Cablegate: Daily Summary of Japanese Press 12/11/07

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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 12/11/07

Index:

AMERICAN EMBASSY, TOKYO
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION
OFFICE OF TRANSLATION AND MEDIA ANALYSIS
INQUIRIES: 03-3224-5360
INTERNET E-MAIL ADDRESS: otmatokyo@state.gov
DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS
December 11, 2007

INDEX:

(1) Editorial: US beef; Easing import conditions is a reasonable
decision (Yomiuri)

(2) Ozawa seals off "proactive diplomacy" in meeting with Chinese
leaders (Yomiuri)

(3) DPJ's Yamaoka negative about Upper House taking vote on new
antiterrorism bill (Yomiuri)

(4) Former Prime Minister Abe resumes activities, supporting
conservatives' activities behind scenes (Sankei)

(5) Reforms making little headway in a lonely battle by
administrative reform minister (Tokyo Shimbun)

(6) Editorial: Use Iran nuclear report to find peaceful solution
(Tokyo Shimbun)

(7) Interview with Keio University Prof. Heizo Takenaka; Top
priority should be on drastic cut in expenditures (Mainichi)

(8) Interview with Airbus Japan President Glen Fukushima: Will aim
at gaining 40-60 PERCENT share of Japanese market (Sankei)

(9) U.S. Embassy to pay 70 million yen for 10 years of back rent
(Asahi)

ARTICLES:

(1) Editorial: US beef; Easing import conditions is a reasonable
decision

YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full)
December 11, 2007

Japan has started moving forward to ease its strict conditions for
US beef imports.

Though it now limits U.S. beef eligible for exports to cattle aged
20 months or younger, it has conveyed to the US its decision to
adopt a new age limit of "less than 30 months." It will reportedly
consult with the Food Safety Commission (FSC) of the Cabinet Office
on this matter.

Japan's import condition limiting US beef eligible for export to
cattle up to 20 months in age is the most severe in the world. The
proposal for easing this condition is intended to match the
international standard. It seems to be a reasonable decision.

In the past, 21-month-old and 23-month-old BSE-positive cows were

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discovered in Japan. The discoveries became the major grounds for
Japan to set the age limit at "20 months or younger." However, it is
known that since both cows had only a small amount of infectious
agent that causes BSE, they were hardly potentially transmissible.

The age limit adopted by major importers of US beef, such as South
Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and Russia, is 30 months or younger.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), which is responsible
for setting international safety standards for livestock, recognized
the U.S. as a country with a controlled risk of mad-cow disease.

The grounds for Japan alone to continue to stick to the condition
that limits beef eligible for export to 20 months or younger are
weakening.

Even if the age limit is eased, specified risk materials (SRM), such
as the brain and spinal columns, where prions, a type of protein
that indicates an infection, tend to accumulate, would be removed.
Beef would be safe if SRMs are removed.

An increasing number of supermarkets have resumed the sale of US
beef. Consumers who are still concerned about the safety of the U.S.
beef can opt for domestic or Australian products.

Amid a flurry of hikes in food prices, an increase in US beef
imports would be good news, because a drop in the price of beef can
be expected. However, the problem remains regarding the fact that
the government revealed its policy to ease the age limit only after
the bilateral sub-cabinet meeting. Responses after the meeting were
also in confusion due to a lack of coordination.

It is necessary for the government to convey correct information by
explaining the propriety of easing the import condition to domestic
farmers and consumers. It must not neglect efforts to remove
anxieties felt by consumers by reexamining the quarantine system.

If Japan eases the age restriction, conditions for US beef imports
being restored to the pre-ban level in 2003 would be met.

The U.S. is seeking a total end to the age limit, based on the OIE
authorization. It appears to aim at breaking down the barrier
against Japan, thereby urging South Korea and other countries to
expand their US beef imports.

It would be premature for Japan to immediately comply with the US
request. A realistic approach would be gradually easing the import
condition, while obtaining understanding from consumers.

(2) Ozawa seals off "proactive diplomacy" in meeting with Chinese
leaders

YOMIURI (Full)
December 9, 2007

Opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) President
Ichiro Ozawa returned home on Dec. 8 from Beijing, wrapping up his
three-day-trip there. Amid the Dec. 15 closing of the current Diet
session just around the corner, a delegation of 44 Diet members to
China came under criticism for making light of the Diet. However,
Ozawa was able to keep his face as the largest party in the House of
Councillors as his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao was

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realized. Some have contended that he avoided discussion on specific
bilateral issues as he tried to stress his close relationship with
Chinese leaders.

