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Viewing cable 09TOKYO1834, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 08/12/09

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09TOKYO1834 2009-08-12 00:17 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO0185
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1834/01 2240017
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120017Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5321
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 8155
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5823
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9632
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3261
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6338
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0382
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7042
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6671
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001834 
 
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 08/12/09 
 
Index: 
 
1) Japan helpless to do anything as military junta in Burma finds 
Aung San Suu Kyi guilty of trumped up charges (Asahi) 
 
Afghan reconstruction: 
2) Japan sending 10 election observers to Afghanistan (Mainichi) 
3) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Hatoyama says he has no 
intention of sending SDF to assist Afghanistan's reconstruction 
(Nikkei) 
 
DPJ in spotlight: 
4) DPJ makes changes in manifesto (campaign pledges), including 
wording of proposed FTA with U.S. (Mainichi) 
5) DPJ altered manifesto every time a group or association protested 
(Mainichi) 
6) Hatoyama again turns fuzzy about proposed codifying of Japan's 
three no-nuclear principles (Sankei) 
7) Hatoyama will not pay homage at Yasukuni Shrine (Sankei) 
8) Mayors of 18 major cities praise DPJ's manifesto (Mainichi) 
9) Powerful governors' group endorses DPJ (Sankei) 
 
10) Joint campaign pledges of ruling camp features MSDF refueling 
mission, anti-piracy, and ship searches (Mainichi) 
11) Bluefin tuna ban to hit Japan hard: Japan consumes 80% of world 
tuna catches and ban would cut tuna consumption by half (Asahi) 
12) Private forecasters see GDP growing in second quarter (Asahi) 
 
13) Government statistics show Japan's population continuing to 
decline (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Desperate to hold on to power, Burmese military junta silences 
Aung San Suu Kyi; Japan's dialogue policy ineffective 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
August 12, 2009 
 
Makoto Igarashi 
 
The military junta in Burma (Mynmar), dropping all pretenses, has 
taken action to exclude Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the 
democratization movement in the country, from the general election 
to be held next year. Suu Kyi will be placed under house arrest and 
deprived of freedom of movement for 18 months, during which time, 
the junta plans to further consolidate its dictatorial rule. The 
international community's call for democratization has been ignored 
by the military junta, and the United Nations and the Japanese 
government are distressed by this situation. 
 
Aung San Suu Kyi, the eldest daughter of General Aung San, "father 
of Burmese independence," was born in Rangoon (now Yangon) in 1945. 
She studied political science and other subjects in India and the UK 
and married British scholar Michael Aris (who passed away in 1999). 
She has been arrested and placed under house arrest on and off by 
the military junta since 1989 for a total of nearly 14 years. She 
was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone issued a statement criticizing 
the sentence pronounced on Suu Kyi, calling the verdict "extremely 
regrettable" and Suu Kyi's situation "extremely unfortunate." A 
 
TOKYO 00001834  002 OF 009 
 
 
senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official lamented that, "We have 
to admit that Japan's persuasion had not been effective." 
 
After Suu Kyi was prosecuted, Nakasone called Burmese Foreign 
Minister Nyan Win several times and asked for "appropriate handling" 
of this matter. While the Japanese government did not specify how it 
wanted the case to be handled out of consideration for the military 
junta, since "the administration of justice is an internal affair," 
it had in mind Suu Kyi's release. 
 
Japan has so far adopted a policy different from the confrontational 
approach of Europe and America of imposing economic sanctions on the 
military junta. This was based on the thinking that maintaining 
links with the military government would enable the exercise of 
influence. 
 
However, Japan's influence has been declining, losing ground to 
pro-military junta countries like China. In light of the verdict on 
Suu Kyi, the Western countries and the international community are 
expected to apply stronger pressure on the junta. The reality is 
that Japan does not have a strategy on what it can do to change the 
junta's attitude under this situation. 
 
Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai was shot in September 2007 while 
engaged in news gathering during the anti-government demonstrations 
in Burma. The government has not even been successful in negotiating 
with Burma for the return of Nagai's personal belongings and 
investigation into his killing. It is possible that Japan will come 
under pressure from other countries to rectify its policy of 
moderation and dialogue. 
 
Sophia University Professor Kei Nemoto, an expert on Burmese 
politics, points out that "indirect persuasion using words like 
'appropriate handling' has no impact at all on the military junta." 
 
