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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 07 TOKYO 002935 
 
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 12/29/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Futenma issue: 
4) Prime Minister says no Futenma accord can ignore U.S. views 
(Nikkei) 
5) Gist of prime minister's comments  (Nikkei) 
6) Three ruling parties to propose in January candidate sites for 
Futenma facility relocation  (Yomiuri) 
 
Defense & security: 
7) Kyodo poll: Governors reluctant to accept U.S. forces' facilities 
 (Tokyo Shimbun) 
8) Marines to begin repair of Futenma runways  (Yomiuri) 
 
Politics: 
9) High court rules vote disparity of 2 is unconstitutional 
(Yomiuri) 
10) PM indicates acceptance of high court's verdict  (Nikkei) 
 
Economy: 
11) Japan, India accelerate EPA negotiations  (Nikkei) 
12) Govt. sets target for nominal annual GDP growth of 3 PERCENT 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Foreign relations: 
13) Japanese and Russian foreign ministers agree to speed up 
negotiations on territorial issue  (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Prime Minister's policy group fails to submit accounting report on 
political funds 
 
Mainichi: 
Pre-pandemic vaccines for 10 million people expired 
 
Yomiuri: 
Fund for land purchase by Ozawa's fund management body: 400 million 
yen in time deposit a camouflage? 
 
Nikkei: 
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Asahi Glass, other major companies 
enter market for solar energy generation 
 
Sankei: 
All projects subsidized by Agency for Natural Resources and Energy 
had only one applicant 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
300 enter Tokyo's "temp workers' village" on first day, relieved to 
be able to spend New Year's holidays under a roof 
 
Akahata: 
"Government's temp workers' village" launched; 200 inhabitants able 
to spend year-end, New Year's holidays there in Tokyo 
 
TOKYO 00002935  002 OF 007 
 
 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Futenma relocation: Make serious efforts to look for relocation 
site outside of Okinawa 
(2) Unconstitutional verdict on allocation of Diet seats: Take 
urgent steps to rectify "special single-seat districts" 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Vote disparity unconstitutional: Diet has serious issue to deal 
with 
(2) Start of Futenma panel deliberations: Go back to the starting 
point of relocation 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Prime Minister's visit to India: Strengthen relations with new 
major power 
(2) Vote disparity in Lower House: Correcting disparity to less than 
two times an urgent issue 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Can the government bring an end to the "two lost decades"? 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Constitutional revision: Don't stop at Prime Minister's 
statement 
(2) Investigation of Diet member Ishikawa: Mr. Ozawa should provide 
explanation on land scandal 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Sharp decline in support rating: Diet session in January will be 
crucial 
(2) Revision of medical fees: What is required to prevent 
disintegration of medical services? 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Learn lesson from termination of employment of temporary 
workers 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, December 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
(Local time) 
Morning Held talks with Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani 
at the Hotel Taj Mahal. 
Afternoon  Held talks with Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata. 
Afterwards met Indian business leaders, including Confederation of 
Indian Industry President-designate Bhartia. 
Noon Ate lunch at the Leela Hotel in Mumbai. 
Afternoon Left Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on a 
government plane. Arrived at Palam Air Base in Delhi. Held talks at 
the Oberoi Hotel in the city with representatives of Japanese 
companies doing business in India. Afterward met PCC Chairman 
Pacahuri. Talked with the press corps traveling with him. 
Night Held talks with Sonia Gandhi, chief of   India's ruling 
Congress party, at her private residence. Attended an informal 
dinner party held by Prime Minister Singh at his official 
 
TOKYO 00002935  003 OF 007 
 
 
residence. 
 
4) PM Hatoyama says "U.S. wishes cannot be ignored" in Futenma 
relocation decision 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
Kimihiko Takahata in New Delhi 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is on a visit to India, held an 
informal meeting with reporters accompanying him on the trip on Dec. 
¶28. Discussing the issue of the relocation of the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, he said: "It is not possible to come 
up with an agreement among the ruling parties that ignores the 
U.S.'s wishes. I have expressed my thoughts on Guam (relocation) 
with that in mind." He also indicated that next May is the deadline 
for deciding the relocation site, including reaching an agreement 
between Japan and the U.S. 
 
This statement by the Prime Minister indicates his stance of giving 
consideration to the U.S. side's wishes, including ruling out Guam 
as a possible relocation site. 
 
Hatoyama also said that he will "respect" the conclusion reached by 
the "Okinawa base issue examination committee" (chaired by Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano) of the government and the ruling 
parties, which held its first meeting on the same day. He indicated 
that, "We will look at all the possibilities and come up with the 
best solution for the Japan-U.S. alliance and national security," 
reiterating that he will be the one to make the final decision on 
the relocation site. 
 
5) Gist of PM Hatoyama's remarks on Futenma relocation in New Delhi 
on December 28 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
The following is the gist of remarks made by Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama to reporters accompanying him on his visit to India: 
 
Futenma relocation issue 
 
We will look into all the possibilities at the meetings (of the 
Okinawa base issue examination committee of the government and the 
ruling parties) and come up with a solution that is best for the 
Japan-U.S. alliance and national security. Needless to say, I will 
respect the conclusion reached (by the committee). 
 
