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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 TOKYO 002532 
 
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 11/02/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Discord in Hatoyama cabinet on Futenma relocation (Mainichi) 
 
(2) Editorial: Fatigue of foreign minister who is obsessed with 
Kadena is worrying (Nikkei) 
 
(3) Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye: Major change might wreck 
progress in negotiations on Futenma relocation (Sankei) 
 
(4) Investigative authorities suspect dependents of U.S. service 
members at Yokota Air Base involved in motorcycle accident (Sankei) 
 
 
(5) Scramble for lithium in South America: Sharp increase in demand 
for raw materials for batteries for cell phones, eco-cars (Asahi) 
 
(6) Poll on the Constitution of Japan (Mainichi) 
 
(7) Poll on reading (Yomiuri) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Discord in Hatoyama cabinet on Futenma relocation 
 
MAINICHI (Pages 1, 3) (Full) 
November 2, 2009 
 
Thirteen years after the agreement on the return of the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa is rushing 
the relocation to the coastal area of Camp Schwab in line with the 
Japan-U.S. agreement; Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has shifted 
gear to advocating a plan to merge Futenma with Kadena Air Base; and 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is taking a long-term view, saying, "I 
will be the one to make the final decision." This article looks at 
Hatoyama cabinet members' conflicting motives for their stances on 
U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) realignment issues. 
 
During his flight aboard the government plane to Thailand to attend 
the ASEAN summit meetings on the evening of Oct. 23, Hatoyama called 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on his cell phone and told 
him: "Messrs. Okada and Kitazawa are both working very hard on this 
issue. I would like to watch how things unfold. You should do the 
same." 
 
Before he left for his trip, Okada had negated the Japan-U.S. 
agreement of 2006 on the relocation of the Futenma base (in Ginowan 
City, Okinawa) to the coastal area of Camp Schwab (in Henoko, Nago 
City) where V-shape runways would be built and proposed the merger 
of Futenma with Kadena Air Base, a plan that was once examined and 
rejected by the two governments. His differences with Kitazawa, who 
favors carrying out the agreed plan, came into the open, and there 
has been increasing criticism of the "discord" inside the cabinet. 
 
During his visit to Japan, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on 
Oct. 20 pressed for the implementation of the existing plan and 
asked for a decision before U.S. President Barack Obama's visit from 
Nov. 12. This inflamed the Futenma issue. During the recent House of 
Representatives election the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had 
pledged the relocation of the Futenma base out of Okinawa, so this 
caused the Hatoyama administration to scramble to find ways to 
reconcile the current Futenma relocation plan with its election 
 
TOKYO 00002532  002 OF 014 
 
 
pledge, resulting in discrepancies in the ministers' response. 
 
Yet, Hatoyama appeared unruffled by U.S. "pressure" and the upheaval 
inside the cabinet. In contrast to Kitazawa, who wants a conclusion 
by President Obama's visit, and Okada, who is aiming at a solution 
before year end, he is sticking to his position of deferring a 
decision until after the Nago mayoral election in January. 
 
Hatoyama's aides explain what is on the mind of the Prime Minister 
-- who does not prohibit his ministers from making various 
statements in the name of upholding politician-led decision-making 
and insists that "I will be the one to make the final decision" -- 
as follows: "If he submits to the U.S.'s dictate, it would amount to 
following apting the Liberal Democratic Party administration's 
policy of following the U.S. blindly" (remarks at the House of 
Councillors plenary session on Oct. 30). It is apparent that he is 
using this issue as a litmus test of "departure" from the "diplomacy 
of subservience to the U.S." 
 
Hatoyama has adopted a noncompliant attitude toward the U.S. 
However, his own words and actions are partly responsible for the 
confusion. 
 
On July 21, the day the Lower House was dissolved, the DPJ's Seiji 
Maehara (currently minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and 
tourism) and Akihisa Nagashima (currently parliamentary secretary of 
defense) called out to Hatoyama in the Diet and asked him: "What do 
you intend to do?" Hatoyama had just stated in Okinawa City two days 
earlier that he will "take action to at least relocate (the Futenma 
base) out of Okinawa." Maehara and Nagashima, who have strong 
connections with the U.S., became seriously concerned. 
 
