 
PERCENT   (Nikkei) 
 
Political merry-go-round: 
8) Prime Minister Aso's lack of popularity has now reached the 
danger zone  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) Main opposition Democratic Party of Japan is now all fired up for 
the Lower House election  (Yomiuri) 
10) Moves to "topple Aso" may be rekindled in the Liberal Democratic 
Party  (Mainichi) 
 
11) DPJ-backed candidate's win in test-case Chiba mayoralty election 
deals another blow to the Aso Cabinet  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
12) Prime Minister Aso has yet to reveal his strategy toward the 
timing of Diet dissolution and the Lower House election (Asahi) 
13) Former Internal Affairs Minister Hatoyama, fired by the Prime 
Minister for insisting the Japan Post head be replaced, reveals that 
Aso was agreeable  (Nikkei) 
 
14) Government panel releases ten proposals to make Japan a "secure 
society"  (Yomiuri) 
 
15) Main task of searching cargo of North Korean vessels under new 
ship-search legislation will go to Japan Coast Guard out of 
consideration to New Komeito  (Mainichi) 
 
16) Cabinet to approve new set of North Korea sanctions today 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Kim Jong Il's third son, Kim Jong Un, secretly visits China on his 
father's behalf 
 
Mainichi: 
Hundreds of thousands of Mousavi supporters stage demonstrations in 
Iran 
 
Yomiuri: 
Cabinet support rate drops to 23 PERCENT 
 
Nikkei: 
Corporate bond issuances seen topping 6 trillion yen for 
January-June period, marking highest level in 11 years 
 
TOKYO 00001349  002 OF 011 
 
 
 
Sankei: 
Move to unseat Aso may gain momentum; July Tokyo assembly election a 
critical event 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Aso cabinet approval rate plummets to 17 PERCENT 
 
Akahata: 
Auto greenhouse gas criteria not included in LDP low-carbon society 
legislation due to pressure from industry 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry bureau chief arrested 
(2) Iranian presidential election shows change 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry bureau chief arrested over 
discount mail discount system 
(2) LDP in tight spot before the next general election 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Use proposals as basis for social peace of mind 
(2) Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry bureau chief arrested: 
Lawmaker's involvement suspected 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry abused mail discount system 
(2) A sense of security comes from trust in state 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Secure-and-safe society report points out need to increase 
birthrate 
(2) Uncover the whole picture of abuse of mail discount system 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry bureau director-general 
arrested: Uncover the truth, including politician involvement 
(2) Presidential election in Iran: Dialogue with U.S. essential 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Build a society where people can raise children with sense of 
security 
 
3) Poll: Aso cabinet's support nosedives to 17 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Abridged) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The support rate for Prime Minister Taro Aso's cabinet was 17.5 
PERCENT , down 8.7 points from the previous poll conducted in May, 
according to a telephone-based spot public opinion survey conducted 
across the nation by Kyodo News on June 13-14. The nonsupport rate 
was 70.6 PERCENT , up 10.4 points. Respondents were also asked what 
political party they would vote for in the next House of 
Representatives election's proportional representation blocs. In 
this popularity ranking of political parties, the leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) overwhelmed the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party, with the DPJ scoring 47.8 PERCENT  and the LDP at 
18.7 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political 
 
TOKYO 00001349  003 OF 011 
 
 
parties as well, the DPJ outstripped the LDP, respectively at 38.5 
PERCENT  and 19.8 PERCENT . The LDP hit an all-time low in the 
telephone-based polls since the Miyazawa cabinet, except when it was 
an opposition party. Respondents were also asked who they thought 
was appropriate for prime minister. To this question, 50.4 PERCENT 
named DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama, with 21.5 PERCENT  choosing 
Aso. 
 
