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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8511
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7993

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002632 
 
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 11/14/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Japan-U.S. summit: Hatoyama, Obama agree to reach expeditious 
conclusion on Futenma and to deepen Japan-U.S. alliance (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Hatoyama, Obama agree to start talks anew to deepen alliance 
(Nikkei) 
 
(3) President Obama arrives in Japan, holds talks with Prime 
Minister; emphasizes plan to deepen Japan-U.S. alliance; calls for 
implementation of Futenma agreement (Asahi) 
 
(4) Japan-U.S. summit: Intergovernmental talks for deepening 
bilateral alliance to begin; Prime Minister pledges to resolve 
Futenma issue early (Sankei) 
 
(5) Gist of remarks by PM Hatoyama, President Obama at joint news 
conference (Asahi) 
 
(6) Japanese, U.S. leaders confirm cooperation in dealing with North 
Korea, without any reference to abduction issue (Nikkei) 
 
(7) Japan, U.S. agree on long-term target to combat global warming 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(8) U.S. President Obama indicates eagerness to visit Hiroshima, 
Nagasaki (Nikkei) 
 
(9) President Obama to affirm cooperation with Asia in speech on 
policy toward Asia today (Yomiuri) 
 
(10) President Obama: We would like to be involved in formulating 
post-Kyoto Protocol (Yomiuri) 
 
(11) PM Hatoyama, President Obama "differ" on economic issues at 
summit meeting (Asahi) 
 
(12) Japan-U.S. summit: Energy cooperation to be promoted (Asahi) 
 
(13) Japan-U.S. summit: U.S. announces policy of attaching 
importance to Asia; Japan's role to take on added significance 
(Yomiuri) 
 
(14) Tokyo placed on high alert for President Obama's visit 
(Sankei) 
 
(15) Abductees' families invited to President Obama's speech 
(Mainichi) 
 
(16) People in Okinawa, Hiroshima, Nagasaki unimpressed by President 
Obama's words (Asahi) 
 
(17) Obama City mayor, Fukui governor invited to President Obama's 
speech in Tokyo on Nov. 14 (Yomiuri) 
 
(18) Hiroshima Mayor Akiba to absent himself from President Obama's 
Nov. 14 speech (Sankei) 
 
(19) Poll: Cabinet support down to 54 PERCENT  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Articles: 
 
 
TOKYO 00002632  002 OF 010 
 
 
(1) Japan-U.S. summit: Hatoyama, Obama agree to reach expeditious 
conclusion on Futenma and to deepen Japan-U.S. alliance 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held talks with U.S. President Barack 
Obama, who is visiting Japan for the first time since taking office, 
at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on the night of 
Nov. 13. The two leaders agreed to begin new intergovernmental talks 
to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance to coincide with the 50th 
anniversary next year of the revision of the U.S.-Japan Security 
Treaty. On the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in Okinawa, now in focus, the two leaders also agreed to 
establish a cabinet-level working group of the two countries' 
foreign and defense ministers to reach a conclusion expeditiously. 
Prime Minister Hatoyama directly told President Obama that he will 
aim for an "expeditious conclusion" to the Futenma relocation issue 
by reversing his earlier stance of not insisting on a settlement of 
the issue within the year, making an early settlement of the issue 
Japan's public pledge at the summit level. Given the situation, 
Tokyo will be pressed to accelerate its work. 
 
(2) Hatoyama, Obama agree to start talks anew to deepen alliance 
 
NIKKEI (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met yesterday evening at his office 
with visiting U.S. President Obama, who came to Japan for the first 
time since taking office. Hatoyama and Obama confirmed the necessity 
of deepening and developing the alliance between Japan and the 
United States. Meanwhile, next year marks the 50th anniversary of 
the revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty. Ahead of that event, 
Hatoyama and Obama agreed to kick off a round of intergovernmental 
consultations over a period of one year in order to deepen the 
bilateral alliance. In addition, the two leaders also concurred on 
making efforts for an early solution to the pending issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa 
Prefecture. They also confirmed that the two countries will work 
together to assist Afghanistan and deal with the North Korean and 
Iranian nuclear issues. 
 