Relocation out of Okinawa was a policy included in the DPJ's Okinawa 
Vision compiled in July 2008. In June, Maehara, who visited the U.S. 
with Koichi Takemasa (currently senior vice minister of foreign 
affairs) and the author of draft of the Okinawa Vision, had met with 
former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (currently 
assistant secretary of state) Kurt Campbell - who was a negotiator 
for the agreement on Futenma's return and later called for revising 
the Camp Schwab relocation plan -- and other U.S. officials. Maehara 
came back convinced that "the Futenma issue can be renegotiated from 
scratch under an Obama administration." 
 
However, after the Obama administration was launched in January 
2009, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that it will carry on 
with the existing plan. Maehara's  and others' prediction was off 
the mark, so the manifesto for the Lower House election regressed to 
an abstract expression that the DPJ will "deal with the issues of 
U.S. military bases in Japan in the direction of a review." 
Nevertheless, Hatoyama's statement is still regarded as a pledge in 
Okinawa even today, so he is not in a position to simply betray 
Okinawa's expectations. 
 
Okada's proposal on Futenma-Kadena merger is an attempt to strike a 
balance between giving up on relocation out of Okinawa and reducing 
the burden on Okinawa. 
 
At his meeting with USFJ Commander Edward Rice and U.S. Ambassador 
John Roos at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Oct. 29, 
Okada stressed: "A change of administration has taken place in 
Japan. It will not do to ask us to proceed as promised (by the 
previous administration)." However, the U.S. side indicated 
 
TOKYO 00002532  003 OF 014 
 
 
repeatedly that the merger plan proposed by Okada "is not possible" 
for the following reasons: (1) this will undermine the capacity to 
respond to contingencies; and (2) the presence of Marines mainly 
comprising helicopter units on a base where the Air Force's fighters 
are permanently deployed will undermine base functions. 
 
The Kadena merger plan was considered twice in the past: first in 
1996 at the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) as 
a proposal to downsize bases in Okinawa. It was rejected, with an 
agreement being reached on constructing a removable replacement 
facility offshore. However, this facility was changed to an airport 
for joint military and civilian use with a 2,000-meter runway under 
the basic relocation plan of 2002. 
 
Subsequently the basic plan became deadlocked, so the U.S. side 
presented various proposals for revising the original plan from 2003 
onward, including the Kadena merger plan. At that time, the Defense 
Agency considered a proposal to construct heliports in the Kadena 
ammunition depot area, while MOFA endorsed a proposal to downsize 
the plan to reclaim land in waters off Henoko (the "Nago light" 
proposal), but these proposals faded out. 
 
In the end, the Defense Agency pressed for the plan to relocate the 
heliport to the coastal area of Camp Schwab as a compromise, but in 
the bilateral agreement reached in May 2006, the plan was further 
transformed into a massive public work project with two runways. 
Nagashima and others who are familiar with the process led by the 
LDP held study meetings in the DPJ on this issue and suggested the 
Kadena merger plan to Okada, who was then DPJ secretary general, in 
July, before the Lower House election. Okada regarded this as a 
"realistic plan" that will reduce the cost and time required for 
Futenma's return by utilizing existing base facilities. 
 
After Okada became foreign minister, he conveyed his doubts to 
senior MOFA bureaucrats that "spending 400 billion yen (in 
construction cost) to reclaim that sea area just doesn't make sense 
to me" and instructed them to re-examine the process that led to the 
agreement. 
 
While like the Prime Minister, Kitazawa's focus is on Okinawa, the 
Ministry of Defense (MOD), which serves as the communication channel 
with Okinawa, faces some unique problems. 
 
On Oct. 28, Tsuyoshi Gibu, mayor of the town of Kin, who has been 
involved with the Futenma relocation issue for many years as the 
leader of a municipality adjacent to Nago City, told Hirano at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on Oct. 28: "Prime 
Minister Hatoyama is saying that he will make a decision after 
looking at the outcome of the election, but we want him not to make 
a decision in a way that will sharply split the people of Okinawa." 
 
