VZCZCXRO5473
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2610/01 3160139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120139Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7466
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9724
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 7367
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 1186
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4564
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7885
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1799
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8465
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7947

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 002610 
 
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 11/12/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma issue: 
2) Japan and U.S. to establish working group for Futenma relocation 
issue  (Yomiuri) 
3) U.S., Japan foreign ministerial in Singapore: Clinton calls for 
swift decision on Futenma relocation  (Nikkei) 
4) Mass rally in Okinawa rejects new base at Nago; planning 
committee representative presents petition to U.S. Embassy 
(Akahata) 
 
Hit-and-run accident in Okinawa: 
5) Hit-and-run accident; an unusual degree of consideration for 
Okinawa  (Mainichi) 
6) Hit-and-run accident; Okinawa police to send papers on the 
service member to the local prosecutor's office  (Mainichi) 
7) PM asks U.S. to hand over U.S. service member suspected of 
hit-and-run  (Mainichi) 
 
Defense & security: 
8) U.S. proposes to Japan relocating half of the F-15s deployed at 
Kadena to Misawa  (Sankei) 
9) Afghan aid to be limited to civilian assistance; debate over 
dispatch of SDF deemed insufficient  (Yomiuri) 
10) Ginowan mayor opposed to relocation of Futenma facility within 
Okinawa  (Nikkei) 
 
Politics: 
11) Submission of bill granting suffrage for permanent foreign 
residents to be postponed  (Nikkei) 
 
Economy: 
12) Finance Minister Fujii supports strong dollar; Treasury 
Secretary Geithner welcomes Hatoyama administration's emphasis on 
domestic expansion  (Nikkei) 
13) Hatoyama stresses domestic expansion to be core of growth 
(Nikkei) 
 
Environment: 
14) President Obama, PM Hatoyama to affirm coordination to curb 
global warming  (Nikkei) 
 
Imperial Family: 
15) Emperor celebrates 20th anniversary of ascension to throne 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, November 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
08:54 Arrived at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 
09:12 Met Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the 
Chinese Communist Party's Central committee. 
10:01 Met U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner. Received 2008 account 
report from   Board of Audit President Nishimura. Met Senior Vice 
 
TOKYO 00002610  002 OF 009 
 
 
Foreign Minister Takemasa, Administrative Vice Foreign Minister 
Yabunaka, and Deputy Foreign Minister for Foreign Affairs Sasae. 
11:58 Attended national convention of the National Association of 
Town and Village Assemblies held at NHK Hall. 
12:53 Arrived at Kantei. 
14:06 Met Takemasa, Senior Vice METI Minister Mashiko, and Sasae. 
15:26 Met Mashiko and Natural Resources and Energy Director General 
Ishida. 
16:07 Met Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Suzuki, 
followed by Japan Sake Brewers Association Chairman Akio Tatsuuma, 
with Lower House member Koichiro Genba. 
17:00 Attended government-DPJ executive meeting. 
18:11 Met Yabunaka. 
19:55 Met Environment Minister Ozawa and Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Matsuno, joined by Special Advisor to the Prime Minister 
Nakayama, at his official residence. 
 
2) Japan, U.S. agree to establish cabinet-level working group on 
Futenma 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 11, 2009 
 
The governments of Japan and the United States agreed on Nov. 10 to 
establish a cabinet-level working group of the foreign and defense 
ministers of the two countries on the relocation of the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. The agreement was 
reached in line with the intention of Foreign Minister Katsuya 
Okada. Okada held talks with U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos in 
the Diet building on the same day, and he announced the agreement at 
a press conference in the evening. Ambassador Roos will attend 
meetings as a proxy for the secretary of state and secretary of 
defense as necessary. 
 
The working group will discuss the Futenma replacement facility in a 
wide-ranging manner, including the existing plan to relocate the air 
station to the coastal area of Camp Schwab and Okada's idea of 
integrating Futenma with Kadena Air Base. In his talks with Okada on 
Nov. 10, Ambassador Roos said to the Japanese foreign minister, 
"This does not constitute a shift from our previous position." 
 
3) Foreign Minister Okada, Secretary of State Clinton agree on 
reaching conclusion on Futenma issue at early date 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
Toshihiro Tonishi in Singapore 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton met in Singapore on Nov. 11 and agreed to create a new 
ministerial level working group that will work for an early 
conclusion on the issue of relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma 
Air Station. They did not go into a detailed discussion on this 
issue to avoid bringing the points of contention into the open. The 
meeting gave priority to setting the stage for the Japan-U.S. summit 
meeting on Nov. 13, but there is a possibility that the impact of 
this volatile issue may continue to spread behind the scenes. 
 
