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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002761 
 
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 12/03/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
GOJ reaction to Obama speech: 
4) U.S. troop augmentation certain to result in request for 
additional Japanese financial aid  (Mainichi) 
5) Obama gives Hatoyama cold shoulder  (Yomiuri) 
6) Emphasis on civilian aid raises concerns about Japan's declining 
presence  (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma issue: 
7) Hatoyama mulling postponing Futenma decision until next year 
(Asahi) 
8) Argument for delaying Futenma decision growing stronger 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Defense & security: 
9) Japan calls on U.S. to incorporate environmental clause in SOFA 
(Mainichi) 
10) Japanese and Korean ministers to hold security meeting tomorrow 
(Nikkei) 
 
Economy : 
11) Prime Minister and BOJ Chairman agree to tackle deflation 
(Yomiuri) 
12) U.S. and Japan to conclude open skies agreement by year end 
(Nikkei) 
13) Manufacturing sector's greenhouse-gas-reduction target only 13.9 
PERCENT   (Nikkei) 
 
Politics: 
14) SDP leader Fukushima to run for reelection  (Nikkei) 
15) Your Party representative hints at tie-up with DPJ  (Yomiuri) 
16) LDP-led Diet member caucus opposes bill that would grant local 
suffrage for permanent foreign residents  (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Government to give up on plan to settle Futenma Air Station 
relocation plan by year's end with prime minister attaching 
importance to ruling coalition 
 
Mainichi: 
Government mulling raising tobacco tax by 2-3 yen per cigarette: 
Substantive tax hike to be put on hold 
 
Yomiuri: 
COP15: Chairman's draft of UN climate conference proposes aiming to 
turn around global warming gas emissions to below 1990 level by 
2020 
 
Nikkei: 
Peugeot in talks with Mitsubishi Motors for capital tie-up: Final 
coordination underway with possibility of securing 30-50 percent of 
voting rights 
 
 
TOKYO 00002761  002 OF 010 
 
 
Sankei: 
U.S. new strategy for Afghanistan: 30,000 additional troops to be 
deployed; Withdrawal to be started in July 2011; Japanese government 
fearing request for additional assistance? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Cost of maintaining and managing dams totals over 100 billion yen 
annually: Such costs for 45 dams now under consideration or 
construction estimated to reach 25.5 billion yen 
 
Akahata: 
Supreme Court's guilty verdict against Arakawa for distributing 
flyers is oppression: World is concerned about Japan's lack of 
common sense 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) New U.S. strategy for Afghanistan: The situation cannot be 
stabilized just by sending more troops 
(2) Lawsuit filed by local residents: Watered-down assembly 
unforgivable 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) U.S. to send more troops to Afghanistan: Hard battle will 
continue 
(2) Supreme Court hands down guilty sentence against person who 
distributed flyers: The sentence seems inappropriate 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) New U.S. strategy for Afghanistan: Is it possible to turn the 
war around? 
(2) Testimony by former Foreign Ministry bureau chief: Government's 
claim that there is no secret accord has collapsed 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Danger of postal administration once again becoming the 
government's "purse" 
(2) Japan should support U.S. strategy for Afghanistan 
 
Sankei: 
(1) New U.S. strategy for Afghanistan: Japan should reconsider 
cooperating for the alliance 
(2) Talks between Prime Minister Hatoyama and Bank of Japan Governor 
Shirakawa: Dispel mistrust in market 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Additional troops for Afghanistan: Path to contain terrorism not 
yet in sight 
(2) Eliminate trend of people turning blind eye to violence toward 
children 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Afghanistan issue cannot be settled by sending additional 
troops 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, December 2 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
TOKYO 00002761  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
08:00 Attended a meeting of top officers of the government and Rengo 
at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). Later, met 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsui. 
09:28 Met National Strategy Minister Kan, Cabinet Office Senior Vice 
Minister Furukawa, and Vice Finance Minister Noda. Joined by Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Hirano. Kan and Hirano stayed behind. 
10:34 Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno. 
12:16 Met Special Advisor Nakayama. 
13:27 Attended a meeting of former Lower House members at the first 
Lower House members' office building. 
15:09 Met at the Kantei with Internal Affairs Minister Haraguchi, 
and vice internal affairs ministers Watanabe and Naito. Later met 
with Finance Minister Fujii, Vice Finance Minister Noda, 
Parliamentary Secretary Ogushi, and Vice Minister Tango. 
17:30 Met Bank of Japan Governor Shirakawa, Kan, and Hirano. 
19:06 Met Toyota Motor adviser Hiroshi Okuda and others at the 
Garden Court in the Hotel New Otani, with Hirano present. 
21:12 Returned to his official residential quarters. 
 
