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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002118 
 
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 09/14/09 
 
Index: 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 11  (Nikkei) 
 
Political Agenda 
4) Tanigaki to run for LDP president  (Asahi) 
5) Extraordinary Diet session to be convened at the 
end of October (Tokyo Shimbun) 
6) DPJ to exclude SDP and PNP from National Strategy Bureau 
(Nikkei) 
7) Okada to visit U.S. at end of month  (Mainichi) 
 
Japan-U.S. Security Relationship 
8) In April the U.S. sounded out the Japanese govt. 
about the possible withdrawal of F-16s from Misawa 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
9) First anniversary of nuclear-powered flattop's 
deployment in Yokosuka; protestors demand carrier leave 
(Akahata) 10) New administration to request inclusion 
of environment clause in the SOFA  (Sankei) 
11) DPJ's policy toward U.S. begins with "safe driving"; 
Okada has first meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
(Nikkei) 
12) Japanese Ambassador to U.S. expresses concern about 
request for continuation of refueling mission  (Sankei) 
Secret nuclear accord 
13) DPJ to establish secret-nuclear-accord investigation 
team (Nikkei) 
14) Foreign Ministry moving quickly on issue of secret 
nuclear accord (Nikkei) 
 
Opinion 
15) Yomiuri-Waseda poll: 72 PERCENT  have expectations for 
DPJ; 77 PERCENT  uneasy about new administration  (Yomiuri) 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi: 
American Airlines also sounds out JAL about tie-up 
 
Yomiuri: 
Wall Street learns no lessons from Lehman collapse 
 
Sankei: 
New government to call on U.S. to include a provision 
in SOFA to require removal of contaminated soil from 
military facilities 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Profile of Yukio Hatoyama (Part 1): Hated politics but 
changed his mind in U.S. 
 
Akahata: 
Yokosuka citizens stage protest against deployment of 
U.S. nuclear aircraft carrier 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) One year after Lehman collapse: Global cooperation now needed 
 
TOKYO 00002118  002 OF 009 
 
 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) No change in breeding ground for "acting irresponsibly" one year 
after Lehman collapse 
(2) Drastic review of new bar examination necessary 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Employ bureaucrats' expertise, instead of being hostile to them 
(2) Japanese, U.S. auto industries should search for ways to 
coexist 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Consider income limitation for childcare allowance measures 
(2) Emerging countries show latent power in crisis 
 
Sankei: 
(1) "Abolishment" of driver's license renewal system: Concern over a 
retreat from education reform 
(2) Prevention of suicide: Listen to pleas for help 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Try to reconstruct relations with China, through cooperation and 
assertions 
(2) Increase in child suicide: Government urged to establish places 
where children can feel secure 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions: Business circles 
must fulfill social responsibility 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2009 
 
07:33 Took a walk around his official residence. 
10:02 Cabinet meeting at the Kantei. Then met Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Matsumoto, followed by former National Personnel Authority 
Tani. Then met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
15:27 Met Senior Vice Foreign Minister Ito. 
18:52 Met persons related to his support group at a restaurant in 
Nishiazabu. 
21:50 Arrived at his official residence. 
23:19 Arrived at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 11 
 
10:17 Left home in Denenchofu with his wife Miyuki. 
11:26 Met former prime minister Hata and Upper House member Yuichiro 
Hata at the party headquarters. 
11:57 Met journalist Tamao Hosokawa. 
12:30 Dined with his wife at a Japanese restaurant "Hitotsugi 
Chikurinso" in the TS Kyowa Rokubankan Building in Akasaka. 
13:37 Met Abduction Issue Headquarters chief Nakai at the party 
headquarters. 
14:52 Met Executive Office chief Hirano. 
17:33 Met Deputy President Kan. 
19:17 Arrived home. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002118  003 OF 009 
 
 
Prime Minister's Schedule, September 12 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 13, 2009 
 
Spent the morning at his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
13:30 Arrived at the Imperial Hotel. 
16:35 Shopped at Baskin-Robbins 31 Ice Cream Azabu Store in 
Minamiazabu. 
17:29 Arrived at his private residence. 
 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 12 
 
09:20 Visited Sengen Shrine with his wife Miyuki on foot from his 
home in Denenchofu. 
09:36 Went to Tokyu Tamagawa Station. 
09:40 Left the station by Tokyu Tamagawa Line train. 
09:41 Arrived at Tokyu Denenchofu Station. 
09:44 Shopped at bakery Maison Kayser Denenchofu Store. 
09:55 Arrived home. 
Spent the afternoon at home. No visitors. 
18:29 Went to Hiroko Koshino Aoyama Store, womenswear shop in the 
Hashimoto Building in Minami Aoyama with his wife. 
18:56 Dined with his wife at Korean restaurant "Taishikan 
Roppongi." 
20:06 Met party executive office chief Hirano at Hotel Grand Palace 
in Iidabashi. 
23:21 Arrived home. 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, September 13 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 14, 2009 
 
10:03 Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama-cho. 
Spent the afternoon at his private residence. 
 
