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RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2010
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8678
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8136

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002714 
 
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 11/27/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma issue: 
4) Premier to consider Marine relocation's effectiveness, indicates 
current Futenma plan also an option  (Yomiuri) 
5) Ginowan Mayor asks Hatoyama to review the current relocation plan 
 (Nikkei) 
6) SDP head Fukushima reluctant about allocating funds for Futenma 
in state budget  (Nikkei) 
7) Chief cabinet secretary intends to visit Okinawa  (Nikkei) 
8) Prime Minister says little time remains for making decision on 
Futenma  (Nikkei) 
9) Okinawa governor says additional condition for accepting Henoko 
relocation plan is dispersal of Futenma functions  (Asahi) 
 
Energy: 
10) Saudi National Oil Company to set up crude oil reserve on 
Okinawa  (Nikkei) 
 
Defense & security: 
11) LDP opposes cargo-inspection bill  (Yomiuri) 
12) Refueling continuation bill submitted to Diet  (Nikkei) 
13) Secretary Clinton expresses appreciation for Japan's Afghan 
support  (Asahi) 
14) Japan to propose review of SOFA every three years  (Nikkei) 
15) Secret-accords blue-ribbon panel to hold first meeting today; Do 
documents related to Okinawa reversion exist?  (Yomiuri) 
16) Sympathy budget to be reviewed; screening committee calls for 
political decision on PAC3  (Sankei) 
17) Sympathy budget not cut; call for review of salaries of base 
workers  (Yomiuri) 
18) Information-gathering satellite to be launched on 28th; will 
conduct surveillance of North Korea  (Sankei) 
 
Space: 
19) Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano says budget-screening committee 
to reconsider decision to nix GX Rocket project  (Yomiuri) 
 
Economy: 
20) Yen rises to 14-year, with U.S. dollar in 86 yen range in Tokyo 
(Nikkei) 
 
Politics: 
21) Prime Minister hints at review of budget-screening committee 
decision on science and technology  (Nikkei) 
22) Pro-Taiwan parliamentarian league includes 67 DPJ lawmakers 
(Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1)TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
China announces target for CO2 emission cuts 
 
Mainichi: 
100 million yen presented by Hatoyama's mother reported as donation 
 
 
TOKYO 00002714  002 OF 010 
 
 
Yomiuri: 
Screening panel leaves "sympathy budget" untouched 
 
Nikkei: 
Yen hits 14-year high, with dollar in 86 yen range 
 
Sankei: 
Deputy Prime Minister Kan's office reported supporter group's 
membership fees as donations 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Screening panel calls for review of labor costs in "sympathy 
budget" 
 
Akahata: 
Japanese Communist Party chairman reveals in 10th Central Committee 
meeting proposals for resolution to be adopted at 25th Convention 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Careful approach required for science and technology budget as 
bedrock of nation 
(2) Hepatitis bill: Efforts needed to eliminate diseases affecting 
whole nation 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) U.S. target for greenhouse gas emissions cuts to have favorable 
effect on COP15 
(2) Income limitation unnecessary for child allowance 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Yen's sharp rise: World's investors' departure from U.S. dollar 
accelerating 
(2) Use Toyota's voluntary recall of cars in U.S. as opportunity to 
reexamine quality and safety 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Global cooperation needed in dealing with weak dollar crisis 
(2) Prime minister urged to disclose details of political donation 
scandal 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Missile defense: Deterrence capability must not be undermined 
(2) Education budget: Measures favorable for Japan Teachers' Union 
undesirable 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Hatoyama donation scandal: Disclose facts 
(2) Reveal government's intentions in budget screening process 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Income compensation for farmers needed for revitalization of 
agriculture 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, November 26 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00002714  003 OF 010 
 
