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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 000217 
 
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 02/03/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Hatoyama becoming frustrated, might be losing composure over 
Ozawa problem (Nikkei) 
 
(2) Another political group of DPJ Secretary General Ozawa being 
investigated for failing to report 1.6 billion yen in political 
funds accounting (Asahi) 
 
(3) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno says ruling party team's 
trip to Guam is not for studying alternative Futenma relocation site 
(Jiji.com) 
 
(4) "Close Up 2010" column: U.S. Quadrennial Defense Review reflects 
strong sense of alarm toward China (Mainichi) 
 
(5) Government to draw up IT strategy under the leadership of 
politicians with an emphasis on medical care and education (Asahi) 
 
(Corrected copy) Parents and children after divorce; joint custody 
is the norm in Europe and United States (Yomiuri) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Hatoyama becoming frustrated, might be losing composure over 
Ozawa problem 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 3, 2010 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's frustration is mounting prior to the 
expiration of the legal detention period of House of Representatives 
member Tomohiro Ishikawa, a former secretary to Democratic Party of 
Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa. Ishikawa was arrested on 
charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law. The prime 
minister has argued back with harsh words against statements by 
cabinet ministers and senior vice ministers. If Ozawa, who has 
backed Hatoyama, is pressed to step down from his party post due to 
such remarks, the administration will inevitably lose political 
ground. Some observers believe that this situation is causing 
Hatoyama to lose his composure. 
 
"That is not an answer," Hatoyama said in rebuttal to Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada's remarks indicating the possibility of the 
continued use of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station 
yesterday. In a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi 
Hirano, a close aide to Hatoyama, also spoke in rough tones: "What 
will become of the efforts by people who are earnestly exploring 
other options?" 
 
Difficulty in keeping Ozawa at a distance 
 
Senior Vice Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda stated earlier that it 
would be difficult to offer the full amount of child allowances 
starting in fiscal 2011 (as pledged in the DPJ's manifesto for the 
last general election). In reaction to this statement, Hatoyama 
openly showed his displeasure, saying: "He should not talk about the 
future." 
 
Okada was a rival candidate against Hatoyama in the DPJ presidential 
election last year, and Noda is a leader of the group of members who 
distance themselves from Ozawa. Paying little attention to the 
 
TOKYO 00000217  002 OF 009 
 
 
existence of differences in views among cabinet members, Hatoyama 
has said: "I will make a final decision" on many occasions. However, 
he can no longer take such a confident attitude. Behind his 
frustration might be his awareness of the difficulty in keeping 
Ozawa at a distance. 
 
Hatoyama told reporters yesterday morning: "Given what Secretary 
General Ozawa has achieved up to now, I hope he will lead the 
campaigning (for the House of Councillors election this summer). 
This remark can be taken to mean that he would keep Ozawa in his 
post if he is not held criminally accountable. In the evening, 
however, he said: "What I can say now is that since it is the 
secretary general who leads the Upper House election campaign, (Mr. 
Ozawa) naturally should lead the campaign." 
 
Party members close to Ozawa have said that Mr. Hatoyama was able to 
become prime minister thanks to Mr. Ozawa's efforts. Hatoyama has 
also been grilled by the opposition camp over a falsified donation 
scandal in the ongoing Diet session every day. If Ozawa takes 
responsibility for the politics-and-money scandal, the prime 
minister might be pressured to take responsibility for appointing 
Ozawa as secretary general. 
 
Detention period of Ozawa's secretary to expire tomorrow 
 
Confrontation between anti-Ozawa and pro-Ozawa forces in the DPJ 
could intensify over a successor to Ozawa and other issues. Among 
the anti-Ozawa members, Kozo Watanabe lost the post of supreme 
advisor after the general election last year, while Yoshito Sengoku 
and Seiji Maehara were awarded with key ministerial posts - the post 
of state minister for government revitalization council for Sengoku 
and the post of public servant system reform and land, 
infrastructure, transport and tourism minister for Maehara. 
 
Even if Ozawa retains his post, it is unlikely that new prospects 
will open up. The two top leaders in the government have both been 
saddled with politics-and-money scandals. The opposition camp can 
use this abnormal situation as ammunition for an attack in the 
run-up to the Upper House election. 
 
