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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002581 
 
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 11/09/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Obama to postpone visit to Japan by a day to attend ceremony for 
victims of recent shooting incident (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) U.S. President Obama's visit to Japan slips to Nov. 13; U.S. 
government slights Japan (Sankei) 
 
(3) Prime minister shows understanding toward U.S. (Asahi) 
 
(4) U.S. irked by delay in Futenma relocation decision, terms PM 
Hatoyama's statement "irresponsible" (Asahi) 
 
(5) GOJ makes budget allocation to build port on Okinotori Island to 
strengthen its position in continental shelf dispute with China 
(Sankei) 
 
(6) In e-mail magazine Prime Minister Hatoyama stresses option of 
relocating Futenma out of Okinawa and out of Japan (Mainichi) 
 
(7) Government to extend 5 billion dollars in aid to Afghanistan 
over five years (Yomiuri) 
 
(8)  Labor costs worth 116.4 billion yen in HNS to face scrutiny 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(9) Questions and answers from House of Councillors Budget Committee 
session on Nov. 6 - Foreign Minister eyes conclusion to U.S. force 
realignment next month (Asahi) 
 
(10) Prime Minister Hatoyama to announce policy of boosting ODA to 
Myanmar (Nikkei) 
 
(11) Okada to visit Okinawa this month (Nikkei) 
 
(12) Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial set for Nov. 11 (Nikkei) 
 
(13) PNP cautious about local voting rights for permanent foreign 
residents, reflecting different position from SDP (Nikkei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Obama to postpone visit to Japan by a day to attend ceremony for 
victims of recent shooting incident 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
Evening, November 7, 2009 
 
It has been learned that the U.S. government has conveyed to Japan a 
plan to push back President Obama's visit to Japan from Nov. 12-13 
to Nov. 13-14. This was revealed on the 7th by a Japanese government 
source. As the reason for the delay in the President's visit to 
Japan, the U.S. cited that the President will attend a ceremony for 
the victims of a recent shooting incident at a U.S. Army base in 
Texas that took place on Nov. 5 (local time). The Japanese 
government is now conducting final coordination with related 
organizations in order to accommodate the schedule change. 
 
Obama's original schedule was to visit Japan on the afternoon of the 
12th and leave for Singapore after holding a Japan-U.S. summit on 
the 13th to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum 
meeting to be held on the 14th and the 15th. 
 
TOKYO 00002581  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
It is unusual (for a U.S. president) to change his schedule right 
before visiting Japan. The Japanese government source said, "Since 
the only plan for the 12th was a dinner party, it is possible to 
change the schedule." 
 
(2) U.S. President Obama's visit to Japan slips to Nov. 13; U.S. 
government slights Japan 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 8, 2009 
 
Hiroyuki Kano 
 
"Things must be difficult in the wake of the random shooting 
incident. We must understand that point. We will work hard so that 
it will not have a negative impact on our summit meeting." So spoke 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on the afternoon of Nov. 7 in reply to 
questions from the press corps about U.S. President Barack Obama's 
decision to delay his visit to Japan. 
 
Given the fact that it includes a luncheon with the Emperor and the 
Empress, the President's visit can be described as a quasi-state 
visit. The event has been arranged despite a series of imperial 
court events, such as the 20th anniversary of the Emperor's 
accession to the Throne. For this reason, some regard the abrupt 
change of schedule as not showing due respect. 
 
At the same time, the Japanese government cannot afford to 
unilaterally complain about the U.S. request for a change of 
schedule. 
 
Washington asked Tokyo to come up with an "answer" regarding the 
issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in 
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture) -- the biggest outstanding issue 
between Japan and the United States - before the President's visit 
to Japan. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, obsessed with the idea of 
integrating Futenma with Kadena Air Base, explored ways to directly 
negotiate with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, but he cancelled 
the plan at the last moment. The Prime Minister, too, announced on 
Oct. 22, "It is not something for which we must give an answer 
before the President arrives in Japan." 
 
As such, it can't be helped that within the U.S. government there is 
a growing trend to make light of Japan. 
 
In his talks with President Obama, Prime Minister Hatoyama intends 
to affirm a plan to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and 
discuss such issues as support for Afghanistan and the global 
environment. At the same time, Hatoyama has conveyed to the U.S. 
side his intention to minimize discussion of the Futenma issue. 
There is every reason for the President to believe that talks for 
formality's sake will suffice. 
 
