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RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8271

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002781 
 
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 12/07/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma issue: 
4) U.S. warns Japan delay in decision could lead to continued use of 
Futenma facility  (Yomiuri) 
5) Foreign Minister says negotiations with U.S. have reached their 
limit  (Asahi) 
6) Okada urges Hatoyama to adopt existing plan for Futenma facility 
relocation  (Nikkei) 
7) Governor Hashimoto's comment creates waves  (Mainichi) 
8) State Minister for Okinawa Maehara says deployment of Osprey to 
Henoko would new environmental assessment  (Asahi) 
9) LDP Secretary General calls for Futenma resolution this year 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Defense & security: 
10) Japanese, Australian governments postpone bilateral security 
meeting until spring  (Nikkei) 
11) Blue-ribbon panel on secret accords to question former Treaties 
Bureau chief  (Asahi) 
 
Opinion: 
12) Yomiuri poll: 59 PERCENT  support Hatoyama cabinet; spike in 
respondents citing premier's lack of leadership  (Yomiuri) 
 
Economy: 
13) Kamei calling for additional economic stimulus  (Nikkei) 
 
Politics: 
14) Koizumi: The Hatoyama Administration will not last until the 
Upper House election"  (Asahi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Road map for North Korea's denuclearization to be compiled by Japan, 
U.S., and South Korea in preparation for resumption of Six-Party 
talks 
 
Mainichi: 
Farmers breaking away from agricultural corporations: Agricultural 
villages rocked by income compensation system 
 
Yomiuri: 
Cabinet approval rate falls to 59 percent, according to Yomiuri 
poll: Sharp increase in respondents who replied, "The prime minister 
has no leadership ability" 
 
Nikkei: 
NEC, Fujitsu seek slices of government cloud computing market: 30-40 
percent cuts in operational costs envisaged 
 
Sankei: 
Imperial families moving away from Gakushuin schools? 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
 
TOKYO 00002781  002 OF 008 
 
 
Japan may withdraw from Kyoto Protocol if it is renewed as is 
 
Akahata: 
Promote permanent employment in effort to turn economy around or 
alleviate poverty, says policy committee chairman Koike in NHK 
Sunday Debate (Nichiyo Toron) 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Compilation of fiscal 2010 budget: Look at big picture instead 
of public pledges 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) COP 15 opens: Aim for effective agreement 
(2) We welcome moves to amend individual information protection law 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) COP 15 opens: Face talks with top priority given to national 
interests 
(2) Exemption of traditional Chinese medicines reveals danger of 
budgetary requests screening 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) How to materialize 25 percent cut in CO2 emissions: Low carbon 
society models should be created in local regions first 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Environmental tax: Careful designing of system needed 
(2) Medical services for elderly people: Take advantage of existing 
system 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Ryo Ishikawa becomes youngest-ever monetary title winner 
(2) Local election in Taiwan: Voters are concerned about 
administration approaching China rapidly 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Hansen's Disease Basic Law: Hurry to build convalescent home 
that protects human rights and gives hope 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, December 6 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 7, 2009 
 
Morning Stayed at his official residential quarters. 
13:00 Met Foreign Minister Okada. 
18:42 Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno; Lower House 
members  Akihiro Ohata, Banri Kaieda, and Hiroshi Kawauchi; and 
Upper House member Susumu Yanase. 
 
4) U.S. use of Futenma airfield may be prolonged: Delay will likely 
affect transfer of Marines to Guam 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Full) 
December 5, 2005 
 
The governments of Japan and Tokyo on Dec. 4 held their second 
ministerial-level working group meeting to discuss the relocation of 
 
TOKYO 00002781  003 OF 008 
 
 
the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa 
Prefecture). The Japanese side sought understanding from the U.S. 
regarding its policy of postponing reaching a decision until next 
year because the Social Democratic Party (SDP) is opposing the 
existing plan to relocate the facilities to the coastal area of the 
U.S. military's Camp Schwab (in Henoko, Nago City, Okinawa 
Prefecture). The U.S. side called for an early settlement, noting 
that the existing plan is the only feasible plan. 
 