 
10:51 Met Public Security Intelligence Agency Director Mikinao 
Kitada at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
12:09 Met State Minister for Gender Equality Mizuho Fukushima, 
Professor Takashi Kashima of Jissen Women's Educational Institute 
13:03 House of Representatives plenary session 
14:50 Met Mayor Yoichi Iha of Ginowan City, Okinawa 
15:40 Met President Sunao Tsuboi, other officials of Japan 
Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization at the Kantei; 
Health and Labor Minister Akira Nagatsuma also present 
16:02 Met Supreme Court Chief Justice Hironobu Takesaki; followed by 
meeting with Reona Esaki, other Nobel Prize laureates; National 
Strategy Minister Naoto Kan, Education and Science and Technology 
Minister Tatsuo Kawabata, State Minister for Administrative Reform 
Yoshito Sengoku, and others also present 
17:39 Meeting of Council on Gender Equality 
18:20 Called EU President-elect Herman van Rompuy on the phone. 
19:18 Met Japan Research Institute Honorary Chairman Jitsuro 
Terashima 
20:12 Had dinner at Italian restaurant in Minami-aoyama Riva degli 
Etruschi with House of Councillors member Minoru Kawasaki, others 
23:09 Arrived at official residential quarters 
 
4) Premier to consider Marine relocation's effectiveness, indicates 
current Futenma plan also an option 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 26, 2009 
 
On the pending issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma 
Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Prime Minister Hatoyama 
has indicated that he will consider the current plan for realigning 
U.S. forces in Japan, which packages the relocation of Futenma 
airfield and the transfer of U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, as 
an option. "We must consider at the same time that Okinawa's 
base-hosting burden can be alleviated by moving (U.S. Marines) to 
Guam," Hatoyama told reporters at his office yesterday evening. "The 
important thing is how to answer the overall wishes of people in 
Okinawa Prefecture," he added. 
 
5) Ginowan mayor files petition with premier over Futenma 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
Okinawa Prefecture's Ginowan City Mayor Yoichi Iha called on Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama yesterday at the Diet and handed a petition 
regarding the pending issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in his city. "I want the burden of Okinawa 
Prefecture's people to be alleviated by moving the Marines to Guam," 
Iha said. "I trust you," he added. Hatoyama said he will consider 
the petition. 
 
6) SDP head Fukushima reluctant about allocating funds for Futenma 
in state budget 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 26, 2009 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) head Mizuho Fukushima in a press 
conference on Nov. 25 expressed a cautious stance regarding the 
handling of expenses connected with the relocation of Futenma Air 
Station in the fiscal 2010 state budget, saying, "I do not want to 
 
TOKYO 00002714  004 OF 010 
 
 
see funds allocated for the project in the budget." 
 
7) Chief cabinet secretary intends to visit Okinawa 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 26, 2009 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano in a press briefing on Nov. 
25 made the following comment in connection with the issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa: 
"In the process of the government making its decision, I, too, want 
to take a firsthand look at conditions at the air station." He will 
visit Okinawa possibly in early December. 
 
8) Prime Minister: Little time remains for making a decision on 
Futenma 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 26, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama gave a speech to a meeting of the 
National Governors' Association, held at the Prime Minister's 
Official Residence (Kantei) on Nov. 25. Touching on the issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, 
the Prime Minister said: "There is no time to waste. A conclusion 
must be reached as early as possible after examining the matter 
thoroughly." 
 
With regard to review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, 
the Prime Minister also indicated that the conclusion of a special 
agreement on the environment is also one option.  "Concluding a 
special agreement on the environment could be one option," he said. 
"We will take action in line with Japan's position." 
 
During the meeting, Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima said: "Even the 
U.S. military has indicated that the Futenma base is a dangerous 
base. I want to see the danger of the base eliminated and the noise 
level reduced as soon as possible." 
 
9) Okinawa governor says additional condition for accepting Henoko 
relocation plan is dispersal of Futenma functions 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima gave an exclusive interview to 
Asahi Shimbun on Nov. 26. He indicated that in addition to moving 
the runways of the replacement facility farther offshore than 
currently planned, "it is necessary to disperse the functions of the 
Futenma base to other bases while the construction work is being 
completed" for him to accept the plan to relocate the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) to Henoko in Nago 
City. 
 
It is believed that based on the conditions set by the governor the 
ministries of foreign affairs and defense will step up negotiations 
with the U.S. side. 
 
