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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000139 
 
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 01/22/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma issue: 
3) New proposals on Futenma relocation site to be submitted to panel 
second week of February, not January  (Yomiuri) 
4) SDP cancels inspection tour to Guam after being refused entry to 
U.S. military base  (Yomiuri) 
5) Hatoyama orders Hirano to settle Futenma issue by end of May 
(Nikkei) 
 
Defense & Security: 
6) Defense industry calls for relaxation of three arms-export rules 
(Yomiuri) 
7) SDF medical team to Haiti  (Mainichi) 
8) Okada sends letter to U.S. explaining Japan's position on nuclear 
policy  (Nikkei) 
 
Foreign relations: 
9) Japan and U.N. to cooperate in resolution of abduction issue 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Ozawa scandal: 
10) Prosecutors eyeing criminal case against Ozawa  (Sankei) 
11) Ozawa to undergo questioning tomorrow  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Politics: 
12) Replies to questions in Diet session  (Yomiuri) 
13) Association of prefectural assembly chairmen calls for caution 
regarding bill granting local suffrage to permanent  (Yomiuri) 
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano: Government mulls new panel on 
economic development measures for Okinawa  (Yomiuri) 
15) Haraguchi denies intervening in  reporting on Ozawa scandal 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Economy: 
16) Chrysler model first U.S. car to be subsidized  (Nikkei) 
 
Opinion: 
17) Yomiuri-Waseda poll: "High expectations for DPJ" substantially 
down to 55 PERCENT   (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Party heads debate: Prime Minister Hatoyama, LDP President Tanigaki 
face off in lax manner 
 
Mainichi: 
Question time: Defensive DPJ, feeble LDP 
 
Yomiuri: 
JAL to cut 15,000 jobs in one year 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan's pension money to be invested in Asian infrastructure 
 
Sankei: 
 
TOKYO 00000139  002 OF 008 
 
 
Prosecutors eyeing filing charges against Ozawa 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Ozawa to be questioned tomorrow over land deal 
 
Akahata: 
Ozawa's source of funding for land purchase may be kickbacks from 
general contractors 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Internal affairs minister's comment: Shallowness of governing 
party is astonishing 
(2) Diet: Set the stage for policy debate 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Lower House Budget Committee: Make debate more interesting for 
audience 
(2) Cabinet ministers' criticism of media: Their comments were 
careless 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Budget Committee: Intensify diet debates between party leaders 
(2) President Obama's first year in office: Rocky path lies ahead 
for policy of change 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Responsibility of China, which is closing in on Japan in terms 
of GDP 
(2) Intensify party-head debates 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Declaring false political fund reports is serious crime 
(2) Pressure on prosecutors not acceptable 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Politics and money: Prime Minister Hatoyama should take 
initiative in shedding light on the allegations 
(2) Chinese economy: Pay attention to both strong and weak sides 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Sports 2010: Give consideration to environment surrounding 
Olympic athletes 
 
3) New proposals on Futenma relocation site to be submitted to panel 
in second week of February, not January 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
The government and the ruling parties held a meeting of the "Okinawa 
base issues examination committee," which is studying relocation 
sites for the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station, at the Prime 
Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on Jan. 21. The committee 
decided that its members will submit their new proposals for 
Futenma's relocation site in the second week of February, instead of 
in January as originally planned. 
 
An inspection tour to the U.S. territory of Guam, which the Social 
Democratic Party and others are proposing as a possible relocation 
site, will also be considered. 
 
TOKYO 00000139  003 OF 008 
 
 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama disclosed on Jan. 21 that he ordered 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano to come up with a conclusion 
on the relocation site after coordinating with the U.S. side by the 
end of May. Hatoyama told reporters at the Kantei, "It is impossible 
for the Japanese government to come up with a proposal without 
coordinating with the U.S." 
 
4) SDP cancels inspection tour to Guam after being refused entry to 
U.S. military base 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
At an executive meeting on Jan. 21, the Social Democratic Party 
(SDP) decided to cancel its planned inspection tour to Guam, which 
the party is proposing as a possible relocation site for the U.S. 
forces' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. The reason is that 
permission to visit the U.S. military base was not granted. 
 