(3) Prime minister shows understanding toward U.S. 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 8, 2009 
 
The change in U.S. President Obama's schedule to visit to Japan will 
necessitate the rescheduling of such events as the bilateral summit 
from scratch, according to a senior Foreign Ministry official. Prime 
 
TOKYO 00002581  003 OF 010 
 
 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Nov. 7 indicated his readiness to accept 
the U.S. request, noting to the press corps, "I think the President 
is having a hard time due to the shooting rampage. We must take into 
consideration his feelings." 
 
On the morning of the 7th the U.S. sounded out Japan about changing 
the schedule of the President's visit. Both leaders are expected to 
attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting to be held 
in Singapore, starting on the 14th. The prime minister said, "I 
would like to have substantial talks (with President Obama). I hear 
the President also thinks that way." 
 
Japan-U.S. relations have become strained recently over such issues 
as the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. A 
Foreign Ministry official said, "There was a possibility of the 
President's cancelling his visit to Japan. He has decided to come to 
Japan in spite of a tight schedule. This indicates he attaches 
importance to Japan." 
 
(4) U.S. irked by delay in Futenma relocation decision, terms PM 
Hatoyama's statement "irresponsible" 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 7, 2009 
 
In response to a question from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s 
Yoichi Masuzoe, former heath and labor minister, on the meaning of 
an "equal Japan-U.S. relationship" at the House of Councillors 
Budget Committee on Nov. 6, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama reiterated 
his opinion, saying: "Up until now, Japan has tended to conduct its 
diplomacy by saying 'yes' in accordance with the United States' 
wishes." 
 
At the committee meeting, Masuzoe, former Foreign Minister Yoriko 
Kawaguchi (LDP), and other Upper House members expressed their 
concerns about the Japan-U.S. relationship. Kawaguchi pressed for 
reaching a conclusion at an early date on the Futenma issue, on 
which the government's has not determined a policy, by saying: "The 
U.S. embassy monitors (the live telecast of the Budget Committee 
proceedings) constantly. The Prime Minister must be aware that his 
statements send important messages to the U.S." 
 
Hatoyama advocated moving the Futenma base out of Okinawa during the 
recent general election, but Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa 
accepts the current plan to move the base to Henoko in Nago City, 
Okinawa. On the other hand, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has given 
up on moving the base out of Okinawa, but is looking at the 
possibility of merging Futenma with Kadena Air Base. The U.S. side 
is perplexed because it has no idea whom to talk to in the Hatoyama 
administration in order to reach an agreement, and even the members 
of the Hatoyama administration seem to have no idea. 
 
Hatoyama met President Barack Obama in the U.S. shortly after taking 
office. At that time, it seemed as if the bilateral relationship had 
gotten off to a good start, with the two leaders talking amicably 
about the change of administration (in both countries) and so 
forth. 
 
However, officials and Japan experts in the U.S. government point 
out that Hatoyama's statement on Oct. 16 "changed the situation 
completely." Hatoyama indicated then that a decision on the Futenma 
issue would be deferred until after the Nago mayoral election in 
 
TOKYO 00002581  004 OF 010 
 
 
January 2010. The U.S. side is furious because this is "overly 
irresponsible." 
 
There are also growing concerns on the Japanese side about the 
stance of the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). A Diet 
member who serves as one of the top political appointees in a 
ministry says: "The administration as a whole does not give enough 
consideration to diplomacy with the U.S. Since we do not even 
understand what the Kantei is thinking, there is no way the U.S. can 
understand." A senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official also 
says: "The next one or two months will be critical. If we fail, the 
U.S. side will come to the conclusion that there is no use working 
with the Democratic Party of Japan administration on anything." 
 
(5) GOJ makes budget allocation to build port on Okinotori Island to 
strengthen its position in continental shelf dispute with China 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Full) 
November 7, 2009 
 
The government decided on Nov. 6 to build a port facility on 
Okinotori Island (part of the village of Ogasawara, Tokyo), an 
uninhabited island in the southernmost part of Japan. Funds to start 
the survey and design of the port will be allocated in the FY2010 
budget. It is believed that there are rare metal and other seabed 
resources in waters near Okinotori, but the Chinese government 
claims that the island is merely a "rock," which Japan cannot use as 
a basis for setting its exclusive economic zone (EEZ, approximately 
370 kilometers from the coast line). The government intends to 
demonstrate to the international community that Okinotori is an 
"island" by setting up a base for surveying, development, and other 
economic activities there. 
 
Okinotori Island is located about 1,700 kilometers south-southwest 
of Tokyo at 20 degrees 25 minutes north latitude and 136 degrees 4 
minutes east longitude. It consists of two small islands that are 
only a few meters high and wide at high tide surrounded by a coral 
atoll. The island has no port for ships to moor, so the only way to 
land on the island is to anchor ships in nearby waters and transfer 
to small boats. 
 
