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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6960

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001983 
 
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 08/28/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Election predictions: 
4) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) heading for a landslide victory 
in Yomiuri survey of local voter attitudes  (Yomiuri) 
5) DPJ holding its momentum in Mainichi poll, with 44 PERCENT  of 
voters favoring that party in the proportional races and 33 PERCENT 
wanting Hatoyama as prime minister  (Mainichi) 
6) Asahi poll indicates turnout rate may be higher than previous 
election  (Asahi) 
7) Kyodo poll finds support rate for DPJ in proportional races 
double that for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
 Nikkei survey reveals that nearly 70 PERCENT  of electorate have 
made up their minds on their voting choices  (Nikkei) 
 
Campaign in last stage: 
8) New Komeito campaigning fiercely, worried it may fall together 
with its coalition partner, the LDP  (Nikkei) 
9) DPJ's Ichiro Ozawa may end up with 120 lawmakers in his "faction" 
after the Lower House election  (Sankei) 
10) Commentator Jitsuro Terashima to be prime minister's secretary 
and advisor when friend Hatoyama is in office  (Sankei) 
 
11) DPJ to postpone final compilation of the National Defense 
Program Guidelines, creating havoc in the budget compilation process 
 (Sankei) 
 
12) "Prime Minister" Hatoyama to make his diplomatic debut later 
next month  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
13) No one from Japan to attend the Rome meeting of G-8 hosts 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
14) Japanese automakers embark on new North American strategy, 
involving a shaving off of tie-ups with U.S. makers  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
 
15) Opinion polls in Japan, China: 73 PERCENT  of Japanese 
respondents have negative impressions of China, reflecting distrust 
in food safety  (Yomiuri) 
 
(MHIXC090827) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
High court rules apartment rental contract renewal fee is "invalid," 
saying purpose is unclear 
 
Mainichi: 
Poll: DPJ keeps momentum in last phase of election campaigning, 
getting 44 PERCENT  of proportional representation votes 
 
Yomiuri: 
Poll: DPJ maintains momentum toward landslide victory in Lower House 
election 
 
TOKYO 00001983  002 OF 012 
 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Banks flock to government bonds as demand for funds falters; Balance 
stood at 111 trillion yen -- highest level -- at end of June 
 
Sankei: 
Restrictions on talking and cell phones a key to good performance in 
national achievement tests 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
DPJ to launch administration transition team possibly on Aug. 31 to 
name designate cabinet ministers in advance 
 
Akahata: 
Party unity essential for victory in Lower House election 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) 2009 general election: Developing human resources an investment 
for tomorrow 
(2) South-North dialogue: Progress on nuclear issue essential 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) National achievement tests: Country needs more effective means 
(2) Put an end to theatrical campaigning as voters have changed 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Vaccine is not the only weapon against new flu 
(2) National review of Supreme Court justices an important 
opportunity 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Education left unaddressed 
(2) Solid results expected from UN nuclear disarmament conference in 
Niigata 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Skewed distribution of doctors must be corrected 
(2) National achievement exams a stimulus to students 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Something missing from education 
policy 
(2) Consumer Agency opens on Sept. 1 
 
Akahata: 
(1) JCP as high bulwark against consumption tax hike 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, August 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 28, 2009 
 
09:01 Left Rihga Royal Hotel in Osaka. 
09:43- Delivered speeches in Kishiwada, Matsubara, and Kyoto. 
12:59 Met Upper House member Satoshi Ninoyu at JR Kyoto Station. 
13:16 Left JR Kyoto Station on Nozomi 22. 
15:14 Arrived at JR Shin-Yokohama Station. 
15:42- Delivered speeches in Yokohama, Atsugi, and Sagamihara. 
 
TOKYO 00001983  003 OF 012 
 
 
19:59 Arrived at his official residence. 
 
4) Poll: DPJ retains overwhelming lead; LDP mounting late spurt in 
closely contested districts 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Full) 
August 28, 2009 
 
The latest survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun showed that the Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) could win more than 300 seats in the Aug. 30 
House of Representatives election, pointing to the strong 
possibility of a change of government. The survey was conducted on 
Aug. 25-27 in 200 of the nation's 300 single-seat constituencies - 
mainly closely contested constituencies or those drawing public 
attention in the final phase of the campaign. Liberal Democratic 
Party candidates have closed the gap with DPJ candidates in some 
districts, but the LDP has failed to put the brakes on the DPJ's 
momentum. Even so, more than 20 PERCENT  of the electorate has yet 
to reveal which party they intend to vote for in the single-seat 
constituencies; therefore the situation remains fluid. 
 