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama's schedule, September 13 
 
Spent the morning at home. No visitors. 
12:32 Left home. 
12:55 Met Lower House member Yorihisa Matsuno at Hotel Okura in 
Toranomon. 
15:07 Arrived at Hotel New Otani in Kioicho. 
17:37 Arrived at his office in the Lower House Members' Office 
Building 1. 
18:44 Attended a reception to celebrate the conferment of Federation 
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Chairman Blatter at 
The Ritz Carlton Tokyo in Akasaka. 
20:04 Arrived home. 
 
4) Tanigaki to run in LDP presidential race 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 14, 2009 
 
Yesterday former Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki, 64, officially 
announced his intention to run in the presidential election of the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The election will be held on Sept. 
28 and its official campaign will kick off on Sept. 18. He declared 
his candidacy against the background of such likely candidates as 
Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe expressing their 
 
TOKYO 00002118  004 OF 009 
 
 
intentions not to run for the presidency. Attention will now shift 
to former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, 64, and 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 52, 
who are waiting to see how things develop, and to moves by junior 
and mid-level LDP lawmakers critical of the faction-driven election. 
 
 
5) Extra Diet session to be convened toward Nov. 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
September 14, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) decided on Sept. 12 to convene 
toward Nov. an extraordinary Diet session, at which DPJ President 
Yukio Hatoyama will deliver his first policy speech as prime 
minister. 
 
Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus in the House of 
Councillors, said at a press conference in Kofu City: "(The extra 
Diet session) will be held around the end of October. It would be 
impossible to convene it earlier than that." He indicated that it 
would be desirable to convene the extra session after Upper House 
by-elections are held in Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures on Oct. 
¶25. 
 
According to DPJ sources, it will be difficult to convene the extra 
session before the by-elections because Upper House President 
Satsuki Eda will visit Russia, Britain and Lithuania from early to 
mid-October, 
 
6) DPJ to exclude SDP, PNP from national strategy bureau: Policy 
coordination to be made among party leaders, others 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
September 14, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) on Sept. 13 decided not to allow 
the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP) 
to take part in the national strategy bureau, which will be 
responsible for the nation's basic policies, including budget 
compilation, under the incoming administration. The basic policy 
cabinet ministerial committee made up of party head-level persons of 
the three parties will be solely tasked with policy coordination 
between the government and the ruling coalition. Since the SDP and 
the PNP are hoping to participate in the bureau as well as in the 
committee, they are likely to strongly oppose the DPJ's decision. 
 
7) Okada to visit U.S. in late September 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 14, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, 
tapped to be the next foreign minister, plans to visit the United 
States later this month. Okada's U.S. visit is aimed to coincide 
with the planned visit to New York by DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama 
after his election as prime minister. Okada will attend a foreign 
ministerial of the Group of Eight slated for Sept. 23 in New York. 
Coinciding with the G-8 foreign ministerial, coordination is 
underway for a trilateral foreign ministerial meeting among Japan, 
the United States, and Australia. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002118  005 OF 009 
 
 
Hatoyama is expected to leave Japan as early as Sept. 21. Okada 
appears to be accompanying Hatoyama to the United States. Hatoyama 
plans to attend the opening ceremony of the High Level Meeting on UN 
Framework Convention on Climate Change on Sept. 22 and to deliver a 
speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the 23rd. A meeting 
between Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to be 
held on the 23rd as well. 
 
8) U.S. sounded out Japan on F-16 pullout from Misawa base 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
September 12, 2009 
 
The U.S. government sounded out the Japanese government early this 
April on a plan to withdraw all of about 40 F-16 fighter jets 
currently deployed to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in Misawa City, 
Aomori Prefecture, beginning as early as this year, sources on 
Japan-U.S. relations revealed yesterday. At the same time, the U.S. 
government also proposed reducing the current deployment of F-15 
fighter jets to the U.S. Kadena Air Base, which straddles Kadena 
Town and some other municipalities in Japan's southernmost island 
prefecture of Okinawa and which currently deploys more than 50 
F-15s, according to the sources. 
 
The move reflects the Obama administration's review of the United 
States' defense strategy since coming into office. The Japanese 
government, concerned about the impact on the North Korean situation 
and the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, is opposed to the 
proposed plans and withholding an answer, the sources said. Japan 
and the United States have reached an intergovernmental agreement on 
a plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, the agreement being a 
precondition for maintaining the current deployment of U.S. forces 
in Japan. With the Democratic Party of Japan soon to launch a new 
government under DPJ President Hatoyama, the Japanese and U.S. 
governments could enter into consultations over this issue and again 
focus on such matters as the proposal to move the heliport functions 
of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, 
Okinawa Prefecture, to the Kadena base. 
 