In this connection, the U.S. participants of the working group 
informally contacted a source connected with the Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) and conveyed the U.S. intention to take budgetary 
measures to deal with the aging Futenma air base facilities in the 
event that the Hatoyama administration searches for a relocation 
site other than the one specified in the existing plan. If a 
resolution to the issue is delayed further, the presence of Futenma 
Air Station in Ginowan could become permanent. The U.S. message is 
being taken as a move reflecting its impatience. 
 
The meeting brought together Foreign Minister Okada, Defense 
Minister Kitazawa, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos, U.S. Forces Japan 
Commander Rice, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Schieffer, and 
State Department Japan Desk Chief Maher. 
 
The foreign minister explained the domestic political situation, 
including the SDP's stance, and said to the U.S. side, "We want to 
settle the issue in cooperation with the U.S. It is necessary to 
reduce the burden of Okinawa as much as possible." Okada apparently 
asked the U.S. side to comply with Japan's request for the transfer 
of the training site, about which Japan is sounding out the U.S. on 
the working level, ahead of schedule. The defense minister also told 
the U.S. side, "It will not be easy to reach a definite decision 
before the end of the year." Concerning looking into about a new 
relocation site, he sought understanding, saying, "The prime 
minister has been saying from way back that every option should be 
considered." 
 
The U.S. expressed concern, with one participant saying, "If the 
situation drags on like this, it will become even more difficult to 
reach a decision." Stressing that the USFJ realignment plan includes 
the transfer of Marines to Guam, he warned, "The U.S. Congress is 
very interested in this issue. In terms of relations with Congress, 
unless the relocation of the Futenma functions makes headway, it 
could have an adverse effect on the entire plan, including the 
transfer of Marines to Guam." 
 
After the meeting, the foreign minister and the defense minister 
reported on the details of the meeting to the prime minister. The 
prime mister on the evening of the same day told the press corps, 
"Naturally I hope that the U.S. will value the Japan-U.S. alliance." 
However, he also explained, "The U.S. side has expressed strong 
concern about matters related to the schedule." 
 
Prior to the working group meeting, Roos delivered a speech on the 
USFJ realignment plan in Tokyo on the same day. He stated, 
"Presumably there will be various adjustments." His statement is 
being taken as an indication that the U.S. is ready to accept 
measures to reduce the burden of Okinawa sought by Japan if the 
issue is settled in line with the existing plan. 
 
5) Foreign Minister Okada: Negotiations with U.S. over Futenma 
relocation reaching limit 
 
TOKYO 00002781  004 OF 008 
 
 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
December 6, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met on Dec. 5 with Masao Kishimoto, 
president of Okinawa Times, in Naha City. During the meeting, in 
connection with Japan-U.S. talks on the issue of relocating the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa 
Prefecture), Okada told Kishimoto: "We've been holding in-depth 
talks for two months. We've reached our limit." Although the cabinet 
of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has decided against coming to a 
conclusion on the issue before the end of the year, the U.S. 
government has strongly urged Japan to implement the existing 
Japan-U.S. agreement to relocate the Futenma air base to the Henoko 
district in Nago City. Therefore, Okada's comment demonstrated his 
harsh view of the situation that if the Hatoyama administration 
insists on an alternative site other than Henoko, Futenma relocation 
itself will become difficult. 
 
According to a participant in the meeting, Okada said that the idea 
he had proposed on merging Futenma with Kadena Air Base would be 
"difficult." He then said,"(The existing plan) has already been 
agreed upon between Japan and the United States. We cannot go back 
to square one in our discussions." He added, "We have run out of 
options." He indicated in his remarks that Japan has no other option 
than to accept the plan to relocate Futenma to Henoko. 
 
