VZCZCXRO5222
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1581/01 1940024
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 130024Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4505
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7525
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5197
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9003
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 2696
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5715
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0420
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6445
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6111

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001581 
 
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 07/13/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's weekend schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
Tokyo Assembly election: 
4) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) wins by a landslide in critical 
Tokyo election, becoming number one party in the municipal assembly 
(Yomiuri) 
5) Following LDP's defeat in Tokyo election, Prime Minister Aso may 
dissolve the Diet as early as tomorrow  (Yomiuri) 
6) The turnout rate in the Tokyo Assembly election jumped by 10 
points to 54 PERCENT , compared to the last election  (Mainichi) 
7) Exit polls taken during yesterday's Tokyo election show 50 
PERCENT  of unaffiliated voters had turned to the DPJ  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
8) A number of veteran LDP politicians defeated in the Tokyo 
Assembly election  (Sankei) 
9) The DPJ now filled with confidence that it can now win in the 
upcoming Lower House election, bringing about a change in government 
 (Tokyo Shimbun) 
10) For Governor Ishihara, the Tokyo Assembly election was a vote of 
no-confidence against his administration  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
11) DPJ to submit a no confidence motion in the Diet against Prime 
Minister Aso today  (Nikkei) 
12) Some remaining bills in the Diet may have to be scrapped if Diet 
ends abruptly  (Nikkei) 
13) Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party feel they 
might be submerged by the DPJ sweep  (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense and security: 
14) DPJ trying to soften some of the language about host-nation 
support in its political campaign pledges in order ease image of 
confrontation with U.S.  (Mainichi) 
15) Government putting up 34.6 billion yen for Guam relocation of 
U.S. Marines now on Okinawa  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
16) China remains at odds with U.S., Japan, South Korea over how 
best to restart the Six-Party Talks with North Korea  (Nikkei) 
 
17) Former Internal Affairs Minister Kunio Hatoyama in speech claims 
that suicide is linked to parents' DNA  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
18) Simple possession of child pornography will now be illegal, as 
LDP, DPJ reached unified view of the legislation  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi and Yomiuri: 
DPJ claims landslide victory to become top party in Tokyo assembly; 
LDP, New Komeito lose majority 
 
Mainichi, Sankei and Tokyo Shimbun: 
LDP, New Komeito lose majority in Tokyo assembly, may promote 
premier to step down 
 
Nikkei: 
Kirin, Suntory in merger talks to become Japan's top drink firm 
 
Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00001581  002 OF 013 
 
 
JCP wins 8 seats in Tokyo assembly 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) End of Tokyo assembly race: Prime Minister Aso must dissolve 
Lower House for general election 
(2) Pension issue: All efforts must be put into regaining pension 
rights 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) LDP loses big in Tokyo assembly race: LDP must urge Aso to 
dissolve Lower House 
(2) Agriculture competition: Agriculture should become growth 
industry 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) LDP's crushing defeat: Can Aso dissolve the Lower House on his 
own initiative? 
(2) Integrated education: Cooperation among schools should be 
strengthened 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) DPJ's strong achievement in Tokyo election deals staggering blow 
to Prime Minister Aso 
(2) Internet community becoming basis for economic growth 
 
Sankei: 
Prime Minister Aso must look squarely at responsibility for LDP's 
defeat in Tokyo assembly election 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Ruling parties lose majority in Tokyo assembly - major changes in 
nation's capital 
 
Akahata: 
Report by education ministry's informal panel on education 
expenditure cuts cannot be realized before changing politics 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 10, 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 13, 2009 
 
10th Left Leonardo da Vinci International Airport by chartered JAL 
plane. 
 
11th 
18:11 Arrived at Haneda Airport. 
18:52 Entered his name in the register book to report his return 
home. 
19:06 Arrived at the official residence. Then met with Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Kawamura. Then met with Justice Minister Mori and LDP 
Administrative Reform Promotion Headquarters chief Chuma. 
21:50 Met with Lower House member Ryota Takeda. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, 12 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 13, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00001581  003 OF 013 
 
 
 
10:02 Took a walk around the official residence and spent the 
afternoon there. 
 