Ozawa said with a satisfied look in his meeting with President Hu:
"I appreciate for your unprecedented hospitality." He thanked Hu for
shaking hands with Japanese legislators and about 400 party
supporters accompanying him. Hu also posed for a group photo
session. Dec. 8 morning's the People's Daily' gave front-page play
to a report on the Hu-Ozawa meeting with a photo.

Ozawa and other delegation members were given warm welcomes by the
Communist Party of Japan's (CPC) Organization Department head Li
Yuanchao, who enjoys the confidence of President Hu and is believed
to be on the rise, and Hu Chunhua, a first secretary of the
Communist Youth League of China, who is called the little Hu
Jintao.

Ozawa has emphasized his hopes for the effect by the series of his
meetings with Chinese leaders, saying, "If we can show the public
our good relations with the United States and China, the public will
have some confidence in the DPJ."

The DPJ president did not mention such pending bilateral issues as
the gas exploration in the East China Sea.

When Ozawa visited China as head of the then Liberal Party in 1999,
his remark that the scope of emergency contingencies surrounding
Japan base on the U.S.-Japan Defense Guidelines would include the
Taiwan Strait irritated China. Ozawa, whose selling point is to
assert his own views even though other parties may not like it, did
not push his own positions in consideration of his party's
relationship with China in the future. Ozawa double checked the
order of his meetings with Chinese figures until immediately before
his departure for Beijing. He gave special consideration to his
China visit this time around. In the DPJ, there was a plan to hold a
study session, inviting an expert who has accused China of
oppression of the human rights of Uighurs in China, but the planned
study session was cancelled at the suggestion by senior party
members. Some party members are now concerned about Ozawa's
diplomatic stance in the future.

(3) DPJ's Yamaoka negative about Upper House taking vote on new
antiterrorism bill

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
December 9, 2007

Tsuyoshi Endo, Xian

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Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) Diet Affairs Committee
Chairman Kenji Yamaoka held on Dec. 8 an informal meeting with
reporters accompanying him to Xian in China. Asked by reporters
about when the House of Councillors would take a vote on a new
antiterrorism special measures bill, which is now being deliberated
in the upper chamber, he responded:

"It is impossible to put the bill to a vote before Dec. 15. So, it
is sure that the current Diet session will be extended again. If
sufficient document is not submitted to shed light on the allegation
about scandals involving the Defense Ministry, we will not take a
vote on the bill. I think there is no bright future (for the

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bill)."

(4) Former Prime Minister Abe resumes activities, supporting
conservatives' activities behind scenes

SANKEI (Page 3) (Excerpts)
December 8, 2007

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the Yamaguchi Prefectural
Government yesterday and gave his first press conference after he
resigned as prime minister. Asked about the idea of forming a grand
coalition (with the Democratic Party of Japan) as part of efforts to
dissolve the current state of the reversal of strengths between the
ruling and opposition parties, Abe indicated a certain level of
understanding, saying: "To push ahead with policies, politicians
must make every possible effort. A large coalition should be one of
such options." He also said: "When I was prime minister, there was
no specific proposal (for a grand coalition)." To a question about
his future political activities, he replied: "I would like to make
utmost efforts as one lawmaker to build a new nation, going back to
my original intention." Asked if he aims to assume political power
again, Abe replied: "I don't have such an idea at all for now."

Abe visited Yamaguchi Prefecture, his electoral district, for the
first time in one year and three months. He energetically met
Governor Sekinari Nii, local assembly members and his supporters'
association members, resuming political activities in full swing. A
close aide to Abe said that since he suddenly announced his
resignation as prime minister on Sept. 12 and was hospitalized the
next day, "he has kept a low profile as much as possible".

In the press briefing yesterday, Abe stressed his willingness to
join hands with conservatives in the Liberal Democratic Party,
saying: "There are persons who support my basic policy of building
up a country while giving priority to culture, tradition, history,
and nature. I would like to work together with such persons." In the
briefing, although Abe said: "I support the Fukuda administration
with all possible efforts," he has told those around him: "I would
like to back up" a conservative policy research group set up on Dec.
4 under the lead of his close friend, former Policy Research Council
Chairman Shoichi Nakagawa.

