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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 TOKYO 002390 
 
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 10/16/09 
 
INDEX: 
(1) Special treatment for senior defense official Nagashima reflects 
U.S. concern about Japan-U.S. relations (Asahi) 
 
(2) Defense Ministry cuts budgetary request by 1.9 trillion yen 
(Nikkei) 
 
(3) SOFA revision; conclusion of special environment agreement 
should be priority (Asahi) 
 
(4) Plan to relocate Futenma Air Station to Henoko drifting: Nago 
mayoral election result likely to affect Futenma talks (Okinawa 
Times) 
 
(5) Letter to the editor: The prime minister's pronouncements about 
Futenma make me happy one day, sad the next (Asahi) 
 
(6) America's eight-year-old commitment to Afghanistan at crossroads 
(Asahi) 
 
(7) From Brussels - Agony of 60-year-old NATO (Mainichi) 
 
(8) Editorial: International parental rights issue: Consider joining 
the Hague Convention without delay (Yomiuri) 
 
(9) Interview with New Zealand Prime Minister Key: Expresses 
expectations for promotion of FTA talks with Japan (Nikkei) 
 
(10) Poll on role of newspapers (Yomiuri) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Special treatment for senior defense official Nagashima reflects 
U.S. concern about Japan-U.S. relations 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
October 16, 2009 
 
Hisashi Ishimatsu, Hiroshi Ito in Washington 
 
Parliamentary Defense Secretary Akihisa Nagashima visited the U.S. 
to hold talks on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City and other issues. For Nagashima, 
the U.S. government arranged meetings with presidential national 
security advisor James Jones of the White House and others who are 
higher in rank than Nagashima. Nagashima is trying to find a 
solution to the Futenma issue under the lead of politicians. The 
U.S. side's special treatment toward him might reflect its concern 
about Japan-U.S. relations. 
 
After meeting with Jones and other U.S. officials on Oct. 14, 
Nagashima told reporters regarding the Futenma relocation issue: "I 
don't know if the meetings contributed to paving the way toward a 
settlement of the issue. This is a very thorny issue." 
 
Nagashima lived in Washington for a long time, working as a 
researcher on security issues. As a security expert, he authored 
several books on the presence of U.S. forces in Japan. Japan and the 
U.S. just held a meeting of bureau director-level officials for 
foreign and defense affairs in Washington on Oct. 5. But Nagashima 
visited the U.S. to hold meetings with U.S. officials with the aim 
of gauging, as a politician, Washington's real intentions ahead of 
 
TOKYO 00002390  002 OF 014 
 
 
the planned visits to Japan by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on 
Oct. 20-21 and by President Barack Obama in November. 
 
Jones, the presidential advisor he met with, is responsible for 
coordinating views to compile the U.S. government's entire security 
policy. His Japanese counterpart is the chief cabinet secretary. 
When former defense minister Yasukazu Hamada visited the U.S. in 
May, he was not able to meet with Jones. Besides Jones, Nagashima 
also met with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen, who is the 
top officer among the U.S. military's uniformed personnel. Japanese 
diplomatic sources were caught by surprise at this red-carpet 
treatment of Nagashima by the U.S., with one official stating that 
the U.S. treated him as if he were a state minister. 
 
By giving him special treatment, the U.S. hopes that Nagashima will 
serve as a mediator between Tokyo and Washington. Hearing such 
remarks as "Japan has depended too heavily on the U.S.," the U.S. 
government is becoming increasingly concerned and distrustful of the 
Hatoyama administration's policy toward the U.S. The U.S. government 
hopes Nagashima will play the role of messenger from the U.S. to 
report back to Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and other key Japanese 
government officials on U.S. positions on key security issues. 
Nagashima and the U.S. officials also discussed the security 
situation in Afghanistan and the issue of the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
 
However, little progress was made on the Futenma relocation issue. 
Nagashima said: "There are various views on the issue within the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and its partners in the ruling 
coalition. The political situation in Okinawa is also very unclear. 
Japan is in a very difficult situation" But Jones and other U.S. 
officials apparently displayed a negative stance toward Japan's call 
for changing the existing plan, insisting on the need to stick to 
the current plan. 
 