4) Afghanistan: Request for additional financial assistance certain 
 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
The new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan attaches importance to 
securing military assistance from its allies. The Japanese 
government intends to implement civilian aid worth 5 billion dollars 
over five years as its contribution for the stabilization of 
Afghanistan. Its deviation from the U.S. way of fighting against 
terrorism has apparently further widened. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at a press conference on 
Dec. 2 welcomed the new strategy. However, he underscored that Japan 
"has already announced the area in which it can make contribution." 
The government wants to contribute (for the stabilization of 
Afghanistan) through civilian assistance, including providing 
vocational training to former Taliban militants. However, the U.S. 
is bound to seek more financial assistance for the Afghan military 
and police. Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa on the 2nd pointed out 
in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, "There is a very strong 
possibility of the U.S. seeking further assistance from Japan." 
 
Japan is determined to withdraw the Maritime Self-Defense force from 
its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in January and not to 
comply with a request for fresh military assistance. The White House 
on Nov. 30 released a plan according to which President Obama will 
give advance notice of the new strategy to Britain and France, which 
are dispatching troops to Afghanistan, and also to China and India. 
Japan would simply be notified via its foreign minister--a clear 
differentiation of approach. 
 
5) Without a call from President Obama, Prime Minister Hatoyama left 
in dark 
 
YOMIURI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
December 3, 2009 
 
Hideki Kawasaki, political department 
 
The government welcomes the Afghan strategy announced by U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00002761  004 OF 010 
 
 
President Barack Obama and intends to steadily implement its 
civilian support measures worth 5 billion dollars in five years 
starting this year. Shortly before announcing his new Afghan 
strategy, President Obama called the top leaders of such countries 
as India and Russia, in addition to the UK, France, and Germany that 
are taking part in the International Security Assistance Force 
(ISAF) in Afghanistan, to inform them of the plan. But Prime 
Minister Hatoyama was left in the dark. As such, a Japan-U.S. 
diplomatic source said: "It reflects strained ties between the two 
countries over the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station." On the United States' new strategy, Prime 
Minister Hatoyama made the following comment to the press corps at 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) last night: "Japan 
has decided on its own support measures. I want to step up 
cooperation by combining efforts (with the United States)." Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Hirano emphasized the good communications (between 
Tokyo and Washington), indicating that Foreign Minister Okada was 
briefed on the new U.S. strategy by Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton on the phone. 
 
Of its Afghan support measures, the government intends to 
incorporate a highly urgent portion worth 80 billion yen in the 
fiscal 2009 second supplementary budget and the fiscal 2010 budget. 
The government specifically envisages support in such areas as 
salaries of police officers to improve the security situation, food, 
and anti-drug measures. But given the Hatoyama administration's 
decisions to end the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission 
in the Indian Ocean next January and not to use the SDF in 
supporting Afghanistan, there is concern that Japan's presence in 
the international community will decline. 
 
6) U.S. troop buildup in Afghanistan: Japan's presence weakening 
 
NIKKEI (Page 8) (Excerpts) 
December 3, 2009 
 
(Following his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan,) 
President Obama cited "43 allies" and asked them to fall in step 
with the U.S.'s troop buildup strategy. Japan, however, is not 
included among the 43 allies, because Constitutional issues have 
prevented it from joining the International Security Assistance 
Force (ISAF). Japan has decided to halt the Maritime Self-Defense 
Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in January. This 
policy decision was also reflected in the exclusion of Japan from 
"the allies." 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano emphasized in a press 
conference yesterday: "Mr. Obama (has said that) he appreciates 
(Japan)." But Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said that Japan will 
be asked by the U.S. to offer more assistance. Many government 
officials take the view that the government's civilian support 
measures worth up to 5 billion dollars announced in November are not 
enough. A Foreign Ministry official says that the effects the 
measures, including occupational training for Taliban soldiers, will 
have are unknown. 
 
7) Hatoyama administration gives up on settling Futenma relocation 
issue by year's end 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
 
TOKYO 00002761  005 OF 010 
 
 
The Hatoyama cabinet began coordination on Dec. 2 to defer making a 
decision on the issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma 
Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) beyond 2009. In addition to 
opposition from the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's 
New Party - the coalition partners of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ) - to arriving at a solution before the end of the year, little 
headway is being made in negotiations with the U.S. side on 
additional measures to reduce the burden (imposed by U.S. bases on 
Okinawa). 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was asked by reporters on Dec. 2 if he 
will make a decision even in the face of the SDP's opposition. He 
said: "My desire to value the coalition government remains 
unchanged," indicating the possibility that a decision will be 
postponed until 2010. 
 