Okada indicated at the meeting that the Futenma issue "will be 
resolved as soon as possible" and that efforts will be made to reach 
a decision within the working group. Clinton said that, "I can 
 
TOKYO 00002610  003 OF 009 
 
 
understand that there is a need (for the Japanese side) to analyze 
(the base issues) after the change of administration," expressing a 
certain degree of understanding for the Japanese side's desire to 
reexamine the existing bilateral agreement. 
 
Okada did not bring up the idea of merging the Futenma base with 
Kadena Air Base, which the U.S. side opposes, at this meeting. 
Clinton did not broach this subject either. However, the U.S. side's 
impatience to resolve the issue at an early date could still be 
gleaned from the meeting. 
 
Clinton did not forget to prod Japan with a warning about the 
Futenma issue. She said: "It is undesirable for a situation of 
uncertainty to continue. It is important to reach a conclusion as 
soon as possible." 
 
The U.S. government takes the position that "there can be no 
relocation of U.S. Marines (from Okinawa) to Guam without Futenma 
relocation." (Secretary of Defense Robert Gates) The U.S. Congress 
is in the process of cutting back allocations for Guam relocation in 
its budget formulation for year end. So it is possible that the U.S. 
side may demand that Japan resolve this issue before the end of 
¶2009. 
 
Meanwhile, Okada also requested U.S. cooperation in dealing with the 
hit-and-run incident in Yomitan Village, Okinawa, in which a U.S. 
soldier has been detained. Clinton expressed regret for the death of 
the victim and stressed that the U.S. will cooperate fully. 
 
The two foreign ministers used Afghan aid and the North Korea issue 
to play up bilateral cooperation in this meeting. Commenting on the 
Japanese government's plan to offer a maximum of 5 billion dollars 
in aid for Afghan reconstruction, Clinton said, "It is wonderful 
that Japan is focusing on civilian aid." On the North Korea issue, 
Clinton explained that U.S. negotiator Special Representative on 
North Korea Policy Stephen Bosworth will visit the DPRK shortly. The 
two ministers agreed to cooperate on working toward the resumption 
of the Six-Party Talks. 
 
On the democratization of Myanmar (Burma), Okada said, "Japan and 
the U.S. should work together to ensure that all citizens are able 
to participate in the general election scheduled for next year." The 
two ministers confirmed that both countries will cooperate to 
promote democratization. 
 
4) Okinawa says "No" to construction of new military base; Okinawa 
prefectural assembly makes appeal to government, U.S. Embassy 
 
AKAHATA (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
November 11, 2009 
 
"We don't need any more bases in Okinawa. We oppose the building of 
a new U.S. military base in Henoko or constructing a replacement 
(for the Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station) within Okinawa." A rally 
was held by the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly (on Nov. 8) at which 
21,000 people gathered. Representatives of the assembly's executive 
committee visited a government office and the U.S. Embassy yesterday 
and demanded the immediate closure of the Futenma Air Base and the 
return of the site to Japan. They also handed a letter of protest to 
Kanagawa Governor Shigefumi Matsuzawa, who earlier said: "It is 
impossible to relocate the facility outside the prefecture or the 
nation." 
 
TOKYO 00002610  004 OF 009 
 
 
 
In the U.S. Embassy, Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha emphasized: "Even in 
light of the United States' safety standards, the Futenma base 
should be immediately closed and removed." In response to the U.S. 
side's comment, "(The Japan-U.S. agreement) is the best choice," 
House of Representatives member Seiken Akamine of the Japanese 
Communist Party stressed: "Although you say the Japan-U.S. agreement 
is the best choice, the Okinawan people's patience has reached its 
limit. The consensus of the Okinawan people is that no more bases 
should be allowed to be constructed in the prefecture." 
 