A Japanese government official predicts that in case the 
Misawa-based F-16s are withdrawn, F-35 fighter jets could be 
deployed instead in rotation from a U.S. base on Guam. The F-35 is a 
next-generation fighter jet model. 
 
The F-35, however, has yet to be mass-produced. Its deployment is 
still more than five years away. The Misawa base may therefore have 
no fighter planes deployed on a standing basis. 
 
9) "U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, get out of Japan!"; 
Protest rally held ahead of first anniversary of carrier's 
deployment to Yokosuka 
 
AKAHATA (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
September 14, 2009 
 
The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington was 
deployed to its new homeport of Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, 
Kanagawa Prefecture, about one year ago. A rally to protest against 
the carrier's deployment was held at Verny Park in the city on Sept. 
13, ahead of its first anniversary, with many people holding banners 
saying, "U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, get out of Japan!" 
 
 
TOKYO 00002118  006 OF 009 
 
 
10) New government to call on U.S. to include in SOFA provision to 
require removal of contaminated soil from military facilities 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
September 14, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), the Social Democratic Party, 
and the People's New Party decided yesterday to propose to the U.S. 
government that the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) 
include a provision that would require the U.S. to remove hazardous 
materials if such are found on U.S. military sites. The agreement 
between the U.S. and Germany and that between the U.S. and South 
Korea insert an environment-protection provision. Focusing on this, 
they do not think it will be difficult to have the U.S. understand 
their proposal. 
 
After coming into office as prime minister, DPJ President Yukio 
Hatoyama is scheduled to visit the U.S. to attend the UN General 
Assembly and meet U.S. President Barack Obama possibly on Sept. 23. 
In the summit meeting, Hatoyama intends to relay his basic view to 
Obama regarding a revision of the SOFA. 
 
Under the current SOFA, Japan's central and local governments 
concerned are not allowed to enter U.S. military bases or training 
sites if the U.S. military refuses it. The agreement does not 
require the U.S. military to remove contaminated soil and other 
materials, either. 
 
Furthermore, U.S. military personnel are excluded from the 
application of Japan's domestic law under the SOFA, so the three 
parties also plan to look into including in the SOFA a provision 
calling on the U.S. to try to abide by domestic law. An agreement 
they reached on Sept. 9 to form a coalition government specifies 
that "the new government will propose revising the SOFA." 
 
11) DPJ diplomacy gets off to a safe start; Okada holds first 
meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
September 12, 2009 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who 
will serve as foreign minister under the incoming administration, 
held talks for the first time with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John 
Roos at DPJ headquarters on Sept. 11. At the meeting, the two agreed 
to work hard to make the first talks between DPJ President Yukio 
Hotoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama, planned for Sept. 23, a 
success. The DPJ, which advocates a "close and equal Japan-U.S. 
relationship," has effectively launched its diplomacy toward the 
U.S. At the same time, there are mounting challenges, such as 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, and a purported secret pact 
on the introduction of nuclear weapons. 
 
Global warming, refueling mission pose challenges 
 
"What is important is that the Japan-U.S. alliance will continue and 
deepen over the next 30 years and even 50 years," Okada told Roos. 
The U.S. Ambassador replied, "It is necessary to further deepen the 
alliance over the next 50 years." The meeting, which lasted 45 
minutes, was conducted in an amicable atmosphere. The DPJ's 
diplomacy toward the United States has gotten off to a safe start. 
 
TOKYO 00002118  007 OF 009 
 
 
 
"I was able to have a very productive meeting with the future 
foreign minister," Roos told reporters contentedly. Ahead of the 
launch of the DPJ administration, the U.S. Obama administration is 
expediting efforts to build ties (with the DPJ) on the assumption 
that Okada will become the next foreign minister. 
 
Expectations for the Japan-U.S. summit 
 
Okada expressed his hopes on the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit by 
telling Roos: "I hope the upcoming summit will help Japan and the 
United States to cooperate closely in dealing with global issues 
such as global warming and nuclear weapons, and lead the world." 
Nevertheless, global warming is a thorny issue. 
 
The DPJ said in its manifesto (campaign pledges) that Japan will 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from the level of 1990 
by 2020. After the election, President Hatoyama also announced that 
his party will implement the initiative as promised. Okada, who 
serves as the head of the party's taskforce to curb global warming 
and played a central role in drafting the party's campaign pledges, 
is considering visiting the United States ahead of Hatoyama to 
coordinate targets with other countries. 
 
The DPJ's target of reducing emissions by 25 percent from the level 
of 1990 is higher than the government's target of cutting emissions 
by 15 percent from the level of 2005, and is drawing fire from 
business circles. Both Japan and the United States have used the 
year 2005 as the base year. If Japan unilaterally adopts 1990 as the 
base year after a change of government, that might cause a schism in 
Japan-U.S. relations. 
 
