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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 001825 
 
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 08/11/09 
 
Index: 
Democratic Party of Japan (DJP) on the move: 
1) Kyodo trend poll shows DPJ pulling ahead of Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) as the voters' preference in the upcoming Lower House 
election (Tokyo Shimbun) 
2) Fuji-Sankei poll shows DPJ clearly in the lead going into the 
election, although some independent voters have swung back toward 
the LDP (Sankei) 
3) DPJ promises to create a "UN police force" to replace SDF 
overseas dispatch (Sankei) 
4) DPJ President Hatoyama continues to flip-flop on the 
controversial issue of codifying the three non-nuclear principles 
(Asahi) 
5) Gist of current statement of DPJ's security policy (Sankei) 
6) DPJ adds growth strategy to manifesto (election campaign pledges) 
but omits setting numerical target (Sankei) 
7) DPJ's Okada explains party's altering of proposed FTA with U.S. 
in manifesto (Sankei) 
 
8) Prime Minister Aso indicates that he will not be visiting 
Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 (Sankei) 
 
9) First emergency yen loan to go to Thailand (Yomiuri) 
 
Tuna dispute: 
10) Japan could be greatly affected if European proposal to ban 
fishing of bluefin tuna is adopted (Yomiuri) 
11) Japan trying to counter proposed ban on bluefins by own plan to 
restrict fishing (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF JAPAN (DJP) ON THE MOVE 
 
1) Kyodo trend poll shows DPJ pulling ahead of Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) as the voters' preference in the upcoming Lower House 
election 
 
TOKYO (Page 1) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
 
A Kyodo nationwide trend poll (the fourth) conducted by telephone on 
August 8-9 revealed that voters preferring the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) in proportional representation districts in the Lower 
House election fell by 0.3 points to 34.1% compared to the last poll 
(August 1-2), while support for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
dropped 3.4 points to 13.3%, indicating a widening lead for the 
front-running DPJ. Thirty-eight percent (37.6% in the previous poll) 
were undecided. A similar trend was found among voters in 
single-seat electoral districts, with 35.2% (33.9%) of respondents 
choosing the DPJ and 14.8% (16.9%) the LDP. 
 
2) DPJ continues to maintain lead, according to survey 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Slightly abridged) 
August 11, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is making a strong showing in 
the campaigning for the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election, 
according to a telephone survey conducted (Aug. 8-9) jointly by the 
Sankei Shimbun and FNN. Those who said they would vote for the DPJ 
 
TOKYO 00001825  002 OF 008 
 
 
under the proportional representation segment decreased 1.3 points 
from the previous survey (on June 20-21) to 44.6%, but this figure 
was far larger than the 25.4% who picked the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP). The DPJ is expected to garner a large number of votes 
in the proportional representation segment, but the situation 
remains in flux, because unaffiliated voters tend to affect the 
outcome of a Lower House election. 
 
Concerning political parties' support rates, those who selected the 
DPJ stood at 31.1%, up 3 points over the previous survey, while 
those who picked the LDP totaled 22%, up 1.9 points. 
 
Of the respondents supportive of the LDP, 78.6% said they would vote 
for the LDP in the proportional representation segment, although 
86.1% made this reply in the previous survey. Meanwhile, of the LDP 
supporters, those who replied they would vote for the DPJ increased 
to 11.4% from the 7.5%. 
 
The DPJ's support base remains firm. Of the supporters of the DPJ, 
respondents who said they would vote for the DPJ stood at 92.3%, 
down 2 points from the previous survey. In the case of the LDP, the 
rate remained at the 1% level. 
 
Even so, some LDP members have begun to sense a good response in the 
recent campaigning. To prove this, respondents who said they 
supported no party in particular decreased by 7.9 points to 31.4%, 
but those who said they supported the LDP surged from the 16.8% in 
the previous survey to 20.1%. 
 