To the local governments in Okinawa, which were once forced to make 
a bitter decision to accept Futenma's relocation within the 
prefecture, the government's zigzagging is perceived as an act of 
betrayal. The Prime Minister's statement that he will gauge the will 
of the people of Okinawa through the outcome of the Nago mayor 
election in January has given rise to suspicions that he is 
"shifting the responsibility (onto Okinawa) again." The MOD, which 
is at the forefront of negotiations with the local communities, is 
increasingly critical of the Prime Minister. A senior MOD official 
said, "His sense as a politician is questionable." 
 
 
TOKYO 00002532  004 OF 014 
 
 
Kitazawa's position on seeking a solution in line with the existing 
plan reflects the mood in the MOD. On Oct. 17, he dispatched 
Director General Genzo Inoue of the Bureau of Local Cooperation to 
inspect the Kadena ammunition depot, the Shimoji island airfield, 
and other sites that were once proposed as relocation sites, showing 
his intention to look for alternative plans. However, he concluded 
in all cases that relocation will be "difficult." There is also an 
opinion that the exercise was for the purpose of persuading Okada, 
who still insists on the Kadena merger plan. 
 
Kitazawa stated at the interpellation at the House of Councillors 
plenary session on Oct. 30: "Politics that takes the popular will 
lightly will face the retaliation of popular will." 
 
Hatoyama does not rule out the possibility of relocation out of 
Okinawa; Okada is working for Futenma's merger with the Kadena base; 
and Kitazawa accepts relocation to Henoko. All three attach 
importance to reducing the burden on Okinawa, but they all differ in 
their perception of popular will. 
 
On his part, Gibu expresses his frustration: "While they will indeed 
spend time examining various plans, is the acceptance of the current 
plan their actual intention in the end?" If the Okinawans are 
betrayed after their expectations for relocation out of Okinawa are 
raised by the administration, the Hatoyama administration will face 
a backlash. 
 
President Obama will be visiting Japan in 10 days. The Prime 
Minister keeps saying "there is no need to come up with a conclusion 
before the visit." How does he propose to integrate the complex and 
interconnected factors of demonstrating a change from the previous 
LDP-New Komeito administration, build a "close and equal Japan-U.S. 
alliance," and show sympathy for Okinawa all at one fell swoop? The 
leadership of the Prime Minister, who has decided to adopt a 
wait-and-see attitude, will be put to test on various occasions from 
now on. 
 
(2) Editorial: Fatigue of foreign minister who is obsessed with 
Kadena is worrying 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 1, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada seems a little tired. We are worried 
about him. 
 
He wants to visit the United States armed with a plan to integrate 
Futenma Air Station, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter base, with 
Kadena Air Base. But if he meets Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
without carrying out prior coordination in the cabinet and local 
governments, he will be told to organize opinions in Japan first. 
 
Shortly after assuming office, Foreign Minister Okada flew to New 
York and met with his counterparts from other countries on the 
sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Soon after returning to Japan, 
the foreign minister made a tour of South Korea, China, Afghanistan, 
Pakistan, and Indonesia. He must have done his homework in 
preparation for the extraordinary Diet session as well. 
 
Okada is 56 years old, which is not young. He apparently cannot get 
over his exhaustion from this summer's House of Representatives 
election. His remarks on the Futenma issue particularly have given 
 
TOKYO 00002532  005 OF 014 
 
 
us the impression that the foreign minister has not had enough time 
to rest his body and mind. 
 
The foreign minister is obsessed with the Kadena merger plan, while 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa's thinking is close to what was 
agreed upon between Japan and the United States. But both want to 
reach a conclusion swiftly. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama 
has not mentioned any specific options. He has indicated that he 
will take his time to reach a conclusion. 
 
Differing views among the Prime Minister, foreign minister, and 
defense minister have undermined trust in Japan's foreign policy and 
the Hatoyama administration. 
 