(3) President Obama arrives in Japan, holds talks with Prime 
Minister; emphasizes plan to deepen Japan-U.S. alliance; calls for 
implementation of Futenma agreement 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
November 14, 2009 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Japan on Nov. 13 for the 
first time since taking office and later held talks with Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
(Kantei). The two leaders agreed to begin a "new process of talks" 
in order to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance to coincide with the 50th 
anniversary next year of the bilateral security treaty. The two 
leaders later held a joint press conference in which the Prime 
Minister expressed his intention to resolve the issue of relocating 
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa 
Prefecture) at an "early date" through a cabinet-level working 
group. Meanwhile, President Obama called for an early implementation 
of the existing plan, indicating that the "working group will focus 
 
TOKYO 00002632  003 OF 010 
 
 
on the implementation of the Japan-U.S. agreement." 
 
(4) Japan-U.S. summit: Intergovernmental talks for deepening 
bilateral alliance to begin; Prime Minister pledges to resolve 
Futenma issue early 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Air Force One carrying U.S. President Barack Obama landed at Haneda 
Airport on the afternoon of Nov. 13. It is President Obama's first 
visit to Japan since taking office. President Obama held talks with 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei) last night. In the talks, the two leaders 
affirmed a policy course aimed at deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance 
to coincide with the 50th anniversary next year of the conclusion of 
the revised U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and to begin 
intergovernmental talks on the extended deterrence of the nuclear 
umbrella as well as on the missile defense (MD) shield. President 
Obama sought an expeditious solution to the issue of relocating the 
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa 
Prefecture) premised on the existing plan. The two leaders later 
issued a joint statement specifying their countries' efforts to 
realize President Obama's vision of a nuclear-free world and to 
reduce the two countries' greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 
¶2050. 
 
(5) Gist of remarks by PM Hatoyama, President Obama at joint news 
conference 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 15, 2009 
 
Following is the gist of the joint news conference by Prime Minister 
Yukio Hatoyama and President Barack Obama: 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama: The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone 
of Japan's entire foreign policy. I would like to further deepen and 
develop the alliance in accordance with the changing times and world 
environment. I would like to build a constructive and 
future-oriented new Japan-U.S. alliance. I proposed a new process to 
discuss this for one year, and the President approved it. 
 
It is necessary to build a new security system under the Japan-U.S. 
alliance. This is also true for disaster prevention, medical 
services, public health, education, and environment issues. 
 
With regard to Afghan aid, I would like to boost civilian aid and 
not logistic support operations. Regarding the issue of climate 
change, Japan and the U.S. agreed on the major goal of reducing 
(greenhouse gases emission) by 80 percent by 2050. We also agreed to 
cooperate to make the 15th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP15) a success. 
 
The President pointed out the importance of the United States to 
Asia. My concept of the East Asian Community is based on the 
Japan-U.S. alliance as the linchpin. I have great hopes for an 
increasing U.S. presence in Asia. 
 
President Obama: The Japan-U.S. alliance is the cornerstone of 
stability and prosperity not only of the two countries but also of 
the Asia-Pacific region. Yukio and I were elected for our pledge to 
 
TOKYO 00002632  004 OF 010 
 
 
"change." The alliance relationship is robust, and there is no doubt 
that our friendship will grow stronger. 
 
I would like to express my appreciation for our cooperation on 
Afghanistan and Pakistan. Japan is an outstanding partner in our 
efforts to stop the proliferation of nuclear arms and work for a 
world without nuclear weapons. 
 
