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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000191 
 
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 02/01/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma: 
3) Gov't to make final decision on relocation site  (Nikkei) 
4) Gregson says U.S. has no other option than to await Japan's 
decision on Futenma relocation site  (Yomiuri) 
5) Okada defends Hirano over statement on Nago election result 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
6) Oshino Village head says his community willing to accept Futenma 
replacement facility  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
7) Fukushima says SDP will not allow base to be built in Henoko 
(Nikkei) 
8) Kitazawa: Nago election result complicates relocation  (Yomiuri) 
 
 
Foreign relations: 
9) Ambassador Roos: Threats from China, North Korea remain; alliance 
necessary for regional stability  (Sankei) 
10) Ambassador Roos: Marines withdrawal would impact effectiveness 
of U.S. military  (Yomiuri) 
11) Ambassador Roos stresses Marines necessity  (Asahi) 
12) Japan, China experts fail to close gap in understanding of 
history  (Yomiuri) 
13) NHK broadcast of news on report of bilateral history research 
panel temporarily interrupted in China  (Asahi) 
 
14) Roos, other Envoys demarche foreign minister on Japan's 
accession to Hague Convention  (Yomiuri) 
15) Okada: Weapons sales to Taiwan will not create decisive 
U.S.-China confrontation  (Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Politics: 
16) Maehara hints at demand for Ozawa's resignation depending on 
future developments  (Yomiuri) 
 
Secret accords: 
17) Release of report on secret nuclear accords to be delayed again 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
 
Economy: 
18) Gov't urges JAL to adopt Mitsubishi Regional Jet  (Nikkei) 
 
Space: 
19) Japan's manned space expedition would be difficult without U.S. 
participation  (Nikkei) 
 
Opinion: 
20) Mainichi poll: 76 PERCENT  think Ozawa should resign if Ishikawa 
indicted  (Mainichi) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Bill for taxpayer numbering system to be submitted next year 
 
Mainichi: 
Poll: 76 PERCENT  respondents want Ozawa to resign; 50 PERCENT 
 
TOKYO 00000191  002 OF 009 
 
 
support Hatoyama cabinet 
 
Yomiuri: 
Japan, China still wide apart on perceptions of history; joint 
history research committee compiles report 
 
Nikkei: 
Human resources in distribution, service industries firmly 
established 
 
Sankei: 
Japan-China Joint History Research Committee releases report; major 
gap evident on number of victims in Nanjing Incident 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Japan, China wide apart on history perceptions; joint history 
research committee report lists both up to 200,000 and more than 
300,000 as number of victims of Nanjing Incident 
 
Akahata: 
JCP policy chief Koike urges senior vice finance minister to 
eliminate additional clause on consumption tax hike during NHK 
program 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Businesses must not be allowed to take advantage of the poor 
(2) Export of linear motor cars: Aim at world beyond Galapagos 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Politics and money: Face up to warning from general public 
(2) FRB Chairman Bernanke needs to show solid results to restore 
public distrust 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Issue of granting local voting rights to permanent foreign 
residents must not be used in maneuvering for party interests 
(2) Discussion on financial resources essential for child-rearing 
support 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Review power supply system for low-carbon society 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Japan-China Joint History Research: Gap in views on number of 
victims of Nanjing Incident makes sense 
(2) North Korea's firing at South Korea: Reject intimidating 
demands 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Tax code debate: Innovative ideas essential for growth 
(2) Battle against global warming: Use forests as bridge between the 
South and North 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Akahata marks 82nd anniversary: Paper determined to use occasion 
to explore new politics 
 
3) Foreign Minister Okada: Government will make final decision on 
Futenma relocation site 
 
 
TOKYO 00000191  003 OF 009 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 1, 2010 
 
Referring on a TV Asahi program yesterday to the victory of a 
candidate opposed to hosting the U.S. Futenma airfield in the recent 
Nago mayoral election, Okinawa Prefecture, Foreign Minister Katsuya 
Okada said: "(The Futenma issue) was a significant issue (in the 
mayoral election), but that is not the only issue. While taking the 
will of Nago residents into account, the government will make a 
final decision from the standpoint that this is a security issue." 
His remarks suggested he believes that the existing plan to move the 
Futenma base to the coastal area of Camp Schwab remains an option 
 
Okada pointed out: "It is a great mistake to discuss the Futenma 
issue while regarding U.S. military facilities as nuisance 
facilities." 
 
4) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Gregson says U.S. will wait 
for PM Hatoyama's decision on Futenma relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 1, 2010 
 
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson, who is 
currently visiting Japan, met with Governor Hirokazu Nakaima in 
Ginowan City, Okinawa, on Jan. 31 to discuss the relocation of the 
U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. According to accounts by the 
governor and other officials after the meeting, with regard to Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama's plan to arrive at a conclusion on the 
relocation issue by the end of May, Gregson said: "If that is what 
the Prime Minister is saying, he will probably be able to do so. All 
we can do is wait." 
 
Gregson also met with the mayors of the town of Kadena and other 
local governments hosting the Kadena Air Base (KAB) on Jan. 31. With 
regard to the proposal to integrate the Futenma base with the KAB, 
Gregson stressed that, "The U.S. side does not favor such a plan. 
The current plan that is being executed after a long process of 
negotiations with the Japanese government is the best option. We 
would like to proceed with this plan earnestly." 
 
5) Foreign Minister Okada supports Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 1, 2010 
 
When asked on a TV Asahi program yesterday about Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano's comment that there was no reason to take 
the result of the Nago mayoral election into account, Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada supported Hirano, noting, "His remarks went a 
little too far in a way, but he also said that the will of local 
residents is important. It is harsh to blame him for making that 
comment alone." 
 
Okada then said: "Since the issue is a security issue, the central 
government must take responsibility for it in the end. Mr. Hirano is 
of the same opinion." 
 
6) Mayor of Oshino Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, reportedly 
positive on accepting Futenma relocation 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000191  004 OF 009 
 
 
February 1, 2010 
 
It was learned on Jan. 31 that at an informal meeting with Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Jan. 30, Mayor Yasunori Amano of Oshino 
Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, where part of the Ground Self-Defense 
Force Kitafuji training area is located, made remarks that could be 
interpreted as an indication of his willingness to accept the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. This was 
disclosed by several participants in the meeting. 
 
The remarks were made at an exchange of views between the mayors of 
Yamanashi Prefecture and the Prime Minister held in Kofu City. Amano 
said to the Prime Minster during this meeting: "You seem to be 
experiencing great difficulties. If this concerns the relocation of 
the U.S. Marines, we would like to cooperate." Hatoyama reportedly 
responded with: "I don't think it (relocation to Oshino Village) 
will happen, but if the issue comes up, I would appreciate your 
considering the possibility." 
 
7) SDP leader Fukushima says SDP "will not allow" Henoko relocation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 31, 2010 
 
State Minister for Consumer Affairs, Declining Birthrate Mizuho 
Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), attended a 
meeting held in Tokyo to oppose the relocation of the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Camp Schwab (in Henoko, 
Nago City, Okinawa) on Jan. 30. She said: "It is impossible to build 
a military base in Henoko. The SDP will not allow it." 
 
8) Defense chief tells U.S. current Futenma relocation plan 
difficult 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2010 
 
Defense Minister Kitazawa met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of 
Defense Gregson and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos yesterday at the 
Defense Ministry and discussed the outcome of the Jan. 24 mayoral 
election in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, and its repercussions in 
connection with relocating Futenma airfield, a U.S. military base 
located in the prefecture. This is the first time that the Japanese 
government has directly explained the result of the mayoral election 
in a meeting. 
 
Kitazawa referred to the Nago mayoral race, which ended in the 
election of a new mayor opposed to accepting the relocation of 
Futenma airfield. "The past fortnight has been quite hard," Kitazawa 
said. He explained that it will now be even more difficult to 
implement the current plan to relocate the Futenma facility to 
Nago's Henoko area. Gregson reiterated the United States' position 
that the current plan is the best one. 
 
