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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 001968 
 
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 08/27/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule  (Nikkei) 
 
Roos diplomacy: 
4) Ambassador Roos pays courtesy call on Foreign Minister Nakasone, 
says feels the important responsibility that goes with his position 
(Nikkei) 
5) Roos, Nakasone discuss full range of topics: roadmap for U.S. 
force realignment, North Korea and China issues, Pakistan and Afghan 
aid, and climate change  (Yomiuri) 
 
Secret diplomacy: 
6) Foreign Ministry spokesman in press conference refuses to concede 
on demand to disclose "secret nuclear pact" between U.S. and Japan 
(Asahi) 
7) Foreign Ministry allows former director general to testify in 
court case on the alleged secret nuclear agreement between U.S. and 
Japan  (Nikkei) 
 
8) DPJ President Hatoyama, after he becomes prime minister, will 
give speech at UN on eliminating nuclear weapons, lining himself up 
with President Obama  (Sankei) 
 
Election campaign: 
9) Asahi poll of voters in all 300 single-seat districts shows that 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will drop to about 100 seats  (Asahi) 
 
 
10) DPJ's 3-staged schedule after election victory: New cabinet 
before G-20 summit; politically-led bills during extra Diet, budget 
compiled during regular Diet  (Nikkei) 
11) DPJ Secretary General Okada urges former farm minister Kano to 
join the Hatoyama cabinet  (Mainichi) 
12) LDP having hard time picking likely candidates to succeed Prime 
Minister (LDP President) Aso  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) DPJ plans the National Strategy Bureau to be the top cabinet 
ministry  (Mainichi) 
14) DPJ will let cabinet ministers appoint senior vice ministers for 
each ministry  (Sankei) 
15) DPJ to greatly increase number of prime ministerial secretaries 
(Yomiuri) 
 
16) Special Diet session to be convened on Sept. 15  (Sankei) 
 
17) NPO survey of Japan-China relations indicates that "official 
ties are hot but private sector ones are cool"  (Mainichi) 
 
Economic affairs: 
18) LDP even if it holds on to its majority will not have the leeway 
to pass a second supplementary budget this year  (Nikkei) 
19) Economy improving with the exception of Okinawa  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
 
20) (Corrected) Symposium on "Obama administration and Japan-U.S. 
relations"  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
 
TOKYO 00001968  002 OF 013 
 
 
Asahi: 
DPJ may win 320 Lower House seats, LDP likely to drop to around 100 
 
Mainichi: 
New-flu group infection continues to rise for fourth consecutive 
week 
 
Yomiuri: 
DPJ plans to substantially increase number of secretaries to prime 
minister 
 
Nikkei: 
Mitsukoshi eyes slashing 1,000 full-time jobs in FY 2009 
 
Sankei: 
"Prime minister Hatoyama" plans to call for elimination of nuclear 
weapons in UN speech, resonating with President Obama 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Metropolitan Police Department study group proposes volunteer 
activities to rehabilitate shoplifters 
 
Akahata: 
Support for JCP on rise in ongoing Lower House election campaigning 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) 2009 general election: New administration must swiftly begin 
discussing consumption tax hike 
(2) Child abuse increasing: Solid social system necessary 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Bernanke reappointed as Fed chairman 
(2) Ex-NOVA president gets prison sentence: Consumers need solid 
protection 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) New regulatory system needed for airwaves 
(2)  Bernanke reappointed to bring stability to market 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Political parties must clearly 
present how they will reform tax system 
(2) National review of Supreme Court justices must carry more 
significance 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Lower House election: Question of granting local voting rights 
to permanent foreign residents requires more attention 
(2) Japan-U.S. FTA: Issue of rice exports needs innovative ideas 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Ways to establish Japan-U.S.-China 
relations must be discussed 
(2) Police officer arrested over hit-and-run, suspected of driving 
under influence of alcohol 
 
Akahata: 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: JCP is constructive opposition party 
that can move politics forward 
 
