VZCZCXRO4599
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1993/01 2430248
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 310248Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5830
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 8508
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6176
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9985
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3580
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6689
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0712
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7375
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6997

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 17 TOKYO 001993 
 
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 08/31/09 
 
Index: 
House of Representatives election special 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
3) LDP suffers historical defeat, winning only 119 seats, a loss of 
181, while Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) reaches sole majority of 
308, gaining 191  (Yomiuri) 
4) Prime Minister Aso to step down as party president to take 
responsibility for LDP's massive defeat  (Nikkei) 
5) Turnout rate in the election was a high 69.28; Tokyo was 66 
PERCENT   (Yomiuri) 
6) Big names tumble in the LDP as strongholds fall across the 
country  (Yomiuri) 
7) Former Prime Minister Kaifu loses his seat, so does Komeito head 
Ota  (Asahi) 
8) New Komeito loses big in small districts  (Yomiuri) 
9) Ota to quit as head of the New Komeito  (Yomiuri) 
10) Finance Minister Yosano and Seiko Noda among LDP bigwigs who 
lost  (Asahi) 
11) But Yosano revived in the proportional race  (Asahi) 
12) People's New Party Watanuki, who campaigned against postal 
reform, loses his seat  (Asahi) 
13) JCP keeps nine seats in Lower House election; supporting DPJ 
from the sideline backfires  (Mainichi) 
14) Small parties survive: Hiranuma's group and Yoshimi Watanabe's 
"Your Party"  (Mainichi) 
15) Tokyo proportional representation bloc: DPJ increases by two to 
eight seats  (Yomiuri) 
 
Exit polls: 
16) Yomiuri and NTV joint poll shows 50 PERCENT  of unaffiliated 
voters opted for the DPJ  (Yomiuri) 
17) Kyodo poll: Half of the unaffiliated voters favored DPJ 
candidates; 30 PERCENT  of LDP supporters went over to the DPJ side 
(Nikkei) 
18) Asahi poll shows the DPJ's gender gap is over with women voting 
in droves for the party  (Asahi) 
 
19) Coalition talks with the DPJ will now begin  (Asahi) 
 
U.S.-Japan relations: 
20) DPJ as the ruling party to make good on its promise to revisit 
Futenma relocation and revise the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces 
Agreement  (Nikkei) 
21) Concern in Washington about the DPJ's brand of foreign policy 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
22) U.S. government stresses continuity of alliance relations with 
the new DPJ government  (Sankei) 
23) U.S. will try to build confidence measures with the Hatoyama 
government  (Asahi) 
24) Close relations to be the continued aim of the U.S government 
but fear of the future of security ties lies deep  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Landslide victory for DPJ, change of administration: Respond to 
the overwhelming popular will 
 
TOKYO 00001993  002 OF 017 
 
 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) The people changed Japan: A change of administration in the 
spirit of the Meiji Restoration 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) DPJ administration now a reality: Meet the expectations for 
change and shoulder the heavy responsibility 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) The people bet on a DPJ administration under Hatoyama 
 
Sankei: 
(1) DPJ administration: Protect national interest with a pragmatic 
line; conservative revival is LDP's path to survival 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) The wheel of history turned: DPJ wins landslide victory; LDP 
defeated 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Historic verdict: the LDP-New Komeito administration forced to 
step down 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
DPJ wins 308 seats, change of administration: Hatoyama to become 
prime minister 
 
Mainichi: 
DPJ wins 308 seats, captures political power; PM Hatoyama to be 
elected at Lower House; First full-fledged change of administration 
in history 
 
Yomiuri: 
DPJ wins 308 seats, change of administration; LDP wins only 119 
seats, suffers historic defeat 
 
Nikkei: 
DPJ wins 308 seats, change of administration; Hatoyama cabinet to be 
formed mid-September; LDP suffers historic defeat 
 
Sankei: 
The day that changed history: DPJ wins landslide history; LDP 
suffers crushing defeat 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
DPJ wins 308 seats, change of administration; LDP wins only 119 
seats, suffering unprecedented defeat 
 
Akahata: 
LDP, New Komeito suffer historic defeat; People pronounce their 
verdict 
 
3) DPJ wins 308 seats, achieving change of government; LDP wins only 
119 seats, suffering historic defeat 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The 45th House of Representatives election, where the main issue was 
 
TOKYO 00001993  003 OF 017 
 
 
choosing an new administration, took place on August 30. The results 
of the tally showed that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had won 
308 seats, way above the majority (241 seats). The party has 
succeeded in capturing political power. The Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) is now the second party for the first time since its founding. 
Prime Minister Taro Aso announced his resignation as party president 
on the evening of August 30. This will be the first time for Japan 
to have a non-LDP administration in 16 years, since the Hosokawa 
administration. This is also the first time that the number one 
opposition party has won a majority of seats single-handedly and 
achieved a change of administration under the current Constitution, 
signaling that Japanese politics has reached a major turning point. 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama is moving immediately to prepare for 
administration transition and will be conducting policy 
consultations with the Social Democratic Party and the People's New 
Party toward forming a coalition government. A new administration 
with Hatoyama as prime minister will be launched in mid-September. 
 