For this reason, the government plans to build a port facility on 
the atoll for ships to anchor and make this the operational base for 
embankment management and maritime surveys. The Ministry of Land, 
Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) has earmarked several 
hundred million yen for surveying and design for "building an 
operational base for activities in remote islands" in its FY2010 
budget requests. Field surveys and schematic design will be 
conducted for Okinotori, along with the Minamitori Island, where 
officials of the Maritime Self-Defense Forces, Japan Coast Guard 
(JCG), and the Japan Meteorological Agency are stationed. 
 
Last August, China asked the U.N. Commission on the Limits of the 
Continental Shelf, which makes recommendations on setting the outer 
limit of the continental shelf, to designate Okinotori as a "rock 
that cannot sustain human habitation and economic life." At present, 
the existence of Okinotori Island enables Japan to set an EEZ of 
some 400,000 square kilometers around the island, which is larger 
than its national territory (approximately 380,000 square 
kilometers), and to exercise its sovereign right to develop 
resources and engage in fishing and other economic activities. If 
Okinotori is designated as a "rock," an EEZ cannot be set, and this 
 
TOKYO 00002581  005 OF 010 
 
 
will limit Japan's rights to an area within a 22-kilometer radius 
around the island (approximately 1,500 square kilometers). 
 
China has set the "first island chain" from the Southwest Islands to 
Taiwan as its defense line for the command of the sea to counter 
U.S. military intervention in the event of a contingency in Taiwan. 
It is also believed to be eyeing further inroads into the outer 
"second island chain" from the Ogasawara islands to Saipan and Guam, 
which makes Okinotori a critical location. 
 
China has been actively conducting maritime surveys in sea areas 
near the island and is believed to be also collecting data necessary 
for submarine navigation. 
 
For the above reason, the recognition of Okinotori Island as a base 
for economic activities is of great significance in terms of 
security. For this same reason, the JCG set up a lighthouse on 
Okinotori in 2007 to assert Japan's sovereignty. 
 
Meanwhile, MLIT Minister Seiji Maehara has stated repeatedly since 
the time he was in the opposition camp that "the possibility of 
China attempting to exercise effective control on Okinotori Island 
and the adjacent EEZ cannot be ruled out." 
 
(6) In e-mail magazine Prime Minister Hatoyama stresses option of 
relocating Futenma out of Okinawa and out of Japan 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 8, 2009 
 
In reference to the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) in his 
Cabinet's e-mail magazine distributed on Nov. 7, Prime Minister 
Yukio Hatoyama criticized the previous Aso administration's 
diplomacy for servility to the United States. He wrote in the e-mail 
magazine: "There is no room for doubt that the previous 
administration fashioned a Japan-U.S. relationship based on 
subservience to America. I think a reexamination may be necessary." 
He stressed his intention of looking into a review of the Futenma 
base relocation plan with an eye to relocating the base outside 
Okinawa or outside Japan. He also said in the e-mail magazine: "I 
want to reach a conclusion after examining seriously every possible 
option, including relocation in or outside Okinawa, and in or 
outside Japan. The issue is not so simple that I can say when we 
will arrive at a conclusion." 
 
(7) Government to extend 5 billion dollars in aid to Afghanistan 
over five years 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 7, 2009 
 
The cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama yesterday compiled a 
package of measures to help reconstruct Afghanistan. Under the 
package, the government will extend 5 billion dollars, or 
approximately 450 billion yen, over five years for civilian support, 
including measures to provide vocational training for former 
soldiers of the anti-government Taliban and to reinforce police 
functions. It will also extend 2 billion dollars, or approximately 
180 billion yen, over five years to Afghanistan's neighbor Pakistan, 
where the security situation is deteriorating. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002581  006 OF 010 
 
 
Hatoyama has revealed that he has no intention to extend the ongoing 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean 
beyond its expiration in January. In response, cabinet members have 
worked out assistance measures to replace the mission. Japan has so 
far disbursed a total of about 2 billion dollars in civilian aid for 
Afghanistan since 2002. The amount of aid will be significantly 
increased. The prime minister is prepared to inform U.S. President 
Barack Obama about the package during the Japan-U.S. summit meeting 
set for Nov. 13 in a bid to demonstrate Japan's willingness to 
cooperate in building stability in Afghanistan. 
 