The foreign minister's stance on the Kadena plan remains unclear. To 
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, he explained that it was his 
"personal idea." Asked by a Liberal Democratic Party member during a 
House of Councillors plenary session, he replied that he made the 
"statement in his capacity as foreign minister." Those responses 
seem haphazard and are uncharacteristic of Okada, who attaches 
importance to logic. 
 
The Kadena plan, which does not require the construction of a new 
base, seems highly feasible. But there is a solid reason why the 
option, once studied more than 10 years ago, was not adopted. 
 
The U.S. military pointed out the operational difficulty in allowing 
fixed-wing aircraft, such as fighters, and rotary-wing helicopters 
to take off and land on the same base. Kadena and other 
municipalities opposed the option, saying that they would be forced 
to bear a greater burden, including noise. 
 
Okada must have learned of those developments from U.S. Forces Japan 
Commander Lt. Gen. Edward Rice and Nakaima. 
 
The foreign minister is examining the process of past negotiations 
between Japan and the United States. He should take a firsthand look 
at the sites in question before reading documents and thinking with 
his head. We want to see Okada visit Futenma, Kadena, and Henoko, 
listen to the opinions of persons concerned, and think about the 
matter with an open mind before rushing to visit the United States. 
 
The Prime Minister has said that the foreign minister should not 
have commented on the Emperor's "words" at the opening ceremonies of 
Diet sessions. Okada is naturally humble and careful. We think he 
made this comment that drew criticism from the Prime Minister 
because of his fatigue, which he might not be aware of. If this is 
not the case, the situation will become more serious. 
 
(3) Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye: Major change might wreck 
progress in negotiations on Futenma relocation 
 
SANKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
October 31, 2009 
 
Takashi Arimoto, Washington 
 
Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye on Oct. 30 said in a strong 
tone of voice to the Sankei Shimbun that the Japanese government 
should accept the existing plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, citing there 
is a risk that Tokyo's call for making significant changes to the 
 
TOKYO 00002532  006 OF 014 
 
 
Futenma relocation plan will wreck the progress made in negotiations 
between the two countries. 
 
At a U.S. congressional hearing in June before the inauguration of 
the Hatoyama administration, Nye predicted that friction would occur 
in the Japan-U.S. alliance. 
 
"When a new government is inaugurated by a political party that 
advocates the need for a change in the election, it is unavoidable 
that a certain amount of friction will occur. I don't think the 
current friction is any greater than I imagined," said Nye. He 
warned: "There is a possibility that if the Japanese government 
seeks a perfect solution to the Futenma base, it will regard a good 
solution as an enemy. There is a risk that Japan's call for a major 
change will spoil all the efforts made by the two countries up until 
now." 
 
Nye pointed out that the Futenma issue has continued since he served 
as assistant secretary of defense (from 1994 to 1995) when President 
Bill Clinton was in office. 
 
"I don't want to see the United States and Japan spending another 14 
years on this issue. It would be best to remove the Futenma issue 
from the agenda between the two countries by compromising on the 
existing agreement," said Nye. 
 
In reference to the fact that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has made 
it clear that he plans to move forward in reexamining the Japan-U.S. 
alliance given that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the 
revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Nye said: "The security 
treaty has become the foundation for stability in East Asia. It can 
be said that next year will be a year to reconfirm the importance of 
Japan-U.S security arrangements." 
 
Moreover, he noted that the present situation is similar to the year 
of 1996 when former President Clinton and former Prime Minister 
Ryutaro Hashimoto signed the Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on 
Security. "There was economic friction at that time. Even if there 
are differences, the security treaty will benefit the two countries. 
In addition to North Korea, China, which has been gaining economic 
strength, is also Japan's neighbor. Therefore, Japan's alliance with 
the United States is a realistic approach. I hope that a new 
declaration will be issued." 
 