4) DPJ wins landslide victory in Tokyo election becoming no. 1 party 
in municipal assembly 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
July 13, 2009 
 
The Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election took place yesterday. As a 
result, of the 127 seats up for grabs, the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) won 54 seats and became the largest party in the Tokyo 
Assembly, easily eclipsing the 35 seats it had won in the previous 
election. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) garnered 
only 38 seats, a record low. The LDP and New Komeito, which were 
ruling parties backing Gov. Ishihara, failed to maintain a majority 
of 64 seats, their victory-or-defeat line. Prime Minister and LDP 
President Taro Aso, who used to say that the Tokyo election has no 
direct bearing on national politics, has decided to dissolve the 
House of Representatives this week with the aim of containing the 
drive in the LDP to unseat Aso. Protests and maneuvering in the 
party are likely to intensity. 
 
Based on the results of the Tokyo poll, Aso decided to dissolve the 
Lower House at an early time and conveyed his decision to LDP 
executive yesterday. He is set to dissolve the chamber as early as 
July 14. The poor showing in the Tokyo election followed LDP defeats 
in the Shizuoka gubernatorial election and the Nara mayoralty race. 
Aso has made the decision in the belief that delaying dissolution 
would only lead to more calls from within the party to him to step 
down.  There is already considerable pressure from within the LDP 
for Aso to resign to take responsibility for a series of election 
defeats, and the situation within the ruling bloc has grown 
increasingly tense. 
 
Yesterday, Aso received reports on the metropolitan assembly 
election at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) and 
spoke with LDP heavyweights over the phone. It is believed that he 
asked for their understanding and cooperation over the issue of 
dissolving the Lower House. Aso intends to hold talks with New 
Komeito Representative Akihiro Ota as early as today. Last night, 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura held talks with LDP Secretary 
General Hiroyuki Hosoda at a Tokyo hotel where they agreed that the 
Prime Minister is not responsible for the outcome of the Tokyo 
election and the question of dissolving the Lower House must be left 
entirely to the Prime Minister. If the Lower House is dissolved 
within his week, the general election is likely to be held on Aug. 
¶8. 
 
Number of seats won by each party 
 
(Total of 127 seats) 
 
 Total  Incumbent Former New Pre-election 
strength Previous election winners Candidates 
 
DPJ 54 31 1 22 34 35 58 
LDP 38 33 1 4 48 48 58 
Komeito 23 19 -- 4 22 23 23 
JCP 8 6 -- 2 13 13 40 
NET 2 1 -- 1 4 3 5 
 
TOKYO 00001581  004 OF 013 
 
 
SDP 0 -- -- 0 0 0 2 
Other parties 0 0 -- 0 1 1 13 
Independents  2 1 -- 1 3 4 22 
Total 127 91 2 34 125 127 221 
 
(2 vacancies); NET = Tokyo Seikatsusha Network 
 
5) Prime Minister Aso likely to dissolve Lower House tomorrow 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
July 13, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso decided yesterday to dissolve the House of 
Representatives on July 14 at the earliest with an eye on a general 
election for the Lower House in early August. In the wake of the 
ruling parties' defeat in Sunday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly 
election, moves to oust Aso will certainly gain momentum, but Aso 
has no intention to step down from his post as prime minister. He 
intends to ask for the people's vote of confidence on his economic 
and foreign policies. 
 
However, there is a possibility that Aso will be forced to quit his 
post if many his cabinet ministers oppose dissolution and the New 
Komeito, the junior coalition partner of the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP), launches moves to leave the ruling coalition 
framework. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura last evening telephoned heads 
of the LDP factions and informed them of Aso's decision to dissolve 
the Lower House. Kawamura also asked each of them for their views on 
the matter. Aso plans to kick off an official campaign for the Lower 
House election on July 28 and conduct the election on Aug. 9. 
However, since Aug. 9 marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing in 
Nagasaki, he is also considering starting the official campaign on 
July 27 and holding the election on Aug. 8. 
 
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is set to submit 
a no-confidence motion against the Aso cabinet to the Lower House, 
probably on July 14 at the earliest. The DPJ, however, might submit 
it after July 17, following the Emperor's return home from his 
overseas trip. Otherwise, the Crown Prince will have to act on 
behalf of the Emperor. 
 
