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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 TOKYO 000325 
 
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 02/19/10 
 
INDEX: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
 
Futenma issue: 
3) Gov't to examine plan for land-based facility at Camp Schwab 
(Asahi) 
4) Nago Mayor opposed to land-based facility (Sankei) 
5) PM: Base and N. Okinawa promotion measures separate (Nikkei) 
6) PNP's Shimoji: "We don't want to talk to the SDP" (Sankei) 
7) Hatoyama: "We won't limit our options" (Yomiuri) 
8) SDP secretary general: Examine postponing deadline for relocation 
decision (Yomiuri) 
9) DPJ Okinawa chapter head stresses opposition to facility 
relocation within prefecture (Mainichi) 
 
Defense & security: 
10) China, N. Korea focus of new basic defense program (Yomiuri) 
11) Foreign, defense ministry officials to visit U.S. to confirm 
expanded deterrence (Asahi) 
 
Japan vs. Sea Shepherd 
12) Maehara: We will deal harshly with the anti-whaling activist 
(Tokyo Shimbun) 
13) Japan to raise SS's harassment of whaling vessel at IWC meeting 
(Sankei) 
 
Politics: 
14) Okada to refuse to answer questions at "press gaggles" (Sankei) 
 
 
Economy: 
15) BOJ governor worried weakening economy could lead to falling 
price of government bonds (Nikkei) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Japan to introduce integrated flu vaccine that is also effective for 
H1N1 flu 
 
Mainichi: Tokyo Shimbun 
Total smoking ban to be introduced in public spaces, such as 
restaurants, recreation facilities, etc. 
 
Yomiuri: 
Panel hosted by Prime Minister Hatoyama to tackle threats from 
China, North Korea: New National Defense Program Guidelines to be 
focus of discussion 
 
Nikkei: 
Cement manufacturers to cut domestic output by 20 to 30 percent 
 
Sankei: 
Supreme Court's decision on local suffrage for permanent foreign 
residents: There were political considerations involved, says former 
Judge Sonobe 
 
Akahata: 
 
TOKYO 00000325  002 OF 008 
 
 
Two major loopholes in Worker Dispatch Law unforgivable 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Cluster bombs: Inhumane weapons can no longer be used 
(2) Japan should also promote ban on smoking in the workplace 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Effectuation of cluster treaty in August welcomed 
(2) Boldly review five-day school week system 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) National Defense Program Guidelines: Deepen discussion to 
strengthen deterrence 
(2) Okada to visit Australia: Japan should expand cooperative ties 
with Australia 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Government, BOJ should take joint steps to contain deflation 
(2) Toyota president urged to give explanation in U.S. 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Strictly punish anti-whaling activist in criminal case 
(2) Olympic athletes should have awareness of national pride 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Review of National Defense Program Guidelines: Avoid gradual 
easing of restrictions 
(2) Annual spring wage offensive: Fully protect workers 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Draft revision of Worker Dispatch Law is insufficient to protect 
temporary workers 
 
3) Gov't mulls building land-based facility on Camp Schwab as 
Futenma replacement 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's administration is considering laying 
down a land-based tarmac on the premises of Camp Schwab, a U.S. 
military base in Okinawa Prefecture's northern coastal city of Nago, 
as a replacement to take over the heliport functions of the U.S. 
military's Futenma airfield currently located in the island 
prefecture's central city of Ginowan, sources have revealed. The 
newly planned airstrip is 500 meters long and would be combined with 
the relocation of training exercises to the island of Tokunoshima in 
Kagoshima Prefecture and some other sites, according to the sources. 
The Japanese government has informally sounded out the U.S. 
government on this land-based facility plan. However, Washington and 
Okinawa are both likely to oppose it. 
 
Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Hirofumi Hirano met yesterday at the prime minister's office and 
discussed the idea of building a land-based facility at Camp Schwab. 
The People's New Party (PNP), one of the ruling coalition partners 
of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), is also considering a 
similar plan. PNP President Shizuka Kamei has already explained the 
plan to DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa. Ozawa raised no 
objection to the plan, according to a PNP executive. "I'm an 
 
TOKYO 00000325  003 OF 008 
 
 
outsider as far as this matter is concerned," the executive quoted 
Ozawa as saying. 
 
According to a government official's explanation, the plan is to 
install a temporary airstrip on the premises of Camp Schwab for the 
Futenma-based helicopters. This newly planned facility would not be 
sufficient for their training, so the government will propose it 
along with the idea of conducting training exercises at such 
locations as the outlying islands of Tokunoshima, Tanegashima, and 
Mageshima in Kagoshima Prefecture. 
 