The SDP had requested permission from the U.S. side through the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence and the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs to visit the Andersen Air Force Base, the relocation site 
for some 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa, and other locations during 
a three-day trip to Guam from Jan. 25. However, the U.S. side 
responded that it would be difficult to accommodate the SDP 
visitors. There is speculation in the party that: "They have refused 
the visit even though we have not asked to see military secrets. 
This is probably because the party advocates the relocation of the 
Futenma base out of Okinawa or out of Japan (which conflicts with 
the U.S. position)." 
 
At a news conference on Jan. 21, Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno 
said: "This is regrettable. We will approach (the U.S. side) about 
an inspection tour of the working team of the three ruling parties 
(which is studying relocation sites for Futenma)." 
 
5) Hatoyama directs Hirano to settle Futenma issue by the end of 
May 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama told reporters yesterday at his office that 
once again he has directed Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano 
to work with the United States and decide by the end of May on where 
to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station. Earlier in 
the day, the government and ruling parties held a meeting of their 
panel to discuss Okinawa base issues. In the meeting, the tripartite 
ruling coalition concurred on looking into the possibility of 
visiting Guam shortly as a candidate for the relocation of Futenma 
airfield. 
 
Another possibility now being considered in the government is that 
Prime Minister Hatoyama will visit the United States in early June 
for a final agreement at a summit meeting with U.S. President 
Obama. 
 
6) Defense industry calls for relaxation of three arms export 
principles 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000139  004 OF 008 
 
 
January 22, 2010 
 
A meeting to exchange views between Defense Minister Toshimi 
Kitazawa and defense industry executives was held yesterday in 
Tokyo. The industry side called for easing of the three arms export 
principles effectively prohibiting the exports of arms and related 
technologies, saying that if Japan does not participate in 
international joint development projects and technology tie-ups, the 
country might not be able procure advanced equipment. 
 
7) SDF medical team departs for Haiti 
 
MAINICHI (Page 25) (Excerpt) 
January 25, 2010 
 
The Self-Defense Forces' emergency medical team (headed by Col. 
Makoto Shirakawa) left Narita Airport yesterday for quake-stricken 
Haiti on a chartered plane. Sachiko Ozawa, 35, a doctor who is a 
representative of the Kofu-based NGO named Haiti Friendship 
Association, will also leave for Haiti on Jan. 24 as a member of the 
Japanese Red Cross Society's relief team. The SDF's medical team of 
some 100 individuals, including 14 medical officers, will carry out 
relief activities in Haiti. 
 
8) Okada sent letters to U.S. explaining Japan's position on nuclear 
policy 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
It was learned yesterday that Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada sent 
last December letters on nuclear policy to U.S. Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Supporting 
President Barack Obama's nuclear-free world vision, the letters 
positively evaluate the U.S. deterrent via its nuclear umbrella. The 
letters are apparently intended to clarify the Japanese government's 
position of aiming for nuclear disarmament before the U.S. 
government releases its new Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). The NPR 
shows the U.S. government's policy for the next five to ten years. 
The U.S. government will issue its new NPR as early as March. The 
NPR is drawing attention as a factor that will have an impact on the 
global trend toward nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. 
 
9) Okada, UN rapporteur reaffirm cooperation on abduction issue 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada met with Vitit Muntarbhorn, UN 
special rapporteur for human rights in North Korea at the Foreign 
Ministry yesterday afternoon. In the meeting, the UN investigator 
agreed to continue to cooperate with Japan to resolve the issue of 
North Korea's past abductions of Japanese nationals. 
 
Okada told Muntarbhorn that North Korea has yet to respond to 
Japan's call for set up a committee to reinvestigate the abduction 
cases in line with an accord reached at a Japan-North Korea 
working-level meeting in August 2008. Muntarbhorn emphasized: "It is 
important that North Korea set a specific timeframe for resolving 
the abduction issue and follow up on the accord." 
 
Okada praised the activity of Muntarbhorn, who has been 
 
TOKYO 00000139  005 OF 008 
 
 
investigating North Korea's human rights issues since July 2004, 
saying: "He has been urging North Korea to act quickly on the 
abduction issue." 
 
Muntarbhorn is visiting Japan to collect information for an annual 
report on the North's human rights situation to be submitted to the 
UN Human Rights Council and the UN general assembly. He visited a 
site where Japanese were abducted and met abductees' family members. 
North Korea has not responded to the investigation. 
 