Aso decided on an early dissolution while he was attending the Group 
of Eight (G-8) summit (L'Aquila) in Italy. On the evening of July 11 
immediately returning home, he told junior lawmakers, whom he trusts 
in: "I don't mind being criticized, but it is regrettable that the 
LDP is regarded as being makeshift. I am determined (to fight in the 
general election) not only for myself but also for the entire LDP," 
criticizing the moves to move up an LDP presidential election as 
"makeshift." 
 
Aso believes that if the LDP changes again its president, the public 
will abandon it. He has apparently decided that he must fulfill his 
duty as the LDP president elected last September. 
 
Meanwhile, it is certain that calls for a general meeting of all LDP 
lawmakers after July will become stronger. Article 35 of the LDP 
rules stipulates that if one-third (128) of the LDP legislators 
sign, a general meeting must be held within a week. The possibility 
is strong that a decision will be made to accelerate the schedule 
for the presidential race at the general meeting. 
 
TOKYO 00001581  005 OF 013 
 
 
 
6) Voter turnout rises 10 points to 54 PERCENT  in Tokyo election 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
July 13, 2009 
 
The voter turnout in yesterday's election for the Tokyo metropolitan 
assembly was 54.49 PERCENT , up 10.50 points from the last Tokyo 
metropolitan assembly election in 2005, when it was the second 
lowest. The figure is the second highest next to that in 1989 (58.74 
PERCENT ) when the now-defunct Japan Socialist Party made great 
strides and a number of female candidates were elected to the 
metropolitan assembly. In April and afterward, candidates affiliated 
with the Liberal Democratic Party and those affiliated with the 
Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto) contended in the nation's five 
major local elections, including the mayoral race in Nagoya City. In 
those local elections, the voter turnout went up. In four of those 
elections, DPJ-affiliated candidates were elected. This time as 
well, the high turnout of voters apparently led to the DPJ's 
prevailing. 
 
7) Exit poll: LDP backers also vote for DPJ candidates 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) 
July 13, 2009 
 
In yesterday's election for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly, the 
Tokyo Shimbun conducted an exit poll of voters at 26 polling 
stations and obtained answers from a total of 1,089 voters about 
which political party's candidate they voted for. In the exit poll, 
51.6 PERCENT  answered that they had voted for candidates who ran 
from the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto). The Liberal 
Democratic Party was low at 23.6 PERCENT , followed by the Japanese 
Communist Party at 11.4 PERCENT , the New Komeito party at 8.5 
PERCENT , and the Seikatsusha Net party at 1.3 PERCENT . The DPJ 
garnered votes not only from floating voters but also form LDP 
supporters. The DPJ gained crossover support in a tailwind to 
national politics. 
 
In the breakdown of those polled, floating voters with no particular 
party affiliation accounted for 24.2 PERCENT . Among them, 53.6 
PERCENT  cast their votes for the DPJ, with 17.5 PERCENT  voting for 
the LDP. In the exit poll of voters in the last Tokyo metropolitan 
assembly election in 2005, the DPJ scored 33 PERCENT , followed by 
the JCP at 21.4 PERCENT . This time, however, the JCP was at 14.4 
PERCENT . This shows that non-LDP floating voters cast their votes 
for the DPJ rather than the JCP. 
 
In the exit poll, voters were also asked what they had factored in 
when voting. In the breakdown of their answers, "political party or 
group" topped all other answers at 37.6 PERCENT , followed by 
"policy" at 26.2 PERCENT , and "personality" at 20.9 PERCENT . This 
can be taken to reflect the campaign battle of political parties 
themselves rather than their candidates as a prelude to the next 
election for the House of Representatives. 
 
Among all those polled as well, those who gave first consideration 
"political party or group" accounted for 41.3 PERCENT . 
 
In addition, respondents were also asked which political party they 
supported. In the breakdown of their answers, the LDP stood at 28.5 
PERCENT , with the DPJ at 31.9 PERCENT . The gap was 3.4 points. 
 
TOKYO 00001581  006 OF 013 
 
 
However, 29.4 PERCENT  of LDP supporters cast their votes for the 
DPJ. Among those LDP voters, the LDP was at 59 PERCENT . This 
resulted in pushing up the DPJ. The DPJ secured votes from 88.2 
PERCENT  of its supporters. 
 