4) Poll: Cabinet support falls to 23 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a telephone-based spot nationwide 
public opinion survey on June 13-14, in which the approval rating 
for Prime Minister Aso's cabinet was 22.9 PERCENT , down 6.6 points 
from the 29.5 PERCENT  rating in the last survey taken a week ago on 
June 5-7). The disapproval rating was 67.8 PERCENT  (61.0 PERCENT 
in the last survey). Aso has now replaced Internal Affairs and 
Communications Minister Hatoyama, who would not approve Japan Post's 
decision to retain Yoshifumi Nishikawa as its president. When asked 
if it was necessary to replace Hatoyama, a total of 65 PERCENT 
answered "no." In addition, a total of 67 PERCENT  also answered 
"no" when asked if they were convinced that Nishikawa should stay on 
as Japan Post president. The figures show that Aso's decision over 
the postal issue was not supported. The issue of Nishikawa's 
responsibility could be reignited. Asked about the turmoil in the 
government and ruling parties, 70 PERCENT  attributed it to Aso's 
lack of leadership. 
 
The support rate rebounded in the survey conducted in late March 
when former Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Ichiro 
Ozawa's state-funded secretary was indicted on charges of violating 
the Political Funds Control Law. In the following surveys, the 
support rate was on a recovery trend. In this survey, it clearly 
dropped. This will likely affect the political situation down the 
road. 
 
The turmoil over the postal issue affected public ratings for Aso 
and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party as well. Asked who would 
suit the post of prime minister, 46 PERCENT  picked DPJ President 
Yukio Hatoyama, up from 44 PERCENT  in the last survey. Aso was at 
26 PERCENT . In the breakdown of public support for political 
parties, the DPJ edged out the LDP, with the DPJ tallying 29.2 
PERCENT  (27.7 PERCENT  in the last survey) and the LDP at 25.0 
PERCENT  (28.5 PERCENT  in the last survey). Respondents were also 
asked what party they would vote for in the next House of 
Representatives election's proportional representation blocs. In 
this popularity ranking, the DPJ rose to 42 PERCENT  (39 PERCENT  in 
the last survey), with the LDP at 25 PERCENT  (29 PERCENT  in the 
last survey). 
 
5) Poll: Cabinet support plummets to 19 PERCENT 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based nationwide public 
opinion survey on June 13-14, in which the support rate for Prime 
Minister Aso's cabinet was 19 PERCENT , showing a sharp drop from 
the 27 PERCENT  rating in the last survey conducted May 16-17. The 
support rate did not reach 20 PERCENT  for the first time since 
 
TOKYO 00001349  004 OF 011 
 
 
early this March. Respondents were also asked if they would like the 
current coalition government led by the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party to be replaced with a coalition government led by the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). To this question, 
"yes" accounted for 52 PERCENT , topping 50 PERCENT  for the first 
time. The proportion of those in support of the LDP-led coalition 
government was 23 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ 
tallied 29 PERCENT , with the LDP at 22 PERCENT . In the last 
survey, the DPJ was at 26 PERCENT  and the LDP at 25 PERCENT . 
Respondents were further asked what political party they would vote 
for if they were to vote now in the House of Representatives 
election's proportional representation blocs. To this question, 43 
PERCENT  named the DPJ, with 23 PERCENT  choosing the LDP. In the 
last survey, the DPJ was at 38 PERCENT  and the LDP at 25 PERCENT . 
Asked who would suit the post of prime minister, 42 PERCENT  named 
DPJ President Hatoyama and 24 PERCENT  said Aso. In the last survey, 
Hatoyama was at 40 PERCENT  and Aso at 29 PERCENT . 
 
