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RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 9524
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8911

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000181 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 01/28/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) MOFA official denies non-mention of Japan in President Obama's 
state-of-the-union address sign of "taking Japan lightly" (Jiji.com) 
 
 
(2) PM Hatoyama: President Obama might have misunderstood his words 
"trust me" (Jiji.com) 
 
(3) Former Deputy National Security Advisor Crouch worries important 
issues being put on the back burner (Asahi) 
 
(4) Commentary on Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano's remarks on local 
consent, legal procedures in relation to Futenma relocation site 
(Sankei) 
 
(5) On Futenma relocation issue, chief cabinet secretary says 
"agreement" is unnecessary but seeks "understanding" (Mainichi) 
 
(6) Indictment of U.S. Army soldier: Three months too long; support 
for the bereaved family necessary (Ryukyu Shimpo) 
 
(7) Interview with next Nippon Keidanren chairman Hiromasa Yonekura 
(Nikkei) 
 
(8) Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Sumitomo Chemical, informally 
picked as next Nippon Keidanren chairman; cooperation with 
government holds key to climbing out of deflation (Nikkei) 
 
(9) DPJ ahead of all other parties for upper house election (Nikkei) 
 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) MOFA official denies non-mention of Japan in President Obama's 
state-of-the-union address sign of "taking Japan lightly" 
 
JIJI.COM (Full) 
12:58, January 28, 2010 
 
U.S. President Barack Obama's first state-of-the-union address 
placed emphasis on employment, economic measures, and other domestic 
issues, as well as the "war on terrorism" in Afghanistan and did not 
mention Japan, with which the gap over the issue of the relocation 
of U.S. Forces' Futenma Air Station is widening. Commenting on this 
on Jan. 28, a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official 
denied that this is a sign of the U.S.'s "taking Japan lightly." He 
said: "The state-of-the-union address is focused on domestic issues 
in the U.S. This has nothing to do with the Futenma issue." 
 
This MOFA official cited the President's strong warning to North 
Korea and Iran on their ongoing efforts to develop nuclear arms and 
stressed that "he did not mention regions where there are no 
outstanding issues, which means that Japan is not a problem." 
Another senior MOFA official pointed out that "the President's 
interest is in the domestic employment issue." 
 
The government notes that the President indicated his intent to 
tackle global issues such as world economic recovery, prevention of 
global warming, and nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and 
plans to deepen Japan-U.S. cooperation in these areas. A government 
source said: "Japan will also cooperate for the success of the 
 
TOKYO 00000181  002 OF 008 
 
 
nuclear security summit (to be held in Washington in April)." 
 
(2) PM Hatoyama: President Obama might have misunderstood his words 
"trust me" 
 
JIJI.COM (Full) 
13:21, January 28, 2010 
 
At the House of Councillors Budget Committee on the morning of Jan. 
28, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama commented on his words "trust me," 
which he told President Barack Obama at their summit meeting last 
November. He said: "I meant to ask him to trust me, but I am not 
sure how he interpreted it. I might have sowed a certain degree of 
misunderstanding." This was in response to a question from the 
Liberal Democratic Party's Ichita Yamamoto. 
 
President Obama demanded the early implementation of the Japan-U.S. 
agreement on the issue of the relocation of U.S. Forces' Futenma Air 
Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) at the summit. The U.S. side 
reportedly interpreted Hatoyama's words to mean his acceptance of 
the existing relocation plan and has been increasingly disappointed 
with his efforts to reconsider the relocation site. 
 
(3) Former Deputy National Security Advisor Crouch worries important 
issues being put on the back burner 
 
ASAHI (Page 10) (Full) 
January 28, 2010 
 
Jack D. Crouch, former deputy U.S. presidential assistant (for 
national security affairs), now visiting Japan at the invitation of 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, gave an interview to the Asahi 
Shimbun yesterday. During the interview, Crouch said that the 
Futenma issue should be resolved as quickly as possible because 
there will be "an opportunity cost (loss of an opportunity)" if 
important issues between the two countries are put on the back 
burner. Crouch also said, "Compared with the question of how to 
respond to the rise of China, the base issue is a small matter." As 
tasks to which Japan and the United States should give priority, he 
cited building a lasting security framework in Asia including China, 
preparing for change on the Korean Peninsula, global-scale 
humanitarian-aid activities, and the like. 
 