In a speech on the same day, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa also 
stated: "If the three-party coalition cabinet collapses, there will 
be political confusion. The relationship between the U.S. and Japan 
will not become excessively strained even if the settlement is 
carried over to next year," indicating that he would not insist on 
settling the issue before year's end. 
 
However, the government still plans to earmark expenditures related 
to the relocation of the Futenma base to Henoko in Nago city in the 
FY2010 budget even if a decision will not be made in 2009. This move 
is intended to signal that the Japan-U.S. agreement on U.S. Forces 
Japan realignment is not being scrapped. The U.S. side is demanding 
the early implementation of the agreement. The postponement of a 
solution on this issue is certain to have a serious impact on the 
bilateral relationship. 
 
The concerned cabinet ministers have been exchanging views with 
senior DPJ officials on the Futenma issue since late November. It is 
believed that during these discussions, DPJ officials expressed 
concern that forcing through a decision before the end of the year 
may result in a rift in the ruling coalition and this may affect the 
steering of the regular Diet session early next year. A cabinet 
minister observes that at that point, "a complete change of tide 
occurred." 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Kitazawa had long discussions 
with Hatoyama and Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence on Dec. 1. At another meeting of 
the concerned cabinet members, the unanimous opinion of all 
participants, except Okada, was that it would be difficult to arrive 
at a solution by the end of the year. A meeting of the Japan-U.S. 
ministerial-level working group will be held in Tokyo on Dec. 4. The 
outcome of negotiations with the U.S. will also be taken into 
account in making the final decision. 
 
8) GOJ increasingly leaning toward deferring Futenma relocation 
decision to 2010 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
A proposal emerged in the government on Dec. 2 to defer a decision 
on the question of the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air 
Station in Okinawa to early next year. This is because if a decision 
is made before the end of the year to relocate the Futenma base to 
the coastal area of Camp Schwab based on the existing relocation 
 
TOKYO 00002761  006 OF 010 
 
 
plan, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is certain to fiercely 
oppose the decision, and the government has decided to give priority 
to preventing confusion inside the coalition administration. 
 
A government source revealed on Dec. 2: "The tide changed in the 
past few days. The shift became final due to the SDP's opposition," 
indicating his view that a solution in 2009 will be difficult. This 
is because the SDP has toughened its stance and declared at the 
meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Basic Policies on Nov. 30 
its opposition to the existing plan, and the People's New Party also 
fell in step with the SDP. A senior government official also stated 
on the evening of Dec. 2 that "it would be meaningless if the 
administration collapses. There is no need to rush." 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama told reporters on the evening of Dec. 
2 that he wants to "value the three-party coalition" and that he 
will "make efforts not to have an impact on the Japan-U.S. 
relationship." Even if a decision is deferred to next year, the 
government will earmark expenditures related to the relocation in 
the FY2010 budget bill in consideration of the U.S., which is 
demanding a decision based on the current plan before year end. 
However, it is uncertain whether this will obtain the U.S.'s 
understanding. 
 
9) Government to propose adding environment clause to SOFA to U.S. 
side in connection with Futenma 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
The government decided yesterday to ask the United States to add an 
environment conservation clause to the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces 
Agreement (SOFA). The government will present the proposal at a 
Japan-U.S. ministerial-level working group meeting to be held 
shortly to discuss the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture). The aim is to 
play up the government's eagerness to reduce the burden on Okinawa 
by presenting a plan to revise the SOFA even partially -- an 
outstanding issue between Japan and the United States - in order to 
settle the Futenma issue. 
 
The items that Japan is proposing for inclusion in the SOFA include 
the obligation for the United States to restore land to its original 
state if environmental pollution has occurred and the right of the 
state and municipalities to conduct on-site investigations. In the 
past there have been accidents involving the outflow of hazardous 
materials, such as fuel, in the vicinity of U.S. military bases. But 
the U.S. side has neither allowed the Japanese side to investigate 
the state of environmental pollution nor responded to Japan's calls 
to restore the land to its original state when returning its bases 
to Japan, citing the facilities management right and other factors 
under the SOFA. 
 