6) Poll: Aso cabinet support rate down to 19 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
Eve., June 15, 2009 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a nationwide public opinion survey on 
June 13-14, in which the Aso cabinet's support rate was 19 PERCENT , 
down 5 points from the last survey taken May 16-17. The support rate 
fell below 20 PERCENT  to enter a 'danger zone' again for Aso to 
keep running the government. Aso has now replaced Internal Affairs 
and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama, who would not approve 
Japan Post President Yoshifumi Nishikawa's staying on in his JP 
post. In the survey, respondents were asked if they supported Aso's 
decision. In response to this question, 67 PERCENT  answered "no," 
with 22 PERCENT  saying "yes." Respondents were also asked who they 
thought would suit the post of prime minister. To this question, 32 
PERCENT  chose Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) President Yukio 
Hatoyama, with 15 PERCENT  naming Aso. In the last survey, Hatoyama 
was at 34 PERCENT  and Aso at 21 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ 
tallied an all-time high of 34 PERCENT , up 4 points from the last 
survey. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party was at 20 PERCENT , down 
3 points. Among other political parties, the New Komeito, the LDP's 
coalition partner, was at 4 PERCENT , the Japanese Communist Party 
at 4 PERCENT , and the Social Democratic Party at 1 PERCENT . "None" 
accounted for 32 PERCENT , down 5 points. 
 
7) Cabinet support rate drops to 25 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The rate of support for the cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso 
dropped 5 points from the previous survey in May to 25 PERCENT  in 
an opinion poll conducted on June 13-14 by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun 
and TV Tokyo. The disapproval rate increased 3 points to 65 PERCENT 
. Asked about Aso's decision to dismiss Kunio Hatoyama as internal 
affairs and communications minister over the reappointment of Japan 
Post Holdings Co. President Yoshifumi Nishikawa, 56 PERCENT  said 
the decision was inappropriate and only 24 PERCENT  said it was 
appropriate. 
 
TOKYO 00001349  005 OF 011 
 
 
 
 
The support rate fell below the 30 PERCENT  level for the first time 
in three months since March. It has now reentered the "danger zone." 
Asked for reasons for not supporting the Aso cabinet (multiple 
answers acceptable), 62 PERCENT , the largest group, cited "a lack 
of leadership," an increase of 18 points, possibly because of 
confusion over Hatoyama. Some 46 PERCENT  cited "bad policies" and 
45 PERCENT  "a lack of stability." Meanwhile, as reasons for 
supporting the cabinet, 49 PERCENT  said because it is a Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) cabinet, and 22 PERCENT  cited international 
sensitivity. 
 
About former communications minister Hatoyama's persistent call for 
the resignation of Nishikawa as postal company president over his 
response to the Kanpo no Yado inns issue, 59 PERCENT  said it was 
appropriate and a mere 21 PERCENT  indicated it was inappropriate. 
Among LDP supporters as well, "appropriate" accounted for 51 PERCENT 
 and "inappropriate" 26 PERCENT . 
 
As for support for parties, the LDP fell 2 points to 31 PERCENT  and 
the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) also dropped 1 
point to 37 PERCENT . Asked which party they would vote for in the 
proportional representation segment in the next Lower House 
election, 39 PERCENT  pointed to the DPJ and 26 PERCENT  to the LDP, 
a drop of 2 points for both parties. 
 
The survey was conducted by Nikkei Research on 1,229 households with 
eligible voters using a computer-aided random digit dialing (RDD) 
system, with 720 people, or 58.6 PERCENT , responding with valid 
answers. 
 
8) Prime minister's unpopularity "hopeless"; Renewed calls to 
advance LDP presidential election 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
June 16, 2009 
 
Yuji Sasagase 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso has been struck by two misfortunes, the 
defeat in the Chiba mayoral election on June 14 and the decline in 
the cabinet support rating on June 15. One reason why he has allowed 
another surge in the popularity of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) is the clumsiness of his response to the "rebellion" of former 
Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Kunio Hatoyama. His 
leadership in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is certain to 
weaken, and calls for advancing the party's presidential election, 
which will lead to his downfall, are beginning to emerge again. 
 
Aso put on a brave front at his meeting with Election Strategy 
Council Chairman Makoto Koga and other LDP officials at a restaurant 
in Tokyo on the evening of June 15, arguing that, "When Mr. Koizumi 
(former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi) sacked (then foreign 
minister) Ms. Makiko Tanaka, the support rating also went down." 
 