 
TOKYO 00001968  003 OF 013 
 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 26 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
08:28 Departed JR Tokyo Station on Hikari 505. 
09:59 Arrived at JR Toyohashi Station in Toyohashi City, Aichi 
Prefecture. Delivered speech in front of Toyohashi Station. 
10:46 Left Toyohashi on Kodama 639. Met former Prime Minister Abe on 
the train. 
10:59 Arrived at JR Mikawa-Anjo Station in Anjo City. 
11:55- Delivered speeches in Anjo and Okazaki cities. 
12:50 Met his secretary at udon (Japanese noodles) shop. 
14:31 Delivered speech in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture. 
15:49 Visited LDP candidate's election office in Kakamigahara City, 
Gifu Prefecture. 
16:32 Delivered speech in Gifu City. 
18:21 Visited LDP candidate's election office in Hikone City, Shiga 
Prefecture. 
19:21 Delivered speech in Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. 
19:58 Visited LDP candidate's election office in Otsu City. 
21:09 Stayed at Rihgfa Royal Hotel in Osaka City. 
 
4) New U.S. envoy pays courtesy call on foreign minister 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met with new U.S. Ambassador to 
Japan Roos yesterday for about 25 minutes at the Foreign Ministry. 
In the meeting, Nakasone stressed, "You enjoy the deep confidence of 
President Obama as a bridge between Japan and the United States, so 
it's good to have you here." Roos said, "I feel my special, 
important responsibility for strengthening our alliance." The new 
U.S. envoy also showed his willingness to cooperate in responding to 
North Korea and dealing with such issues as climate change. 
 
5) Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone meets Ambassador Roos 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
John Roos at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 26. He told 
Roos that Japan wants to "strengthen a multi-tiered Japan-U.S. 
alliance and implement the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan 
steadily based on the road map." 
 
He further cited the situation in Asia and the Pacific, including 
North Korea and China, aid for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and climate 
change as areas for "promoting Japan-U.S. cooperation." 
 
The Ambassador responded with: "Close Japan-U.S. collaboration is 
indispensable for dealing with the North Korean situation. We also 
would like to cooperate on global issues, such as climate change." 
 
6) Foreign Ministry mum about its request to classify secret nuclear 
deal 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00001968  004 OF 013 
 
 
August 27, 2009 
 
In connection with the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty revised in 1960, 
the Japanese government asked the United States to classify its 
archives related to their "secret deal" over nuclear introduction 
into Japan. On this issue, Foreign Ministry Press Secretary Kazuo 
Kodama met the press yesterday and said: "About give-and-take with 
the U.S. government, we would like to abstain from answering 
questions, including the one about whether there was such, in 
consideration of our relationship of mutual trust with the U.S. 
government." 
 
In the meantime, former Foreign Ministry American Affairs Bureau 
Director General Bunroku Yoshino, who was involved in negotiations 
with the U.S. government when the secret agreement was reached along 
with the reversion of Okinawa, has now made up his mind to appear in 
court to testify in a lawsuit instituted against the government for 
information disclosure. In this regard, Nakasone went no further 
than to say: "If there is a request from the court, then we will 
respond to the case under laws, including the Code of Civil 
Procedure (that requires the government's approval when its former 
official is summoned to testify over professional secrets)." 
 
7) Foreign Ministry to approve appearance of former bureau chief in 
court over secret nuclear pact, with eye on change of government 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
The Foreign Ministry decided yesterday to approve of the appearance 
of former American Bureau director general Bunroku Yoshino as a 
witness in a suit calling for information disclosure over secret 
documents considered to be exchanged between the governments of 
Japan and the U.S. when Okinawa was returned to Japan. Yoshino was 
in charge of negotiations with the U.S. government for Okinawa's 
reversion. The ministry has judged there is no need to decline his 
appearance in court, focusing on his submission of a written 
statement acknowledging the existence of the secret agreement. It 
has been decided that Yoshio will testify in court in December. 
 