Crouch said that for resolving the Futenma issue "patience and the 
reaffirmation of the positions of both sides are required." He 
added: "Experts from the two countries, rather than politicians, 
should hold discussions to chose the best of option ." 
 
(4) Commentary on Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano's remarks on local 
consent, legal procedures in relation to Futenma relocation site 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Full) 
January 28, 2010 
 
Hiroyuki Kano 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano is under fire for talking 
repeatedly about the possibility of a legal solution if the consent 
of the local government is not obtained for the relocation of the 
U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. It is believed that this is meant 
to retain the current plan to relocate the Futenma base to the 
coastal area of Camp Schwab (in Henoko, Nago City) as an option 
 
TOKYO 00000181  003 OF 008 
 
 
after an opponent to the relocation won in the Nago mayoral election 
in Okinawa and to keep a free hand for Prime Minister Yukio 
Hatoyama. Yet, it is not clear if Hatoyama is aware of the trouble 
his top aide is going through. He simply kept repeating at the House 
of Councillors Budget Committee on Jan. 27 that he will "definitely 
identify a relocation site by the end of May." It remains uncertain 
if this controversy can be settled. 
 
"Agreement with whom?" 
 
After Susumu Inamine, an opponent of Henoko relocation, won in the 
Nago election on Jan. 24, Hirano has been bombarded with questions 
on the "popular will" expressed in the mayoral election at his news 
conferences day in and day out. When asked at a news conference on 
Jan. 27 about his earlier statement that the relocation process will 
be possible even without the consent of the local government, he 
reached the height of his irritation, stating: "You talk about 
agreement with the local government, but agreement with whom? This 
is not an issue that requires the consent of every single party to 
carry out." 
 
Hirano, who chairs the Okinawa base issues examination committee of 
the government and the ruling parties, is now painfully aware of the 
difficulty of finding a new relocation site as an alternative to the 
existing relocation plan. 
 
The U.S. forces' Kadena Air Base (straddling the towns of Kadena and 
Chatan and Okinawa City) and Shimojishima (in Miyakojima City) have 
emerged as possible choices, but these are not feasible plans due to 
local opposition. 
 
Democratic Party of Japan House of Representatives member Seishu 
Makino, who is close to Hatoyama, has been visiting the island of 
Tokunoshima in the Amami islands in Kagoshima Prefecture since 
November, sounding out the three town mayors there on accepting 
Futenma's relocation. However, the mayors reportedly conveyed their 
rejection of the plan on Jan. 27. 
 
Even if a relocation site can be found, it is unlikely that the U.S. 
government, which is demanding the implementation of the current 
plan, will readily accede to a new one. 
 
A simple fact 
 
Hirano has mentioned taking legal steps for the relocation 
regardless of the local government's wishes because he now realizes 
the simple fact that Futenma relocation is "an issue affecting 
Japan's security" (in his own words). If relocation becomes 
impossible due to local opposition, the Japan-U.S. security alliance 
will become unstable. 
 
On the other hand, there is growing criticism in the ruling parties 
that "(Hirano's) repeating his statements on purpose is 
unacceptable. The Prime Minister should reprimand him," according to 
Social Democratic Party House of Representatives member Kantoku 
Teruya. 
 
Aware that he has drawn a lot of flak, when Hirano was asked about 
the proposal to relocate the Futenma base to Tokunoshima at his news 
conference, he said: "I am keenly aware of the weight my words 
carry, so I will refrain from making comments." 
 
 
TOKYO 00000181  004 OF 008 
 
 
Unlike Hirano, the Prime Minister continued to wag his tongue rather 
freely on Jan. 27. He said in the morning that he "has no intention 
to deny" the Tokunoshima proposal, which could be interpreted as an 
admission (that the proposal is being pushed). However, he went back 
on his own words in the evening, perhaps out of realization that the 
proposal was opposed by the local mayors. 
 
He said: "I have no knowledge of this matter. I should refrain from 
mentioning any particular island or town." 
 