However, a mood of despair about the 17 percent support rate is 
spreading in the party. One senior official sighed: "It is probably 
useless no matter what we do." 
 
The reason why this is so serious is because even though the support 
rating had recovered to nearly 30 percent due to aggressive economic 
 
TOKYO 00001349  006 OF 011 
 
 
policies and the scandal about political donations by Nishimatsu 
Construction Company to former DPJ president Ichiro Ozawa, it is 
declining steadily once again. 
 
At a news conference on June 15, Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda 
gave the following as the reason for the decline in approval rate: 
"He gave no clear explanation on the reason for Mr Hatoyama's 
resignation, and this has had an impact." 
 
Actually, the prime minister is not without achievements that he can 
take credit for. Stock prices have recovered to the 10,000 yen 
level, and he has announced the mid-term greenhouse gas reduction 
target in an attempt to meet the people's expectations. 
 
Yet, all these efforts have failed to raise his support rating at 
all. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents said the target for 
reduction of greenhouse gases is "too high." There is even an 
impression that the prime minister has fallen into a "negative 
spiral" and whatever he does is not appreciated. 
 
Aso's unpopularity has undoubtedly also affected the Chiba mayoral 
election. The unaffiliated voters and even some LDP supporters voted 
for the new mayor endorsed by the DPJ. 
 
Moreover, the problem for the prime minister is that there is no way 
to restore his approval rating with the dissolution of the House of 
Representatives and the general election fast approaching. Even if 
he reshuffles the Aso cabinet that is criticized as suffering the 
terminal symptoms of an administration, there is no guarantee that 
this will lift the approval rating. There is also no dramatic policy 
in sight that will be hugely popular with the people. 
 
The official declaration of candidacy for the Shizuoka gubernatorial 
race will take place on June 18 (voting on July 5). If the LDP loses 
both the Shizuoka election and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly 
election (on July 12) after the defeat in the Chiba mayoral race, 
there will be a significant "ground swell" of public opinion for a 
change of government. 
 
Amid the atmosphere of despair, mid-ranking and junior LDP members 
are saying: "Holding the LDP presidential election is the only 
option" and "Prime Minister Aso should resign voluntarily." 
 
9) Cabinet support rating down to 23 PERCENT ; DPJ on offensive for 
Lower House election 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has become more confident about 
the next House of Representatives election with the Yomiuri Shimbun 
nationwide poll showing a dive in the cabinet support rating. Taking 
advantage of the victory of its endorsed candidate in the Chiba 
mayoral election to gain momentum, the DPJ will also endorse a 
candidate in the Shizuoka gubernatorial race in July and give full 
publicity to the party's name. It intends to take the offensive in 
this election and the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, which 
are regarded as the prelude to the Lower House election. 
 
President Yukio Hatoyama talked to reporters in Tokyo on June 15 
about the drop in the cabinet support rating. He said: "Partly due 
to the mess concerning Japan Post, the people have probably decided 
 
TOKYO 00001349  007 OF 011 
 
 
that the administration is incompetent. This has led to a feeling of 
hopelessness about the government," thus indicating that the 
confusion surrounding the replacement of former Minister of Internal 
Affairs and Communications Kunio Hatoyama has had a significant 
impact. 
 
 The dismal cabinet support rating has also given rise to concerns 
about moves in the ruling parties to "topple Aso." (DPJ Deputy 
President) Ichiro Ozawa met the party's House of Councillors members 
on June 15 and told them: "Mr. Aso will probably not last until the 
Tokyo election. The dissolution of the Lower House may come on July 
2 or 3," indicating that the prime minister will dissolve the Diet 
before the Tokyo race. Certain DPJ members are saying that Kunio 
Hatoyama should be urged to leave the Liberal Democratic Party and 
work with the DPJ. 
 