(6) Japanese, U.S. leaders confirm cooperation in dealing with North 
Korea, without any reference to abduction issue 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama 
confirmed in their meeting yesterday that Japan and the U.S. should 
take joint steps to deal with North Korea. Although there are many 
contentious points in both countries' security policies, they are 
able to share the same views on issues related to North Korea. The 
U.S. and North Korea have decided to start bilateral talks on North 
Korea's nuclear development issue by the end of the year, premised 
on an early resumption of the Six-Party Talks. But Japanese 
officials are concerned that talks between the U.S. and North Korea 
might take precedence as they did in the latter half of the Bush 
administration. The issue of past abductions of Japanese nations by 
North Korea was not taken up either in the summit meeting or the 
press conference. 
 
During their meeting yesterday, Obama told Hatoyama in reference to 
North Korean issues: "There is a plan for Special Representative for 
North Korea Policy Bosworth to visit North Korea, but he will hold 
talks with North Koreans within the framework of the Six-Party 
Talks." They did not refer to the abduction issue. 
 
After the Obama administration was launched, the U.S. began to place 
emphasis on pressure in dealing with North Korea, as does Japan, 
which is saddled with the abduction issue. 
 
The U.S., however, has begun to take a policy of dialogue toward the 
North after former President Bill Clinton suddenly visited North 
Korea in August on the pretext of urging the North to release 
American journalists detained by that nation. Japan is hoping that 
the planned U.S.-North Korea talks will contribute to resuming the 
Six-Party Talks and also to restarting Japan-North Korea talks and 
moving negotiations on the abduction issue forward. 
 
(7) Japan, U.S. agree on long-term target to combat global warming 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
November 14, 2009 
 
In a press conference following his summit meeting with U.S. 
President Barack Obama yesterday, Prime Minister Hatoyama said: 
"Japan and the U.S. have agreed to reduce emissions of greenhouse 
gases by 80 PERCENT  by 2050." He underscored that Japan and the 
U.S. will take joint steps based on this long-term target to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions, with an eye toward the 15th session of the 
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate 
Change (COP15) in December to discuss a new international framework 
to combat global warming beyond the 2008-2012 timeframe set under 
the Kyoto Protocol. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002632  005 OF 010 
 
 
However, the declaration issued at the G-8 Summit (L'Aquila Summit) 
this July also pledged that "industrialized countries will aim to 
cut emissions by more than 80 PERCENT  as a whole," although 
attaching some conditions. With this declaration in mind, a 
government source commented: "This target is not sufficient to move 
the stalled COP negotiations forward." 
 
In the joint press conference, the two leaders emphasized 
cooperation between Japan and the U.S. in moving the COP 
negotiations forward, using such words as: "We must make the COP15 
negotiations successful without fail." They apparently had the 
deepening conflict between industrial and developing countries in 
mind when they made the remarks. 
 
(8) U.S. President Obama indicates eagerness to visit Hiroshima, 
Nagasaki 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 14, 2009 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama met yesterday evening with Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama. During a joint press conference after the 
Japan-U.S. summit meeting, President Obama stated in reference to 
his initiative to create a world free of nuclear weapons: "Japan has 
a unique perspective regarding nuclear weapons because of the atomic 
bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki." He then continued: "It would be 
a great honor for me to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the future. 
I don't have any immediate plans to visit, but I think it would be 
meaningful for me to do so," indicating his eagerness to visit 
Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the future. 
 
(9) President Obama to affirm cooperation with Asia in speech on 
policy toward Asia today 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
November 14, 2009 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver a keynote speech on U.S. 
policy toward Asia at the Suntory Hall in Akasaka, Tokyo, today. In 
the speech, the President is expected to define the U.S. as a 
Pacific state and affirm the U.S.'s solidarity with Asia through 
cooperation with its traditional allies, such as Japan, and approach 
to emerging countries, including China, and the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 
 
(10) President Obama: We would like to be involved in formulating 
post-Kyoto Protocol 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 14, 2009 
 
It has been learned that U.S. President Barack Obama expressed a 
positive stance toward the creation of an international framework 
(post-Kyoto Protocol) during his talks with Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama yesterday. President Obama reportedly said: "Although we 
have not been involved in formulating the Kyoto Protocol up until 
now, we now have a strong determination to be involved in it." This 
was revealed by one of the attendees of the Japan-U.S. summit 
meeting. The President also expressed that he hopes to urge China to 
take part (in formulating a post-Kyoto Protocol). 
 