The SOFA was concluded in 1960 based on the U.S. Japan-Security 
Treaty, and it has never been revised. It includes no provision on 
environmental conservation. Meanwhile, when South Korea revised its 
SOFA with the United States in April 2001, an environment cause was 
added to the pact. The clause stipulates that United States will 
respect ROK environmental legislation and when environmental 
pollution occurs on a U.S. base, the United States and South Korea 
will jointly conduct investigations. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002761  007 OF 010 
 
 
When Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima held talks with Prime Minister 
Yukio Hatoyama on Nov. 30, the governor sought the government's 
support for restoring contaminated land to its original state, a 
situation that is likely to occur after Futenma Air Station is 
returned to Japan. This is regarded as the governor's de facto 
condition in exchange for accepting the existing relocation plan. 
 
Nevertheless, the U.S. side is reluctant to revise the SOFA. There 
is a possibility that the United States will not change its 
assertion of dealing with the matter through improved operations of 
the pact. 
 
10) Japan, S. Korea to hold security talks tomorrow 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
Japan and South Korea are set to hold security talks tomorrow on the 
South Korean island of Cheju, with senior officials attending from 
their foreign and defense ministries, the Foreign Ministry announced 
yesterday. This is the ninth time for the two countries to hold 
security dialogue. They are expected to discuss such issues as North 
Korea's nuclear development programs, China's military expansion, 
and assistance to Afghanistan. 
 
11) Prime minister, BOJ governor agree on need to tackle deflation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor 
Masaaki Shirakawa met at the Prime Minister's Official Residence 
yesterday to exchange views on the current financial and economic 
situations. Based on the view that the Japanese economy is in a mild 
deflationary phase, they confirmed the need for the government and 
the BOJ to make joint efforts to stem the recent sharp appreciation 
of the yen and deflation by taking measures to underpin the economy. 
They also agreed to hold talks if the financial and economic 
situations deteriorate further. 
 
In the meeting, Hatoyama spelled out the additional economic 
stimulus package that the government plans to finalize by the end of 
this week. Shirakawa explained the possible effect of the monetary 
easing measure the central bank decided to introduce on Dec. 1 by 
injecting about 10 trillion into the financial system. 
 
After the meeting, Hatoyama praised the BOJ's additional measure, 
saying: "The bank has taken swift action." He then emphasized: "The 
government will share a common awareness and make joint efforts 
(with the BOJ) to overcome deflation and buoy up the economy." 
Shirakawa commented: "We will carry out monetary policies while 
exchanging views with the government." 
 
12) Japan, U.S. to reach consensus to sign open skies agreement with 
the aim of putting it into effect next year 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
The governments of Japan and the U.S. will likely reach a consensus 
to conclude an open skies agreement that will allow them to set 
flight routes at their own discretion. They will aim to reach the 
 
TOKYO 00002761  008 OF 010 
 
 
consensus at bilateral aviation talks to be held in Washington for 
three days starting on Dec. 7 and put it into effect next year. Up 
until now only a few air carriers have been allowed to set the 
number of flights and flight routes at their own discretion. 
However, once the agreement is put into practice, other carriers 
will also be able to do so. The new system would offer hopes for 
improved convenience due to an increase in the number of flights and 
expanded flight networks. 
 
At present, only three Japanese carriers, including Japan Airlines 
and All Nippon Airways, and three U.S. carriers, including Delta 
Airlines, are basically exempt from the rule that limits flight 
routes and the number of flights. Once the agreement is reached at 
the upcoming talks, other carriers will become able to operate 
flights at their own discretion. 
 
If other carriers inaugurate flights between Japan and the U.S., 
traveling between the two countries would become convenient due to 
an increase in the number of flights and the opening of new routes. 
Competition would become fierce, which would lead to improved 
service. 
 
Chances are that under the open skies agreement, even if Japanese 
and U.S. carriers deepen cooperation in terms of flight schedules 
and air fares, the U.S. government and Japan's Fair Trade Commission 
would exempt those carriers from the application of their 
anti-monopoly laws. This would enable members of an international 
aviation alliance to adopt unified fares for duplicated routes and 
produce complementary flight schedules. Flexible connections both in 
the U.S. and Japan would also become possible. 
 
Improved operation efficiency will likely create room for fare 
reductions. United Airlines and All Nippon Airways have indicated 
their intention to apply for antitrust immunity (AMI). 
 