Respondents were further asked which political party they would vote 
for in the next election for the House of Representatives, which is 
said to be an election to choose political parties for government. 
In this popularity ranking of political parties for proportional 
representation, the DPJ topped all other parties at 53.4 PERCENT , 
with the LDP at 22.3 PERCENT , the New Komeito at 7 PERCENT , and 
the JCP at 6.2 PERCENT . The voter inclination to the DPJ was 
stronger than the voting behavior in the metropolitan assembly 
election this time. 
 
The DPJ was chosen by 56.7 PERCENT  of floating voters, 26.5 PERCENT 
 of LDP supporters, and 15.3 PERCENT  of JCP supporters. 
 
8) Many veteran LDP Tokyo assemblymen lose their seats in 
single-seat constituencies 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 13, 2009 
 
In yesterday's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election, the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) suffered a historic defeat partly because 
many of its candidates were defeated in single seat-constituencies 
where one-on-one battles took place with Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) candidates. In fact, out of seven single-seat constituencies, 
only one LDP candidate won a seat. The LDP had five assemblymen 
representing five single-seat constituencies before the election. 
 
Haruyasu Tateishi, 67, who sought his eighth term in Chuo Ward, was 
defeated by a 55-year-old DPJ newcomer. It was a symbolic event. In 
Chiyoda Ward, Shigeru Uchida, 70, who sought his seventh term, was 
defeated by a 26-year-old DPJ newcomer, putting an end to the seat 
held for half a century by the LDP. Uchida, who serves as the 
secretary general of the LDP Tokyo chapter, was a strongman. In Ome, 
DPJ candidate Yoko Yamashita, 50, a former announcer, beat the LDP's 
Arinobu Nomura, 68, who sought his fifth term. In these 
constituencies, the DPJ candidates defeated the strong incumbent LDP 
candidates after head-on clashes, although the Japan Communist 
Party, too, had its candidates. 
 
In Akishima, LDP-backed newcomer Genzaburo Sugisaki, 59, was beaten 
by Yuko Hoshi 51, also a novice endorsed by the DPJ, the Social 
Democratic Party, and the People's New Party. In Musashino, DPJ 
incumbent Reiko Matsushita, 38, prevented Yasuhiro Omino, 46, from 
achieving his comeback. In Koganei, Masato Takagi, 50, was also lost 
to JDP incumbent Shinichiro Nishioka, 40. Chuichi Kawashima, 62, an 
incumbent in the island area, was the only one who has successfully 
kept his single-seat. 
 
Severe results in the single-seat constituencies seem to be a sign 
of an uphill battle for LDP in the upcoming Lower House election. 
 
9) DPJ confident it will take reins of government 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Almost full) 
July 13, 2009 
 
Now that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has secured the 
 
TOKYO 00001581  007 OF 013 
 
 
position of the leading party in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly 
election, it is confident that it can realize a power shift in the 
next Lower House election. Taking advantage of its victory in the 
Tokyo election, the party will go on the offensive with the aim of 
bringing about Lower House dissolution, using a no-confidence motion 
against the Aso cabinet and a censure motion against the prime 
minister, which it is expected to submit to the Lower and Upper 
Houses respectively as early as the 13th. 
 
The DPJ has achieved consecutive victories in major local elections, 
such as Nagoya, Saitama, and Chiba (government ordinance cities) 
mayoral elections, and the Shizuoka gubernatorial election on the 
5th. It also won the Nara mayoral election. 
 
In an effort to keep up the momentum, party executives, such as 
President Yukio Hatoyama, Deputy President Naoto Kan and Secretary 
General Katsuya Okada, energetically toured closely-contested 
constituencies. 
 
Hatoyama tried to attract support, linking a victory in the Tokyo 
election to the realization of a change in government, noting, "In 
order to achieve a change in administration, we must first gain the 
control of the metropolitan government." 
 
In the previous 2005 Lower House election, the DPJ secured only one 
victory among 25 single-seat constituencies in Tokyo. It lost many 
seats in urban areas, such as Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Osaka, which led 
to a crushing defeat. 
 