A former U.S. government source said: "Most parts of the 
DPJ-proposed relocation plan have already been considered and faded 
out during the Liberal Democratic Party's government." The U.S. 
government thus remains cool toward the DPJ proposal. 
 
While the U.S. has taken a consistent position, the DPJ government 
remains indecisive on whether to persist with the party's campaign 
pledge to relocate the Futenma air station outside the prefecture or 
even outside the nation, or to accept the existing plan. When asked 
after meeting with Jones about the timing for a final decision to be 
made on the Futenma issue, Nagashima only said: "I think the 
ministers concerned will hold another meeting." 
 
(2) Defense Ministry cuts budgetary request by 1.9 trillion yen 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 16, 2009 
 
The Defense Ministry on Oct. 15 released its budget request for 
fiscal 2010, which was 1.9 billion yen below the level of the 
previous fiscal year's budget, meeting the government's policy line. 
The ministry's budget requests totaled 4.7 trillion yen, of which 
personnel and food expenses accounted for roughly 2 trillion yen. 
Payments for equipment for which contracts have already been signed 
accounted for 1.6 trillion yen. A senior defense official explained 
that since only about 900 billion yen for general items was subject 
to cuts, the ministry asked the Ground, Maritime and Air 
 
TOKYO 00002390  003 OF 014 
 
 
Self-Defense Forces to cut the spending of oil (down 13.9 billion 
yen) and repair expenses (down 40.1 trillion yen) down to the bone, 
even though such items are directly linked to the SDF's daily 
activities. 
 
In order to achieve the set goal, the Defense Ministry has also 
squeezed out 58.9 billion yen, by rescheduling repayments of loans 
to equipment suppliers. This basically amounts to the deferment of 
debt payments. Senior Vice Defense Minister Katsuya Shinba seemed 
angry when he told reporters at the ministry: "(Extending) the 
deferment of debt payments is not sound. In principle, it is not 
right. However, it is an unavoidable measure." Eighty billion yen, 
almost the same amount as the previous year's appropriation, was 
tentatively included in the list of requests as expenses related to 
the U.S. Forces Japan realignment program. 
 
(3) SOFA revision; conclusion of special environment agreement 
should be priority 
 
ASAHI (Page 19) (Full) 
October 15, 2009 
 
By Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi Matsuzawa 
 
With the Japan-U.S. summit held (between Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama and President Barack Obama), the new administration's 
diplomacy with the United States has started. As chairman of the 
Association of Governors of Prefectures Hosting U.S. Military Bases 
I have advocated reviewing the base arrangements including revision 
of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). From that 
standpoint, I would like to make a proposal for the policy of the 
new administration. 
 
In view of the international environment surrounding Japan, the 
deterrence capability of the Japan-U.S. security arrangements has 
played a great role in maintaining our country's security and 
stability in Asia. But when considered from the viewpoint of the 
local communities hosting U.S. bases, the foundation of the 
Japan-U.S. alliance is not rock solid. 
 
Because the SOFA has not been revised since its conclusion in 1960, 
it is rife with problems. I believe that a review of the SOFA will 
not necessarily undermine the Japan-U.S. relationship; rather it 
will lead to strengthening the foundation of the alliance and 
increasing public confidence. One representative example is the 
environment issue. U.S. military bases' efforts to tackle 
environmental preservation would benefit not only U.S. military 
personnel living on the bases but also residents of the surrounding 
communities. 
 
However, the SOFA includes no provisions covering environmental 
issues. When it was concluded 50 years ago, there was probably no 
awareness of such problems. As a result, the governors' association 
I chair has called for revising the SOFA to include environment 
provisions. 
 
So far the Japanese and U.S. governments have insisted that 
improving its administration, rather than revising the SOFA itself, 
would be sufficient. But the discharge of fuel and other 
environmental pollutants from U.S. bases continues. (Under the 
present accord) no local government officials are allowed to enter 
U.S. bases and no information is provided. Thus the SOFA is fraught 
 
TOKYO 00002390  004 OF 014 
 
 
with problems. 
 
