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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002754
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION;
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN,
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR;
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA.
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA
SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 10/02/08
INDEX:
(1) Hawkish lawmakers repeatedly make "homogeneous race" remarks;
"Coelacanth" inadvertently reveals his real feelings; Emperor felt
kinship with Korea (Tokyo Shimbun)
(2) Interview with Seiji Maehara, vice president of the Democratic
Party of Japan: Security requires pragmatic responses (Yomiuri)
(3) Iwakuni being floated as possible "assassin candidate" against
Ota in Tokyo No. 12 district; Ozawa will not switch to another
district? (Sankei)
(4) Economic fundamentalism that does not see reality (Sankei)
(5) JICA to draw up ODA plan for each country, region, aiming to
make operations more effective under unified system (Nikkei)
(6) U.S. military possibly prepared for delay in Futenma relocation
to Henoko: Gabe (Okinawa Times)
(7) TOP HEADLINES
(8) EDITORIALS
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, October 1 (Nikkei)
ARTICLES:
(1) Hawkish lawmakers repeatedly make "homogeneous race" remarks;
"Coelacanth" inadvertently reveals his real feelings; Emperor felt
kinship with Korea
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Pages 26 & 27)
October 1, 2008
Former Land and Transport Minister Nariaki Nakayama excoriated the
Japan Teachers Union (Nikkyoso), described those engaging in the
struggle against expansion of Narita Airport as "squeaky wheels,"
and called Japan "ethnically homogeneous." Hawkish lawmakers have
repeatedly used the phrase "Japan is a homogeneous country" to tell
the Japanese people how "superior" they are. What is the purpose for
using such a phrase? The newspaper looked back at similar remarks
made in the past.
Nakayama, who had previously served as an education, science and
technology minister, resigned as land and transport minister only
five days after assuming the post. Although his name recognition is
low, Nakayama, who is also the secretary general of the Machimura
faction, is regarded as a heavyweight. History tells us that hawkish
heavyweights are prone to make "homogeneous race" remarks.
An LDP convention was held in Kannai Town, Shizuoka Prefecture, on
September 22, 1986, in which then Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone
delivered a speech. When the topic turned to international affairs,
Nakasone said that Japanese had a higher intellectual level than
other peoples, adding that the intellectual level of the United
States was much lower because the country had a population of blacks
and other minorities. His remarks drew fire from the United States,
and Nakasone had to hold a press conference two days later to offer
an apology. He said: "What I intended to say was that because Japan
is a nation with a homogenous race, providing (education) is easy."
TOKYO 00002754 002 OF 010
But his explanation then drew fierce protests from the Hokkaido
Utari Association as ignoring the Ainu, a race indigenous to Japan.
On July 2, 2001, Lower House member Muneo Suzuki and then METI
Minister Takeo Hiranuma made "homogeneous race" remarks one after
another. Suzuki, in his speech in Tokyo's Yurakucho district, said:
"(The Ainu people) have been assimilated into the Japanese race."
Hiranuma at a political party in Sapporo described Japan as a
"highly homogeneous country."
On October 15, 2005, then Internal Affairs and Communications
Minister Taro Aso in a speech in Dazaifu, Fukuoka Prefecture,
praised Japan for having "one culture, one civilization, one
language, and one ethnic group."
That is not all. In an LDP Nagasaki chapter convention held on
February 25, 2007, then Education, Science and Technology Minister
Bunmei Ibuki said: "Japan has been historically governed by the
Yamato (Japanese) race. Japan is an extremely homogenous country."
This raised questions about Ibuki's suitability as a lawmaker.
All those statements drew strong objections from minority groups,
such as the Hokkaido Ainu Association, as well as from human rights
organizations, like Amnesty International, Japan.
The UN General Assembly adopted last year a declaration on the
rights of indigenous people. Japan, too, later adopted a Diet
resolution recognizing the Ainu as Japan's indigenous people. The
Indigenous Peoples Summit was held in Hokkaido in July ahead of the
G-8 Summit. The understanding of minorities should have deepened
over the last year.
But Nakayama soon after becoming transport minister uttered these
words: "Japan is very introverted, or what may be called ethnically
homogenous."
The series of "homogeneous race nation" remarks tend to prompt us to
conclude that the hawkish lawmakers simply tried to fly balloons or
disseminate propaganda.
Political analyst Minoru Morita thinks otherwise. He said: "They
just let their real feelings slip out inadvertently, just like they
do in their everyday conversations."