The previous survey, conducted on Aug. 18-20, at the start of the 
campaign, indicated that the DPJ might win more than 300 seats in 
single-seat constituencies and in the proportional representation 
segment. The survey also showed that the LDP could suffer a drastic 
decrease in seats and that the New Komeito will have difficulty 
securing the number of seats it held before the election. The latest 
survey, conducted by phone, of voters in the 200 constituencies was 
intended to assess voting patterns in the final phase (of the 
election campaign). Those surveyed were chosen at random by 
computer. 
 
A comparison of the previous and latest survey results in the 200 
constituencies shows that (1) the number of candidates likely to win 
or enjoying an advantage remains almost unchanged in both the LDP 
and the DPJ; and (2) the number of constituencies in which several 
candidates are neck and neck increased from 53 to 67. In many of 
these closely contested districts, LDP candidates who had lagged 
behind their DPJ rivals have caught up with them. The survey results 
disclose that the LDP is mounting a late spurt. 
 
Meanwhile, the New Komeito, which had been fighting an uphill 
battle, has recovered some ground in the final phase (of the 
campaign). In Osaka No.3 Constituency and Hyogo No.2 Constituency 
the party's candidates have closed the gap with their respective 
rivals who had been in the lead in the previous survey. 
 
The DPJ, which has been advocating a change of government, has 
expanded its support base in many constituencies and across 
generations. Former LDP prime ministers and DPJ-backed woman 
candidates have been engaged in close contests In Ishikawa No. 2 
Constituency and Gunma No. 4 Constituency. Close contests are also 
being fought in the Aomori No. 3 Constituency, Ibaraki No. 2 
Constituency, Kanagawa No. 2 Constituency, Kyoto No. 5 Constituency, 
and Kochi No. 2 Constituency. A number of former LDP cabinet 
ministers are running in these constituencies. 
 
5) Poll: DPJ maintains momentum 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 28, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00001983  004 OF 012 
 
 
Ahead of Aug. 30's general election for the House of 
Representatives, the Mainichi Shimbun conducted a nationwide public 
opinion survey. In the survey, respondents were asked which 
political party they would vote for in their proportional 
representation blocs. In this public preference of political parties 
for proportional representation, the Democratic Party of Japan was 
markedly higher than the Liberal Democratic Party, with the DPJ 
scoring 44 PERCENT  and the LDP at 21 PERCENT . In the breakdown of 
public support for political parties, the DPJ stood at 39 PERCENT , 
renewing its previous all-time high of 36 PERCENT  in the last 
survey taken in July. The LDP was at 20 PERCENT , about half of the 
DPJ's support rate. An earlier ad hoc survey conducted by the 
Mainichi Shimbun on Aug. 19-21 showed that the DPJ could garner more 
than 320 seats, two thirds of the 480 seats in the Diet's lower 
chamber. However, the election campaign is now on the last stretch, 
with the DPJ maintaining its momentum. 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked which political party's 
candidate they would vote for in their single-seat constituencies. 
To this question, 46 PERCENT  chose the DPJ's candidate, with 23 
PERCENT  preferring the LDP's. 
 
In the public preference of other political parties for proportional 
representation, the New Komeito party was at 7 PERCENT , the 
Japanese Communist Party at 5 PERCENT , the Your Party at 2 PERCENT 
, the Social Democratic Party at 1 PERCENT , the People's New Party 
at 1 PERCENT , and the New Party Nippon at 1 PERCENT . 
 
The Aso cabinet's support rate was 20 PERCENT , showing a slight 
increase of 3 points. However, it still remains low. The nonsupport 
rate was 60 PERCENT , down 7 points. 
 