When a civil servant or a former civil servant appears in court, 
approval of the ministry to which the person belongs or belonged to 
is required under the Civil Proceedings Law. Observers conjecture 
that the Foreign Ministry in making a judgment took into 
consideration the Democratic Party of Japan's campaign pledge to 
investigate the secret pact issue if the party takes over the reins 
of government after the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election. 
Writer Hisae Sawachi and other 24 persons instituted the lawsuit. 
 
8) Hatoyama to make speech on nuclear arms elimination at UN if he 
becomes prime minister, echoing President Obama's call 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama decided on 
August 26 that if he becomes prime minister, he will appeal to the 
world to eliminate all nuclear weapons in his speech to the UN 
General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in late September. The speech 
will emphasize that this is "in consonance" with U.S. President 
Barack Obama's call for "a world without nuclear weapons." It will 
underscore the fact that the leaders of Japan, the only 
 
TOKYO 00001968  005 OF 013 
 
 
atomic-bombed nation, and the United States, the only country that 
has ever used nuclear weapons, are working hand in hand for the 
eradication of nuclear arms. 
 
Hatoyama regards his speech at the general debate in the UN General 
Assembly opening on September 23 as his diplomatic debut and has 
begun drafting the speech. He will use such expressions as "take the 
lead in the eradication of nuclear arms together with President 
Obama," "coexistence with the earth environment," and "future of 
human society." However, it would be interesting to see how he will 
reconcile his speech on nuclear arms eradication with Japan's 
defense policy since North Korea is proceeding with nuclear 
armament, and U.S. nuclear deterrence remains the mainstay of 
Japan's defense,. 
 
Hatoyama is making the speech on the elimination of nuclear weapons 
at the UNGA to highlight the DPJ's pledge to build a "close and 
equal Japan-U.S. relationship" in its manifesto (campaign pledges) 
by working in parallel with President Obama. He has praised the 
President's initiative repeatedly and said that, "Japan should keep 
ahead of President Obama, who has made a speech on the eradication 
of nuclear arms." 
 
With a possible formation of a coalition government with the Social 
Democratic Party in mind, Hatoyama may also want to use the nuclear 
arms eradication speech to give impetus to such a coalition 
 
Meanwhile, coordination is underway for Hatoyama to hold his first 
summit meeting with President Obama on September 23 while he is in 
New York. 
 
During a discussion on the three non-nuclear principles on a TV 
program on August 23, Hatoyama has stated that he would ask the 
President to make a firm commitment not to introduce nuclear weapons 
into Japan at the Japan-U.S. summit. 
 
However, there is an opinion that "it would be difficult to demand 
such a commitment at the first summit meeting which will also 
confirm the strengthening of the bilateral alliance." (senior 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs official). It is possible that serious 
discussions on the nuclear umbrella will have to wait until the 
President's visit to Japan, expected in November. 
 
Hatoyama is also considering holding summit meetings with Chinese 
President Hu Jintao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak. 
 
9) DPJ may garner 320 seats, LDP plunging to around 100 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 27, 2009 
 
The campaign for the general election is now in full swing. The 
Asahi Shimbun conducted a telephone-based survey of voters on Aug. 
22-25 in the nation's 300 single-seat constituencies to look into 
the situation including findings from interviews with local voters. 
According to its results, the Democratic Party of Japan has a strong 
advantage across the nation. The DPJ is now likely to garner more 
than 320 seats, which account for two thirds of the seats in the 
House of Representatives and are needed to override the House of 
Councillors' decision in a second vote. Meanwhile, the Liberal 
Democratic Party is now certain to suffer a crushing defeat. The LDP 
is expected to plunge, possibly down to around 100 seats. The New 
 
TOKYO 00001968  006 OF 013 
 
 
Komeito party is facing an uphill battle in single-seat 
constituencies and will likely be at the level of 20 seats. The 
Japanese Communist Party is almost at the same level as its 
pre-election holding in proportional representation blocs. The 
Social Democratic Party is performing well in single-seat 
constituencies. 
 