(11) PM Hatoyama, President Obama "differ" on economic issues at 
 
TOKYO 00002632  006 OF 010 
 
 
summit meeting 
 
ASAHI (Page 6) (Full) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Toshihiko Ogata 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and President Barack Obama differed 
slightly on economic issues at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting. 
Hatoyama devoted most of his time to explaining the security issues, 
which are plagued by frictions with the U.S. On the other hand, 
Obama stressed the need to make efforts for economic recovery in 
order to create jobs with the unemployment rate in the U.S. 
exceeding 10 percent. 
 
While Hatoyama said at the post-summit news conference that "the 
economy was not a major topic of discussion," Obama said: "We will 
make greater efforts to create jobs." According to an informed 
source, when the summit was about to end without any serious 
discussion on economic issues, Obama brought up the importance of 
economic growth and the liberalization of trade shortly before the 
meeting ended. 
 
(12) Japan-U.S. summit: Energy cooperation to be promoted 
 
ASAHI (Page 6) (Full) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama on 
Nov. 13 agreed to accelerate joint research on environmental and 
energy technologies. In line with the agreement, an Action Plan that 
states areas of joint research to be conducted on a priority basis 
by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the U.S. 
Department of Energy was released. The plan is also aimed at 
promoting bilateral cooperation in international talks on the 
creation of the post-Kyoto Protocol framework for curbing global 
warming. 
 
The two countries will work together in such areas as the 
next-generation power transmission network (Smart Grid system), 
which will enable a stable power supply even if large amounts of 
renewable energies are introduced, and carbon capture and storage 
(CCS). 
 
A joint demonstration project will be conducted in New Mexico, 
U.S.A, for the development of the Smart Grid system. Both countries 
will also set up a joint taskforce to share the results of 
demonstration projects they are now separately conducting in Okinawa 
and Hawaii. They will also work together for the international 
standardization of the technology. 
 
In developing the CCS system, Japan and the U.S. will cooperate for 
the development of simulation technology to predict the movement of 
the carbon dioxide stored underground over the long term. The two 
countries will set up a working group for the international 
standardization of electric auto parts. They will also promote joint 
research on nuclear-cycle technology. 
 
(13) Japan-U.S. summit: U.S. announces policy of attaching 
importance to Asia; Japan's role to take on added significance 
 
YOMIURI (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00002632  007 OF 010 
 
 
November 14, 2009 
 
The leaders of Japan and the U.S. at their summit on Nov. 13 
reaffirmed the cooperative relationship of the two countries in the 
economic area, including energy and the environment. Amid the U.S. 
strategy of achieving high economic growth by deepening America's 
involvement in Asia, Japan is taking on an added significance. Since 
there are currently no visible trade issues between the two 
countries, the challenge for Japan is to formulate a stance toward 
the U.S.'s Asia strategy. 
 
During the post-summit press conference President Obama indicated 
his perception that working together with Asia is essential for the 
growth of the U.S. economy. He said, "I categorically said that the 
U.S. is one of the countries of the Pacific Rim. Asia and the U.S 
share the same destiny." The cardinal feature of the U.S. strategy 
will be to boost exports of its products, by urging Asian countries 
that from China down are continuing to achieve high growth, to 
expand domestic demand and open their markets. 
 