Okada stated at a press conference after the meeting, "I wonder if 
the relationship of trust (between Tokyo and Washington) can be 
maintained if the agreement is not implemented. I am very concerned 
about the current state of the Japan-U.S. relationship." He also 
stressed that postponing a settlement of the issue would not lead to 
a resolution. He said, "As foreign minister I will have to find a 
breakthrough. We, including the Prime Minister, are discussing what 
decision will be lead to a breakthrough in the situation." He 
intends to look for a breakthrough strategy right until the last 
minute. 
 
6) FM Okada urges PM Hatoyama to make decision on Futenma relocation 
based on current plan at early date 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 7, 2009 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met with Foreign Minister Katsuya 
Okada at his official residential quarters for about 80 minutes on 
Dec. 6 to discuss the issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces 
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Okada explained to Hatoyama that the 
U.S. side had reacted strongly to his decision to defer a solution 
on this issue to next year. He urged Hatoyama to make a decision 
based on the current plan to relocate the base to the coastal area 
of Camp Schwab (in Nago City) under the 2006 Japan-U.S. agreement at 
an early date in order to prevent a rift in the bilateral alliance 
relationship. 
 
Okada requested the meeting on the pretext of giving Hatoyama a 
briefing on his visit to Okinawa on Dec. 4-5. He reiterated to 
Hatoyama that there is no possibility of the U.S. side accepting any 
proposal other than the existing relocation plan. He also informed 
the Prime Minister that he had given up on his own proposal to merge 
Futenma with Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. He asserted that the Prime 
Minister's postponement of a decision will result in the U.S.'s lost 
 
TOKYO 00002781  005 OF 008 
 
 
of trust in Japan and that the roadmap for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) 
realignment containing measures to reduce the burden imposed by the 
Futenma base might be scrapped. 
 
Hatoyama apparently did not give Okada a definite answer. Hatoyama 
had decided earlier to defer a solution to the Futenma issue to next 
year due to difficulties in coordinating with coalition partner 
Social Democratic Party, which is opposed to the current relocation 
plan, and other reasons. He also instructed Okada and Defense 
Minister Toshimi Kitazawa to consider other relocation sites apart 
from the one specified in the existing plan. 
 
Meanwhile, the U.S. side reacted strongly to the decision to defer a 
solution to the Futenma issue to next year at the Japan-U.S. cabinet 
level working group meeting on Dec. 4, stating that it is 
unacceptable and runs counter to the agreement reached at the 
Japan-U.S. summit in November. The U.S. side also hinted at 
rescinding the USFJ realignment roadmap. 
 
7) Hashimoto statement on accepting request for moving Futenma to 
Kansai Airport creating sensation 
 
MAINICHI (Page 29) (Excerpts) 
December 7, 2009 
 
Osaka Gov. Toru Hashimoto's indication that he will not rule out the 
argument of accepting a request for relocating the functions of 
Futenma Air Station from Okinawa to Kansai Airport has caused a 
stir. The government/ruling coalition, which has given up on finding 
a solution to the Futenma issue before the end of the year, is 
showing an interest, as seen in Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada's 
comment expressing his desire to hear Hashimoto's views. But chances 
to realize such a plan seem slim at the present. "People in Okinawa 
might have expectations that Kansa Airport will accept Futenma," an 
Okinawa-connected person in Osaka said with a troubled look on his 
face. 
 
The statement was made on Nov. 30. Responding to a question from the 
press corps on the Futenma issue, Hashimoto said: "If there is a 
formal request (from the government), I want to consider it in the 
direction of accepting it in principle. People's New Party lawmaker 
Mikio Shimoji (representing the House of Representatives Okinawa 
No.1 district), who is calling for moving base functions outside 
Okinawa, called on Hashimoto to express his gratitude to him on Dec. 
¶2. Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport (MLIT) Seiji 
Maehara, too, has welcomed Hashimoto's statement. 
 