10) Ruling camp up its back against wall in run up to Shizuoka 
run-off poll 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
June 6, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won the Chiba mayoral election, 
the first of three local elections seen as bellwethers for the next 
House of Representative election. Following the defeat, the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) and the New Komeito are geared up to do their 
utmost in tacking the next Shizuoka gubernatorial election on the 
18th. Candidates backed by the ruling parties have lost the three 
government ordinance city mayoral elections -- Nagoya, Saitama and 
Chiba. If they lose the Shizuoka gubernatorial election and the 
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election on July 12, it is bound to 
affect the upcoming Lower House election. As a junior member said, a 
cool-headed view that the outcome of the gubernatorial election will 
be a watershed is growing in the LDP, where sparks for ousting Prime 
Minister Taro are smoldering. 
 
Upper House member Yukiko Sakamoto, 60 years old, backed by the LDP 
and the New Komeito, former Shizuoka University of Art and Culture 
President Heita Kawakatsu, 60 years old, supported by the DPJ 
Shizuoka Prefecture Chapter, former Upper House member of the DPJ 
Toru Unno, 60 years old and Japanese Communist Party Shizuoka 
Prefectural Chapter Standing Committee member Sadayoshi Hirano, 59 
years old have declared their candidacies for the Shizuoka 
gubernatorial election. The LDP has considered that they could win 
the election, because votes for the DPJ will split between Kawakatsu 
and Unno, as a senior member put it. 
 
However, the LDP leadership is increasingly becoming impatient with 
the official announcement of the election close at hand on the 18th. 
 
 
As the ruling parties hit a losing streak in local elections, 
anxieties over contesting the next election under Prime Minister Aso 
are permeating among mid-ranking and junior members. Voices that 
action must be taken, depending on the outcome of the Shizuoka 
gubernatorial election, are gaining ground with the frontloading of 
the LDP presidential election in mind. 
 
Amid such a circumstance, Prime Minister Aso, who has been 
encouraging candidates for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, 
at a party executive meeting on the 15th revealed his plan to visit 
Shizuoka shortly in order to encourage the candidate backed by the 
 
TOKYO 00001349  008 OF 011 
 
 
ruling camp. 
 
Hidehisa Otsuji, chairman of the LDP caucus in the Upper House, 
along with a lawmaker elected from the prefecture for proportional 
representation visited Shizuoka City to tighten up support from 
industrial associations. Mid-ranking and junior members are 
impatient at the leadership's efforts with one saying, "They are 
encouraging candidates with just words. They lack a sense of 
urgency." 
 
11) Ruling parties alarmed by implication of Chiba mayoral race for 
Lower House election; senior official says replacement of minister 
of internal affairs and communications "devastating" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
Evening, June 15, 2009 
 
The ruling parties stress that "local circumstances" were the reason 
for the defeat in the Chiba mayoral election on June 14, saying: 
"The candidate we endorsed was the vice mayor named by the former 
mayor who was indicted for bribe-taking. The choice was no good." 
(Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda) 
However, the ruling parties have suffered three straight losses in 
mayoral elections of major cities (with prefecture status) after 
Nagoya and Saitama. They are increasingly alarmed that this "domino 
effect" may continue in the Shizuoka gubernatorial race and the 
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in July, giving momentum to a 
change of administration. 
 
LDP Election Strategy Council Vice Chairman Yoshihide Suga told 
reporters in Yokohama on the morning of June 15: "This was an 
election held under special circumstances. We had expected the tough 
battle to a certain extent." He said: "We will exert utmost efforts 
in the Shizuoka gubernatorial race and the Tokyo Metropolitan 
Assembly election." 
 
Suga claimed that the replacement of former Minister of Internal 
Affairs and Communications Kunio Hatoyama "had nothing to do with" 
the Chiba election, but a senior party official gave the analysis 
that, "Mr Hatoyama's resignation two days before the voting was 
devastating." 
 
Commenting on the defeat in the Chiba election, New Komeito election 
strategy chief Yosuke Takagi said: "We must take the outcome 
seriously. This may affect the Tokyo election and the House of 
Representatives election," indicating his concerns. 
 