Since restoring party strength in urban areas has been its major 
challenge in connection with winning the Lower House election, the 
party has now secured a foothold with the landslide victory in the 
Tokyo election. 
 
Hatoyama had to win the Tokyo election for his own sake as well. The 
Tokyo election took place while he was being pursued by the ruling 
camp over the revelation of a false political fund donations 
statement involving him. There was a scene where he gave 
explanations on the matter during a campaign speech. It was 
imperative for him to give the impression that the DPJ's strength is 
continuing to grow in order to shrug off the negative impact of this 
problem as well. 
 
The outcome of the Tokyo election has given impetus to the 
realization of a shift in power. Deputy President Naoto Kan 
appearing at the party headquarters on the evening of the 12th 
called on Prime Minister Aso to dissolve the Lower House quickly, 
noting: "This is the result of confidence in the DPJ being boosted. 
Dissolving the Diet at this point in time is the prime minister's 
duty to his people. 
 
10) Tokyo assembly election seen as no confidence vote against Gov. 
Ishihara's administration; Pending issues face severe situation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
July 13, 2009 
 
Yoshimi Ishikawa, city news reporter 
 
Under the slogan of "changing the government starting in Tokyo," the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has won a landslide victory in the 
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election. The Tokyo assembly reflects 
 
TOKYO 00001581  008 OF 013 
 
 
accurately the alignment of forces in national politics in the 
run-up to the upcoming House of Representatives election. The 
political upheaval resulting from the failure of the ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito -- parties backing Governor 
Shintaro Ishihara -- to win a majority was also a harsh verdict on 
Ishihara's administration. 
 
The DPJ put forward two "no's" as the point of contention with the 
governor and the ruling parties in the election campaign. It opposed 
injecting more funds to rescue ShinGinko Tokyo, a failed bank that 
has become Ishihara's Achilles heel, and the controversial 
relocation of the Tsukiji fish market to an (environmentally 
polluted) site that used to be a gas factory. 
 
The opposition forces led by the DPJ are in agreement about urging 
the early pull out of the Tokyo government from ShinGinko Tokyo and 
reconsidering keeping the Tsukiji market where it is on the 
relocation issue. 
 
The situation is such that these pending issues, which will be the 
key to predicting the fate of the Ishihara administration, will face 
rough sailing, including possible reviews. 
 
In yesterday's election, the LDP lost its seats to the DPJ one by 
one in the single-seat districts, which symbolized the confrontation 
between the ruling parties and the opposition. 
 
Ishihara, who has exercised strong leadership by facing up to the 
national government, may even see his free hand restrained, after 
losing the support of a stable majority in the assembly and now 
having to work with minority ruling parties. 
 
Ishihara, who has announced his retirement after serving out his 
present term, has about two years left in office. Tokyo's bid to 
host the Olympic Games, which Ishihawa is putting utmost effort 
into, will be decided in October when the host city is decided. The 
outcome my affect Ishihara's retirement, and moves to succeed him 
may gather momentum. 
 
11) DPJ makes great strides in Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election: 
Plans to submit no-confidence motion today 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 13, 2009 
 
Having become the largest party for the first time in the Tokyo 
Metropolitan Assembly election on July 12, the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) is determined to strengthen its offensive against the 
ruling parties this week with an eye on the next Lower House 
Election, in which the party is aiming to take the reins of 
government. It intends to submit on the 13th a no-confidence motion 
against the cabinet to the Lower House and a censure motion against 
the prime minister to the Upper House. Other opposition parties are 
expected to join step with the DPJ in forcing Prime Minister Taro 
Aso to dissolve the Lower House at an early date for a snap 
election. Behind the DPJ's call for early Lower House dissolution 
appears to be the scenario that it wants to avoid of a counterattack 
by the ruling parties over such issues as the false statement of 
political fund donations involving President Yukio Hatoyama. 
 
