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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002487 
 
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 10/28/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
MSDF ship collision: 
4) MSDF destroyer collides with ROK-registered container ship in 
Kanmon Strait  (Mainichi) 
5) Senior GOJ official: "Korean ship was obligated to maneuver to 
avoid collision"  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
6) LDP to submit ship inspection bill  (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma flip-flop: 
7) Defense Minister accepts relocation of Futenma facility to Henoko 
 (Yomiuri) 
8) Foreign Minister Okada mulls U.S. visit to discuss Futenma issue 
(Sankei) 
9) Defense Minister accepts relocation to Henoko; Prime Minister 
says a decision should not be rushed  (Yomiuri) 
10) Aide to PM says U.S.'s real design is to acquire a 
state-of-the-art base to replace Futenma facility  (Akahata) 
 
Anti-piracy mission: 
11) Defense Minister considering shift of MSDF ships from Indian 
Ocean to Somalia offing  (Yomiuri) 
12) Suggestion to use MSDF ships for refueling off Somalia 
criticized by cabinet and SDP  (Asahi) 
13) Prime Minister says it would be difficult to shift MSDF ships to 
Somalia offing  (Yomiuri) 
 
Politics: 
14) Hatoyama moves into Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Nikkei) 
 
Trade: 
15) Japan and Australia agree to accelerate negotiations for 
conclusion of EPA  (Nikkei) 
 
Foreign relations: 
16) U.S. announces Nuclear Security Summit preparatory meeting to be 
held in Japan in December  (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri & Tokyo Shimbun 
Destroyer, South Korean freighter collide in Kanmon Strait and catch 
fire; three injured 
 
Nikkei: 
Government may scale back tax breaks for households with high school 
or university students: Upper limit also likely to be set for 
employment income deduction 
 
Sankei: 
Foreign Minister Okada considering visiting U.S. before President 
visits Japan 
 
Akahata: 
U.S. military's real reason for agreeing to relocate Futenma Air 
 
TOKYO 00002487  002 OF 008 
 
 
Station was to build most advanced military base, according to 
former aide to prime minister 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Change in makeup of Central Social Insurance Medical Council 
should lead to fundamental reform of medical services 
(2) Review of statute of limitation system: Precondition is to adopt 
measures to prevent false accusation 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Central Social Insurance Medical Council excludes Japan Medical 
Association from committee: This should provide opportunity to 
rebuild medical service system 
(2) Presidential election in Afghanistan: We would like to see fair 
election this time 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Change in makeup of Central Social Insurance Medical Council: 
Japan Medical Council pressed to change 
(2) Use of isolated islands: Use them as bases for securing maritime 
interests 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Can Central Social Insurance Medical Council transform itself 
into patient-oriented entity? 
(2) Urgent need to scrap inheritance discrimination 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Exclusion of Japan Medical Association from Central Social 
Insurance Medical Council should lead to rebuilding of medical 
service system 
(2) Abduction issue: Japan, U.S., South Korea should cooperate for 
former North Korean Workers Party secretary Hwang's visit to Japan 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Change in makeup of Central Social Insurance Medical Council 
should reflect a variety of opinions 
(2) Emissions rights trading: Rush to design domestic market 
 
Akahata: 
(1) ASEAN urged to increase presence as community 
 
3) Prime Minister's schedule, Oct. 27 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
09:07 Attended a meeting of the abduction issue taskforce at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei), followed by a cabinet 
meeting. 
10:57 Made an informal representation at the Imperial Palace. 
12:59 Met at the Kantei with gymnasts, including Kohei Uchimura. 
14:00 Met Upper House member Yoshihiro Kawakami, followed by 
Chishima and Habomai inlanders' league president Toshio Koizumi and 
others. Later met Vice Economy, Trade and Industry Minister 
Matsushita, Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Kira, 
and Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Ogushi. 
15:39 Met Upper House member Masamitsu Oishi. 
16:04 Met Cabinet Office Vice Minister Furukawa. 
18:53 Met Finance Minister Okada and Deputy Foreign Minister Otabe. 
 
TOKYO 00002487  003 OF 008 
 
 
21:17 Arrived at his private residence. 
 
