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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 002598 
 
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 11/10/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Politics: 
4) Bill would grant local suffrage only to permanent foreign 
residents from countries with which Japan has diplomatic relations 
(Asahi) 
5) Diet debate  (Yomiuri) 
 
Futenma saga: 
6) Hatoyama says Futenma decision difficult because Okinawa's people 
are divided on the issue  (Asahi) 
7) PM says Futenma relocation issue will not present a major problem 
during summit  (Mainichi) 
8) Kanagawa Governor Matsuzawa calls for early resolution of Futenma 
issue  (Mainichi) 
9) Hatoyama says Futenma relocation will not be a major topic at 
Japan-U.S. summit  (Nikkei) 
10) Govt. increasingly concerned about rising tide of anti-base 
sentiment in Okinawa  (Yomiuri) 
 
Foreign relations: 
11) U.S. President to have lunch with Emperor on Nov. 14th 
(Yomiuri) 
12) Foreign Ministry to observe closely U.S.- North Korea talks 
(Nikkei) 
13) DPJ rapidly increasing contacts with China  (Sankei) 
14) President Obama, PM Hatoyama to agree to deepen U.S.-Japan 
alliance  (Asahi) 
 
Defense & security: 
15) Defense Minister orders reexamination of shifting MSDF ships 
from refueling mission to Somalia offing  (Sankei) 
16) Japanese and Indian defense ministers agree to strengthen 
defense cooperation  (Mainichi) 
17) SDP Party Secretary General says hit-and-run incident symbolizes 
the reality of the U.S. military presence in Okinawa  (Mainichi) 
18) U.S. Army staff sergeant identified as owner of car involved in 
fatal hit-and-run accident in Okinawa  (Okinawa Times) 
 
Opinion: 
19) Yomiuri poll: Cabinet support drops 8 points to 63 PERCENT 
(Yomiuri) 
 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi, Yomiuri, Sankei, and Tokyo Shimbun: 
Government Revitalization Unit decides to review requested spending 
for 447 projects in FY 2010 budget, including payments to medical 
institutions and sympathy budget 
 
Mainichi: 
Japan, U.S. adrift (Part 1): Bilateral alliance at crossroads; 
Futenma relocation issue out of control; "winter period," "danger 
zone"; distrust in Japan continuing 
 
 
TOKYO 00002598  002 OF 012 
 
 
Nikkei: 
Honda, Nissan, and other Japanese automakers to cut numbers of 
models on domestic market to focus on global strategic cars 
 
Akahata: 
JCP's Koike criticizes government for its failure to eliminate the 
medical insurance system for people 75 and older before Upper House 
Budget Committee 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Global economy: Stay on alert against new imbalance 
(2) Discrimination against illegitimate children: Children's rights 
must be equal 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Decentralization committee's final advice: Discussion of tax 
system required for regional autonomy 
(2) Democratization essential for Myanmar (Burma) 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) 20th anniversary of end of Cold War: How should a new world 
order be built? 
(2) Toyota withdraws from F1: Difficult decision based on 
environmental considerations 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Country needs swift growth policy that does not rely excessively 
on fiscal measures 
(2) Reform for regional autonomy must be implemented 
 
Sankei: 
(1) 20 years since collapse of Berlin Wall: Alliances essential for 
regions still gripped by Cold War structure 
(2) Granting voting rights to foreign residents: Constitutionality 
must be discussed thoroughly 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Futenma relocation: Have Okinawa's voices reached the Hatoyama 
cabinet? 
(2) 20 years since end of Cold War: Time to look at new wall 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Business circles' budgetary requests too self-centered 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, November 10 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 8, 2009 
 
10:06 Went to the supermarket MEIDI-YA Hiroo Store with his wife 
Miyuki. 
10:57 Arrived at his official residential quarters. 
14:37 Met Minister for Abduction Issue Nakai. 
15:08 Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano and Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Matsuno. 
18:04 Met National Strategy Minister Kan, Hirano, Finance Minister 
Fujii, and Administrative Reform Minister Sengoku. 
19:57 Met Kan, Fujii, Sengoku, Land and Transport Minister Maehara, 
 
TOKYO 00002598  003 OF 012 
 
 
Senior Vice Finance Minister Minezaki, Senior Vice Minister of the 
Cabinet Office Furukawa, and Matsui, joined by Hirano. 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 9, 2009 
 
07:57 Arrived at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 
09:01 Attended Upper House Budget Committee session. 
12:02 Met Foreign Minister Okada, Defense Minister Kitazawa at 
Kantei, with Hirano and Matsuno present. Hirano and Matsui stayed 
behind. 
13:01 Attended Upper House Budget Committee session. 
17:05 Met Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani at Kantei. 
18:01 Attended Government Revitalization Unit meeting. Met 
Decentralization Reform Promotion Committee Chairman Niwa with 
Internal Affairs Minister Haraguchi present. 
20:06 Arrived at his official residential quarters. 
 