 
Promoting change in administration as goal 
 
TOKYO 00001581  009 OF 013 
 
 
 
Since the launch of the Hatoyama leadership, the DPJ has achieved 
consecutive victories in major local elections, such as Saitama and 
Chiba mayoral elections and the Shizuoka gubernatorial election. In 
a bid to carry this momentum to the upcoming Lower House election, 
the DPJ fought the Metropolitan Assembly election by promoting a 
change in administration as its goal. Meeting the press at the party 
headquarters after the general voting trend was determined, 
Secretary General Katsuya Okada made a victory statement, saying: 
"The citizens of Tokyo have said 'no' to the forgoing of Lower House 
dissolution and the disarray in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). 
The result will encourage us in the run-up to the upcoming general 
election." 
 
The DPJ's basic strategy is to confront Prime Minister Aso, who is 
suffering from sluggish support rates for his cabinet. The 
DPJ-sponsored no-confidence motion against Aso will likely be voted 
down with a majority vote by the ruling parties. If Aso wins the 
vote of confidence, the move to oust him, which is growing in the 
LDP, will lose steam because of the party's crushing defeat in the 
Tokyo election, enabling Aso to dissolve the Lower House at his own 
initiative. Okada checked the move to oust Aso, saying: "The LDP has 
been changing its public faces one after another. They are now 
trying to push (Mr. Aso) out of office less than a year since he 
took office." 
 
Hatoyama, Okada, and Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa will confer on 
the no-confidence and censure motions after a roll call on the bill 
amending the Organ Transplant Law is over at an Upper House plenary 
session on the afternoon of the 13th. They will hold meetings with 
secretaries general and chairmen of the Diet Affairs Committees of 
the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party and call on 
them to jointly submit those motions. The Japanese Communist Party 
is also expected to support the motions. 
 
There is apparently another reason that the DPJ is seeking quick 
Lower House dissolution. The ruling parties are strengthening the 
pursuit of Hatoyama over his political fund problem. The Lower House 
Special Committee on Political Ethics and the Revision of the 
Offices Election Law has been repeatedly calling on Hatoyama to give 
unsworn testimony. If Lower House dissolution is put off to a later 
date, the favorable mood for the DPJ following its landslide victory 
in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election could change. If the LDP 
presidential election takes place right before the next Lower House 
election, it is bound to become the best opportunity for the ruling 
parties to attack the DPJ. 
 
12) Amended organ transplant law to pass Diet today; other bills may 
be scrapped due to impact of vote of no confidence on Diet schedule 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 13, 2009 
 
The deliberation of key legislations at the extended Diet session 
will reach a critical stage early this week. The House of 
Councillors is expected to pass the amendment to the organ 
transplant law on July 13, after which the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) is boycotting the deliberation of other bills, so it is now 
uncertain whether the special measures law to facilitate cargo 
inspection on ships going in and out of North Korea and other 
important bills can be enacted. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001581  010 OF 013 
 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso, who just returned from the G-8 L'Aquila 
Summit, asked Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura at his official 
residential quarters on the evening of July 11: "What is going to 
happen to the amended organ transplant law?" 
 
This is because by convention, if the House of Representatives is 
dissolved, bills being deliberated in the Diet will all be scrapped, 
and it is widely believed that if Aso dissolves the Diet before the 
organ transplant law is passed, there will be a strong public 
opinion backlash, especially from the patients' groups. This means 
that the prime minister's exercise of his power of dissolution may 
be restrained. 
 
Of the 69 bills submitted by the government to the current Diet 
session, 62 or around 90 percent have been enacted. All 14 treaties 
have also been approved. There are only a handful of important 
bills, including the cargo inspection law and bills related to 
national civil service reform, left to be deliberated. However, the 
DPJ is poised to boycott Diet business, except for the organ 
transplant law, after it submits a motion of no confidence on the 
Diet on July 13. Therefore, it will be difficult to pass the 
remaining laws in the current session. 
 
The ruling parties plan to pass the cargo inspection law in the 
Lower House on July 14, but even if they railroad the bill through 
the Lower House, it will be hard to predict when the Upper House 
will deliberate on he bill. Even the bills relating to civil service 
reform, on which the ruling parties and the DPJ had agreed to 
discuss revisions, may now be scrapped as well. 
 
13) JCP, SDP fear sinking into insignificance 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged slightly) 
July 13, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) made a large leap in yesterday's 
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Election. Given the situation, the Japan 
Communist Party (JCP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the 
People's New Party (PNP) are concerned that the DPJ might become a 
sole winner in the upcoming House of Representatives election, 
overshadowing them all. 
 