4) MSDF destroyer collides with South Korean-registered ship and 
catches fire in Kanmon Strait 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
October 28, 2009 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Kurama (Captain Masatoshi 
Kashihara, 5,200 tons), sailing west, collided with the South 
Korean-registered container ship Carina Star (7,401 tons), sailing 
east, and caught fire around 7:56 p.m. on Oct. 27 in the Kanmon 
Strait between Moji Ward, Kitakyushu City, and Shimonoseki City, 
Yamaguchi Prefecture. Although the fire on the container ship was 
extinguished shortly afterward, fire fighting on the Kurama 
continued until early this morning. The 7th Regional Japan Coast 
Guard Headquarters will carefully investigate the cause of the 
collision especially with regard to whether there was professional 
negligence. 
 
Of the Kurama's 297 crewmembers, three on lookout reportedly 
sustained minor injuries but none of the 16 container ship 
crewmembers (12 South Koreans and four Myanmese (Burmese)) suffered 
injuries. 
 
The accident occurred on the east side of the Kanmonkyo Bridge, with 
the Kurama's bow striking the container ship's starboard bow. The 
Kurama's bow was badly damaged, and the area beside the storage room 
for paint drums and other materials burst into flames. A hole was 
opened in the container ship's bow, and its cargo caught fire. The 
Kurama's ammunition storeroom did not catch fire. 
 
Defense minister apologizes 
 
At the Defense Ministry on the evening of Oct. 27 Defense Minister 
Toshimi Kitazawa held a news conference at which he offered an 
apology, saying, "It is truly regrettable that we caused concern and 
inconvenience." Kitazawa has sent Senior Vice-Defense Minister 
Kazuya Shimba to assess the situation. 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama ordered Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hirofumi Hirano and others to swiftly collect information on the 
night of Oct. 27. The government has set up an information liaison 
office at the Crisis Management Center in the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei). 
 
5) "South Korean ship was obligated to avert the collision," 
according to senior government source 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Kurama and a South 
Korean container ship collided last night. A government source 
indicated that the responsibility for the incident rested with the 
South Korean ship, the Carina Star, saying: "The South Korean ship 
was reportedly obligated to avert the incident." He also said: 
"There was concern about the possibility of an incident because the 
temperature in the ammunition chamber climbed," indicating that 
there was a danger of the ammunition chamber catching fire. 
 
6) LDP to submit cargo inspection bill today at current Diet 
 
TOKYO 00002487  004 OF 008 
 
 
session 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
The main opposition Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) General Council 
yesterday agreed to submit a bill to facilitate cargo inspections of 
ships heading to and from North Korea during the ongoing 
extraordinary session of the Diet. The LDP is now asking opposition 
parties such as the New Komeito and Your Party to jointly submit the 
bill. It intends to submit the bill on Oct. 28 after receiving 
answers from the other opposition parties. 
 
7) Defense chief accepts Henoko plan for Futenma relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
Eve., October 27, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Kitazawa has clarified his intention to accept the 
current plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station 
in Okinawa Prefecture to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, a U.S. 
military base located at Henoko in the island prefecture's northern 
coastal city of Nago. The plan is based on an intergovernmental 
agreement reached between Japan and the United States. The ruling 
Democratic Party of Japan, in its manifesto for this summer's 
election for the House of Representatives, pledged to move Futenma 
airfield out of Japan or Okinawa Prefecture. "Some people may think 
the plan does not match our election manifesto at all," Kitazawa 
told a press conference today. "But," he added, "that's wrong." 
 
8) Foreign Minister Okada mulls visiting U.S. before President 
visits Japan 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Lead para.) 
October 28, 2009 
 
It was learned on Oct. 27 that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada is 
mulling a visit to the U.S. before President Obama arrives in Japan 
on Nov. 12. Coordination is now under way for him to go to the U.S. 
on Nov. 6, according to a government source. The date was chosen 
taking into account the ongoing extraordinary Diet session schedule. 
The aim of his visit is to coordinate the two countries' views on 
the pending issue of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station 
relocation beforehand so that the confrontation between the two 
countries will not intensify during the presidential visit. Okada 
already visited the U.S. in late September right after taking 
office. It is very unusual (for any cabinet minister) to visit the 
U.S. twice in the space of only about one month. 
 
9) Defense minister accepts Futenma relocation to Henoko; overruled 
immediately by PM Hatoyama 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
Disarray between the prime minister and the concerned ministers over 
foreign and security policy continues in the Hatoyama cabinet. While 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa indicated on Oct. 27 his 
acceptance of the current plan to relocate the U.S. Marines' Futenma 
Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa, to the coastal area of Camp 
Schwab in Henoko, Nago City, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada both rejected this plan. 
 