(4) Investigative authorities suspect dependents of U.S. service 
members at Yokota Air Base involved in motorcycle accident 
 
SANKEI (Page 23) (Full) 
October 31, 2009 
 
In an investigation into an incident in August in which a female 
rider was seriously injured after falling off her motorcycle in 
Musashimurayama City, Tokyo, police now suspect that several 
dependents of U.S. military personnel at U.S. Yokota Air Base - 
located near the site of the incident - were involved in the 
incident. The Sankei Shimbun obtained this information in an 
interview with investigative authorities yesterday. The police began 
to suspect this possibility based on eyewitness testimonies and 
images taken by security cameras. The Second Organized Crime Section 
of the National Police Department (MPD) is stepping up its efforts 
to search for evidence in the case. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002532  007 OF 014 
 
 
According to the MPD, a female company employee, 23, fell off her 
motorcycle after running into a rope strung across the street, and 
fractured her skull at around 11:30 p.m. on August 13. 
 
The synthetic fiber rope was strung across the street between a 
pillar in front of the entrance of a warehouse of a trucking company 
and an electric pole. The rope is usually strung between two poles 
in front of the entrance of the warehouse with the aim of keeping 
all unauthorized automobiles out. 
 
When a patrol car passed along the street at around 11:10 p.m., the 
rope was not strung across the street. Police believe that the rope 
was tied there during a period of about 20 minutes between 11:10 
p.m. and 11:30 p.m. when the accident took place. 
 
The NPD believes that the accident was caused as a result of 
malicious mischief, and is investigating the incident as an 
attempted murder case. According to the investigative authorities, 
when one car arrived at the scene just after the incident, young 
foreigners stood in its way and prevented it from passing through. 
The driver of the car said he saw a motorcycle lying on the ground 
behind the foreigners at that time. 
 
The injured woman also said: "I saw foreigners." Furthermore, a 
security camera recorded a suspicious young foreigner passing an 
area near the site of the incident on a bicycle just before the 
accident. 
 
The police have yet to obtain evidence that identifies the 
offenders, such as fingerprints. But as a result of the analysis of 
the images taken by cameras, the NPD has come to suspect that 
several dependents of U.S. service members were involved in the 
incident. 
 
Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which stipulates 
the legal status of U.S. military personnel in Japan, family members 
of military personnel are placed outside the reach of the agreement. 
Given this, observers take the view that there should be no obstacle 
for the Japanese side to carry out the necessary penal procedures. 
 
(5) Scramble for lithium in South America: Sharp increase in demand 
for raw materials for batteries for cell phones, eco-cars 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Excerpts) 
November 1, 2009 
 
Toshihiko Katsuta, Atakama Salt Lake, Chile 
 
Demand for lithium as a material for rechargeable batteries for PCs, 
cell-phones and electric cars is on the sharp rise. There is a 
fierce scramble for the material in South America, which reportedly 
has 80 percent of lithium reserves. Japan, which is one of the 
largest battery-producing countries, is frantic about securing the 
material. I visited lithium-production sites in Chile. 
 
Eighty percent of the world's lithium reserves lying at bottom of 
salt lake 
 
The area of Atakama Salt Lake is roughly 3,000 square kilometers, 
which is equivalent to the area of the sand dunes in Tottori 
Prefecture. Although it is called a salt lake, only scattered parts 
are covered with water. Most of the lake is covered with sandy 
 
TOKYO 00002532  008 OF 014 
 
 
pieces of rock salt. 
 
Lithium lies more than 10 meters beneath the lake bed. I learned 
that snowmelt from the Andes penetrates the layers of rock salt and 
melts lithium salt as it seeps to the lake bottom. 
 
SQM, a leading Chilean company operating at the lake, draws water 
from about 200 wells. The water is kept in dozens of evaporation 
ponds, each as big as a soccer ground. The water is left in the 
ponds for about 10 months for solar evaporation. As the 
concentration of lithium in the water becomes high, the water 
becomes increasingly yellowish. 
 
Japan desperate to secure stable supply 
 
Competition to secure lithium has already started. Lithium-ion cells 
manufactured by Japanese companies command nearly 50 percent of the 
global production. Japan relies on imported lithium. The greatest 
supplier is Chile. Most of Chile's lithium is produced at Atakama 
Salt Lake. A number of business people from Japanese companies have 
visited SQM. 
 
