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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002332 
 
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 10/09/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top Headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma relocation issue: 
4) Prime Minister hints at acceptance of Futenma relocation 
agreement  (Yomiuri) 
5) Prime Minister: "I didn't say" facility would be relocated to 
Henoko  (Asahi) 
6) Prime Minister says he would like to widen options; attempts to 
clarify remarks suggesting acceptance of Futenma relocation 
(Yomiuri) 
7) Government expediting coordination of Futenma relocation policy 
in preparation for visits by U.S. officials  (Yomiuri) 
 
Foreign relations: 
8) President Obama to visit Japan on Nov. 12  (Yomiuri) 
9) Dali Lama plans to visit Japan this month  (Yomiuri) 
10) Prime Minister leaves for South Korea today  (Nikkei) 
11) FM Okada comments on statement by ex-PM Murayama: "action before 
words"  (Sankei) 
 
Politics: 
12) LDP to set up administration policymaking board; shelves "shadow 
cabinet" concept  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Emergency employment measures to support job seekers from 
construction industry, expand employment in nursing care services 
 
Mainichi: 
Board of Audit finds accounting irregularities in 28 prefectures, 
cities in FY09 
 
Yomiuri: 
Prime Minister issues orders on environment tax, tax deductions with 
cash benefits, taxpayer ID numbers at new tax commission 
 
Nikkei: 
Major U.S. companies on offensive in cloud computing 
 
Sankei: 
New government tax commission kicks off; provisional gasoline tax 
rates to be abolished 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Survey of 208 major companies: 45 PERCENT  see economy "recovering," 
40 PERCENT  say "flat" 
 
Akahata: 
JCP Chairman Shii calls for new communities for agricultural revival 
at JA national convention 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
 
TOKYO 00002332  002 OF 007 
 
 
(1) Decentralization reform: Publish four-year road map of 
administration promptly 
(2) Winny developer acquittal: Respect for developer appropriate 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) New government tax commission: Time for "real lead player" to 
come on stage 
(2) Winny developer acquittal: Development of defensive software 
also necessary 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) New government tax commission: Prioritizing tax cuts will lead 
to fiscal bankruptcy 
(2) Making police interrogation visible: Investigation of situation 
in Western countries should come first 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Introduce taxpayer numbering in tax system restructuring at 
early date 
(2) Need for awareness of responsibility despite acquittal 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Foreign Minister Okada: Placing absolute priority on Murayama 
Statement is cause for concern 
(2) New government tax commission: Do not forget debate on 
consumption tax 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Futenma relocation within Okinawa: Was hinting at acceptance a 
result of careful consideration? 
(2) Winny court case: Despite the acquittal... 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Iraq airlift activities record: Serious responsibility for 
concealing support of war 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, October 8 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 9, 2009 
 
09:12 Met with Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Nagatsuma, DPJ 
Upper House Caucus Chair Koshiishi, SDP leader Fukushima, and 
People's New Party Vice President Kamei at the Tokyo International 
Forum in Marunouchi. Then attended a regular meeting of the Japanese 
Trade Union Confederation (Rengo). 
10:56 Met with International Energy Agency Executive Director Nobuo 
Tanaka at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. 
11:22 Met with Deputy Foreign Minister Sasae and Asian and Oceanian 
Affairs Bureau Director General Saiki. 
13:01 Met with DPJ Administration Committee Chairman Okumura, 
followed by State Minister for National Strategy Bureau Kan and 
Senior Vice Minister for the Cabinet Office Furukawa. 
14:06 Met with Cabinet Intelligence Director Miki and Defense 
Ministry Defense Policy Bureau Director General Takamizawa. 
Decentralization and Reform Promotion Committee Chairman Niwa and 
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Haraguchi joined later. 
 
15:01 Council for Science and Technology meeting. 
16:01 Attended a meeting of the Tax Commission of the government. 
 
TOKYO 00002332  003 OF 007 
 
 
18:38 Wake for former Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa of the LDP 
at Zenpukuji Temple in Motoazabu. 
19:12" Arrived at his private residence. 
19:26 Dined with his wife Miyuki at "Sakana Kobayashi," Japanese 
restaurant in Okusawa. 
 
4) Government speeds up coordination on Futenma relocation ahead of 
visits by senior U.S. officials 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
October 9, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's statement implying acceptance of the 
plan to relocate the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan 
City, Okinawa) within the prefecture has created a major stir. 
Coalition partner Social Democratic Party (SDP) has reacted strongly 
and has lodged a strong protest with Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hirofumi Hirano and other officials. While the government is 
stepping up the coordination process both at home and abroad as the 
schedule of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan is being 
finalized, a source of dispute has emerged in the coalition 
government even as the administration makes efforts to "give 
consideration to the U.S." 
 
In an effort to bring the situation under control, Hatoyama told 
reporters on October 8 that he "did not mention 'Henoko' (the 
current proposed relocation site) at all" in his statement on the 
Futenma relocation plan. 
 
