Cablegate: Daily Summary of Japanese Press 12/12/08

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SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 12/12/08

INDEX:

(1) Override vote today on refueling extension for another year;

Japan avoids breakaway from war on terror (Yomiuri)

(2) Editorial: Refueling mission; Mandate-given administration must

work out comprehensive assistance measures (Mainichi)

(3) Opposition parties in Okinawa assembly to approve expenses for

governor's planned U.S. visit (Okinawa Times)

(4) Former ASDF Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami speaks his mind; U.S.

forces must withdraw from Japan, Japan must discuss nuclear option

(Part 1) (Shukan Gendai)

(5) Physicians distancing themselves from the LDP a serious problem

(Yomiuri)

(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties (Yomiuri)

(7) TOP HEADLINES

(8) EDITORIALS

(9) Prime Minister's schedule, December 11 (Nikkei)

ARTICLES:

(1) Override vote today on refueling extension for another year;

Japan avoids breakaway from war on terror

YOMIURI (Page 3) (Full)

December 12, 2008

International commitment

Today, the Diet is expected to pass a bill amending the new

Antiterrorism Special Measures Law for a one-year extension of the

Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian

Ocean. Government officials are relieved, but the United States

hopes Japan will do more in the war on terror. It is certain that

Japan will be urged to take even more difficult measures in the

offing.

In its meeting yesterday, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs

and Defense Committee voted down the government-introduced bill

amending the new Antiterrorism Special Measures Law with a majority

of votes from the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan

(Minshuto) and other opposition parties. The bill is expected to be

voted down in a plenary sitting this morning of the

opposition-controlled upper chamber as well. However, the ruling

coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito will

take a second vote on the legislation in a plenary sitting this

afternoon of the House of Representatives with a majority of

two-thirds to override the upper chamber's decision.

The government has positioned the MSDF's refueling mission as a

"minimum contribution," according to Foreign Minister Nakasone.

Japan has made a de facto international commitment to continue its

refueling activities in the Indian Ocean, and the refueling bill is

now expected to pass the Diet. "We're now spared the worst-case

scenario," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said.

TOKYO 00003383 002 OF 016

One government source stressed: "If the international community

moves away, the Afghan government will go under. The war on terror

is a must to uphold Japan's alliance with the United States. Working

at sea is less dangerous than in Afghanistan. Besides, there are

great needs for fuel."

However, the MSDF's refueling (of U.S. and other foreign naval

vessels in the Indian Ocean) peaked at 184,400 kiloliters in 2002

and has since been decreasing from year to year. In 2008, the MSDF's

refueling totaled 10,940 kiloliters as of November. According to the

Defense Ministry's account, that is because there was a decrease in

the amount of fuel provided to U.S. naval forces that had many large

ships. However, a DPJ executive says the refueling role is over.

In Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force or ISAF

for short, which is made up of troops from 41 countries, has been

working to maintain public security and already has nearly 1,000

casualties. Japan sits out due to its constitutional constraints.

Actually, Japan's contributory role is now less important.

Meanwhile, Hisashi Tokunaga, a DPJ lawmaker seated in the House of

Councillors, attended a meeting of the House of Councillors Foreign

Affairs and Defense Committee yesterday and explained why his party

was opposed to the refueling bill. He stated before the committee:

"The United States and other countries are laying emphasis on their

activities on the military side, but such activities cannot improve

the war on terror. Even if Japan continues refueling, that will not

be a fundamental solution to the problem in Afghanistan."

DPJ Representative Ozawa has been insisting that it is

unconstitutional to back up activities that are not endorsed by a

United Nations resolution. The DPJ has yet to clarify what to do

about the MSDF's refueling activities if the party takes the reins

of government. However, a government source presumes that the DPJ

would call off the MSDF's refueling activities and recall the MSDF.

