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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 002948 
 
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 12/30/09 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Interview with Noboru Yamaguchi, National Defense Academy 
professor, on gravity of Japan-U.S. alliance - Closeness more 
important than equality (Yomiuri) 
 
(2) Government working team to meet in early January to deal with 
serious effects of child pornography (Mainichi) 
 
(3) Poll on family (Asahi) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Interview with Noboru Yamaguchi, National Defense Academy 
professor, on gravity of Japan-U.S. alliance - Closeness more 
important than equality 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 30, 2009 
 
There are only a few people in the United States who are earnestly 
endeavoring to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance. If those people lose 
trust in Japan due to the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station, we will have as serious situation on our hands. 
That is because, after all, some aspects of the maintenance and 
management of a bilateral alliance depend on the people. The 
question of Okinawa's base burden must be resolved. But if the 
United States thinks Japan is not a reliable partner, negotiations 
will not move forward. In that respect, the handling of this issue 
is of great importance. 
 
Although some are calling for moving Futenma Air Station outside 
Okinawa, this option is difficult from a military perspective. The 
Marine Corps consists of the command, ground combat unit, air force 
unit, and logistics support unit. The Futenma base is being used by 
the air force unit that supports the ground combat unit. Moving this 
base outside Okinawa is tantamount to putting the shoes outside the 
entrance to a house. 
 
There are also many problems with relocating all of the Marines to 
Guam. In Guam, it would be difficult to act in concert with U.S. 
Seventh Fleet ships in Yokosuka and Sasebo and with Kadena Air Base 
in Japan. 
 
Against all odds, Washington has accepted Tokyo's request for the 
realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of 
Futenma Air Station. It is expected that the implementation of the 
existing plan to relocate Futenma to the city of Nago in Okinawa 
will entail much difficulty. But if the government looks for other 
sites, it will be 10 to 15 years before a conclusion is reached. It 
is realistic to consider relocation to Nago, which was picked after 
much discussion. 
 
The Japan-U.S. alliance involves several thousand American youths 
risking their lives to defend Japan during a contingency. Since 
contingencies rarely occur, it difficult for Japanese people to 
comprehend such a reality. On the other hand, misconduct by U.S. 
service members and accidents involving stray bullets from U.S. 
military maneuvering ranges are very noticeable. This situation can 
easily breed discontent. 
 
Some people believe that the current state of the Japan-U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00002948  002 OF 008 
 
 
alliance is comparable to the U.S.-ROK alliance under the previous 
Roh Moo Hyun administration. The Roh administration is said to have 
undermined the U.S.-ROK relationship. Nevertheless, the Roh 
administration successfully relocated a U.S. base away from central 
Seoul while strengthening the U.S.-ROK alliance by sending troops to 
Iraq and Afghanistan. It can be said that the Roh administration 
achieved sufficient results in relations with the United States. 
 
The Hatoyama administration has declared that it will aim for a 
close and equal Japan-U.S. alliance. Equality is fine, but closeness 
is also important. 
 
(2) Government working team to meet in early January to deal with 
serious effects of child pornography 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged) 
December 30, 2009 
 
Satoshi Chiyozaki, Koichi Tanno, Kazuya Suzuki 
 
There has been an unabated increase in child pornography portraying 
the sexual abuse of children under 18 years of age. Japan has been 
criticized by the international community for its slow response, but 
the government's Cabinet Meeting on Anti-crime Measures will hold 
the first meeting of its working team in early January and make 
serious efforts to clear its reputation. Meanwhile, attempts to 
amend and tighten the law prohibiting child prostitution and child 
pornography with regard to the possession of (pornographic) images 
have plunged into further confusion and impasse since the change of 
administration. 
 
One particular child pornography incident this year came as a great 
shock to the police. 
 