10) Prosecutors eyeing criminal case against Ozawa 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Lead paragraph) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Inquiries made by Sankei to sources close to the case revealed 
yesterday that House of Representatives member Tomohiro Ishikawa, 
36, former administrative chief of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa's political fund management 
organization, Rikuzankai, who has been arrested on suspicion of 
violating the Political Funds Control Law over the questionable land 
purchase, has admitted that Rikuzankai's unnecessary loan after the 
purchase of land was a deception to cover up the source of the 
funding used to purchase the land. The special investigation squad 
of the Tokyo District Prosecutors' Office apparently has been 
investigating the case with an eye on filing charges against Ozawa 
based on the belief that Ozawa was aware of his fund management 
body's intention not to declare the source of the funding in his 
political fund report because he was involved in the entire 
process. 
 
11) Prosecutors to question Ozawa tomorrow on land deal 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Excerpts) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Inquires made by Tokyo Shimbun to parties connected with the land 
deal case involving Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General 
Ichiro Ozawa's political fund management body, Rikuzankai, revealed 
that Tomohiro Ishikawa, 36, a DPJ House of Representatives member, 
who has been arrested on suspicion of violating the Political Funds 
Control Law, had applied for a bank loan of 400 million yen the day 
before the purchase of land. Ishikawa confessed to the special 
investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors' Office 
that he had reported to Ozawa that he got the loan on security of 
his fixed deposit. Prosecutors will question Ozawa voluntarily on 
Jan. 23 and seek his explanation about the circumstances surrounding 
the land deal. 
 
12) Report of debate in Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Jan. 
21 
 
YOMIURI (Page 10) (Excerpts) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Futenma relocation issue 
 
People's New Party lawmaker Mikio Shimoji: Can you promise the 
people that you will definitely reach (a conclusion) by May? 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama: I will decide on the relocation site 
for the Futenma airfield by May without fail. 
 
TOKYO 00000139  006 OF 008 
 
 
 
Shimoji: An increasing number of local government heads have begun 
to show their willingness to share with Okinawa the burden of the 
bases. It might be an idea to discuss this matter in meetings of the 
National Governors' Association. 
 
Hatoyama: I would like to utilize ruling parties' Okinawa Base 
Issues Study Committee.  I would like to meet with the relevant 
municipal leaders on the committee to look for a conclusion. I hope 
I will come up with a conclusion that is acceptable to the U.S. 
 
Shimoji: The budgetary allocations for Okinawa have remarkably 
decreased over the past decade, so promotion measures are 
necessary. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano: I would like to promote 
discussions on the issue with experts and the concerned municipal 
leaders in Okinawa. 
 
Japan-U.S. relations 
 
Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki: Democratic 
Party of Japan's Diet Affairs Committee Chairman (Kenji) Yamaoka 
described relations between Japan, the U.S. and China as an 
"equilateral triangle." 
 
Hatoyama: I do not think that each side of the triangle is the same 
in length. The Japan-U.S. security arrangements and the Japan-U.S. 
alliance are the cornerstone (of Japan's foreign and security 
policies). With relations with the U.S. as the basis, I will deepen 
cooperative relations with Asian countries. China is an important 
country among them. 
 
Haiti earthquake 
 
Shimoji: It is necessary for the Japanese government to continuously 
extend assistance to Haiti. 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada: I hear some say that the government 
should have extended (assistance) sooner. That is a matter for 
examination in the days ahead. But giving consideration to the 
safety of emergency rescue team members is also necessary. We 
dispatched (the aid team) as swiftly as possible. 
 
13) Association of prefectural assembly chairmen calls for caution 
regarding bill granting local suffrage to foreign permanent 
residents 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
At a general meeting on Jan. 21, the national association of 
prefectural assembly chairmen passed a special resolution in 
connection with the government's plan to pass a law granting local 
suffrage to permanent resident foreigners, saying: "This is an issue 
bearing on the very foundation of democracy. The bill should not be 
submitted or deliberated hastily." After the meeting, Masuo Kaneko 
(of Kagoshima Prefecture), chairman of the association, held a news 
conference where he criticized the government, stating: "I have a 
feeling that this is based on partisan interests (eyeing electoral 
gains). It is absolutely unacceptable." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000139  007 OF 008 
 
 
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano: Government mulls new panel on 
economic development measures for Okinawa 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
At a news conference on Jan. 21, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi 
Hirano revealed that a new panel on economic measures for Okinawa 
consisting of representatives of the government and the local 
governments is under consideration. 
 