AFGHAN RECONSTRUCTION 
 
2) Foreign Ministry to send monitoring team of 10 observers for 
Afghan presidential election 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The Foreign Ministry announced yesterday a plan to dispatch a team 
of 10 observers, headed by Takehiro Kagawa, deputy director general 
of the ministry's Middle Eastern and African Affairs Bureau, to 
Afghanistan to monitor the Aug. 20 presidential election. 
Coordination is underway between the ministry and the Independent 
Election Commission (IEC) and other parties involved on which area 
the team should be sent. The observers will monitor vote counting. 
 
3) DPJ President Hatoyama not considering direct dispatch of 
Self-Defense Forces for Afghan support 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
On a Nihon Television program the heads of the six parties met all 
together for the first time since the dissolution of the House of 
Representatives.  They debated security and funding for policies. 
 
Yukio Hatoyama, president of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), 
 
TOKYO 00001834  003 OF 009 
 
 
reiterated that he would not extend the Maritime Defense Force's 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean, which is scheduled to end 
in January 2010. He was also cool toward replacing the refueling 
operation with assistance measures for the Afghan people. "The 
Self-Defense Forces are not always welcome," he said. "I'm not 
considering their direct dispatch." Prime Minister Aso Taro, 
president of the Liberal Democratic Party, stressed the importance 
of continuing the refueling operation. "The refueling operation has 
had a major impact," he said. 
 
On the same day Hatoyama mentioned the refueling operation during a 
press conference for foreign media. "Simply put, the refueling 
operation will not be extended past January (of next year)." He also 
asserted that he "would like to chart a course that could lead to 
cooperation in helping the Afghan Government with nation-building 
and in stabilizing the lives of the Afghan people." 
 
During the program the Prime Minister and Hatoyama also exchanged 
words over the child allowance.  "Funding of 5 trillion yen is 
necessary," said Aso. "That amount can be realized by slashing 
waste, although what should be cut is a question." Hatoyama 
responded that if the budget was reviewed, "there would be funding." 
 
 
Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party, criticized the 
ruling parties, noting that "child support (in Japan) is at the 
lowest level among advanced nations." He also attacked the DPJ, 
pointing out that its budget plan would "raise taxes for 6 million 
households." 
 
DPJ IN SPOTLIGHT 
 
4) DPJ releases five revisions to manifesto, including Japan-U.S. 
FTA 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) released five revisions to its 
manifesto (campaign pledges), including wording about a free trade 
agreement (FTA) with the U.S. It has formally incorporated the 
establishment of a venue for consultation between the central and 
local governments. It has also added three items -a growth strategy, 
improved assistance for fertility treatment, and an explanation of 
the details of a pension tax system. The DPJ has reflected in its 
manifesto since its release on July 27 proposals made by several 
members of the Association of Prefectural Governors and agricultural 
organizations, and views heard at briefings given at 10 locations 
throughout the country. This will be the final version of its 
manifesto. The DPJ's revisions to key policy measures have incurred 
the criticism of the ruling parties and the public. As such, there 
is concern about its impact on its election campaigns. 
 
Regarding an FTA with the U.S., the wording has been changed from 
"will sign" to "promote talks." The wording "measures that could 
hamper the promotion of domestic agriculture or farm villages will 
not be adopted" has been added. Regarding economic partnership 
agreements (EPA) and FTAs with various countries in the Asia-Pacific 
region, too, the wording "proactively promote the signing of EPAs or 
FTAs" has been replaced with the wording "proactively promoting 
talks." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001834  004 OF 009 
 
 
Concerning child-rearing and education, wording that the party will 
consider approving the use of medical insurance for fertility 
treatment to improve assistance has been added to the item noting 
that the economic burden of childbirth would be reduced. Those 
proposals were mentioned in the Index 2009, the basis of the 
manifesto, covering the details of policies in each area. Since the 
party received many inquires, when it released the package, it 
decided to clearly mention those proposals in the manifesto. 
 
 
Some have pointed out that since deduction for spouse would be 
abolished in place of the establishment of child allowance, the 
burden on pensioners might increase. 
 
For this reason, the DPJ has decided to stress that regarding the 
pension tax system, as the deduction for public pensions is to be 
expanded and the deduction for the elderly people is to be restored, 
the tax burden shouldered by pension recipients will be reduced. 
 