4) Prime minister Aso to step down as LDP president 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has tumbled from its position as 
the number one party in the Lower House, losing roughly 60 percent 
of the 300 seats it held until the official announcement of the 
election. Prime Minister Taro Aso (also LDP president) during an NHK 
TV program yesterday evening announced his decision to step down as 
LDP president, noting: "I must seriously acknowledge the voices of 
the people and make a fresh start by humbly reflecting on the 
results. I must take responsibility." 
 
LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda on the same evening told the 
prime minister that the three top party executives and acting 
secretary general will all step down. 
 
The prime minister, appearing on a Fuji TV program, said, "I would 
like to call an LDP presidential election involving local party 
members and friends of the party after the Diet nomination for prime 
minister." Hosoda during a press conference revealed that the party 
is planning to hold a presidential election in late September. Some 
members, however, take the view that it would be desirable to elect 
the new president before the Diet nomination for prime minister at 
the special Diet session. 
 
This is the LDP's first fall from power since the establishment in 
1993 of the non-LDP coalition government led by Morihiro Hosokawa as 
prime minister, when the party lost its majority in the Lower House 
election. At that time, the LDP was still the top party in the Lower 
House even after the election. It snatched power from the Hosoakwa 
administration by forming a coalition with the Socialist Party and 
the New Party Sakigake in 1994. 
 
5) Voter turnout at record high of 69.28 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Voter turnout for the 45th House of Representatives election 
yesterday was a record 69.28 PERCENT , more than the 67.51 PERCENT 
in the previous Lower House election in 2005, according to an 
estimate by the Yomiuri Shimbun. The turnout in single-seat 
 
TOKYO 00001993  004 OF 017 
 
 
constituencies was the highest ever since the mixed electoral system 
of single-seat and proportional representation constituencies was 
introduced in 1996, 
 
6) LDP loses seats in Lower House election even in traditional 
strongholds 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has suffered a historic debacle 
and many of its "heavyweights," such as faction leaders and former 
cabinet ministers, have lost in the election. The LDP lost House of 
Representatives seats even in single-seat districts that used to be 
its traditional strongholds. 
 
Taku Yamasaki, chairman of the Yamasaki faction and a former vice 
president, lost in the second district of Fukuoka. Takashi Sasagawa, 
chairman of the General Council and one of the party's top three 
executives, lost in the second district of Gunma. Among former 
cabinet ministers, Shoichi Nakagawa, former minister of finance and 
financial services, lost in the 11th district of Hokkaido; Norihiko 
Akagi, former agriculture minister, lost in the first district of 
Ibaraki; Yuya Niwa, former health minister, lost in the sixth 
district of Ibaraki; Hajime Funada, former Economic Planning Agency 
director general, lost in the first district of Tochigi; Yoshinobu 
Shimamura, former agriculture minister, lost in the 16th district of 
Tokyo; Mitsuo Horiuchi, former minister of international trade and 
industry, lost in the second district of Yamanashi; Hakuo 
Yanagisawa, former health minister, lost in the third district of 
Shizuoka; Taro Nakayama, former foreign minister, lost in the 18th 
district of Osaka; Seiichi Ota, former agriculture minister, lost in 
the third district of Fukuoka; and Fumio Kyuma, former defense 
minister, lost in the second district of Nagasaki. 
 
7) Ex-PM Kaifu, New Komeito leader Ota, other political heavyweights 
lose seats in Lower House election; 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The following prominent candidates lost in the House of 
Representatives election: 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
 
Toshiki Kaifu, former prime minister 
Shoichi Nakagawa, former finance minister and minister for financial 
services 
Taku Yamasaki, former LDP vice president 
Fumio Kyuma, former defense minister 
Takashi Sasagawa, chairman of the General Council 
Mitsuo Horiuchi, former chairman of the General Council 
Norihiko Akagi, former agriculture minister 
Hakuo Yanagisawa, former health minister 
Yuya Niwa, former health minister 
Koji Omi, former finance minister 
Takashi Fukaya, former minister of economy, trade, and industry 
Yoshinobu Shimamura, former agriculture minister 
Shunichi Suzuki, former environment minister 
Satsuki Katayama, former Finance Ministry division chief 
Yukari Sato, former foreign securities firm employee 
 
TOKYO 00001993  005 OF 017 
 
 
 
New Komeito 
 
Akihiro Ota, party leader 
Kazuo Kitagawa, secretary general 
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, former minister of land, infrastructure, 
transport, and tourism 
 
People's New Party 
 
Tamisuke Watanuki, party leader 
Hisaoki Kamei, secretary general 
 
8) New Komeito defeated in all single-seat constituencies 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The New Komeito suffered the most crushing defeat in the House of 
Representatives election since the party was established, with all 
eight of its candidates in single-seat constituencies defeated, 
including President Ota and Secretary General Kitagawa. Taking the 
view that the party got caught up in the adverse wind against the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), some party members have begun to 
call for a review of its relations with the LDP. 
 
Ota stated at party headquarters in the early hours today: "I keenly 
sense my responsibility for the election results. I am determined to 
do my best to reconstruct the party. I would like to discuss with 
other senior members what steps we should take to that end." 
However, with only party members elected under the proportional 
representation segment as Lower House members, the New Komeito will 
inevitably find it difficult to pick new executive members. 
 
