VZCZCXRO8566
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2285/01 2732211
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 302211Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6532
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 9069
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6729
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0545
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4032
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7246
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1230
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7891
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7463

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002285 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA; 
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION; 
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; 
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN, 
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA 
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR; 
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA. 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
 
SUBJECT:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 09/30/09 
 
INDEX: 
(1) U.S. Consul General Greene enthusiastic about cultural exchanges 
(Miyako Mainichi Shimbun) 
 
(2) U.S. Consul General Greene visits Miyakojima Island, inspects 
new energy project in the city (Miyako Shimpo) 
 
(3) At prefectural assembly Okinawa governor stands by position of 
accepting Futenma relocation within prefecture (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(4) More than 30 non-Okinawa-based aircraft stationed on Kadena Air 
Base; 288 instances of noise over 70 decibels detected in a day 
(Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(5) Integration of policy-making mechanisms by government, ruling 
parties: Ruling parties trying to ensure their presence be felt; 
Committee chairmen underscoring their say through Diet management 
(Nikkei) 
 
(6) U.S. expert calls idea of East Asian Community "outdated" 
(Sankei) 
 
(7) Afghan governor expresses appreciation for Japan's aid (Yomiuri) 
 
 
(Corrected copy) MOFA opens press conference to all media companies: 
Foreign Ministry immediately put this decision into practice 
(Mainichi) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) U.S. Consul General Greene enthusiastic about cultural 
exchanges 
 
MIYAKO SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
September 29, 2009 
 
Raymond Greene, who arrived at the post of consul general of the 
U.S. Consulate General in Okinawa on Aug. 25, called on Miyakojima 
Mayor Toshihiko Shimoji at the city hall in Hirara on the 28th to 
report on the assumption of his new post. The consul general and the 
mayor exchanged their views on the environment and cultural 
exchanges. Greene told Shimoji: "Miyakojima is a wonderful island. I 
would like to hear the mayor's views on such matters as clean 
technology and cultural exchanges." 
 
Referring to environmental issues, Shimoji said: 
 
"Miyakojima has been dealing with environmental issues at a top 
level in the country. The United States and Japan have begun joint 
research on storage butteries. We should promote technological 
development. What  we are now considering is to use wind-power 
generation to charge batteries. We want to use those batteries for 
electric cars." 
 
He also added: 
 
"We would be glad if we have a place to jointly research the 
technologies of the United States and Japan or if we can join hands 
on research in the form of conducting demonstration experiments to 
verify what will come out." 
 
 
TOKYO 00002285  002 OF 007 
 
 
Greene responded: "The President has placed importance on 
environment problems. I want to look into the role of research in 
Okinawa in the future." 
 
The consul general stated on cultural exchanges: 
 
"I am going to carry out educational exchanges at Kagamihara Junior 
High School on the 29th. I want to talks about the role of the 
consulate general, the experiences of consul generals, and the 
importance of the study of languages. We also want to strengthen 
relations between educational and cultural exchanges. Personnel 
exchanges are significant for Okinawa and the United States." 
 
The mayor expressed his appreciation, saying: "I am grateful. If the 
consul general becomes a bridge between Japan and the U.S., it will 
become a good motivation." 
 
Greene lived in Yokohama as a JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching 
Program) member. He studied at International Christian University. 
He also participated in a training program of the Foreign Ministry. 
He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He speaks 
Japanese and Chinese. 
 
(2) U.S. Consul General Greene visits Miyakojima Island, inspects 
new energy project in the city 
 
MIYAKO MAINICHI SHIMBUN (Page 9) (Full) 
September 29, 2009 
 
U.S. Consul General in Okinawa Raymond F. Greene, and other 
officials visited Miyakojima Island on Sept. 26 to inspect the 
island's new energy project. They paid a courtesy call on Miyakojima 
Mayor Toshihiko Shimoji on the 28th. 
 
Greene arrived at his current post in August this year. It was the 
first time for him to visit a remote island on official business. 
The island where Okinawa Electric Power Co. has carried out the 
verification experiment for large-scale solar power generation was 
chosen as the place for the consul general to visit. Okinawa 
Electric Power Co. has received subsidies from the Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Industry for the project. 
 