We have called for reviewing many items in the SOFA. We are eager 
for the addition of three things we consider especially important -- 
environment-related stipulations, judiciary proceedings, and 
establishing in the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee a panel for listening 
to the views of base-hosting communities. I hope that the new 
government will keeps these points in mind when it begins with the 
United States negotiations for revising the SOFA. 
 
However, because the two countries' national interests are 
intertwined with the SOFA, its full-fledged revision would take 
considerable time. 
 
Therefore, I propose as a solution first concluding a special 
agreement on the environment. Environmental contamination is a 
serious and pressing issue affecting the lives and health of 
residents in communities near U.S military bases. Since measures 
addressing this issue would benefit both Japan and the United 
States, it should be acceptable to the U.S. government. Negotiations 
for a special agreement would have a much greater chance of success 
than those for revision of the SOFA. 
 
The main points of the special environment agreement include 
effective on-site inspection, procedures for decontamination, 
information disclosure to relieve local residents' anxiety, and the 
establishment of a cooperative framework between Japan and the U.S. 
 
I plan to visit Washington in November to exchange views with the 
relevant Obama administration officials. I want to promote 
discussions in Japan as well, taking advantage of various 
communication channels. 
 
A change in government has been realized both in Japan and the U. S. 
I think it is a great chance for the two countries to advance 
policies in a new direction. I hope a special environment agreement 
will be concluded and will lead to a review of the SOFA. 
 
(4) Plan to relocate Futenma Air Station to Henoko drifting: Nago 
mayoral election result likely to affect Futenma talks 
 
Okinawa Times (Page 2) (Full) 
October 16, 2009 
 
"It appears that each cabinet member makes a different statement. I 
wonder if the government has yet to unify its stance." 
 
The governor on Oct. 13 issued his view on the preparatory paper for 
environmental impact assessments concerning the relocation of the 
U.S. Forces Japan Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Camp 
Schwab in Nago City. Nago Mayor Yoshikazu Shimabukuro expressed 
strong dissatisfaction at the coalition government led by the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), joined by the Social Democratic 
Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP), for not coming up with 
a specific proposal for a relocation site. He said, "We are not in a 
position to say the Futenma functions should be moved out of the 
prefecture or they should remain in the prefecture." 
 
Shimabukuro (63), who at the present moment firmly supports the 
relocation of the Futenma functions to Henoko, and Susumu Inamine 
(64), who is calling for the relocation outside the prefecture, have 
announced their candidacies for the Nago mayoral election on Jan. 24 
 
TOKYO 00002390  005 OF 014 
 
 
next year. (The outcome of the election) will likely affect the fate 
of the relocation issue. 
 
In Apr. 2006 Shimabukuro basically reached an agreement with the 
government on a plan to build an airfield with two runways arranged 
in a V-shape. In the Lower House election campaign, he supported a 
candidate endorsed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the New 
Komeito, who was in favor of the V-shape plan. However, this 
candidate suffered a crushing defeat to a candidate, running on the 
DPJ's ticket, who opposed the relocation to Henoko. Now that the 
power transfer took place, Shimabukuro lost the backing of a 
national government promoting the relocation to Henoko. 
 
In the DPJ, inconsistencies are visible in statements on the 
relocation outside the prefecture made by Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa. 
 
Shimabukuro's view is that the relocation to Henoko is more 
realistic. He noted: "Even if the government decides to move the 
Futenma Air Station out of the prefecture, no prefectures would be 
willing to host it. It would be rather difficult to reach an 
agreement through negotiations, because there are residents, 
prefectural citizens, at any candidate site. An agreement could not 
be reached in two or three years." 
 
Shimabukuro stressed, "We have come this far, with the issue 
dividing citizens into two over 13 years." 
 
He sticks to his stance of supporting the V-shape-runway plan. 
However, he has left room for the possibility of relocating the 
facilitiy outside the prefecture, noting, "I hope the Futenma 
functions will be moved out of the prefecture, if possible. If the 
government comes up with a definite direction, then there would be 
room for considering such a possibility." 
 
Inamine will go into the election with a stance of seeking the 
relocation outside the prefecture through a revision of the Henoko 
agreement plan. 
 