When the survey was conducted, nearly 40 PERCENT  of voters in the 
nation's single-seat constituencies and nearly 30 PERCENT  in the 
proportional representation blocs did not clarify their voting 
attitudes. The situation could therefore change as the campaign 
battle nears its final stages. 
 
The DPJ has maintained the momentum in its campaign battle from an 
early stage. In single-seat constituencies, the DPJ could jump to 
more than 220 seats from its pre-election holding of 52 seats, and 
is even likely to garner nearly 240 seats. 
 
For proportional representation as well, the DPJ is likely to win 
many more seats in all 11 blocs. Judging from the survey results, 
the DPJ is expected to get 1-5 more seats in each of the nation's 
proportional representation blocs, possibly reaching a total of 90 
or more seats (61 in the last general election). 
 
Meanwhile, the LDP is leading in only 18 single-seat constituencies 
and leading slightly in only six constituencies. As it stands, the 
LDP is now facing an tougher uphill battle than ever before. 
 
10) DPJ plans to address tasks in three stages - special, 
extraordinary and regular Diet sessions 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
August 27, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has started work to set the 
Diet's schedule, assuming that it will be taking over the reins of 
government after the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election. If a 
change of government actually takes place, the party intends to hold 
a special Diet session for a minimum period of time, placing just 
the nomination of the prime minister and limited issues on the Diet 
agenda. It will address such key issues as legislation to setting up 
a scheme for politically-led government in an extraordinary Diet 
session probably to be held in October. The party also hopes to 
compile a fiscal 2010 budget bill simultaneously with a review of 
the supplementary budget bill for this fiscal year, on the premise 
of enacting the budget bill later this year. The DPJ intends to 
tackle tasks in three stages: the special session, the extraordinary 
session, and a regular session to be convened in January. 
 
It is uncertain to what extent pending issues will be disposed of 
during the four months until the end of the year. 
 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama has indicated his willingness to attend 
the United Nations' annual General Assembly and a Group of 20 (G-20) 
summit meeting (financial summit) in the U.S. in late September if 
his party sizes political power. To do so, it is necessary to 
complete the formation of his cabinet by Sept. 18. 
 
The DPJ expects to end the special session promptly after the Diet 
takes a vote on nomination of premier and choose Lower House speaker 
and deputy speaker, as well as standing committee chairmen. The 
party is willing to secure enough time to draw out bills to be 
 
TOKYO 00001968  007 OF 013 
 
 
submitted to the extraordinary Diet session possibly in October. 
 
The DPJ plans to set up a national strategy bureau tasked with 
budgetary compilation and an administrative renovation conference 
tasked with looking into wasteful administrative works under a 
government ordinance or the prime minister's instruction immediately 
after the launch of a new government. The party intends to submit a 
bill to grant authority to them in the extraordinary Diet session. 
 
In the regular Diet session next year, the party intends to make 
utmost efforts to enact the fiscal 2010 budget that would reflect 
its policy imprint at an early date. Its campaign manifesto for the 
upcoming election sets the total revenue source needed to finance 
its own policy measures at 7.1 trillion yen. The party will have to 
squeeze out the money by cancelling some measures in the extra 
budget for this fiscal year or reducing their costs. 
 
A senior officer of an economic government agency said: "It would be 
rational and commonsense to compile a reduced supplementary budget 
bill and a budget bill for next fiscal year simultaneously." If the 
government submits the reduced extra budget bill in the 
extraordinary Diet session in the fall, the compilation of the 2010 
budget bill could be hindered and might not be completed this year. 
 
Some party members suggest that the bill for a politicians-led 
scheme also should not be discussed in the extraordinary session, 
either. 
 
When the LDP lost power in 1993, the subsequent coalition government 
convened a special session with the aim of ending it within a short 
term. But the Liberal Democratic Party as an opposition party 
launched an offensive and even a question-and-answer session and a 
policy speech by the prime minister were carried out during this 
session. As a result, the session lasted for about three weeks. Due 
to such elements as diplomatic events and haggling among political 
parties, the DPJ's Diet timetable is still very fluid. 
 
