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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001880
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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 08/14/09
INDEX:
(1) Japan should pursue nuclear disarmament without impairing
deterrence capability (Mainichi)
(2) 2009 Lower House election: Focus already on how to treat Ozawa
(Yomiuri)
(3) Interview with former Lower House speaker Kono at the end of his
political career (Tokyo Shimbun)
(4) Bumpy road for "third force" politicians in Lower House election
(Yomiuri)
(5) Agricultural policy: DPJ to start income subsidies for farming
households from FY11; LDP to increase income by full utilization of
paddy fields (Tokyo Shimbun)
(6) Head of agricultural cooperatives' political arm calls for firm
resistance to FTA with U.S. (Asahi)
(7) FRB estimate that U.S. economy is about to bottom out is
reasonable, according to four economists: Concern about stimulus
policy effects running out in Japan (Tokyo Shimbun)
(8)Editorial: Bluefin tuna trade embargo - How can we continue to
enjoy tuna? (Tokyo Shimbun)
(9) TOP HEADLINES
(10) EDITORIALS
(11) Prime Minister's schedule, August 13 (Nikkei)
ARTICLES:
(1) Japan should pursue nuclear disarmament without impairing
deterrence capability
MAINICHI (Page 10) (Full)
August 14, 20009
By Matake Kamiya, professor at National Defense Academy
Stimulated by U.S. President Barack Obama's speech in Prague this
April outlining his vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, moves
for nuclear disarmament are gaining momentum across the world.
Eliminating nuclear weapons is Japan's long-felt wish. How should
Japan face this new situation? The Obama vision is evaluated as
"practical," but it is essential to correctly understand its
meaning.
In the Prague speech, Obama said that as the only nuclear power to
have used a nuclear weapon, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to
act. But he also said that since it will take time to eliminate all
nuclear weapons, the goal is unlikely to be attained in his
lifetime. He further said that America will maintain necessary
nuclear weapons to deter attacks from enemies against it and its
allies as long as nuclear weapons exist in the world.
Obama indicated that the U.S. will seriously pursue the ideal of
nuclear abolition in the future but will not sacrifice security for
the sake of the ideal. In short, he says that he will rely on the
role of nuclear weapons for global peace and security until all
nuclear weapons are removed from the world.
In Japan, people seem to be paying attention only to the
unprecedented advocacy of nuclear abolition by the president of the
U.S., the world's largest nuclear power, but seem not to comprehend
Obama's entire vision. Obama has warned that although the threat of
global-scale warfare has reduced, the fear of a nuclear attack is
growing with nuclear proliferation. We should be aware that such a
TOKYO 00001880 002 OF 012
trend is particularly remarkable in Northeast Asia, which includes
Japan.
To respond to the Obama concept, Japan should pursue both the ideal
of nuclear disarmament and the reality of security.
Japan has long nursed a variety of ideas for nuclear disarmament.
Japan should now once again propagate those ideas globally and take
the initiative in creating feasible measures.
If Japan continues to opt for a nonnuclear policy despite North
Korea's nuclear tests and China's modernized nuclear capability,
that stance alone will greatly contribute to the world's pursuit of
the ideal of the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Japan possesses no nuclear weapons in a world of heightened danger
from nuclear attack. Japan also needs to mull how to ensure its
security. The key lies in the U.S.'s nuclear umbrella.
Nonnuclear powers must not fail to prepare as long as there are
nuclear powers. The U.S.'s nuclear umbrella has offered reassurance
to many nonnuclear powers, including Japan. Obama's reference in the
Prague speech to the U.S. capability to deter enemies from attacks
against its allies was made in consideration of this point. Although
nuclear disarmament is important, it is quite natural for the
Japanese and American governments to judge that the credibility of
the U.S. umbrella must not be undermined.
Japan should declare, as President Obama did, that it has no
intention to jeopardize its security by exposure to a real threat
for the sake of an ideal. Even so, Japan should consider together
with the U.S. the question of to what extent nuclear weapons can be
reduced while maintaining the credibility of the U.S. nuclear
umbrella, as well as the possibility of replacing the nuclear
umbrella with U.S.'s conventional weapons. While making such
efforts, Japan should try to explore a constructive approach.
(2) 2009 Lower House election: Focus already on how to treat Ozawa
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts)
August 14, 2009
In the Democratic Party of Japan, the focus is already on how to
treat Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa if the DPJ takes over the reins
of government. If the DPJ wins the upcoming House of Representatives
election, it is certain that the presence of Ozawa, who has been
guiding the election, will further strengthen in the party.
Therefore, some DPJ members are concerned about a possible dual
power structure of Ozawa and a Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Ozawa has been busy finding candidates for districts in which the
LDP has not fielded any candidates, as well as with stumping in
local areas.
It is taken in the LDP that his election strategy, which includes
filing new female candidates against seasoned Liberal Democratic
Party (LDP) candidates is gradually working. Ozawa has fielded one
female candidate against former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori in the
No. 2 district in Ishikawa Prefecture, and another candidate against
former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuhisa Shiozaki in the No. 1
district in Ehime Prefecture.
TOKYO 00001880 003 OF 012
Many of those candidates if elected will come under the influence of
Ozawa. This means the birth of the "Ozawa children."