6) Voter turnout likely to top figure for last election 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
August 28, 2009 
 
The campaign for the House of Representatives election is in full 
swing. The Asahi Shimbun conducted a pre-election survey on Aug. 
22-25 to look into the situation of campaign battles and also polled 
the nation's electorate. In this pre-election poll, respondents were 
asked if they would vote in the election. To this question, a total 
of 81 PERCENT  answered "yes, definitely." The figure is higher than 
that (78 PERCENT ) in a pre-election poll taken before the last 
general election held in 2005 for the House of Representatives. 
Judging from these findings, the voter turnout in the upcoming 
election is highly likely to exceed that (67.51 PERCENT ) for the 
2005 election and is even likely to reach 70 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the 
Liberal Democratic Party stood at 22 PERCENT , with the Democratic 
Party of Japan at 29 PERCENT , the New Komeito at 3 PERCENT , the 
Japanese Communist Party at 2 PERCENT , and the Social Democratic 
Party at 1 PERCENT . 
 
7) Poll: DPJ outpaces LDP in public support 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Abridged) 
August 28, 2009 
 
Ahead of the upcoming election for the House of Representatives, 
Kyodo News conducted a telephone-based nationwide public opinion 
 
TOKYO 00001983  005 OF 012 
 
 
survey on Aug. 26-27 to look into public trends. In the survey, 
respondents were asked which political party they would vote for in 
their proportional representation blocs. In this public preference 
of political parties, the Democratic Party of Japan scored 35.9 
PERCENT , up 3.3 points from the last survey taken Aug. 15-16. The 
Liberal Democratic Party was at 17.9 PERCENT , up 1.4 points. 
However, the DPJ's public support rating is about twice as high as 
the LDP's and is substantially leading the LDP. Meanwhile, a total 
of 30.9 PERCENT  have not yet decided on which political party to 
vote for in their proportional representation blocs. 
 
In single-seat constituencies, 36.0 PERCENT  answered that they 
would vote for the DPJ's candidate, up 1.9 points from the last 
survey, with 22.6 PERCENT  choosing the LDP's candidate, up 3.8 
points. 
 
Asked about the desirable form of government, 40 PERCENT  opted for 
a "DPJ-led coalition government," leveling off from the last survey. 
An "LDP-led coalition government" was at 20.2 PERCENT , up 2.0 
points. An "LDP-DPJ grand coalition government" was at 14.3 PERCENT 
(11.9 PERCENT  in the last survey), and a "new framework through 
political realignment" at 13.8 PERCENT  (17.3 PERCENT  in the last 
survey). 
 
In the public preference of other political parties for proportional 
representation, the New Komeito party was at 5.2 PERCENT  (4.9 
PERCENT  in the last survey), the Japanese Communist Party at 3.9 
PERCENT  (3.8 PERCENT  in the last survey), the Social Democratic 
Party at 2.2 PERCENT  (1.1 PERCENT  in the last survey), the 
People's New Party at 0.3 PERCENT  (0.9 PERCENT  in the last 
survey), the Your Party at 1.0 PERCENT  (0.7 PERCENT  in the last 
survey), the Reform Club at 0.1 PERCENT  (0 PERCENT  in the last 
survey), and the New Party Nippon at 0.1 PERCENT  (0.2 PERCENT  in 
the last survey). 
 
8) Poll: Nearly 70 PERCENT  have decided on candidate, party 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 28, 2009 
 
With the House of Representatives election just around the corner, 
the Nihon Keizai Shimbun conducted an online poll of voters on Aug. 
25-27. In this pre-election poll, a total of 65 PERCENT  said they 
have now chosen a candidate to vote for in their single-seat 
constituencies, up 16 PERCENT  from the last online poll taken two 
weeks ago. For proportional representation as well, the figure rose 
11 points to 66 PERCENT . With the election approaching, more voters 
have now decided on their voting attitudes. Respondents were also 
asked if they would vote in the election. To this question, "yes" 
rose 7 points to 80 PERCENT . Including those who "intend to do so," 
the total figure reached 93 PERCENT . 
 
In the public preference of political parties to vote for in 
single-seat constituencies, the Democratic Party of Japan scored 52 
PERCENT , up 5 points from the last online poll. The Liberal 
Democratic Party was at 18 PERCENT , down 2 points. For proportional 
representation, the DPJ marked 45 PERCENT , up 1 point from the last 
time, and the LDP at 16 PERCENT , up 2 points. There is almost no 
change in the DPJ's lead. 
 