Concerning Shimabukuro and Governor Hirokazu Nakaima calling on the 
government to construct a V-shaped pair of runways offshore or to 
shift the helipad site, Inamine said, "Such minor adjustments will 
not settle the issue." 
 
Inamine insisted, "(The Henoko plan) has not received a mandate from 
residents." He added, "The previous mayor opposed the coastal plan. 
However, Mayor Shimabukuro reached an agreement with the government, 
claiming that (the Henoko plan) is within the scope of a variation 
of the offshore plan." 
 
He pointed out, "The relocated facility will be expanded and 
strengthened with the addition of the functions of a military port. 
The V-shape plan is unreasonable, as is clear from the fact that 
numerous proposals for flight routes, noise and the environment have 
been made even at the stage of the governor having issued his views. 
It is impossible to protect residents' living environment." 
 
The DPJ administration agreed to form a coalition (with the Social 
Democratic Party and the PNP) over a review of the U.S. Forces Japan 
realignment program from the perspective of reducing the burden on 
Okinawa's residents. Inamine expressed his perception that it is a 
'commitment,' noting "the fact that it has called for the relocation 
 
TOKYO 00002390  006 OF 014 
 
 
of the Futenma functions outside the prefecture in its Okinawa 
Vision or during election campaigns is significant." He is calling 
on the government to realize its campaign pledge. 
 
Inamine said, "Citizens making their intensions clear carries 
weight." 
 
Defense Minister Kitazawa at a press conference expressed his 
intention to pay attention to the Nago mayoral election (as an 
opportunity) for the concerned parties to express their opinions. 
The Nago election was brought up by senior officials participating 
in bilateral discussions on the U.S Forces Japan realignment. The 
governments of Japan and the U.S. are thus also on edge about the 
outcome of the election. 
 
(5) Letter to the editor: The prime minister's pronouncements about 
Futenma make me happy one day, sad the next 
 
ASAHI (Page 16) (Full) 
October 16, 2009 
 
Misao Shintani, 63-year-old housewife living in Izumi Ward, Yokohama 
City 
 
I truly hope the Democratic Party of Japan administration will 
relocate the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station out of Okinawa. Yet, 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama talks about the possibility of 
accepting relocation within Okinawa on one day and corrects himself 
the next day. As a native of Okinawa, I feel happy on one day and 
sad on the next. 
 
Have the important government officials ever visited Futenma Air 
Station, which sits in the middle of a densely populated residential 
area? The many U.S. military bases in Okinawa were there when I was 
born and the suffering they have inflicted remains almost unabated. 
The construction of a new military base will mean that Okinawa will 
continue to be the island of bases long into the future. I can no 
longer believe in promises to reduce the burden on Okinawa. 
 
Have these government officials ever been to Henoko, the proposed 
relocation site of Futenma? Would they not be pained by the 
destruction of the beautiful sea at a time when the extinction of 
coral is becoming an environmental problem? Hills will probably be 
leveled for the earth and sand for reclaiming the sea. Reclamation 
will deprive the animals, insects, and plants of their habitat. I 
desire government officials to stop toying with Okinawa's fate. 
 
(6) America's eight-year-old commitment to Afghanistan at 
crossroads 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
October 8, 2009 
 
Oct. 7 marked the eighth anniversary of the U.S. military's invasion 
of Afghanistan, which was carried out with the aim of putting the 
blame on the principal architects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on 
the United States that claimed some 3,000 lives. Nevertheless, the 
international terrorist group Al-Qaeda and armed Taliban insurgents 
have not yet been eliminated and the security situation in 
Afghanistan has deteriorated significantly. Is the U.S. Obama 
administration going to send additional troops to Afghanistan? The 
administration is at a crossroads. What should the international 
 
TOKYO 00002390  007 OF 014 
 
 
community do? What can Japan do? 
 
Search for ways to shift to civilian support 
 
Makoto Igarashi; Toshiya Umehara in Brussels 
 
"There are many people who are joining the Taliban in order to 
support their livelihoods," Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said in 
his speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on Oct. 7. 
"A program should be created to guarantee a certain level of income 
and to provide job training so that they can support their families 
without joining the Taliban." 
 