In the meantime, 37.3% of the unaffiliated voters said they would 
vote for the DPJ, showing a decrease from the 41.5% in the previous 
survey. Yet, 24.2% of the unaffiliated voters have yet to determine 
which party will get their vote in the proportional representation 
blocs. 
 
In 10 of the 11 proportional representation blocs, more respondents 
chose the DPJ than those for the LDP. 
 
In the Chugoku bloc (11 seats), the LDP and the DPJ are waging close 
contests, with 35% each for both parties. The LDP's good fight in 
the bloc is attributed to strong performance by Agriculture, 
Forestry and Fisheries Minister Ishiba (Tottori No. 1 constituency) 
and LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda (Shimane No. 1 
constituency), both of whom have maintained solid support bases in 
the bloc. 
 
In the Shikoku bloc (six seats), those who said they would vote for 
the DPJ accounted for 56.3%, while those for the LDP stood at only 
15.6%. 
 
In the Kinki bloc, which holds the largest number of seats (29) 
among the proportional representation blocs (180 seats), 22.8% 
picked the LDP, while 42% chose the DPJ. 
 
Meanwhile, support rate for the Aso cabinet rose 3 points to 20.5%, 
while non-support rate declined 6.1points to 66.6%. 
 
3) DPJ proposes establishing UN police unit in security policy 
package 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
August 11, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00001825  003 OF 008 
 
 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is considering a plan to set up 
an international emergency police unit (tentative name) in the 
United Nations for military personnel and civilians to engage in 
settling international disputes, according to informed sources 
yesterday. If the party takes over the reins of government, it will 
work on the UN to set up the police unit. This plan is part of its 
efforts to underscore its stance of pursuing "an equal Japan-U.S. 
alliance" and of "placing emphasis on the UN" to domestic and 
foreign audiences. The main opposition party will also look into 
locating the headquarters and training facilities of the police unit 
in Okinawa, in line with efforts to reduce U.S. military bases 
there. 
 
According to a senior party member, President Yukio Hatoyama 
instructed officials in charge of security affairs this February, 
when he was secretary general, to map out this concept, aside from 
the party's policy platform (manifesto) for the upcoming House of 
Representatives election. The plan was included in a draft policy 
package compiled in late July. As a senior member of the Policy 
Research Council said: "The policy package is a collection of a 
variety of views from a number of party members," the package is 
expected to become a guideline for a DPJ government's security 
policy. 
 
The package puts forth "a strategic concept to bring about peace" 
and "growing out of excessive dependence on the U.S." as its basic 
principles. The envisioned police unit would be composed of 
civilians, police officers, military personnel, judicial officers, 
and experts for emergency aid. Those who would voluntarily join the 
unit would be dispatched to settle international disputes at an 
early stage under the UN. Similar proposals have been made by Japan 
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Sadako Ogata and 
others in the past. 
 
4) DPJ perplexed by Hatoyama's wavering on codification of three 
non-nuclear principles 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama has been 
going back and forth on his statements on the three non-nuclear 
principles. Although he had been negative about codifying the three 
principles, he suddenly indicated on August 9, the anniversary of 
Nagasaki's atomic bombing, that the possibility would be studied. 
This vacillation that followed his remark suggesting a possible 
review of the three principles is causing widespread bafflement in 
the party. 
 
At a meeting with an atomic bombing victims' group in Nagasaki on 
August 9, Hatoyama indicated that the codification of the three 
principles will be considered. He said: "How can we protect (the 
three non-nuclear principles)? I think one option is codification. 
Now that you have made the request, I promise that the party will 
study (codification) carefully." However, he had just stated at a 
news conference on August 4 that, "On the other hand, there is the 
risk that the law may be amended." 
 
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) had been making its demand to the 
DPJ to legislate the three principles into law. SDP leader Mizuho 
Fukushima said at her news conference on August 10 that, "We are 
 
TOKYO 00001825  004 OF 008 
 
 
glad we persuaded (the DPJ)." However, there is no indication that 
the DPJ had engaged in prior coordination with the SDP in 
consideration of the latter's position. DPJ Policy Research 
Committee chief Masayuki Naoshima could only say on August 10 that: 
"I have no information on this. I will confirm with the president." 
 