In the election campaign, the junior ruling party underscored, in 
unison with the LDP, the ruling coalition's achievements and ability 
to take responsibility, in addition to criticizing the Democratic 
Party of Japan's lack of ability to govern. But senior party 
members, including Ota, had to give priority to their own election 
campaigning in the face of a strong adverse wind and had no leeway 
to support other candidates (of the LDP). Predicting such a 
situation, the party had considered prior to the official 
announcement of the election the possibility of also putting the 
names of Ota and Kitagawa on its proportional representation list, 
but this idea was dropped, reflecting voices of concern about "a 
lack of seriousness." 
 
The New Komeito intends to continue its joint struggle with the LDP 
as an opposition party in Diet affairs and on other occasions for 
the time being. With an eye toward the House of Councillors election 
next summer, however, some party members have begun to suggest 
reviewing its current relations with the LDP, with one member 
remarking: "There is no such phrase as 'opposition coalition'." A 
senior party member said: "There were times in which we were caught 
in dilemmas because we had to compromise with the LDP over security 
and other policies after we formed a coalition in 1999. Looking back 
on the past ten years, we will discuss from scratch what our party 
should be from now on." 
 
9) New Komeito secures record low Lower House seats; Ota to resigns 
as party head 
 
 
TOKYO 00001993  006 OF 017 
 
 
ASAHI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The New Komeito suffered a historic defeat in Sunday's House of 
Representatives election, securing a record low of 25 seats, falling 
below the 31 seats the party had held before the dissolution of the 
Lower House. Both Party Head Akihiro Ota and Secretary General Kazuo 
Kitagawa were defeated in the election. The party is certain to be 
forced to reflect on the past ten years of its coalition government 
with the Liberal Democratic Party. The party is likely to decide 
whether to support the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) or the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on an issue-by-issue case. 
 
Ota told the press corps early this morning: "I feel acutely my 
responsibility for the results of the election," indicating his 
intention to resign as chief representative of the New Komeito. The 
names of Vice Representative Yoshihisa Inoue, Policy Research 
Council Chairman Natsuo Yamaguchi, Environment Minister Tetsuo 
Saito, and Deputy Chief Representative Toshiko Yatsu are being 
floated as candidates to succeed Ota as the next chief 
representative. 
 
Since Ota has said that his party will not form an opposition 
coalition, the New Komeito is certain to distance itself from the 
LDP. 
 
10) LDP's Yosano, Noda defeated in district races, but secure 
proportional representation seats 
 
ASAHI (Page 19) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Incumbent ministers are generally believed to have an advantage in 
elections, but Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano, 71, was defeated by 
Banri Kaieda, 60, a candidate on the Democratic Party of Japan's 
(DPJ) ticket in the Tokyo No. 1 district race in Sunday's House of 
Representatives election. State Minister for Consumer Affairs Seiko 
Noda, 46, was also defeated by a new DPJ candidate. The two cabinet 
ministers were elected in the proportional representation segment. 
 
Education Minister Ryu Shionoya, 59, was defeated in the Shizuoka 
No. 8 district election, but secured a proportional representation 
seat. 
 
Also Motoo Hayashi, state minister for Okinawa, Northern 
Territories, and disaster management, who ran in the Chiba No. 10 
district, was defeated. 
 
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato was 
defeated in the Tochigi No. 4 district. 
 
11) Tokyo proportional representation bloc: DPJ increases by two to 
eight seats; LDP's Yosano restored in the proportional race 
 
ASAHI (Page 16) (Full) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won eight seats (six in the 
previous election) in the Tokyo proportional representation block 
race of yesterday's House of Representatives election, in which the 
DPJ fought to bring about a change of government. The DPJ had 
suffered a crushing defeat in the 2005 Lower House election, which 
 
TOKYO 00001993  007 OF 017 
 
 
focused on postal privatization, securing about 700,000 votes less 
than the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The DPJ, however, 
outnumbered the LDP yesterday's general election. 
 
Following Mitsuaki Takeda, a new-face candidate, and Eiko Ishige, a 
former lawmaker, who ran only in the DPJ proportional representation 
segment of the ballot, Koki Kobayashi won a seat, returning to the 
national politics. Kobayashi, who had been expelled from the LDP due 
to his opposition to postal privatization, was included in the DPJ's 
list of candidates for the proportional representation section 
immediately before the start of the official campaign for the 
general election because he failed to run in the poll as an 
independent in the Tokyo No. 10 single-seat district. 
 
Meanwhile, the LDP secured only five Tokyo proportional 
representation seats (seven in the previous race). The LDP 
leadership gave 22 candidates running also in single-seat district 
races the highest ranking on its proportional representation list. 
Such candidates as Kaoru Yosano, who ran in the Tokyo No. 1 district 
race, and Yuriko Koike, who ran in the Tokyo No. 10 district, were 
elected in the proportional representation segment of the vote 
although they lost their single-seat elections because their margins 
of defeat were high. 
 
The New Komeito kept two seats, which the party has had since 2000, 
as Yosuke Takagi and Michiyo Takagi were elected. 
 
The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) won one seat (one in the previous 
election) although it had put four candidates its list. Only Ryo 
Kasai won a seat. The Your Party also secured only one seat. Mito 
Kakizawa gained a Your Party propositional representation seat even 
though he was defeated in the Tokyo No. 15 district race. The Social 
Democratic Party, which had won one seat in the 2005 election, won 
no seat. 
 
