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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 000286 
 
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 02/12/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma: 
3) Governor says N. Marianas can accept Futenma facility (Asahi) 
4) Guam governor against relocation of Futenma facility to island 
(Asahi) 
5) SDP says Guam still a candidate site (Nikkei) 
6) S. Korea interested in Futenma issue (Yomiuri) 
7) Nagashima says Kadenda integration plan remains option (Sankei) 
 
8) Ruling party Futenma working group fails to reach final decision 
(Nikkei) 
9) Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to adopt resolution opposing 
relocation of Futenma facility to Henoko (Yomiuri) 
 
Foreign relations: 
10) Okada says annexation injured Korean ethnic pride (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
11) Request from Nakasone for U.S. cover-up of Lockheed scandal 
discovered (Asahi) 
12) SDF officer: Saying "trust me" is insufficient as a basis for 
maintaining alliance (Mainichi) 
 
Politics: 
13) Ishikawa submits resignation from party (Yomiuri) 
 
Economy: 
14) Maehara asks U.S. envoy for "calm response" regarding Toyota 
(Asahi) 
15) Toyota president to visit U.S. (Mainichi) 
16) Toyota president's U.S. trip unlikely to cool down criticism 
(Yomiuri) 
17) National debt a record 871 trillion yen (Nikkei) 
 
Space: 
18) JAXA says suspension of American manned space exploration would 
have limited impact (Mainichi) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Municipalities struggle to secure budgets for welfare benefits 
 
Mainichi: 
Second grade boy with gender identity disorder allowed to change 
gender at elementary school in Saitama Prefecture 
 
Yomiuri: 
Toyota to announce all recognized vehicle defects 
 
Nikkei: 
Government increases road construction budget for certain 
prefectures at DPJ's request 
 
Sankei: 
Shadow of strained Japan-U.S. alliance: Concern prevails in 
Asia-Pacific 
 
TOKYO 00000286  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Okada: Japan-Korea annexation injured the ethnic pride of South 
Korean people 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Winter Olympics open: Support also global warming prevention 
measures 
(2) Iran's suspected development of nuclear arms: Unity of UN 
Security Council put to test 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Diet member Ishikawa leaves party: Fulfill responsibility to 
give explanation as a Diet member 
(2) Winter Olympics open: Spectacle of beauty and skill 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Diet member Ishikawa leaves party: Secretary General Ozawa bears 
serious supervisory responsibility 
(2) Ukraine: Preserve the legacy of "Orange Revolution" 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Revision of medical fees shows limitations of new Central Social 
Insurance Medical Council 
(2) Build a new century of Japan-ROK relations 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Diet member Ishikawa: Issue cannot be settled by leaving party 
(2) Winter Olympics open: Waiting for good news about Japanese 
athletes 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Winter Olympics: Enjoy the great variety of attractions 
(2) Iran's nuclear development: Dangerous gamble that will aggravate 
its isolation 
 
FUTENMA 
 
3) Northern Marianas governor willing to accept Futenma relocation 
on condition of U.S. government approval 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 11, 2010 
 
Hirotaka Yamaguchi in Saipan 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) policy chief Tomoko Abe, People's New 
Party (PNP) policy chief Mikio Shimoji, and other ruling party 
officials visited Saipan in the U.S. territory of the Commonwealth 
of the Northern Mariana Islands on Feb. 10 and met with Governor 
Benigno Fitial. The governor expressed his willingness to accept the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, 
Okinawa) to the Northern Marianas. However, he also said that the 
U.S. government's approval will be required, so the realization of 
the relocation is expected to be difficult. 
 
The meeting was open to reporters. Fitial said: "I would like to 
affirm our willingness to accept the military base as the consensus 
of the people of the Northern Mariana Islands. I think this will 
benefit the local people." He also said: "We cannot do anything 
 
TOKYO 00000286  003 OF 010 
 
 
without the U.S. government's assistance and support." He said at an 
interview after the meeting: "We are willing to take over all the 
functions of the Futenma base in the future." Shimoji also told 
reporters after the meeting: "We would like to call on the 
government to have the courage to negotiate with the U.S. 
government." 
 
The Northern Marianas are located to the north of the U.S. territory 
of Guam, which the SDP cites as an option for Futenma's relocation. 
Unlike Guam, there are no U.S. military bases on the main island of 
Saipan, which only has an airport for civilian aircraft. A senior 
U.S. government official gave the following comments on Feb. 10: 
"The structure of U.S. forces is an issue of national security that 
should be decided by the government. The U.S. government continues 
to believe that the realignment road map is the best solution." On 
the other hand, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano stated at 
his news conference: "We have never considered this option. This is 
not included in the overall study." Even the PNP considers 
relocation to Saipan to be a possibility for the future, but it 
supports Futenma's integration with Kadena Air Base as the most 
promising relocation plan. 
 