Morita also disgustingly commented on Nakayama: "Over the last
couple of decades, the country has been remorseful for the
oppression of the indigenous people. Nakayama is just too ignorant
and has a warped perspective. His view is unacceptable
internationally. Such a person should not have served as education
and science and technology minister even for a short period of time.
Japan's commonsense is being questioned."
Kichiya Kobayashi, another political analyst, thinks Nakayama's
remarks are worse than other ethnically discriminatory comments in
the past. He said: "The adoption in June of the Diet resolution on
the indigenous people clearly tells us that Japan is not a nation
with a homogenous race. There is an understanding even in the
conservative camp that the matter must not be mentioned ever again.
It is outrageous for him now to call Japan ethnically homogeneous."
Keio University Professor Eiji Oguma was disgusted: "There is a
clear distinction between modern day conservatives debating such
TOKYO 00002754 003 OF 010
historical issues as the number of casualties in the Nanjing
Incident and Nakayama's comments. He does not understand the
times."
Oguma added: "The conservatives' argument that Japan is an
ethnically homogeneous country was a product of the economic
nationalism that thrived during the country's high growth period
from the late 1960s through the 1980s. It thrived along with the
argument that the Japanese people are a diligent, superior race. I
thought the theory died out with the deterioration of the economy in
the late 1990s. Nakayama's remarks indicated as if his world view
stopped two or three decades ago. To me, he is like a coelacanth (a
primitive fish once thought extinct). From his appointment, I can
sense the LDP has a dearth of talented lawmakers."
Kobayashi thinks Nakayama has dampened the enthusiasm of committed
LDP supporters. Kobayashi further noted this about Nakayama's
anachronistic opinions: "In the LDP, there are only a handful of
hawks comparable to Nakayama. Most LDP members are moderate
conservatives who are not uncomfortable with the ideas of Democratic
Party of Japan. Since Nakayama's remarks, some in the LDP are
leaning toward raising the white flag. His remarks have pushed the
establishment of a coalition opposition administration or an
independent administration to within reach of the DPJ."
Morita further commented: "Nakayama does not qualify for a Diet
seat. The LDP should expel him from the party. If this situation
persists, a change of government would occur. What Nakayama said is
tantamount to a death sentence to the LDP."
In a press conference in December 2001, the Emperor said: "I feel a
certain kinship with Korea, given the fact that it is recorded in
the "Shoku-Nihongi" (Chronicles of Japan) that the mother of Emperor
Kanmu was of the line of King Muryong who ruled the Paekche
Kingdom." The Emperor's statement is taken as a reference to the
kinship between the Imperial Family and the people living on the
Korean Peninsula, as well as to the antiquity of exchanges between
Japan and Korea.
Those conservative lawmakers who tend to insist on Japan being
ethnically homogeneous seem to care less about their remarks'
consistency with the Emperor's kinship statement.
Morita noted: "They are imbued with outmoded thinking of the kind
that fabricated history. They respect the Emperor at their own
convenience. They respect themselves most of the time."
(2) Interview with Seiji Maehara, vice president of the Democratic
Party of Japan: Security requires pragmatic responses
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
September 2, 2008
Interviewed by Shoji Minami
-- Prime Minister Taro Aso is considering postponing the next Lower
House election.
"There are moves in the Diet that envisage dissolution, so lawmakers
are not in the mood to discuss important state affairs. It is
necessary to dissolve the Diet at an early date and deal with a
variety of issues under a new structure."
TOKYO 00002754 004 OF 010
-- You raised questions about the DPJ's campaign pledges, such as
how to cover the costs of what was promised in last summer's Upper
House election was unclear.
"I didn't mean to criticize President Ozawa. I raised those
questions, thinking the party needed a sense of crisis in order to
be able to be serious about taking over the reins of government. Our
party's campaign pledges for the next Lower House election are
supposed to come with a road map, so this time, I think things will
be easier for the public to understand."
-- In yesterday's Lower House interpellation session, President
Ozawa said security can be ensured through UN peace-building
operations.
"What Mr. Ozawa said is correct. But leaving everything to the
United Nations is an idealistic theory. We need to consider our
responses more in line with reality."
-- What is your view about hiking the consumption tax rate?
"It will be unavoidable in the future to drastically reform the tax
system, including a review of the consumption tax rate, after
thoroughly implementing administrative reform."
-- What is the win-lose line for the upcoming Lower House election?
How should Mr. Ozawa take responsibility in the event the party
suffers a defeat?
"I have no intention of setting minimum number that would require
President Ozawa to take responsibility if it was not attained. The
party members are united in their aim of the DPJ becoming the
largest party, and if possible, achieving an independent majority."