The PNP has proposed the construction of a 1,500-meter runway. In 
this case, however, the government would need to assess the possible 
impact of the runway on its environs. The government has therefore 
downscaled its plan. The government plan is to construct a 
500-meter-long runway for the time being and extend it as needed. 
 
To finalize the Camp Schwab land-based relocation plan, the 
government will need to obtain consent from Okinawa and the ruling 
coalition and the U.S. government. Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine 
yesterday conveyed to Hatoyama his intention to oppose the 
land-based relocation plan. In addition, Mizuho Fukushima, who has 
portfolio in the Hatoyama cabinet and heads the Social Democratic 
Party, which is also a member of the DPJ-led ruling coalition, is 
also against the plan. A runway with a length of 500 meters would 
not be long enough for many of the Futenma-based fixed-wing planes 
to land, so the U.S. government is certain to disapprove of the 
plan. In campaigning for last year's general election, Hatoyama 
vowed to relocate Futenma airfield "at least outside Okinawa 
Prefecture." He will likely come under fire for breaking his 
promise. 
 
4) Nago mayor voices opposition to building land-based Futenma 
replacement facility on Camp Schwab in meeting with Hatoyama 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met with Susumu Inamine, mayor of Nago 
City in Okinawa Prefecture, at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei) yesterday. Inamine campaigned against the 
existing plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station 
in Ginowan City to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the Henoko 
district of Nago and won the election. Hatoyama told Inamine: "I 
take (the outcome of the election) seriously as a manifestation of 
the popular will. I would like to make utmost efforts to reduce the 
burden on the Okinawan people." But he stopped short of mentioning 
any specific relocation site. 
 
Inamine replied: "I have promised the people that I will not allow 
the construction of a new U.S. base either at sea or on land." He 
thus expressed his opposition to the building of even a land-based 
facility on Camp Schwab. 
 
Speaking before reporters at the Kantei last evening, Hatoyama said: 
"The government is looking into every possible option." 
 
5) Hatoyama tells Inamine that economic package for Northern part of 
Okinawa and base issue are separate matters 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
TOKYO 00000325  004 OF 008 
 
 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held talks with Nago Mayor Susumu 
Inamine around noon yesterday. Asked by the press corps the same 
evening about his earlier meeting with Inamine, Hatoyama said at the 
Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei): "I told Mr. Inamine 
that it is necessary to interpret his election as the mayor of Nago 
as a manifestation of the popular will." Hatoyama thus reiterated 
his intent to give consideration to the fact that Inamine, who 
opposes the existing plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma 
Air Station to Nago, was elected the city's mayor last month. 
 
With respect to an economic package for the northern part of 
Okinawa, Hatoyama said, "Infrastructure in the central and northern 
parts of Okinawa is not necessarily adequate." He added: "But we 
must not subscribe to the idea that those areas should accept bases 
because of that." Hatoyama emphasized that the government will look 
into an economic package separate from the relocation issue. 
 
6) PNP: We don't want to talk to the SDP 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Yasumasa Shigeno, secretary general of the Social Democratic Party 
(SDP), criticized the two plans put together by the People's New 
Party on where to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station. In response, PNP policy chief Mikio Shimoji said yesterday: 
"I feel offended. This could discourage us from discussing the base 
issue with the SDP." 
 
7) Hatoyama not to limit options for Futenma relocation 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said yesterday with respect to the 
issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in 
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture: "The (government and the ruling 
parties') examination committee is looking into the matter with all 
options in mind. I have no intention of indicating what is good or 
bad." The Prime Minister thus reiterated his view not to exclude any 
plans, including the existing plan to relocate the base to Nago. 
Hatoyama made this remark in response to a question from a reporter 
at the Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei). 
 
Hatoyama held talks with Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine for the first 
time at the Kantei yesterday morning. Inamine expressed his 
opposition to the relocation. In response, Hatoyama simply said, "It 
is necessary to take the results of the mayoral election as a 
manifestation of the popular will." 
 
8) SDP secretary general urges Prime Minister to postpone deadline 
for determining Futenma relocation site 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Social Democratic Party Secretary General Yasumasa Shigeno indicated 
in a press conference yesterday that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama 
should consider postponing the end-of-May deadline for determining 
where to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station, now 
situated in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Shigeno said, "It is more 
 
TOKYO 00000325  005 OF 008 
 
 
important to come up with a measure that is acceptable to the people 
of Okinawa." 
 
Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano emphasized in a 
press conference yesterday: "Determining the site by the end of May 
is the Prime Minister's order, his decision, so we must reach a 
conclusion by then." 
 