4) Diplomatic ties as guideline in granting local suffrage to 
permanent foreign residents 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is looking into submitting to 
the ongoing extraordinary Diet session a bill granting local 
suffrage to permanent foreign residents. The gist of the 
lawmaker-hosted legislation was revealed on Nov. 9. The legislation 
targets residents from countries with which Japan has diplomatic 
relations or areas with which Japan is regarded as having such 
relations. The party has no intention of employing reciprocity to 
limit foreign residents eligible for the new regulation to those 
from countries that grant a similar right to permanent Japanese 
residents in their countries. Eligible for local suffrage are 
special permanent residents, meaning those from Japan's former 
colonies, such as the Korean Peninsula, and their descendants, and 
general permanent residents, who have obtained permanent resident 
status as a result of living in Japan for a certain set period of 
time or marrying a Japanese. 
 
The legislation, however, limits those who are eligible for the new 
regulation to the nationals of countries with which Japan has 
diplomatic ties or to those from areas that are regarded as having 
such ties with Japan. Special permanent foreign residents will be 
limited for the time being to nationals of South Korea, with which 
Japan has diplomatic relations, and to people with an affiliation 
with Taiwan, with which Japan has active interchange but no 
diplomatic ties. There is a strong possibility that those with roots 
in the Korean Peninsula and their descendants may be ineligible 
under the new regulation if they do not have South Korean 
nationality. 
 
The legislation is similar to a proposal made in 2008 by the DPJ's 
League of Diet members who support the promotion of local suffrage 
for permanent foreign residents, for which Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama served as advisor and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada served 
as chairman. 
 
5) Gist of cabinet ministers' responses to interpellation on foreign 
policy issues at Upper House Budget Committee on November 9 
 
YOMIURI (Page 15) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00002598  004 OF 012 
 
 
November 10, 2009 
 
Elimination of nuclear arms 
 
Kenzo Fujisue (Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)): What is your 
thinking on the elimination of nuclear arms? 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada: The problem of nuclear arms is one 
of the major issues facing mankind. The reason why U.S. President 
Obama's speech in Prague touched the heart of people all over the 
world is because the perception that (nuclear weapons) are a major 
threat is widely shared. Japan, as the only atomic bombed country, 
should take pragmatic steps, one by one, toward the elimination of 
nuclear arms. 
 
Fujisue: We ask that you place emphasis on the ideals of the 
Japanese Constitution. 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: I think it is a really wonderful 
thing that the Constitution of Japan affirms the right to live in 
peace. I would like to convey the message of the pacifist 
constitution in the process of eliminating nuclear weapons, which 
constitute the most serious threat. 
 
Masaaki Taniai (New Komeito): Please reiterate your determination to 
eliminate nuclear weapons. 
 
Hatoyama: Japan has the capability to possess nuclear arms, but it 
is determined not to possess (nuclear arms) from a moral 
standpoint. 
 
U.S. Forces Japan realignment 
 
Fujisue: I would like you to consider Iwo Jima as a relocation site 
for the U.S. Marines' Futenma Air Station. 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa: There are places on Iwo Jima that 
are geologically unstable, and each year, people go there to collect 
the remains (of people who died during World War II). We are 
currently looking at various options for Futenma relocation. 
 
Fujisue: (The Prime Minister) should participate in the Nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference in May. 
 
Hatoyama: It will depend on the Diet schedule, but personally, I 
would like to go to the conference. 
 
East Asian community 
 
Fujisue: There should be a long-term plan. 
 
Okada: A concrete picture (of the East Asian community) should not 
be determined now. We should start with what is possible. We can 
proceed with the economic areas, such as energy, the environment, 
and personnel exchanges. It is actually better not to have a 
long-term plan. 
 
Fujisue: How about advocating lasting peace in Asia? 
 
Okada: When we think of the East Asian community, the Japan-U.S. 
alliance is an important prerequisite. The bilateral alliance will 
play the role of ensuring regional stability for some time. 
 