9) Ambassador Roos says China, DPRK remain threats in East Asia, 
Japan-U.S. alliance indispensable for regional stability 
 
SANKEI (Page 8) (Full) 
January 30, 2010 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos gave a speech at Waseda 
University in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, on Jan. 29 in which he indicated 
 
TOKYO 00000191  005 OF 009 
 
 
that China and North Korea remain threats to Japan and East Asia and 
emphasized that "the Japan-U.S. alliance is indispensable for 
regional stability." With regard to the relocation of the U.S. 
forces' Futenma Air Station, he said that the current plan agreed 
upon by the two sides in 2006 to relocate the Futenma base to the 
coastal area of Henoko is the "best" option. 
 
Discussing security in East Asia, Roos stated: "Despite the end of 
the Cold War, the same level of risk (as before its end) remains." 
 
With regard to China, Roos pointed out that while its relations with 
Japan and the U.S. are deepening in the economic field, militarily, 
China "has built up its cyber attack capability and is proceeding 
with the introduction of the most advanced nuclear weapons and 
submarines." He warned that North Korea "is the most militarized 
country in the world with an armed force exceeding 1 million." He 
said that a "collapse of the regime" brought about by a transition 
of power in this country, which is expected in the near future, is 
also a security threat. 
 
The Ambassador also stressed that "the importance of Okinawa in 
terms of defense is increasing." He stated that the current Futenma 
relocation plan "is the result of a dialogue between the two 
countries that lasted over a decade, and it is the best option." 
 
10) Roos: U.S. military's effectiveness will be affected if Marines 
are withdrawn from Japan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 30, 2010 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos delivered a speech yesterday at Waseda 
University in Tokyo, in which he said the U.S. Marine Corps 
stationed at Futenma airfield and other bases in Okinawa Prefecture 
is "one of the most important forces" among the U.S. forces in 
Japan. "If there are no Marines in Japan, the mobility and 
effectiveness of our forces in the region will be affected," Roos 
said, indicating a negative view of relocating the U.S. military's 
Futenma airfield overseas and substantially reducing the presence of 
U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa. 
 
Roos cited a threat to the security environment of Japan as a reason 
for the necessity of the U.S. military presence in Japan, pointing 
in particular to North Korea, which has been developing nuclear 
weapons, as "the most immediate concern." He noted "growing concern" 
about the possibility of the North Korean regime collapsing in 
connection with a power succession (from North Korea's General 
Secretary Kim Jong Il). 
 
11) Roos stresses need for Okinawa Marines 
 
ASAHI (Page 8) (Full) 
January 30, 2010 
 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos delivered a speech yesterday at Waseda 
University in Tokyo, in which he emphasized the necessity of 
continuing the presence of U.S. Marines in Okinawa. "If the Marines 
are all withdrawn from Japan, their mobility will be impaired," Roos 
said, countering calls in Japan for the transfer of the Marines to 
Guam. 
 
Roos cited China's military expansion and North Korea's nuclear and 
 
TOKYO 00000191  006 OF 009 
 
 
missile development. In this regard, he noted that the security 
environment of Japan is the same as that at the time the Berlin Wall 
collapsed in 1989 and is complex. He emphasized that the U.S. 
military presence in Japan is at a level needed to attain regional 
stability and deterrence. 
 
Meanwhile, Roos also touched on the realignment of U.S. forces in 
Japan, including the plan to relocate Futenma airfield, a U.S. 
military base in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. "The Japanese and U.S. 
governments have arrived at the current plan as a result of holding 
discussions for over 10 years," he stressed. In addition, he also 
indicated a sense of wariness about calls for reviewing Japan's 
burden sharing of costs for the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan, 
which is called "omoiyari yosan" ("sympathy budget"). 
 
12) Japan, China still wide apart on perceptions of history; joint 
history research committee produces report 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpt) 
February 1, 2010 
 
The Japan-China Joint History Research Committee (Japanese chair: 
University of Tokyo Prof. Shinichi Kitaoka), comprising academics 
from the two countries, released a report yesterday. Views on 
history, centering on the prewar period, remained wide apart, with 
the Japanese side's paper saying that the number of victims in the 
(1937) Nanjing Incident was no more than 200,000, while the Chinese 
paper indicated that more than 300,000 were killed. The announcement 
of a report on modern history since 1945 was postponed at the 
request of the Chinese side. The committee intends to launch the 
second phase of research by replacing some members. The project is 
expected to encounter difficulties. 
 