JCP Chairman Kazuo Shii indicated in a press conference last night 
that his party will demonstrate a clear difference with the DPJ, 
saying: "Logic introduced in the Tokyo poll to choose between the 
LDP and the DPJ worked against us. We will work hard to drive home 
our polities ahead of the next Lower House election." 
 
SDP Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno in a press conference said: 
"A large part of anti-LDP votes flew into the DPJ. The DPJ clearly 
lacks something, and we are going to say what must be said." He thus 
indicated that the SDP would exert strong influence in a coalition 
government that is likely to be launched by opposition parties after 
the next Lower House election. 
 
Meanwhile, PNP Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei told a press 
conference: "There is a possibility that the DPJ will monopolize 
votes in the proportional representation segment. We must work hard 
to demonstrate our presence." 
 
14) DPJ watering down anti-U.S. color in security policies in draft 
manifesto, discarding review of host nation support 
 
TOKYO 00001581  011 OF 013 
 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
July 12, 2009 
 
Nariyuki Tanaka 
 
The entries on foreign and security policies in the "2009 policy 
index," which will serve as the first draft of the Democratic Party 
of Japan (DPJ) manifesto (campaign pledges) for the forthcoming 
House of Representatives election, were revealed on July 11. In 
relation to the Japan-U.S. alliance, entries on policy reviews 
toward reducing the burden imposed by U.S. military bases in Japan 
and a review of host nation support for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) 
(the so-called sympathy budget), two items that were included in the 
policy index as of last fall, have been discarded. It is believed 
that this was in response to objections from the U.S. side. With the 
increasing probability of a change of administration, the DPJ has 
watered down its confrontational stance toward the U.S. The party is 
currently formulating its official manifesto based on the policy 
index and will publish the document after the dissolution of the 
Diet. 
 
In the 2008 policy index, the DPJ called for a "reconsideration of 
the role of the U.S. forces in Asia and the Pacific and the role of 
U.S. military bases in Japan in order to reduce the burden imposed 
by the bases" under its policy goal of "establishing a Japan-U.S. 
alliance for the new era." It wanted to "work on a drastic revision 
of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and continuously 
examine Japan's share in the cost of USFJ realignment, the 
implementation of the sympathy budget, and so on." 
 
However, the 2009 policy index only talks about "working on SOFA 
revision while also continuing to review USFJ realignment and the 
U.S. military bases." Words such as "drastic" and "continuously 
examine" were removed. 
 
15) Gov't to pay 34.6 billion yen to U.S. for Guam relocation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
July 12, 2009 
 
The government has decided to make its first disbursement of 336 
million dollars (approx. 34.6 billion yen) to the United States in 
fiscal 2009 to share the cost of relocating U.S. Marines from 
Okinawa to Guam, and the government exchanged notes yesterday to 
that effect with the U.S. government. This is a step to follow up 
the Diet's approval in May of the Guam relocation pact with the 
United States that sets the ceiling of Japan's financial burden at 
2.8 billion dollars. The government will continue its funding next 
year and afterward. 
 
However, moving Okinawa-based U.S. Marines to Guam is contingent on 
"specific progress" in the relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma 
airfield in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a location in the 
prefecture. The Guam relocation therefore may not be translated into 
reality by 2014 as stipulated in the pact. In that case, base 
infrastructure will be constructed on Guam first with Japan's 
cooperation. 
 
According to the Foreign Ministry, Japan's share of the burden this 
time is broken down into 320.9 million dollars for on-base 
infrastructure construction, including land development for billets, 
 
TOKYO 00001581  012 OF 013 
 
 
and 15.1 million dollars for designing billets and other facilities. 
These projects are expected to be started shortly, the Foreign 
Ministry says. 
 
The U.S. Defense Department has also earmarked 378 million dollars 
in its defense budget for fiscal 2010 (October 2009 through 
September 2010) as its first full-fledged spending for the Guam 
relocation. The Pentagon plans to accelerate Guam's preparation for 
the relocation of Marines from Okinawa. 
 
Concerning Futenma relocation, Okinawa Prefecture has strongly 
called for the construction site of its alternative facility to be 
moved offshore. The Japanese and U.S. governments are both 
expressing reservations about this offshore site. 
 