According to the Okinawa Prefectural Government, about 50 
helicopters and transport planes are stationed regularly at the 
Futenma base at present, resulting in some 20,000 instances of noise 
annually. In the interview, Nakaima pointed out that Futenma is 
 
TOKYO 00002714  005 OF 010 
 
 
surrounded by densely-populated residential areas and removing the 
danger posed by this facility is an urgent task. He stressed that 
even if a decision is made on relocation to Henoko, it is necessary 
to reduce the number of takeoffs and landings of helicopters and 
other aircraft at the Futenma base while construction work for the 
new facility is going on. He said: "The operational level (at 
Futenma) should be reduced drastically and (its functions) should be 
dispersed. This will reduce the probability of the danger (of 
accidents)." 
 
Furthermore, in order to reduce noise and remove the danger at areas 
close to the relocation site, "(the runways) need to be moved 
farther into the sea," citing the location of the runways farther 
offshore as a condition for his accepting the relocation plan. 
 
Nakaima said that unless the above conditions are met, the permit 
for reclamation of land in the proposed relocation site "cannot be 
issued so easily" and demanded that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama 
consult with Okinawa before making a decision. 
 
10) Saudi Aramco to store oil in Okinawa 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpt) 
November 26, 2009 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Khalid A. Al-Falih of 
Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, run by the Saudi 
Arabian government, revealed yesterday that the company will soon 
start negotiations with the Japanese government on a plan to jointly 
store oil in Okinawa. He responded to an interview with the Nikkei 
in Tokyo. The plan, if realized, will likely contribute to 
strengthening the nation's energy security, since it will become 
possible for Japan to procure crude oil on a priority basis in times 
of emergency in return for offering storehouses. 
 
11) LDP to oppose cargo inspection special measures legislation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at a joint meeting of its Land 
and Transportation Division, National Defense Division, and Foreign 
Affairs Division on Nov. 26 decided to oppose a cargo inspection 
special measures bill, which the government submitted to the 
extraordinary Diet session. The LDP along with the Japan Renaissance 
Club, the Your Party, and the Group to Protect National Interests 
and the People's Livelihood (Hiranuma Group) have jointly submitted 
a counter proposal that includes a provision enabling the dispatch 
of Self-Defense troops in the event the Japan Coast Guard finds it 
difficult to carry out the mission. 
 
12) Refueling continuation bill submitted to Diet 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 26, 2009 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Renaissance Party on Nov. 
25 submitted to the House of Councillors a bill to continue the 
Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. 
The bill is designed to extend the Antiterrorism Special Measures 
Law, which is to expire next January, for one year. The New Komeito 
did not take part in the joint presentation of the legislation. 
 
TOKYO 00002714  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
13) Clinton expresses appreciation to Okada for Japan's Afghanistan 
aid 
 
ASAHI (Page 9) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada had a telephone conference with U.S. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last night at the request of the 
U.S. government. Clinton spelled out the U.S. government's strategy 
toward Afghanistan, which President Barack Obama will announce on 
Dec. 1. Clinton then expressed appreciation for the Japanese 
government's aid worth 5 billion yen for that nation. 
 
Okada replied that stabilizing and reconstructing Afghanistan is 
extremely important for global stability. He added: "I hope 
President Obama's announcement will strengthen the international 
community's resolve (to support Afghanistan)." 
 
14) Gov't to propose review of SOFA every 3 years 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The government will sound out the United States on a proposal to 
review the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement every three years 
as a measure to mitigate Okinawa Prefecture's base-hosting burden in 
connection with the pending issue of relocating the U.S. Marine 
Corps' Futenma Air Station in the prefecture, officials said 
yesterday. The current plan for relocating Futenma airfield is to 
build an alternative facility in a coastal area of Camp Schwab in 
the island prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago to take over 
its heliport functions, based on an intergovernmental agreement 
reached between Japan and the United States. Meanwhile, the U.S. 
government has indicated that it will accept the idea of moving the 
relocation site of Futenma airfield to an area off the coast of Camp 
Schwab. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan has insisted on moving 
Futenma airfield out of Okinawa, so the DPJ-led government concluded 
that it will have to work out additional measures to reduce the 
burden on Okinawa in order to accept the modified plan. 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met with Japan Research Institute 
Chairman Jitsuro Terashima yesterday at his office. Terashima will 
visit the United States early next week and is expected to exchange 
views with his U.S. counterparts, including measures to mitigate 
Okinawa's base-hosting burden. 
 