-- Do you have any intention of seeking political realignment by
teaming up with former LDP Secretary General Hidenao Nakagawa and
others after the Lower House election?
"All I can say for now is that I will aim at a change of government
as a member of the DPJ. That's all I can say."
-- Is your party going to cooperate with the Japanese Communist
Party in election campaigns in Kyoto, your home turf?
"Our party has vied with the LDP and JCP in Kyoto. There is no
possibility for us to cooperate with the JCP."
(3) Iwakuni being floated as possible "assassin candidate" against
Ota in Tokyo No. 12 district; Ozawa will not switch to another
district?
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full)
October 2, 2008
The idea is being floated in the main opposition Democratic Party of
Japan (DPJ) that Lower House member Tetsundo Iwakuni, 72, should be
fielded in the Lower House Tokyo No. 12 district for the next House
of Representatives election, according to sources connected to the
DPJ. There recently was a rumor that DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa
might run from the Tokyo No. 12 constituency.
TOKYO 00002754 005 OF 010
Iwakuni is serving in his fourth term in the Lower House. After
running unsuccessfully for the governorship of Tokyo in 1995, he was
elected from the Tokyo No. 6 district to the Lower House for the
first time in 1996. He was elected from the proportional
representation Tokyo bloc in the 2000 Lower House election. Before
entering national politics, he served as mayor of Izumo City in
Shimane Prefecture. Before that, he was senior vice-president of
Merrill Lynch in Japan.
The Tokyo No. 12 district is the home turf of New Komeito leader
Akihiro Ota. The DPJ aims to fight against Ota by filing the
candidacy of high-profile Iwakuni, according to a senior DPJ member.
If this is the case, another senior member said: "Mr. Ozawa would
run in the Iwate No. 4 district, his home constituency of Iwate
Prefecture."
However, Iwakuni, whose home turf is currently the Kanagawa No. 8
district, yesterday told the Sankei Shimbun: "I haven't heard
anything about it. I have switched the electoral district twice for
the sake of the party. It is impossible for me to switch to another
district." He denied the rumor.
A senior DPJ Election Campaign Committee member said: "Ozawa has
direct control" over the selection of a candidate for the Tokyo No.
12 district. Therefore, attention is being fixed on Ozawa's moves.
(4) Economic fundamentalism that does not see reality
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full)
October 2, 2008
Satoshi Higashitani, journalist
A number of failures of financial institutions in the U.S. and
efforts to bail them out are having an immense impact on the
Japanese economy. Bankruptcies are already increasing sharply.
Anxiety is spreading among small and medium-sized businesses. They
are concerned that the era of credit crunches and forcible
collecting of loans might return.
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) on September 2 released a policy
paper titled "Future Measures Designed to Facilitate Finances for
Small and Medium-sized Businesses." The report calls for fine-tuned
lending decisions, based on the current status of the management and
individuality features of small and medium-sized businesses. On
September 19, it announced a plan to hold an emergency consultation
session for such businesses throughout the nation with the aim of
addressing the impact of the failure of U.S. securities houses.
Today, when financial officials mention financing small to
medium-sized businesses, the days when disorderly financial
administration based on the Financial Inspection Manual was in place
-- from 1999 through 2003 -- seem like decades ago. This inspection
manual was the adaptation of the Commercial Bank Examination Manual
of the U.S., where circumstances are different. The idea was to
evaluate companies, based on their capital base. The result was many
small to medium-sized businesses that had continued corporate
management with a small amount of capital for a long period of time,
depending on steady financing by banks, were unduly labeled
borrowers in danger of going bankrupt.
The new supplementary volume of the Financial Examination Manual,
TOKYO 00002754 006 OF 010
issued in March this year, much more correctly reflect the reality
of Japan's smaller businesses. It approves continuous financing as
routine. However, this is not reassuring, because the Koizumi
administration merged government-affiliated financial institutions,
overcoming fierce opposition from managers of small and medium-sized
businesses. As a result, financing channels at a time when the
economy took a downward turn have been narrowed.
The FSA is still adhering to a stance of approving only one
evaluation for one company. It means that if one financial
institution labels a certain company a borrower requiring attention,
it is not possible to change this labeling, even if other financial
institutions have different information on this company. This is
irrational. It also denies there is a financial business itself.
For instance, it is fully possible that even if a leading bank
determines a certain company is a borrower requiring attention
without elaborately examining its financial standing, credit unions
or credit associations may judge that company is a normal borrower,
based on insufficient inspection.