The government plans to focus particularly on aid that will help 
restore public order. It will also continue a measure undertaken 
this year to pay half of the salaries of police officers. Japan has 
given training to about 10 senior police officers every year, and it 
intends to increase the number of trainees. 
 
In addition, the government has decided to introduce a program under 
which former Taliban soldiers will acquire civil engineering skills 
while receiving wages. It will also support a rural development 
project designed to enable former soldiers to reintegrate into 
society after completing the training course. 
 
(8)  Labor costs worth 116.4 billion yen in HNS to face scrutiny 
 
YOMIURI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
Evening, November 7, 2009 
 
The Government Revitalization Unit has decided to review the 
salaries of base workers as a target for cuts in a bid to eliminate 
wasteful spending in budgetary requests for fiscal 2010. Base 
workers salaries are part of labor costs in the nation's host nation 
support (HNS, the so-called omoiyari yosan, or "sympathy budget") 
for U.S. forces in Japan.  Of the191.9 billion yen in the Defense 
Ministry's budget request for HNS, 116.4 billion yen will be subject 
to review for possible cuts. Government Revitalization Minister 
Yoshito Sengoku will discuss the issue with Foreign Minister Katsuya 
Okada, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, and other concerned 
officials before deciding on the budget cut at a meeting of the said 
panel early next week. 
 
A total of 25,499 Japanese (as of the end of fiscal 2008) are 
working at U.S. military bases as clerks at command centers or 
employees of restaurants or recreation facilities such as golf 
courses. A Japan-U.S. special agreement on HNS for U.S. bases 
stipulates that the Japanese government pay salaries for 23,055 
workers, with the rest paid by the U.S. military. The burden on the 
Japanese government is likely to be affected. 
 
The U.S. base workers conclude contracts with the Japanese 
government, but their status is not that of public servants. They 
receive the same treatment as that of workers at private companies. 
Their wage levels, however, are set by the government every year and 
are almost the same as those of national public servants. 
 
(9) Questions and answers from House of Councillors Budget Committee 
session on Nov. 6 - Foreign Minister eyes conclusion to U.S. force 
realignment next month 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
November 7, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00002581  007 OF 010 
 
 
& North Korean issue 
 
Yoichi Masuzoe (of the Liberal Democratic Party): Do the 
Self-Defense Forces have the capability to defend themselves against 
a nuclear attack by North Korea? 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: The SDF's capability is not in a 
condition to deal entirely with North Korea's military potential. 
 
& Japan-U.S. relations 
 
Masuzoe: What does an equal Japan-U.S. relationship mean? 
 
Prime Minister: We must continue to deepen Japan-U.S. relations in a 
multilayered way. There have been many cases of diplomacy in which 
Japan went along with the United States' intentions. 
 
Yoriko Kawaguchi (of the LDP): Do you think relations between the 
two countries are equal in the security area? 
 
Prime Minister: In making decisions, the two countries have not been 
equal in the past. The new administration's foreign policy aims at 
making (the two countries) more equal. 
 
& Futenma relocation issue 
 
Masuzoe: (Cabinet ministers' views are lacking unity) regarding the 
Futenma issue. 
 
Prime Minister: I have no intention to postpone the deadline 
endlessly. I am examining the options with relevant ministers to 
come up with innovative ideas. 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada: If we are to take the feelings of 
the people in Okinawa into consideration, we will not be able to 
come up with an answer next week. 
 
Prime Minister: I have no intention to reach a conclusion by the 
time (President Obama) visits Japan. We will discuss the Afghan 
issue as well, so I have confidence that (President Obama's) visit 
to Japan will be fruitful. 
 
Kawaguchi: You are examining the U.S. force realignment roadmap that 
was agreed upon between Japan and the United States. Are you going 
to reach a conclusion by December? 
 
Foreign Minister: The end of December could certainly be a target. 
We will make efforts to make a decision by then, but we might not be 
able to meet that target. I don't want to continue reviewing (the 
roadmap) beyond December. 
 
Prime Minister: I have no intention to set a deadline to complete 
the review. 
 
& Support for Afghanistan 
 
Masuzoe: What has happened to the idea of dispatching Self-Defense 
Force troops? 
 
Prime Minister: I have no intention to dispatch SDF troops to 
Afghanistan. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002581  008 OF 010 
 
 
Kawaguchi:  We would like a thorough explanation about why the 
government will not continue the refueling mission in the Indian 
Ocean. 
 