Greene visited the city administration building in Hirara, where he 
said: "I would like to hear the mayor's views on how to expand 
relations between Miyakojima and the consulate general in the areas 
of clean technology and cultural exchanges." Shimoji introduced the 
city's idea of using wind-power generation to charge storage 
batteries and using them as power sources for electric cars. He told 
the consul general: "We would appreciate if research to increase the 
capability of storage batteries and verification tests are carried 
out on Miyakojima." 
 
After meeting with the mayor, Greene visited the Nanamata and 
Minafuku district where Okinawa Electric Power plans to conduct 
verification tests. He is going to exchange views with Kagamihara 
Junior High School students on Sept. 29. 
 
(3) At prefectural assembly Okinawa governor stands by position of 
accepting Futenma relocation within prefecture 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Abridged) 
September 30, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00002285  003 OF 007 
 
 
 
Representative interpellation took place for the first time after 
the change of government following the House of Representatives 
election at the September session of the Okinawa Prefectural 
Assembly (chaired by Yoshinobu Takamine) on September 29. 
In response to the suggestion that Okinawa should demand from the 
Hatoyama administration a concrete timetable for the relocation of 
the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station out of Okinawa, Governor 
Hirokazu Nakaima said: "While relocation out of Okinawa is the best 
option, relocation within the prefecture is unavoidable to remove 
the danger as quickly as possible." He reiterated his longstanding 
position and indicated that he will closely watch the government's 
response. He was replying to a question from Isho Urasaki (Liberal 
Democratic Party) and Shiko Sakiyama (Social Democratic Party-Goken 
Network). 
 
Concerning the preparatory documents for the environmental 
assessment at the site of Futenma's replacement facility, the 
governor indicated that he will submit his opinion on October 13, 
based on the recommendations of the Okinawa Environmental Impact 
Assessment Council to be compiled on October 2. With regard to the 
impact of the lawsuit seeking a re-assessment, Cultural and 
Environmental Affairs Department chief Kenji Chinen said: "Depending 
on the court verdict, there might be a need to consider redoing the 
assessment." This was in response to Urasaki's question. To the 
question whether he intends to conduct a re-assessment because (the 
preparatory documents) did not respond fully to the governor's 
opinion on the assessment methodology report, Chinen said: "The 
preparatory documents do not meet the requirements (for a 
re-assessment under the laws and ordinances)." 
 
(4) More than 30 non-Okinawa-based aircraft stationed on Kadena Air 
Base; 288 instances of noise over 70 decibels detected in a day 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 1) (Full) 
September 30, 2009 
 
Kadena - Six F-22 fighters from Guam arrived at Kadena Air Base 
(KAB), where 12 of the United States' top-of-the-line F-22s are 
already deployed temporarily, on the morning of September 29. The 
reported reason was evacuation on account of the typhoon and the 
length of time they will spend there is unclear. Since September, 
more than 10 FA-18 fighters not based in Okinawa have arrived for 
exercises, and the newly arrived F-22s bring the total of 
non-Okinawa-based aircraft to 30. Local residents are increasingly 
concerned about the intensification of noise. 
 
According to the Kadena town office's survey, since September, FA-18 
and AV-8 Harrier fighters based in the U.S. Marines' base in Iwakuni 
have arrived in Kadena one after the other. Twelve FA-18s arrived on 
September 1, and on September 29, 13 of this model aircraft, the 
largest number during the period, were spotted. Four Harriers 
arrived on September 1, six on September 10, and four on September 
¶11. The town office's records show that there were 288 instances of 
noise (over 70 decibels) on September 25. 
 
The F-22s that arrived on September 29 are based at the Elemendorf 
Air Base in Alaska. This is the fourth time that they have flown 
from Guam, where they are deployed temporarily, to Kadena. Their 
arrival brought the total number of F-22s on the Kadena base to 18. 
 
The Okinawa and Kadena governments were not given advance notice of 
 
TOKYO 00002285  004 OF 007 
 
 
the F-22s' arrival. The Kadena town office was informed by the 
Okinawa Defense Bureau at around 03:20 p.m. on September 29. 
 