TOKYO 00002598  005 OF 012 
 
 
 
Hatoyama: I think the greatest security measure is to guide 
countries and peoples toward a feeling of goodwill through 
cooperation. We will develop a framework capable of contributing to 
peace in East Asia in the pursuit of this goal. 
 
Free trade agreement (FTA) 
 
Fujisue: Please develop a FTA strategy. 
 
National Strategy Minister Naoto Kan: It is necessary to give due 
consideration so that (the FTA) will not be disadvantageous for 
agriculture and other domestic sectors, but basically, the (DPJ's) 
manifesto says that we will actively promote negotiations. Japan, as 
a country that thrives on free trade, should make efforts toward 
signing FTAs. 
 
6) Futenma relocation issue: "It is difficult to make a decision," 
says prime minister 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 11, 2009 
 
The Okinawan people's calls for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture) outside the 
prefecture have intensified since the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ), which advocates a review of the relocation site, took the 
reins of government. At a prefectural rally to oppose the relocation 
of Futenma Air Station within the prefecture, a number of lawmakers 
of the ruling party called for relocating the facilities outside the 
prefecture. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who has yet to come up 
with his policy direction, is being put in an increasingly difficult 
position. 
 
The prime minister on Nov. 9 conveyed his personal struggle to the 
press corps: "I find it very difficult to make a decision, because 
the wishes of residents of Okinawa are not unanimous. Expectations 
(for relocation outside the prefecture) may develop further as time 
elapses. I would like to gain the understanding of the people of 
Okinawa for my decision by coming up with a policy direction that 
will reduce their burden." 
 
However, expectations for the prime minister, who advocates a review 
of the relocation site, are beginning to turn into distrust. That is 
because the cabinet has yet to take specific actions toward moving 
the Futenma functions out of the prefecture, although some still pin 
their hopes on the prime minister making relocation outside the 
prefecture possible. 
 
People's New Party Secretary General Mikio Shimoji's speech 
supporting the prime minister given at the prefectural rally drew 
boos from participants. Shokichi Kina (Upper House member), the 
chief of the DPJ Okinawa Chapter, who takes the position of 
supporting the Hatoyama cabinet, issued a strong warning, saying 
that he would not allow the Futenma functions to be relocated to 
Henoko, Nago City, as currently planned. 
 
Provided that the prime minister opts to approve the Japan-U.S. 
agreement pact, those oppose the pact are bound to activate their 
opposition campaign. Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on a TV talk 
show on the 8th touched on the possibility of putting off making a 
decision until early next year, saying, "We intend to reach a 
 
TOKYO 00002598  006 OF 012 
 
 
decision by the end of December. However, there may be a delay." 
 
7) Hatoyama: Futenma issue will not be a focus in Japan-U.S. summit 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence with Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada, Defense Minister 
Toshimi Kitazawa, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano 
yesterday to discuss what approach Japan should take in the 
Japan-U.S. summit meeting scheduled for Nov. 13. On the issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan 
City, Okinawa Prefecture, they reaffirmed that the prime minister 
will make a final decision after Okada and Kitazawa take sufficient 
time to examine the existing relocation plan. Hatoyama told 
reporters last evening: "In the summit meeting, the Futenma issue 
will not be a major focus." 
 
In reference to a rally held in Ginowan City on Nov. 8 in protest 
against the planned relocation of the Futenma airfield within the 
prefecture, Hatoyama said: 
 
"The residents of Okinawa must have very complicated feelings. ... 
We must avoid hurting their feelings as a result of trying too hard 
to achieve results quickly. This issue is too complicated to easily 
reach a conclusion by the end of the year." 
 
8) Kanagawa governor explains his earlier statement as intended to 
call for early settlement of Futenma relocation issue 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture Shigefumi Matsuzawa, who chairs the 
Base-Hosting Governors' Association, made a statement backing an 
existing deal between Japan and the U.S. in the package of plans to 
realign U.S. forces in Japan. This statement elicited a strong 
reaction from local residents in Okinawa calling for moving the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City, Okinawa 
Prefecture, out of the prefecture. In response, the governor gave 
this explanation yesterday: "There is a misunderstanding. I did not 
mean to say that the relocation of the Futenma airfield (to Nago 
City in Okinawa) is the best option," in replying to questions by 
reporters at the Foreign Ministry, which he visited to make a 
request concerning the problem of noise created by Atsugi Air Base 
in Kanagawa Prefecture. 
 