The growth strategy has been newly incorporated in response to 
criticism from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and business 
circles that there was no reference to one. The DPJ's growth 
strategy says that the party will increase the disposable income of 
households with such policies as the introduction of a child 
allowance and toll-free expressways and realize stable economic 
growth by changing the Japanese economy to one driven by domestic 
demand. 
 
5) Faced with criticism, DPJ revises manifesto, exposes internal 
discord 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) announced revisions to its 
manifesto (campaign pledges) on August 11 because of complaints from 
the concerned groups about the manifesto it published on July 27. It 
can also be said that this situation has exposed the half-baked 
debate in the party. 
 
At his news conference on August 11, DPJ Policy Research Committee 
chief Masayuki Naoshima reacted strongly to the view that he was 
presenting a "revised version" of the party's manifesto. He asserted 
that, "This is not a revision of the standing policies of the DPJ, 
but a more detailed version of policies already presented. In that 
sense, it is not a revision." 
 
However, when President Yukio Hatoyama presented the previous 
manifesto, he had gone as far as declaring that he would "take 
responsibility if the policies in the manifesto are not 
implemented." Subsequently, when faced with criticism of the 
document, he changed tack and said, "The manifesto published on July 
27 is not the official one," explaining that this was a "provisional 
version." 
 
The DPJ has been forced to revise its manifesto because the document 
was drafted by only a handful of senior officials in order to 
prevent the leaking of information to other parties. For this 
reason, the failure to include "legislation on a body for 
consultations between the national and local governments," which had 
been a hot issue with the national association of governors, came 
under fire even inside the party. 
 
TOKYO 00001834  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
The DPJ has added its economic growth strategy in the manifesto in 
haste after the business sector and experts pointed out the absence 
of such a strategy. A senior party official expresses his regret, 
saying, "We failed to pay attention to the details." 
 
Farming groups also reacted strongly to the pledge on a free trade 
agreement (FTA) with the U.S., which prompted a senior party 
official to soften the expression on "concluding" a FTA to 
"promoting the negotiations" for a FTA because "this has caused 
misunderstanding." However, Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa has 
objected to the revision, saying, "There is nothing wrong" with the 
original wording. Discord within the leadership has also been 
exposed. 
 
Meanwhile, the ruling parties are critical of the DPJ's behavior. 
 
During a stumping speech in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture in the 
early evening of August 11, Prime Minister Taro Aso said: "(The DPJ) 
keeps changing its position and wavering. They have revised their 
manifesto after publishing it. You cannot trust such an 
administration." One senior Liberal Democratic Party official quips 
that, "The DPJ is merely applying another layer of makeup." 
 
6) Hatoyama again fuzzy about codifying three no-nuclear principles, 
suggesting issue may be put off 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama, in a press 
conference at party headquarters for the foreign media, said this 
about codifying the three no-nuclear principles: "There have been a 
number of requests and we are studying it, but while considering 
such, I would like debate if it is really appropriate." He suggested 
that the result of the study might be put off. 
 
While in Nagasaki on August 9, he had just told a group of 
atomic-bomb victims who had requested the principles be made into 
law: "It is important to protect the three principles. I promise 
that the party will give proper consideration (to codifying them)." 
But only two days later, he made the above statement, prompting 
criticism from the ruling camp that he was again blurring the 
issue. 
 
7) DPJ President Hatoyama says he will not visit Yasukuni 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama said in a 
press conference before foreign reporters at party headquarters 
yesterday that he would not visit Yasukuni Shrine if his party 
assumes power. He remarked: "I have no intention to visit the 
shrine." He indicated that all cabinet members should also forgo 
paying homage there, saying: "I want cabinet ministers to avoid a 
visit." 
 
The press conference was held for about one hour before about 100 
reporters of 40 or so TV, newspaper and news companies from the U.S. 
and Asian and European countries. In reference to the 1995 Murayama 
Statement expressing deep remorse and apology for Japan's prewar 
 
TOKYO 00001834  006 OF 009 
 
 
colonial rule, Hatoyama said that the statement was worked out when 
he was the chairman of the New Party Sakigake. He then emphasized: 
"I will naturally respect the statement once the party takes over 
the reins of government." Regarding the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, he suggested that he 
would not approve the mission beyond its expiration next January. 
Further, he expressed his eagerness to have Japan involved more in 
humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Afghanistan. 
 