12) PNP leader Watanuki defeated in Lower House election 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The People's New Party (PNP), which was established in 2005 mainly 
by former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers opposing postal 
privatization, fought an uphill battle in yesterday's House of 
Representatives election, as its leader Tamisuke Watanuki and 
Secretary General Hisaoki Kamei were defeated. Kamei told reporters 
last night: "We failed to acknowledge the public's anger toward the 
LDP. Votes went to the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)." 
 
Watanuki, who ran only for the proportional representation segment 
of the ballot, did not use the expression "change of government" in 
his stump speeches, thinking that using such an expression would 
benefit the DPJ alone. He repeatedly called on voters to summarize 
the Koizumi-Takenaka reform program. 
 
The PNP, which is expected to form a coalition government with the 
DPJ, intends to demonstrate its political imprint in the House of 
Councillors, in which the DPJ does not have a single-party majority, 
maintaining its relationship with the DPJ. 
 
13) JCP keeps nine seats in Lower House election; supporting DPJ 
from the sideline backfires 
 
 
TOKYO 00001993  008 OF 017 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Daisuke Kondo 
 
The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) won nine seats in the House of 
Representatives election, which is the same as the number of seats 
it held before the election, and is pleased with the crushing defeat 
suffered by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). However, there is 
also no denying that its presence has been weakened by the strategy 
of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to ask the voters to choose 
an administration. It can be said that the JCP's decision not to 
field candidates in single-seat districts where it used to have 
candidates in order to support a change of administration by the DPJ 
from the sidelines backfired. At the height of the election 
campaign, it resorted to publicizing its independent role as a 
"constructive opposition party," which will adopt an issue-by-issue 
approach toward a "DPJ administration," to salvage its campaign, but 
this came too late. While the party is able to keep the same number 
of seats, it failed to expand its influence. 
 
"The tide turned against the politics conducted by the LDP and New 
Komeito," stressed JCP Chairman Kazuo Shii on a late night NHK TV 
program on August 30. "In our role as a constructive opposition 
party we would like to cooperate with the DPJ administration in 
doing good things and oppose firmly the bad things. We will make 
efforts to move politics forward." 
 
The JCP reduced the number of its candidates in the single-seat 
districts to 152, which was nearly half of the number (275) in the 
previous election in 2005. It regarded the election as what Shii 
called "a verdict on saying goodbye to the LDP-New Komeito 
administration." The JCP, in effect, facilitated the flow of JCP 
votes to the DPJ in constituencies in which it did not field 
candidates. 
 
Its goal was to win 6.5 million proportional representation votes 
and increase the party's number of seats in all 11 proportional 
representation blocs. Party leaders stumped nationwide, targeting 
voters who wanted to say no to the LDP-New Komeito administration 
but felt unsure about a DPJ administration. 
 
14) "Your Party," Hiranuma Group fail to become pivot of realignment 
of political forces 
 
MAINICHI (Page 4) (Full) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Daisuke Nohara 
 
With the landslide victory won by the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), "Your Party," the new party established by former 
Administrative Reform Minister Yoshimi Watanabe and others, and the 
independent "Hiranuma Group," created by former Minister of Economy, 
Trade, and Industry Takeo Hiranuma, are now forced to rethink their 
strategy. Their goal had been to hold the casting vote and become 
the pivot of the realignment of political forces if the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) and the DPJ were equally matched. However, 
with the DPJ's control of a vast majority of seats, it will be 
difficult for these two groups to make their presence felt. 
 
Your Party campaigned on a platform of "change of administration 
 
TOKYO 00001993  009 OF 017 
 
 
plus realignment of political forces." Watanabe, its leader, and 
Kenji Eda won seats in single-seat districts. Koichi Yamauchi won on 
the proportional representation ticket, while Keiichiro Asao and 
Mito Kakizawa won seats on the proportional representation ticket 
after losing in the single-seat districts, making a total of five 
seats. However, with the DPJ winning over 300 seats, the party's 
prospects are dim. In the latter half of the campaign, Watanabe was 
trying to make the party available to the DPJ. "If the DPJ asks us 
to discuss forming an administration, we will oblige," he remarked. 
However, this was ignored by the DPJ because, according to DPJ 
Secretary General Katsuya Okada, "(Your Party's) intentions are 
unclear." 
 
"We had not expected the DPJ to be this strong, remarked a 
distressed official of the Hiranuma Group. "We are at a loss as to 
what to do from now." The group's goal had been to serve as a "third 
pole" to attract the votes of those who are dissatisfied with both 
the LDP and the DPJ and to form a new party by recruiting members 
from other parties after the election. However, out of its 17 
candidates, only three were elected - Hiranuma, Ryuji Koizumi 
(Saitama 11th district) and Minoru Kiuchi (Shizuoka 7th district). 
The number of elected members does not even meet the minimum (five 
Diet members) required by the Public Offices Election Law for 
recognition as a political party, so the founding of a new party 
will be difficult. 
 