(14) Tokyo placed on high alert for President Obama's visit 
 
SANKEI (Page 22) (Full) 
November 14, 2009 
 
The Metropolitan Police Department stepped up its security measures 
yesterday when U.S. President Barack Obama visited Japan for the 
first time, following a similar situation the previous day when a 
ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Emperor's 
accession took place. The MPD will continue keeping guard by 
demonstrating its heightened security measures while the President 
is staying in Tokyo until Nov. 14, mobilizing about 16,000 police 
officers, mainly riot police, per day. 
 
At Haneda Airport, where Air Force One landed with President Obama 
onboard, the number of riot police was increased to guard against 
the possible appearance of terrorists and guerillas. The MPD used 
security dogs to search suspicious objects. In such places as JR 
Tokyo Station, a number of police officers were deployed to patrol 
the areas. 
 
(15) Abductees' families invited to President Obama's speech 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Full) 
November 14, 2009 
 
Visiting U.S. President Obama is expected to deliver a speech on his 
Asia policy in Tokyo on Nov. 14. In this connection, it has been 
learned that Shigeo Iizuka (71), the representative of the 
Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, and 
Shigeru Yokota (77), the former representative, and his wife Sakie 
(73) were invited to the President's speech. They have no plan to 
directly meet with the President. However, Iizuka expressed the hope 
to do so. "I would like the U.S. to press North Korea to settle the 
abduction issue." 
 
(16) People in Okinawa, Hiroshima, Nagasaki unimpressed by President 
Obama's words 
 
ASAHI (Page 38) (Slightly abridged) 
November 14, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00002632  008 OF 010 
 
 
What is the impression of the people in the atomic-bombed cities and 
Okinawa of the exchanges between Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and 
U.S. President Barack Obama on the two major themes of the 
realization of a "world without nuclear weapons" and the relocation 
of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station? 
 
Hideo Tsuchiyama, 84, a former president of Nagasaki University who 
has worked for the elimination of nuclear arms, said: "The dialogue 
mostly consisted of abstract expressions and was unsatisfactory." 
Although the joint statement mentioned the early effectuation of the 
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), Tsuchiyama pointed out: "What 
we want to know is the means to make this a concrete process and the 
deadline. If that is all the U.S. can propose at the Nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference next year, the pace of 
the elimination of nuclear arms will slow down." 
 
Commenting on the President's not responding to the question of 
whether the dropping of the atomic bombs was justified, Tsuchiyama 
showed understanding. He said: "I think he purposely evaded the 
question. Public opinion in the U.S. is very sensitive. If he 
provokes the public thoughtlessly, his visit to the atomic-bombed 
cities will not be possible, even though he has said that 'I don't 
have immediate plans, but I would be honored if I am able to make 
the visit during my term of office'." 
 
Miyoko Matsubara, 77, who has testified in the U.S. on her 
experience of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima when she was 12, said: 
"There was nothing in the President's words that touched the heart. 
If he is serious about realizing a 'world without nuclear weapons' 
as he stated in his speech in Prague, he would have visited the 
atomic- bombed cities as soon as possible. His words at the news 
conference merely meant that he would like to visit them if he gets 
a chance. I am disappointed." 
 
Hiromichi Umebayashi, special adviser to the NPO Peace Boat (based 
in Yokohama) who is knowledgeable about developments relating to 
nuclear weapons, observed that, "Both Japan and the U.S. did not 
wish to make any new statements on nuclear disarmament." "The 
emphasis in the Prague speech was on the possibility, but my feeling 
is that the emphasis is now on the difficulty." 
 
With regard to the Futenma relocation issue, Okinawa Governor 
Hirokazu Nakaima issued a comment after the summit meeting: "While 
they confirmed that a conclusion will be reached at an early date, 
it is regrettable that they did not say anything specific about the 
relocation." However, he also said that close cooperation to deepen 
the Japan-U.S. alliance "has great significance." 
 
Mayor Yoshikazu Shimbukuro of Nago City, which has been chosen as 
Futenma's relocation site, issued a statement saying: "I appreciate 
the two leaders' decision to create a cabinet-level working group to 
seek an early solution." 
 
