VZCZCXRO4938
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1906/01 2300643
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 180643Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5515
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 8263
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5934
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9741
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3352
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6446
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0477
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7140
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6770

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 001906 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 08/18/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Party-heads debate at Japan National 
Press Club; Foreign and security policies a source of trouble for 
DPJ's plan to form a coalition government with SDP and PNP (Nikkei) 
 
(2) Three opposition parties' fragile unity (Asahi) 
(3) LDP, DPJ give consideration to small-scale farmers in 
agricultural policies in manifestos (Yomiuri) 
(4) Yasukuni: a nonissue in this election summer (Asahi) 
(5) Okinawa Governor: Temporary transfer of helicopter unit should 
be studied to remove danger of "Futenma" (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
(6) Q&A of Governor Nakaima's News Conference on August: 14: 
"Improper to give any assessment of political pledges" (Ryukyu 
Shimpo) 
(7) Governor says he will honor pledge to close Futenma Air Station 
in three years (Okinawa Times) 
(8) DPJ President Hatoyama: Futenma Air Station should at least be 
transferred to outside Okinawa (Okinawa Times) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Party-heads debate at Japan National 
Press Club; Foreign and security policies a source of trouble for 
DPJ's plan to form a coalition government with SDP and PNP 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
August 18, 2009 
 
The Japan National Press Club hosted a debate yesterday of the heads 
of major political parties ahead of the official announcement of the 
Aug. 30 House of Representatives election. Heated debate took place 
on foreign and security policies and economic stimulus measures that 
are vital for running the government. The debate exposed gaps in 
security and other policies between the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the People's New Party 
(PNP) that have been looking for ways to launch a coalition 
administration. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the DPJ also 
clashed fiercely over the question of hiking the consumption tax 
rate in order to increase revenues. 
 
If the DPJ wins the upcoming Lower House election, it plans to try 
to form a coalition government with the SDP and the PNP. In such a 
case, foreign and security policies are likely to become a source of 
trouble. These policies are not mentioned in the common policies 
announced by the three parties on Aug. 14. 
 
Refueling operations 
 
The debates uncovered the fundamental differences in the positions 
of the DPJ and the SDP over the modalities of the overseas dispatch 
of Self-Defense Forces (SDF). DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama indicated 
that it is best for the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) to combat piracy in 
waters off Somalia. At the same time, Hatoyama said, "We have 
condoned the deployment of SDF vessels in the judgment that such 
(dispatch of the JCG) is not pragmatic." 
 
SDP head Mizuho Fukushima raised an objection outright, saying: "We 
are opposed to the dispatch of SDF. The JCG must play the main 
role." 
 
The DPJ and the SDP were also at loggerheads on the Maritime 
 
TOKYO 00001906  002 OF 007 
 
 
Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, which is 
to expire next January. Hatoyama reiterated his party's basic stance 
of not allowing a simple extension of the mission, adding, "Our 
party will probably not be able to order an MSDF withdrawal 
immediately after we take power, and I would like to ask for your 
understanding on that." Fukushima insisted on immediate withdrawal. 
 
Some foreign and security issues are likely to become hindrances to 
talks between the DPJ and other opposition parties, such as the SDP, 
on forming a coalition government. There was also a scene in which 
Hatoyama made a concession to Fukushima. 
 
Asked by Fukushima about the DPJ's view on the maintenance and 
legislation of the three non-nuclear principles, Hatoyama said: "We 
will uphold the three non-nuclear principles. We thought that the 
three principles would be more effective if they were left as a 
national policy, but we would like to consider the option of 
legislating them in the process of cooperating with the SDP." 
 
Watanuki plays up presence of PNP 
 
Although the DPJ and the PNP did not expose any major gaps over 
foreign and security policies, they were out of tune regarding some 
other issues. 
 
Hatoyama, for instance, reiterated his stock argument that the 
country needs a national memorial for paying respects to the war 
dead. This provoked a strong reaction from PNP Representative 
Tamisuke Watanuki. 
 
Watanuki asked Prime Minister Taro Aso and DPJ President Hatoyama 
about where they stand on the question of granting local voting 
rights to permanent foreign residents. Aso replied that the LDP does 
not entirely subscribe to the view that local voting rights should 
be granted immediately to permanent foreign residents. Hatoyama 
replied: "There are pros and cons. We are trying to unify our views, 
but I think the time has come to consider the matter more 
positively." 
 
If the SDP and the PNP become overly assertive in order to avoid 
being overshadowed by the two major parties, that might take a toll 
on solidarity among the DPJ, SDP, and PNP. 
 