15) Voter turnout for Lower House election in Tokyo at 66.37 PERCENT 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 16) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Voter turnout in the small constituencies in Tokyo for the House of 
Representatives election yesterday was 66.37 PERCENT  on average 
(with 66.20 PERCENT  of all male eligible voters and 66.54 PERCENT 
of female voters), up 0.78 percentage points over the previous 
election in September 2005 (65.59 PERCENT ). According to an 
announcement by the Tokyo Metropolitan Electoral Management 
Committee, the number of eligible voters as of yesterday was 
10,601,391, of whom 7,035,959 voters cast ballots. 
 
The turnout yesterday was higher than that for the previous 
election, in which the Liberal Democratic Party won a landslide 
victory and for which the turnout marked the highest figure in the 
Heisei period. The highest turnout was marked in Tokyo No. 12 
Constituency (the western part of Kita and Adachi wards) at 69.06 
PERCENT , while the lowest turnout was 61.94 PERCENT  in Tokyo No. 
16 Constituency (the south-central part of Edogawa Ward). 
 
1.5 times more voters take advantage of early voting system 
 
According to an aggregate announced yesterday by the Tokyo 
Metropolitan Electoral Management Committee, 1,454,116 voters cast 
ballots in Tokyo as of Aug. 29. This figure is 1.54 times more than 
in the previous Lower House election in 2005. 
 
16) Over 50 PERCENT  of floating voters cast their votes for DPJ 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
A surging crowd of floating voters with no particular party 
 
TOKYO 00001993  010 OF 017 
 
 
affiliation cast their votes for the Democratic Party of Japan, the 
Yomiuri Shimbun found from its exit poll conducted yesterday with 
NTV-affiliated stations. Among those floating or unaffiliated 
voters, more than 50 PERCENT  cast their votes for the DPJ both in 
their single-seat constituencies and in their proportional 
representation blocs. 
 
In the exit poll, floating voters with no particular party 
affiliation accounted for 21 PERCENT  of all those polled. 
 
Among those floating voters, 52 PERCENT  cast their votes for the 
DPJ in their proportional representation blocs, with 16 PERCENT 
voting for the LDP. The difference was 36 points. 
 
Urban districts are said to have comparatively many floating voters, 
who tend to be critical of the Liberal Democratic Party. In an exit 
poll at the time of the election for the House of Representatives in 
2003, the DPJ was 35 points higher than the LDP. In the last 
election held in 2005 over the privatization of state-run postal 
services, however, the gap narrowed to 6 points. 
 
This time, the proportion of those who voted for the DPJ among 
floating voters rose 14 points. Meanwhile, the proportion of those 
who voted for the LDP among floating voters dropped 16 points. This 
can be taken as a major factor of the DPJ's overwhelming victory. 
Among floating voters, 8 PERCENT  voted for the Japanese Communist 
Party, 6 PERCENT  for the Social Democratic Party, 6 PERCENT  for 
the New Komeito party, 2 PERCENT  for the People's New Party, and 1 
PERCENT  for the New Party Nippon. 
 
Among floating voters, 59 PERCENT  voted for the DPJ's candidate in 
their single-seat constituencies, with 24 PERCENT  casting their 
votes for the LDP's candidate. The DPJ was up 14 points from the 
last election for the House of Representatives, with the LDP down 15 
points. 
 
LDP supporters also distanced themselves from the LDP. In the exit 
poll, LDP supporters were asked which political party they voted for 
in their proportional representation blocs. To this question, 54 
PERCENT  answered that they voted for the DPJ, with 29 PERCENT 
saying they voted for the DPJ. The proportion of those who voted for 
the LDP among LDP supporters dropped 18 points from the last 
election for the House of Representatives, and that of those who 
voted for the DPJ among LDP supporters rose 16 points. This shows 
that the LDP failed lock on its supporters. 
 
17) Exit poll: More than 50 PERCENT  of floating votes cast for DPJ; 
30 PERCENT  of LDP supporters also vote for DPJ 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Kyodo News conducted an exit poll of voters yesterday at polling 
stations throughout the country to probe the trends of voters in 
yesterday's general election for the House of Representatives. 
According to findings from the exit poll, Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) and New Komeito supporters distanced themselves from the 
ruling coalition of the LDP and the New Komeito. In addition, 
floating voters with no particular party affiliation leaned toward 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). These factors brought a 
historic change of government. Furthermore, the Japanese Communist 
Party narrowed down its fielding of candidates on its ticket. This 
 
TOKYO 00001993  011 OF 017 
 
 
also worked to the DPJ's advantage. Amid the strong tailwind for the 
DPJ, each political party head's influence was limited. 
 
In the exit poll, 22.5 PERCENT  of voters answered that they did not 
support any particular political party. Those floating voters with 
no particular party affiliation were further asked which political 
party's candidate they voted for in their single-seat constituencies 
and which political party they voted for in their proportional 
representation blocs. In the breakdown of their answers, the DPJ 
scored 51.6 PERCENT  for proportional representation and 59.4 
PERCENT  for single-seat constituencies. As seen from these figures, 
the DPJ won high support ratings from more than half of the floating 
or unaffiliated voters both in single-seat constituencies and in 
proportional representation blocs. 
 
