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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 13 TOKYO 000295 
 
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 02/16/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma follies: 
3) Senator Webb: "I'm confident of a conclusion favorable to both 
countries" (Yomiuri) 
4) Hirano: Saipan out of the question (Asahi) 
5) DPJ Okinawa chapter to adopt Futenma proposal (Sankei) 
6) PNP to offer plans for relocation of Futenma facility within 
Okinawa (Asahi) 
7) Fukushima opposes land-based facility at Camp Schwab (Mainichi) 
 
 
Defense & security: 
8) Gov't: U.S. not obliged to defend Takeshima (Nikkei) 
9) Japan, Australia to conclude ACSA (Nikkei) 
10) GSDF officer gets written warning (Mainichi) 
11) Kitazawa chides GSDF officer for comment on Japan-U.S. alliance 
(Yomiuri) 
 
Foreign relations: 
12) Ozawa reveals he criticized U.S. Asian policy in meeting with 
Campbell (Sankei) 
13) Japan pressed to sign Hague Convention (Yomiuri) 
 
Sea Shepherd vs. Japan: 
14) Activist climbs aboard whaling ship (Yomiuri) 
15) Sea Shepherd captain to be handed over to Japanese Coast Guard 
(Asahi) 
 
Politics: 
16) Strategy Minister Sengoku vows sweeping reform of farming 
regulations (Nikkei) 
17) Gov't to abolish ceiling on postal savings (Yomiuri) 
18) Ozawa denies asking for Obama meeting (Nikkei) 
19) Former LDP lawmaker Yoshimura to join PNP (Nikkei) 
20) DPJ accepts Ishikawa's resignation (Asahi) 
 
Economy: 
21) GDP marks real growth of 4.6 PERCENT  (Nikkei) 
22) Kamei: It's foolish to be swayed by foreign countries (Asahi) 
 
23) Next generation power transmission network: Pubic, private 
sectors aim to capture market through cooperation (Nikkei) 
 
Opinion: 
24) Jiji poll: Cabinet support rate plummets to 35 PERCENT  (Tokyo 
Shimbun) 
25) Sankei poll: 75 PERCENT  of Diet members believe Ozawa's 
explanation of scandal insufficient (Sankei) 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Major banks reject only a few debt moratorium applications from 
small firms, housing loan borrowers 
 
Mainichi: 
 
TOKYO 00000295  002 OF 013 
 
 
Costs for 190 road construction projects increased from initial 
budget requests, reflecting local desires 
 
Yomiuri: 
Road project budget up 60.8 billion yen from initial request, with 
local wishes taken into account 
 
Nikkei: 
Japan to receive 75 billion yen worth of orders in Vietnam for 
infrastructure work 
 
Sankei: 
Chinese-style strategy to grab resources: "Zambians are treated like 
slaves" 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
Major banks receive 20,000 debt moratorium applications from home 
loan borrowers, small firms in a month 
 
Akahata: 
Local residents at possible alternative sites for Futenma airfield 
voicing anger, opposition to increased burden of hosting U.S. 
military bases 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Positive GDP growth: Government should draw up strategy for 
self-sustaining recovery 
(2) Murder, injury of three in Miyagi Prefecture: Review measures 
against domestic violence in light of this incident 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Consumption tax debate: Start with an explanation 
(2) Anti-smoking measures in work places: Draw up a blueprint for 
complete smoking ban 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Consumption tax debate: Finance Minister Kan making a move 
finally 
(2) Continuous improvement of GDP: Concerns about a double dip 
remain 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) DPJ administration should discuss taxes, pension with opposition 
parties 
(2) Economy sluggish despite recovery of growth rate 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Political funds and income tax declaration: All taxpayers are 
furious 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Consumption tax debate: Flip side of growth strategy 
(2) Public transportation: Localities should maintain local means of 
transportation 
 
Akahata: 
(1) GDP: Implement fundamental shift from old growth strategy 
 
FUTENMA FOLLIES 
 
 
TOKYO 00000295  003 OF 013 
 
 
3) U.S. Senator Jim Webb meets FM Okada, DM Kitazawa 
 
YOIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
U.S. Senator Jim Webb (Democratic Party), chairman of the Senate's 
Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs who is on a visit to 
Japan, met Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Defense Minister 
Toshimi Kitazawa separately in Tokyo on Feb. 15 to exchange views on 
the relocation of the Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. 
 