Matsuzawa explained that his statement was intended to call for an 
early resolution of the Futenma relocation issue. He said: "I wanted 
to say that if the issue becomes protracted, the efforts to reduce 
(Okinawa's) base burden might come to naught." 
 
Regarding the overall plan to realign U.S. forces in Japan, 
Matsuzawa said in a speech on Nov. 5 during his visit to the U.S.: 
"I hope the realignment will be promoted based on a deal (reached 
between Japan and the U.S.)" But the participants in a rally held in 
Ginowan City on Nov. 8 against the planned relocation of the Futenma 
facility within the prefecture decided to protest the governor's 
statement. 
 
9) Hatoyama: Futenma issue will not take center stage in Japan-U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00002598  007 OF 012 
 
 
summit 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama yesterday indicated that the issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa 
Prefecture would not take center stage in a Japan-U.S. summit 
meeting set for Nov. 13. In replying to questions by reporters at 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence, he said: "I would like to 
take up pending bilateral issues and Afghanistan and other global 
issues." 
 
Over the Futenma relocation issue, there is a difference in views 
between Washington and Tokyo. The U.S. side has called for an early 
agreement on the current plan to transfer the Futenma facility to a 
coastal area of U.S. Camp Schwab, while the Japanese government has 
proposed reviewing the plan. In the upcoming summit meeting, the two 
leaders are expected to discuss such issues as civilian aid for 
Afghanistan and to skip an in-depth discussion of the Futenma issue. 
The government will adopt in a cabinet meeting today a package of 
fresh Afghanistan support measures worth 4 to 5 billion dollars over 
the five years starting in 2010. Hatoyama plans to inform President 
Barack Obama of the package during their meeting. 
 
10) Government concerned about growing anti-base sentiment over 
Futenma issue 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
The government is becoming increasingly concerned about growing 
opposition to the U.S. bases among people in Okinawa ahead of U.S. 
President Barack Obama's visit to Japan on Nov. 13. Rallies were 
held on Nov. 7-8 opposing the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station within the prefecture. In addition, a fatal 
hit-and-run accident, in which a U.S. service member is suspected of 
involvement, occurred on Nov. 7. This might cause anti-base 
sentiment to intensify. 
 
A senior Defense Ministry official voiced his concern on Nov. 9 by 
saying: "The longer the settlement of the Futenma issue is delayed, 
the more momentum the anti-base movement will gather, making it 
difficult to relocate the air station." 
 
Asked on Nov. 9 by the press corps at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei) about the anti-base movement, Prime Minister 
Yukio Hatoyama indicated that it signifies the complex feelings held 
by people of Okinawa. However, he did not seem ready to take action 
to bring the situation under control. At the same time, the Prime 
Minister indicated that discussions will not be focused on the 
Futenma issue during the Japan-U.S. summit to be held on Nov. 13, 
saying, "Given the current situation in Japan, I don't think it will 
be a major item on the agenda." 
 
11) Luncheon for Emperor, President Obama likely to be held on Nov. 
14 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States decided yesterday on 
 
TOKYO 00002598  008 OF 012 
 
 
the basic schedule for President Barak Obama's visit to Japan on 
Nov. 13-14. 
 
President Obama will arrive in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 13th 
and hold talks with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama later on that day 
at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). After the 
meeting, the two leaders will hold a joint press conference. The 
Prime Minister will then host a dinner party for the President. 
 
Arrangements are being made for the President to deliver a speech on 
the U.S.'s Asia policy in Tokyo on the morning of the 14th and to 
attend a luncheon with the Emperor. 
 
12) Japan, South Korea to carefully observe course of U.S.-North 
Korea talks 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
Foreign Ministry Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director General 
Akitaka Saiki yesterday held talks with South Korean special 
representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs Wi 
Sung Lac. The two officials agreed that Tokyo and Seoul will 
carefully observe the course of the upcoming talks between the 
Unites States and North Korea with an eye on the resumption of the 
Six-Party Talks. 
 
13) DPJ forging closer relations with China; group of Diet members' 
secretaries to hold party with PRC diplomats on November 13 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
It was learned on Nov. 9 that a group of secretaries of Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ) Diet members will hold a party with Chinese 
diplomats at the PRC embassy in Motoazabu, Tokyo, on Nov. 13. The 
group accepted an invitation from the Chinese Embassy. Around 20 
officials of the secretaries' group and 20 PRC diplomats will attend 
the party. The DPJ is also holding the third meeting of the "council 
for consultations on exchanges," its body for regular consultations 
with the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Nov. 10-11 in Tokyo. The 
two sides are forging closer relations rapidly. 
 