(17) Obama City mayor, Fukui governor invited to President Obama's 
speech in Tokyo on Nov. 14 
 
YOMIURI ONLINE (Slightly abridged) 
11:05, November 13, 2009 
 
It was learned that Mayor Koji Matsuzaki of Obama City and Governor 
Issei Nishikawa have been invited from Fukui Prefecture to U.S. 
President Barack Obama's speech in Tokyo on Nov. 14. The city of 
 
TOKYO 00002632  009 OF 010 
 
 
Obama has been publicizing the fact that it has the same name as the 
President. 
 
The two officials intend to attend the speech. Matsuzaki said: "My 
dream to be near the President will come true. I am really excited. 
If possible, I would like to say congratulations to him for winning 
the Nobel Peace Prize and invite him to visit Obama City." 
 
Matsuzaki sent a letter to U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos in 
August to invite the President to visit Obama City. He received a 
response from the Ambassador that "the President is extremely busy, 
so he will not be able to make the visit." In October, he visited 
the U.S. Embassy (in Minato Ward, Tokyo) with Governor Nishikawa to 
talk to the Ambassador in person about this. 
 
(18) Hiroshima Mayor Akiba to absent himself from President Obama's 
Nov. 14 speech 
 
SANKEI ONLINE 
09:58, November 13, 2009 
 
The Hiroshima City government said on Nov. 12 that although Mayor 
Tadatoshi Akiba has received an invitation to U.S. President Barack 
Obama's speech to be delivered in Tokyo on Nov. 14, he will not be 
able to attend the event due to other official engagements. 
 
Mayor Tomihisa Taue of Nagasaki City, another A-bombed city, will 
attend the event. 
 
According to Hiroshima City, the mayor received the invitation from 
the U.S. Embassy in Japan on Nov. 10 and he informed the Embassy 
that he will not be able to attend the event due to several official 
engagements in the city on Nov. 14. 
 
Although he will not be able to visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki this 
time, President Obama has expressed his eagerness to visit the 
cities in the future. The two mayors have issued statements 
welcoming the President's plan to visit their cities in the future. 
 
(19) Poll: Cabinet support down to 54 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 14, 2009 
 
The public approval rating for the Hatoyama cabinet was 54.4 PERCENT 
 in a public opinion survey conducted by Jiji Press on Nov. 6-9, 
down 6.2 percentage points from the last survey conducted right 
after its inauguration. The disapproval rating was 22.8 PERCENT , up 
7.2 points from the preceding month. The fluctuations in the 
approval and disapproval ratings for the Hatoyama cabinet are 
apparently ascribable to the public's negative attitude toward a 
series of amakudari (a practice in which senior bureaucrats are 
given high-profile positions after retirement) appointments, such as 
the appointment of former Administrative Vice Finance Minister Jiro 
Saito as Japan Post president. In addition, the results can be taken 
as reflecting confusion within the cabinet over the issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station and the filing 
of falsified reports by Prime Minister Hatoyama's fund-managing body 
on political donations. 
 
The survey was conducted across the nation on a face-to-face basis, 
with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among men and women aged 
 
TOKYO 00002632  010 OF 010 
 
 
20 and over. The response rate was 66.2 PERCENT . 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling 
Democratic Party of Japan stood at 28.4 PERCENT  (down 1.0 points 
from the last survey), with the opposition Liberal Democratic Party 
scoring 15.3 PERCENT  (down 2.4 points) and the New Komeito at 4.7 
PERCENT  (up 1.2 points). The Japanese Communist Party was at 2.1 
PERCENT . The Social Democratic Party, one of the DPJ's two 
coalition partners, was at 0.9 PERCENT . The Your Party was at 0.5 
PERCENT . The People's New Party, also a coalition partner of the 
DPJ, was at 0.2 PERCENT . "None" accounted for 46.5 PERCENT . 
 
ROOS