9) DPJ Okinawa chapter stresses opposition to Futenma relocation 
within Okinawa 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Teruhisa Mimori 
 
Shokichi Kina, head of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) Okinawa 
chapter, held a news conference in Naha City on Feb. 18 where he 
criticized the government and DPJ headquarters' stance on the 
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. He reiterated 
the Okinawa chapter's opposition to relocation within the 
prefecture. 
 
Kina voiced the following criticism against the government and party 
headquarters: "They do not appear to be working seriously to 
consider and find ways to relocate (the Futenma base) out of Okinawa 
or out of Japan. They have neither given any explanation to nor 
consulted with the Okinawa chapter." 
 
Okinawa chapter policy chief, Okinawa Prefectural Assembly member 
Tadashi Uesato also criticized Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi 
Hirano, who is scheduled to visit Okinawa on Feb. 19. He said: "We 
requested a meeting but the request was turned down. He has not 
shown any willingness to listen to the local people's views. This 
behavior runs counter to the notion of local autonomy." 
 
Social Democratic Party (SDP) Diet Affairs Committee chairman 
Kantoku Teruya, who is opposed to the proposal to relocate the 
Futenma base to the inland area of Camp Schwab, stated on Feb. 18: 
"The DPJ Okinawa chapter has made the right decision in placing 
importance on the popular will in Okinawa. This coincides with the 
SDP's thinking and is highly commendable," hailing the DPJ Okinawa 
chapter. 
 
10) Prime Minister Hatoyama-hosted panel to tackle threats from 
China, North Korea: New National Defense Program Guidelines to take 
center-stage of discussion 
 
YOMIURI (Top play) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
On Feb. 18, the government held at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence (Kantei) the first meeting of the Prime Minister 
Hatoyama-hosted round-table on security and defense capability in a 
new era (chaired by Keihan Electric Railway CEO Shigetaka Sato). 
Participants launched discussions in the lead up to the compilation 
of a new national defense plan (National Defense Program 
Guidelines), which will serve as future guidelines for the 
consolidation of the nation's defense capability. The panel is 
expected to finalize a report possibly by this summer. The 
government will aim at compiling new guidelines, amending the 
existing ones before year's end, based on the report. 
 
TOKYO 00000325  006 OF 008 
 
 
 
Prime Minister Hatoyama in a speech given at the outset of the 
meeting said: "A review of the defense system calls for both 
continuity and change. Please pursue discussions without sacred 
cows." 
 
He also indicated his stance of designating how to deal with threats 
from North Korea and China as a central issue, while steering clear 
of mentioning China by name. He said: "Discussions must be conducted 
from the viewpoint of how Japan should deal with the escalation of 
nuclear and missile development by North Korea and the modernization 
of the military of Japan's neighbor." 
 
The prime minister ordered participants to look into issues from a 
mid- to long-term perspective, citing deepening the Japan-U.S. 
alliance, international cooperation, such as UN PKO activities and 
anti-terrorism measures, as well as new threats like cyberterrorism. 
The panel will hold a discussion meeting twice a month. The first 
meeting brought together Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano, Foreign 
Minister Okada, and Defense Minister Kitazawa. 
 
After the meeting Kitazawa assembled senior defense officials and 
held a meeting of the defense council, the ministry's study panel 
for the compilation of new national defense guidelines. The defense 
minister said, "I asked the round-table to discuss how to 
consolidate the foundation of the defense industry, on the 
precondition that the Hatoyama administration will basically abide 
by the three principles on weapons' exports." He thus revealed that 
he requested the relaxation of three principles on arms exports to 
be put on the agenda. 
 
11) Gov't officials off to U.S. to reaffirm nuclear deterrence 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Abridged) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Senior officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry 
left Japan yesterday for the United States to consult with U.S. 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Roberts and other U.S. 
government officials on the United States' "extended deterrence," 
such as its "nuclear deterrence" for Japan. They are expected to 
reaffirm the extended deterrence since the U.S. government will work 
out a report on its "nuclear posture review," or NPR for short, to 
be presented to the U.S. Congress in March. 
 
The senior officials include Kazuyoshi Umemoto, director general of 
the North American Affairs Bureau at the Foreign Ministry. According 
to Foreign Ministry officials, Roberts is one of the officials 
involved in the Pentagon's work of formulating the NPR, which will 
be a guideline for the United States' nuclear policy over the next 
decade. 
 
On Feb. 2, the Foreign Ministry hosted a meeting of the "Security 
Subcommittee" (SSC), an intergovernmental consultative body made up 
of working-level officials for foreign affairs and defense from 
Japan and the United States. On that occasion, the Japanese and U.S. 
governments agreed to step up their bilateral cooperation in order 
for Japan and the United States to "deepen" their bilateral alliance 
in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 
current security pact between the two countries. At an SSC meeting 
last summer, the Japanese and the U.S. governments concurred on 
launching periodical consultations on the extended deterrence. 
 