(5) Integration of policy-making mechanisms by government, ruling 
parties: Ruling parties trying to ensure their presence be felt; 
Committee chairmen underscoring their say through Diet management 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
September 30, 2009 
 
While the government and the ruling parties are trying to integrate 
their policy-making mechanisms, the ruling parties have begun taking 
an approach of strengthening leverage. The Democratic Party of 
Japan's Lower House standing committee chairmen and special chairmen 
on September 29 confirmed a stance of strengthening their right to 
speak through the management of the Diet. They thus made a 
preemptive move in creating a new policy-making mechanism designed 
to put an end to the current vague situation. The tug of war between 
the government and the ruling parties will likely intensify over the 
management of the Diet, which holds the key to the fate of bills. 
 
Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Kenji Yamaoka of the DPJ at a 
meeting with Lower House standing committee chairmen held in the 
Diet on the 29th played up the importance of the Diet for the 
realization of policies, noting, "It is the Diet that realizes the 
expectations of the people. 
 
Dissatisfaction with abolition of party policy research councils 
 
The Hatoyama cabinet will scrap party policy research councils in 
the run-up to integrating policy-making mechanisms and set up a 
policy council at each ministry chaired by its senior vice minister. 
However, at the meeting, many attendants voiced dissatisfaction, 
with one noting, "Which government office will take responsibility 
for drafting a manifesto?" Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yorihisa 
Matsuno, who was representing the government, was at a loss for 
words, later saying, "Could you raise that question at a policy 
council meeting?" 
 
The basic policy for the management of Lower House committees 
compiled by Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee Chairman 
Nobutaka Tsutsui and others further surprised Matsuno. The package 
included requests for the proactive use of administrative 
investigation rights and approval for revisions of legislation at 
Lower House committees. One participant complained, "These are like 
requests filed by an opposition party." 
 
Preemptive move in pursuit of committee leadership 
 
Behind the ruling parties having taken a preemptive move in managing 
Diet committees is a view that the importance of the management of 
Lower House committees will increase as a result of the scrapping of 
party research councils. That is because the chairman of each 
committee attends policy meetings, which means that there is a 
strong likelihood that not only deliberations on bills but also 
policy debates between the government and the ruling parties will be 
carried out by Lower House committees. 
 
The party under the initiative of Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa 
decides select committee chairmen, who have the right to hold 
committee meetings, even before picking senior vice ministers. Many 
committee chairmen are cabinet member-level persons who are in their 
 
TOKYO 00002285  005 OF 007 
 
 
fifth or sixth term. Many of them are ranked higher than those who 
are picked for senior vice ministers. The emergence of a pattern of 
senior vice minister vs. committee chairmen is conceivable. One 
standing committee chairman sought to check, "The venue for the 
government and the ruling parties to debate is committees." 
 
SDP, PNP becoming increasingly active 
 
After discussing with lawmakers who belong to the ruling parties the 
moratorium of debt payment by small and medium, and very small 
businesses, a measure sought by State Minister for Financial Affairs 
Shizuka Kamei, the leader of the People's New Party, Senior Vice 
Cabinet Office Minister Kohei Otsuka said emphatically,  "My 
understanding is that this is a policy meeting." Many DPJ members 
are cautious about turning that policy step into law The meeting 
that day was held at the request of the SDP and the PNP. This 
pattern could give the SDP and the PNP an excuse to make inroads 
into various government offices to increase their say. The 
government and the ruling parties will likely continue a process of 
trial and error in creating a framework for integrating their 
policy-making mechanisms. 
 
(6) U.S. expert calls idea of East Asian Community "outdated" 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Slightly abridged) 
September 30, 2009 
 
Yoshihisa Komori, Washington 
 
In an interview with the Sankei Shimbun on Sept. 28, Vice Chairman 
Larry Wortzel of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review 
Commission - a policy advisory panel in the U.S. Congress - spoke of 
the concept of an East Asian Community advocated by the 
administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. He said: 
 
"The idea of forming an East Asia Community was initially proposed 
by China as a diplomatic strategy to eliminate U.S. (influence) from 
East Asia, and numerous Asian countries have rejected the idea. 
Japan's proposal is outdated." 
 