But in reality, the prevailing view is that moving a U.S. base to 
Kansai Airport is unfeasible. "It is not built for (military) 
training. Training cannot be conducted at Kansai," a senior MLIT 
official said. Asked by the MLIT about the true intention behind the 
statement, a senior government official replied, "It is not being 
given concrete consideration." 
 
Hashimoto has emphatically said: "Okinawa was forced to shoulder a 
heavy burden during the fierce Okinawa ground battle (at the end of 
World War II), so we residents of mainland Japan must take that into 
consideration." He also said in a press meeting on Dec. 2: "I will 
present the idea at a meeting of the National Governors' Association 
as well." 
 
8) Okinawa Minister Maehara points out possible problems in 
 
TOKYO 00002781  006 OF 008 
 
 
environmental assessment in Henoko plan may delay relocation 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 5, 2009 
 
At a news conference on Dec. 4, Seiji Maehara, state minister for 
Okinawa affairs, referred to the possible deployment of the new 
transport helicopter MV-22 Osprey at the U.S. forces' Futenma Air 
Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) and pointed out that, "If this 
helicopter is deployed, the environmental impact assessment will 
have to be done all over again. There are some doubts as to whether 
the Henoko relocation plan is the fastest way," indicating his view 
that the relocation of the Futenma base to Henoko by 2014 will be 
difficult. 
 
Maehara also said: "What the Prime Minister is really thinking about 
is how to reduce the burden on Okinawa (through the relocation), and 
that is probably why he is looking at the possibility of relocation 
out of the prefecture. It is important for the cabinet to find out 
if there are any good alternative plans." 
 
9) LDP Secretary General Oshima says resolving Futenma issue before 
end of 2009 is in national interest 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 7, 2009 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Tadamori Oshima 
commented on the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station 
in Okinawa on Dec. 6. He said: "Since this issue may be fatal for 
the Japan-U.S. relationship, it is in the national interest, which 
is of higher priority than political party affiliation, to come up 
with a policy direction before the end of the year. We would like to 
inform the people of this serious crisis and press (Prime Minister 
Yukio Hatoyama) to make a decision by the end of this year." He made 
this comment in reply to a question from reporters in Morioka City. 
 
10) Japan, Australia postpone 2 plus 2 meeting to next spring 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 7, 2009 
 
The governments of Japan and Australia have decided to put off the 
planned meeting later this year of the bilateral security 
consultative committee (2 plus 2) comprising foreign and defense 
ministers to next spring. This is because attendees from the 
Japanese side are unable to set schedules for the meeting in the 
aftermath of the prolongation of the issue of relocating the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. The two governments will 
reschedule a meeting with an eye toward next spring, when the budget 
for next fiscal year is expected to be approved by the Diet. 
 
11) Secret pact panel to question former treaties bureau chief and 
others 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 7, 2009 
 
Masahiro Tsuruoka, Nanae Kurashige 
 
A panel of experts tasked with verifying the Foreign Ministry's 
investigation into alleged secret pacts between Japan and the United 
 
TOKYO 00002781  007 OF 008 
 
 
States, including one on the introduction of nuclear weapons into 
Japan, decided at its second meeting on Dec. 6 to conduct 
fact-finding interviews with former Treaties Bureau Director-General 
Kazuhiko Togo and other ex-Foreign Ministry officials. Other former 
officials mentioned include Nobuo Matsunaga, Ryohei Murata, and 
Takakazu Kuriyama, all former administrative vice ministers, as well 
as former American bureau chief Yoshio Okawara. 
 
Togo has indicated that in 1999 when he was serving as Treaties 
Bureau chief, he stored documents connected with the secret nuclear 
pact in a red file. Murata, too, has said that the secret pact was 
passed down to successive vice ministers. 
 
The three were holding such posts as Treaties Bureau chief and 
ambassador to the United States during the 1970s when retired Navy 
Rear Adm. Gene LaRoque testified before the U.S. Congress on port 
calls in Japan by U.S. warships carrying nuclear weapons and during 
the 1980s when former Ambassador to Japan Edwin Reischauer testified 
about the existence of the secret deal. 
 