After Yasuo Fukuda, who takes policies of a liberal bent, replaced
the conservative Abe, "conservative lawmakers in the LDP have been
downcast," an LDP source said. The Abe-Nakagawa team had scotched
human-rights legislation and a bill to provide foreign residents
with local suffrage, but moves are now afoot to submit and enact
these bills. When he was convalescing at home, Abe frequently
contacted Nakagawa and former Secretary General Taro Aso, so he was
worrying about the situation.

On the dispute with China over gas field development in the East
China Sea, the Abe administration decided to launch negotiations to
compensate fishermen for fishery losses as a precondition for
starting test drilling if no progress was made in Japan-China talks
by the fall. But the Fukuda administration has put this policy
decision on hold. In addressing the issue of Japanese nationals
abducted by North Korea, too, a subtle difference is observed in the
degrees of eagerness between the former and incumbent
administrations.

The House of Representatives is likely to be dissolved next year, so

TOKYO 00005510 005 OF 009

Abe cannot keep sitting idly forever. Abe, though, is also aware
that his abrupt resignation has been harshly criticized. He intends
to support activities by conservative lawmakers behind the scenes
for the time being.

(5) Reforms making little headway in a lonely battle by
administrative reform minister

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
December 11, 2007

Uncertainty is looming over the task of reforming independent
administrative corporations. State Minister in Charge of
Administrative Reform Yoshimi Watanabe has held negotiations with
relevant cabinet ministers, but he has so far obtained agreement on
abolishing only two corporations. Fighting a lonely battle, Watanabe
aims to make a rollback in negotiations starting today, but the
government agencies concerned have no intention to give in to
Watanabe's call.

In a meeting of the House of Councillors' Accounts Committee
yesterday afternoon, Watanabe confidently said: "We are about to
reach the end of the road at last." But the actual situation is such
that they are still at a standstill at the entrance.

Watanabe met separately with eight cabinet ministers from Dec. 3
through Dec. 7 and asked them to cooperate in abolishing or
privatizing 39 out of the 102 independent administrative
corporations. The reform minister, however, was able to win
agreement in only two cases - the National Institute of Health and
Nutrition, and the National Institute of Multimedia Education.
Although Watanabe also aimed to compile a plan to streamline
independent administrative corporations by the end of the year, he
has to defer it to next year.

Even if planning is put off, new prospects will not necessarily
develop. Appearing on TV programs, Watanabe has been trying to
underscore to the public the necessity for streamlining independent
administrative corporations, but his efforts have ended up only
arousing the anger of the ministers concerned, who he had called
forces of resistance, with Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Minister Tadatoshi Wakabayashi assailing: "It will be impossible to
reach an agreement."

But a government source said: "Many of the reform plans presented by
Watanabe are unreasonable." For instance, he proposes privatizing
the Urban Renaissance Agency, but since the agency possesses a
number of rental houses in which many elderly people live, the
proposed measure could result in forsaking the socially weak. Some
government and ruling party officers are skeptical about this
measure.

Watanabe is counting on the help of Prime Minister Fukuda, who has
said: "We must achieve some results in reform," but he is now taking
a wait-and-see attitude.

A senior government official, however, said: "We must have the prime
minister preserve face, though we don't care about Mr. Watanabe's
honor." Before the prime minister begins to move, Chief Cabinet
Secretary Nobutaka Machimura is expected to seek the best timing for

SIPDIS
launching coordination work while watching the state of progress in
renegotiations.

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(6) Editorial: Use Iran nuclear report to find peaceful solution

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full)
December 11, 2007

The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), a report released by the
U.S. government with its assessment of Iran's nuclear program,
revises the Bush administration's hardline stance toward Iran. We
hope that the NIE report will become an opportunity for the United
States and other countries concerned to expedite their efforts for a
diplomatic settlement with a flexible posture.

The NIE report says Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in the
fall of 2003 and has not resumed it since then. The report revealed
that Iran has no nuclear weapons at this point.