Abe and Shimoji later joined Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yorihisa 
Matsuno, who was visiting Guam. The three will visit U.S. military 
facilities in Guam on Feb. 11. 
 
4) Guam governor rejects Futenma relocation 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 12, 2010 
 
Hirotaka Yamaguchi in Guam 
 
Felix Camacho, governor of the U.S. territory of Guam, met with 
senior officials of the Japanese government and ruling parties and 
expressed his rejection of the proposal to relocate the U.S. forces' 
Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) to Guam. He said: "It 
would exceed our capacity to host U.S. forces, and it would be 
difficult for us to take on more military bases. The building of 
social infrastructure is lagging behind the rapid increase in 
population." 
 
Speaker Judith Won Pat of the Guam Legislature also said in an 
interview with Asahi Shimbun and other media outlets on the evening 
of Feb. 10 that: "We cannot accept any more U.S. forces. 
Preparations to host U.S. troops have already damaged the 
environment seriously, and we have no intention to expropriate more 
land." 
 
Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yorihisa Matsuno, Social Democratic 
Party (SDP) policy chief Tomoko Abe, People's New Party (PNP) policy 
chief Mikio Shimoji, and other members of the Okinawa base issues 
examination committee participated in the meeting with the governor. 
The SDP will propose Futenma's relocation to the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's Omura base (in Omura City, Nagasaki 
Prefecture), while the PNP will suggest integration with Kadena Air 
Base and other plans to the committee on Feb. 17. 
 
5) SDP will not eliminate Guam as Futenma relocation option 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 12, 2010 
 
TOKYO 00000286  004 OF 010 
 
 
 
Members of the government and ruling parties' Okinawa base issues 
examination committee, which is studying alternative relocation 
sites for the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station, returned from their 
inspection tour of military bases in the U.S. territory of Guam on 
Feb. 11. Social Democratic Party (SDP) policy chief Tomoko Abe told 
reporters at Narita airport that "the SDP will not eliminate Guam as 
an option." People's New Party (PNP) policy chief Mikio Shimoji 
said, "We should take very seriously (Guam's) position that it will 
be difficult to accept more U.S. Marines." 
 
6) Futenma issue also a matter of great concern to South Korea 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 12, 2010 
 
Chiharu Mori, Seoul 
 
South Korean Foreign and Trade Minister Yu Myung Hwan, in a press 
conference on Feb. 11, announced that his country has a strong 
interest in progress on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa, an outstanding issue between Japan 
and the United States. Yu said, "Our country is watching the matter 
with great concern." 
 
The Futenma issue was not officially taken up at the Japan-ROK 
foreign ministerial meeting held on Feb. 11. However, Foreign 
Minister Yu said, "U.S. Forces Japan and U.S. Forces South Korea are 
playing a central role in ensuring peace and stability in Northeast 
Asia," adding that his country expects that Japan and the United 
States will settle the matter amicably. 
 
Foreign Minister Yu's statement arises from the perception that the 
U.S. Marines in Okinawa are playing a crucial role in restraining 
North Korea. 
 
In an operational plan compiled by the United States and South 
Korea, the U.S. Marines in Okinawa are positioned as reinforcements 
in time of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula. 
 
7) Parliamentary Secretary of Defense Nagashima says integration 
with Kadena Air Base is one Futenma relocation option 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 12, 2010 
 
Parliamentary Secretary of Defense Akihisa Nagashima discussed the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, 
Okinawa) during a BS Fuji TV program on the evening of Feb. 11. He 
said: "People living near the U.S. forces' Kadena Air Base 
(straddling the towns of Kadena and Chatan and Okinawa City) are 
troubled by the noise. If overall noise can be reduced, Futenma's 
integration with the Kadena base will be an option." 
 
Regarding the plan to relocate the Futenma base to the coastal area 
of Camp Schwab (in Nago City) agreed between Japan and the U.S., 
Nagashima said: "It is necessary to find a way not to destroy the 
maritime environment," indicating a negative view on resolving the 
Futenma issue based on the Japan-U.S. agreement. 
 
8) Futenma panel to shun finalizing relocation site 
 
 
TOKYO 00000286  005 OF 010 
 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 11, 2010 
 
The Committee on Okinawa Base Issues, a panel made up of government 
and ruling coalition officials involving Social Democratic Party and 
People's New Party lawmakers, will present several options to the 
government for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in Okinawa Prefecture without narrowing down the number of 
relocation sites to one, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano 
said in a press conference yesterday. The panel will forgo its final 
coordination on the question of where to relocate Futenma airfield, 
thereby leaving the decision to government and ruling coalition 
leaders. 
 