Lawmaker Ishikawa's legal detention period is to expire on Feb. 4, 
but the DPJ has yet to determine what punishment he will receive. A 
senior party member said: "If lawmaker Ishikawa's indictment is 
found to be linked to Mr. Ozawa, it will be difficult to prompt 
Ishikawa to leave the party or resign as a Diet member." Another 
party member said: "It is Mr. Ozawa who will make the decision." 
 
If Ishikawa resigns before March 15, a by-election will be held on 
April 25. A person close to the prime minister was overheard saying: 
"If the DPJ is defeated in the by-election, calls might grow for the 
prime minister to resign before the Upper House election." 
 
(2) Another political group of DPJ Secretary General Ozawa being 
investigated for failing to report 1.6 billion yen in political 
funds accounting 
 
ASAHI (Page 31) (Abridged) 
February 3, 2010 
 
It was learned that "Kaikaku Forum 21," a political group affiliated 
with Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, 
has failed to report massive transfers of funds in and out of its 
 
TOKYO 00000217  003 OF 009 
 
 
bank account in its political funds accounting report. Approximately 
1.5 billion yen was deposited into this account in 2004 and over 100 
million yen was withdrawn in 2005, but neither of those transactions 
was recorded in the accounting reports. 
 
Furthermore, over 300 million yen was withdrawn from the bank 
account shortly before the general election last year. It is 
possible that all these cash transfers were used for election 
campaigns. A fresh case of dubious political funds has surfaced in 
an Ozawa-linked political group. 
 
It appears that the Special Investigation Division of the Tokyo 
District Prosecutors Office, which is investigating the land deal 
involving Ozawa's fund management organization Rikuzan-kai, is also 
aware of these fund transfers. It is also investigating funds 
managed by Forum 21 in order to clarify the whole picture of Ozawa's 
political funds. 
 
Forum 21 has not responded to Asahi Shimbun's queries. 
 
(3) Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno says ruling party team's 
trip to Guam is not for studying alternative Futenma relocation 
site 
 
JIJI.COM (Full) 
12:01, February 3, 2010 
 
At a news conference on the morning of Feb. 3, Deputy Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Yorihisa Matsuno discussed the relocation of the U.S. 
forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) and said that 
with regard to the decision of the government and ruling parties' 
Okinawa base issues examination committee to go on an inspection 
tour of the U.S. territory of Guam, "the government regards the 
purpose of the trip as an inspection of the relocation site for the 
U.S. Marines under the U.S. Forces Japan realignment road map." He 
thus indicated that Guam is not being considered as an alternative 
relocation site (of the Futenma base). 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has stated in late December that Guam 
is "unlikely" as a relocation site "in consideration of 
(maintaining) deterrence." A senior government official also pointed 
out on Feb. 2 that "in terms of (the U.S. forces') presence or 
deterrence, (relocation to Guam) would be difficult in reality." 
 
(4) "Close Up 2010" column: U.S. Quadrennial Defense Review reflects 
strong sense of alarm toward China 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 3, 2010 
 
The Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) released by the Obama 
administration on Feb. 1 reflects a strong sense of alarm at the 
rise in China's military capability and reemphasizes the importance 
of the Japan-U.S. alliance in East Asia. However, Japan and the U.S. 
are currently unable to find a solution to the issue of the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Both 
sides have no desire to see any further deterioration of the 
bilateral relationship and are searching for a point of agreement in 
order to deepen the alliance further. 
 
Japan-U.S. alliance as deterrent 
 
 
TOKYO 00000217  004 OF 009 
 
 
By Yoso Furumoto in Washington 
 
At a news conference on Feb. 1, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert 
Gates touched on China's criticism of the U.S.'s sale of weapons to 
Taiwan and announcement of the suspension of U.S.-China military 
exchanges. He said: "If there is stagnation in the bilateral 
relationship, we hope it will be temporary," calling on China not to 
make the situation even more serious. However, the QDR indicates 
that the U.S. has a growing sense of alarm toward China as a 
"potential adversary." 
 
The QDR points out that China's building of aircraft carriers and 
offensive submarines "raises questions about its long-term motives." 
The U.S. is particularly concerned about its advanced cyber attack 
capability and offensive capability in space. The U.S. military 
command systems will be paralyzed if the use of artificial 
satellites and the Internet is disrupted, rendering high-tech 
weapons practically useless. 
 