11) Okada urges Kano to join cabinet under DPJ administration 
 
MAINICHI (Page5) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
Takenori Noguchi 
 
Katsuya Okada, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), meeting the press in Yamagata City yesterday, expressed hope 
that Michihiko Kano, a former agriculture, forestry, and fisheries 
minister who is running in the Yamagata 1st district, will join a 
DPJ cabinet. Okada said, "When a DPJ administration is launched, I 
want to see him play a central role in it." Kano has been Okada's 
close friend since they left the Liberal Democratic Party. 
 
12) LDP presidential race faces difficult challenges 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 27, 2009 
 
Takao Kanesugi 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is now facing many challenges in 
holding its presidential election in September, with it falling into 
the opposition camp having become a real possibility. One of the 
 
TOKYO 00001968  008 OF 013 
 
 
reasons is because it seems that the LDP will not have enough time 
to carry out a presidential race because of a special Diet session 
in which the prime minister will be decided will takes place as 
early as the week of Sept. 14. The LDP also will likely is perplexed 
about how to carry out a vote of party members. Moreover, the party 
is worried that those lawmakers expected to be successor candidates 
to Prime Minister Taro Aso, are themselves facing uphill battles in 
the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election. 
 
Since Aso's term for the LDP president will expire Sept. 30, the 
party will have to hold a leadership race regardless of the outcome 
of the Lower House election. 
 
An LDP presidential election provision stipulates that the party 
must announce a schedule for a presidential election one month 
before the term of the presidency expires. However, the LDP will 
likely decide on an election date before September. 
 
In addition, since the next prime minister is expected to attend the 
UN General Assembly starting on Sept. 23, the special Diet session 
will likely convene during the week of the 14th. If the LDP loses 
the general election, it will be forced to elect as quickly as 
possible a new president, for whom LDP Diet members vote in the 
election to nominate the prime minister. 
 
Many in the LDP don't know who will win the presidential election. 
LDP members, including faction chiefs, Finance Minister Kaoru 
Yosano, and former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike, who have their 
eyes on the LDP presidency, are facing uphill battles in their own 
district elections. 
 
If the LDP drops from its current 300 seats to around 100 as the 
Tokyo Shimbun and other newspapers predict, it will likely be 
difficult for the party to collect 20 recommendations necessary to 
nominate a candidate for prime minister. 
 
It is said that in order to hold an election of party members, it 
takes one to two weeks for the process of making a list of 
candidates. So, it will likely be difficult for the LDP to elect a 
new president before the special Diet session convenes. 
 
13) National strategy bureau: Chairman is to be characterized as 
most important cabinet minister 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged slightly) 
August 27, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has formulated an outline for a 
national strategy bureau, which will directly report to the prime 
minister in the event it takes the reins of government after the 
Lower House election. The envisioned bureau will be responsible for 
laying down the nation's basic policy lines and budget outlines. A 
cabinet minister will serve as the chairman of the bureau on a 
full-time basis. The chairman will be characterized as one of the 
most important cabinet ministers. The membership of the national 
strategy bureau will consist of 30 persons, including lawmakers, 
experts from the private sector, and bureaucrats responsible for 
various policies. Once the bureau is launched, the present advisory 
organs reporting to the prime minister on various policies, 
including the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, will be put to 
a standstill. A drastic review of those organs, including the 
possibility of abolishing them, will be conducted. 
 
TOKYO 00001968  009 OF 013 
 
 
 
The DPJ has explained that it will set up the national strategic 
bureau in order to realize a complete revision of the budget under 
the initiative of politicians, by taking a second look at the 
existing budgets drafted, based on bureaucratic sectionalism. The 
bureau will take the lead in the work of completely revising the 
national budget totaling 207 trillion yen in order to secure funding 
sources for the policies included in its manifesto, such as the 
introduction of child allowance and toll-free highways, which will 
cost 16.8 trillion yen in fiscal 2013. 
 