Last year, the DPJ presented a legislative measure of its own to the

Diet. The DPJ-proposed legislation featured a plan to send the

Self-Defense Forces to Afghanistan, where the SDF is to be tasked

with humanitarian and reconstruction assistance activities in

Afghanistan, such as road construction and medical support, if

militants and other armed groups there agree to stop their

conflicts. The DPJ-introduced bill was voted down. However, the DPJ,

if it takes the reins of government, will present the same bill to

the Diet again, according to Keiichiro Asao, who is defense minister

in the DPJ's shadow cabinet.

Obama administration

Having seen such a situation in Japan, the United States-which is at

the center of the war on terror-is growing frustrated

In late June, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Bobby

Wilkes visited Japan. On that occasion, the visiting Pentagon

official sounded out the Japanese government behind the scenes on

sending CH-47 heavy-lift helicopters to Afghanistan and sharing the

burden of costs amounting to nearly 2 trillion yen for such purposes

as training Afghan forces. In September, U.S. Secretary of Defense

Gates virtually named Japan for funding contributions, saying: "Some

of our allies have not sent out combat troops to Afghanistan. This

is a good chance for them to provide financial assistance to the

TOKYO 00003383 003 OF 016

Afghan forces."

In January next year, U.S. President-elect Obama will be sworn in.

Obama is believed to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq and send

reinforcements to Afghanistan. One aide to Obama said, "We will

continue to ask Japan for assistance."

In June, Japan also sent a government fact-finding team to

Afghanistan. The government has earmarked costs in its fiscal 2009

budgetary estimate for such purposes as bulletproofing heavy-lift

helicopters in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan.

However, the Diet was divided with the ruling bloc holding a

majority of the seats in its lower chamber and the opposition bloc

controlling its upper chamber to share legislative power. The then

prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, and his government were unable to make

the SDF dispatch decision. In September, Fukuda stepped down. The

Diet still remains unable to deepen its debate.

On Dec. 8, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage,

who knows Japan well, met with DPJ Deputy President Katsuya Okada in

Washington. Armitage then told Okada, "'Boots on the ground' does

not only mean military boots." With this, Armitage asked Okada and

his party to consider sending civilians to Afghanistan in

cooperation with the government and ruling parties.

In Afghanistan, however, Kazuya Ito, a member of Peshawar-kai, which

is a nongovernmental organization, was shot to death in August. As

seen from this fact, that country is in a dangerous situation. The

Japanese Red Cross Society has sent a team of doctors and

pharmacists to the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. According to a

JRCS official, they are strictly prohibited from going out of their

hotel except for moving to and from a hospital. It is extremely

difficult for a large number of civilians to work in Afghanistan.

There is also an idea for Japan to send civilians to provincial

reconstruction teams (PRTs). However, one government official is

negative about this idea, saying: "They will have to work under the

protection of foreign troops. We can't take responsibility."

The United States is growing impatient. U.S. Ambassador to Japan

Schieffer wonders why Japan will not join the international

community's efforts to assist Afghanistan. "If Afghanistan becomes a

failed state and becomes a habitat for terrorists," Schieffer noted,

"every country will be exposed to danger."

Japan has outlaid a total of 1.45 billion dollars in humanitarian

and reconstruction assistance to Afghanistan since September 2001.

Japan has tackled such activities as disarming former soldiers,

helping them with social rehabilitation, disbanding illegal armed

groups, defusing landmines, and working against drugs. Another

possible option for Japan is to go ahead with additional funding

cooperation. However, one official is concerned about this option,

saying: "They will say, 'Again, Japan is trying to do nothing but

give money.' Japan will come under international fire."

The Foreign Ministry is going to hold specific consultations with

the incoming U.S. administration on Japan's possible contributions

in Afghanistan. The DPJ will also work out its Afghan policy around

the turn of the year, with an eye to the new U.S. administration's

debut. However, Japan, should it fail to set forth a sufficient

contributory plan, may have to make the "worst start" with the Obama

administration, according to a senior official of the Foreign

TOKYO 00003383 004 OF 016

Ministry.