The FSA's policy of allowing one evaluation for one company renders
management efforts by financial institutions meaningless and set the
evaluation of companies at the lowest level.
To begin with, the financial standing of small to medium-sized
companies differs significantly. Some companies are capitalized at
several million yen. Others are capitalized at nearly 300 million
yen. Even among companies that are in the same line of business,
there is a difference in payout time between companies that
manufacture a variety of products and companies that manufacture a
small number of products on a limited basis.
It is easy to imagine that the reality with diversity requires
diverse policies. However, financial officials sometimes try to deal
with the situation only with one clear-cut principle. Such
narrow-minded fundamentalism gave rise to credit crunches and
forcible collecting of loans based on the old Financial Examination
Manual.
Though the new cabinet is dubbed an election-destined cabinet, it is
clear that it is aspiring to diverse and comprehensive fiscal and
financial policies. I want to see policy proposals based on the
reality of small- and medium-sized companies, the source of economic
vitality in Japan.
(5) JICA to draw up ODA plan for each country, region, aiming to
make operations more effective under unified system
NIKKEI (Page 7) (Full)
October 2, 2008
The overhauled Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which
was launched yesterday, will draw up an assistance plan for each
country and region, giving priority to official development
assistance (ODA). Until now, research was conducted by separate
organizations before a decision was made on providing ODA funds, but
this will be unified under the new JICA. The aim is to establish a
speedy and effective aid system, reflecting the shrinking ODA
budget, which has been suffering due to the country's fiscal
difficulties.
TOKYO 00002754 007 OF 010
Japan's ODA program includes yen loans, grant aid, and technical
assistance. Until the end of September, yen loans were offered by
the former Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), grant
aid was handled by the Foreign Ministry, and technical assistance
was provided by the former version of JICA.
The government decided to integrate organizations handling ODA,
aiming to streamline administrative functions and improving aid
efficiency. Merging with the yen loan operations of the former JBIC,
a revamped JICA was launched yesterday, based on the revised JICA
Law enacted in 2006.
The new JICA has about 1 trillion yen in funds available for
projects per year, making it the world's largest aid organization.
The reorganized JICA is tasked with overseeing all ODA activities,
excluding highly urgent grant aid.
In accordance with the Japanese government's foreign policy, the
JICA will compile an assistance plan for each country or region that
includes aid in such areas as infrastructure construction, climate
change, medicine and health, and disputes and terrorism. The
projects will be implemented on a priority basis, based on the level
of urgency for the need of such aid.
JICA will introduce a new system called a cooperative preparation
research system. Officials handling yen loans, grants, and technical
assistance related to ODA used to carry out studies separately, but
this is to be unified under the new JICA. Studies will be conducted
to find out in which regions aid is most needed and what kinds of
aid are being sought.
The new system makes it easier to offer aid in a comprehensive
package, such as offering grants to build a hospital, yen loans to
build surrounding roads, and technological assistance to train
doctors and nurses. There were few cases of different types of ODA
provided in a package.
Overseas offices will be integrated. JICA had 55 offices, and JBIC
had 19 offices as of the end of September, but these will be
integrated into 56 offices, with the aim that policy decisions will
now be quickly delivered.
(6) U.S. military possibly prepared for delay in Futenma relocation
to Henoko: Gabe
OKINAWA TIMES (Page 2) (Full)
October 2, 2008
The U.S. Department of the Navy has released a report unveiling
specific plans to relocate units and troops from the U.S. Marines in
Okinawa to Guam in the process of realigning U.S. forces in Japan.
The plan to move Okinawa-based Marines to Guam is said to be in a
package with the planned relocation of Futenma airfield. However,
actual progress is hard to see. The Okinawa Times interviewed
Masaaki Gabe, a professor of international political science at the
University of the Ryukyus, to hear his views on the Guam
relocation.
The U.S. military plans to turn Guam into a hub for its forward
deployment of troops along with its realignment. However, they have
yet to map out a final masterplan. That's why they're now at a
standstill. The U.S. Department of the Navy submitted a document,
TOKYO 00002754 008 OF 010
titled "Progress Report on Guam Defense Plans" (as of Sept. 15), to
the U.S. House of Representatives and the Guam government. According
to this report, the U.S. military will move Marines from Okinawa to
Guam by 2014. In addition, the Navy will construct a berth there for
aircraft carriers. The Air Force will deploy drones tasked with
intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities. The Army
plans to deploy missiles for theater high altitude area defense
(THAAD) as ballistic missile defense and low altitude missiles
(PAC-3). However, the report goes no further than to report on the
progress of these deployment plans. In other words, it only shows a
provisional hub base construction plan for the present.