Hatoyama has been zigzagging on his statements on the three 
non-nuclear principles. When he was asked by reporters on the 
alleged secret agreement on the U.S. forces' bringing nuclear 
weapons into Japan on July 14, he answered: "This matter has been 
dealt with in a pragmatic way under a situation where the three 
principles are upheld. We should think in that direction because 
there is indeed a need, such as in relation to the North Korea 
issue." 
 
This was taken to mean that a review is possible, but on the next 
day, Hatoyama dismissed such a possibility: "The three non-nuclear 
principles are being observed right now and will not be violated in 
the near future." On the other hand, he stressed that the issue 
"should be discussed vigorously between Japan and the U.S." The 
inconsistency of his statements has come under fire. 
 
The DPJ's policy index published in July had a passage on "taking 
the lead in the eradication of nuclear weapons" but made no mention 
of the three non-nuclear principles or the secret nuclear agreement. 
Party officials say that "Mr Hatoyama tends to change his statements 
in consideration of the people he is meeting with at the moment." If 
he becomes the prime minister after a change of administration, his 
qualifications may also be questioned, as in the case of Prime 
Minister Taro Aso. 
 
One DPJ House of Councillors member says: "If he said that just 
because he was in Nagasaki, he is likely to be criticized for paying 
only lip service. I hope he shuts up." 
 
5) Main points of DPJ's draft security policies 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
Basic policies 
 
With the growing trend of multipolarization in the world, Japan 
should treasure its independence and self-respect and search for a 
new mode of the Japan-U.S. alliance with the Obama administration of 
the United States. It needs a strategic thinking on the creation of 
peace and should break away from over-dependence on the U.S. The 
U.S. presence should be for the primary purpose of responding to 
factors of instability in Asia. Therefore, it is possible to work 
with a notion centered on the Seventh Fleet. With regard to right of 
self-defense, this should be dealt with as a question limited to 
Japan's defense based on the hitherto theoretical debate on right of 
individual or collective self-defense. 
 
A domestic organization (such as a UN standby rapid response unit) 
for participation in UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) not premised 
on the use of force will be created. The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) 
will assume such duties in the transition period before the creation 
of the new organization. We would like to realize the plan to create 
an "international emergency policy force" as a UN body. It will be 
meaningful to invite the headquarters and training facility of this 
police force to be located in Okinawa along with efforts to reduce 
 
TOKYO 00001825  005 OF 008 
 
 
U.S. military bases in Okinawa. 
 
Afghanistan 
 
There can be no solution through war. A solution should be sought 
through mediation for the cessation of hostilities, development 
projects, police reform, and the revival of the traditional tribal 
conference system. We will seek ways to make contributions other 
than the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
 
Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) 
realignment 
 
SOFA will be reviewed drastically. A mechanism for direct 
consultations between the local communities hosting bases and the 
U.S. forces, similar to that in Germany, will be set up. USFJ 
realignment will be reviewed from scratch. The principle of "not 
constructing any new U.S. military bases in Okinawa" should be 
established clearly. Host nation support is a legacy of the past 
era. 
 
Nuclear disarmament, other issues 
 
We give full support to President Obama's proposals for nuclear 
disarmament. We must persuade the United States and Russia to 
include China's strategic nuclear weapons and mid-range nuclear 
capability in disarmament talks. SDF overseas missions will be 
limited to those having the prior approval of the Diet. 
 
6) DPJ adds economic growth strategy to manifesto, stops short of 
setting numerical targets 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided on August 10 to clarify 
the party's economic growth strategy by including passages on 
"increasing disposable income (net income after deducting taxes and 
social security fees) in order to expand domestic demand" in its 
manifesto (campaign pledges) for the House of Representatives 
election. 
 