Since it will take time to make the envisaged bureau an official 
government organization through an amendment to the National 
Government Organization Law, the DPJ will launch it at the first 
cabinet meeting as an arbitrary organization reporting directly to 
the prime minister. The chairman of the bureau will likely double as 
the chairman of the party's policy research council so as to unify 
the policy-setting functions of the government and the party. Since 
the post is tasked with controlling key policies, the DPJ is looking 
into positioning the chairman above other key cabinet ministers, 
giving the person the status of deputy premiership. 
 
Party executive members, such as President Hatoyama and Secretary 
General Katsuya Okada confirmed the outline of the bureau on the 
23rd when they held a staff meeting at the party headquarters. 
 
The DPJ will hold another meeting to narrow down the plan after 
seeing election results on the 30th. Candidates for key ministerial 
posts such as Hatoyama, key party officials, the national strategy 
bureau chairman, and the chief cabinet secretary will meet on the 
same day at the earliest to get started on work related to the 
transition of power. 
 
14) Cabinet ministers to appoint senior vice ministers and 
parliamentary secretaries under DPJ administration 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
August 27, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided on August 26 that if it 
takes over the administration, the cabinet ministers appointed by 
the prime minister will be responsible for appointing their senior 
vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries. The minister, senior 
vice minister, and the parliamentary secretary will constitute the 
three top political leaders in each ministry. This is meant to 
enhance cooperation among the three top leaders in the ministries 
and strengthen political leadership in the management of the 
administration. 
 
Under the Liberal Democratic Party administration, senior vice 
ministers and parliamentary secretaries were normally appointed 
based on the recommendation of the factions, which was mostly in 
accordance with seniority. There had been persistent criticism about 
the lack of communication between the ministers and senior vice 
ministers and parliamentary secretaries. Therefore, the DPJ has 
judged that appointing senior vice ministers and parliamentary 
secretaries who understand the ministers' policy will be better for 
political leadership in steering the administration. It has thus 
decided to let the ministers appoint their senior vice ministers and 
parliamentary secretaries. 
 
A senior DPJ official says that "cooperation among the minister, 
 
TOKYO 00001968  010 OF 013 
 
 
senior vice minister, and parliamentary secretary is important for 
facing off with bureaucrats." President Yukio Hatoyama will decide 
on his appointees for cabinet ministers before the special Diet 
session is convened, and the ministers will appoint their senior 
vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries subsequently. 
 
However, if DPJ Diet members are appointed as ministers, it is 
unlikely that they will appoint members of the Social Democratic 
Party (SDP) or People's New Party (PNP) as senior vice ministers and 
parliamentary secretaries, and the two parties are expected to react 
strongly to this. On the other hand, if SDP or PNP members become 
ministers, they are likely to appoint senior vice ministers and 
parliamentary secretaries from their own party, which gives rise to 
concerns that individual ministries may reflect political party 
colors. 
 
15) DPJ plans to substantially increase number of secretaries to 
prime minister 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged slightly) 
August 27, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided yesterday to 
dramatically increase the number of secretaries to the prime 
minister and appoint them from the private sector in order to 
strengthen lawmakers' decision-making power if it wins the upcoming 
House of Representatives election. The DPJ plans to have members of 
its envisaged national strategy bureau, which will be placed 
directly under the control of the prime minister, concurrently serve 
as secretaries to the prime minister. The party may increase the 
number of secretaries to the prime minister, which is currently set 
at six, by more than 20. 
 
The party aims to have the envisaged bureau formulate the framework 
of budgets and basic diplomatic policies under the leadership of 
lawmakers rather than top civil servants. The members will include 
academics and people from the private sector who have expertise in 
diplomacy, public finance, economics or other fields, DPJ Policy 
Research Committee officials, bureaucrats, and about 10 lawmakers. 
The party plans to also make members of the bureau secretaries to 
the prime minister to emphasize that the organization is under his 
direct control. 
 