China reacted sensitively to this. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma 
Zhaoxu refuted on Feb. 2 the QDR's questioning of China's military 
transparency and other issues, stating: "Making irresponsible 
remarks on (China's) legitimate and normal national defense 
construction amounts to interference in internal affairs." He called 
for a "stop to such irresponsible remarks." 
 
Meanwhile, there is virtually no doubt that the Chinese armed forces 
regard the U.S. as its hypothetical adversary. China conducted a 
successful experiment on shooting down a satellite with a ballistic 
missile in January 2007. It also announced technical experiments on 
a land-based missile interception system last month. Experts see 
this as aiming at incapacitating the Japan-U.S. missile defense (MD) 
systems. 
 
In this situation, the United States' Asia policy centered on the 
Japan-U.S. security alliance attaches even greater practical 
importance to deterring the expansion of China's power with a strong 
Japan-U.S. alliance. There is no denying that the pending Futenma 
relocation issue between the two countries now carries relatively 
less weight for the U.S. side. 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama supported the U.S. position on the 
evening of Feb. 2, stating: "China's neighbors need to watch the 
increase in its military spending. We would like to demand greater 
transparency." Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa also said on the 
same day: "We share the perception on the lack of transparency (of 
China's military expansion)," stressing that Japan and the U.S. are 
on the same page on this issue. 
 
The harsh view of Japan in the U.S. is beginning to change. 
 
In an editorial on Jan. 28, The New York Times criticized the U.S. 
government's tough stance on the Futenma issue and asserted that 
"the Obama administration should show flexibility." 
 
The visit to China last December by some 140 Diet members led by 
Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, which gave 
rise to concerns that "Japan is moving closer to China," has 
actually led to a growing opinion that "destabilizing the Japan-U.S. 
alliance over the Futenma issue should be avoided." 
 
Secretary Gates reiterated the importance of the bilateral alliance 
 
TOKYO 00000217  005 OF 009 
 
 
on Feb. 1 and stressed that "our keyword is patience." He indicated 
that the U.S. will wait for Japan to decide on Futenma's relocation 
site. 
 
Futenma remains a sticking point 
 
By Yasushi Sengoku, Takenori Noguchi 
 
While the Japan-U.S. alliance is increasing in importance, the 
deepening of this alliance depends on progress in the Futenma 
issue. 
 
At the Japan-U.S. Security Subcommittee (SSC) meeting held at the 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on the morning of Feb. 2, 
Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell reminded the Japanese 
side once again that "the current relocation plan is the only 
feasible option." After the discussions that lasted two hours, 
Campbell told reporters, "We are willing to discuss (other) options 
with Japan," but he added that the current plan "is the result of 
discussions between the two governments over many years," stressing 
the meaning and importance of this plan. 
 
The SSC meeting marked the official start of the governmental talks 
on deepening the alliance agreed upon at the meeting between Foreign 
Minister Katsuya Okada and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 
Hawaii in January. In addition to Campbell, Assistant Secretary of 
Defense Wallace Gregson participated on the U.S. side. The Japanese 
side was represented by MOFA North American Affairs Bureau Director 
General Kazuyoshi Umemoto, Defense Policy Bureau Director General 
Nobushige Takamiszwa (of the Ministry of Defense), and other 
officials. 
 
Before the meeting, the Japanese side said, "We will not discuss the 
Futenma issue. We will propose a review of the Japan-U.S. Status of 
Forces Agreement and host nation support for the U.S. forces 
(omoiyari yosan or sympathy budget)," (according to a senior MOFA 
official). 
 
However, when the meeting was actually held, the Japanese side had 
to explain that the options for selecting a relocation site for the 
Futenma base have become even more restricted with the victory of an 
opponent to Futenma relocation in the recent Nago City mayoral 
election in Okinawa. Moreover, the two sides were only able to 
confirm the procedures for the all-important talks on deepening the 
alliance, agreeing to "conduct the talks with the aim of confirming 
a common understanding of the regional security environment in Asia 
and the Pacific." 
 
The Nago election, where the relocation opponent won over the 
candidate who accepts the relocation with a slim margin of only 
1,600 votes, has turned into heavy pressure on the process of 
selecting a relocation site. At a news conference on Feb. 2, Okada 
gave the following interpretation of Campbell's remark on 
"discussing the options": "At the very least, Japan should come up 
with a solid plan. I don't think the U.S. intends to join Japan in 
the search for (a relocation site)." 
 