12) Cabinet approval rate falls to 59 percent, according to Yomiuri 
poll: Sharp increase in respondents who replied, "The prime minister 
has no leadership" 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpts) 
December 7, 2009 
 
In a (telephone-based) nationwide public opinion survey The Yomiuri 
Shimbun conducted between Dec.4-6, the approval rate for the 
Hatoyama cabinet was 59 percent, down 4 points from the 63 percent 
recorded in the previous poll carried out in November. The 
non-approval rate stood at 29 percent (27 percent in the previous 
poll). This is the first time the Hatoyama cabinet's approval rate 
has fallen below 60 percent. As a reason for not supporting the 
cabinet, "the prime minister has no leadership" sharply increased to 
27 percent (13 percent in the previous survey). Prime Minister 
Hatoyama has decided to postpone a decision on the relocation of the 
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to next year, which is viewed 
as having driven down his approval rating. 
 
Concerning the Japan-U.S. agreement to relocate the Futenma 
functions to Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, 32 percent (32 percent 
in the previous poll) said, "It is better to modify the agreement 
slightly, followed by 26 percent (31 percent in the previous poll), 
who replied, "It is better to press ahead with what has been agreed 
upon, " and 26 PERCENT  (19 PERCENT  in the previous poll), who 
answered, "It is better to substantively review the agreement." 
Nearly 60 percent of the pollees thought that the relocation should 
be carried out, based on the existing plan to relocate the 
facilities within the prefecture, if the number of those who replied 
"modify slightly" and or said "as agreed on" are totaled. 
 
The proportion of pollees who do not think that the prime minister 
has fulfilled his accountability for his own politics or money 
problems, including the false statement on political funds 
donations, reached 85 percent (73 percent in the previous survey). 
The people are increasingly watching the prime minister with a stern 
eye. 
 
13) PNP's Kamei insists on bigger economic stimulation package, 
demands renewed working team discussion on supplementary budget 
 
 
TOKYO 00002781  008 OF 008 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Lead paragraph) 
December 7, 2009 
 
The government and the ruling parties will continue final 
coordination on the additional economic stimulation measures to be 
included in the second FY09 supplementary budget on Dec. 7. The 
People's New Party (PNP) is strongly demanding additional fiscal 
spending to make the package total over 8 trillion yen. Party leader 
Shizuka Kamei told reporters in Tokyo on Dec. 6: "You will see how 
many trillion yen the final package will be from the outcome of the 
discussions at the working team on Dec. 7," indicating his intention 
to refer the issue back to the working team. 
 
14) Koizumi: The Hatoyama Administration will not last until the 
Upper House election" 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 5, 2009 
 
At a dinner in Tokyo with former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 
Secretary General Taku Yamasaki and Deputy Secretary General 
Toshihiro Nikai former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi predicted 
that "the Hatoyama administration will not last until the Upper 
House election next summer."  He also commented on the LDP, 
remarking, "Now's a time to be patient and prudent." 
 
According to those present, he criticized the Hatoyama 
administration, which is flip-flopping on the issue of Futenma 
facility relocation: "The present fickle policy will lead to a 
complete loss of trust in Japan-U.S. relations." He also weighed in 
on the budget for next fiscal year: "At the point when government 
and local debt exceeds a quadrillion yen, the DPJ government is 
finished." 
 
On the same day as the law freezing the sale of Japan Post Holdings 
Company stocks was enacted, Koizumi said: "If Japan Post stocks are 
not made available to the private sector, public finances can't be 
reconstructed. After the LDP retakes power, these will be a precious 
revenue source," showing his attachment (to the postal privatization 
issue). But he added: "Public opinion holds the LDP responsible for 
everything, including the red color of post boxes and the tall 
height of utility poles. We must bide our time for two or three 
years." 
 
ROOS