5) Hatoyama shows unusual degree of consideration toward Okinawa 
over hit-and-run accident, fearing negative impact on Japan-U.S. 
summit 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 12, 2009 
 
In a fatal hit-and-run case in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, 
the U.S. military has taken the U.S. service member suspected of 
having been involved in the accident into its custody. In response 
to this case, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is showing an unusual 
degree of consideration toward Okinawa as seen in his reference to 
the possibility that he might ask the U.S. to hand the suspect over 
to the Japanese side prior to indictment. Hatoyama is apparently 
aiming to prevent the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement from 
developing into a political issue ahead of the Japan-U.S. summit 
meeting set for Nov. 13 in order to ensure the meeting's success. 
 
"Please deal with the accident properly before President Obama 
visits Japan. Otherwise, I will have to refer to the case during my 
meeting with the President." These were the instructions Hatoyama 
gave to a Foreign Ministry official after learning that a U.S. 
service member might have been involved in the accident. Meanwhile, 
he told reporters: "We would like the U.S. military to hand the 
suspect over to Japan swiftly, even prior to indictment. 
 
6)Papers on hit-and-run case by alleged U.S. soldier to be sent to 
prosecutors 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
With regard to the hit-and-run accident resulting in the death of a 
man of Yomitan village, Okinawa Prefecture, the Okinawa prefectural 
police intend to send to prosecutors papers on a male soldier in his 
20s attached to the U.S. Army's Torii Station on suspicion of 
manslaughter and violation of the traffic law. The soldier brought 
an automobile related to the case to a garage. 
 
On the afternoon of Nov. 11, the police questioned the soldier about 
the accident on a voluntary basis. The soldier admitted that at the 
time of the accident he was driving through the site where the man's 
body was found, but he reportedly made an ambiguous statement 
regarding whether his vehicle struck the man. 
 
The police have judged that there is no risk that the U.S. Army 
soldier will destroy evidence and abscond, because the U.S. Army has 
cooperated with them by allowing him to answer their questions. The 
police intend to continue to question him on a voluntary basis. If 
the papers are sent to prosecutors, there is only a very small 
possibility that the U.S. Army soldier will be transferred to the 
 
TOKYO 00002610  005 OF 009 
 
 
local authorities before indictment. 
 
7) Prime Minister to ask U.S. for handover of custody of U.S. 
service member involved in hit-and-run accident 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 11, 2009 
 
Ai Yokota 
 
A U.S. service member is being detained by the U.S. military in 
connection with a fatal hit-and-run accident in the village of 
Yomitan, Okinawa Prefecture. Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, meeting 
the press corps at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
on the evening of Nov. 10, expressed a plan to ask the U.S. side for 
the pre-indictment handover of the custody of the suspect, something 
that is not specified in the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement. 
The Prime Minister said: "I want (the U.S. side) to handover custody 
and make efforts for the settlement of the matter." 
 
In this connection, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with U.S. 
Ambassador to Japan John Roos at the Kantei on Nov. 10 and asked for 
cooperation in the investigation. "We will totally cooperate," 
Ambassador Roos responded. Col. James Woodard, commander of the U.S. 
Army in Okinawa, said to Yomitan Mayor Keizo Yasuda on the same day: 
"We will make maximum efforts for the handover of custody if there 
is a request from the Japanese side." 
 
8) Half of Kadena-based F-15 fighters to be redeployed to Misawa 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
November 11, 2009 
 
The U.S. government has sounded out Japan on a plan to redeploy half 
of the F-15 fighter jets deployed to the U.S. Kadena Air Base, which 
straddles the town of Kadena and other municipalities in Okinawa 
Prefecture, to the U.S. Misawa Air Base in the city of Misawa, 
Aomori Prefecture, sources revealed yesterday. The Misawa base 
currently deploys a total of about 40 F-16 fighter jets, which will 
be all withdrawn to bases back in the United States. The plan is 
being studied for a "Quadrennial Defense Review" report to be 
released by the U.S. government in February next year. It could have 
a serious impact on the security environment of the Far East. 
 
The F-15 redeployment plan was unveiled by sources connected to 
Japan-U.S. relations. The Kadena base will reduce its current 
deployment of 48 F-15 fighters to 24 and redeploy the remaining 24 
F-15 fighters to the Misawa base. This April, the U.S. government 
also sounded out Japan on a plan to scale back on the deployment of 
F-15 fighters to the Kadena base. At the time, however, the Aso 
cabinet, a coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and 
the New Komeito, expressed reservations about the proposal. The plan 
has since been put on hold. 
 