There are already two existing panels on Okinawa regional 
development measures, the "Okinawa policy council," consisting of 
all cabinet ministers and the governor of Okinawa, and the "council 
on Futenma relocation," consisting of the chief cabinet secretary, 
other concerned ministers, and local government officials. However, 
the former has not been convened since April 2005, and the latter, 
since April 2009. Hirano said: "We need to sort out what role each 
of the two councils plays and think of a framework that will enable 
the implementation of more responsive (economic measures)." 
 
15) Internal affairs minister denies intervening in press reports 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Concerning his own statement that it is improper to use the term 
"related sources," when referring to information sources in TV 
reports on the alleged violation of the Political Funds Control Law 
involving Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Ozawa's 
political funds management organization, Internal Affairs Minister 
Haraguchi on the evening of Jan. 21 said, "I never meant to say that 
information sources should not be kept confidential or that each 
news source must be made clear. I have no intention of intervening 
in the specifics of broadcasting or making a complaint." He told 
this to the press corps at the Internal Affairs Ministry. Haraguchi 
explained that he made that statement with the press report 
guidelines formulated by the National Association of Commercial 
Broadcasters in Japan in mind. The guidelines stipulate that making 
news sources clear is the basis for (press reports). 
 
16) Chrysler becomes first U.S. automaker eligible for subsidies for 
eco-friendly car buyers 
 
NIKKEI (Page 11) (Full) 
January 22, 2010 
 
Chrysler Japan, headquartered in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on Jan. 21 
announced that it will put on the market on Feb. 1 a vehicle 
eligible for subsidies granted to buyers of new cars. Chrysler will 
be the first U.S. automaker to take advantage of the subsidy. The 
vehicle is the 2010 model of the Jeep Patriot sport utility vehicle. 
The new model has improved fuel efficiency in comparison with the 
1009 model. The government has recently eased the screening 
standards for imported cars eligible for the subsidy system. The new 
model was found eligible for the system because it meets the 
existing criteria. 
 
Chrysler has improved the fuel efficiency of the 2009 model (10 
kilometers per liter) to 10.6 kilometers per liter by modifying its 
electronic engine control system. If a buyer replaces a car which he 
or she owned for more than 13 years, they can receive a subsidy of 
 
TOKYO 00000139  008 OF 008 
 
 
250,000 yen. 
 
The new model has a 2,359-cc in-line four-cylinder DOHC 16-valve 
engine. Three types with different accessories are available. The 
manufacturer's suggested retail prices begin from 2,919,000 yen. 
 
17) Yomiuri-Waseda poll: "High expectations for DPJ" drop 
substantially to 55 PERCENT 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
January 22, 2010 
 
The Yomiuri Shimbun and Waseda University jointly conducted a 
face-to-face public opinion survey across the nation on Jan. 16-17. 
In the survey, 55 PERCENT  answered that they had high expectations 
for the ruling Democratic Party of Japan in the future. The figure 
was down from the previous survey (72 PERCENT ) conducted last 
September right after the election for the House of Representatives. 
The proportion of those disappointed with the DPJ in the past rose 
to 59 PERCENT  (37 PERCENT  in the previous survey). It has been 
over four months since the DPJ came into office. The public's 
expectations for the DPJ, however, have apparently shrunk and their 
disappointment has grown. Meanwhile, respondents were also asked if 
they would like the DPJ to win a single-party majority in this 
summer's election for the House of Councillors. To this question, 
only 35 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 54 PERCENT  saying "no." 
 
In the survey, respondents were further asked if they approved of 
the Hatoyama cabinet's job performance on the whole. In response to 
this question, 53 PERCENT  answered "yes," with 45 PERCENT  saying 
"no." In the area of policy measures, however, 58 PERCENT 
disapproved of the DPJ's economic steering and foreign policy. When 
asked about the DPJ's policy measures for social security, 46 
PERCENT  were affirmative, with 48 PERCENT  negative. As seen from 
these figures, negative answers outnumbered affirmative ones in both 
policy areas. In addition to the "politics-and-money" problems of 
Prime Minister Hatoyama and DPJ Secretary General Ozawa, the DPJ-led 
government has been unable to show specific results in the area of 
policies. This led to the public's harsh ratings for the DPJ. When 
asked if the DPJ is competent enough to run the government, 54 
PERCENT  answered "yes," down from 67 PERCENT  in the previous 
survey. To the same question asked about the Liberal Democratic 
Party now in the opposition bench, 54 PERCENT  answered "yes," also 
down from 57 PERCENT  in the survey. The DPJ was thus at the same 
level as the LDP. 
 
ZUMWALT