Concerning Iran's capability of developing nuclear weapons, the NIE
report says Iran cannot enrich enough uranium needed for nuclear
weapons before 2009. The report, however, forecasts that it would be
possible for Iran to produce enough highly enriched uranium to
develop nuclear weapons between 2010 and 2015. In addition, the
report also notes that the option of developing nuclear weapons
still remains because Iran continues to enrich uranium.

In 2002, suspicions about Iran's nuclear program came to light.
Since then, the Bush administration has consistently stressed the
Iranian threat. In October, the Bush administration warned that
Iran's nuclear program could lead to a third world war.

There was a rise of arguments from among hardliners in the U.S.
administration and in the United States, calling even for airstrikes
on Iran's nuclear facilities in response to its attitude of ignoring
a UN Security Council resolution.

The NIE report this time could cause President Bush to lose the
basis for his hard-line policy toward Iran. We think that the Bush
administration, taking this report as an occasion, should formulate
a comprehensive policy to ease confrontation, including direct
dialogue with Iran.

Iran has asserted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki takes it for granted that the U.S.
government revised its perception of Iran to a down-to-earth view in
its Iran report. However, Iranian President Ahmadinejad has been
tough in his remarks. The international community still remains
doubtful of Iran.

Iran must demonstrate that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes. Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency
released a report, which points to Iran's uncooperative attitude. It
is important that Iran ratifies an additional protocol at an early
date and extends unconditional and full cooperation to the IAEA.

The United States, Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany are
talking about an additional sanctions resolution. European leaders
are leaning toward a hard-line posture toward Iran, such as taking
economic sanctions. We should be cautious while giving thought to
the course of events of the past as well as the NIE.

Libya and South Africa once tried to develop nuclear weapons. The
two countries, however, gave up on their nuclear programs, and they

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are now back in the international community. North Korea, which
carried out a nuclear test, is also beginning to disable its nuclear
facilities through the process of the six-party talks.

We hope that the US government's report this time will lead to a
peaceful solution of Iran's nuclear issue.

(7) Interview with Keio University Prof. Heizo Takenaka; Top
priority should be on drastic cut in expenditures

MAINICHI (Page 11) (Full)
December 11, 2007

The government's work of revising the tax system and compiling the
state budget for fiscal 2008 is going into the homestretch.
Decisions on a specific timing for a hike in the consumption tax
rate and on the margin of hike have been put off, and calls for a
tax hike are increasingly becoming stronger. Although tax revenues
are not expected to increase, political pressure on expenditures has
stepped up. This newspaper interviewed Keio University Prof. Heizo
Takenaka on such issues.

Ten years ago, in 1997, the government raised the consumption tax
rate from 3 PERCENT to 5 PERCENT , attaching excessive importance
on fiscal reconstruction. As a result, the Japanese economy worsened
at one stroke, leading to the end of the cabinet of Prime Minister
Ryutaro Hashimoto (who resigned as prime minister to take
responsibility for the crushing defeat of his Liberal Democratic
Party in the 1998 House of Councillors election). We need to recall
that time. Unfortunately, some people are eager to revisit the
situation 10 years ago, taking an extremely biased argument. Looking
at the rest of the world, we see that those countries that attempted
to increase taxes as part of fiscal reconstruction all came to
grief. Countries that first reduced their expenditures succeeded in
their fiscal reconstruction efforts. What is important is to strike
a balance between economic growth and fiscal reconstruction. The
nominal growth in GDP does not rise when deflation cannot be
overcome, and tax revenues do not increase when the nominal rate of
growth cannot rise.

If the Bank of Japan (BOJ) takes appropriate monetary policy
measures, it will be possible to attain a nominal growth rate of
three to four percent. If the BOJ increases purchases of government
bonds from the markets, money supply would have increased and
deflation would have been overcome. If the BOJ keeps the present
policy as is, nothing will be changed even if the consumption tax
rate is hiked. If expenditures are not cut, the consumption tax
should be raised soon to about 20 PERCENT .

There is criticism of the reform policies carried out by former
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, but this is a kind of ad hominem
attack. I have yet to hear a logical explanation. If I may venture a
reason for the criticism, it was because the Koizumi government cut
seven to eight trillion yen out of the public works budget. However,
without reducing the outlays for public works projects, we would
have had to raise the consumption tax rate by 3.5 PERCENT . Which is
the better option: returning to public works spending and raising
the consumption tax or and keeping the present situation as is? I
feel certain that most people would choose the latter course.