12) Premier unable to map out Lower House dissolution strategy 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The management of the administration has again entered a cautionary 
zone with support ratings for the Aso cabinet falling below 20 
PERCENT . The prime minister was unable to display leadership in the 
appointment of president of Japan Post. The candidate backed by the 
ruling party lost the Chiba mayoral election. If the situation is 
left unattended, LDP members are bound to distance themselves from 
Aso. 
 
The prime minister attaches importance to the Tokyo Metropolitan 
Assembly election on July 12. He intends to attack the Liberal 
 
TOKYO 00001349  009 OF 011 
 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) for its lack of capability to run 
the government during party head talks on June 17.  He is positive 
toward consolidating laws for cargo inspection as part of sanctions 
against North Korea. He also expects that the involvement of Ichiro 
Ozawa of the DPJ will be revealed in the first trial of the former 
Nishimatsu Construction president on the 19th. 
 
Meanwhile, some members of the Machimura faction, the largest 
faction in the LDP, are urging the prime minister to decide to 
dissolve the Diet either in late June or in early July and hold an 
election on August 2. This means that this scenario will be the last 
opportunity for him to be able to dissolve the Lower House as prime 
minister. Other LDP members are calling for reshuffling the 
leadership or the cabinet. 
 
However, it appears that the prime minister is currently being 
cautious about dissolving the Lower House or shuffling the cabinet 
before the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election. A senior LDP member 
said that early dissolution of the Lower House under adverse 
circumstances would be a suicidal action. The prevailing view is 
that shuffling the cabinet will produce little effect. Some New 
Komeito members project that the election day will be set either for 
August 30 or September 6. 
 
Some junior LDP members are calling for speeding up the presidential 
election. However, they have not devised a specific scenario for 
ousting Aso. The LDP seems to have reached an impasse in which it is 
unable to find an appropriate time for the Lower House election or a 
person to replace Aso. 
 
13) Hatoyama: I received a list of possible candidates to replace 
Nishikawa from the Prime Minister in spring 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
June 16, 2009 
 
"I took it for granted that Prime Minister Aso would replace the 
(Japan Post Holdings Co.) president without fail. I was too naove." 
 
Kunio Hatoyama, who has resigned as internal affairs and 
communications minister over the reappointment of Japan Post 
Holdings Co. President Yoshifumi Nishikawa, held a press conference 
at the ministry yesterday. In it, Hatoyama revealed that he had 
received a letter this spring containing a list of individuals 
suitable to become Nishikawa's successor. 
 
Hatoyama made the following comment about the decision by the Prime 
Minister who effectively fired him: "His decision was completely 
wrong. The (cabinet) support rate has dropped because of it." He 
also brushed aside speculation that he would leave the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) or form a new party. At the same time, 
Hatoyama left the door open for such options, saying: "Anything can 
happen in the future, and I still have my colleagues. I am already 
¶60. I don't have much time left." 
 
Revealing past conversations a problem 
 
LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda at a press conference 
yesterday criticized Hatoyama's words and deeds, saying: "We cannot 
fire the Japan Post Holdings Co. president since he has not 
committed any illegal act. Solid grounds are necessary when a 
cabinet minister calls for a dismissal. What is legally impossible 
 
TOKYO 00001349  010 OF 011 
 
 
is impossible even for a cabinet mister." A government source also 
noted Hatoyama's disclosure of the letter from Prime Minister Aso: 
"It is a problem that he disclosed what had been discussed in the 
past. The act exposed that he lacked qualifications as a cabinet 
minister." 
 
14) Panel proposes 10 measures for "secure" society 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The government's panel tasked with discussing ways to realize a 
society in which people can feel secure about their future held a 
meeting at the Prime Minister's Official Residence yesterday and 
submitted a report titled: "Realize peace of mind and vitality in 
Japanese society." The report proposes 10 measures to be implemented 
by fiscal 2011, including financial assistance to low-income 
households and families with small children. The report also 
advocates the need to set up a round-table panel of the ruling and 
opposition parties to discuss how to secure the financial resources 
to fund the proposed measures. 
 