(5) On Futenma relocation issue, chief cabinet secretary says 
"agreement" is unnecessary but seeks "understanding" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 28, 2010 
 
Over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi 
Hirano has made controversial remarks, evoking criticism in 
succession despite Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's effort to calm 
down the situation. Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that Hirano 
was secretly considering the island of Tokunoshima in Kagoshima 
Prefecture as a possible relocation site for the Futenma facility. 
The victory in the recent Nago mayoral election of the candidate who 
opposes the existing Futenma plan has sown discord in the Hatoyama 
administration. 
 
Reporter: "No matter which location is picked as the relocation 
site, I think it is necessary to obtain consent from the local 
government to host the alternative base." 
 
Hirano: "It is absolutely necessary to seek understanding (from the 
concerned local governments)." 
 
Reporter: "Do you mean (it is unnecessary to elicit) consent from 
the city mayor or town mayors involved?" 
 
Hirano: What is your definition of consent? 
 
In a press conference yesterday morning, the exchange of words 
between Hirano and reporters over "consent" and "understanding" went 
on and on. The exchange finally ended with Hirano saying, "you may 
interpret it in that way," in replying to a question by a reporter 
asking if Hirano has used the expression "consent" for a plan that 
legally requires approval (from the concerned persons, including the 
Okinawa governor) and "understanding" for a plan that does not. 
 
Bearing in mind necessary legal procedures for relocating the 
facility, Hirano has been overly obsessed with the difference in 
meaning between "consent" and "understanding." If the existing plan 
to move the facility to a coastal area of U.S. Camp Schwab in the 
Henoko district of Nago City is implemented, the Okinawa governor's 
approval for reclamation work will become necessary under the Public 
Water Body Reclamation Law, but approval from the Nago mayor will be 
unnecessary. In the case of building the facility on land, approval 
from neither the mayor nor governor is necessary. 
 
Hirano said on the 26: "The issue could be settled by law (without 
local consent)." Many people criticized this remark as high-handed, 
but Hirano was keeping legal steps in mind. In the press conference 
on the 27th, Hirano said: "There are (such forcible means as 
expropriation of land) as a general argument." On the night of the 
 
TOKYO 00000181  005 OF 008 
 
 
26th, a senior government official ruled out the possibility of 
resorting to forcible means, saying: "(If the government takes 
forcible steps,) the dispute between both sides will develop into 
one similar to the battle over Narita and will end miserably." 
 
In a meeting of the House of Councillors Budget Committee yesterday 
afternoon, New Komeito President Natsuo Yamaguchi pointed out: 
"(Hirano's) remarks related to the popular will in the Nago mayoral 
election have been creating a stir. He should be more humble." 
Hirano replied: "The outcome of an election represents the popular 
will. We must seek understanding from the concerned local 
governments and push ahead with the issue." He thus was hard pressed 
to explain the true intention of his earlier remarks. 
 
(6) Indictment of U.S. Army soldier: Three months too long; support 
for the bereaved family necessary 
 
RYUKYU SHIMPO (Page 31) (Full) 
January 28, 2010 
 
On receiving the news that a U.S. Army staff sergeant, a suspect in 
a hit-and-run incident in Yomitan Village, was indicted yesterday on 
an additional charge of violation of the Road Traffic Law 
(hit-and-run), friends of Masakazu Hokama, 66, who died after the 
staff sergeant hit him while driving, looked relieved, with one 
friend saying, "Masakazu now can rest in peace." The indictment of 
the U.S. serviceman came after about three months after the accident 
occurred. Local residents and victims of incidents involving U.S. 
service personnel are saying that the process took too long, and are 
calling for a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement 
(SOFA). An official of the crime victims support organization 
pointed out the importance of providing support to the bereaved 
family in preparation for the trial. 
 
Kiyoko Taira, 71, who grew up with Hokama, said as she mourned for 
him, "I can finally tell Masakazu about the indictment. It took a 
really long time. Whenever I passed by his house, I said in my head, 
'Wait a little longer.' Masakazu now can rest in peace." 
 
Yomitan Village Mayor Keizo Yasuda praised prosecutors, saying, 
"Overcoming the heavy barrier of the SOFA, I praise (prosecutors) 
for their efforts to be able to indict the U.S. soldier." At the 
same time, the mayor emphasized: "I want (suspect Clyde Gunn) to 
honestly admit his guilt and offer an apology to the bereaved 
family. A review of SOFA is absolutely necessary because hit-and-run 
incidents could occur in the future as well." 
 