The party specifies in its manifesto for the upcoming House of 
Representatives election that the party would propose a revision of 
the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. On this proposal, 
Hatoyama just said: "I would like to establish a relationship of 
trust with President Barack Obama, make a comprehensive review, and 
then judge whether discussing the issue is possible." Hatoyama said 
on Aug. 9 that he would study the possibility of codifying the three 
nonnuclear principles. But he indicated a cautious view about it 
once again, saying: "I would like to look into the possibility, but 
I still wonder if the principles lend themselves well to 
legislation." 
 
8) Association of mayors of chartered cities commends DPJ manifesto 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The association of mayors of chartered cities made up of the mayors 
of 18 chartered cities in the country announced on August 11 its 
scores for the manifestos (campaign pledges) of the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), New Komeito, and the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) on the subject of decentralization of power. The DPJ got 
the highest score at 54.5 points; the New Komeito got 50.12 points; 
while the LDP was given 49.5 points. 
 
Seventeen mayors, excepting the mayor of Kitakyushu, participated in 
the rating process. The parties were rated on 10 policies, such as 
substantial transfer of power to the chartered cities and abolition 
of local governments' share in national government projects, on a 
scale of 100, and the average of the 10 scores became the final 
score. Kawasaki City Mayor Takao Abe, vice chairman of the group, 
stated at a news conference that, "The DPJ got the highest score for 
its pledge to transfer substantial powers to the chartered cities." 
 
9) Policies on decentralization reforms convince political group of 
local government heads to support DPJ 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
Local government heads set up a political group to reveal which 
political party they support in the upcoming House of 
Representatives election. In a press conference at the Osaka 
prefectural government building yesterday, its members - Osaka 
Governor Toru Hashimoto and Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi Nakada - 
announced that the group backs the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), 
based on its assessment of the policy platforms (manifestos) for the 
election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the DPJ. They 
said that the decision was based on its high evaluation of the 
party's proposals on decentralization reforms. The assessment of the 
National Governors' Association on Aug. 8 was in favor of the LDP. 
 
"It is now necessary to build a mechanism to manage a government led 
 
TOKYO 00001834  007 OF 009 
 
 
by politicians," Hashimoto said in the press conference. "In light 
of this point, we decided to back the DPJ." Nakada commented: "The 
DPJ is about to change the nation by making full use of the momentum 
for a change of government. The DPJ's manifesto reveals a 
willingness to carry out fundamental reforms more clearly than the 
LDP's. " 
 
Hashimoto was elected in the last Osaka gubernatorial election with 
support from the LDP and the New Komeito. Probably with that in 
mind, he said: "I personally am not issuing an expression of 
support. ... I will support neither the LDP nor the DPJ in this 
decisive general election. I cannot turn the lawmakers (of the LDP 
and the New Komeito) against me and hold a megaphone for the DPJ." 
 
DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada welcomed the group's assessment 
last night: "We appreciate the local government heads' evaluation. 
We would like to promote decentralization reforms in cooperation 
with them." He made this remark in replying to questions by 
reporters in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. 
 
10) LDP, New Komeito adopt common campaign pledges on refueling 
mission, anti-piracy, cargo inspection 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito will include in 
the "Major Policies of the Ruling Coalition Parties," a document 
listing the common campaign pledges of the two parties for the House 
of Representatives election, foreign and security policies including 
the continuation of the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and 
anti-piracy operations in waters off Somalia and legislation for the 
inspection of cargo on ships entering and leaving North Korea. 
 
The purpose of this is to highlight the ruling parties' difference 
with the Democratic Party of Japan, whose president, Yukio Hatoyama 
has announced that the refueling mission of the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean based on the new special 
antiterrorism measures law will not be extended after the law 
expires next January. 
 
Furthermore, they will also add an agriculture, forestry, and 
fisheries policy of "increasing farmers' income and food supply 
capacity as Japan's economic growth strategy." With regard to the 
implementation of drastic tax reforms, including an increase in the 
consumption tax rate, after economic recovery, which they have 
already agreed to include as common policy, the two parties will add 
the passage "with due consideration for low income earners." 
 