(5) Government to draw up IT strategy under the leadership of 
politicians with an emphasis on medical care and education 
 
ASAHI (Page 5) (Abridged slightly) 
February 3, 2010 
 
TOKYO 00000217  006 OF 009 
 
 
 
Sawa Okabayashi 
 
An outline of the government's new information technology (IT) 
strategy to be compiled for the first time under the administration 
of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) has become clear. The 
strategy focuses on the use of IT in medical care, education, and 
other areas in which Japan is said to be lagging behind other 
industrialized countries. The DPJ plans to incorporate those areas 
in its manifesto for this summer's House of Councillors election. 
The government will also aim at the flexible allocation of funds 
under the initiative of lawmakers, reorganizing the existing IT 
Strategy Headquarters into a new body. 
 
According to the draft strategy the Asahi Shimbun has obtained, the 
government will support the effort to send itemized statements for 
medical expenses via the Internet, in addition to expanding the 
telemedicine program. The government will also allocate budgets for 
Internet-assisted classes and the IT training program on a priority 
basis. The draft is designed to promote the use of IT in a wide 
range of administrative areas, such as the introduction of a 
taxpayer identification number system and the use of the Internet 
for election campaigns. The government intends to finalize a 
strategy that incorporates those steps in April. 
 
The government will reorganize later this month the existing IT 
Strategy Headquarters, launched during the cabinet of Prime Minister 
Yoshiro Mori, into a new body headed by Prime Minster Yukio 
Hatoyama. Under the existing system, IT strategies have differed 
from ministry to ministry, priorities have not been clear due to the 
please-everyone policies, and cooperation between ministries has 
been insufficient. At the new headquarters, lawmakers will draw up 
policies themselves. Mid- to long-term policies will be sent to the 
government agencies. 
 
The new headquarters will set up a planning committee to finalize 
the new strategy based on this draft plan. Education, Science, and 
Technology Minister Tatsuko Kawabata, who is responsible for 
information technology, will head the committee, which will be 
composed mainly of senior vice ministers and parliamentary 
secretaries of the Cabinet Office, the Internal Affairs and 
Communications Ministry, and the Economy, Trade and Industry 
Ministry. Senior vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries of 
relevant ministries will join the committee when cooperation is 
necessary. The government plans to place a task force of experts 
under the planning committee to deal with problems flexibly. 
 
Draft outline of the government's new IT strategy 
 
< Medial care > 
Q Make medical and health information accessible to anyone at any 
location in the country. 
Q Implement an online system for medical institutions' work of 
issuing statements of medical expenses for health insurance purposes 
to increase efficiency. 
 
< Education > 
Q Promote e-learning that is secure and safe. 
Q Develop and recruit IT-savvy personnel. 
 
< Environment > 
Q Promote smart grid technology. 
 
TOKYO 00000217  007 OF 009 
 
 
Q Use IT to promote energy-efficient eco-friendly housing. 
 
< Administrative services > 
Q Implement a taxpayer identification number system by using 
resident identification numbers. 
Q Integrate cards issued by public institutions. 
 
< Government > 
Q Conduct election campaigns that use the Internet. 
Q Promote the use of IT at the Diet. 
 
< Creation of new businesses > 
Q Significantly expand the digital contents market. 
Q Promote cloud computing. 
 
(Corrected copy) Parents and children after divorce; joint custody 
is the norm in Europe and United States 
 
YOMIURI (Pages 16 and 17) (Full) 
January 26, 2010 
 
Many people attribute problems concerning children after divorce to 
Japan's sole custody system in which the custody of a child is given 
to one parent at the time of divorce under the civil law. 
 
In reality, the parent with custody has such rights and duties as 
providing education and managing property, whereas the parent 
without custody can do almost nothing. In arbitration and judicial 
proceedings, the custody of a child is given to the mother 90 
percent of the time. 
 
With no provision on child visitation rights in the civil law, 
visitations are affected substantially by the wishes of the parent 
with custody. If the parent living with the child fiercely refuses 
to let the other parent see the child during arbitration or judicial 
proceedings, it will be difficult to realize visitation. Even if 
visitation is allowed, the frequency of visits will be low, such as 
once a month. Furthermore, even if the parent with custody ignores a 
decision on visitation, the other parent has no power to forcibly 
carry out visitation. 
 