(2) Editorial: Refueling mission; Mandate-given administration must

work out comprehensive assistance measures

MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full)

December 12, 2008

A bill amending the New Antiterrorism Special Measures Law to extend

the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian

Ocean, which expires in January, was voted down in a committee

meeting of the House of Councillors. The bill is expected to be

rejected in an Upper House plenary session today but later will be

enacted by the ruling coalition's two-thirds majority in the House

of Representatives.

We consider the refueling mission to be within the realm of choices

in waging the war on terror. But at the same time, the dispatching

of Self-Defense Force (SDF) troops overseas is a theme involving the

vary basis of our national security. Moreover, views over whether to

extend the refueling service have divided the Diet. Given these

factors, we have insisted on the need to ask for the public to take

a stand in an election on what assistance Japan should offer to

Afghanistan and what to do in the war on terror.

Prime Minister Taro Aso, however, decided to use the overriding vote

tactic, as the previous government did in January. We are unhappy

about this choice.

In addition, the bill requires on the cabinet's approval in adopting

an implementation plan that specifies the area covered by SDF

activities and their basic policy, as well as the size of a unit and

equipment there. There is no reference in the bill to "Diet

approval." This is apparently a strategy to deal with opposition

parties by skipping the many committees they control in the Upper

House.

The commotion over a controversial historical essay written by

former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami

disclosed that civilian control over SDF ranking officers is not

properly functioning under the coalition government of the Liberal

Democratic Party and the New Komeito. Only when the Diet, which

reflects public opinion, is involved, can civilian control be

guaranteed from the start, but bill, not requiring such Diet

approval, is seriously defective.

Since January, the government used the overriding vote tactic three

times. The use of a revote is allowed under the Constitution, but

the current ruling camp's strength in the Lower House was formed in

a special election held after the Diet was dissolved over a feud in

connection with postal privatization. At that time, the issue of

extending the refueling operation was neither included in the LDP's

campaign pledges nor was it a point of contention, either. We have

to say that the revote tactic in that sense is politically

illegitimate.

Deliberations on the bill in both Houses of the Diet were far from

those reflecting recent l changes in the environment in and around

Afghanistan.

The security situation in Afghanistan has been worsening, while

momentum is gathering in the Karzai government and the U.S.

TOKYO 00003383 005 OF 016

government for holding a dialogue with the moderate Taliban group,

the former governing force. With the change of government in

Pakistan, making an approach to that nation is becoming more

important. Japan should come up with comprehensive assistance

measures for Afghanistan, including aid in the military, public

welfare, and diplomatic areas. Japan is expected to play a major

role there.

In the U.S., the Obama administration will be launched next month.

President-elect Barack Obama, who has pledged to shift priority from

Iraq to Afghanistan, is expected to call on Japan to offer financial

cooperation and a personnel contribution to Afghanistan. How will

Japan respond, in such a case?

There should be limits to what the Aso administration can do now

that it is losing political ground. In order for Japan to map out

comprehensive assistance measures in the war on terror and to

Afghanistan, a government holding a mandate from the people must

first be established.

(3) Opposition parties in Okinawa assembly to approve expenses for

governor's planned U.S. visit

OKINAWA TIMES (Page 1) (Excerpts)

December 12, 2008

Six opposition parties in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly approved

yesterday the prefectural government's revised plan on earmarking

expenses for Governor Hirokazu Nakaima's planned visit to the U.S.,

which was resubmitted to a regular meeting in November. A

supplementary budget bill, which includes the travel expenses, is

likely to be unanimously adopted on the final day of the session on

Dec. 19, through deliberations at the General Coordination and

Policy Planning Committee.

If the budget is approved, Nakaima will leave for the U.S. on Jan. 6

and present the prefecture's requests to those who are expected to

join the incoming Obama administration and U.S. Congress. He is

scheduled to stay in the U.S. for 10 days. In California, the

governor will take activities to bring U.S. firms into Okinawa.