There is concern that the purpose of the party for the Diet members' 
secretaries and Chinese diplomats is to "ensnare the secretaries to 
collect information," according to a Public Security Agency source. 
The secretaries have access to information on government meetings 
and other matters. An official of the association of Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) secretaries in the House of Representatives 
says, "Under LDP administrations, we had never heard of such a thing 
as a party between the party's secretaries and Chinese diplomats 
apart from the parliamentary union on Japan-China relations." 
 
The DPJ's "council for consultations on exchanges" was created in 
2006 based on an agreement between (then) President Ichiro Ozawa and 
PRC President Hu Jintao during Ozawa's visit to China. 
 
Ozawa and Azuma Koshiishi, chair of the DPJ caucus in the House of 
Councillors, from the DPJ side, and Wang Jiarui, director of the CPC 
International Department, and other officials from the CPC side will 
participate in the latest meeting. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002598  009 OF 012 
 
 
Ahead of this meeting, Ozawa and Koshiishi treated Wang and other 
CPC officials to tempura and sake aboard a houseboat on Sumida River 
on the evening of Nov. 8. 
 
Ozawa will also lead a large delegation of DPJ Diet members and 
their supporters on a visit to China in December. It appears that 
the DPJ's relations will China are likely to be strengthened at 
various levels amid the discord in the Japan-U.S. relationship over 
the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. 
 
14) Prime minister, U.S. President to agree at summit to deepen 
bilateral alliance 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
November 10, 2009 
 
It has been learned that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. 
President Obama at their summit meeting on Nov. 13 will agree to 
deepen the bilateral alliance in a multitiered manner, striving to 
strengthen ties. The aim is to reinforce cooperative ties on various 
issues, including climate change and nuclear disarmament, to which 
both leaders are devoting their energies. This was revealed by an 
aide to the prime minister. 
 
The prime minister has until today expressed his intention to review 
the Japan-U.S. alliance in a comprehensive manner. The outlook is 
that although the words Japan-U.S. alliance will be used at the 
talks, there will not be discussion of a review of the Japan-U.S. 
Security Treaty or the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement." 
 
The Prime Minister had decided to attend the 15th session of the 
Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change (COP15) to be held 
in Denmark in December. During the meeting he will also call on the 
President to take part in the session. 
 
15) Defense minister again issues an order to study option of 
sending MSDF vessels to Somalia offing 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
The Defense Ministry began considering yesterday having Maritime 
Self-Defense Force vessels provide fuel to foreign vessels engaged 
in antipiracy operations off Somalia after withdrawing the MSDF 
vessels from the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Defense 
Minister Toshimi Kitazawa issued an order yesterday. Kitazawa also 
issued an order to expedite coordination within the government to 
enable Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to convey this policy course to 
U.S. President Barack Obama during the Japan-U.S. summit to be held 
on Nov. 13. Kitazawa envisages an announcement during the 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting to be held 
in Singapore staring on Nov. 14. 
 
On Oct. 27 Kitazawa referred to the idea of sending MSDF vessels to 
the Somalia offing. But Prime Minister Hatoyama expressed a cautious 
stance on the same day, saying, "The activities are basically 
different. I'm not considering that. The option requires legislative 
measures. A conclusion cannot be reached easily." Social Democratic 
Party (SDP) Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno, too, expressed 
displeasure on the same day, saying, "We must restrain the use of 
the SDF overseas." 
 
 
TOKYO 00002598  010 OF 012 
 
 
But given tense Japan-U.S. relations due to the Futenma relocation 
issue and other matters, Kitazawa reissued the order to the Defense 
Ministry on Nov. 9, concluding that the use of the SDF is essential 
as an alternative support measure. Many U.S. and European vessels on 
antiterrorism missions in the Indian Oceans are engaged in 
antipiracy operations off Somalia. For this reason, Kitazawa 
apparently thought that the idea of sending MSDF vessels to the 
Somalia offing would readily be appreciated by the United States. 
 
At the same time, there is a plan to win the support of the SDP and 
others by referring to MSDF destroyers as yuai (fraternity) boats. 
 
16) Japan, India agree to step up defense cooperation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met yesterday at the Defense 
Ministry with visiting Indian Defense Minister Anthony. In the 
meeting, Kitazawa and Anthony agreed to work out an action plan to 
shape a bilateral joint declaration on security cooperation, which 
was signed at a Japan-India summit held in October 2008. "Defense 
cooperation between Japan and India is an important area," Anthony 
told Kitazawa in the meeting. "We want to strengthen this bilateral 
relationship," he added. 
 