Okada said, "We will reach a conclusion by May after consulting with 
the U.S. government," while Kitazawa stated, "We would like to make 
every effort to find the most appropriate solution," in their 
efforts to gain Webb's understanding. Webb responded with: "The 
Japan-U.S. relationship is strong enough to overcome any specific 
issue. I am confident that whatever the conclusion will be, it will 
be desirable for both countries." At a news conference at the Japan 
National Press Club in Uchisaiwaicho, Tokyo, earlier, Webb said that 
 "there are several practical options" with regard to the relocation 
site, indicating his acceptance of relocation sites other than the 
location designated by the current relocation plan. However, he 
refrained from talking about the relocation site at his meetings 
with the foreign minister and the defense minister. 
 
4) Hirano: Saipan is not included among potential alternative sites 
for Futenma facility 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 13, 2010 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano told a press conference 
yesterday that Saipan, the largest island of the U.S.-held Northern 
Mariana Islands, is not included among the possible alternative 
sites for moving the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture. In exploring every possible 
alternative, lawmakers from the Social Democratic Party and the 
People's New Party visited Saipan recently. But Hirano said in 
reference to the recent: "This idea came out of the blue. The idea 
is not under discussion (at the study committee of the three ruling 
parties on Okinawa base issues). There is no plan to include the 
option in the items for discussion." Defense Minister Toshimi 
Kitazawa also said in a press conference on the same day: "Given the 
prime minister's strong determination to resolve the Futenma issue 
by the end of May, I think this idea would be considerably 
difficult." 
 
5) DPJ Okinawa chapter to come up with Futenma relocation proposal 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Okinawa chapter yesterday 
decided to come up with its own proposal for relocating the U.S. 
Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa 
Prefecture). 
 
6) PNP to propose Futenma's relocation within Okinawa; SDP proposals 
to include relocation to northern Kyushu 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
TOKYO 00000295  004 OF 013 
 
 
 
The proposals for the relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air 
Station (in Ginowan City, Okinawa) to be submitted by the People's 
New Party (PNP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to the 
examination committee of the government and the ruling parties on 
Feb. 17 have been decided on. The PNP will make two proposals: (1) 
integration with the U.S. forces' Kadena Air Base (KAB) (straddling 
the towns of Kadena and Chatan and Okinawa City) and (2) relocation 
to the land area of Camp Schwab (in Nago City). The SDP's preferred 
option is relocation to the U.S. territory of Guam. 
 
The PNP's proposal for Futenma's integration with the KAB calls for 
the relocation of Futenma's helicopter units to the KAB after 
transferring the fighter units on the KAB to the Air Self-Defense 
Force's Misawa base (in Aomori Prefecture). The training drills of 
the U.S. Marines will be dispersed, and noise problems caused by the 
KAB will also be remedied. The proposal to relocate the Futenma base 
to the land area of Camp Schwab will entail the construction of a 
new runway to be used by the Marines' helicopters on the military 
base. 
 
Guam is the SDP's preferred option for Futenma relocation, but Guam 
has refused to accept the relocation. Therefore, the party is also 
considering temporary relocation to northern Kyushu, such as the 
Ground Self-Defense Force's Ainoura base or the Maritime 
Self-Defense Force's Omura base (both in Nagasaki Prefecture). 
 
However, it is believed that the Hatoyama cabinet is also looking 
for other alternative relocation sites behind the scenes. Certain 
administration officials reckon that the examination committee's 
listening to the views of the two parties is merely a way to "create 
an excuse." 
 
7) Discord in ruling parties: SDP leader opposes proposal to 
relocate Futenma to land area of Camp Schwab; PNP irked 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
Shinichiro Nishida, Yasushi Sengoku 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader Mizuho Fukushima commented on 
Feb. 15 on the plan of the People's New Party (PNP) to propose the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan City, 
Okinawa) to the land area of Camp Schwab (in Nago city). She voiced 
her opposition, saying: "The mayor of Nago has clearly stated that 
relocation either to the coastal or land area is unacceptable. The 
sentiment of the citizens of Nago and Okinawa is for us to work for 
relocation out of Japan or out of Okinawa." She made the above 
remarks to reporters in Tokyo. The proposals of the ruling parties 
will be submitted to the meeting of the Okinawa base issues 
examination committee of the government and the ruling parties on 
Feb. 17. 
 