About 9.1 million yen will be set aside for the governor's U.S.

tour.

(4) Former ASDF Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami speaks his mind; U.S.

forces must withdraw from Japan, Japan must discuss nuclear option

(Part 1)

SHUKAN GENDAI (Excerpts) (Pages 16-21)

December 20, 2008

I have been dismissed from the post of Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF)

chief of staff. Since I have acted based on my belief, I have no

intention of retracting my series of views. To begin with, I do not

understand why I have to be criticized. I said, "Japan was a good

country," and I was told, "You are fired."

The assertion of the Aso administration and the Liberal Democratic

Party was: "In the government's view, Japan was a bad country. You

should not have described Japan as a good country." I was forced to

leave public office because I praised my own country. Is there any

country in the world that is as absurd as Japan?

TOKYO 00003383 006 OF 016

As if to add insult to injury, not only the LDP but also the

Democratic Party of Japan fiercely criticized me. They pursued the

government's responsibility, saying, "Why did you make a person who

says Japan was a good country the ASDF chief of staff?" The DPJ

said: "A person who says Japan was a rotten country should become

the top SDF officer."

Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa wrote a book titled

Blueprint for a New Japan, aiming to turn Japan into a normal

country. His son was an SDF member, as well. I wonder what has

happened to him and his party.

After such a ridiculous argument, I was pressed to return my

retirement allowance. It annoyed me. After all, I selflessly worked

for the country for 41 years, including the National Defense Academy

days.

One described the circumstances in which a top SDF officer is

allowed to make remarks freely as civilian control in danger. But I

have no intention of denying civilian control. I did not leak any

military secrets and I did not violate any rules. I simply stated my

view on history.

Despite that, lawmakers and media organizations labeled me as a

dangerous individual. I became the object of public anger and

ridicule and was fired. Freedom of expression is an important right

that is guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. If people are

not allowed to discuss things freely, that is not a democracy. It's

the same as North Korea.

I am afraid that Japan might head in a direction that will tie its

hands tighter because of its masochistic view of history that is

gripping Japan today. I am concerned that unless someone stops it,

Japan might fall in the near future.

After the end of the war, the victorious nations, including the

United States, have pressed upon Japan the Tokyo Tribunal's view

that Japan's history until then had all been evil, prompting Japan

to lose its pride as a state. As a result, important traditional

Japanese cultures have been destroyed rapidly. A Japanese-version

Cultural Revolution is underway, so to speak. I believe this must be

stopped at all costs.

My view is not outlandish. I believe many Japanese people share my

view. Yahoo! News conducted an opinion survey on Nov. 4-11, asking:

"Is there any problem with the Tamogami statement?" Answers came

from 97,084 individuals. Of them, 44,269 people said, "There is no

problem," and 12,412 indicated, "There are hardly any problems." In

other words, 58 PERCENT of the total said, "There aren't any

problems."

Furthermore, on TV-Asahi's "Let's Discuss until Morning" program at

night on Nov. 28, a fierce discussion took place under the theme of

the Tamogami issue and the SDF. The program also solicited viewers'

opinions and 497 sent in their views. Of them, 303, or 61 PERCENT ,

said, "I can relate to the Tamogami statement." The Asahi Shimbun

has relentlessly attacked me, but over 60 PERCENT of the people

support me.

Of course, I believe a lot of SDF personnel that number 240,000

agree with my view at the bottom of their hearts. Lawmakers and

media organizations are alarmed at a possible coup. Such will never

TOKYO 00003383 007 OF 016

happen. In a democracy, it is not allowed to change society with

violence, and SDF personnel are perfectly aware of that.

In my essay, I deliberately took up a number of good things Japan

had done in the past. Until now, only bad deeds have been trumpeted,

so I argued against them that history is not that unilateral.

In fact, Japan was on the invaded side during that period. From

around the 15th century, white nations continued to invade colored

nations. Japan was not invaded until the last.