16) Resumption of Six-Party Talks: Differences in opinion on 
excluding North Korea - Japan, U.S., ROK mulling "five-party talks"; 
China cautious about open conflict 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 13, 2009 
 
Differences in opinion among the concerned countries have emerged 
over how to resume the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear 
issue. While Japan, the U.S., and the ROK are looking for a 
breakthrough by holding five-party talks, China remains cautious on 
this idea due to its concerns about isolating the DPRK. The foreign 
ministers of the six nations will gather at the ASEAN Regional Forum 
in late July, but it remains uncertain whether they can find a way 
to hold dialogue. 
 
At his meeting with Akitaka Saiki, director general of the Asian and 
Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), 
on the evening of July 9, PRC Vice Foreign Minister Wu Dawei 
expressed doubts about the five-party talks idea that Japan, the 
U.S., and the ROK are looking at: "It will not be helpful for the 
five nations to gather and criticize North Korea." Saiki persisted 
in persuading him, noting that "the UN Security Council (UNSC) 
resolution has already criticized (the DPRK)," but Wu would not 
consent to holding the talks. 
 
The idea of holding five-party talks was first suggested by ROK 
President Lee Myung Bak. This is meant to verify the implementation 
of the sanctions under UNSC Resolution 1874, demonstrate a strong 
determination toward denuclearization, and thus apply pressure on 
the DPRK. However, there has been persistent criticism that, "It is 
meaningless to make any decisions without DPRK participation." 
(senior MOFA official) 
 
The Japanese and U.S. governments take a slightly more neutral 
position than the ROK, regarding the five-party talks as a means to 
resume the Six-Party Talks. A senior government official asserted, 
"It is better to meet than not to meet. However, it will not do to 
engage in five-party talks alone," revealing a subtle difference 
from the ROK position. 
 
On the other hand, China has argued that the five-party talks will 
only serve to define the paradigm of confrontation between the DPRK 
and the five other countries, and this would only give North Korea 
an excuse not to return to the Six-Party Talks. It favors the 
approach of looking for an opening to hold dialogue without 
provoking the DPRK. 
 
TOKYO 00001581  013 OF 013 
 
 
 
The ASEAN Regional Forum opening in Thailand on July 23 is one of 
the few international meetings attended by the DPRK. Japan, the 
U.S., the ROK think that this will be an opportunity for the foreign 
ministers of the five nations to exchange views on resuming the 
Six-Party Talks. China is expected to indicate its response after Wu 
completes his visit of the four other Six-Party Talks participants. 
A senior MOFA official says: "Right now, no clever solution is in 
sight." 
 
17) Former Internal Affairs Minister Hatoyama in speech: "Suicides 
are related to DNA" 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Except) 
July 13, 2009 
 
Former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communication Kunio Hatoyama 
of the Liberal Democratic Party, in a speech he gave in his home 
district in Fukuoka Prefecture on July 12, gave his views on a 
number of cases of suicides of parents and their children, saying, 
"It has been said that when one commits suicide, there is some kind 
of DNA at work." 
 
With suicides in Japan now exceeding an annual 30,000 persons, it 
has become a social challenge to deal with preventing that act. But 
his statement can only lead to creating the erroneous view that 
suicide has something to do with heredity. 
 
18) Simple possession of child pornography to be banned, as ruling 
parties and DPJ reach unified view on amendment to law 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpt) 
July 13, 2009 
 
It was revealed as of yesterday that a draft revision of a bill to 
strengthen measures to stop the spread of child pornography brings 
together the bill proposed by the ruling parties and the bill by the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). On the key point of issue, the 
question of simple possession of child pornography, photos or film, 
collected by individuals, agreement between the two camps has been 
reached. However, there is a difference in views in the ruling camp 
about the case of such material possessed prior to the new law going 
into effect, and consideration is still being as to whether to make 
such possession a punishable offense. Final coordination is now 
going on. The three parties aim at passage of the amended law this 
session, but since the DPJ has decided to file a no-confidence 
motion on July 13, and there is a rumor that the Lower House would 
then be dissolved, it is unknown whether the bill will be passed on 
time. 
 
POST