There is an opinion in the government and the ruling parties that 
relocation to the land area of Camp Schwab will be the "final 
compromise" for Futenma relocation. Fukushima's statement negated 
this view. In response to this, PNP policy chief Mikio Shimoji told 
reporters: "Since now is a time when all parties should respect each 
other and present their proposals, this is very annoying." He 
stressed the advantage of the plan to relocate to Camp Schwab's land 
area, explaining that, "Our criterion is that it will not damage the 
 
TOKYO 00000295  005 OF 013 
 
 
sea and will not use additional civilian land." He said the proposal 
will be submitted to the examination committee on Feb. 17, after 
which he will request a meeting with Nago Mayor Sumumu Inamine to 
seek his understanding. 
 
The SDP plans to propose relocating the Futenma base out of Japan to 
the U.S. territory of Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands. As to candidate relocation sites within Japan, the 
party will discuss how to make such proposals, in consideration of 
expected opposition from the affected local governments. Along with 
the Camp Schwab land area proposal, the PNP will also propose the 
integration of the Futenma base with Kadena Air Base (straddling the 
towns of Kadena and Chatan and Okinawa City) combined with the 
transfer of exercises to Guam, Saipan, and other locations. 
 
DEFENSE & SECURITY 
 
8) Gov't: U.S. not obligated to defend Takeshima 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 13, 2010 
 
The government decided in a cabinet meeting yesterday on an answer 
to be filed in reply to a parliamentary interpellation, taking 
position that the United States is currently not obligated under the 
Japan-U.S. Security Treaty to defend Takeshima ("Dokdo" in Korean), 
a group of South Korean-controlled islets in the Sea of Japan, to 
which both Japan and South Korea have been claiming territorial 
rights. 
 
"Takeshima is currently under a situation that prevents Japan from 
conducting its administration," the government says in the 
cabinet-adopted answer, explaining that the United States is 
obligated to defend if and when there is "an armed attack within 
territories under Japanese administration." 
 
9) Japan, Australia to ink ACSA pact 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
February 14, 2010 
 
The Japanese and Australian governments decided yesterday to 
conclude an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, or ACSA for 
short, to provide each other with food and fuel. The two governments 
will hold a security consultative committee of their foreign and 
defense ministers in Tokyo and are expected to sign the ACSA pact in 
March. Australia will be the second country, following the United 
States, for Japan to conclude an ACSA pact with. This is aimed at 
stepping up trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, 
and Australia on the security front and working together in such 
areas as disaster relief and reconstruction assistance. 
 
10) GSDF commander cautioned 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
February 13, 2010 
 
The Defense Ministry said yesterday it has cautioned in written form 
Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Takeshi Nakazawa, a GSDF regiment 
commander, over his recent remark in which he said that "an alliance 
cannot be maintained by just saying 'trust me.'" The caution does 
not constitute disciplinary action under the Self-Defense Forces 
 
TOKYO 00000295  006 OF 013 
 
 
Law. 
 
Nakazawa heads the GSDF 6th Division 44th Infantry Regiment. The 
GSDF commanding officer made the remark in a directive he gave in a 
ceremony held at the GSDF's Ojojigahara range in Miyagi Prefecture 
to start joint training exercises there with U.S. Army troops. The 
Defense Ministry explained the reason for the caution, saying: "The 
remark could incur a misunderstanding that can be taken as making 
light of politics and diplomacy and even as criticizing the prime 
minister's statement, and it is not appropriate for a leader of the 
Self-Defense Forces to make such a remark." Nakazawa was quoted as 
saying: "I'm sorry that what I said has caused a misunderstanding. I 
take the action very seriously." 
 
Last November, when Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President 
Obama met, Hatoyama told Obama to trust him over the issue of 
relocating the U.S. military's Futenma airfield. 
 
11) Kitazawa issues directive to GSDF's top brass 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
Defense Minister Kitazawa called in Ground Self-Defense Force Chief 
of Staff Yoshifumi Hibako yesterday and directed the GSDF's top 
brass man to alert his staff officers concerning GSDF 44th Infantry 
Regiment Commander Col. Takeshi Nakazawa's recent remark over the 
Japan-U.S. alliance in order to prevent a recurrence. 
 