(2) Three opposition parties' fragile unity 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
August 15, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Social Democratic Party (SDP), 
and People's New Party (PNP) - opposition parties - finally devised 
a set of common campaign pledges for the upcoming House of 
Representatives election. The three parties played up their unity 
during prior consultations on a possible coalition government, but 
gaps in their perspectives were evident. Because they put off 
including in the common campaign pledges such key policies as 
foreign and security policy over which the gulf between them is 
wide, there remains cause for concern ahead of consultations on the 
formation of a coalition government after the Lower House election. 
 
DPJ Policy Research Committee Chairman Masayuki Naoshima proudly 
said at a joint press conference on Aug. 14: 
 
 
TOKYO 00001906  003 OF 007 
 
 
"The biggest issue in the upcoming election is a change of 
government. Since we will make efforts to implement common policies, 
it is all right to interpret these as pledges by the three 
parties." 
 
Masamichi Kondo, deputy policy chief of the SDP, and Shozaburo Jimi, 
PNP policy chief, attended the press conference. 
 
The three parties began policy consultations on making common 
pledges in late July at the request of the DPJ, which envisions the 
formation of a coalition government with the SDP and PNP. For the 
DPJ, which does not hold a majority in the House of Councillors, 
even if it wins a single-party majority in the Lower House, it will 
be indispensable for it to form a coalition with the two parties. 
The policy consultations were meant as "a rehearsal" for working out 
details on campaign pledges before the general election. 
 
However, the policy consultations remained bumpy. The SDP was 
reluctant to hold consultations. Many in the SDP, mainly in local 
chapters, are wary of participating in a coalition government. It 
was necessary for the DPJ to say repeatedly that the consultations 
were not for forming a coalition government. 
 
As a result, the three parties were able to reach an agreement by 
obfuscating the nature of the "common pledges" under the rubric of 
"common policies." When asked by reporters whether the common 
policies are pledges or the adjustment of policies, DPJ Secretary 
General Katsuya Okada said on August 13, "We mean that we will fight 
to win our seats in the Lower House election based on common ways of 
thinking. They are not preconditions for forming a coalition 
government." 
 
The DPJ was on tenterhooks over SDP and PNP requests for specifics. 
The DPJ and SDP quickly agreed to include a pledge to strengthen 
employment measures and a drastic review of postal services -- their 
showcase policies -- but they did not quickly find common ground on 
other issues. 
 
A pledge to leave the consumption tax rate alone, which is 
stipulated in the manifestos of the SDP and PNP, was ranked number 
one in the list of common policy items in a bid to highlight "a 
complete difference from the LDP-New Komeito common policies," 
according to SDP deputy policy chief Kondo. This item is not 
included in the DPJ's manifesto, however. A policy of giving small- 
and medium-size companies extensions on repayment of loans was 
included in the common campaign pledges at the urging of the PNP. It 
was not originally included in the DPJ's manifesto. 
 
(3) LDP, DPJ give consideration to small-scale farmers in 
agricultural policies in manifestos 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
August 17, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) have underscored their consideration to small-scale farmers in 
their policy platforms (manifestos) for the upcoming House of 
Representatives election. The key to winning a national election 
lies in how many farm votes a political party can secure. It is also 
necessary, however, to help domestic farmers become strong enough to 
survive in a liberalized market. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001906  004 OF 007 
 
 
LDP encourages acreage reduction, crop diversification 
 
In a bid to promote the policy of reducing the acreage under rice 
cultivation, the LDP in its manifesto proposes making utmost use of 
paddy fields by significantly raising subsidies for the production 
of wheat, soybeans, and rice for animal feed. Reflecting the current 
state of the growing rice glut, the party aims to boost the 
production of grains such as wheat and soybeans while reducing rice 
production. 
 
The LDP also vows to raise the rate of food self-sufficiency from 
the current 41% to 50% by making full use of paddy fields. 
 
The manifesto specifies: "The government will offer assistance to 
all highly-motivated farmers while scrapping such conditions as the 
size and age of land." With this statement, the party underscored 
its consideration for small-scale farmers. In 2005, farmers' incomes 
decreased by half to 3.4 trillion yen compared with 15 years before. 
Bearing this in mind, the party vows to increase farmers' incomes 
but gives no specific numerical target. 
 
DPJ pledges to introduce income indemnity to all farmers 
 
The DPJ's agriculture policy in its manifesto features an income 
indemnity system for individual farmers. The party proposes setting 
targeted production amounts for a variety of farm products, such as 
wheat, soybeans, and rice for animal feed, besides rice as a stable 
food, and allocating such amounts to individual farmers. The 
manifesto pledges to also pay income indemnity to farmers who 
produce more than the targeted amounts of products besides rice that 
are in short supply. The LDP is aiming to achieve self-sufficiency 
for all major grain products by encouraging farmers grow more 
soybeans, wheat, and other key grain with income indemnity. 
 