The idea is to try to weaken the (Taliban) forces by encouraging the 
low-level soldiers, who joined the Taliban in order to obtain money 
and goods, to leave the group. The Taliban is said to be the main 
cause of the deterioration of security in Afghanistan.  (The 
envisaged program) is designed to play up the merits of the 
antiterrorism operation and to serve as the main component of 
Japan's new support measures. 
 
Since the time the government was led by the Liberal Democratic 
Party and the New Komeito, Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force 
(MSDF) has been providing fuel to vessels of multinational forces 
engaged in the U.S.-led antiterrorism operation in the Indian 
Ocean. 
 
Foreign Minister Okada has indicated that the government will "not 
simply extend the refueling mission." He has also raised questions 
about the operation, saying: "(The MSDF supply vessel) sailed back 
and forth in the Indian Ocean in the hot weather and (provided fuel) 
only twice in a week. Does (such assistance) make sense?" 
 
Nevertheless, the refueling operation has a symbolic meaning in that 
the dispatched Japanese personnel work hard out in the field as part 
of the operation. In the Foreign Ministry, the dominant view has 
been that this mission that costs 8 billion yen annually is highly 
cost-effective. Whether the planned vocational training can be a 
trump card to replace this (refueling mission) remains to be seen. 
 
In order for Japan to make its presence felt, the country must 
provide considerable additional assistance. Since 2001, Japan has 
put some 1.8 billion dollars (approximately 200 billion yen) into 
Afghanistan, including the improvement of infrastructure. Japan is 
the third-largest donor to Afghanistan after the United States and 
Britain. In fiscal 2008, Japan extended 40 billion yen in assistance 
- an unusually large amount to provide a single country. 
 
Meanwhile, in addition to the United States, war-weariness is 
widespread in the countries mainly in Europe which have sent troops 
(to Afghanistan). Such countries as Canada and the Netherlands have 
established polices to withdraw their combat troops by 2011. 
 
An official of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that 
leads the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has 
admitted that actions by some member countries are restricted by 
their constitutions. He went on to say, "That does not mean they 
cannot do anything." 
 
"We cannot win this war with military means alone" has become a 
popular phrase in NATO these days. The prevailing view is that 
civilian assistance is the key. The official praised the assistance 
 
TOKYO 00002390  008 OF 014 
 
 
provided by Japan, which has paid for six months' worth of salaries 
for (some 80,000) Afghan police officers, as a "splendid 
contribution," adding: "In any case, we want (Japan) to continue 
what it is doing now. Reduction is the last thing we want to see." 
 
(7) From Brussels - Agony of 60-year-old NATO 
 
MAINICHI (Page 7) (Full) 
October 12, 2009 
 
Naoya Sugio 
 
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which marks its 60th 
anniversary this year, is a military organization that was 
established with the aim of defending Europe from the former Soviet 
Union. The organization has made its presence felt in such new 
missions as interventions in ethnic conflicts in the former 
Yugoslavia and the war against international terrorism. Its 
membership has now grown from 12 to 28 nations, including former 
Warsaw Treaty Organization states. Nevertheless, NATO is facing a 
major crisis. Its Afghanistan operation has become bogged down. 
 
Of the 28 national flags flying in the autumn breeze, the Italian 
flag at half-staff was particularly striking at the Supreme 
Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), the headquarters of the 
NATO military organization in Mons, Belgium. Six Italian soldiers 
were killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. 
 
I visited SHAPE and the NATO headquarters in Brussels as a member of 
the invited Japanese press corps. We were briefed by officials on 
Afghan policy and others matters for two days. In response to my 
question about Japan's contributions, many people said, "You should 
consider what Japan can do." On the refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean, which the Hatoyama administration has indicated that it will 
"not simply extend" the mission, some people said that although it 
is an important mission, it is a matter for Japan to decide. 
 
Many people also expressed appreciation for Japan's financial aid 
for the salaries of (some 180,000) Afghan military and police 
personnel. The average monthly salary is 120 dollars. It is said 
that armed insurgents are recruiting people to carry out bombings 
and other activities for about 10 dollars a day. The stable income 
seems to be attracting young people. 
 