It is not possible to come up with an agreement among the ruling 
parties that ignores the U.S.'s wishes. I have expressed my thoughts 
on Guam (relocation) with that in mind. With Japan and the U.S. 
setting a schedule until next May, the government will make its 
final decision during this period. Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's 
position (said to be negative about the existing relocation plan) is 
no more and no less than what his statements indicate. He gives 
consideration to Okinawa. 
 
I have always been consistent in my statements. Even though I have 
not been wavering at all, (my statements) are interpreted as 
wavering. Since I must not cause any misunderstanding, I should not 
 
TOKYO 00002935  004 OF 007 
 
 
say much until the new relocation site is decided. 
 
6) Futenma relocation panel agrees to submit proposals on relocation 
site within January 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
The government and the ruling parties held the first meeting of 
their "Okinawa base issue examination committee" at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on Dec. 28. The participants 
agreed to submit proposals on the relocation site within January for 
serious consideration. They also confirmed that they will aim at 
reaching a conclusion by next May. However, there is still a strong 
opinion that it will be difficult to find a relocation site other 
than the coastal area of Camp Schwab under the existing relocation 
plan. The coordination process is expected to be tough. 
 
The committee is chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano, 
and Senior Vice Foreign Minister Koichi Takemasa and Senior Vice 
Defense Minister Kazuya Shimba represented the government side, 
while Social Democratic Party policy chief Tomoko Abe, People's New 
Party policy chief Mikio Shimoji, and others attended from the 
ruling parties. The committee will hold meetings once every week to 
10 days. They also agreed to invite experts as necessary. 
 
In a related development, Democratic Party of Japan Secretary 
General Ichiro Ozawa stated at a meeting with New Party Daichi 
member of the House of Representatives Muneo Suzuki at the Diet on 
Dec. 28: "We will wait for the Kantei's decision, but we must listen 
to the voice of Okinawa's people. It is better not to build a 
military base in that beautiful sea." 
 
7) Survey of governors: none express willingness to accept U.S. 
military facilities and training 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 1) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
Kyodo News Service conducted an opinion survey of the governors of 
46 prefectures excluding Okinawa on the reduction in the base burden 
on Okinawa which hosts 74 percent of the U.S. military facilities in 
Japan. None of the governors surveyed said that they would "totally 
accept" or "accept when certain conditions are met" military 
training and facilities. The governors of 29 prefectures responded 
that the central government has exclusive authority over security 
policy and that the responsibility for national security rests 
exclusively with the central government. 
 
Fifteen governors said it is necessary to reduce the burden on 
Okinawa. On the relocation of the U.S. Martine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has indicated that he plans 
to look for possible relocation sites other than the coastal area of 
Camp Schwab in the Henoko district in the city of Nago, the site 
agreed upon between Japan and the United States. The survey has 
exposed the difficulty of moving U.S. military training and 
facilities out of Okinawa. 
 
The survey was conducted from early December through mid-December. 
Replies, written or oral, were received from all 46 governors, 
though some refused to answer all the questions. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002935  005 OF 007 
 
 
The governors of prefectures such as Hokkaido, Kanagawa, and Saga -- 
most of which host U.S. military facilities or training -- said that 
the burden on Okinawa must be lessened. The governors of only three 
prefectures -- Shizuoka, Oita, and Miyazaki -- clearly said that 
prefectures other than Okinawa should accept U.S. military 
facilities and training. The governors of Aomori and elsewhere 
pointed out the realignment and reduction of bases as a specific 
step to reduce the burden. 
 
The governors of five prefectures -- Toyama, Tottori, Tokushima, 
Ehime, and Kochi -- explicitly said that it would be "quite 
difficult" or "impossible" to accept new U.S. military facilities 
and training, citing a lack of appropriate sites. 
 
8) U.S. Marines to repair runway on Futenma base, cannot wait for 
replacement facility to be built 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
The U.S. Marines in Okinawa announced on Dec. 28 that repair work on 
the runway of the Futenma Air Station in Ginowan City will start 
from Jan. 10. The construction work will take about three months, 
and aircraft, including air tankers but excluding helicopters, will 
be moved to the Kadena Air Base (straddling the towns of Kadena and 
Chatan and Okinawa City) temporarily. The U.S. government has 
already notified the Japanese government that if the implementation 
of Futenma's relocation is delayed, repair work that the U.S. has 
postponed so far will take place. The announcement indicates 
construction work will be executed as planned. Concerns spread in 
Okinawa on Dec. 28 that the Futenma base may remain indefinitely. 
 
In response to Yomiuri Shimbun's query, the Marines' public affairs 
office said that the construction work is part of routine 
maintenance, but added: "We have postponed the work in anticipation 
of the return of Futenma (in 2014), but the construction of the 
replacement facility will take much longer than expected, so we 
cannot wait any longer." 
 