At present South America produces 50 percent of the world's lithium. 
There are Uyuni Salt Lake (Bolivia), and Rincon Salt Lake 
(Argentine) in the region bordering Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. It 
is said that the three salt lakes alone account for 80 percent of 
Lithium reserves in the world, if those that cannot be developed are 
included. 
 
Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), an 
independent administrative agency, and Sumitomo Corporation have 
begun talks with the Bolivian government on the development of 
lithium at Uyuni Salt Lake. 
 
Bolivians remember that Spain, its former colonial master, once 
exploited their silver reserves. As such, although they are 
appreciative of Japan's offers for technological cooperation and 
financial assistance, they are negative toward the idea of 
conducting joint development, insisting they want to develop lithium 
on their own. A JOBMEC executive said, "Bolivia is protective." 
 
South Korea, the largest lithium-cell producer next to Japan, and 
France are also interested in Uyuni Salt Lake. 
 
Korea Resources Corporation President Kim Shin Jong said during an 
interview given to the Chonsun Ilbo, "We will go abroad and win the 
future battle for lithium by all means." 
 
(6) Poll on the Constitution of Japan 
 
MAINICHI (Page 11) (Full) 
November 1, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female) 
 
Q: Are you interested in debate on amending the Constitution? 
 
 T P M F 
Very interested 14  19 9 
Somewhat interested 52  51 54 
Not very interested 26  23 28 
 
TOKYO 00002532  009 OF 014 
 
 
Not interested at all 7  6 8 
 
Q: Do you approve of amending the Constitution? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 58  62 55 
No 32  32 32 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) 
Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the present Constitution is not appropriate for the times 54 
 55 52 
Because the present Constitution was imposed by the U.S. 10  12 9 
Because the present Constitution has never been amended since its 
enactment 22  17 27 
Because there is a gap between the Self-Defense Forces' activities 
and Constitution Article 9 9  13 6 
Because the present Constitution honors individual rights 
excessively 3  2 3 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) How 
do you think the Constitution should be amended? (Up to three) 
 
 T P M F 
Rewrite the Constitution into Japanese language that is easy to 
understand because its current wording sounds like translatese 36 
33 38 
Define the Self-Defense Forces clearly 37  43 30 
Allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense 13  20 
7 
Review the Emperor-as-a-symbol system 9  9 9 
Abolish the Diet's bicameral system and adopt a unicameral 
legislature 15  17 14 
Introduce a direct vote for the people to elect the prime minister 
42  40 44 
Expand decentralization even more 32  36 27 
Create new rights for the people 22  18 26 
Incorporate new obligations for the people 14  14 14 
Ease requirements for amending the Constitution 14  14 15 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question) 
Why? 
 
 T P M F 
Because the present Constitution is appropriate for the times 8  9 
7 
Because there is no definite reason to amend the present 
Constitution 32  36 29 
Because Constitution Article 9 might be amended 36  34 38 
Because individual rights might be restricted or individual 
obligations might be stipulated 5  5 5 
Because it can't be said that the public and political parties have 
conducted thorough discussions 17  15 19 
 
Q: Constitution Article 9 stipulates Japan's renunciation of war in 
its first paragraph and Japan's not maintaining a military in its 
second paragraph. What do you think about amending Article 9? 
 
 T P M F 
It should be amended in some way 48  55 42 
 
TOKYO 00002532  010 OF 014 
 
 
It should not be amended at all 43  40 46 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "it should be amended in some way") 
How do you think should be amended? 
 
 T P M F 
Amend only the first paragraph that stipulates Japan's renunciation 
of war 9  10 9 
Amend only the second paragraph that stipulates Japan's not 
maintaining a military 26  32 20 
Amend both paragraphs 17  19 13 
Add a new clause 44  37 53 
 
Q: Do you like America as a country? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 18  21 15 
Yes to a certain degree 58  55 60 
No to a certain degree 16  16 17 
No 3  3 3 
 
Q: How have your feelings toward America changed since President 
Obama was sworn in this January? 
 
 T P M F 
Like even more 17  15 19 
Dislike even more 1  1 1 
Unchanged 80  82 77 
 
Q: Do you think Japan's foreign and security policies should be 
oriented toward the United Nations, or do you think Japan should 
prioritize cooperation with the United States? 
 