Prime Minister Aso said in the meeting: "The government must 
translate (the measures in) the report into action. It is necessary 
to form a consensus with the opposition camp." Aso intends to 
reflect the suggestions in the report in the government's annual 
economic and fiscal policy guidelines for fiscal 2009 due out on 
June 23 and the Liberal Democratic Party's policy manifesto for the 
next House of Representatives election. 
 
The report lists five areas that should be reformed - employment, 
child-raising, education, medical care, and nursing care. It then 
calls for expanding the social security system, now intended for 
only the elderly, to include low-income households and families with 
small children and linking the five areas, in order to build "a 
permanently secure society." 
 
The 10 urgently needed measures include expansion of the application 
of social insurance and labor insurance programs to include 
non-regular employees and introduction of individual social security 
numbers, besides assistance for low-income households and families 
with small children. 
 
The report also proposes "realigning administrative bodies and 
reallocating personnel resources to promote reforms." Aso once 
announced a plan to look into splitting the Health, Labor and 
Welfare Ministry, but the plan met fierce reactions. Giving this 
experience, the government panel decided to use the above 
expression. 
 
The report points out "the need to display a roadmap for tax reform, 
including a consumption tax hike." Defining consumption tax as a tax 
to support social security, the report proposes that a social 
security account be created and funded with all the revenues from 
consumption tax. 
 
15) Sanctions against North Korea: Government to allow ship 
inspections only by JCG, giving consideration to New Komeito, DPJ 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
June 16, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00001349  011 OF 011 
 
 
The government has discussed special legislation on cargo 
inspections as part of sanctions against North Korea. Following the 
UN Security Council's adoption of a resolution against that nation, 
the government decided yesterday to allow only the Japan Coast Guard 
(JCG) to carry out cargo inspections on the high seas and require 
approval from a ship's country of origin and its captain in the 
legislation. The Liberal Democratic Party had been considering a 
bill that would authorize the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) to 
conduct inspection but judged it necessary to give consideration to 
the New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). A number of 
New Komeito members are calling for caution about inspection itself, 
and the dominant view in the DPJ is that inspections should be done 
only by the JCG. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura indicated in a press 
conference yesterday that the government will lay out the framework 
of the legislation by the end of this year and then said: "I think 
we will be able to discuss it with the DPJ." Under the Japan Coast 
Guard Law, the JCG has the authority to conduct cargo inspections 
onboard ships in Japan's territorial waters. To allow inspections on 
the high seas, the government is willing to have the special 
measures bill be enacted in the current Diet session. 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso told reporters at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence yesterday: 
 
"It is important to implement the measures in a resolution 
unanimously adopted in the UN. If there are flaws in the relevant 
laws, Japan must make legal preparations to be able to make a proper 
response." 
 
16) Cabinet decision on additional sanctions against North Korea 
likely to be made today, including total ban on exports 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
June 16, 2009 
 
The government will decide in a cabinet meeting today to totally ban 
exports to North Korea as Japan's additional sanction over its 
second nuclear test in May. The government will also strengthen 
restrictions on the flow of foreign residents, such as permanent 
Korean residents in Japan, between the two countries. It intends to 
quickly implement these sanction measures. 
 
Japan now prohibits exports of only luxury goods and materials 
related to weapons of mass destruction, but it will revise the 
Export Control Order to restrict exports of all items. The measure 
will be valid through April 13 of next year. 
 
Japan will not allow (1) foreign crewmembers to disembark in Japan; 
and (2) foreign residents in Japan who visited North Korea to enter 
Japan again if they are judged to have violated the Japanese 
government's sanctions against the North. The Justice Minister will 
deal with cases by applying the Immigrant Control and Refugee 
Recognition Law. 
 
ZUMWALT