Col. Nakazawa was cautioned on Feb. 12 for a remark he made at a 
ceremony at a GSDF range on Feb. 10 before the start of bilateral 
joint training exercises there between GSDF and U.S. Army troops. 
The colonel was quoted as saying there: "An alliance cannot be 
maintained by diplomacy or political flowery words, nor can it be 
maintained by only saying 'trust me.'" 
 
Kitazawa, after giving directions to the GSDF chief of staff, met 
the press and explained why he took disciplinary action against Col. 
Nakazawa, saying: "Concerning the national idea of government and 
diplomacy, the colonel expressed his philosophy that an alliance 
cannot be maintained by such things. At the same time, the colonel 
used an expression that sounded as if he was making fun of a 
statement by the prime minister, the commander in chief of the 
Self-Defense Forces." 
 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
 
12) Ozawa criticized U.S.'s Asia policy 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
February 14, 2010 
 
Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa gave a 
lecture at a meeting of the Ichiro Ozawa Seiji-juku, a school he 
heads, in Tokyo on Feb. 13. 
 
Ozawa indicated that when he met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of 
State Kurt Campbell on Feb. 2, he said to Campbell: "If an unstable 
situation occurs in Far East Asia, it would not be comparable to the 
situation in Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan. The United States must 
think of the region more seriously." Ozawa thus indicated that he 
had pointed out problems associated with the U.S.'s Asia policy. 
 
TOKYO 00000295  007 OF 013 
 
 
 
On state affairs, Ozawa announced his determination to make all-out 
efforts for the maintenance of the DPJ-led administration, saying, 
"There is no other option but for the DPJ administration to remain 
responsible for the country's politics although it will have to go 
through a process of trial and error for the time being." He also 
noted: "The Liberal Democratic Party has experienced a meltdown and 
is no longer a cohesive political party. You must keep the right 
attitude so as not to fall short of the people's expectations for 
democracy or betray them." 
 
Ozawa excused himself from a Seiji-juku meeting on the night of Feb. 
12 because he was not feeling well. During the meeting on Feb. 13, 
Ozawa said in a nasal voice, "I have not been feeling well lately." 
 
13) U.S. urges Japan to accede to child custody convention 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
February 14, 2010 
 
The fact that Japan is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on 
the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is emerging as a 
new source of conflict in relations between Japan and the United 
States. 
 
The convention stipulates that if a child custody dispute occurs as 
a result of a failed international marriage, the child must be 
returned to the country of his or her habitual residence. Eighty-one 
countries, including the United States, are signatories to the 
convention. 
 
There have been many cases in which foreign parents seeking 
visitation with their children could not take any legal steps 
against Japanese nationals who have taken their children to Japan, a 
non-signatory to the convention, without prior consent from their 
spouses after their international marriages ended in divorce. Such 
cases have been regarded as a problem in the United States. During 
his visit to Japan earlier this month, U.S. Assistant Secretary of 
State Kurt Campbell expressed at a press conference on Feb. 2 
concern about the possibility that the matter could have a negative 
impact on Japan-U.S. relations. During his talks with senior Foreign 
Ministry officials, Campbell also urged Japan to accede to the 
convention, saying, "Some in the U.S. Congress have indicated that 
the United States might not be able to support Japan on the issue of 
abductions by North Korea." 
 
Nevertheless, in order for Japan to sign the convention, the country 
needs a domestic law stipulating a set of procedures to return a 
child to the country of his/her habitual residence. Some in the 
government are opposed to acceding to the convention. "Concerns over 
the treaty have been voiced by women who have suffered from domestic 
violence," Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said. 
 
On Feb. 10 the Foreign Ministry held a meeting to explain how the 
government is working toward joining the convention. But 
coordination in the government has not taken any concrete shape. 
 
SEA SHEPHERD VS. JAPAN 
 
14) Anti-whaling activist boards Japanese research whaling vessel in 
Southern Ocean 
 
 
TOKYO 00000295  008 OF 013 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
Evening, February 15, 2010 
 
An activist from the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation 
Society was detained after he boarded a Japanese research whaling 
vessel in the Southern Ocean, the Fisheries Agency said today. 
 