I repeatedly heard people say, "We cannot win with the military 
operations alone." It is easier said than done to improve the ruling 
power of the Afghan government and to nurture industries that can 
replace the production of drugs, a source of funds for armed 
insurgents. I suspect that people did not make any concrete 
proposals for support measures to Japan because NATO does not know 
what to do. 
 
The Afghan war was launched by the United States in retaliation for 
the 9/11 terrorist attacks on it. NATO staged an intervention in 
August 2003, and the number of (NATO) troops (in Afghanistan) has 
increased to 64,500 from the initial 5,600. Even so, no exit is in 
sight. War-weariness is prevalent in many countries. 
 
During the U.S. Bush administration, NATO split into "old Europe" 
represented by France and Germany, which staunchly opposed the 
launch of the Iraq war, and "new Europe," which supported the United 
States. NATO's eastward expansion plan to include even Ukraine and 
 
TOKYO 00002390  009 OF 014 
 
 
Georgia, along with a plan to build a missile defense (MD) system in 
Eastern Europe, drew fierce backlash from Russia. Last year's 
conflict in Georgia was one consequence of that. 
 
President Barack Obama is working hard to mend the split (in NATO). 
His announcement to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq and to send 
additional troops to Afghanistan must have sounded truly encouraging 
to other NATO members. Russia gladly jumped at his announcement last 
month to review the Eastern Europe MD plan. 
 
However, even if the members and nonmembers of NATO coordinate more 
closely than before on Afghanistan, there is no guarantee of 
success. The presence of NATO, "the most successful military 
alliance in history," (according to President Obama) is being tested 
once again. 
 
(8) Editorial: International parental rights issue: Consider joining 
the Hague Convention without delay 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
October 16, 2009 
 
Problems with foreign countries involving parental rights as a 
result of failed international marriages have been rising sharply 
recently. 
 
We think the government should swiftly start considering signing the 
Hague Convention, which Western countries regard as "international 
rules" for settling such disputes. 
 
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child 
Abduction, which took effect in 1983, has 81 signatory countries, 
mostly the Western nations. 
 
For example, if a Japanese woman who was married to a foreigner and 
lived overseas got divorced and returned to Japan with her child 
without the consent of the child's father, the case would be treated 
as the illegal abduction of the child in all the nations party to 
the convention. 
 
The convention requires signatory countries to provide 
administrative cooperation in locating children who have been 
wrongfully removed, and to return them to their original country of 
residence. The basic principle is that they have to be returned to 
their country of residence first, where the battle over parental 
rights and other issues would be settled under the laws of that 
country. 
 
Japan has not signed the convention, and consequently, the number of 
disputes involving fathers of foreign nationality trying to take 
their children back to their home country has been increasing. 
 
For this reason, Japan has often been urged to join the convention 
at recent foreign ministerial talks and other international 
meetings. 
 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Japan to sign the 
convention during a meeting in March with then Foreign Minister 
Hirofumi Nakasone. British Foreign Secretary David Milliband made a 
similar request to Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada last month. 
 
Okada replied that he thought the issue was important and that he 
 
TOKYO 00002390  010 OF 014 
 
 
would quickly start studying it. We think the government should 
speed up its examination of this matter, as Okada said. 
 
Japan will also have to make domestic institutional changes in 
preparation for signing the convention. 
 
The government will need to identify which divisions and bureaus 
would be tasked with locating and returning children, as well as how 
to guarantee law enforcement should a parent refuse to comply with a 
request to return his or her child. These will be the main issues. 
 
However, there are also cautious views about signing the convention 
because there have been cases in which Japanese women brought their 
children back home because of domestic violence by their former 
husbands. However, the convention stipulates that a child need not 
be returned if he or she would be exposed to physical or 
psychological harm. Serious consideration should be given to this 
point. 
 
This issue straddles several government agencies, including the 
Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry, and the courts, and 
sectarianism might impede the examination of this matter. The 
Hatoyama cabinet should firmly exercise political leadership in 
dealing with this issue. 
 
Differences in systems and customs regarding parental rights and 
divorce between Japan and the Western nations have complicated this 
issue. But a number of problems have occurred, and the issue has 
given rise to diplomatic friction. The government should tackle the 
issue without delay. 
 