 T P M F 
U.N.-oriented 76  76 76 
Cooperation with the U.S. 17  20 15 
 
Q: Japan is currently conducting Maritime Self-Defense Force's 
refueling activities in the Indian Ocean for U.S. and other foreign 
naval vessels in order to support the war on terror in Afghanistan. 
The MSDF's refueling mission there, however, is to end in January 
next year. Do you approve of extending the refueling mission? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 48  55 42 
No 44  40 48 
 
Q: The SDF's overseas activities, with the exception of its 
participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and disaster 
relief operations, have been conducted under a time-limited special 
measures law as in the case of its refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean and its assistance for Iraq. There is an opinion suggesting 
the need to make an indefinite, permanent law that allows Japan to 
send the SDF abroad as needed. Do you approve of this opinion? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 36  42 31 
No 56  53 59 
 
Q: What do you think Japan should do in terms of the SDF's overseas 
activities in the future? 
 
 
TOKYO 00002532  011 OF 014 
 
 
 T P M F 
Japan should never ever send the SDF abroad 9  8 9 
Japan may go so far as  to participate in PKOs after a ceasefire 53 
51 55 
Japan may go so far as to send the SDF to a country at war to help 
with its reconstruction 23  26 21 
Japan may go so far as to use armed force depending on circumstances 
10  13 8 
 
Q: Japan has been making it a basic policy to maintain its three 
nonnuclear principles of not producing, possessing, or allowing 
nuclear weapons into the country. According to a former Foreign 
Ministry bureaucrat's account, however, there was a secret deal 
between Japan and the United States when the two countries revised 
their security pact. This secret deal is said to have allowed U.S. 
naval vessels carrying nuclear weapons to make port calls in Japan 
and transit Japan's territorial waters. It is also evident from U.S. 
archives. The government has maintained that there was no such 
secret accord. Do you think the government should admit the 
existence of that secret deal? 
 
 T P M F 
Yes 60  64 55 
No 32  32 33 
 
Q: What do you think Japan should do about its three nonnuclear 
principles? 
 
 T P M F 
Maintain 72  70 73 
Review 24  27 21 
 
(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "No answer" 
omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the results of the last 
survey conducted Sept. 16-17. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 11-13 across the 
nation at 300 locations on a stratified two-stage random-sampling 
basis. A total of 4,568 persons were chosen from among men and women 
aged 20 and over (as of Sept. 30) for face-to-face interviews. 
Answers were obtained from 2,615 persons (57 PERCENT ). 
 
(7) Poll on reading 
 
YOMIURI (Page 14) (Full) 
October 25, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures in percentage) 
 
Q: How many books did you read over the past month? 
 
1 book 17 
2 books 14 
3 books 8 
4 books 3 
5 to 9 books 4 
10 or more books 2 
None 53 
No answer (N/A) 0 
 
Q: (Only for those who answered "none") Why? From among the reasons 
 
TOKYO 00002532  012 OF 014 
 
 
listed below choose as many as you like. 
 
Because I had no time 51 
Because there were no books that I wanted to read 21 
Because I can get knowledge or information from other sources 18 
Because I can live without reading books 18 
Because I don't like reading books 10 
Because books are expensive 2 
Because I don't want to spend money buying books 3 
Because health reasons prevent my reading books  16 
Other answers (O/A) + N/A 1 
 
Q: What's the primary reason you read books? Pick as many reasons as 
you like from among those listed below. 
 
For deep knowledge or education 46 
For work 19 
To make the most of my hobbies 28 
To get a sense of the trend of the times 15 
To get a clue to life 14 
To experience a virtual world 10 
For fun 33 
To pass time 17 
From habit 7 
O/A + Don't read (D/R) + N/A 13 
 
Q: How do you choose books to read? Pick as many as you like from 
among those listed below. 
 
Happen to see at a bookstore 8 
Happen to read a newspaper's book review 26 
Happen to read a magazine's book review 11 
Happen to see a newspaper or magazine ad 21 
Happen to see a TV program introducing books 12 
Happen to learn from someone 17 
O/A+D/R+N/A 16 
 
Q: Where do you usually buy books? Pick as many as you like from 
among those listed below. 
 