With regard to Futenma's relocation, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama 
has indicated his intention to choose a new relocation site other 
than Henoko in Nago City under the current relocation plan and the 
U.S. government has reacted strongly to this. Routine maintenance of 
the runway also took place in 2005, but there is an opinion in the 
Japanese government that undertaking repair work at this time "may 
be a move hinting at the indefinite retention of the Futenma base." 
Ginowan Mayor Yoichi Iha expressed his concern on Dec. 28: "It will 
be a problem if this is linked to the entrenchment of the Futenma 
base." 
 
9) Osaka High Court rules for first time that vote disparity 
exceeding two in single-seat constituencies unconstitutional 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
Evening, December 28, 2009 
 
The Osaka High Court earlier today handed down a ruling on a lawsuit 
filed by a man of Mino, Osaka Prefecture, demanding the prefectural 
election committee nullify the results of the Aug. 30 Lower House 
election, saying that the disparity in the value of votes cast in 
single-seat constituencies that reached 2.3-to-1 was 
unconstitutional. Presiding Judge Kitaru Narita declared that the 
 
TOKYO 00002935  006 OF 007 
 
 
Aug. vote was unconstitutional, saying, "Under the Constitution, the 
legislative branch is not allowed to leave the current situation 
uncorrected where the disparity in the weight of one vote exceeds 
two." But the judge rejected the plaintiff's demand to annul the 
vote on the grounds that revoking the election result would 
seriously harm the public interest and would not serve the public 
welfare. 
 
10) Prime Minister takes seriously the court's decision that vote 
disparity is unconstitutional 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
Kimihiko Takahata, New Delhi 
 
The Osaka High Court ruled on Dec. 28 that the vote disparity in the 
August House of Councillors was unconstitutional. Prime Minister 
Yukio Hatoyama made the following comment on the court's ruling 
during an informal meeting with reporters accompanying him on his 
trip (to India): "We must take seriously the court's decision that 
ruled (the vote disparity) unconstitutional." On the government's 
response, the Prime Minister simply said: "I must say that we should 
be cautious in taking the next step." 
 
Representing the government/ruling coalition, Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano said to the press corps: "It is a matter 
that concerns the foundation of the election system. I would like to 
see the parties and floor groups thoroughly discuss the matter." 
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi 
indicated that he takes the ruling seriously. Liberal Democratic 
Party Secretary General Tadamori Oshima also said: "Our party must 
conduct active discussions based on the high court's decision." 
 
11) Hatoyama: Japan, India need to expedite EPA talks 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
MUMBAI-Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, now visiting India, met 
yesterday at a Mumbai hotel with Hari Bhartia, president-elect of 
the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and other local business 
leaders. Hatoyama suggested the need for Japan and India to 
accelerate talks for an economic partnership agreement (EPA) between 
the two countries. "It's important to build a relationship of mutual 
trust in order for Japan and India to develop our bilateral 
relationship," Hatoyama said. 
 
12) Gov't eyes 3 PERCENT  growth for GDP 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Abridged) 
December 29, 2009 
 
The government yesterday entered into the final phase of 
coordination to target an annualized growth rate of 3 PERCENT  for 
Japan's nominal gross domestic product (GDP) in its basic course of 
action for "growth strategy," which shows measures for Japan to 
attain economic growth up to 2020. The growth strategy will uphold a 
numerical benchmark to boost the nation's GDP in nominal terms from 
the current estimate of approximately 500 trillion yen to 650 
trillion yen in 2020. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002935  007 OF 007 
 
 
The government will adopt the growth strategy in a cabinet meeting 
tomorrow and Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama will announce it. 
 
The government currently sets the nominal growth rate of Japan's GDP 
at 0.4 PERCENT  for fiscal 2010. Given this setting, the annualized 
3 PERCENT  growth rate is a high target. However, it will increase 
GDP in nominal terms that reflect price fluctuations, aiming to 
attain "economic growth that people can actually feel in their daily 
lives," a policy course prioritized by the ruling Democratic Party 
of Japan. Meanwhile, for GDP in real terms, the government is aiming 
for a growth rate of 2 PERCENT , which excludes price fluctuations. 
 
13) Japanese, Russian foreign ministers agree to accelerate 
negotiations on territorial dispute 
 
NIKKEI SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 29, 2009 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on Dec. 28 held with Russian Foreign 
Minister Lavrov the first regular consultative meeting on the 
Northern Territories dispute. The two ministers agreed that 
resolution of the dispute is absolutely imperative for the 
development of Japan-Russian relations and that negotiations at the 
minister level should be accelerated. They exchanged opinions about 
the "out-of-the-box approach" advocated by Russia, but made no 
concrete progress. 
 
Foreign Minister Okada explained the Hatoyama administration's 
comparison of politics and economics to "two wheels of one cart." 
"The absence of visible progress is a problem," he pointed out 
apropos the territorial dispute. "The foreign ministers must 
endeavor such that their countries' leaders can achieve concrete 
progress," he said. 
 
Foreign Minister Lavrov said, "We have absolutely no intention to 
deliberately delay a solution." But he added: "A solution must be 
grounded in international law and postwar reality." 
 
At the post-ministerial press conference Foreign Minister Lavrov 
commented on the "out-of-the-box approach," only saying, "At the 
present stage I can't disclose the details." 
 
ROOS