Prime Minister: As a result of considering what can be done using 
the limited resources we have, we thought we should extend support 
activities that the Afghan people will appreciate more than the 
refueling mission. We will extend economic aid that will allow 
people to stop growing poppies and engage in new agricultural 
programs. Japan is paying the salaries of police officers. We want 
to step up that program. It is also necessary to encourage Taliban 
soldiers to abandon their weapons and take on new jobs. 
 
Kawaguchi: What about counterterrorism measures? 
 
Prime Minister: Things will be difficult (if we provide support) in 
the military sector alone. It is essential to eradicate the roots of 
terrorism with civilian support. 
 
Yamaguchi: It has been reported that Japan will extend civilian aid 
worth 400 billion to 500 billion yen. 
 
Prime Minister: We are thinking of providing aid on that level for 
five years. 
 
& East Asian Community concept 
 
Masuzoe: Where will the United States be positioned (in the concept 
of an East Asian Community)? 
 
Prime Minister: I envisage a concept that also requires the 
cooperation of the United States in the future. At present, I am not 
thinking of which countries will be included or not included in the 
concept. 
 
(10) Prime Minister Hatoyama to announce policy of boosting ODA to 
Myanmar 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 7, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will hold talks on Nov. 7 with 
visiting Myanmar Prime Minister Thein Sein and announce that his 
government will expand grant aid and technical cooperation for its 
official development assistance (ODA) to Myanmar (Burma) on the 
condition that positive steps are made toward democratization. The 
Japanese government plans to gradually increase its ODA from 2010 
while gauging progress in democratization in Myanmar. 
 
Hatoyama told reporters on Nov. 6: "If we conclude that steps have 
been taken toward democratization, it will be possible for us to 
increase a variety of assistance measures." 
 
In the wake of the Myanmar military government's house arrest of 
democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2003, Japan drastically reduced 
its ODA to Myanmar. However, the Hatoyama administration has now 
decided to increase its ODA to the nation because the U.S. Obama 
administration, which places importance on Southeast Asia, has 
embarked on a policy of improving relations with Myanmar. 
 
Japan provided ODA worth about 2.8 billion yen to Myanmar in fiscal 
¶2007. The Japanese government, however, intends to boost its ODA to 
 
TOKYO 00002581  009 OF 010 
 
 
Myanmar to the level of 5 to 7 billion yen, which Japan provided in 
2003 and before. 
 
(11) Okada to visit Okinawa this month 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 7, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, meeting the press yesterday, said he 
will visit Okinawa Prefecture to hear local views concerning the 
issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
the prefecture. "I think I should visit there as soon as possible," 
he said. 
 
Meanwhile, State Minister for Consumer Affairs and Declining 
Birthrate Mizuho Fukushima, who heads the Social Democratic Party, 
one of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's two coalition 
partners, said yesterday she would cancel her plan to visit Okinawa. 
Fukushima had planned to visit Okinawa on Nov. 8 to participate in a 
rally to protest the relocation of Futenma airfield within Okinawa 
Prefecture. She is believed to have made the decision in order to 
avoid confusion ahead of U.S. President Obama's visit to Japan. 
 
(12) Japan-U.S. foreign ministerial set for Nov. 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 7, 2009 
 
It has been decided that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and U.S. 
Secretary of State Clinton will meet in Singapore on Nov. 11. Okada 
is expected to conduct final coordination on such issues as the 
planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station and 
Japan's assistance to Afghanistan, which are to be discussed in a 
meeting to be held between Prime Minister Hatoyama and President 
Obama on Nov. 13 in Japan. 
 
Okada and Clinton will visit Singapore to attend Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC) foreign ministerial meetings to be held 
there on Nov. 11-12. The Japanese and U.S. governments agreed to 
hold a meeting between Okada and Clinton during the APEC session. 
Okada had considered visiting the United States, but he gave up on 
the plan due in part to the Diet schedule. 
 
(13) PNP cautious about local voting rights for permanent foreign 
residents, reflecting different position from SDP 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 8, 2009 
 
People's New Party leader Shizuka Kamei on Nov. 7 indicated a 
cautious stance toward the submission of a bill granting local 
voting rights for permanent foreign residents. He noted, "It is 
necessary to obtain a national consensus (before submitting the 
legislation). The nature of the legislation doesn't warrant adopting 
it just because the number of votes supported it exceed those 
against it." He made this remark in a reply to a question from the 
press corps. 
 
On the other hand, Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Mizuho 
Fukushima said, "The SDP agrees to submit the bill and pass it into 
law." The remarks of the two leaders made it clear that ruling 
coalition members' differ in their stances toward local voting 
 
TOKYO 00002581  010 OF 010 
 
 
rights for permanent foreign residents. 
 
ROOS