Regarding the objective of the income indemnity system, the 
manifesto notes: "This will make it possible for all farmers, 
including small-scale farmers, to continue to be engaged in 
farming," demonstrating its consideration for small-scale farmers. 
The party also vows to provide an extra subsidy for farmers eager to 
integrate farmland or to grow products organically, but the amount 
of the subsidy to be offered remains unclear. 
 
 
(4) Yasukuni: a nonissue in this election summer 
 
ASAHI (Page1) (Abridged) 
August 15, 2009 
 
With the next general election approaching, Japan marks the 64th 
anniversary of the end of World War II today. The heads of the two 
major political parties have announced their intentions not to visit 
Yasukuni Shrine, and only one cabinet minister has declared that she 
would pay homage at the controversial Shinto shrine on this 
anniversary. Contrary to all the fuss during the Koizumi 
administration, Yasukuni Shrine has not escalated into a point at 
dispute. Regardless of the results of the election, the shrine is 
likely to remain a nonissue for some time. 
 
Ahead of attending a government-sponsored memorial ceremony for the 
war dead for the first time as prime minister, Taro Aso indicated 
that he would visit the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery but would 
not pay homage at Yasukuni. "I think it is wrong to use those who 
 
TOKYO 00001906  005 OF 007 
 
 
sacrificed themselves for the country as a political bargaining 
chip, for election campaigning, or for newspaper headlines," he told 
the press corps. "Yasukuni should be kept far away from all the 
fuss." 
 
Before Aso became prime minister, he used to visit the shrine about 
once a year. But since taking office, he has presented in the prime 
minister's name a potted masakaki -- an offering of branches of the 
masaki evergreen tree considered sacred in Shinto -- to Yasukuni on 
its spring and fall festivals. 
 
Aso formulated his thinking on the Yasukuni issue in the closing 
days of the Koizumi administration. The August 8, 2006, edition of 
the Asahi Shimbun carried an article by Aso calling for the secular 
incorporation of Yasukuni Shrine, as well as for special legislation 
to establish a national memorial for paying respect to the war 
dead. 
 
A week later, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited the 
shrine to fulfill his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential 
election pledge of visiting there on the-end-of-the-war anniversary. 
The LDP presidential election to determine Koizumi's successor took 
place in the following month. 
 
DPJ calls for a new facility 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama, too, 
visited the shrine on Aug. 15, 1992. But when Yasukuni escalated 
into a political issue around August 2001, Hatoyama, who was also 
serving as DPJ head at the time, urged Prime Minister Koizumi and 
other cabinet ministers to refrain from visiting in their official 
capacities the controversial Shinto shrine by pointing out two 
facts: (1) Class-A war criminals are enshrined at Yasukuni, and (2) 
an effort must be made to build a new secular national memorial for 
the war dead. These two facts are reflected in the DPJ's policy 
index for 2009. Although the DPJ, too, calls for a national 
memorial, its plan fundamentally differs from Aso's in that his 
dwells on the existence of Yasukuni. 
 
After becoming DPJ President in May, Hatoyama told China that he 
will not visit Yasukuni if he becomes prime minister. At a press 
conference on Aug. 11, Hatoyama announced a policy that the prime 
minister and other cabinet ministers will refrain from paying homage 
at Yasukuni under a Hatoyama administration. This elicited from the 
Chinese Foreign Ministry a statement welcoming Hatoyama's remarks. 
The DPJ has taken a preparatory step for smooth diplomacy toward 
East Asia. 
 
(5) Okinawa Governor: Temporary transfer of helicopter unit should 
be studied to remove danger of "Futenma" 
 
Ryukyu Shimpo 
August 15, 2009 page 2 
 
At a regular news conference on August 14, Okinawa Governor Hirokazu 
Nakaima commented on the fifth anniversary of the crash of a U.S. 
military helicopter into (a building at) Okinawa International 
University on August 13.  "I have been saying that it (Futenma Air 
Station) symbolizes danger and should be closed within three years," 
he said.  "That was the fundamental standpoint and symbol of my 
platform then (in 2006). I have requested a study for reducing 
operations including the temporary transfer of the helicopter unit 
 
TOKYO 00001906  006 OF 007 
 
 
until the relocation (of Futenma Air Station) is completed.  I think 
the request is gaining gradual acceptance." Thus he stressed that 
removal of danger by such measures as the transfer of a unit should 
be examined. 
 