In May 2006, Japan and the United States agreed to realign U.S.
forces in Japan. Based on this agreement, the U.S. Congress set
about a budget plan to construct bases on Guam. In this regard, the
U.S. Congress requested the Department of Defense to formulate a
masterplan by December 2006.
However, the Pentagon had to postpone its work of creating the
masterplan because it could not finalize a Guam redeployment plan
for the U.S. Marines and an environmental impact assessment was also
delayed. The U.S. Congress reset the deadline for the Pentagon to
come up with the masterplan by Sept. 15, 2008. However, they are
still at a standstill.
On Sept. 17, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) of the U.S.
Congress released a report for deliberations to budget the U.S.
military's realignment plans. According to the GAO report, the
Pentagon, at this point, is expected to present the masterplan in
December 2009 or January 2010.
Tokyo and Washington have now concurred on realigning U.S. forces in
Japan. According to this accord, the U.S. military was to have
worked out a plan by March 2007 to integrate the functions of Marine
bases in Okinawa. This base integration plan, however, has yet to be
finalized. Meanwhile, the United States has also agreed to return
the sites of its military bases located south of Kadena Air Base as
a showcase to mitigate Okinawa's base-hosting burden. However,
neither of the Japanese and U.S. governments has revealed even an
outlook for when the masterplan will come out.
According to the GAO report, the Pentagon will start construction
work in 2010 on Guam as a hub for the U.S. military's forward
deployment of troops after the Japanese government starts the work
of constructing a new airfield at Henoko. Simply speaking, the
construction of a new airfield on Okinawa will determine Guam's hub
base construction and will affect the U.S. military's realignment.
The progress report that I introduced at the beginning says the U.S.
Marines to be redeployed to Guam include Futenma-based troops for
such tasks as air traffic control and logistics. In addition, one of
the two helicopter squadrons currently based at Futenma airfield
will be transferred to Guam. The Guam relocation plan may be in
preparation for the case where the U.S. military sees no progress in
the relocation of Futenma airfield to Henoko.
(7) TOP HEADLINES
Asahi, Mainichi, Yomiuri:
46-year-old customer arrested on murder charge over video parlor
arson
TOKYO 00002754 009 OF 010
Nikkei:
Fujitsu to sell hard disk drive unit to U.S. Western Digital
Sankei:
Aso, Ozawa argue on different planes in Diet debate
Tokyo Shimbun:
Prime minister expresses eagerness to enact extra budget, refers to
extra economic measures in representatives interpellations
Akahata:
Temporary worker who was fired for accusation of disguised contracts
launches counterattack against Canon
(8) EDITORIALS
Asahi:
(1) In interpellation session, points of contention between Aso,
Ozawa come to light
(2) Countermeasures urged for to prevent fire at video parlors
comparable to inns
Mainichi:
(1) Use questions by Ozawa as basis for policy debate
(2) Video parlor arson: Don't leave dangerous salons with private
rooms unattended
Yomiuri:
(1) Party heads argue on different planes in interpellation session
(2) Review fire-prevention system at private room salons
Nikkei:
(1) Deepen debate between Aso, Ozawa in party head talks
(2) U.S. financial crisis cooling business sentiment
Sankei:
(1) Aso, Ozawa should conduct heated policy debate in party head
talks again
(2) Video parlor fire: Raise awareness of disaster prevention to
higher level than that set in rules
Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Aso and Ozawa deliver something like street-corner campaign
speeches
(2) Video parlor fire: Learned lessons were not applied
Akahata:
(1) Agreement over drug-caused hepatitis C debacle: Take best
measures to eradicate drug diseases, to save patients
(9) Prime Minister's schedule, October 1
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 2, 2008
07:32
Took a walk around his private residence in Kamiyama-cho.
11:26
Met with Party Youth Division Director Inoue.
13:02
TOKYO 00002754 010 OF 010
Plenary session in the Lower House
16:45
Received phone call from Australian Prime Minister Rudd. Vice
Finance Minister for International Financial Affairs Shinohara and
Foreign Ministry Asia-Oceanic Affairs Division Director General
Saiki were present.
18:35
Meeting of 21st-term members of the Science Council of Japan held at
the Gakushi Kaikan Hall in Kanda-Nishiki-cho.
18:56
Dined with staff members of the Aso Office at a Chinese restaurant
in Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka.
21:42
Arrived at the private residence.
SCHIEFFER