13) NHK's Japanese-language program in China temporarily disrupted 
during report on history research 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 1, 2010 
 
Koichi Furuya, Beijing 
 
A program on NHK's World Premium Japanese-language channel was 
disrupted for several tens of seconds in China during airing of news 
on Japan-China joint history research on the night of Jan. 31. The 
screen went black when images of the Tiananmen Incident were being 
aired after reports on the number of people killed during the 
Nanjing Incident and other matters. The screen eventually returned 
to normal to show the segment of the Japanese reporter's report in 
Japan. 
 
14) Eight Hague Convention member countries urge FM to accede to 
international convention on child custody 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
January 31, 2010 
 
The ambassadors of eight countries to Japan, including U.S. 
Ambassador John Roos, called on Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada at 
the ministry on Jan. 30 and urged Japan to swiftly accede to the 
Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child 
Abduction which specifies rules on resolving disputes concerning 
international marriage. 
 
TOKYO 00000191  007 OF 009 
 
 
 
"We must take steps toward resolving such conflicts in some way or 
another," Foreign Minister Okada said. "There are differences 
between the legal systems (of Japan and other countries)," Okada 
also said, seeking their understanding on the fact that the Japanese 
government requires some time to look into the matter. 
 
15) Foreign Minister Okada: U.S., China will avoid decisive 
confrontation over arms trade 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 1, 2010 
 
In reference to China's strong reaction against the U.S. 
government's decision to sell arms to Taiwan, Foreign Minister 
Katsuya Okada said on a TV Asahi program yesterday, "This event was 
within the predictable range for China. The United States and China 
will not confront each other decisively over it." 
 
With regard to the triangular relationship among Japan, the U.S. and 
China, "Although the existence of China is important for Japan, the 
quality of our relationship with China is different from our 
relationship with the U.S., with which Japan concludes an alliance," 
stressing his stance of placing importance on Japan-U.S ties. 
 
16) DPJ heavyweights make statements touching on Ozawa's resignation 
over fund-raising scandal 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 1, 2010 
 
A number of influential politicians in the government and the 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) who distance themselves from DPJ 
Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa made statements yesterday touching on 
the need for his resignation depending on developments in the case 
involving false donation statements by his fund-managing 
organization, Rikuzan-kai. 
 
Delivering a speech at a meeting of his own group in Saitama City, 
former Policy Research Council chairman Yukio Edano indicated that 
Ozawa should take responsibility, including resigning, if he fails 
to fulfill his accountability. He said: "When the prosecutors 
complete their questioning for the criminal case, he should give a 
clear-cut explanation. In the event he cannot obtain public 
understanding, he should take responsibility." 
 
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara 
also said at a party meeting in Kyoto: "If the case moves into a new 
phase, we must demonstrate that the party is capable of purifying 
itself." He thus hinted that he would urge Ozawa to resign depending 
on future developments. 
 
Appearing on an NHK program, Senior Vice Finance Minister Yoshihiko 
Noda emphasized: "Our ultimate goal is for the ruling coalition to 
win the upcoming House of Councillors election and establish a 
stable government. We will think about what we need to do to that 
end based on the circumstances." 
 
17) Panel to delay submission of report on secret nuclear pacts 
again 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00000191  008 OF 009 
 
 
February 1, 2010 
 
An expert panel of the Foreign Ministry tasked with examining 
documents related to alleged four secret pacts between Japan and the 
U.S. decided in its sixth meeting yesterday to give up on compiling 
a report on its findings in February. The panel, chaired by Tokyo 
University Professor Shinichi Kitaoka, has decided to put together a 
report at an early date with the end of March as the deadline. 
 
The late vice foreign minister Hisanari Yamada said (in 1981) that 
he had acknowledged that the U.S. was not obligated to hold 
consultations with Japan before U.S. military vessels carrying 
nuclear weapons make stopovers in Japan or pass through Japanese 
territory. Yamada was serving as vice foreign minister at the time 
when the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was revised in 1960. The panel 
has discovered the existence of an audio tape containing a recorded 
interview in which the late bureaucrat testified on the secret pact. 
The panel has decided to ask Tokyo International University 
Professor Yoshihisa Hara, who held the interview with Yamada, to 
present the tape. 
 