According to the agency, the male activist climbed aboard the patrol 
ship Shonan Maru No.2 at around 9:00 a.m. on the same day (Japan, 
time). The activist is the former skipper of the Ady Gil, a 
high-tech power-boat that sank after colliding with the Shonan Maru 
No. 2 last month. He reportedly approached the ship on a jet ski and 
climbed aboard the ship. He was detained without a struggle, and no 
crew members were hurt, according to the agency. 
 
15) Anti-whaling activist to be transferred to Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 39) (Excerpt) 
February 16, 2010 
 
An activist form the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd Conservation 
Society boarded a Japanese research whaling vessel in the Southern 
Ocean. In this case, the Fisheries Agency decided yesterday to 
transfer the activist to the Japan Coast Guard, which has 
investigative authority, based on the judgment that it is necessary 
to question him in Japan on suspicion of breaking and entering. 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Hirotaka Akamatsu 
revealed this decision within the ministry yesterday afternoon. 
 
The Fisheries Agency will hold discussions with relevant government 
agencies on what final decision the government should make and how 
the activist should be transferred to Japan. 
 
POLITICS 
 
16) National Strategy Minister Sengoku: Agriculture regulatory 
reform should be carried out drastically 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2010 
 
Referring to regulatory reform to allow private companies to 
participate in the agriculture business, State Minister for National 
Strategy Yoshito Sengoku told reporters on Feb. 14: "With regard to 
the regulatory issue, we must carry out drastic regulatory reform, 
not half-baked reform," indicating that he will be looking into 
drastic reform. Sengoku made inspection tours of agricultural 
corporations in the cities of Myoko and Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, 
in order to flesh out the government's growth strategy, which is 
expected to be formulated in June. He made the above remarks in 
Joetsu City after his inspection tours. 
 
17) Limit to postal savings to be scrapped: Government undergoing 
final adjustments of postal reform plan 
 
YOMIURI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 13, 2010 
 
The government on Feb. 12 underwent a final adjustment of views on 
postal reform with the possibility of scrapping in three years' time 
the limit on postal savings (10 million yen per depositor) in a 
postal reform bill to be submitted to the current Diet session. As a 
 
TOKYO 00000295  009 OF 013 
 
 
tentative measure until the limit is scrapped, the upper limit will 
be set at 30 million yen. There is a strong possibility that 
expanded business by the government-backed Japan Post Bank could 
squeeze the operations of private financial institutions. Private 
banks are bound to strongly oppose the bill. 
 
State Minister for Financial Affairs Kamei and Internal Affairs 
Minister Haraguchi met on the 12th and reached an agreement in 
general outline. They are expected to finalize the bill before the 
end of March. 
 
Japan Post Insurance, which sets a limit on the amount of insurance 
(13 million yen per policyholder), will also abolish the limit in 
three years' time. The limit will be tentatively raised to 50 
million yen until then. 
 
A new parent company will be formed by the current holding company 
integrated with two postal services companies. It will have Japan 
Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance under its wing. The government's 
capital ratio in the new holding company will be set at over a half. 
It will maintain powerful rights as a shareholder, including the 
right to appoint executives. The parent company's capital ratio in 
the two financial companies will be set at one-third. 
 
The government will mandate postal services, postal savings and 
postal insurance operated by the Japan Post Group to offer uniform 
service throughout the nation. As a measure to reduce the burden of 
the cost to ensure uniform service, the government will consider 
exempting the group from the consumption tax on some transactions 
among member companies. The government is also making adjustments 
with the possibility of the two financial companies being exempted 
from regulations under the Banking Law and the Insurance Business 
Law so as to differentiate them from private financial organizations 
that pursue profits. 
 
18) Ozawa: "I did not ask for a meeting with President Obama" 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 15, 2010 
 
During his earlier visit to Japan, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt 
Campbell asked Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro 
Ozawa to visit the U.S. In reference to this, Ozawa made the 
following comment yesterday to reporters in Kurume City, Fukuoka 
Prefecture: 
 
"I said to him (Campbell) that if I decide to visit the U.S., the 
purpose will be to further develop the Japan-U.S. alliance and 
promote bilateral friendship and goodwill given that this year marks 
the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the alliance. I did not 
tell him I would like to meet President Barack Obama." 
 
Ozawa had said in a press conference on the 8th: "I told (Campbell) 
that if I decide to go to the U.S., the U.S. side should make 
arrangements for a meeting between me and the President." 
 