Nakaima said that the Democratic Party of Japan's proposal to 
relocate Futenma Air Station outside Okinawa Prefecture or outside 
Japan "needs to be confirmed after the election." Thus he indicated 
that if the Democratic Party of Japan takes power, he will confirm 
the government's policy after the election. 
 
Nakaima commented that "local residents' opinion should be 
respected" regarding the U.S. Army's new firing range, scheduled for 
completion near Camp Hansen's (firing) Range 3 at the end of 
September.  Local residents have requested cancellation of 
construction. 
 
(6) Q&A of Governor Nakaima's News Conference on August: 14: 
"Improper to give any assessment of political pledges" 
 
Ryukyu Shimpo (Slightly abridged) 
August 15, 2009 Page 2 
 
Q:  What is your assessment of political parties' manifestos 
(campaign pledges)? 
 
A:  At present these manifestos do not clearly explain how and at 
what pace they want to achieve decentralization (of power from 
central government to local governments), so it is improper to make 
an assessment now. The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito did 
not comment on the revision of the Status of Forces Agreement.  The 
Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto used the expression, "will 
propose," but I do not know if the party will make efforts to 
achieve the revision or if it will just end up making a proposal.  I 
would like to confirm that after the election.  Each political party 
and parliamentary group has various ideas. It is nothing more or 
less than a campaign pledge. 
 
Q:  Five years have passed since a U.S. helicopter crashed into (a 
building at) Okinawa International University. 
 
A:  I have requested that operations at the Futenma Air Station 
should be scaled back and the facility nearly closed between now and 
the relocation.  A council (on relocation) set up a working team to 
study the elimination of danger and reduction of noise.  It is a 
half-step forward. I made a request to the U.S. Assistant Secretary 
of Defense and have asked the Japanese Government many times. I 
think they have finally begun to understand the importance of this. 
 
Q:  What is the target date of three years to bring (Futenma Air 
Station) to a condition close to closure? 
 
A:  My term of office is four years, so I will (achieve a condition 
of closure) within four years. 
 
(7) Governor says he will honor pledge to close Futenma Air Station 
in three years 
 
Okinawa Times (page 2) (full) 
August 15, 2009 
 
At a regular news conference held on the morning of August 14, 
 
TOKYO 00001906  007 OF 007 
 
 
Governor Hirokazu Nakaima commented on the target to bring the U.S. 
military's Futenma Air Station to a condition of closure "within 
three years."  "I have a counterpart to negotiate with," he said, 
"so I would like people to understand the three-year target 
literally as a 'target.'  In any case, I would like to (achieve) the 
elimination of danger before my term ends." 
 
Regarding the feasibility of the temporary transfer of units and the 
dispersal of training to different areas, which the Okinawa 
Prefectural Government has requested of the Japanese and U.S. 
governments, Nakaima said, "I do not know how many years it would 
take to complete the transfer (to Henoko), but a request to reduce 
operations (at Futenma Air Station) until the relocation is 
completed is reasonable and realistic." 
 
Nakaima referred to a working team that the Council on the 
Relocation of Futenma Air Station established last year to eliminate 
danger (and reduce noise). "Establishment of a team to study a 
drastic reduction of noise was a half step forward," he said. "I 
understand the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense and the Japanese 
Government have come to be aware of the importance (of this)." 
 
Nakaima talked about political parties' manifestos (campaign 
pledges) released ahead of the public announcement of the general 
election on August 18. "I give them high marks for clarity of 
expression. However, the political parties have so many different 
ideas on decentralization that I don't think it would be proper to 
give an assessment." 
 
Nakaima also touched on the revision of the Status of Forces 
Agreement "What does the Democratic Party of Japan mean by 'will 
propose (its revision)' "? he asked. "I think I will have the chance 
to ask some day. I would like to confirm (the manifestos) after the 
election." 
 
(8) DPJ President Hatoyama: Futenma Air Station should at least be 
transferred to outside Okinawa 
 
Okinawa Times (Page 3) (Full) 
August 18 2009 
 
Tokyo - During an open debate by leaders of six political parties 
held on August 17, Democratic Party of Japan President Yukio 
Hatoyama commented on relocation of the U.S. military's Futenma Air 
Station. He said: "The most desirable plan is to transfer (Futenma 
Air Station) overseas, but I think we can at least expect to 
transfer (Futenma Air Station) to outside Okinawa Prefecture." 
 
Hatoyama then said: "We cannot negotiate (this issue) right after 
taking power and resolve it right away. I want to draw a final 
conclusion after I fully understand the feelings of the Okinawa 
Governor as well as the Okinawan people, and conduct a comprehensive 
review." 
 
ZUMWALT