17) Hit-and-run incident a reality in Okinawa: SDP exec 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
Yasumasa Shigeno, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party, 
one of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan's two coalition 
partners, held a press conference yesterday, during which he 
referred to the recent occurrence in Okinawa Prefecture of a 
hit-and-run incident, which is believed to have been caused by a 
U.S. military person's vehicle. "It symbolizes the realities of 
Okinawa and we must seek to realign and reduce the presence of (U.S. 
military) bases (in Okinawa)," Shigeno said. 
 
18) U.S. Army staff sergeant identified as owner of car involved in 
fatal hit-and-run accident in Okinawa 
 
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Full) 
November 10, 2009 
 
In connection with the hit-and-run case of Mr. Masakazu Hokama, 66, 
of Yomitan Village, who was found dead in a thicket along a road in 
Sobe, Yomitan Village, in which the Kadena Police Station suspected 
that it is highly probable he was hit by a car with a Y number 
plate, inquiries made by Okinawa Times to parties involved with this 
case revealed that the Kadena police had identified the owner of the 
Y number car as a male U.S. Army staff sergeant. 
 
It was also learned through inquiries with the sources involved with 
this case that the Kadena police moved the impounded car to the 
parking lot of the Uruma Police Station on Nov. 9 and determined 
through DNA examination that the hair, blood, and other substances 
adhering to the car belonged to Mr. Hokama. 
 
According to these sources, the Y number car impounded by the Kadena 
police was brought to a garage in the town of Kadena for repairs by 
 
TOKYO 00002598  011 OF 012 
 
 
a foreign-looking man in his 20s at around 2:00 pm on Nov. 7, some 3 
hours before the accident was reported to the police. The windshield 
of the impounded car was broken, fragments of glass were found 
inside the car, and the front bumper was dented. 
 
The foreign man who brought the car to the garage reportedly said 
that the vehicle had sustained damage was from striking a tree. He 
said he would pay for the repairs since he could not claim 
insurance. 
 
The Okinawa Defense Bureau has requested the cooperation of the U.S. 
forces in the investigation of this case. The Kadena police are 
making vigorous efforts to ascertain if the staff sergeant who is 
being questioned by U.S. Army investigators on a voluntary basis was 
actually driving the car and if he was the man who brought the car 
to the garage for repairs. 
 
According to Mr. Hokama's family, he normally took a walk in the 
area near where his body was found every morning at about 5:00 a.m. 
The Kadena police are investigating the case on the assumption that 
Mr. Hokama was probably hit by the car in the morning of Nov. 7. 
Autopsy by the Kadena police has shown that the cause of Mr. 
Hokama's death was cervical spine fracture. 
 
19) Poll: Cabinet support down to 63 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
November 10, 2009 
 
The rate of public support for the Hatoyama cabinet was 63 PERCENT 
in a telephone-based nationwide public opinion survey conducted by 
the Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 6-8, down 8 percentage points from the 
71 PERCENT  rating in the last survey. The nonsupport rate was 27 
PERCENT , up 6 points. In the survey, respondents were asked if they 
thought Prime Minister Hatoyama has fulfilled his accountability on 
his own politics-and-money issue. To this question, a total of 73 
PERCENT  gave negative answers. Meanwhile, a total of 63 PERCENT 
were concerned about cabinet ministers making contradictory comments 
on the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station. 
 
Problems related to Hatoyama himself and the conflict of opinions 
within the cabinet appear to have led to the decline in the Hatoyama 
cabinet's popularity. 
 
In addition, respondents were also asked if they thought the 
Hatoyama cabinet has made policy decisions based on its political 
initiative. To this question, 55 PERCENT  answered "no," with 28 
PERCENT  saying "yes." 
 
The public was split over the Futenma relocation issue, with 32 
PERCENT  saying it would be better to modify the plan and 31 PERCENT 
 saying it would be better to push ahead with the plan in line with 
an intergovernmental agreement reached between Japan and the United 
States. The proportion of those calling for a substantial change to 
the plan was only 19 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Democratic Party of Japan stood at 43 PERCENT  (47 PERCENT  in the 
last survey), while the opposition Liberal Democratic Party was at 
19 PERCENT  (17 PERCENT  in the last survey). 
 
 
TOKYO 00002598  012 OF 012 
 
 
ROOS