Futenma relocation is the first pending issue that Japan needs to 
discuss with the U.S. after the change of administration. Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada and the other concerned cabinet ministers 
will discuss the government's response on the morning of October 9. 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell is coming to Japan 
on October 11, to be followed by a visit of Secretary of Defense 
Robert Gates on October 20. The government intends to inform 
President Obama directly of its plans for a solution to this issue 
when he visits Japan starting on November 12. 
 
One possible solution is to move the relocation site further 
offshore by several dozen meters. Okinawa has been demanding this 
move, and this will only require minor modifications of the existing 
plan, so "it will be easy to get the U.S. side's approval," 
according to a source on Japan-U.S. relations. This solution is 
supported by some because it will also be in line with the three 
coalition parties' policy agreement on "dealing with Futenma 
relocation in the direction of a review." 
 
Some consideration is also being given to a proposal to merge 
Futenma with Kadena Air Base. However, the U.S. is hesitant about 
the joint use of Kadena, an Air Force base, with the marines. 
Another proposal to relocate Futenma to the inland areas of Camp 
Schwab was once considered, but the procurement of land for the 
relocation site would be difficult, and the noise would be a problem 
for the local residents. 
 
SDP Secretary General Yasumasu Shigeno reiterated the party's demand 
for the relocation of Futenma out of Okinawa or out of Japan to 
Hirano on October 8. House of Representatives member Kantoku Teruya 
elected from Okinawa also met Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and 
criticized the Prime Minister's statement, saying: "This is 
absolutely unacceptable." Teruya told reporters after the meeting: 
 
TOKYO 00002332  004 OF 007 
 
 
"The possibility (of leaving the coalition) exists," in an attempt 
to apply pressure on the government. 
 
5) Hatoyama says his earlier remarks do not suggest willingness to 
agree to relocation of Futenma facility to Henoko 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 9, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Oct. 7 made remarks suggesting the 
possibility of accepting the agreement reached between Japan and the 
U.S. to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station within 
Okinawa Prefecture. On these remarks, he said yesterday: "I did not 
imply that I am ready to accept what was agreed on between the 
previous governments (of Japan and the U.S.)." The Democratic Party 
of Japan's manifesto and the coalition accord among the three ruling 
parties included a pledge to move in the direction of reexamining 
future options for U.S. military forces in Japan. Hatoyama's 
statement yesterday was apparently intended to revise his earlier 
remarks and confirm this pledge. 
 
Hatoyama said on Oct. 7 regarding the pledge on U.S. forces in Japan 
in his party's manifesto: "I would not deny the possibility that it 
could change" over time, indicating his view that it was not 
necessary to adamantly adhere to the pledge. 
 
In response to questions from reporters at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence about what his remarks the previous day meant, 
Hatoyama said: "I did not mention Henoko at all," and emphasized 
that he did not imply his willingness to accept the Japan-U.S. plan 
to relocate the Futenma Air Station to Henoko district in Nago City, 
Okinawa Prefecture. He further said: "While bearing in mind the 
wishes of the people in Okinawa, I will negotiate with the U.S. and 
come to a final conclusion on the matter. The three parties launched 
the coalition government based on an agreement, so I cannot ignore 
the coalition accord." 
 
Asked if he would decide on a policy direction by the time of U.S. 
President Barack Obama's visit to Japan on Nov. 12-13, Hatoyama said 
that he would not set the presidential visit as a deadline for 
making a decision. 
 
6) Hatoyama explains remarks implying approval of Futenma relocation 
plan: "We want to look into various options" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
October 9, 2009 
 
Regarding the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture), Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama told reporters last evening: "I will give top priority to 
the coalition accord when reaching a final conclusion on the 
matter." 
 
On Oct. 7, Hatoyama made remarks implying his willingness to accept 
the current plan to relocate the Futenma Air Station to the coastal 
area of U.S. Camp Schwab (Nago City), contradictory to the 
Democratic Party of Japan's pledge to relocate the Futenma facility 
outside the prefecture. Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social 
Democratic Party, promptly reacted to Hatoyama's remarks. After 
visiting Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada yesterday, Fukushima told 
reporters: "In accordance with the stance to review the agreement, I 
 
TOKYO 00002332  005 OF 007 
 
 
want (the prime minister) to properly address the issue of 
realignment of U.S. military forces in Japan." In response, Hatoyama 
gave a clarification of his earlier remarks: 
 
"We are looking into various possibilities. The agreement reached 
during the previous administration certainly carries weight. But I 
wonder if it is the best option. I do not think it is the only 
possibility. We would like to look into various options and find a 
compromise agreement about which the people, particularly, the 
people of Okinawa can say, 'We can understand this.' " 
 
7) Hatoyama hints at accepting Futenma accord 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
October 8, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama implied yesterday evening that he would 
accept the currently planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to a coastal 
area of Camp Schwab in the island prefecture's northern coastal city 
of Nago. The Democratic Party of Japan, in its manifesto for this 
summer's election for the House of Representatives, said it would 
"review" the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan. "I would not deny 
the possibility that it (the DPJ's policy of reviewing the U.S. 
force realignment) could change over time," Hatoyama told reporters 
at his office. 
 