The DPJ was severely defeated by the LDP in the 2005 election for 
the House of Representatives. At that time, the DPJ garnered 38.2 
PERCENT  of votes cast by floating or unaffiliated voters in the 
nation's proportional representation blocs and 45.5 PERCENT  of 
their votes in the nation's single-seat constituencies. At the time 
of the election for the House of Councillors in 2007, the DPJ 
garnered 51.2 PERCENT  of floating votes for proportional 
representation. In the election this time, the DPJ maintained its 
momentum from the 2007 election for the House of Councillors. 
 
Meanwhile, in the election this time, the proportion of those who 
voted for the LDP among floating voters was 15.6 PERCENT , less than 
one third of that for the DPJ. Among floating voters in the nation's 
single-seat constituencies as well, the LDP fell markedly behind the 
DPJ, as seen from the fact that the proportion of those who voted 
for the LDP among those floating voters in nation's single-seat 
constituencies was 23.4 PERCENT . At the time of the last election 
for the House of Representatives in 2005, the LDP was boosted by 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's personal popularity and closed in 
on the DPJ, garnering 32.6 PERCENT  of floating votes for 
proportional representation and 37.4 PERCENT  of floating votes in 
single-seat constituencies. This time, however, the LDP was 
completely left behind by the DPJ. 
 
In the nation's proportional representation blocs, the Japanese 
Communist Party garnered 8.9 PERCENT  of floating votes, Your Party 
7.5 PERCENT , the Social Democratic Party 6.1 PERCENT , the New 
Komeito 4.9 PERCENT , the People's New Party 2.0 PERCENT , the New 
Party Nippon 1.4 PERCENT , and the Reform Club 0.1 PERCENT . 
 
18) Exit poll: 30 PERCENT  of LDP supporters vote for DPJ 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won an overwhelming victory in 
yesterday's general election. This was primarily because Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) supporters changed their minds. Among LDP 
supporters, 30 PERCENT  cast their votes for the DPJ both in their 
proportional representation blocs and in their single-seat 
constituencies. People who previously supported the LDP thought that 
they wanted to let the DPJ run the government this time around. 
 
According to findings from exit polls conducted yesterday across the 
nation, the proportion of LDP supporters among those who voted was 
41 PERCENT  at the time of the general election in 2005 when the LDP 
won an overwhelming victory. In the general election this time, this 
 
TOKYO 00001993  012 OF 017 
 
 
ratio decreased to 37 PERCENT . Meanwhile, the proportion of DPJ 
supporters increased from 20 PERCENT  to 25 PERCENT . 
 
Among LDP supporters, those who voted for the LDP in the general 
election this time accounted for only 54 PERCENT , with 30 PERCENT 
casting their votes for the DPJ. A similar trend was seen in the 
nation's single-seat constituencies. 
 
Meanwhile, 84 PERCENT  of DPJ supporters voted for the DPJ, with 
only 2 PERCENT  casting their votes for the LDP. Among floating 
voters with no particular affiliation as well, 15 PERCENT  voted for 
the LDP and 53 PERCENT  for the DPJ. As seen from these figures, 
voting behavior was drastically different from the time of the 2005 
general election in which the LDP and the DPJ were almost on a par. 
 
According to various public opinion surveys, the rate of public 
support for the DPJ was higher than that for the LDP. Among those 
who voted in the election, however, the rate of public support for 
the LDP was higher than that for the DPJ. This result seems 
unlikely, but it can be explained by the Asahi Shimbun's exit poll 
of over 170,000 early voters at 858 locations in 273 electoral 
districts. In this poll, the LDP's support rate was 20 PERCENT , and 
the DPJ's support rate was as high as 46 PERCENT . This shows that 
DPJ supporters enthusiastically went to the polls to cast their 
votes prior to election day. 
 
Also in early voting, 54 PERCENT  of LDP supporters voted for the 
LDP in their proportional representation blocs, with 30 PERCENT  of 
them voting for the DPJ. This is similar to the voting behavior of 
LDP supporters in yesterday's election. 
 
19) A number of challenges facing DPJ, including coalition talks, 
budget: great number of new faces; Concern about Ozawa-rule 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Executives of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) are overjoyed by 
their party's victory in the Lower House election. However, there is 
not much time to fill themselves with deep emotion. 
 
The new challenge brought about as a result of the landslide victory 
is the stabilization of party management. A great number of freshmen 
were elected this time in reaction to the 2005 postal general 
election, in which the DPJ suffered a crushing defeat. There has 
never been such a large number of inexperienced lawmakers before 
elected to the Diet. 
 
As such, a call for Ichiro Ozawa to serve as secretary general has 
emerged. Since Ozawa has been solely responsible for election 
campaign measures, including finding freshman candidates, he is more 
familiar with them. A large number of Ozawa's "children" have become 
lawmakers, as was the case in the Upper House election in 2007. For 
this reason, some believe that the party needs Ozawa's leadership. 
 
However, if Ozawa comes to hold full powers in managing the party, 
it could draw criticism that the party has a dual-power structure. 
The Ozawa group had the largest number of 50 members or so before 
the election. A certain veteran lawmaker is concerned, "The number 
of members of the Ozawa group will easily top 150, combining members 
of both Diet chambers." 
 
 
TOKYO 00001993  013 OF 017 
 
 
Deputy Secretary General Yoshihiko Noda and some others, who 
supported Okada in the party presidential election in May, met Okada 
at a hotel in Tokyo on the afternoon of August 30. According to an 
informed source, they called on Okada to build a united party to 
prevent Ozawa-rule from occurring. 
 