TOKYO 00002487  005 OF 008 
 
 
 
Hatoyama gave his comments on Kitazawa's statement accepting the 
Henoko relocation plan to reporters on the evening of Oct. 27. He 
said: "I do not necessarily share his view." He touched on the fact 
that the Democratic Party of Japan has been advocating the 
relocation of the Futenma base out of Okinawa or out of Japan and 
emphasized that this was a case of the defense minister jumping the 
gun. Hatoyama told reporters that, "I would like to spend time 
considering various options before reaching a conclusion." 
 
Kitazawa told a news conference on the morning of Oct. 27 that the 
reason he accepts the Henoko relocation plan is because: "There are 
significant elements of relocation out of Okinawa or out of Japan 
even under the existing plan. It is wrong to think that this does 
not match our campaign pledge." He appeared to be trying to 
spearhead the argument that the plan does not contradict the DPJ's 
manifesto (campaign pledges) for the recent House of Representatives 
election, but this was overruled by the Prime Minister immediately. 
 
Meanwhile, Okada also discussed Kitazawa's argument at a news 
conference on the afternoon of Oct. 27. He pointed out that "it is a 
bit illogical" and indicated that he will continue to look at the 
plan to merge the Futenma base with the U.S. forces' Kadena Air Base 
in Okinawa. 
 
Commenting on the discrepancy between the statements of the Prime 
Minister and cabinet ministers at a news conference in the late 
afternoon of Oct. 27, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano voiced 
his complaint by saying: "The statements were made before the 
government has made a final decision. The ministers in charge should 
be more careful." 
 
10) Former prime minister's aide testifies that USFJ real purpose 
for Futenma relocation is to build state-of-the-art military base 
 
AKAHATA (Top play) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
A former close aide to the prime minister testified on Oct. 27 that 
the purpose of the U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) in "relocating" the 
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa and building a new base in Henoko, 
Nago City, is not to reduce noise, aircraft crashes, and other 
damage brought about by the base, but because the USFJ "wanted a 
state-of-the-art military base." 
 
A former close aide to the prime minister in the 1990s who was also 
a senior government official gave the above testimony on condition 
of anonymity. This official had been tasked by the Liberal 
Democratic Party government with handling Okinawa issues since the 
1970s. In the 1990s, he served as the intermediary between the Tokyo 
government and Okinawa as the prime minister's close aide. 
 
It is believed that this former official was deeply involved with 
the 1996 agreement on the return of the Futenma base and the 
formulation of concrete plans for the "offshore heliport" and 
economic development measures for Okinawa in return for accepting a 
new military base. 
 
This official said: "What the U.S. Marines really wanted was to get 
rid of the outdated Futenma base equipped with obsolete radars and 
get an upgraded military base equipped with state-of-the-art 
technology." He said that he heard about this wish to "modernize" 
 
TOKYO 00002487  006 OF 008 
 
 
the USFJ directly from the commander of the Futenma base. 
 
The above official pointed out that the USFJ gave top priority to 
the installation of the most advanced radars and demanded only the 
minimum required space for the helicopters' takeoffs and landings 
with regard to runways. He explained that runways capable of 
takeoffs and landings by fixed-wing aircraft were actually demanded 
by the Japanese side, since spending more for the construction work 
would benefit the local communities. 
 
He also revealed that the prototype of the current plan to build two 
V-shaped runways is a "blueprint" of the U.S. military industry 
during the Vietnam War. 
 
11) Defense chief mulls shifting MSDF tanker from Indian Ocean to 
Somalia 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
Eve., October 27, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Kitazawa has clarified that he is looking into the 
possibility of transferring a Maritime Self-Defense Force supply 
ship, currently engaged in refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, 
to the offing of Somalia in Africa after withdrawing the vessel when 
the current special measures law expires in January next year. 
Kitazawa said it is "fully conceivable" for the MSDF to refuel 
foreign naval vessels participating in antipiracy activities. 
 
However, in order for the MSDF to refuel foreign naval vessels 
operating against pirates, the government would have to amend the 
existing antipiracy law. Moreover, refueling foreign naval vessels, 
unlike the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean as an anti-terror 
measure, would not be a measure for direct aid to Afghanistan. 
 
12) Defense minister's suggestion on having MSDF engage in refueling 
mission off Somalia draws objections from Cabinet, SDP 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
October 28, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa suggested on Oct. 27 a plan to 
have the Maritime Self-Defense Force's vessels engage in a refueling 
mission to support antipiracy operations off Somalia after their 
current mission in the Indian Ocean ends. His suggestion has drawn 
objections from the (Democratic Party of Japan's) coalition partner 
of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This is because the defense 
minister announced the plan without laying the groundwork for it. 
Even Prime Minister Yuko Hatoyama ruled out the plan last night, 
saying, "I don't have such an option in mind." 
 