The poll was conducted by Nikkei Research on the internet, with a 
total of 3,500 persons chosen from among male and female voters, 
 
TOKYO 00001983  006 OF 012 
 
 
aged 20 and over, across the nation. The response rate was 34.5 
PERCENT  in the first pre-election online poll, 34.1 PERCENT  in the 
second online poll, 31.3 PERCENT  in the third poll, and 32.4 
PERCENT  in the latest one. 
 
9) Tailwind for the DPJ means headwind for the LDP: New Komeito 
scrambling to avoid sinking with LDP, small parties struggling to 
project their uniqueness 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 28, 2009 
 
Amid predictions that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will win a 
landslide victory single-handedly in the House of Representatives 
election, parties other than the DPJ and the Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) are faced with the problem of adjusting their strategies 
to cope with the post-election situation. There is now a possibility 
that the New Komeito, which took advantage of its position as the 
third largest party to become a member of the ruling coalition, may 
review its cooperative relationship with the LDP after the election. 
On the other hand, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the other 
small parties, while eager to ride on the wind of the "change of 
administration," are struggling to project their unique aspects. 
 
So far, under the situation of neither the LDP nor the DPJ having a 
sole majority in the House of Councillors, the New Komeito has been 
able to hold the casting vote for key bills. It also has been able 
to realize as a ruling party its social welfare policy, the party's 
main focus. However, if the LDP loses power, it will no longer be 
able to enjoy such a benefit. 
 
New Komeito leader Akihiro Ota, commenting on post-election 
cooperation with the LDP, has stated openly, "The concept of a 
coalition of opposition parties has never existed in Japanese 
politics," hinting at a possible review of the party's relations 
with the LDP. As a change of administration is fast becoming a real 
possibility, there is an opinion in the religious sect Soka Gakkai, 
the party's main support group, that if the ruling parties lose the 
election, it would be wise to keep its distance from the LDP. 
 
All of the New Komeito's eight candidates in single-seat 
constituencies are fighting an uphill battle against DPJ candidates. 
Senior party officials are now concerned about being dragged into 
the headwind blowing against the LDP and going down with it. 
 
The New Komeito is also having a tough time in its bid to win more 
proportional representation seats. A mid-ranking Diet member 
confided: "Many people are thinking of voting for the DPJ just this 
once. The response to our campaign is not good." 
 
The prediction of a landslide victory for the DPJ is also affecting 
the campaign strategy of the SDP and the People's New Party (PNP), 
with which the DPJ is planning to form a coalition after the 
election. Since the DPJ does not hold a majority in the Upper House, 
President Yukio Hatoyama has already announced the party's intention 
to form a coalition with these two parties. Therefore, their 
strategy has been based on "holding the casting vote." However, if 
the DPJ comes to control a two-thirds majority in the Lower House, 
which will enable it to pass with a second vote bills rejected by 
the Upper House, the SDP's and the PNP's strategy will be 
meaningless. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001983  007 OF 012 
 
 
The SDP is in a dilemma because if it does not project any sense of 
uniqueness. "Proportional representation votes may all go to the 
DPJ," said a senior SDP official, but if the party projects its 
uniqueness too strongly, the DPJ may react negatively. 
 
In a stump speech in Akihabara, Tokyo on August 26, "Your Party" 
leader Yoshimi Watanabe said: "We have no problem at all with a DPJ 
victory. If we are asked to join the government, we will consider 
the offer positively." He conveyed to his audience his closeness to 
the DPJ, as it heads toward an overwhelming victory. 
 
However, he, too, is making every effort to avoid being 
overshadowed. Watanabe did not forget to criticize the DPJ's policy 
on toll free expressways as a "pork barrel" in his speech. 
 
10) DPJ's "Ozawa faction" likely to have 120 Diet members 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
August 28, 2009 
 
If the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) wins about 300 seats in the 
Aug. 30 House of Representatives election, the number of a group led 
by Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa will likely become 120 members from 
the two Diet chambers. The media have reported that the DPJ would 
overwhelmingly win the election. Influence of Ozawa, who is in 
charge of the party's election strategy, is certain to become 
stronger in the DPJ. Ozawa appears to be increasing his forcefulness 
taking advantage of his group's numerical power after the DPJ wins 
the election. Some in the DPJ are concerned about a possible "dual 
power structure." 
 