If the selection of key personnel, including Ozawa, is made first, 
the party may fall into disarray. Hatoyama during a press conference 
held in early hours of the 31st announced his plan to put off 
personnel management, including the selection of key officers, until 
after Diet nomination for prime minister. He also tried to calm down 
the situation, saying during a TV program, "I have no intention of 
giving a free hand to Mr. Ozawa regarding the management of the 
party." 
 
20) DPJ administration to set sail saddled with many touch issues 
involving U.S., such as Futenma relocation and SOFA revision 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
In running its administration, the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) 
immediate challenges on the diplomatic front include the country's 
relationship with the United States. Advocating a close and equal 
Japan-U.S. alliance, the DPJ has criticized in the past the 
government's and ruling coalition's policy course as "blindly 
following the United States." The DPJ administration will set sail 
weighed down by many tough issues, including the handling of the 
(Maritime) Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean. 
 
On Aug. 27 the New York Times carried DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's 
contribution saying that the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty will remain 
as the cornerstone for Japan's foreign policy, indicating that the 
Japan-U.S. alliance will remain unwavering even after the DPJ takes 
power. Nevertheless, the U.S. side is concerned mainly about two 
matters. 
 
One is the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in Ginowan Okinawa Prefecture. The DPJ has until now called 
for relocating the Futenma base outside the prefecture by reviewing 
what was agreed upon regarding U.S. force realignment between Tokyo 
and Washington. With the U.S. side poised not to respond to the 
calls for relocating Futenma outside Okinawa, bilateral talks are 
expected to encounter complications. 
 
Another matter is a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA) stipulating the legal status of the U.S. troops in 
Japan. In its manifesto (campaign pledges for the Aug. 30 Lower 
House election), the DPJ vowed to bring up a review of the SOFA. As 
measures against environmental contamination on U.S. bases in Japan, 
such plans as incorporating in the pact an environmental clause 
allowing onsite examinations by local governments might emerge. 
 
But the United States is reportedly remains cautious about revising 
the SOFA with Japan in view of a possible impact on pacts with other 
countries. If Japan insists on a review of the SOFA, the conflict 
between Japan and the United States over is certain to come to the 
fore. 
 
DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada has indicated that after his 
party takes power it will give priority for "Prime Minister Yukio 
 
TOKYO 00001993  014 OF 017 
 
 
Hatoyama" to build a relationship of trust with President Barack 
Obama. During a Japan-U.S. summit expected to take place as early as 
September, the DPJ might make tremendous efforts to forge a good 
relationship by abstaining from delving deeper into the tough 
issues, such as the SOFA. 
 
Other tough issues included the handling of the MSDF's refueling 
mission in the Indian Ocean. The DPJ does not intend to extend the 
mission beyond its expiry next January. If the party decides to 
terminate the mission, it will likely be pressed to come up with an 
alternative measure for Afghanistan. 
 
In addition, the DPJ's challenges include the question of inspecting 
cargo ships traveling to and from North Korea and antipiracy 
measures in waters off Somalia. 
 
21) Responses in foreign countries to switch in power to DPJ in 
Japan 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 13) (Full) 
August 31, 2009 
 
(Nakahiro Iwata, Washington) 
 
The international community paid close attention to the outcome of 
the House of Representatives election yesterday, which set the stage 
for a historic change of government in Japan with the Democratic 
Party of Japan's overwhelming victory. It was promptly reported by 
foreign media. Some countries have placed expectations on a new 
government led by the DPJ, which places emphasis on East Asia in its 
foreign policy, while some others have voiced concern about its 
unknown diplomatic skills. 
 
Concerns voiced in U.S. about possible change in Japan's foreign 
policy 
 
The U.S. was showing much higher interest in yesterday's election 
than past elections in Japan. The media reported frequently on 
Japanese voters' calls for "change," which had also been advocated 
by U.S. President Barack Obama. 
 
U.S. government officials in charge of Japan policy have focused on 
the DPJ's proposal for an equal Japan-U.S. alliance. In particular, 
they have expressed apprehension about the party's call for 
relocating the Futenma Air Station outside Okinawa Prefecture and 
its opposition to the Maritime Self-Defense Force's ongoing 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The refueling operation is 
part of Japan cooperation in the war on terror in Afghanistan, which 
the Obama administration has designated as an important task. 
 
Having observed the DPJ rewrite its manifesto in response to the 
U.S. concerns, U.S. government sources have expressed expectations 
for a change in its policy stance. 
 
But Senior Fellow (Sheila) Smith of the Council on Foreign Relations 
takes the severe view that "it is unfathomably difficult for a 
political party to truly become a ruling party." DPJ President Yukio 
Hatoyama contributed an article to the New York Times (Internet 
edition) on the eve of election day criticizing the U.S.'s 
market-forces principle and emphasizing the need to build 
Asia-centric economic and security structures. The Hatoyama article 
has also fueled concern that Japan might distance itself from the 
 
TOKYO 00001993  015 OF 017 
 
 
U.S. 
 