"It strongly reflects the family system since the Meiji period 
(1868-1912)," Masayuki Tanamura, a professor at Waseda University, 
explained about the Japanese custody system. "Custody is regarded as 
a parent's right to control a child. A battle occurs over who should 
have that right." 
 
Meanwhile, in European countries and the United States, joint 
custody in which the two parents continue to raise their children 
even after divorce has become the norm following an increase in 
divorces from the 1970s though the 1990s. 
 
"Child visitation rights are granted to both parents even after 
divorce," Takao Tanase, a lawyer and a Chuo University professor, 
explained. "Parents see their children quite frequently, visiting 
with them for a period of three days and two nights, for instance." 
 
In many cases, international marriages involving Japanese nationals 
that end in divorce can lead to serious conflicts due to such 
differences in custody systems. The number of international 
marriages that end in divorce is on the rise. In 2008, a record 
number of 18,774 international marriages ended in divorce. 
 
TOKYO 00000217  008 OF 009 
 
 
 
Recently there have been cases in which Japanese nationals living 
abroad have returned to Japan with their children after their 
international marriages ended in divorce and have not returned to 
the country in which they used to live. These cases have now 
escalated into a problem of international proportions. Broken down 
by country, there are 73 such cases involving the United States, 36 
cases involving Canada, 33 cases involving the UK, and 35 cases 
involving France, according to the Foreign Ministry. 
 
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child 
Abduction exists to deal with cross-border child abduction. The 
convention stipulates that if a child is taken to another country 
unilaterally, the child must be returned to the original country if 
there is a complaint from the parent from whom the child was taken. 
Member countries are obliged to provide cooperation in returning the 
children. The United States and many European countries are 
signatories to the convention, but Japan is not. The United States 
and European countries are urging Japan to accede to the 
convention. 
 
"Problems between husband and wife must be considered separately 
from the relationship between parent and child," Tanase said. "The 
law must be improved premised on parental visits in principle except 
for cases in which harm, such as abuse, is inflicted on a child by a 
parent living in a separate location. Divorce is no longer unusual 
in Japan, so it is important to accept the idea of divorced parents 
jointly raising their child." 
 
Parents and children after divorce; (Part 1): Arbitration and 
judicial proceedings for parental visitation mark three-fold 
increase over 10 years; parents without custody can do nothing, 
struggling to see children 
 
Today, a couple divorces in Japan every two minutes. An increasing 
number of parents are asking the courts for child visitation rights 
after divorce. Cross-border child abductions following international 
marriages that end in divorce are becoming a problem. At a time when 
the nature of families and values are becoming increasingly diverse, 
we interviewed divorced parents who are struggling to see their 
children - a problem that is difficult to resolve under the existing 
system. 
 
A woman we will call "Ms. A," 51, a temporary employee residing in 
Tokyo, has been living apart from her son, 15, since her former 
husband moved out with him five years ago. 
 
Over the last five years, she has only been allowed to see her son 
twice for a total of 95 minutes. Moreover, those meetings took place 
at a family court in the presence of examiners. Even so, she could 
not stop shedding tears from the moment she saw her son. 
 
"My son, who was learning piano, held his palm against mine to 
compare their sizes. Watching him speak with his eyes fixed on mine, 
I sensed that we were connected by a strong bond." 
 
Driven by her desire to see her son, she filed a request with the 
court in July 2007 for arbitration seeking child visitation rights. 
"But my ex-husband was reluctant to let me see my son, citing that 
he was moving up to the next grade and onto high school." 
 
But trial visitations were conducted for the two of them to see how 
 
TOKYO 00000217  009 OF 009 
 
 
the system would work by allowing them to spend short periods of 
time together in the court building with the aim of examining the 
method for implementing the program in the process of the 
arbitration. The first visitation took place in March, 2008, for 50 
minutes and the second one in April, 2009, for 45 minutes. For the 
second visitation, her son brought a video game he could not play 
with his mother during the fist session. 
 
"He remembered what had occurred a year earlier." 
 
A reconciliatory plan of visitation once every two months was 
discussed in the arbitration, but the two parties failed to reach an 
agreement, and the case moved onto judicial proceedings in which a 
judge makes a decision. "I'm worried sick that I might not be able 
to see my son for the rest of my life." 
 
? 
(The rest of the article is the same as the original) 
 
ROOS