The DPJ wants to emphasize that disposable income will increase with 
its policies of introducing the "child allowance" system, toll free 
expressways, and so forth to counter the criticism from the 
government and the ruling parties that "there can be no economic 
recovery under a party without an economic growth strategy." (Prime 
Minister Taro Aso) Its Policy Research Committee chief Masayuki 
Naoshima will hold a news conference on August 11 to announce the 
final version of the manifesto. 
 
Naoshima stressed at a briefing on the DPJ's manifesto in Aomori 
City on August 10 that, "We formulated our policies based on the 
formula of increasing the disposable income of a person with a 4 
million yen annual income by 20 percent as an easy-to-understand 
goal." He indicated that economic growth is possible with the DPJ's 
major policies, including child allowance, toll free expressways, 
income compensation for farming households, and abolition of 
temporary gasoline tax rates. 
 
However, Naoshima stopped short of setting a numerical target for 
economic growth. He said: "While many people think of growth 
 
TOKYO 00001825  006 OF 008 
 
 
strategy as giving figures for economic growth, this is difficult 
for the people to understand." 
 
The final version of the manifesto will also have an entry on 
"legislation on a body for consultations between the national and 
local governments" in response to a strong demand from the national 
association of governors. With regard to the free trade agreement 
(FTA) with the U.S., the wording will be changed from "concluding" a 
FTA to "promoting negotiations" for a FTA, out of consideration for 
the agricultural groups. This means that the DPJ will also be 
revising its manifesto on growth strategy, in addition to the 
Japan-U.S. FTA. 
 
In light of this, Secretary General Katsuya Okada said in a speech 
on August 10 that, "Our goal to conclude a FTA in four years remains 
unchanged." 
 
It appears that Okada was trying to dodge criticisms of 
"opportunism" from the ruling parties by stressing the party's goal 
to conclude a FTA. 
 
7) DPJ Okada explains change of expression on FTA with U.S. 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had initially included in its 
policy platform (manifesto) for the upcoming House of 
Representatives election a plan to conclude a free trade agreement 
(FTA) with the U.S. But the party later changed the word "conclude" 
to "promote negotiations." On this change, Secretary General Katsuya 
Okada emphasized yesterday: "Our basic stance remains unchanged," 
adding: "since a partner is involved, we cannot make a decision on 
our own. We judged it desirable to use the expression, 'promote 
negotiations'." He made this remark in replying to a question at a 
lecture in Tokyo. 
 
Okada said: "It would be desirable if various problems were settled 
in the next four years (before the next election) and (Japan and the 
U.S.) could conclude a FTA, but it is also true that very difficult 
problems exist." By saying, "We have yet to consider lowering or 
abolishing tariffs on mainstay agricultural products," he indicated 
that 'promote negotiations' is an appropriate expression reflecting 
feasibility. 
 
 
8) Prime minister hints that he will not visit Yasukuni Shrine 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Taro Aso on the evening of August 10 hinted at his 
intention not to visit Yasukuni Shrine on August 15, saying, "The 
shrine should be kept far away from political or media frenzies. It 
is a place for people to offer quiet prayers." He made this remark 
in response to a question asked by reporters at the Kantei. 
 
The prime minister in a magazine issued in 2006 proposed turning 
Yasukuni Shrine into a non-religious corporation. On that occasion, 
he said: "Even if a touch of uncertainty remains about the principle 
of separation of religion and government, Yasukuni visits by 
imperial family members, the prime minister, or cabinet ministers 
 
TOKYO 00001825  007 OF 008 
 
 
will become unstable. If they are forced to visit the shrine, their 
actions will politicize the Yasukuni Shrine issue. Yasukuni Shrine 
must be kept completely separate from politics." 
 
With that statement in mind, the prime minister told reporters on 
the 10th, "That is my answer to the Yasukuni issue." 
 
He also stated, "It is wrong to make a political issue out of those 
who gave their precious lives for their country or use the issue in 
election campaigns." 
 