15) Blue-ribbon panel on secret pacts to hold first meeting today 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The Foreign Ministry has been investigating the secret pacts on (the 
introduction of) nuclear weapons and other matters that reportedly 
exist between Japan and the United States. A blue-ribbon panel 
tasked with verifying the ministry's investigation will meet for the 
first time today. 
 
Reportedly there are secret pacts in four areas. Documents have 
already come to light that seem to prove the existence of one 
allowing the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japan that is 
believed to have been concluded when the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty 
 
TOKYO 00002714  007 OF 010 
 
 
was revised in 1960. An increasing number of people also believe in 
the existence of a secret pact designed to Japan to bear the cost of 
restoring U.S. bases to their original states, concluded ahead of 
the revision of Okinawa to Japan in 1972. The blue-ribbon panel 
plans to make a final decision on the existence of the secret 
agreements by mid-January next year. 
 
Reportedly there have been secret pacts on: (1) introduction of 
nuclear weapons, which was entered into during the conclusion of the 
revised Japan-U.S. Security Treaty; (2) combat operations during a 
contingency on the Korean Peninsula; (3) introduction of nuclear 
weapons, which was believed to have been concluded before the 
reversion of Okinawa; and (4) Japan shouldering the cost of 
returning lands to their original states during the reversion of 
Okinawa. 
 
According to a Foreign Ministry source, the existence of the secret 
pact on the introduction of nuclear weapons that was concluded 
before the reversion of Okinawa has yet to be verified. The panel 
will continue probing this matter as well. 
 
16) Budget screening team rules "sympathy budget" needs to be 
"reviewed"; will  wait for political decision on PAC-3s 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The Government Revitalization Unit (chaired by Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama) continued on Nov. 26 its screening of FY2010 budget 
requests to weed out wasteful spending. This was the eighth day of 
budget screening. With regard to budget requests from the Ministry 
of Defense (MOD), the screening team demanded a review of the budget 
request for the labor cost of employees working on U.S. bases (123.3 
billion yen) under Japan's share of the expenses of U.S. Forces 
Japan (omoiyari yosan or sympathy budget) because the wage scales 
are not on par with local levels. 
 
During the discussions, the following opinions were voiced: "The 
wage scales should follow those of the employees of the national 
government" and "consideration should be given to balance with the 
wages of those in the same job category in the local area." Twelve 
of the screening team members demanded a "review." Meanwhile, the 
screening team did not make a decision on the MOD's budget requests 
for PAC-3 ground-to-air missiles for missile interception and the 
Self-Defense Forces' procurement of ships and other equipment (new 
allocations in FY10 for expenditures rolled over from previous 
fiscal years totaling 865.5 billion yen) and opted to wait for a 
political decision. This is the first time that the screening teams 
have deferred their conclusion pending a political decision. 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and State Minister for Consumer 
Affairs and Declining Birthrate Mizuho Fukushima have indicated a 
cautious stance with regard to additional deployment of PAC-3s. 
 
Concerning the other MOD budget requests, the screening team 
demanded a budget cut for SDF supplies procurement (27.1 billion 
yen) and for uniform and other garment purchases (9 billion yen). 
The team also demanded a review of the budget request for arms and 
ammunition procurement (11.9 billion yen). The request for an 
increase of 3,500 SDF personnel (at a cost of 7.2 billion yen) was 
rejected, while the requests to fund soundproofing of houses near 
U.S. bases in Okinawa and elsewhere (36.3 billion yen) and payments 
 
TOKYO 00002714  008 OF 010 
 
 
for renewal of leases on land used for defense facilities (118.9 
billion yen) were approved. 
 
17) "Sympathy budget" not axed by budget screening team; review of 
wage scales of U.S. military base employees demanded 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The Government Revitalization Unit (chaired by Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama) conducted the third day of the second half (totaling four 
days) of its screening of FY2010 budget requests to weed out 
wasteful spending at the National Printing Bureau's employees' 
gymnasium in Ichigaya, Tokyo, on Nov. 26. Under Japan's share in the 
expenses of U.S. Forces Japan (omoiyari yosan or "sympathy budget"), 
the screening team demanded a review of the labor cost of employees 
working on U.S. bases (123.334 billion yen) in the course of future 
negotiations on the Japan-U.S. special agreement and 
labor-management bargaining on the grounds that the wage scales are 
not on par with local levels. Other than that, the budget requests 
were approved, in effect, by the screening team. 
 