(9) Interview with New Zealand Prime Minister Key: Expresses 
expectations for promotion of FTA talks with Japan 
 
NIKKEI (Page 7) (Abridged slightly) 
October 15, 2009 
 
Tomohiro Takasa, Wellington 
 
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key met a Nippon Keizai Shimbun 
reporter on Oct. 14. During the interview, he expressed concern 
about the uptrend of the New Zealand dollar exchange rate from the 
perspective of promoting exports. He noted that when he visits 
Japan, starting on the 27th, he will propose to Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama that the two nations start talks on a free trade agreement 
(FTA) with the aim of expanding trade with Japan. 
 
-- The value of the New Zealand dollar against the U.S. dollar has 
surged 50 percent from its March low, marking a 15-month high with 
the U.S. dollar dropping to 0.74 to the NZ dollar. 
 
"The weak dollar has contributed to that trend. However, as far as 
the NZ dollar is concerned, the growth of the New Zealand economy 
moved into the plus column in the April-June quarter in 2009 for the 
first time in six quarters, which has probably been viewed 
favorably. We plan to promote growth through exports of dairy 
products, beef, mutton, and lumber. I hope to see an exchange rate 
level lower than the current one, from the perspective of enhancing 
our country's export competitiveness. 
 
"There are also factors that are pushing down exchange rates, such 
as current account deficits reaching about 8 percent of the gross 
 
TOKYO 00002390  011 OF 014 
 
 
domestic product. This trend became visible in 2008, temporarily 
sending the value of the NZ dollar down significantly." 
 
-- Market participants view the New Zealand economy as resembling 
the Australian economy. 
 
"High dependence on exports of primary products is common to both 
economies. Australia's main export items among primary products are 
minerals, such as iron ore, while New Zealand mainly exports dairy 
products and lumber. Our export competitiveness is not as strong as 
that of Australia. (New Zealand has scarce mineral resources.) Our 
economic structure is also different from that of Australia. 
 
"We will promote economic integration with Australia, by continuing 
to adjust laws and regulations. However, we have no intention of 
carrying out currency integration, by adopting the Australian dollar 
system, sacrificing our independence in financial policy." 
 
-- China has overtaken Japan as the destination of exports from New 
Zealand. 
 
"Exports to China have jumped 62 percent since the enactment of the 
FTA between the two countries in 2008. I plan to expand our FTAs for 
the promotion of exports. We will hold a second round of talks with 
South Korea in September. We will sign an FTA with Malaysia later in 
the month. 
 
"We also held a preparatory meeting for an FTA with Japan in April. 
When I visit Japan later in the month, I will once again underscore 
the importance of strengthening the bilateral trade relationship to 
Prime Minister Hatoyama. We import vehicles from Japan. Japan is a 
more important trade partner than China from an overall perspective. 
I hope to launch talks (with Japan) at an early date in order to 
seek a compromise in the agricultural sector." 
 
(10) Poll on role of newspapers 
 
YOMIURI (Page 15) (Full) 
October 15, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures in percentage) 
 
Q: Do you think newspapers provide the information you need or 
information that is helpful for your daily life? 
 
Yes, completely 39 
Yes, generally 49 
Not very much 8 
Hardly at all 3 
No answer (N/A) 2 
 
Q: Do you think newspapers report facts and various opinions 
fairly? 
 
Yes, completely 17 
Yes, generally 52 
Not very much 20 
Hardly at all 7 
N/A 5 
 
Q: Do you think newspapers pay attention to people's human rights 
 
TOKYO 00002390  012 OF 014 
 
 
and privacy so as not to violate them? 
 
Yes, completely 21 
Yes, generally 53 
Not very much 16 
Hardly at all 5 
N/A 5 
 
Q: Do you think the press reporting is reliable on the whole? 
 
Yes, completely 22 
Yes, generally 63 
Not very much 10 
Hardly at all 3 
N/A 2 
 
 
Q: Which media do you think plays a significant role in promptly 
reporting events in the world? Pick up to three from among those 
listed below. 
 