There remain questions concerning the allocation of departure and 
landing slots at Narita Airport and Haneda Airport. U.S. carriers 
are showing interest in securing slots at Haneda. However, few 
carriers are hoping to increase flights to Narita Airport. Carriers 
around the world are now facing a harsh management environment due 
to the financial/economic crisis, for which reason some analysts 
believe carriers can't easily open new routes. 
 
13) Poll: Manufacturers expect fiscal 2020 greenhouse gas emissions 
cuts to stay at 13.9 PERCENT 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
Japan's major manufacturers expect the nation to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions by 13.9 PERCENT  from 1990 levels by fiscal 2020, 
according to a survey by the Nikkei. This figure falls far short of 
the government's target of reducing emissions by 25 PERCENT  from 
1990 levels by 2020 set with an eye on the upcoming international 
conference on forming a new framework to fight global warming 
(beyond the timeframe set under the Kyoto Protocol). To attain the 
government's goal, companies might be forced to shoulder heavier 
burdens, such as purchasing emissions credits, and to move their 
production overseas. 
 
The number of companies, including non-manufacturing firms, 
responding to an environmental management survey by early November 
 
TOKYO 00002761  009 OF 010 
 
 
was 835. The 13 PERCENT  figure was based on a weighted average of 
160 manufacturers responding to a question about how much they will 
be able to cut emissions by 2020 through the installation of energy 
efficient facilities and other measures. The industrial sector, 
composed mainly of manufacturers, generates 37 PERCENT  of domestic 
carbon dioxide emissions. The weighted average of 183 companies was 
14.3 PERCENT . 
 
The previous Aso government had set a midterm target for reducing 
greenhouse gas emissions by 15 PERCENT  from 2005 levels, which is 
equivalent to 8 PERCENT  from 1990 levels. This level would be 
achievable for the companies surveyed. But the current Hatoyama 
government has proposed a 25 PERCENT  reduction that would require 
manufacturers to curb their emissions by 20 to 30 PERCENT . The 
levels are viewed as out of reach by some industries. Regarding 
projections for reductions by industry, automakers and auto parts 
manufacturers expect to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 28.1 
PERCENT , and electric machinery firms expect a 33.1 PERCENT  cut 
due to expected increases in demand for eco-friendly cars and solar 
batteries. 
 
14) Fukushima to run for SDP presidency 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
State Minister for Consumer Affairs and Declining Birthrate Mizuho 
Fukushima, who heads the Social Democratic Party, one of the ruling 
Democratic Party of Japan's two coalition partners, will run for her 
party's presidential election, which will be announced tomorrow. 
Fukushima announced her candidacy in a meeting yesterday of her 
party's members seated in the House of Councillors, and obtained 
their consent. She is now expected to be elected for a fourth term 
of her party's presidency. "I will give it my best in order to 
rebuild people's livelihoods and promote politics that place value 
on life," she said. 
 
Fukushima met on Dec. 1 with SDP Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno 
and two SDP vice presidents, Sadao Fuchigami and Seiji Mataichi, and 
the three agreed that they will stay on in their respective party 
posts. Meanwhile, some SDP members, who have been distancing 
themselves from Fukushima, were calling for the party leadership to 
set up an acting president post. The three SDP executives, however, 
shelved the proposed idea of setting up an acting president post and 
confirmed their intention to place top priority on uniting the 
party. 
 
15) Your Party leader hints at possibility of cooperation with DPJ 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
Yesterday in his greeting at a party hosted by Lower House member 
Mito Kakizawa in Tokyo, Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe hinted at 
the possibility his party will join hands with the ruling Democratic 
Party of Japan. He talked about this in connection with Upper House 
member Ryuhei Kawada's joining Your Party. Watanabe said, "(In the 
coalition government) the Social Democratic Party has the casting 
vote. However, there will be various issues from now on. The one 
Upper House seat (of Your Party) would have great influence." 
 
16) Parliamentary group opposes granting permanent foreign residents 
 
TOKYO 00002761  010 OF 010 
 
 
suffrage in local elections 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 3, 2009 
 
A group of parliamentarians mainly from the opposition Liberal 
Democratic Party yesterday compiled a resolution opposing the idea 
of giving permanent foreign residents in Japan the right to vote in 
prefectural and municipal elections. The group, called the "Truly 
Conservative Policy Study Association" with a membership of 78, is 
headed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The resolution points 
out that there is an extremely high possibility that granting 
permanent foreign residents suffrage would violate Article 15 of the 
Constitution (which stipulates that the people have the inalienable 
right to choose and dismiss their public officials). 
 
ROOS