TOKYO 00000325  007 OF 008 
 
 
However, the two governments intend to accelerate their 
consultations and reach an agreement in this area as a product of 
the "deepening" of the alliance, as well as in missile defense and 
other areas, on the occasion of U.S. President Obama's visit to 
Japan, possibly in November. 
 
12) Maehara: We will deal harshly with antiwhaling activist 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
In connection with the transfer of a Sea Shepherd Conservation 
Society activist to Japan after being held for intruding into a 
Japanese research whaling ship's patrol vessel in the Southern 
Ocean, Seiji Maehara, minister of land, infrastructure, transport, 
and tourism, stated at a House of Representatives Budget Committee 
session yesterday afternoon: "As soon as he arrives (in Japan), we 
will deal with the matter harshly." Sea Shepherd is a U.S. 
environmental conservation group. 
 
In this context, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister 
Takahiro Akamatsu said: "The activist will be turned over to the 
Japan Coast Guard (JCG) for a thorough investigation. I think there 
is a possibility the case will be sent to prosecutors. But I want to 
leave the issue to the JCG, which has investigative authority." 
 
13) Akamatsu to raise issue of Sea Shepherd's harassment at IWC 
general meeting 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Yesterday at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session, 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Takahiro Akamatsu 
said, "We cannot condone" the U.S. Sea Shepherd Conservation 
Society's harassment of a Japanese research whaling vessel. Akamatsu 
disclosed his intention to attend a general meeting of the 
International Whaling Commission, which will be held in Morocco in 
June, in order to seek international understanding of Japan's 
research whaling. 
 
14) FM Okada refuses impromptu interviews by reporters 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
February 19, 2010 
 
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada informed the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs Press Club on Feb. 18 that he will no longer respond to 
impromptu interviews by reporters at the Prime Minister's Official 
Residence after cabinet meetings or at the Diet. Okada's office 
pointed out that it was agreed within the cabinet that statements 
made at official and informal cabinet meetings will not be made 
public, except for the summaries prepared in advance. Okada holds 
his regular news conference in the afternoon on days cabinet 
meetings are held, but so far, he has only responded briefly to 
reporters' questions right after the cabinet meetings. 
 
15) BOJ governor concerned about drop in government bond prices; 
opposes inflation target 
 
NIKKEI (Page 5) (Excerpts) 
February 19, 2010 
 
TOKYO 00000325  008 OF 008 
 
 
 
Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Masaaki Shirakawa said in a press 
conference after a meeting of the central bank's monetary policy 
meeting yesterday: "Global market players are paying more attention 
to the sustainability of finances recently." He thus expressed 
concern that the nation's poor fiscal condition could lead to a drop 
in government bond prices. Regarding monetary policy, he indicated a 
cautious view about substantially increasing the BOJ's purchases of 
long-term government bonds, saying: "The central banks' monetary 
policy is not aimed at helping fiscal financing (procurement of 
national funds)." Shirakawa also indicated that the central bank 
does not favor any specific target that would force it to take 
action to push up commodity prices. 
 
In the meeting yesterday, the participants unanimously agreed to 
maintain the current BOJ policy rate at around 0.1 PERCENT  and 
maintain its assessment of the economy as "recovering." 
 
Referring to Greece's fiscal crisis, Shirakawa said: "The BOJ will 
continue to carefully watch the effects of the crisis on domestic 
and foreign markets by exchanging information with other countries' 
central banks." He added: "The crisis has sharpened the focus on 
fiscal trends and their effects on the financial markets." Regarding 
Japan's finances, the BOJ governor said, "Government bonds have been 
selling well and their yields remain low and stable," but he also 
expressed concern by mentioning that "domestic finances are in a 
grave state." 
 
Reluctance to increase purchases of government bonds 
 
In order to avoid a sharp drop in government bond prices, Shirakawa 
emphasized that it is imperative for each country "to show the way 
toward fiscal reconstruction and to secure market confidence." He 
stressed: "Central banks should not make financing fiscal spending a 
goal in managing monetary policy. It is necessary to have 
governments respect such a stance and to secure confidence of the 
markets." With this indirect expression, Shirakawa indicated his 
cautious view about significant increasing the BOJ's purchases of 
government bonds. 
 
Shirakawa said that most of the policy board members feel the target 
for medium to long-term price stability should be around 1 PERCENT 
inflation, and that this is best suited for the current situation. 
Finance Minister Naoto Kan proposed a policy goal of around 1 
PERCENT  inflation on Feb. 16, but the BOJ governor expressed a 
negative view about Kan's idea. 
 
ROOS