The Miyagi Prefectural Police arrested in November a 46-year-old 
unemployed man for shooting pornographic images of a one-year-old 
baby girl at his house in Tokyo. The baby's 31-year-old mother was 
actually the one who handed her to the man. The man inserted his 
penis into the girl in front of the mother and recorded the scene. 
At least eight other mothers were found to have done the same 
thing. 
 
This man, who is obsessed with child pornography and collecting 
underwear, became acquainted with the mothers because they were 
selling their own underwear through a cell phone website for this 
purpose. He offered these women money in exchange for allowing him 
to take pictures of their children. Nearly 10,000 pornographic 
photos were found on the man's computer. 
 
There has been an increase in child pornography incidents involving 
the children's own parents. A senior investigator says that the 
background to this is that "the tendency to regard children as sex 
objects has become widespread." He explains that "stricter law 
enforcement alone will not be sufficient." 
 
In reality, the number of prosecutions and indicted suspects for 
child pornography offenses and the number of victimized children 
marked an all-time high in 2009. The National Police Agency (NPA) is 
worried that if nothing is done about the low level of public 
awareness, increasingly younger children may be victimized and child 
pornography may come to involve increasingly brutal acts like in 
Western countries. While the NPA has been looking for ways to 
 
TOKYO 00002948  003 OF 008 
 
 
cooperate with the concerned ministries, some ministries are 
cautious due to their consideration for Internet-based businesses. A 
unified strategy is not yet in place. 
 
However, in light of the serious effects of child pornography on the 
victims, a working team was finally launched on Dec. 22. This body 
will formulate the government's first comprehensive policy by next 
summer. After the Cabinet Meeting on Anti-crime Measures decided to 
set up the working team at its meeting, National Public Safety 
Commission Chairman Hiroshi Nakai said: "I am ashamed that Japan is 
probably regarded as the most lenient country on child pornography 
(among the advanced nations). The Hatoyama administration will make 
every effort to eradicate child pornography," declaring his 
determination. 
 
Steps to prevent the dissemination of and access to child 
pornography images on the Internet are expected to be the main 
measures to be taken. These measures aim to instill widespread 
awareness that "child pornography is absolutely impermissible." The 
NPA, which will play a central role in the working team, will 
appoint new devoted anti-child pornography officers. A senior vice 
minister of the Cabinet Office will serve as the chair of the team, 
and bureau chief-level officials from nine ministries will 
participate. 
 
While measures are now being taken at the government level, 
deliberations in the Diet on the amendment to the law prohibiting 
child prostitution and child pornography have been in disarray since 
the change of administration. 
 
With regard to the legal amendment, the Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) and New Komeito, which were in favor of regulating even 
"simple possession" or collecting images for personal viewing, and 
the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which was reluctant about such 
restrictions, submitted separate amendment bills to the Diet under 
the LDP-New Komeito administration. Through discussions on revisions 
to these proposals, the two sides were near agreement on regulating 
"simple possession" when the House of Representatives was 
dissolved. 
 
A number of DPJ, LDP, and New Komeito Diet members who participated 
in the revision discussions have attempted to have the agreed bill 
passed at an early date after the change of administration. However, 
there is a persistent opinion in the LDP and New Komeito that, "We 
should submit a new bill with the best provisions now that we are in 
opposition" (in the words of LDP Lower House member Sanae Takaichi). 
Therefore, these two parties re-submitted their original bill from 
before discussions with the DPJ, and this has been carried over to 
the regular Diet session next year. 
 
Furthermore, the Social Democratic Party, which has been the most 
hesitant about the legal amendment, is now a ruling party. This has 
exacerbated the ambiguity of the ruling coalition's position. 
 
(3) Poll on family 
 
ASAHI (Page 5) (Abridged) 
December 27, 2009 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures in percentage, rounded off) 
 
 
TOKYO 00002948  004 OF 008 
 
 
Q: Do you support the Hatoyama cabinet? 
 