The Ozawa group had about 50 members when the Lower House was 
dissolved. The group was made up of "Isshin-kai," a group of junior 
Lower House members, and Upper House members. If the "Isshin-kai 
club" consisting of about 50 former Diet members and new-face 
candidates is added, the Ozawa group will have about 100 members. In 
addition, about 20 candidates, who were filed by Ozawa, are running 
in only the proportional representation segment of the ballot. If 
the DPJ secures more than 300 seats, the number of the Ozawa group 
will exceed 120. 
 
Meanwhile, the group-led by President Yukio Hatoyama is expected to 
have 60 members and Deputy President Naoto Kan-led group will likely 
have 40 to 50 members. 
 
The main reason for the Ozawa group's expansion of power is because 
Ozawa made an effort to pick out new-face candidates and support 
them in raising election funds and securing support from 
corporations and organizations. Ozawa has provided election funds 
focusing on candidates affiliated with the Ozawa group, who are 
running in key single-seat districts. 
 
Ozawa thinks of himself as a former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka's 
fair-haired boy, and others also regard him that way. The emergence 
of the Ozawa group made up of one-third of the DPJ Lower House 
members is reminiscent of the former Tanaka faction in the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP), which enjoyed its influence over the LDP. 
 
However, Ozawa criticized "group activities" in the party while he 
was heading the former New Frontier Party, by stressing the need for 
a unanimous party arrangement when internal conflict with members 
affiliated with the New Komeito intensified. Therefore, there is a 
 
TOKYO 00001983  008 OF 012 
 
 
possibility that Ozawa will come under criticism if he activates 
moves in the party, with a junior member saying: "If such happens, 
his words and deeds will contradict what he said when he headed the 
New Frontier Party." 
 
11) Uesugi, Terashima may be picked secretary or assistant to a 
Prime Minister Hatoyama 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
August 28, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hatoyama generally 
decided yesterday to pick freelance journalist Takashi Uesugi, 
former state-paid secretary to former Internal Affairs and 
Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama, younger brother of Yukio 
Hatoyama, for either the post of secretary to the prime minister in 
charge of publicity or the post of assistant if the DPJ takes over 
the reins of government (in the Aug. 30 House of Representatives 
election). Hatoyama also plans to appoint Jitsuro Terashima, 
president of Tama University and chairman of the Japan Research 
Institute, as secretary or assistant to the prime minister in charge 
of foreign policy. The question is whether his plans will be 
approved by DPJ members. Hatoyama reportedly intends to have them 
concurrently serve as members of a National Strategy Bureau, which 
will be set up under the direct control of the prime minister. 
 
At present a total of six secretaries to the prime minister are made 
up of a Diet member's secretary for political affairs and five from 
such ministries as the finance and foreign ministries who are in 
charge of administrative affairs. Hatoyama intends to revise the 
cabinet secretariat organization law, which stipulates the number of 
secretaries, in order to increase the number of secretaries from the 
private sector, when he picks Uesugi or Terashima a secretary to the 
prime minister. The Cabinet Law revised in 2001 stipulates that five 
secretaries at the most should be picked. There were many cases in 
which the successive prime ministers picked Diet members and private 
sector persons in favor of their political visions. 
 
The reason for Hatoyama wishing to appoint Uesugi and Terashima is 
that "they understand well Hatoyama's views and they enjoy the 
confidence of Hatoyama" (person close to Hatoyama). Because the 
National Strategy Bureau will be responsible for formulating the 
framework of domestic politics, Hatoyama aims to have his own views 
reflected in national policies by letting them serve in the two 
posts. 
 
Sugiyama told the Sankei Shimbun: "I don't know whether I will 
accept if I receive an offer." The Japanese Research Institute said: 
"Terashima is now traveling abroad on business." Uesugi worked at 
the Tokyo branch of New York Times after having served as a 
secretary to Kunio Hatoyama. After that, he has been working as a 
freelance journalist on political affairs. Terashima once worked at 
Mitsui and Co. Ltd. He advocates the establishment of an equal 
Japan-U.S. relationship and a multilateral security organization in 
Asia. 
 