22) Overseas responses to DPJ victory in Lower House election 
 
SANKEI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
August 31, 2008 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
Regarding the Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) victory in the Lower 
House election, the White House on August 30 released a statement 
that it is confident that the firm Japan-U.S. alliance and the close 
relationship between the two countries would continue under the new 
administration, as well. The statement went on to say that President 
Obama hopes for close cooperation with the new prime minister. 
 
However, many Japan experts are alarmed that the DPJ might come up 
with policies that could adversely affect the bilateral alliance. 
 
Concerning the DPJ's call for equal Japan-U.S. relations, senior 
fellow Sheila Smith of the Council on Foreign Affairs, a U.S. think 
tank, said, "Regarding the DPJ's policies, I will closely watch its 
priority order," while saying, "I am not worried about the words 
they use." Regarding the party's policy of pulling out of refueling 
operations in the Indian Ocean, Smith called on the DPJ to release 
an alternative contribution measure at an early date. 
 
Senior fellow Bruce Klinger of the Heritage Foundation, a 
conservative think tank, said, "I am concerned about the impact of 
(the DPJ-led administration) on Japan-U.S. security cooperation." 
 
23) Can DPJ deliver on its public pledges? 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) President Yukio Hotoyama has begun 
mulling the lineup for his cabinet. The new administration is likely 
to be launched in mid-September. The question is whether the DPJ can 
really deliver on its campaign pledges, including revamping the 
overall budget allocation system, restoring public trust in the 
pension system, and building an equal Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
Building relations of trust with the United States 
 
Security and foreign policies 
 
The new Japanese prime minister is expected to make his diplomatic 
debut at a series of summit-level international conferences to be 
held in the United States in late September, which will be attended 
by U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao. On 
the sidelines of those events, Japan-U.S. and Japan-China bilateral 
summits are likely to take place. All eyes will be on what message 
the new Japanese administration sends out to the international 
community. 
 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama has repeatedly expressed his desire to 
build a relationship of trust with President Obama. In its manifesto 
(campaign pledges for the Aug. 30 Lower House election), the DPJ has 
vowed to carry out policies that might irritate the United States, 
such as terminating the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. The 
DPJ manifesto also advocates "a close and equal Japan-U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00001993  016 OF 017 
 
 
alliance." But some in the U.S. are concerned about exactly what 
that means. The new Japanese Prime Minister must dispel U.S. 
concerns at the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit and establish himself as 
a reliable partner. 
 
To coincide with the UN General Assembly to be held in New York, a 
meeting of the UN High-level Event on Climate Change and a summit 
meeting on the nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament will be 
held. Furthermore, a G-20 financial summit will take place in 
Pittsburgh. These events will all focus on vital international 
issues in which Japan is expected to play an active role. 
 
Japan has had three prime ministers over the last three years after 
Junichiro Koizumi. The new Japanese Prime Minister must send a 
strong message to the international community that he is capable of 
taking leadership in addressing foreign issues. 
 
In terms of policy toward Asia, the new administration will also be 
tested on how it deals with North Korea. 
 
The purported Japan-U.S. secret nuclear pact will also be a 
challenge for the new administration. 
 
24) International community closely watching Hatoyama-led DPJ; U.S. 
looking forward to closely working with new Japanese Prime Minister, 
though concerned about security policy 
 
ASAHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
August 31, 2009 
 
Immediately after a change of government became definite in Japan on 
August 30, many foreign media outlets reported on it, with the 
U.S.'s CNN saying, "The Japanese people have opted for change," and 
Britain's BBC reporting, "The era of the Liberal Democratic Party 
has now come to an end." Many people in countries with close ties 
with Japan are taking the news positively as a result reflecting 
Japan's popular will. At the same time, some are keeping close watch 
on how a DPJ administration will deal with foreign affairs and 
handle such sticky issues as history and territorial rows. 
 
Hiroshi Ito, Washington 
 
On Aug. 30, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs released a 
statement which said: "The people of Japan have participated in an 
historic election. As a close friend and ally, the United States 
awaits the formation of a new Japanese government. (The United 
States) is confident that the strong U.S.-Japan alliance and close 
partnership. President Obama looks forward to working closely with 
the new Japanese Prime Minister on a broad range of global, 
regional, and bilateral issues." 
 
The prevalent view among U.S. government officials and Japan experts 
is that there will be no fundamental change in bilateral relations 
even under a DPJ administration. The reason for this view is that 
the DPJ has announced a plan to continue attaching importance to 
relations with the United States and also because the U.S. 
government, too, thinks Japan's cooperation is indispensable in 
dealing with pressing issues. 
 
Nevertheless, the DPJ has referred to some changes to the security 
policy upheld under the LDP-New Komeito, and this is a matter of 
concern for the United States. 
 
TOKYO 00001993  017 OF 017 
 
 
 
In particular, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama expressed a view that 
the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean should be terminated when its legal basis expires next 
January. "Afghan policy is a top priority for the Obama 
administration, and if (Japan terminates its refueling mission), 
that will significantly disappoint (the Obama administration)," a 
former U.S. government official said. 
 
Another concern for the U.S. government is the realignment of U.S. 
forces in Japan, including the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. The DPJ has indicated that it 
will review Futenma relocation, with relocation outside the 
prefecture as one option 
 
"If the planned relocation comes to a halt, the plan itself might 
fall apart," indicated Michael Green, Japan chair at the Center for 
Strategic and International Studies. 
 
ROOS