No one raises any questions today about such brutal history of white

nations' invasions of Asia. Only Japan's advance onto the Korean

Peninsula and Chinese mainland has been the subject of criticism.

White nations exploited Asia for many years, whereas Japan

endeavored for the development of Asia. For instance, Japan built

many schools in Manchuria, the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan. We left

behind significant improvements to the infrastructure that affects

everyday life -- roads, power plants, water supply, etc. Before the

war, there were nine imperial universities. We established Keijo

Imperial University, the sixth, in Seoul in 1924, and Taipei

Imperial University, the seventh, in Taipei in 1928. Osaka Imperial

University was eighth and Nagoya Imperial University was ninth. The

Japanese government built imperial universities in Korea and Taiwan

even before Osaka and Nagoya out of consideration for the colonies.

Such is totally inconceivable under control by white nations.

That is why leaders of Asian nations at times have expressed their

appreciation, saying that because Japan had fought with such

countries as the United States and Britain, they have now become

able to talk to them as equals.

Clash with Chinese Lt. Gen. over historical issues

I have repeatedly expressed such a view. I have introduced it in my

contribution to an SDF journal and discussed it in my speeches, as

well.

In addition to within the SDF, I have openly expressed my stock

argument toward China. In June 2004, I visited Beijing as the leader

of a Joint Staff College training team. During the visit, I had an

opportunity to interview for about 30 minutes Lt. Gen. Fan

Changlong, the No. 2 officer of the Chinese People's Liberation Army

general staff section. For the first 10 minutes, Lt. Gen. Fan

eloquently criticized the Imperial Japanese Army's brutal acts.

Feeling such was unbearable, I cut in: "I do not think the Japanese

Army did bad things toward China. Assaults and murder occur even in

peacetime." A portrait of President Ziang Zemin was on the wall, so

I also told Lt. Gen. Fan that President Ziang was unpopular in Japan

because during his visit to Japan in 1998, he extensively traveled

in the country and criticized Japan by touching on its

responsibility for past events.

I did not plan to dampen the previous venue of exchanges by

broaching the historical issue during my courtesy call on the

Chinese military leader. But at that time, the other side first just

talked on and on about the history issue, so I could not just bowed

my head and come back, saying, "You are right."

Because Japan has turned a deaf ear to such an argument, China

TOKYO 00003383 008 OF 016

brazenly keeps beating a dead horse. I don't think that is good for

the future of relations between the countries.

In any case, my rebuttal seemed quite upset the Chinese side. Many

Chinese officers did not show up at the party we hosted at the

Beijing Hotel before leaving China. They all said, "Something came

up." The visit to China planned for the following year was called

off.

Incidentally, the debated between Lt. Gen. Fan and me was officially

reported to Tokyo in detail via a cable from the Japanese Embassy in

Beijing. The Foreign Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Prime

Minister's Office, and everyone else became aware of the event, but

I was not punished in any way. That was not all. Some in the Defense

Ministry even praised me for what I did.

My view has always been the same and consistent. I don't understand

why I have to be beaten up this time around.

Japan forced to purchase U.S.-made equipment for prices twice as

high

Now, I am going to discuss what I think about the United States.

It has already been 63 years since the end of war, but Japan, as a

defeated nation, still acts in accordance with the wishes of the

United States. National defense is a prime example of that.

The Cold War ended over a dozen years ago, but the United States

still plays a main role in the defense of Japan. There are many U.S.

bases in Japan and U.S. troops are stationed there.

And the SDF purchases major defense equipment from the United

States. It can hardly be said that they are sold at fair prices.

From my experience, I can honestly say that Japan has been ripped

off quite a bit. There is a possibility that Japan has bought

aircrafts of the same model at prices higher than those to other

countries. In other words, the United States has siphoned off

Japanese taxpayers' money unfairly.