Yes 54 
No 29 
 
 
Q: Which political party do you support now? 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 40 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP or Jiminto) 19 
New Komeito (NK) 3 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 1 
Your Party (YP or Minna no To) 0 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 
Other political parties 0 
None 28 
No answer (N/A) + don't know (D/K)7 
 
Q: To what extent are you satisfied with your daily life now? (One 
choice only) 
 
Very satisfied 8 
Somewhat satisfied 59 
Not very satisfied 27 
Not satisfied at all 5 
 
Q: How would you classify your standard of living? (One choice 
only) 
 
Upper-upper class 1 
Lower-upper class 2 
Upper-middle class 14 
Middle-middle class 45 
Lower-middle class 23 
Upper-lower class 10 
Lower-lower class 4 
 
Q: To what extent do you feel uneasy about you or a member of your 
family losing a job or suffering an income cut? (One choice only) 
 
Very 31 
Somewhat 46 
Not very 17 
Not at all 4 
 
Q: Do you think "family" is a source of comfort in today's society? 
 
Yes 67 
No 27 
 
Q: On the whole, do you think family ties are stronger than before, 
weaker than before, or remain unchanged? 
 
Stronger 26 
Weaker 33 
Unchanged 39 
 
Q: To what extent do you think family ties are important? (One 
choice only) 
 
 
TOKYO 00002948  005 OF 008 
 
 
Very important 67 
Somewhat important 30 
Not very important 2 
Not important at all 1 
 
Q: What do you think the ties that bind a family are? (One choice 
only) 
 
Family name, family register 2 
Biological ties 29 
Living together 30 
Financial ties 4 
Emotional ties 33 
 
Q: Do you think each family member needs to make efforts to protect 
family ties, or do you think family ties can be protected even if 
each family member does not make efforts? 
 
Each family member needs to make efforts 92 
Family ties can be protected even if each family member does not 
make efforts 6 
 
Q: Do you think it would be better for a family to spend time 
together as much as they can, or do you think it would be better for 
a family to feel free to spend time on their own? 
 
Better to spend time together 67 
Better to spend time on their own 26 
 
Q: What is your ideal image of a family? (One choice only) 
 
Father-centered family 36 
Mother-centered family 12 
Happy family 43 
Free family 6 
 
Q: Do you think Japan today is a society in which people can work 
while maintaining a balance between work and family life? 
 
Yes 14 
No 82 
 
Q: Do you think it would be better to strengthen government 
restrictions on corporations and other entities so that people can 
work while maintaining a balance between work and family life? 
 
Yes 54 
No 32 
 
Q: Do you think marriage has more benefits for men in Japan today? 
 
Yes 50 
No 40 
 
Q: Do you think marriage has more benefits for women in Japan 
today? 
 
Yes 47 
No 43 
 
Q: Do you think people should get married if possible, or do you 
think people do not necessarily need to get married? 
 
TOKYO 00002948  006 OF 008 
 
 
 
People should get married if possible 52 
People do not necessarily need to do so 44 
 
 
Q: Do you agree that people, when they get married, should try to 
give up their own free time or what they want to do for the sake of 
their family? 
 
Yes 47 
No 44 
 
Q: Do you agree that people should not get married unless they can 
expect to earn a steady income? 
 
Yes 56 
No 35 
 
Q: There are more and more people marrying late in life or not 
marrying at all. To what extent do you think this is problematic for 
Japan today? (One choice only) 
 
Very 31 
Somewhat 49 
Not very 16 
Not at all 2 
 
Q: What do you think is the reason why there are more and more 
people marrying late in life or not marrying at all? (Up to two) 
 
Young people cannot get steady jobs or income 38 
People's values about marriage have changed 39 
People are expecting more from one another 10 
There are more women who can support themselves 39 
Living alone has become convenient  24 
There are more people who prefer to live freely 31 
 
 
Q: Do you think a husband or wife should mainly (1) earn money for a 
living, (2) do housework like cooking and cleaning, and (3) raising 
children, or do you think the husband and wife should share these 
roles equally? 
 