Another potential source of trouble is the question of continuing 
(Japan's) refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that is scheduled to 
expire next January. Although the DPJ does not intend to extend it, 
a U.S. Defense Department spokesman has strongly called for its 
extension. 
 
Stance remains unchanged 
 
Okada made this comment in a Sept. 11 press conference: "A spokesman 
cannot say anything that is different from the policy course in the 
past. The reaction is natural. Our thinking is that we will not 
simply extend the mission. Nothing more, nothing less." Okada 
reportedly brought this up in his talks with Roos, but the U.S. 
ambassador avoided referring to it. 
 
Hatoyama has indicated that the new administration will reveal the 
truth to the public about the purported secret agreement allowing 
the United States to introduce nuclear weapons into Japan. The DPJ 
will launch an investigation into the matter by sending an 
investigative team to the United States. "We will thoroughly 
investigate the matter," said Okada, who will take charge of the 
investigation as the next foreign minister. 
 
12) Ambassador to U.S. expresses concern about U.S. request for 
continuation of Japan's refueling mission 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
September 12, 2009 
 
Ambassador to the U.S. Ichiro Fujisaki at a press conference on 
 
TOKYO 00002118  008 OF 009 
 
 
Sept. 10 expressed his displeasure at Pentagon spokesman Morrell's 
Sept. 9 request to Japan to continue its refueling operation in the 
Indian Ocean. He said, "The relationship between Japan and the U.S. 
is not the kind of relationship in which views are exchanged through 
spokesmen." He was apparently concerned that the statement made by 
the spokesman could be taken as pressure from the U.S. 
 
Fujisaki stressed Japan's independence in its diplomacy with regard 
to assistance to Afghanistan. He said, "I believe that the Japanese 
government will look into and discuss assistance to Afghanistan when 
the new administration is launched. Japan's contribution is for 
Japan to decide independently." 
 
13) DPJ to set up team to investigate secret nuclear accord 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 12, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) yesterday decided that after the 
new administration is launched, the party will establish a team to 
clear up the truth about an alleged Japan-U.S. agreement allowing 
U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japanese 
territorial waters, according to a senior party member. With the aim 
of also looking into the situation at the time when the accord was 
reached, the party intends to include experts in the team. 
 
14) Foreign Ministry being pressed to quickly decide how to deal 
with issue of secret nuclear pact 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
September 14, 2009 
 
The Foreign Ministry is being pressed to quickly decide on how to 
deal with the alleged Japan-U.S. agreement allowing U.S. warships 
carrying nuclear weapons to pass through Japan's territorial waters. 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Katsuya Okada, who 
has been tapped as the next foreign minister, said, "We will 
investigate the issue thoroughly." The Foreign Ministry is acting in 
response to the DPJ's announcement that it is looking into setting 
up a team to investigate the issue that would include experts. The 
Foreign Ministry, which has repeatedly claimed that the secret pact 
does not exist, will be placed in a difficult position. 
 
15) Poll: 72 PERCENT  pin hopes on DPJ, 77 PERCENT  concerned about 
DPJ's future course 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 13, 2009 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun and Waseda University jointly conducted a 
face-to-face public opinion survey across the nation on Sept. 5-6 
after the Aug. 30 general election for the House of Representatives. 
In the survey, respondents were asked if they had expectations for 
the Democratic Party of Japan. In response to this question, a total 
of 72 PERCENT  answered "yes." The percentage was a record high in 
this series of surveys, markedly up from 52 PERCENT  in the last 
survey conducted June 27-28 before the general election. Asked if 
they thought the DPJ is competent to run the government, 67 PERCENT 
answered "yes" (51 PERCENT  in the last survey). The Liberal 
Democratic Party was at 57 PERCENT  (56 PERCENT  in the last 
survey). The DPJ topped the LDP for the first time. These figures 
appear to show that the public has growing expectations for the DPJ, 
 
TOKYO 00002118  009 OF 009 
 
 
which has translated a change of government into reality. As the 
framework of the new administration becomes clearer, many more 
people seem to think the DPJ is competent to govern the nation. 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun has conducted a series of seven joint surveys 
with Waseda University since last October in order to probe public 
attitudes on the House of Representatives election. 
 
The general election ended in a landslide victory for the DPJ and a 
change of government. Having seen this outcome, 66 PERCENT  said 
Japan's politics would change in a favorable way. However, 77 
PERCENT  said they were concerned about the DPJ, almost on a par 
with the figure in the last survey, 76 PERCENT . This shows that the 
public is watching the DPJ, which is waiting in the wings, with a 
mixture of expectation and anxiety. 
 
ROOS