19) Upper House member Yoshimura to join People's New Party 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
It was learned yesterday that House of Councillors member Gotaro 
 
TOKYO 00000295  010 OF 013 
 
 
Yoshimura, 71, elected from the Fukuoka constituency, who had left 
the Liberal Democratic Party, will join the People's New Party. 
Yoshimura will hold a press conference today to announce his 
decision. 
 
20) DPJ accepts Ishikawa's letter of resignation 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan's (DPJ) Standing Officers Council 
approved on Feb. 15 House of Representatives member Tomohiro 
Ishikawa's resignation from the party and submitted his withdrawal 
from the parliamentary group to the Lower House. As a result, the 
party breakdown in the Lower House is as follows: 
 
Party Number of members 
DPJ, Independent Club 310 
Liberal Democratic Party, Japan Renaissance Party 119 
New Komeito 21 
Japanese Communist Party 9 
Social Democratic Party, Social Citizen's Coalition 7 
Your Party 5 
People's New Party 3 
Group of independents to protect national interests and people's 
daily lives 3 
Independents (including Speaker and Vice Speaker) 3 
 
ECONOMY 
 
21) Real GDP in October-December quarter grows 4.6 percent 
 
NIKKEI (Top Play) (Lead para.) 
Evening, February 15, 2010 
 
According to the preliminary statistics released by the Cabinet 
Office on Feb. 15, the gross domestic product (GDP) for the 
October-December quarter in 2009 increased 1.1 percent from the 
preceding quarter or an annualized 4.6 percent increase in real 
terms, which excludes the impact of fluctuations in prices. This 
represents the third consecutive quarter of positive growth. Exports 
and personal consumption expanded, and capital spending also moved 
into the plus column. The nominal GDP, which is close to the actual 
sentiments of households, increased 0.2 percent from the previous 
term or an annualized 0.9 percent increase, achieving positive 
growth for the first time in seven quarters. Concern about the 
economy sinking into a double-dip recession is waning. However, some 
are beginning to take a view that the growth rate in the first half 
of this fiscal year will decline as economic stimulus measures lose 
steam. 
 
22) State Minister for Financial Affairs Kamei on government bond 
ratings - "Japanese are susceptible to foreign influences. It's 
stupid." 
 
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full) 
February 16, 2010 
 
Referring to the downgrading of the outlook for Japan's long-term 
government bonds by foreign rating companies, State Minister for 
Financial Affairs Shizuka Kamei said, "The Japanese are susceptible 
to foreign influences. There are lots of idiots." He thus indicated 
 
TOKYO 00000295  011 OF 013 
 
 
his dissatisfaction with the nature of credit ratings and the way 
people respond to them. Kamei is set to have regulatory power over 
credit rating companies starting in April. 
 
He pointed out, "Ninety percent of Japanese government bonds are 
purchased by Japanese. There are only few foreign holders." He then 
criticized (rating companies), noting, "It may be important to 
caution credit rating companies saying that their ratings of 
Japanese government bonds do not match the actual conditions. They 
rate Japanese government bonds without asking. Even if their ratings 
have an influence, they do not cover our losses." 
 
23) Next generation power transmission network: Pubic, private 
sectors aim to capture market through cooperation 
 
NIKKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
February 14, 2010 
 
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will set up a 
consultative council consisting of the public and private sectors 
with the aim of capturing the next-generation smart grid market, 
which is expected to expand in the future. More than 100 companies, 
such as utility companies and electronics- and system-related 
companies, are expected to participate in the project. The Smart 
Grid power-transmission system is expected to become a global market 
worth over 1 trillion dollars. METI will designate the market as a 
growth area and set up a system for public and private sector 
cooperation. 
 
The Smart Grid is a technology that enables stable power supply and 
energy conservation by using a telecommunications network to grasp 
power demand in households and offices and supply at power stations. 
It is deemed essential in expanding the use of renewable energies, 
such as solar energy and wind power. 
 
METI will announce a plan to establish a Smart Community Alliance on 
the 15th. In February it will start canvassing for companies to 
participate in the project and as early as March it will launch the 
consultative council. The head office will be set up at the New 
Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an 
independent administrative agency under METI's jurisdiction. 
 