A company employee, 24, who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run 
incident by a U.S. military personnel last April in Urasoe City, 
voiced his doubts about the SOFA, saying, "Regardless of who - a 
Japanese or a U.S. soldier - commits a hit-and-run, the victim is 
hurt in a similar way. I wonder why it takes so much time for 
indictment only when a U.S. service personnel commits a hit-and-run. 
If Japanese people run down U.S. military personnel, we can't take 
refuge in the base. If they considered the SOFA from our point of 
view, they would understand that the agreement is unfair." 
 
Yumi Kawamitsu, representative of the Okinawa Hidamari Association 
to Support Crime Victims, complained, saying, "I think the bereaved 
family has suffered for more than two months. They might have been 
overcome by a sense of helplessness because they couldn't do 
anything even though they knew who the perpetrator was. I wonder to 
 
TOKYO 00000181  006 OF 008 
 
 
what extent we are able to support the bereaved family. The U.S. 
serviceman was arrested and indicted, but the question is how the 
trial will turn out. The (suspect) must pay for his crime in which 
he took the life of a man." 
 
(7) Interview with next Nippon Keidanren chairman Hiromasa Yonekura 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
January 28, 2010 
 
Takeshi Fujita, Davos 
 
Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Sumitomo Chemical, who has been 
informally selected as the next chairman of the Japan Business 
Federation (Nippon Keidanren), on Jan. 27 submitted to an interview 
with the Nikkei in Davos (in eastern Switzerland), where he is 
currently visiting. He said, "Japan's human resources are unusually 
excellent. We must realize a technology-oriented country, taking 
advantage of such resources." The following is the exchange of 
questions and answers. 
 
-- What is your view of the government's growth strategy? 
 
"It has yet to be fleshed out. I want the government to think about 
the possibilities for the future vision of Japan. Japan, which has 
no natural resources and which imports most of food it consumes, 
only has technology and ingenuity. We will work more boldly toward 
realizing Japan's growth strategy." 
 
-- How are you going to build a relationship with the Democratic 
Party of Japan's (DPJ) administration? 
 
"It is said that we were too close to the previous (Liberal 
Democratic Party = LDP) administration and now we too distant from 
the current (DPJ) administration. However, we have established 
(channels for) exchanges with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and many 
cabinet ministers. We are not distant from the DPJ administration. 
The principle for dealing with political parties should be 
policy-oriented. We will donate political funds to political parties 
with which we share the same views." 
 
-- What is your view on the government goal of cutting greenhouse 
gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020? 
 
"It is like trying to make the impossible possible. I wonder whether 
it can be achieved. Such a goal cannot be met unless unprecedented 
technology is developed. I am worried that adopting such goal might 
force the people to make wasteful efforts." 
 
(8) Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Sumitomo Chemical, informally 
picked as next Nippon Keidanren chairman; cooperation with 
government holds key to climbing out of deflation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full) 
January 28, 2010 
 
The Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) on Jan. 27 held an 
informal meeting between the chairman and the vice chairmen. 
Participants informally decided to appoint Hiromasa Yonekura (72), 
chairman of Sumitomo Chemical and chairman of Nippon Keidanren's 
board of trustees, as successor to the incumbent Chairman Fujio 
Mitarai (74). Commenting on the appointment, Chairman Mitarai after 
 
TOKYO 00000181  007 OF 008 
 
 
the meeting told reporters, "(Mr. Yonekura) is an international 
figure who is in step with the times." Yonekura will take on the 
heavy responsibility of lobbying the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) 
administration, which distances itself from Nippon Keidanren, on 
Japan's growth strategy from the private sector's viewpoint. He will 
face many challenges, including formulating measures to curb global 
warming. 
 
Yonekura will formally assume the post after a plenary meeting in 
late May. He will serve in the post for two terms or four years. 
Mitarai on the morning of the 20th telephoned him at home to ask him 
to take over the chairmanship. Yonekura's rich experience abroad and 
the length of his service in business circles were reportedly the 
deciding factors in his appointment. Mitarai said that he would, 
above all else, like to see him put the Japanese economy on a 
self-reliant recovery track driven by the private sector promptly. 
He then said, "To achieve that end, a growth strategy is important. 
I would like him to make progress on economic diplomacy in Asia." 
Stressing that Nippon Keidanren is a policy group, Mitarai pointed 
out, "The chairman's responsibility will also include drawing up 
policies on taxation reform, and fiscal and social security systems, 
which form the foundation of the state." 
 