Major newspapers 57 
Sports newspapers 2 
Evening tabloids 4 
NHK Television 60 
Commercial television 63 
Radio 16 
Monthly magazines 0 
Weekly magazines 1 
Internet 32 
Other answers (O/A) + nothing in particular (NIP) + N/A 1 
 
Q: Which media do you think plays a significant role in providing 
in-depth commentaries on the background of the news and the issues 
at hand? Pick up to three from among those listed below. 
 
Major newspapers 61 
Sports newspapers 1 
Evening tabloids 2 
NHK Television 50 
Commercial television 55 
Radio 6 
Monthly magazines 3 
Weekly magazines 4 
Internet 11 
O/A+NIP+N/A 3 
 
Q: Which media do you think plays a significant role in coming up 
with solutions to public concerns or problems? Pick up to three from 
among those listed below. 
 
Major newspapers 59 
Sports newspapers 1 
Evening tabloids 2 
NHK Television 45 
Commercial television 51 
Radio 5 
Monthly magazines 3 
Weekly magazines 3 
Internet 8 
O/A+NIP+N/A 10 
 
 
TOKYO 00002390  013 OF 014 
 
 
Q: These days, the number of Internet users is increasing. Do you 
think the newspapers will remain necessary for information or 
knowledge? 
 
Yes 74 
Yes to a certain degree 17 
Not really 4 
No 4 
N/A 1 
 
Q: How much time do you spend every day on average reading the 
newspaper? Pick only one from among those listed below. 
 
About 10 minutes 18 
About 20 minutes 22 
About 30 minutes 26 
About 40 minutes 7 
About 50 minutes 2 
About 1 hour 14 
About 1.5 hours 3 
Over 2 hours 2 
Don't read at all 5 
N/A 2 
 
Q: How much time do you spend every day on average using the 
Internet with your personal computer or cell phone? Pick only one 
from among those listed below. 
 
Less than 30 minutes 22 
Less than 1 hour 15 
Less than 1.5 hours 5 
Less than 2 hours 8 
Less than 3 hours 3 
Less than 4 hours 1 
Less than 5 hours 1 
Over 5 hours 1 
Don't use at all 43 
N/A 1 
 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered affirmatively to the foregoing 
question) Which do you use more often to access the Internet, a 
personal computer or a cell phone? 
 
Personal computer 71 
Cell phone 23 
Both about the same 5 
N/A 1 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered affirmatively to the foregoing 
question) What sites on the Internet do you visit frequently to view 
the news? If any, pick as many as you like from among those listed 
below. 
 
Newspaper websites 21 
Sports newspaper or evening tabloid websites 7 
TV station websites 5 
News agency websites 8 
Portal websites (Google, Yahoo!, etc.) 60 
O/A 1 
Don't view news 16 
N/A 3 
 
TOKYO 00002390  014 OF 014 
 
 
 
Q: Have you ever subscribed to electronic newspaper services or 
"e-paper"? Pick only one from among those listed below. 
 
Yes 4 
No, but would like to 17 
No, wouldn't like to 73 
N/A 6 
 
Polling methodology 
Date of survey: Sept. 5-6. 
Subjects of survey: 3,000 persons chosen from among all eligible 
voters throughout the country (at 250 locations on a stratified 
two-stage random-sampling basis). 
Method of implementation: Door-to-door visits for face-to-face 
interviews. 
Number of valid respondents: 1,827 persons (61 PERCENT ) 
Breakdown of respondents: Male-46 PERCENT , female-54 PERCENT ; 
persons in their 20s-8 PERCENT , 30s-15 PERCENT , 40s-16 PERCENT , 
50s-20 PERCENT , 60s-23 PERCENT , 70 and over-18 PERCENT ; big 
cities (Tokyo's 23 wards and government-designated cities)-22 
PERCENT , major cities (with a population of more than 300,000)-18 
PERCENT , medium-sized cities (with a population of more than 
100,000)-25 PERCENT , small cities (with a population of less than 
100,000)-24 PERCENT , towns and villages-11 PERCENT . 
 
(Note) In some cases, the total percentage does not add up to 100 
PERCENT  due to rounding. "0" denotes percentages less than 0.5 
PERCENT . 
 
ROOS