The two parties plan to announce their common campaign pledges on 
the morning of August 12. 
 
11) Proposal for blanket ban on Atlantic tuna trade: Half of the 
amount Japan consumes will disappear 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
August 12, 2009 
 
Moves to totally ban international trade of Atlantic tuna, which is 
known as the best-quality tuna, by including it in the Washington 
Treaty to protect wild animals, have begun spreading in Europe. The 
realization of the envisaged ban will likely have a major impact on 
 
TOKYO 00001834  008 OF 009 
 
 
Japan, which consumes 80 percent of blue fin tuna caught in the 
world. 
 
Monaco is aiming to propose including Atlantic tuna in Appendix I of 
the Washington Treaty at a conference of parties of the Washington 
Treaty to be held in March 2010. 
 
Why is Monaco, which is not a tuna-fishing country, making such a 
move? A scientific statistics commission consisting of experts at 
the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas 
(ICCAT) recommended reducing the bluefin tuna catch from 32,000 tons 
in 2007 to less than 15,000 tons, citing overexploitation as a 
reason. However, Spain and France, which have tuna fishing areas, 
opposed the proposal. They set their catch quotas at 19,950 tons for 
2010 and 18,500 tons for 2011. The Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) 
has been increasingly opposing such moves. 
 
The Japanese government takes a position of opposing the proposal to 
include bluefin tuna in the Treaty. It intends to propose decreasing 
catch quotas following the scientific statistics commission at the 
ICCAT meeting in November, maintaining, "The basic stance should be 
that an international agency will properly control the tuna catch 
and make efforts to restore tuna resources." Japan's consumption of 
tuna was 43,000 tons in 2008. If the Monaco proposal is adopted, 
20,000 tons will disappear from Japan-bound tuna exports. Japan's 
import drop will be smaller if the scientific statistics 
commission's proposal is adopted. 
 
12) Economists expect positive GDP growth in April-June period 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Excerpts) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The country's gross domestic product may have marked positive growth 
in the April-June period. The rise would be the first time since the 
January-March period in 2008. The average growth rate of 
private-sector groups' predictions is at the 3% level. The brighter 
forecast is attributed to a pickup in personal consumption and 
exports. 
 
The Cabinet Office's auxiliary organization asked 36 private-sector 
economists about their prediction from July 27 through Aug. 3. 
 
The economists expect the GDP in the April-June quarter may have 
risen 3.03% in annualized terms, surpassing the 1.98% rise forecast 
last month. This positive result comes after recent data show 
greater demand of automobiles and flat TV sets owing to the 
government's series of economic stimulus packages, such as tax cuts 
for eco-friendly cars, as well as rising exports to China. 
 
13) Record high natural population decline 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 12, 2009 
 
The Internal Affairs Ministry on August 11 announced the national 
population as of March 31 this year, based on the Basic Resident 
Register. Japan's population (excluding foreign nationals) stands at 
127,076,183, up 10,005 from the year earlier, marking the second 
consecutive increase. The increase is ascribable to a social 
increase in population, including returnees from abroad and 
naturalization, from 41,826 marked in the previous year to 55,919. 
 
TOKYO 00001834  009 OF 009 
 
 
However, the natural decrease in population determined by deducting 
the number of deaths from that of childbirths was minus 45,914, 
marking the largest decline. The survey result has highlighted that 
the decline in the nation's population is accelerating. 
 
The number of births was 1,088,488, down 7,977 from the year 
earlier, taking a downturn for the first time in three years. The 
number of deaths marked a record 1,134,402. Regarding the rise in 
the social increase in population, the ministry noted that the 
closing of companies' overseas branches following the deteriorating 
economic situation is conceivable as one reason for that. The 
statistics also found that over ten thousand foreign nationals 
became naturalized citizens. 
 
The population of the three major urban zones - the Tokyo area, the 
Nagoya area and the Kansai area - is 64,012,618, or 50.37 percent of 
the total population. The population in the Kansai area, including 
Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Nara, is 18,233,496, marking the first 
increase in five years. The population of Tokyo stands at 
12,5482,58, an increase of 860,062 in comparison with the previous 
year. The rate of increase marked a record high 0.69 percent, 
indicating an ongoing trend of the population becoming increasingly 
concentrated in Tokyo. 
 
ZUMWALT