Hatoyama's remarks can be taken to mean that he will review not only 
the Futenma issue but also the DPJ's policies in its manifesto to 
meet the situation and that he will modify them if he sees the need 
to do so. 
 
8) President Obama's 1st Japan visit set for Nov. 12 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 8, 2009 
 
Yoshinari Kurose 
 
WASHINGTON-U.S. President Obama will make his first visit to Japan 
on Nov. 12-13, a high-ranking U.S. government official said Oct. 7. 
After his Japan visit, Obama will participate in an Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum summit to be held in Singapore on 
Nov. 14-15. He will also visit China and South Korea. 
 
9) Dalai Lama plans to visit Japan late this month 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 8, 2009 
 
The 14th Dalai Lama, supreme leader of Tibetan Buddhism, will visit 
Japan in late October and deliver speeches in Tokyo on Oct. 31 and 
Nov. 1, his representative's office in Japan announced yesterday. 
The Dalai Lama last visited Japan in April on his way to the United 
States. This is the first time for him to visit Japan since the 
Hatoyama cabinet's inauguration. 
 
10) Prime Minister Hatoyama to visit Seoul today 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 9, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00002332  006 OF 007 
 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will visit South Korea today. He is 
expected to meet in Seoul with President Lee Myung Bak to discuss 
such issues as North Korea. After the meeting, the two leaders will 
hold a joint press conference. Arriving in Beijing later in the day, 
Hatoyama will attend a trilateral summit on Oct. 10 with Lee and 
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. 
 
11) Foreign Minister Okada on Murayama statement: "Action instead of 
words"; U.S. not to be included in East Asian Community 
 
SANKEI (Top Play) (Full) 
October 8, 2009 
 
On Oct. 7 at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Yurakucho, 
Tokyo, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada gave a speech in which he 
indicated a stance of delving deeper into the Murayama statement 
(1995), noting, "It is true that a definite range of people (in 
Asia) are not convinced by the statement. Actions speak louder than 
words." Regarding the history textbooks issue involving Japan, China 
and South Korea, he expressed doubt about the present school 
textbook screening system, saying, "The ideal in the future is (for 
Japan, China and South Korea) to compile common history textbooks." 
Okada's remarks, made on the eve of a Japan-South Korea summit (Oct. 
9) and China-South Korea summit (Oct. 10), will likely stir up a 
hornet's nest 
 
Referring to the East Asian Community initiative advocated by Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Okada noted, "I would like to see the 
envisaged community comprise Japan, China, South Korea, the 
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), India, Australia and 
New Zealand." Thus he indicated a policy of establishing the 
community without including the U.S. as an official member. 
 
He then said, "I would like to start with the economy and then 
expand the areas of cooperation to energy, the environment, and 
health care." He expressed his intention to put the matter on the 
agenda at the upcoming Japan-China and South Korea talks. He also 
indicated that currency integration "will be an agenda item in the 
far future." 
 
Regarding Japan's relations with the U.S., Okada said, "The 
Japan-U.S. alliance is indispensable for national security. To alter 
that arrangement is not an option."  He continued: "Japan has its 
own national interests, and the U.S. has its own interests. Some 
observers are concerned about (the future of) Japan's relations with 
the U.S. Japan does not belong to the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA) or the European Union (EU). But that does not mean 
Japan is excluded." 
 
He also voiced the view that just paying lip service to the Murayama 
statement is insufficient, saying, "The feelings of those who 
suffered in the past war cannot be healed easily." He then said some 
ministers in past cabinets made remarks contrary to the Murayama 
statement, leading people to wonder whether those ministers were 
contrite. I would like to ensure that such a situation will not 
occur." 
 
Okada said the following about the system of screening school 
textbooks: "This is a very difficult issue. In Japan, textbook 
authors can basically write without any inhibition. Another issue is 
to what extent the state can get involved in the matter." He then 
noted, "It would be ideal (if Japan, China and South Korea) could 
 
TOKYO 00002332  007 OF 007 
 
 
compile common textbooks in the future. However, it will take a long 
time to reach that stage. Joint studies of history are important as 
the first step toward that goal." 
 
In the meantime, on the subject of assistance to Afghanistan, Okada 
indicated a cautious stance concerning the dispatch of Self-Defense 
Force personnel, saying, "I do not think dispatching SDF members is 
the only way to extend assistance." 
 
12) LDP to set up "administrative policy committee" to decide 
policies; "shadow cabinet" formation put on back burner 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
October 9, 2009 
 
The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) informally 
decided yesterday on the appointments of the deputy chairman of the 
Policy Research Council and division directors. The LDP also decided 
to establish an "administrative policy committee" comprising Policy 
Research Council Chairman Shigeru Ishiba as leader, senior deputy 
chairman, deputy chairman, and division directors. LDP President 
Sadakazu Tanigaki's idea of forming a "shadow cabinet" has been put 
on the back burner. 
 
ZUMWALT