"We will listen to opinions (from the SDP and the PNP in the 
committee), and the government will consider this issue on its own 
and reach a conclusion," Hirano said. However, he also indicated 
that the government will make a final decision in a cabinet 
ministerial meeting on basic policies. "Once the government reaches 
a conclusion, a decision will be made in a cabinet ministerial 
meeting," Hirano said. 
 
The cabinet ministerial meeting's regular members are Deputy Prime 
Minister and Finance Minister Naoto Kan, State Minister for Postal 
Reform and Financial Services Shizuka Kamei (PNP president), State 
Minister for Consumer Affairs and Declining Birthrate Mizuho 
Fukushima (SDP president), and Hirano. The government, with approval 
obtained at a cabinet ministerial meeting, will make a cabinet 
decision by the end of May on where to relocate the Futenma airfield 
facility. 
 
9) Okinawa prefectural assembly to adopt resolution against Futenma 
relocation to Henoko 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
February 11, 2010 
 
The ruling and opposition parties in the Okinawa prefectural 
assembly began coordination yesterday to unanimously adopt a 
resolution and petition opposing the planned relocation of the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its current location in 
Okinawa Prefecture to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, a U.S. military 
base located in the Henoko area of the island prefecture's northern 
coastal city of Nago. If the resolution is adopted, Gov. Hirokazu 
Nakaima, who has accepted the current Futenma relocation plan, will 
likely be in a fix. 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, and the 
Japanese Communist Party, which are on the opposition bench in the 
prefectural assembly, held a meeting of their representatives 
yesterday in the prefectural assembly and concurred on passing a 
resolution and petition calling for the government to close down and 
remove Futenma airfield at an early date. 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party, which is the largest of all the 
parties and groups in the prefectural assembly, used to be in favor 
of the current relocation plan. However, the LDP, in response to the 
Hatoyama administration's decision to review the current plan, has 
changed its policy course to call for the Futenma airfield facility 
to be moved out of Okinawa Prefecture or Japan. The LDP is now 
positive about adopting the resolution and petition. 
 
 
TOKYO 00000286  006 OF 010 
 
 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
 
10) Foreign Minister Okada: Japan's annexation of Korea injured 
South Korean people's ethnic pride 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Top play) (Full) 
February 12, 2010 
 
Eiji Tsukiyama, Seoul 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada held talks yesterday in Seoul with 
his South Korean counterpart Yu Myung-hwan on such issues as the 
relationship of the two countries this year that marks a century 
since the conclusion of the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty, as well 
as North Korean issues. The talks took place at the Foreign Affairs 
and Trade Ministry. At a joint press conference with Yu after their 
talks, Okada stated on the Japan's annexation of Korea: "The people 
of South Korea (sic) were deprived of their country and their ethnic 
pride was deeply hurt." He clearly stated that Japan will build a 
future-oriented friendly relationship with South Korea, without 
forgetting the suffering of the South Korean people. 
 
Okada said, "I am proud to be Japanese. So I understand the feelings 
of people who were deprived of their country." He also said, "We 
must not forget the feelings of the people in the country that was 
annexed and those who suffered due to the annexation." 
 
In their talks, the two foreign ministers agreed to work toward 
entering a new phase this year. As part of their efforts to step up 
exchanges between the two countries in the private sector, the 
ministers also agreed to resume the activities of the Japan-South 
Korea Cultural Exchange Council comprising experts from the two 
countries. 
 
Yu expressed his hope that a bill granting local-level suffrage to 
permanent foreign residents in Japan will be enacted. In response, 
Okada said, "The government is currently considering it," seeking 
Yu's understanding. 
 
The South Korean government has called for the realization of a 
visit to Seoul by the Emperor this year, which marks a century since 
Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula. Okada, however, stated 
at the press conference: "We will consider it very carefully." 
 
With regard to North Korean issues, Okada and Yu agreed in their 
talks on the importance of a comprehensive resolution of the nuclear 
and missile issues, as well as humanitarian issues, including North 
Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals. They reaffirmed the 
importance of North Korea's first implementing measures to 
denuclearize itself, as well as close cooperation among the counties 
concerned including the United States, in order to resume the 
Six-Party Talks. 
 