9) First emergency yen loans to go to Thailand 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
August 11, 2009 
 
The government has firmed up its intention to provide Thailand with 
approximately 25 billion yen as the first emergency 
policy-assistance yen loan that Japan will make available to Asian 
countries hit by the global financial and economic crisis. The 
cabinet will soon approve the internal decision. 
 
TUNA DISPUTE 
 
10) U.S., European countries eye bluefin tuna trade ban 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
The U.S. and leading European countries have begun considering 
placing a blanket trade ban on bluefin tuna, the best-quality tuna 
used for sushi and sashimi. Monaco has decided to propose regulating 
the catch of Atlantic tuna in the Atlantic Ocean or the 
Mediterranean Sea at a conference of parties of the Washington 
Treaty to be held in Qatar in March next year. It is now working on 
other European countries to join its efforts. Separate from this 
move, the U.S. has also started looking into a similar action. If 
the proposal is adopted, bluefin tuna prices will skyrocket, which 
will have a major impact on Japan, the greatest tuna importer. 
 
Britain, France and Germany considering supporting Monaco proposal 
 
According to the Fisheries Agency, Monaco intends to draft a 
proposal to include bluefin tuna in Appendix I of the Treaty of 
Washington, which totally bans commercial trade of endangered 
species, like whales and sea turtles. France, Britain and the 
Netherlands are considering supporting Monaco's proposal. 
 
Separate from the moves in Europe, the U.S. is now considering 
whether to subject Atlantic tuna to the regulation. It is now 
gathering opinions from citizens. 
 
Regulating the catch of bluefin tuna requires approval of more than 
two-thirds of votes at the signatory countries' conference. The 
Japanese government intends to work on concerned countries to oppose 
Monaco's proposal, citing that regulating the catch of bluefin tuna 
lacks legitimacy in scientific terms. 
 
Conservation groups strongly working on various countries' 
governments to protect bluefin tuna are behind Monaco's move. Japan 
consumes approximately 4.3 tons of bluefin tuna (in 2008) a year, 
accounting for 80 percent of the amount caught in the world. It 
 
TOKYO 00001825  008 OF 008 
 
 
imports about 40 percent of that amount. If a trade embargo is 
placed on bluefin tuna, Japan will only be able to consume about 2.3 
tons of Pacific tuna caught within 200 nautical miles. 
 
International tuna catch regulations targeting other varieties of 
tuna, such as yellowfin tuna, are also becoming stricter. 
 
11) Japan to propose regulating blue fin tuna catch with aim of 
avoiding total trade embargo 
 
YOMIURI (Page 7) (Full) 
August 11, 2009 
 
Moves to look into imposing an embargo on blue fin trade have 
emerged in Europe and the U.S. The Japanese government's stance is 
that it wants to avoid the worst case scenario - a total ban on the 
export and import of the fish -- by strengthening the regulation on 
blue fin catch. 
 
In November last year the Internal Commission for the Conservation 
of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), an organization that controls tuna 
resources in the Atlantic Ocean, decided to strengthen the 
regulation, by cutting the blue fin catch quota in the Mediterranean 
Sea and the East Atlantic Ocean by 35 percent from a base of the 
2008 level by 2011. Following the current situation, the Japanese 
government plans to propose at a meeting of the commission in 
November this year further cutting catch quotas. 
 
There are five regional fishing control organizations that are 
making efforts to protect tuna resources, including the Western 
Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Indian Ocean 
Tuna Commission, as well as the ICCAT. The Japanese government 
intends to convey its stance to those organizations as well. 
 
However, some have pointed out that since those regional control 
organizations follow a unanimous agreement principle, it is 
difficult for them to adopt a stronger fish catch regulation. It is 
also difficult for them to implement tougher punishments against 
poachers. As such, some believe it is difficult to prevent poaching. 
There is no knowing whether Japan can obtain European and U.S. 
understanding for a proposal for toughening the fish catch 
regulation alone. 
 
ZUMWALT