Currently the prime minister has six secretaries: one responsible 
for parliamentary affairs, and five responsible for administrative 
affairs who come from government ministries. The DPJ plans to revise 
a Cabinet Law ordinance stipulating the number of secretaries to the 
prime minister at an early stage after launching the new cabinet. 
 
Although the party hopes to have some lawmakers serve concurrently 
as secretaries to the prime minister, the Diet Law stipulates that 
lawmakers can only take public servant posts such as cabinet 
ministers and senior vice ministers. As such, the party will 
continue discussing the matter with an amendment to the law in 
mind. 
 
The party will also consider amending the National Government 
Organization Law that stipulates the number of senior vice ministers 
and parliamentary secretaries with the aim of realizing its promise 
of having about 100 lawmakers participate in the operations of the 
government, as is stipulated in its manifesto (campaign pledges), 
and the National Civil Service Law to expand politically appointed 
 
TOKYO 00001968  011 OF 013 
 
 
posts. 
 
The party also plans to provide cabinet members with the authority 
to appoint senior vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries with 
the aim of establishing a decision-making system at ministries and 
agencies that is led by lawmakers. 
 
Under the Liberal Democratic Party-led government, the party's 
leadership coordinated the appointments of such posts, taking into 
account the balance of power among the factions and the number of 
terms each politician has served. In contrast, the DPJ plans to 
enhance cabinet ministers' power so that lawmakers can display 
greater leadership. 
 
If the party wins the Aug. 30 election, it will set up a transition 
team the following day to accelerate its efforts to produce concrete 
plans for the new government, including personnel lineups. 
 
16) Coordination under way for convening special Diet session on 
Sept. 15 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
Yesterday the government and ruling parties began making plans for 
convening a special Diet session on Sept. 15 after the House of 
Representatives election. Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President 
Yukio Hatoyama has expressed his intention to attend the UN General 
Assembly in late September if his party seizes power. The government 
and ruling coalition have taken his intention into consideration. 
Because the special Diet session is expected to be held for only 
several days, the new prime minister will likely deliver a policy 
speech in the fall. 
 
Article 54 of the Constitution stipulates that a special Diet 
session be held within 30 days after a general election. Even if the 
DPJ takes the reins of government, Prime Minister Taro Aso will 
decide when to convene a special session. However, a high-level 
government official said, "If the DPJ takes power, Aso will have to 
listen to the DPJ's views." 
 
If the DPJ wins the election, Hatoyama plans to attend a summit 
meeting (Sept. 22) of the Framework Convention on Climate Change of 
the UN General Assembly, which will start on Sept. 15, and deliver a 
speech on Sept. 24. He also plans to attend a G-20 financial summit, 
which will take place in Pittsburgh on Sept. 25-26. 
 
Therefore, the DPJ hopes to inaugurate a new cabinet as early as 
Sept. 18, by setting a short period for the special Diet session, 
which is expected to convene on Sept. 15 for elections to choose the 
new prime minister and new Lower House speaker. The new prime 
minister is expected to fly immediately to the United States, 
putting off a policy speech to an extraordinary session. In addition 
to his diplomatic schedule, he would work on compiling a bill to 
freeze the supplementary budget for fiscal 2009, as well as 
compiling a budget for fiscal 2002. 
 
17) Relations between Japan and China - hot between governments but 
cool between private sectors, according to NPO survey 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
August 29, 2009 
 
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Joji Uramatsu, Beijing 
 
Japan-China relations have shifted from "cool in political circles 
but hot in business circles" to "hot between governments but cool 
between private sectors." Genron NPO, a Japanese non-profit 
organization represented by Yasushi Kudo and the China Daily, 
China's English newspaper, released the results of a Japan-China 
joint opinion poll on August 26. The survey results reveal the new 
image of Japan-China relations. 
 
Concerning current Japan-China relations, the proportion of Chinese 
respondents who answered "very good" or "more or less good" totaled 
71 percent, up 17 points from the previous survey. Fifteen percent 
of respondents, up 2 points, on the Japanese side gave the same 
answers. To a question about the impression of the other country, 
65.2 percent of Chinese respondents said "not good" or "somewhat 
bad." The proportion f Japanese pollees who gave the same answered 
totaled 73.2 percent, almost the same figure as that of last year. 
 