OPINION 
 
24) Poll: Cabinet nonsupport at 44 PERCENT ; support sags to 35 
PERCENT 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 13, 2010 
 
The rate of public support for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his 
cabinet plummeted 11.4 percentage points from last month to 35.7 
PERCENT , according to a Jiji Press poll conducted Feb. 4-7. The 
nonsupport rate for the Hatoyama cabinet increased 12.3 points to 
44.7 PERCENT , rising for the fourth month in a row. The figures can 
be taken as reflecting the indictment of Tomohiro Ishikawa, a former 
secretary of ruling Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General 
Ichiro Ozawa and currently a lawmaker seated in the House of 
Representatives, for a violation of the Political Funds Control Law 
involving Ozawa's fund management organization. 
 
The survey was conducted across the nation on a face-to-face basis, 
 
TOKYO 00000295  012 OF 013 
 
 
with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among men and women aged 
20 and over. The response rate was 67.2 PERCENT . 
 
When asked what Ozawa should do, a total of more than 70 PERCENT 
were against Ozawa's staying on as DPJ secretary general, with 48.4 
PERCENT  saying he should resign from his party post and 24.1 
PERCENT  saying he should resign not only from his party post but 
also from the Diet. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ 
dropped 3.4 points from last month to 22.8 PERCENT , the lowest 
level since the Hatoyama cabinet's inauguration. The leading 
opposition Liberal Democratic Party was at 14.6 PERCENT , up 1.5 
points. Among other political parties, the New Komeito was at 4.3 
PERCENT , the Japanese Communist Party at 1.6 PERCENT , the Social 
Democratic Party at 0.7 PERCENT , the Your Party at 0.4 PERCENT , 
and the People's New Party at 0.1 PERCENT . The proportion of those 
with no particular party affiliation was 53.0 PERCENT . 
 
25) Diet poll: 75 PERCENT  see Ozawa's account as insufficient 
 
SANKEI (Top play) (Almost full) 
February 15, 2010 
 
The Sankei Shimbun conducted a questionnaire survey of Diet members 
on the "politics-and-money" problem of ruling Democratic Party of 
Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa and the advisability of giving 
suffrage to foreign nationals with permanent resident status in 
Japan for local elections. Asked about Ozawa, 53 PERCENT  of 
respondents answered that he should provide further explanation and 
a total of 75 PERCENT  thought that Ozawa has yet to deal with the 
problem sufficiently. In addition, the survey also found that some 
of the DPJ's lawmakers are also opposed to vesting foreign nationals 
with the right to vote in local elections, saying it is 
"unconstitutional" or citing other reasons. 
 
The survey was conducted on all Diet members in the House of 
Representatives and in the House of Councillors, totaling 722 
persons. Answers were obtained from 134 lawmakers up until 
yesterday. In the breakdown of responses, there were answers from 39 
persons in the DPJ (9 PERCENT ), 57 from the leading opposition 
Liberal Democratic Party (29 PERCENT ), 12 from the New Komeito, 11 
from the Japanese Communist Party, and 3 from the Social Democratic 
Party. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked to give multiple-choice 
answers about what they thought Ozawa should do following the 
indictment of Tomohiro Ishikawa, a former secretary of Ozawa and 
currently a DPJ lawmaker seated in the House of Representatives. 
 
As a result, 53 PERCENT  answered that Ozawa should give a further 
explanation, with 26 PERCENT  saying he should resign from the Diet, 
22 PERCENT  urging him to resign from his party post, and 5 PERCENT 
calling for him to leave the DPJ. The question was asked on a 
multiple-choice basis, so a total of 75 PERCENT  of the respondents 
to the survey insisted that Ozawa should take further action 
himself. 
 
In the DPJ as well, 13 of the 21 respondents sought a further 
explanation from Ozawa. Ahead of this summer's election for the 
House of Councillors, a sense of dissatisfaction with Ozawa seems to 
be growing in the DPJ. 
 
TOKYO 00000295  013 OF 013 
 
 
 
However, none of the DPJ's respondents called for Ozawa to take any 
action like resigning from his party post. 
 
Meanwhile, when asked about the issue of giving suffrage to foreign 
nationals with permanent resident status, 61 PERCENT  gave negative 
answers and 26 PERCENT  gave affirmative answers. In the DPJ as 
well, 10 of its 29 respondents to this question were opposed to 
vesting foreign nationals with suffrage. Among other political 
parties, all of the LDP's 53 respondents to this question were 
against giving voting rights to foreign nationals. 
 
ROOS