The Hatoyama administration has repeatedly indicated that it will 
not simply extend the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. It is 
certain that the MSDF will be withdrawn from the Indian Ocean next 
January. The Defense Minister has been looking for SDF activities in 
Afghanistan to replace the refueling mission. But due to the 
deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan, activities in the 
waters off Somalia have been suggested. Kitazawa indicated in the 
news conference that the use of technology and experience acquired 
in the Indian Ocean will make things easier for the Defense Ministry 
to deal with the matter. 
 
Meanwhile, SDP Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno harshly criticized 
 
TOKYO 00002487  007 OF 008 
 
 
Kitazawa's statement, saying, "It was an extremely careless remark. 
The SDF's duty is limited to defending our country. Why is he so 
eager to do a favor for the United States? The matter should be 
handled by the Japan Coast Guard." 
 
13) Transferring supply vessel used for refueling activity in Indian 
Ocean to waters off Somalia would be "difficult" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
October 28, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Kitazawa at a press briefing on Oct. 27 announced a 
plan to look into the possibility of transferring the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's supply vessel used for refueling mission in the 
Indian Ocean to waters off Somalia for an anti-piracy operation. 
However, it would be difficult to realize such a plan at an early 
date, because it requires an amendment to the Anti-Piracy Law, which 
serves as the basis for dispatching MSDF Force vessels to the Indian 
Ocean. Prime Minister Hatoyama on the evening of the same day 
indicated a negative view to reporters: "There are legal 
arrangements that must be made. The vessels cannot be moved easily. 
I do not have such a plan in mind now." 
 
14) Prime Minister Hatoyama to move into his official residential 
quarters today 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
Today Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will move into his official 
residential quarters adjacent to the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei). Up until now, he had been commuting 30 to 40 
minutes by car from his private residence in Denenchofu to the 
Kantei. With regard to the reason for moving today in his official 
residence, Hatoyama said, "Because full-fledged debate will start on 
Oct. 28 (at the extraordinary Diet session)." 
 
15) Japanese, Australian trade ministers agree to promote EPA 
negotiations 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
The trade and economic ministers of Japan and Australia held their 
first meeting in Tokyo yesterday. Minister of Economy, Trade and 
Industry Masayuki Naoshima and Minister for Trade Simon Crean agreed 
to expedite negotiations on concluding an economic partnership 
agreement (EPA). Regarding global warming, they confirmed the need 
to urge the major greenhouse gas emitters to agree on an ambitious 
reduction target so that an accord can be reached at the 15th 
session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework 
Convention on Climate Change (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen in 
December. 
 
Naoshima and Crean also shared the view that government-level 
involvement is necessary for the new round of World Trade 
Organization's (WTO) trade talks (Doha Round) to come to a 
settlement in 2010. The governments of Japan and Australia will hold 
trade and economic ministerial meetings on a regular basis. 
 
16) U.S. announces plan to hold in Japan in December preparatory 
meeting for Nuclear Security Summit 
 
TOKYO 00002487  008 OF 008 
 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
October 28, 2009 
 
Thomas D'Agostino, head of the U.S. Energy Department's National 
Nuclear Security Administration, announced in an interview with 
media outlets in Tokyo yesterday that a preparatory meeting for the 
Nuclear Security Summit to be held in Washington next April by U.S. 
President Barack Obama will be held in Japan in December. 
 
The Nuclear Security Summit is a forum for discussing the 
international management of nuclear-related materials according to 
the principle of nuclear nonproliferation. D'Agostino said: "The 
preparatory meeting will provide a good opportunity for Japan to 
demonstrate to the world its high expertise and long-time 
achievements in the peaceful use of nuclear power." According to the 
Foreign Ministry, themes and other details for the summit will be 
discussed at the preparatory meeting. The venue for the Japanese 
meeting has not yet been decided. Preparatory meetings may be held 
in several countries. 
 
President Obama proposed holding a nuclear security summit in a 
speech in Prague in April. At the summit state leaders will discuss 
a plan to build a system designed to prevent nuclear-related 
materials from being delivered to nonnuclear states and terrorists 
and from being used to make weapons. 
 
D'Agostino is visiting Japan to attend an international conference 
on nuclear safeguards (inspections) in Tokai-mura, Ibaraki 
Prefecture. 
 
ROOS