11) Document indicating that Nakasone asked U.S. to hush up Lockheed 
scandal discovered in U.S. 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
February 12, 2010 
 
A document written in February 1976, shortly after the Lockheed 
scandal came to light, indicating that then Liberal Democratic Party 
(LDP) Secretary General Yasuhiro Nakasone made a request of the U.S. 
 
TOKYO 00000286  007 OF 010 
 
 
government, saying, "I hope it will hush up the matter," was found 
in the United States. The reason was because should the names of 
high-ranking Japanese officials who had received kickback money be 
made public, "it would mean the complete defeat of the LDP at the 
polls, possibly leading to the breakdown of the U.S.-Japan security 
framework." Although then Prime Minister Takeo Miki declared he 
would make an effort to get to the truth of the matter, the document 
indicates that there was a behind-the-scenes move to bring the 
curtain down early on the scandal. 
 
The document in question is a copy of a cable dated February 20, 
1976, sent to the Department of State by then U.S. Ambassador to 
Japan James Hodgson. The document, kept at the Gerald R. Ford 
Presidential Library, part of the National Archives and Records 
Administration, was declassified in Aug. 2008. 
 
The Lockheed scandal was revealed to the U.S. Congress on February 
4, 1976. The names of the senior Japanese officials who had received 
kickback money from Lockheed Corp. were not disclosed. Both the 
ruling and opposition camps demanded that the government find out 
the truth. Prime Minister Miki decided on Feb. 18 to ask the U.S. 
government for the provision of all materials, including the names 
of the high-ranking officials. 
 
According to the document, Nakasone, making contact that night with 
a person connected to the U.S. Embassy, asked the person to convey 
from him as LDP secretary general a message to the U.S. government. 
Nakasone also described Miki's policy as an "agonizing policy" and 
said: "If the names of the high-ranking officials are disclosed now, 
it will throw Japanese politics into turmoil. It is best to delay 
the announcement to the extent possible." 
 
12) "Trust me" not good enough to maintain alliance: GSDF official 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 11, 2010 
 
A Ground Self-Defense Force official gave a directive in a ceremony 
held yesterday at the GSDF's Ojojigahara range in Miyagi Prefecture 
to start joint training exercises there with U.S. Army troops, in 
which he indicated that language alone is insufficient to maintain 
an alliance. 
 
"An alliance cannot be maintained by diplomacy or political 
rhetoric, nor can it be maintained by only saying "trust me," said 
GSDF Col. Takeshi Nakazawa, commander of the GSDF 6th Division 44th 
Infantry Regiment, which is garrisoned in the city of Fukushima. 
 
Last November, when Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President 
Obama met, Hatoyama said "trust me" when referring to the issue of 
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station from its 
current location in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. As it stands, the 
remark made by a GSDF officer could create a stir. 
 
Nakazawa commented through a GSDF spokesman: "I wasn't quoting or 
criticizing the prime minister, who is the commander in chief of the 
Self-Defense Forces." 
 
POLITICS 
 
13) Ishikawa tenders resignation to DPJ 
 
 
TOKYO 00000286  008 OF 010 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 12, 2010 
 
Tomohiro Ishikawa, a Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) House of 
Representatives member (elected in the Hokkaido No. 11 electoral 
district), yesterday tendered his resignation from the party to 
Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa through a proxy to take 
responsibility for his indictment for violating the Political Funds 
Control Law in connection with a land purchase by Ozawa's fund 
management body, Rikuzankai. The DPJ will formally approve his 
resignation on Feb. 15 at a meeting of its Standing Officers 
Council. 
 
Yesterday Ozawa indicated to reporters that the DPJ will not issue 
any penalty to Ishikawa. 
 
ECONOMY 
 
14) Transport minister asks for cool-headed response at meeting with 
U.S. Ambassador to Japan 
 
 
ASAHI (Page 10) (Full) 
February 11, 2010 
 
In connection with large-scale Toyota recalls (free of charge), 
Transport Minister Seiji Maehara on Feb. 10 met with U.S. Ambassador 
to Japan John Roos at the transport ministry. During the meeting, 
Maehara called on the U.S. government to respond in a cool-headed 
manner, noting, "A matter like this should not pose an impediment on 
the open markets of the two countries." 
 
In view of the growing criticism of Toyota Motors in the U.S. 
Congress having an impact on the company's new car sales, Maehara 
proposed holding a meeting with the aim of allaying the situation. 
According to the transport ministry, Roos replied, "There may be 
harsh views in the U.S., but Toyota will continue to be a company 
with high name value if it fulfills its responsibilities." 
 
Emerging from the meeting, Roos told the press corps: "This is the 
matter of safety. It will not affect the strength of Japan-U.S. 
relations either directly or indirectly." He thus indicated his view 
that the matter will not become a pending diplomatic issue. 
 