(8) Interview with Airbus Japan President Glen Fukushima: Will aim
at gaining 40-60 PERCENT share of Japanese market

TOKYO 00005510 008 OF 009

SANKEI (Page 11) (Full)
December 8, 2007

-- Airbus is outdoing Boeing on the global aircraft market. However,
it is having difficulty making inroads into the Japanese market.

"Airbus has a 49 PERCENT share on the North American market, a 62
PERCENT share on the European market, an 83 PERCENT share on the
Middle East and African market and a 55 PERCENT share in the
Asia-Pacific region. However, our share in Japan is only 4 PERCENT
."

-- What are the reasons for that?

""There are roughly four reasons. The first reason is that Boeing
opened its Japan office in 1953, while Airbus set up a company in
Japan in 1970. Boeing advanced into Japan much earlier than Airbus.
The Japanese market is of a closed nature. Late-comer companies find
it difficult to advance into it. The second reason is that Boeing
has close relations with Japanese heavy manufacturing companies
through joint production. Twenty-one Japanese companies took part in
the joint project to develop Airbus's super-jumbo jet A380. However,
their share in the development of the entire fuselage is no more
than 2 PERCENT . In contrast, China is positive about joint
production. It is positively trying to acquire production
technologies. Russia and India are also enthusiastic.

"The third reason is that the U.S. government requested Japan
purchase U.S.-made aircraft during the time of bilateral trade
friction between the 1980s and the 1990s. Purchasing Boeing aircraft
helps Japan reduce its trade surplus with the U.S. The fourth reason
is that half the Boeing's products are defense-related. Its
relations with Japan's defense industry and the defense policy
clique in the Diet are also an advantage for it.

-- Do you think Japan's market is special?

"Air France buys aircraft both from Airbus and Boeing in order to
have them compete in terms of prices. China also forces competition.
The same holds true of US carriers. Airline companies throughout the
world buy airplanes from both companies. In contrast, Japanese
carriers are highly loyal to Boeing, but they are also biased. "

-- What is the reason for Airbus still sticking to the Japanese
market?

"Star Flyer, a new comer, purchased 4 Airbus aircraft and Galaxy, a
subsidiary of Sagawa Express, bought two of our products in the two
years and nine months since I took office as president. All Nippon
Airways also purchased five. Japan has a huge population. Japanese
airlines are world class in size. Both the passenger and cargo plane
markets are promising. Japan is still a key market."

-- What is your strategy for finding a breakthrough in the present
situation?

"Seven air carriers in Asia, such as Singapore and Thailand, have 19
A380 aircraft with excellent gas mileage and technology. I hope
Japanese carriers will realize that the introduction of A380s is a
good choice in terms of maintaining global competitiveness. We are
also developing the A350 aircraft, a medium-size long-distance

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passenger aircraft, to counter Boeing. We will also work on Japanese
companies for joint production."

-- What is your goal?

"Our head office in Europe expects me to secure a global-level
share. I will aim at obtaining a 40 PERCENT -60 PERCENT share of
the Japanese market."

(9) U.S. Embassy to pay 70 million yen for 10 years of back rent

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
December 8, 2007

The Japanese and U.S. governments have reached an agreement that the
United States will pay 70 million yen to Japan for 10 years worth of
rent for its Embassy in Akasaka, which is state-owned land, and also
to accept a gradual increase in the rent beginning in 2008. The
Japanese government had considered taking legal action against the
U.S. government because the statue of limitations expires in the
middle of this month on the rent for 1998, but the two sides have
finally reached the agreement.

The rent for 1997 was 2.5 million yen per year. Japan proposed
raising the rent in stages from 1998 until it was at a level ten
times higher because of the high commercial rents, but the U.S.
government rejected the proposal and has failed to pay rent since
1998. Tokyo and Washington had intermittently held negotiations.

According to the agreement, the United States will pay 7 million yen
a year for the 10-year period through 2007, 10 million yen a year
between 2008 and 2012, and 15 million yen a year between 2013 and
2027. Although the annual rent the U.S. Embassy will pay is still
low compared with the average commercial rents in the neighborhood,
the Japanese government made a compromise.

SCHIEFFER

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