Meanwhile, with regard to the expenses for the nationwide deployment 
of ground-to-air Patriot missiles (PAC-3), the screening team 
decided to wait for a political decision since the drafting of the 
government's new National Defense Program Guidelines has been 
postponed for one year. 
 
18) Japan to launch third intelligence-gathering optical satellite 
on Nov. 28 to monitor North Korea 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
November 26, 2009 
 
The government's third intelligence-gathering optical satellite is 
scheduled for launch on board the 16th domestically manufactured 
large-size H2A rocket on the morning of Nov. 28 at the Tanegashima 
Space Center in Kagoshima Prefecture. The third optical satellite is 
capable of identifying a 60-centimeter square object on the ground. 
It can determine the movements of North Korea, which is continuing 
missile and nuclear development, more precisely than can be done at 
present. 
 
19) Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano announces reexamination of 
government decision to scrap GX rocket development program 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The Government Revitalization Unit (GRU) has decided to scrap the 
medium-size GX rocket development program in the process of 
screening project requests to identify unnecessary ones. Referring 
to this decision by the government, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano 
at a press conference on Nov. 26 announced a plan to have the GRU 
reexamine its decision. 
 
During the screening of the GX rocket development program, the 
Finance Ministry submitted data noting that 70 billion yen in tax 
money has been invested. However, Hirano said, "I have heard that 
the amount of tax money invested in the project is between 26-27 
billion yen, and the remaining amount is private funds." He then 
said, "Since (the basis of) the decision was wrong, we should 
 
TOKYO 00002714  009 OF 010 
 
 
address this issue after holding another round of discussions on 
it." 
 
20) Yen rises to 14-year high, with U.S. dollar falling to 86 yen 
range 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Lead paragraph) 
November 27, 2009 
 
The U.S. dollar plunged to 86.29 yen against the dollar at one point 
on the Tokyo Foreign Exchange Market yesterday, recording its lowest 
level in 14 years and four months. Investors converted their dollars 
into yen amid persistent speculation that the U.S. Federal Reserve 
will maintain its ultra-easy monetary policy for a long period of 
time. The yen's effective exchange rate, a measure of the value of 
the yen against major currencies, also surged to about a 9-month 
high. The yen's abrupt rise could deal a serious blow to the 
Japanese economy, which has fallen into a mild deflationary phase, 
as it will unavoidably exacerbate corporate earnings and bring down 
import prices. 
 
21) Prime minister during meeting with Nobel Prize winners hints at 
revision of government decision to cut science and technology 
budgets 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 27, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Nov. 26 invited six Nobel Prize 
winners, including Reona Esaki, to the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (the Kantei) and exchanged views with them on science and 
technology policy. In response to a number of government decisions 
to cut or trim science and technology-related budgets made during 
the screening of project requests by the Government Revitalization 
Unit (GRT), the Nobel Prize recipients asked the prime minister to 
give special consideration to the science and technology area. The 
prime minister hinted at the possibility of the government taking a 
second look at its decisions, saying, "It is not my intention to 
give the impression that the government is trying to cut science and 
technology budgets." 
 
Those visited the Kantei include Susumu Tonegawa, Hideki Shirakawa, 
Ryoji Noyori, Masatoshi Koshiba, and Makoto Kobayashi in addition to 
Esaki. They expressed a number of views, such as that Japan can only 
survive with science and technology and that it is reckless to 
identify whether projects are necessary or not during the brief 
screening process. The prime minister told reporters: "Science and 
technology are very important intellectual properties for a country 
without natural resources. I would like to consider ways to utilize 
these properties." 
 
22) Pro-Taiwan parliamentarian league includes 67 DPJ lawmakers 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
November 26, 2009 
 
The Japan-Taiwan parliamentarians' council, a supra-partisan league 
aiming to strengthen relations between Japan and Taiwan, held its 
first general meeting on Nov. 25 since the last House of 
Representatives election, and agreed that Takeo Hiramuma, an 
independent, will keep serving as the council's president. The 
membership after the election has now grown to 188. The largest 
 
TOKYO 00002714  010 OF 010 
 
 
group of members belongs to the Liberal Democratic Party (103) 
followed by the Democratic Party of Japan (67). 
 
ZUMWALT