Wortzel, an expert on China's foreign policy and external strategy, 
stated: 
 
"The specifics of the new Japanese proposal have yet to be 
disclosed, but I think it is basically a similar initiative to the 
"East Asia Cooperative Community" advocated by China as a diplomatic 
strategy starting around 2005 at meetings of the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and on other occasions. With this 
strategy, China tried to exclude (the influence of) the U.S. from 
East Asia." 
 
Wortzel also predicted that the Japanese proposal for an East Asian 
Community "is unlikely to be widely accepted by many Asian countries 
or to move significantly forward." He pointed out that it was 
somewhat too late for Japan to make a proposal similar to the 
Chinese concept, which met with disapproval by numerous Asian 
countries and has almost been abandoned. 
 
Wortzel further said that even if Japan's concept is taken as a mere 
regional cooperation plan, it carries little weight because there 
are a number of forums for talks and consultative organizations in 
Asia, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference 
 
TOKYO 00002285  006 OF 007 
 
 
(APEC), ASEAN plus 3 (Japan, China, and South Korea), and the ASEAN 
Regional Forum (ARF). 
 
In reference to an expected response by the U.S. to the community 
concept, Wortzel commented: "I think there is no need for the Obama 
administration to immediately issue an official statement opposing 
the concept, but strong objections are expected from Congress. I can 
definitely say that the idea will not be widely accepted in the 
U.S." 
 
Wortzel began analyzing Asian military affairs for the U.S. Army 
starting in the 1970s; served as a military attach at the U.S. 
Embassy in Beijing for seven years starting in the latter half of 
1980's; after serving in such posts as vice president of The 
Heritage Foundation from 2000, has assumed the current post. 
 
(7) Afghan governor expresses appreciation for Japan's aid 
 
YOMIURI (Page 7) (Full) 
September 17, 2009 
 
Michinobu Yanagisawa 
 
Chagcharan, midwest Afghanistan - Governor Sayed Munib of Ghor 
Province, Afghanistan, where Japan has dispatched officials to 
participate in the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), gave an 
interview to Yomiuri Shimbun, where he expressed his appreciation 
and said that he "expresses his appreciation for Japan's 
reconstruction aid." The governor also talked about the old ruling 
Taliban forces and other insurgents and claimed that "the enemies' 
malicious schemes have failed," indicating his confidence about the 
security situation in his province. 
 
The governor stated that the maintenance of security and economic 
development are the two prerequisites for Afghanistan's stability. 
He asked Japan and other members of the international community to 
cooperate in such areas as improving the expertise of civil servants 
and judicial officers, education, and construction. 
 
Japan dispatched four Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials to the 
PRT in Chagcharan, the capital of Ghor Province, where the 
Lithuanian troops are in charge, last June. These officials are 
involved with assistance for schools, the construction of clinics, 
and other aid projects through the local NGOs. 
 
(Corrected copy) MOFA opens press conference to all media companies: 
Foreign Ministry immediately put this decision into practice 
 
MAINICHI (Page 26) (Full) 
September 30, 2009 
 
At a press conference on Sept. 29 Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada 
said that he had decided in principle to open Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs (MOFA) press conferences to all media companies. He 
translated this idea into action, starting with one held on the same 
day. As a result, it was attended by some 30 foreign correspondents 
who do not belong to the MOFA Press Club. 
 
Okada had made a similar announcement at a press conference on the 
18th. However, he has been putting off implementing the plan in 
order to consult with the Press Club. He said, "It's been a while 
since I held the previous conference (on the 18th). I have 
 
TOKYO 00002285  007 OF 007 
 
 
personally decided to open my press conferences to all media 
companies." Eligible for this scheme are members of The Japan 
Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association, The National Association 
of Commercial Broadcasters in Japan, The Japan Magazine Publishers 
Association, The Internet News Association of Japan, The Foreign 
Correspondents' Club of Japan, and holders of a foreign 
correspondents' registration certificate, free lancers and so on. 
Those who want to attend MOFA press conferences need to register in 
advance on the MOFA website. 
 
ROOS