 (1) (2) (3) 
Husband 63 1 1 
Wife 0 51 23 
Share equally 35 46 74 
 
Q: (Only for men) Would you like your wife to be a full-time 
homemaker? 
 
Yes 41 
No 53 
 
Q: (Only for women) Would you like to be a full-time homemaker? 
 
Yes 31 
No 62 
 
Q: The tax burden of a man whose wife is a full-time homemaker is 
lighter than that of a man whose wife is not. Do you think this is 
appropriate? 
 
TOKYO 00002948  007 OF 008 
 
 
 
Yes 69 
No 23 
 
Q: This question is about "common law marriage" in which a man and a 
woman live a married life as a matter of fact without registering 
their marriage with a public office. Do you consider common law 
marriage to be a type of marriage? 
 
Yes 51 
No 44 
 
 
Q: When compared with a married couple, a man and a woman choosing 
common law marriage are subject to disadvantages in such aspects as 
taxation. Do you think it is necessary to make this distinction? 
 
Yes 54 
No 36 
 
Q: Do you approve of amending the law so that a married couple can 
choose to use the same surname or separate surnames of their own 
free will? 
 
Yes 49 
No 43 
 
Q: Under the current legal system, a man or a woman must change his 
or her surname when they get married. In this regard, some people 
view this as inconvenient at workplaces or elsewhere. Do you agree 
with this view? 
 
Yes 45 
No 47 
 
Q: Some people believe that family ties will weaken when separate 
surnames are allowed for married couples. Do you agree with this 
opinion? 
 
Yes 39 
No 55 
 
Q: Some people believe that society will become confused if 
different surnames are used in a family or for other reasons when 
separate surnames are allowed for married couples. Do you agree with 
this opinion? 
 
Yes 63 
No 32 
 
 
Q: If separate surnames are allowed for married couples now, which 
surname would you like to choose? Would you like to use the same 
surname or prefer to use separate surnames? 
 
Same surname 83 
Separate surnames 10 
 
Q: Under the current legal system, a child born to an unmarried 
couple is subject to disadvantages in terms of inheritance when 
compared with a child born to a married couple. Some people believe 
that this legal system should be changed so that a child born to an 
 
TOKYO 00002948  008 OF 008 
 
 
unmarried couple can be treated the same as a child born to a 
married couple. Do you agree with this opinion? 
 
Yes 58 
No 29 
 
Q: Do you think Japan today is a society in which it is easy for 
people to raise children? 
 
Yes 18 
No 75 
 
Q: Do you feel reluctant to ask others like babysitters or neighbors 
to help with child rearing? 
 
Yes 31 
No 65 
 
Q: Do you think children should only be disciplined by their 
families, or do you think they should be disciplined not only by 
their families but also by their schools and local communities? 
 
Only their families 40 
Not only by their families but also their schools and local 
communities 56 
 
 
Q: What do you think parents should teach their children? (One 
choice only) 
 
Individuality, self-reliance 12 
Knowledge, competitiveness 2 
Thoughtfulness, cooperativeness 53 
Courtesy, social morality 31 
 
Q: How long do you think parents should support their children 
financially? (One choice only) 
 
Up to the age of 15 or so (until graduation from junior high school) 
2 
Up to the age of 18 or so (until graduation from high school) 31 
Up to the age of 20 32 
Up to the age of 22 or so (until graduation from university) 32 
Beyond the age of 22 1 
 
Q: Which opinion is closest to yours about the cost of child 
rearing? 
 
Support from the local community is required for child rearing, so 
the public burden should be increased 53 
Individuals should be responsible for child rearing, so the public 
burden can be kept at the current level 42 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Dec. 5-6 on a 
face-to-face basis. For the survey, a total of 3,000 persons were 
chosen from among the nation's registered voting population on a 
stratified two-stage random-sampling basis. Valid respondents 
totaled 1,893. In their breakdown, males accounted for 47 PERCENT 
and females 53 PERCENT . 
 
ROOS