12) DPJ to delay issuance of National Defense Program Guidelines 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
August 28, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided yesterday to postpone 
 
TOKYO 00001983  009 OF 012 
 
 
the compilation of the National Defense Program Guidelines (NDPG), 
which the current administration planned for the year-end, until 
next year or later, if it takes over the reins of government after 
the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election. The DPJ, which plans 
to produce a new NDPG after fundamentally reviewing the current 
revision plan, has found it difficult to finish its studies before 
the end of the year. With the Defense Ministry has already begun 
compiling a budget for fiscal 2010 based on the NDPG's revision by 
the end of the year, the move will produce havoc in the ministry. 
 
On Aug. 4 the Council on Security and Defense Capabilities (chaired 
by Tokyo Power Company Chairman Tsunehisa Katumata) presented to 
Prime Minister Taro Aso a report recommending the use of the right 
to collective self-defense. Based on this, the government planned to 
have the cabinet adopt at the end of the year the (revised) NDPG and 
the Midterm Defense Buildup Program specifying the major defense 
equipment for the next five years (FY2010-2014). 
 
But a cautious stance still prevails in the DPJ about that report, 
and President Yukio Hatoyama has announced a plan to review the 
report after taking power. 
 
The council produced its report in about six months. DPJ Vice 
President Seiji Maehara said, "We will select a new lineup for the 
council to produce a new report." The NDPG to be formulated by the 
DPJ is likely to be fundamentally different in content and to take 
time. 
 
There is a view in the DPJ that the revision can be put off until 
the end of next March because the current NDPG will be good until 
the end of fiscal 2009. But a revision next March will be too late 
to reflect its results in year-end budget compilation. For this 
reason, a plan to delay the revision for one year is prevalent. 
 
Further, the DPJ, which includes members from the former Japan 
Socialist Party as well as a group of conservatives, has yet to 
produce a unified view on the specific capabilities of the 
Self-Defense Forces (SDF). Complications are also expected in 
coordination of views with the Social Democratic Party, the DPJ's 
possible coalition partner which calls for a reduction in the SDF. 
 
The DPJ also vows in its manifesto (election pledges) to revise the 
Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and review the U.S. force 
realignment plan. The DPJ intends to conduct its NDPG formulation 
work while keeping an eye on the level of progress on the U.S. 
government's effort to produce the new Quadrennial Defense Review 
(QDR) early next year. 
 
If the NDPG revision is put off for one year, the fiscal 2010 budget 
will have to be compiled by, for instance, altering the Midterm 
Defense Buildup Program which expires at the end of fiscal 2009. As 
such, it will be difficult to compile a bold budget. 
 
13) "Prime Minister Hatoyama" to make diplomatic debut in late 
September; MOFA coordinating schedule on assumption of change of 
administration 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
August 28, 2009 
 
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has drawn up the schedule for 
summit diplomacy after the House of Representatives election on 
 
TOKYO 00001983  010 OF 012 
 
 
August 27. The prime minister will attend a series of international 
conferences, including the "UN High-level Event on Climate Change" 
at the UN headquarters in New York on September 22. Coordination is 
underway to hold Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio 
Hatoyama's first summit meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on 
September 23 if he becomes the prime minister. Summits with the 
leaders of China and South Korea are also being arranged. These 
meetings will be Hatoyama's diplomatic debut. 
 
After the high-level event on climate change on September 22, the UN 
General Assembly (UNGA) begins its general debate on September 23. 
The G-20 financial summit in Pittsburgh follows on September 24-25. 
 
MOFA has begun the coordination process on the assumption that the 
new prime minister will attend these meetings. He will depart Japan 
on September 21 to attend the climate change conference on the 
morning of September 22. 
 
President Obama is expected to deliver the opening speech at this 
meeting. If Hatoyama participates in this event as Japan's prime 
minister, this will be an opportunity to showcase Japan-U.S. 
cooperation on global warming prevention. 
 
In his speech for the UNGA general debate, Hatoyama will emphasize 
his support for Obama's initiative for "a world without nuclear 
weapons" and publicize Japan's efforts toward the eradication of 
nuclear arms, including its adherence to the three non-nuclear 
principles. 
 
The key question about Hatoyama's summit meeting with Obama is how 
far he will go in mentioning steps toward an "equal Japan-U.S. 
relationship" - which is included in the DPJ's campaign pledges - 
including the revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement 
(SOFA) and a review of U.S. military bases in Japan. Arrangements 
are also being made for meetings with PRC President Hu Jintao and 
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak. 
 