As far as the ASDF is concerned, it has purchased the F-104 (400

million yen apiece), F-4 (2 billion yen), F-15 (10 billion yen), and

F-22 (50 billion yen; U.S. Congress has yet to approve) in

chronological order. The price jumped five times every time new

model came along. The United States also overcharged for a variety

of other weapons, sometimes twice higher.

At one time, the ASDF had a plan to procure air-to-air missiles for

its fighters. Washington begrudged selling the kind of missiles

Japan wanted. As a result, a Japanese maker independently developed

similar missiles, and Washington all of a sudden expressed its

willingness to sell the kind of missiles to Tokyo for prices much

cheaper than those produced domestically.

In 2000, when I was serving as the deputy chief of staff for

logistics, the ASDF had a plan to introduce the Link-16, the latest

model of the strategic data link system, to the Patriot

(ground-to-air missile system). Japan needed to purchase its

terminal equipment from the United States. In the process of

negotiations, the United States raised the price of a set of

terminal equipment from 100 million yen to over 200 million yen.

TOKYO 00003383 009 OF 016

I lodged a protest with a senior U.S. Air Force Department official,

who happened to be in Japan around that time. Three weeks after his

return to the United States, the price dropped to the original

level. The United States has taken advantage of Japan's weak

position.

In the world of equipment, there is something called the black box,

which must be unfamiliar to civilians. It signifies the technical

information not disclosed to Japan when procuring equipment from the

United States.

Software codes correspond to the black box. Such black boxes are on

the rise. Preventing the outflow of technology is Washington's

official position. I think that is its public stance; its true

intention is to siphon money from Japan.

That is because if a glitch occurs in a part concerning the black

box, only the United States would be able to fix it. Weapons also

require maintenance, and for that, Japan has to place orders to U.S.

corporations semi-permanently. Simply put, the more the black box

grows, the more the United States can rake in money.

Reason why the abduction issue has not bee resolved

I am not anti-American; I like the United States. To begin with, a

state pursues its national interests. It is natural for the United

States to make every effort to sell its products to other countries,

including its allies.

The problem lies in Japan. Japanese people are too good-natured.

They are good-natured and masochistic. I believe such a country is

rare in the world.

A good country cannot be a victor in the international political

scene. The world is filled with black-hearted people. Good people

are destined to be used by black-hearted people.

For example, why has the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by the

North not been resolved? Let's say many U.S. citizens were abducted

by the North. Would the North take the cold and overbearing attitude

toward the United States, in the same way with Japan?

I can say this with confident that if it was with the United States,

the abduction issue would have been resolved a long ago. That is

because America's military power is a threat to the North. With just

a hint at an air strike by the United States, the North is certain

to respond to a call for talks.

Japan's attitude is poles apart from that of the United States.

Japan's hands are tied because of its own constitution prohibiting

the use of force. This encourages the North to use the abduction

issue to apply pressure on Japan.

Japan has created a national army enormously lacking in attack

capability in the name of an exclusively defense-oriented policy of

the postwar period. In order to conduct decent talks with the North,

Japan needs at least to deploy air-to-ground missiles and

ship-to-ground missiles to strike enemy territories.

Japan has become such a good-natured country in the postwar period

solely because of America's Japan policy. Japan has been transformed

into a country convenient for the United States.

TOKYO 00003383 010 OF 016

As was just discussed, Japan is now under the protection of

America's great military power, but we must keep in mind that the

United States take action based on its own national interests. For

instance, if the United States finds it more beneficial to team up

with China, it would abandon Japan overnight.

During my stay in the United States this summer, I asked a

high-ranking U.S. military officer: "If Japan and China clash over

the Senkaku Islands, would the United States attack China as Japan's

ally?"

As expected, the officer offered an ambiguous answer.

If China continues to build up its military buildup at the current

pace, the Chinese ministry would surpass the SDF in five to ten

years. The military gains strength in promotion to the money spent

on it.