Bookstores 80 
New secondhand bookstores like BOOKOFF 9 
Old secondhand bookstores 3 
Convenience stores or station kiosks 6 
Online market 9 
O/A 0 
Don't buy 15 
N/A 1 
 
Q: Has a book ever influenced your way of thinking or your view of 
life? 
 
Yes 66 
No 31 
N/A 3 
 
Q: Do you think reading books will enrich your life? 
 
Yes 87 
No 11 
N/A 3 
 
 
TOKYO 00002532  013 OF 014 
 
 
Q: What would you like to read most among those listed below? Pick 
up to three. 
 
Pure literature (postwar, modern times) 12 
literature (prewar WWII) 4 
Classical literature 3 
Historical novels 26 
Mysteries, science fiction, adventure stories, light novels 23 
Nonfiction, biographies 15 
Essays 18 
Archaeology, history 6 
Philosophy, ideology, religion 6 
Politics, law, international politics 6 
Economics, business, international economics 10 
Natural science 6 
Health, healthcare, welfare, pension 23 
Education, childcare 8 
Cooking, dietary life 19 
Travel, leisure, sports 21 
Personal computer, information technology 4 
O/A + nothing in particular + N/A 11 
 
Q: Do you get information you need on the Internet and not have to 
buy books or magazines? 
 
Often 17 
Sometimes 19 
Not very often 10 
Not at all 53 
N/A 1 
 
Q: Have you ever used an e-book service on your personal computer or 
cellphone? Pick only one from among those listed below. 
 
Yes, and would like to continue 5 
Yes, but would not like to continue 3 
No, but would like to use 19 
No, and would not like to use 71 
N/A 1 
 
 
Q: Do you think e-book services will increase the reading 
population? 
 
Yes 44 
No 43 
N/A 13 
 
Q: Who is your favorite novelist or writer? Pick up to three, 
Japanese or foreigners. (M = male; F = female; respondents) 
 
  M F 
Ryotaro Shiba 72 (53) (19) 
Haruki Murakami 66 (31) (35) 
Keigo Higashino 63 (21) (42) 
Seicho Matsumoto 49 (22) (27) 
Miyuki Miyabe 33 (7) (26) 
Osamu Dazai 29 (14) (15) 
Soseki Natsume 27 (18) (9) 
Kyotaro Nishimura 27 (12) (15) 
Jiro Akagawa 22 (2) (20) 
Hiroyuki Itsuki 21 (10) (11) 
 
TOKYO 00002532  014 OF 014 
 
 
Shuhei Fujisawa 19 (9) (10) 
Eiji Yoshikawa 18 (12) (6) 
Jakucho Setouchi 16 (--) (16) 
Toyoko Yamasaki 16 (6) (10) 
Junichi Watanabe 16 (4) (12) 
Kuniko Mukoda 13 (--) (13) 
Shugoro Yamamoto 13 (4) (9) 
Ryunosuke Akutagawa 12 (5) (7) 
Shotaro Ikenami 12 (8) (4) 
Kotaro Isaka 12 (7) (5) 
Yasuo Uchida 12 (5) (7) 
Yasushi Inoue 11 (8) (3) 
Yasunari Kawabata 11 (3) (8) 
 
Polling methodology 
Date of survey: Oct. 10-11. 
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: 1,801 persons (60 PERCENT ) 
Breakdown of respondents: Male-46 PERCENT , female-54 PERCENT ; 
persons in their 20s-8 PERCENT , 30s-14 PERCENT , 40s-16 PERCENT , 
50s-19 PERCENT , 60s-25 PERCENT , 70 and over-18 PERCENT ; big 
cities (Tokyo's 23 wards and government-designated cities)-21 
PERCENT , major cities (with a population of more than 300,000)-18 
PERCENT , medium-sized cities (with a population of more than 
100,000)-26 PERCENT , small cities (with a population of less than 
100,000)-23 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 . "--" denotes that no respondents answered. 
 
ROOS