A senior MOFA official says: "This will be a full schedule including 
important summitry on such issues as the earth environment, 
security, and the world economy. Naturally, we will have to make 
preparations on the assumption that whoever becomes the prime 
minister will attend these meetings." 
 
14) Japan might be absent from G-8 meeting of House of 
Representatives chairmen 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 28, 2009 
 
The 8th conference of Group of Eight (G-8) House of Representatives 
chairmen (chairmen's summit) will be held in Rome, Italy, in 
mid-September. In Japan, however, since a general election will be 
held on Aug. 30, a new Lower House speaker and a vice speaker will 
not have been selected yet. A special Diet session to pick a new 
speaker is unlikely to be held until then. 
 
According to the Lower House Secretariat, the chairmen's summit will 
be held on Sept. 12-13. The previous speaker or vice speaker will 
not attend the meeting, so if the special session is held in 
mid-September or later, Japan will be absent from the summit. 
 
15) Japanese and U.S. auto makers increasingly dissolving their 
 
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business tie-ups: Need for Japanese makers to have new strategy for 
North American market 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 8) (Full) 
August 28, 2009 
 
Following the global slump in auto sales, Japanese and U.S. 
automakers are increasingly dissolving their business tie-ups. 
Nissan Motors on August 26 announced that it had called off its 
business tie-up with Chrysler. They had previously signed an 
original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement. Toyota Motors will 
also end auto manufacturing at NUMMI, a joint venture company with 
General Motors, by the end of 2009. Japanese automakers are now 
pressed to take a second look at their strategy to the North 
American market. 
 
Nissan Motors had planned to provide compact cars to Chrysler and 
procure pickup trucks from that company. However, after filing for 
bankruptcy, Chrysler has been reconsidering its tie-up with Nissan, 
because it has decided to aim to restore the finances through a 
tie-up with Fiat, a leading Italian automaker, which has its forte 
in compact cars. 
 
Regarding pick-ups, Nissan is looking into a future approach, 
including finding another supplier or continuing the manufacturing 
of its own products, noting that since pickups are a key commercial 
product, they will not cut off the supply of such vehicles. 
 
GM had formed capital tie-ups with Isuzu Motors, Suzuki Motor 
Corporation and Fuji Heavy Industries by 2000. It presumably 
intended to enhance its competitiveness, by expanding business scale 
to meet the booming North American market. 
 
However, it dissolved all such business tie-ups by 2008, after it 
slipped into the red. 
 
It still has a cooperative relationship with Suzuki for the 
technical development of next-generation vehicles, such as hybrid 
cars. 
 
16) Opinion polls in Japan, China: 73 PERCENT  of Japanese 
respondents have negative impressions of China, reflecting distrust 
in food safety 
 
YOMIURI (Page 9) (Abridged) 
August 28, 2009 
 
(Saeki, Beijing) 
 
Genron NPO of Japan and the China Daily, an English-language Chinese 
newspaper, each conducted opinion polls in their respective 
countries in May and June. The Genron NPO survey results show that 
many Japanese still have negative impressions of China because of 
the Chinese government's responses to such issues as food safety, 
epitomized by food poisoning caused by tainted Chinese dumplings. 
 
Asked their impression of China, 62.7 PERCENT  of the 1,000 
respondents in the survey in Japan said that it was somewhat not 
good. Adding those who said it was not good, the percentage surges 
to 73.2 PERCENT . As the reason for their negative impression, 81 
PERCENT  cited the Chinese government's responses to food safety and 
other issues. Meanwhile, the survey results in China show that more 
 
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than 60 PERCENT  of the 1,589 respondents have a negative impression 
of Japan, with the largest number of respondents citing Japan's past 
aggression against China as the major reason. 
 
As for problems that have hindered forging closer bilateral 
relations, 46.2 PERCENT  of Japanese respondents cited the safety of 
Chinese products, and 49.2 PERCENT  of Chinese surveyed mentioned 
territorial issues. Those who expressed anxiety about the safety of 
Chinese food accounted for 94.8 PERCENT  and 69.9 PERCENT  of 
Japanese and Chinese respondents respectively. Asked about the 
results of bilateral summit meetings, more than 40 PERCENT  of 
respondents both in Japan and China said that simply increasing the 
number of meetings was of no value. 
 
ROOS