The alliance with the United States allows Japan to be under

America's umbrella and to be on America's coattails in the

international political scene, so I think the alliance with that

country is useful to Japan. Even so, I believe a country should be

defended by its own people. In other words, we need to strengthen

the SDF and U.S. force in Japan must leave the country gradually. I

believe that's the way Japan should be. Without the withdrawal of

the U.S. military, Japan cannot be called a truly independent

country.

(5) Physicians distancing themselves from the LDP a serious problem

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)

December 12, 2008

Senior members of medical associations in such major cities as

Sendai, Chiba, Nagoya and Fukuoka met on Nov. 15 at a hotel in Chiba

City.

A questionnaire result was distributed to each participant in the

meeting. Many participants were amazed by the result. One member

said: "So many members have distanced themselves from the Liberal

Democratic Party (LDP)!"

One of the questions was whether to support the LDP in order to

realize policy measures the Japan Medical Association proposes. In

responding, only nine percent said that they would support the

ruling LDP, while 20 percent said that they would back the

opposition parties so that a change in government would occur.

A total of 2,362 doctors of regional medical associations in major

cities responded to the questionnaire. Nakahiko Hakuno, chairman of

the Chiba City Medical Association which conducted the

questionnaire, said:

"We had supported the LDP unconditionally. However, medical

institutions are in a serious condition due to the policy the LDP

implemented in the past few years. The figures show our sense of

alarm."

Under the Japan Medical Association (membership of 165,000), there

are approximately 900 local medical associations comprised of

physicians. The JMA has fielded its representatives as candidates

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for an upper house election every time, and it is one of the strong

support organizations for the LDP.

One direct reason for the JMA having decided to distant itself from

the LDP is that the administration of then Prime Minister Junichiro

Koizumi decided in 2006 on a policy of reducing natural increase in

social security spending by 220 billon yen annually. The JMA has

sought the withdrawal of the spending cut policy for the reason that

the policy has caused the collapse of medical institutions.

Although the JMA has still supported the LDP, some local medical

associations are now distancing themselves from the LDP. The Ibaraki

Medical Association's political organization intends to recommend

candidates on the official ticket of the Democratic Party of Japan

(DPJ) in all the seven electoral districts in the prefecture.

Ibaraki Medical Association Chairman Katsumasa Haranaka criticized

the LDP, saying:

"The LDP does not function well because in that party there are many

lawmakers who succeeded to Diet seats held by their parents and

grandparents. Since second-generation politicians just take over the

stable electoral turf held by their parents or grandparents, they

will not become politicians who can control the bureaucracy. The LDP

should change, but it no longer has power to reform itself."

Prime Minister Aso has taken a positive stance to a review of the

spending-cut policy since he assumed office last September.

Believing that Aso was considering also a review of the policy of

curbing social security expenditures, persons connected to medical

associations held high hopes for Aso. However, Aso made a gaffe (on

Nov. 19): "There are many doctors who lack common sense."

On Nov. 29, in a general meeting of the Niigata City Medical

Association, in the face of LDP Lower House member, who were invited

to the meeting, Chairman Kenichi Okawa severely criticized the Aso

administration: "Prime Minister Aso's policy flip flops and the

spate of gaffes are regrettable."

Aso's slip of the tongue added fuel to the fire.

A person closed to Aso said ostensibly calmly: "The JMA does not

have many votes. So the impact on the election will be small."

However, as seen in the result of the Chiba City Medical

Association's questionnaire, the outlook is that if many local

medical associations support the DPJ in an election, an impact on

the election will not be that small.

Hakuno said:

"Since we conducted the anonymous survey, physicians responded

genuinely. The support rate for the opposition party was twice

higher than that for the LDP. This means that physicians are

seriously angry."

(6) Poll on Aso cabinet, political parties

YOMIURI (Page 9) (Full)

December 8, 2008

Questions & Answers

(Figures shown in percentage)

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Q: Do you support the Aso cabinet?

Yes 20.9

No 66.7