The issue of Toyota's recalls is making headlines in the U.S. The 
U.S. Congress is also moving into full gear in its moves to pursue 
Toyota. The company's new car sales in January dropped sharply. In 
addition, Toyota has recalled its flagship model Prius as well. 
Toyota is now in a situation of being unable to avoid damage to its 
sales. Referring to Toyota Motors President Akio Toyoda, who will 
visit the U.S. shortly, Maehara during the meeting said, "I believe 
he will explain the situation to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of 
Transportation Ray LaHood." 
 
15) Toyota president to meet with Secretary LaHood 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 11, 2010 
 
It was disclosed that Toyota President Akio Toyoda, who will visit 
the U.S. on account of a series of recalls of defective vehicles, 
will meet with U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood. Toyoda had been 
 
TOKYO 00000286  009 OF 010 
 
 
scheduled to visit the U.S. on the 10th, but his flight was 
cancelled owing to the blizzard that struck the Washington D.C. 
area. He is presently readjusting his schedule. 
 
16) Toyota recall: It may be difficult to allay the situation, even 
if the president visits the U.S. 
 
YOMIURI (Page 11) (Full) 
February 12, 2010 
 
It has been decided that Toyota Motors President Akio Toyoda will 
visit the U.S. and announce his determination to ensure thorough 
information disclosure. However, the U.S. criticism of Toyoda as 
having been late in responding to the recalls of a massive number of 
Toyota cars is strong. Many take the view that it would be difficult 
to allay the situation even if he visits the U.S. 
 
Akihiro Okada, Washington, Taro Koyano, New York 
 
Toyoda will likely meet with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and 
heavyweights in the U.S. Congress, and offer an apology for the 
confusion. He will also seek understanding for his company's 
measures to deal with the issue. 
 
However, Congressman Darrell Issa (Republican), a prominent member 
of the U.S. House of Representatives, released a statement on Feb. 
10 that read, "If Toyota's President visits the U.S. and Toyota 
dealerships, we would like to invite him to attend a public hearing 
and a congressional meeting." He thus asked Toyoda to attend a 
public hearing hosted by the House Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform. 
 
Toyota Motors indicated a negative stance on the idea of President 
Toyoda attending the public hearing, noting that for now, President 
Yoshimi Inaba of Toyota North America is the one who has been 
invited to the public hearing. The judgment is that the president 
will be put in a very difficult situation if he is pushed into a 
corner at a public hearing, where he is expected to face harsh 
questioning. 
 
However, a Toyota executive said that the president is eager to 
attend the public hearing. Much attention is being focused on what 
Toyoda decides to do. 
 
17) National debt totals 871 trillion yen, or 6.83 million yen per 
capita 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 11, 2010 
 
The outstanding balance of Japan's central government debts - 
government bonds and loans payable - totaled a record high of 
871.5104 trillion yen at the end of 2009, the Finance Ministry said 
on Feb. 10. The figure is an increase of 24.8199 trillion yen from 
the end of 2008. The total translates into roughly 6.83 million yen 
per capita. If the financial condition continues to deteriorate, 
pressure is likely to be applied for an increase in long-term 
interest rates. 
 
The Finance Ministry projects that the national debt will swell to 
900 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2009 and to 973 trillion yen 
at the end of fiscal 2010. 
 
TOKYO 00000286  010 OF 010 
 
 
 
The increase in the balance was largely attributable to the 
additional issuance of government bonds to shore up the economy 
under the previous administration of Prime Minister Taro Aso. 
 
Standard & Poor's, a U.S. rating agency, lowered the outlook on 
Japanese government bonds from stable to negative in January. The 
Japanese government plans to come up with a mid-term target by June 
for restoring fiscal health. Whether it will be able to come up with 
a convincing target remains to be seen. 
 
SPACE 
 
18) Discontinuation of manned space exploration program by U.S.: 
"Its impact will be limited," says JAXA president 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Full) 
February 11, 2010 
 
Referring to the discontinuation of a manned space exploration 
program by the U.S., Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency President 
Keiji Tachikawa at a press conference indicated his view, noting, 
"Its impact on Japan will not be so great." On Feb. 1, President 
Obama announced the discontinuation of a manned space exploration 
program called the "Constellation Program" due to severe fiscal 
conditions and the trend of public opinion. 
 
This was the first press conference held by the JAXA president since 
the U.S. decided to halt the program. Tachikawa noted: "The National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may cease to take the 
lead in manned space exploration. Our challenge lies in what form 
Japan should take in declaring its participation in the development 
of manned space exploration." 
 
ROOS