Kudo said: "Compared with relations between the governments, 
national sentiments have not improved yet. It is now clear that the 
two countries need to strengthen exchanges between people." 
 
The poll was conducted from May through June this year. Responses 
were obtained from 1,000 people in Japan and 1,589 in Beijing, 
Shanghai, Xian, etc., in China. 
 
18) LDP has no leeway to compile second extra budget 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
In its campaign for the upcoming House of Representatives election, 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has pledged to launch work to compile 
a second supplementary budget for this fiscal year if the ruling 
camp secures a majority. The party has judged it necessary to come 
up with more economic stimulus measures in order to further buoy up 
the economy, which has begun looking up recently. Given that the LDP 
is waging an uphill battle, however, party executives have been 
fully occupied with speechmaking in the campaign. There is no leeway 
now to work out specific measures for a second extra budget. 
 
19) Economy improves all over nation with exception of Okinawa 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
August 27, 2009 
 
According to regional economic movements in August, released by the 
Cabinet Office on August 26, among 11 regions throughout the nation, 
the economy in 10 regions with the exception of Okinawa has improved 
from the previous survey report released in May. The production of 
autos and electronic parts have picked up with economic stimulus 
measures, such as a tax break for those who purchased a green 
vehicle, producing effect. The pace of a decline in personal 
consumption has also slowed. 
 
This is the first broad-based upward turn in the economy since the 
recovery in May 2000. The improvement underscored the government's 
announcement in June that the economy had bottomed out. 
 
The word "deteriorated" has disappeared from the description of 
 
TOKYO 00001968  013 OF 013 
 
 
economic conditions in 10 regions, with the exception of Okinawa. 
The best assessment, "moves for recovery are visible," was given to 
the regional economies of Tohoku, Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu. The 
assessment of the state of the economy in the Hokkaido, Tokai and 
Kinki regions was that "the decline has stopped," followed by "the 
decline is beginning to stop" for the Kita-Kanto, Minami-Kanto and 
Hokuriku regions. 
 
The word "deteriorating" has been kept in place for Okinawa. The 
spread of the new H1Ni strain has adversely affected the region's 
mainstay tourism industry. 
 
The Shikoku region saw the greatest improvement in the economy, 
which was revised upward from the previous "deteriorating rapidly." 
Mining and manufacturing production has improved in 10 regions, 
except for Okinawa. 
 
However, seven regions saw different results in the improvement of 
personal consumption. Sales of clothing in the Minami-Kanto, Tokai 
and Hokuriku regions were sluggish. The assessment that "sales are 
gradually dropping" was kept in place. 
 
20) (Corrected) Symposium on "Obama administration and Japan-U.S. 
relations" 
 
ASAHI (Page 37) (Full) 
August 25, 2009 
 
Following the appointment of high-level officials in charge of Asian 
affairs at the State and Defense Departments, John Roos, the new 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan, has taken up his post, rounding out the 
Obama administration's Japan policy team. President Barack Obama is 
expected to visit Japan in November. In order to look ahead at the 
Japan-U.S. relationship under the Obama administration, the Asahi 
Shimbun will invite to a symposium Daniel Okimoto, an expert in 
Japanese politics and economy and a professor emeritus at Stanford 
University, who has close ties to Roos. 
 
Date and time: Sept. 17 (Thursday) 14:30 - 17:00 
Place: Hamarikyu Asahi Hall in Tsukiji, Tokyo 
Moderator: Yoichi Funabashi, chief editor of Asahi Shimbun 
Application: Asahi com symposium page (http://www.asahi.com/sympo/) 
Free of charge 
Maximum capacity: 120 (simultaneous Japanese-English interpretation 
provided) 
Closing date: Sept. 4 
If there are more applicants than seats, applicants will be chosen 
by lottery. Applicants will be informed of the lottery results by 
postcard. 
 
ROOS