Business circles have been suffering a setback since the change in 
government last summer. Nippon Keidanren has been involved in 
policy-setting through the council on economic and fiscal policy 
during the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) administration. However, 
(since the change in government), there have been an increasing 
number of cases in which the government passed over the Nippon 
Keidanren chairman when formulating growth strategies. 
 
Tomijiro Morita, vice chairman and chairman of Dai-ichi Mutual Life 
Insurance Co. cited a challenge facing the Yonekura-led Nippon 
Keidanren: "Regardless of who becomes chairman, it will be difficult 
to handle relations with the new administration. However, it is 
necessary for the public and private sectors to work together in 
order to climb out of deflation." It is also important for the 
Nippon Keidanren chairman to rebuild channels with political and 
bureaucratic circles as well as to coordinate views within his own 
organization. For instance, the chairman will face the test of 
demonstrating leadership to unify economic circles regarding 
measures to curb global warming that cause discord among member 
companies with different interests. 
 
(9) DPJ ahead of all other parties for upper house election 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
January 28, 2010 
 
Despite the declining popularity of the Hatoyama cabinet and the 
ruling Democratic Party of Japan in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun's 
latest public opinion survey, the leading opposition Liberal 
Democratic Party's public support rating was 24 PERCENT , almost 
unchanged from the 23 PERCENT  rating in the last survey conducted 
last December. In the popularity ranking of political parties for 
this summer's election for the House of Councillors, the DPJ scored 
31 PERCENT , with the LDP at 23 PERCENT . The poll results also 
revealed that the DPJ has sustained a blow from its 
"money-and-politics" problems, whereas the LDP was not prepared to 
respond to the public's criticism of the DPJ administration. 
 
Among those in their 30s to 60s, more than 30 PERCENT  said they 
 
TOKYO 00000181  008 OF 008 
 
 
would vote for the DPJ. Among those in their 20s and those aged 70 
and over as well, the DPJ-oriented proportion was in the upper 20 
PERCENT  range. The LDP-oriented proportion was between 17 PERCENT 
and 19 PERCENT  among those in their 20s to 50s, 26 PERCENT  among 
those in their 60s, and 33 PERCENT  among those aged 70 and over, 
showing that there is a tendency among older generations to support 
the LDP. 
 
Among those with no particular party affiliation, 10 PERCENT 
answered that they would vote for the LDP, with 3 PERCENT  saying 
they would vote for the DPJ. However, those "still undecided" 
accounted for 42 PERCENT . The future course of the swing votes is 
unclear. 
 
 
Questions & Answers 
(Figures are percentages. Parentheses denote results from the last 
survey conducted in December last year.) 
 
Q: Do you support the Hatoyama cabinet? 
 
Yes 45 (50) 
No 47 (42) 
Can't say (C/S) + don't know (D/K) 8 (8) 
 
Q: Which political party do you support or prefer? 
 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 42 (46) 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 24 (23) 
New Komeito (NK) 3 (4) 
Japanese Communist Party (JCP) 4 (2) 
Social Democratic Party (SDP or Shaminto) 2 (2) 
People's New Party (PNP or Kokumin Shinto) 0 (1) 
Your Party (YP or Minna no To) 5 (2) 
Reform Club (RC or Kaikaku Kurabu) 0 (0) 
New Party Nippon (NPN or Shinto Nippon) 0 (0) 
Other political parties 1 (1) 
None 15 (15) 
C/S+D/K 5 (5) 
 
(Note) Percentages may not add up to 100 PERCENT  in some cases due 
to rounding. 
 
Polling methodology: The survey was taken Jan. 26-27 by Nikkei 
Research Inc. over the telephone on a random digit dialing (RDD) 
basis. For the survey, samples were chosen from among men and women 
aged 20 and over across the nation. A total of 1,370 households with 
one or more eligible voters were sampled, and answers were obtained 
from 886 persons (64.7 PERCENT ). 
 
ROOS