This time around, the U.S. government came up with a plan to 
redeploy half of the Kadena-based F-15 fighters to the Misawa base 
in order to address concerns over the removal of all U.S. fighter 
planes from the Misawa base. However, the capabilities of the two 
U.S. airbases, which have been keeping an eye on North Korea, will 
be cut almost in half. The Hatoyama cabinet, a tripartite coalition 
government of the Democratic Party of Japan, Social Democratic 
Party, and People's New Party, has been insisting on the necessity 
 
TOKYO 00002610  006 OF 009 
 
 
of reviewing the presence of U.S. military bases in Japan. Given 
this fact, the Hatoyama government is highly likely to accept this 
proposal in the end. 
 
Some government officials presume that cutting number of 
Kadena-based F-15 fighter jets in half would serve to back up 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada's advocacy of integrating the 
heliport functions of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, into the Kadena base. 
 
However, even if the Kadena-based F-15s are reduced, it will be 
difficult to operate Air Force fighter jets and Marine Corps 
choppers concurrently because their flying altitudes differ. Taking 
this into account, the U.S. military will presumably not accept the 
idea of relocating the Futenma-based helicopters to the Kadena 
base. 
 
As far as the F-15 is concerned, there would not be much difference 
in flight distances from the Misawa and Kadena airbases to North 
Korea. However, China has been building up its naval forces for 
southward power projection. The U.S. military's readiness against 
China's naval buildup will decline substantially, so the U.S. 
government will likely propose sharing the Kadena base with the Air 
Self-Defense Force's F-15 fighters. 
 
9) Government decides to put off mobilizing SDF, limit aid to public 
welfare due to lack of discussion 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 11, 2009 
 
The government has decided to disburse 5 billion dollars, or 450 
billion yen, for Afghanistan over five years starting this year. On 
the aid package, the government decided yesterday to limit its 
assistance to the public welfare area and to put off mobilizing 
Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops to that nation. Behind this decision 
is a lack of discussion on a dispatch of SDF personnel overseas in 
the Democratic Party of Japan. In addition, the Social Democratic 
Party, a junior ruling party, has been strongly opposed to 
dispatching SDF personnel overseas. 
 
Ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan on Nov. 13, 
the government hurriedly compiled its assistance measures for 
Afghanistan under pressure to present during the Japan-U.S. summit a 
comprehensive package of international contribution measures to 
replace the ongoing Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean, which the government plans to halt in January. 
The amount of 5 billion dollars over five years is less than the 
32.1 billion dollars the U.S. has already pledged, but it is the 
second largest amount, exceeding the amount pledged by Britain. 
 
It is still uncertain, though, whether the increase in financial aid 
will lead to expanding manpower contributions in Afghanistan. Given 
the deteriorating security situation in that nation including 
terrorist attacks targeting foreigners, the government now finds it 
difficult to dispatch civilians there. The Japan International 
Cooperation Agency (JICA) had deployed about 30 staff members in 
Afghanistan in August but has reduced the number to nine and is 
currently waiting for public order to be restored. 
 
10) Ginowan mayor: Okinawan people oppose Futenma relocation within 
Okinawa 
 
TOKYO 00002610  007 OF 009 
 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
Yoichi Iha, mayor of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, called on Deputy 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yorihisa Matsuno at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei) yesterday. In connection with the issue 
of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, situated 
in Ginowan, Iha said to Matsuno, "The Okinawan people are opposed to 
the relocation of the Futenma base within the prefecture. We want 
the government to secure safety by closing (the base)." 
 
11) Introduction of foreign residents' suffrage bill postponed to 
next regular Diet session 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan yesterday 
decided to entrust DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa with the 
handling of a bill to grant local suffrage to permanent foreign 
residents. Ozawa's view is that it is desirable that the legislation 
be submitted to the Diet as a government-initiated bill. Therefore, 
the outlook is that the introduction of the bill will be put on the 
back burner until the next regular session of the Diet. 
 