18) Government urges JAL to introduce Mitsubishi Regional Jet 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
February 1, 2010 
 
The government will soon start coordination to urge Japan Airlines 
Corp (JAL), which is currently under reconstruction, to consider 
using the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the first domestically 
produced small aircraft. The aim is to support a project to develop 
jets domestically into which a huge amount of tax money will be 
injected. The government will call on JAL to incorporate the 
introduction of the MRJ in its reconstruction plan, for which the 
company aims to obtain approval this summer. 
 
The Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan decided on 
Jan. 19 on JAL's reconstruction plan, which includes a measure to 
replace its existing equipment with small-scale, energy-efficient 
equipment. The plan specifies that the cash-strapped carrier should 
begin using 50 small jets and regional jets with 50 to 100 seats. 
The government's judgment is that the MRJ seating 70 to 90 
passengers could be JAL's major next-generation small aircraft. 
 
19) Japan's manned lunar exploration difficult if U.S. gives up on 
lunar probe plan 
 
NIKKEI (Page 8) (Full) 
January 30, 2010 
 
Japan worked out a space development program in June 2009, 
incorporating its own plan to carry out lunar exploration with the 
aid of an unmanned robot in 2020. Manned lunar exploration sending 
astronauts to the moon is said to cost over 1 trillion yen, so Japan 
has been looking into possibilities for an international project 
involving the United States. If the United States gives up on its 
lunar probe plan, it will be difficult for Japan to go ahead with 
its manned lunar exploration. 
 
Meanwhile, the United States has decided to extend its current plan 
to use the International Space Station. In this case, the question 
is how to ensure a delivery method (after the space shuttle is 
retired from service). In September 2009, Japan for the first time 
 
TOKYO 00000191  009 OF 009 
 
 
lifted off the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), an unmanned delivery 
vehicle for one-time use only. However, there may be calls for 
taking steps toward developing Japan's own space plane. 
 
20) Poll: 76 PERCENT  urge Ozawa to quit from party post; Hatoyama 
cabinet's support rate at 50 PERCENT 
 
MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged) 
February 1, 2010 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a public opinion survey across the 
nation on Jan. 30-31. In the survey, respondents were asked what 
they thought ruling Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General 
Ichiro Ozawa should do if Tomohiro Ishikawa, one of his former 
secretaries and currently a DPJ lawmaker seated in the House of 
Representatives, is prosecuted over a political fund scandal 
involving Ozawa's fund management organization. In response to this 
question, a total of 76 PERCENT  answered that Ozawa should resign 
from his party post, with 18 PERCENT  saying there is no need for 
him to resign. Meanwhile, the public approval rating for Prime 
Minister Yukio Hatoyama's cabinet was 50 PERCENT . The figure 
dropped 5 percentage points from the last survey conducted Dec. 
19-20 but remained in the 50 PERCENT  range. In addition, 
respondents were also asked about the 'politics-and-money' problem 
of Hatoyama, whose former secretary has been prosecuted over his 
fund management organization's falsification of political fund 
reports. In this case, however, those calling for his resignation 
accounted for only 33 PERCENT . The Ozawa problem apparently drove 
down the Hatoyama cabinet's support rate. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ 
stood at 30 PERCENT , down 5 points from the last survey. "None," or 
the proportion of those who do not support any political party, rose 
6 points to 39 PERCENT . The two figures changed places for the 
first time since the Hatoyama cabinet came into office. The leading 
opposition Liberal Democratic Party leveled off at 16 PERCENT . This 
figure shows that the LDP has failed to absorb those distancing 
themselves from the DPJ and that the number of those with no 
particular party affiliation has increased. 
 
Respondents were also asked which political party (and which 
political party's candidate) they would vote for in their 
proportional representation blocs if an election for the House of 
Councillors were to be held now. In this popularity ranking of 
political parties, the DPJ scored 35 PERCENT , while the LDP was at 
20 PERCENT . Among other political parties, the Your Party was at 6 
PERCENT , the New Komeito at 5 PERCENT , the Japanese Communist 
Party at 4 PERCENT , and the Social Democratic Party at 2 PERCENT . 
 
ROOS