12) Japan-U.S. finance ministerial: Finance minister supports strong 
dollar: Treasury secretary welcomes Japan's effort to expand 
domestic demand 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 11, 2009 
 
Finance minister Hirohisa Fujii on the evening of Nov. 10 met in 
Tokyo with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Geithner, who is now 
visiting Japan for the first time after taking office. Concerning 
the continuing weakness of the dollar on the foreign exchange 
market, Fujii indicated his stance of supporting the global economy 
based on the U.S. dollar. They vowed that Japan and the U.S. should 
cooperate to turn around the global economy, which is beginning to 
climb out of the financial crisis. Geithner expressed his intention 
to welcome the Hatoyama administration's stance of attaching 
importance to growth led by domestic demand 
 
Fujii during the meeting said, "I think highly of your seeking a 
strong dollar." Geithner nodded his head. Emerging from the meeting, 
Fujii told the press corps, "(The global economy) is based on the 
dollar economy. What is most important for international cooperation 
is that Japan and the U.S. be on good terms with each other." He 
thus revealed that the two countries reaffirmed a policy of close 
cooperation on the economic front. 
 
The finance ministers of the two countries have also agreed to 
correct the imbalance of the global economy, meaning the over 
reliance of the global economy on U.S. consumption. They have also 
reportedly vowed that the U.S. raise its savings' rate and Japan 
switch to an economy driven by domestic demand. According to a 
senior U.S. Treasury Department official, Geithner stated that he 
welcomes the Hatoyama Administration's stressing the importance of 
growth through domestic expansion. 
 
It was agreed at the meeting of finance ministers and central bank 
 
TOKYO 00002610  008 OF 009 
 
 
governors for the Group of Twenty nations (G-20) held this month 
that each participating country set a mid-term goal, such as a 
growth goal, so as to correct the imbalance of the global economy. 
The challenge is to end the global economy's excessive reliance on 
U.S. consumption and for nations with trade surpluses, such as China 
and Japan, to expand domestic demand. 
 
13) PM Hatoyama stresses domestic demand-driven economic growth at 
meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Geithner 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
At his meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner 
on Nov. 11, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said: "Growth centered on 
domestic demand is important. It is necessary to take the required 
fiscal measures." He added: "At the same time, fiscal discipline is 
also necessary. The government as a whole is working to eliminate 
wasteful spending." Geithner replied that "the Democratic Party of 
Japan's policies to expand domestic demand are excellent." 
 
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaaki Shirakawa also met Geithner on 
the same day. They exchanged views on the world economy, trends in 
the financial market, and other issues. 
 
14) Japan, U.S. expected to agree at summit to take joint steps in 
curbing global warming 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
November 12, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama will 
likely agree at their summit to be held on Nov. 13 to cooperate with 
each other on environmental and energy technologies. The two 
countries plan to launch joint research on "smart grid" technology, 
the next generation power transmission network, in Hawaii and 
Okinawa Prefecture early next year. They will aim to make the 
technology they have developed an international standard after test 
demonstrations. Both countries are expected to come up with 
broad-based collaboration on measures to curb global warming, 
including carbon dioxide capture and storage and the promotion of 
nuclear power generation. 
 
The focus of the Nov. 13 summit will be on how to strengthen the 
bilateral alliance. Since the rift between the views of the two 
countries over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station remains unresolved, it will be difficult for them to reach a 
ground-breaking agreement on the security area. As such, they want 
to make cooperation on the environment and energy fields one of the 
showcases of the summit. 
 
15) Emperor holds press conference ahead of 20th anniversary of his 
accession 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 12, 2009 
 
The Emperor, along with the Empress, held a press conference prior 
to a government-sponsored ceremony today commemorating the 20th 
anniversary of his accession. Looking back on the last 20 years, the 
Emperor expressed concern about the people's livelihoods amid the 
severe economic situation, saying, "I am deeply concerned about the 
 
TOKYO 00002610  009 OF 009 
 
 
people's lives." Asked about the possibility that the declining 
number of young imperial family members will make stable succession 
to the Imperial throne difficult in the future, the Emperor 
indirectly indicated for the first time that he and the Empress are 
concerned about the matter, replying, "I think your question is 
accurate." 
 
"I have spend the years thinking about the long history of the 
emperors and the general public, while exploring how best to 
function as a symbol of the state," Emperor Akihito, who has become 
the first emperor to take the throne under the existing 
Constitution, said about the last 20 years. "I would like to see a 
society where everyone supports one another. I wish for the peace 
and security of Japan and the health and happiness of the Japanese 
people." 
 
On the question of imperial succession, the Emperor emphasized that 
any matter that concerns the system must be left to Diet 
discussions. The Emperor also expressed his desire to entrust the 
next generation with the question of the modalities of the imperial 
family, saying: "It is important that the views of Crown Prince 
Naruhito and Prince Akishino who supports the Crown Prince are 
respected." 
 
ROOS