In May, Ozawa was forced to quit the LDP presidency due to his
secretary's receiving illegal donations from Nishimatsu Construction
Co. However, Ozawa's aides believe that if the DPJ wins the general
election, it means that he will be absolved from the charges.
At a press conference on July 27, Ozawa expressed his willingness to
continue taking charge of elections, saying: "At the time when we
win the general election, I will start working for the next House of
Councillors election."
A member of a group supporting Ozawa said: "He should serve as
secretary or deputy prime minister without portfolio. I want him to
make efforts to fight against the bureaucracy."
However, a group of members who have distanced themselves from Ozawa
is growing alarmed, worrying about his recovery of power
(3) Interview with former Lower House speaker Kono at the end of his
political career
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts)
August 14, 2009
Yohei Kono (72), now a former Lower House speaker, has ended his
over 42 years of career as a lawmaker. He has been a representative
of the dovish faction in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP),. He
served as a Lower House speaker for 2,029 days, the longest in the
history of constitutional politics. On the eve of the anniversary of
the end of the war,Tokyo Shimbun asked him about his impressions of
what the Diet should do, and his thoughts about the elimination of
nuclear arms .
Nuclear disarmament is global trend
-- U.S. President Obama in a speech in April in Prague pledged to
seek a world free of nuclear weapons.
"The global trend is changing. Voices calling for nuclear
disarmament and the elimination of nuclear arms are unprecedentedly
growing in Japan, as well. We must act in response to these calls
and play a proactive role for nuclear disarmament and the
elimination of nuclear arms."
-- Do you intend to continue activities for the elimination of
nuclear arms after stepping down as a politician?
"I think I will, although I do not know what role I can fulfill in
what situations. I would like to talk with people in various
positions.
-- Former Air Self-Defense Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami is
insisting on the need for Japan to go nuclear.
"It is outrageous. Those connected to the Defense Ministry must be
more modest."
-- Some circles are lionizing nuclear armament.
"Will that work favorably to relations between Japan and Asia? Some
TOKYO 00001880 004 OF 012
say that doves will become extinct. I am not so pessimistic. Changes
in the global trend will affect Japanese people. When that happens,
expectations of doves will rise. I will do my best until such a time
comes."
(4) Bumpy road for "third force" politicians in Lower House
election
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts)
August 14, 2009
Independent candidate Takeo Hiranuma, a former minister of economy,
trade, and industry, left the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 2005
due to his opposition to postal privatization. He has persisted in
being a "proud independent" and will be participating in the House
of Representatives election at the head of the "Hiranuma Group"
consisting of 17 former Lower House members. The aftereffects of the
cerebral infarction he suffered in 2006 have disappeared almost
completely, and it is said that he can now make four 1-hour speeches
in a day.
Hiranuma is aiming at winning at least five seats and pushing for a
situation where neither the ruling nor the opposition parties
control a majority. He wants to form a "robust conservative force"
drawing members from both the LDP and the Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) in order to hold the casting vote as a "third force."
Hiranuma talked about his post-election scenario when he campaigned
for his junior peer, the LDP's Shoichi Nakagawa (former minister of
finance and financial services) at the latter's constituency in
Obihiro City, Hokkaido, on July 5: "I would like to join forces with
Mr. Nakagawa to create a trend toward good politics in Japan."
The DPJ has been trying to woo Hiranuma. When Deputy President
Ichiro Ozawa was party president, he used to play golf and dine with
Hiranuma. DPJ supreme adviser Kozo Watanabe appeared on a TV program
with Hiranuma on July 25 and asked the ex-minister to form a cabinet
together with him.
However, about two weeks later, on August 10, Ozawa held a news
conference in Okayama City to announce that lawyer Keito Nishimura
was an official candidate for the DPJ. This amounted to a cutoff of
relations with Hiranuma, who had not expressed his willingness to
cooperate with the party.
"Your Party" leader Yoshimi Watanabe declared before some 300 local
supporters at an assembly hall in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture,
in the afternoon of August 11: "We have deliberately gathered under
the banners of breaking away from bureaucrats, local autonomy, and
emphasis on livelihood" and sought supporters' understanding for
forming a new party. Watanabe left the LDP in January with the aim
of realigning the political forces. He has a solid base of political
support, which he inherited from his father, Michio Watanabe, a
former deputy prime minister and finance minister. The LDP has
already decided not to field a candidate against him, while the DPJ
is also taking a wait-and-see attitude.
However, the DPJ, which is now confident of capturing political
power single-handedly, is beginning to shift from an attitude of
deference to Watanabe to one of checking him. At his news conference
on August 10 to announce Hiranuma's rival candidate, Ozawa stated
with a chuckle, "Mr. Watanabe is not taking a clear stand on
TOKYO 00001880 005 OF 012
replacing the LDP-New Komeito administration. We may decide to field
an official candidate."
"Our policy direction is similar to the DPJ's," Watanabe emphasized
in his speech at the Foreign Correspondents' Club on August 13.
"Forming a post-election coalition is possible." He has been
lamenting to his aides recently that "if the DPJ wins too many
seats, we won't have a role to play."
(5) Agricultural policy: DPJ to start income subsidies for farming
households from FY11; LDP to increase income by full utilization of
paddy fields
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 7) (Full)
August 14, 2009
Tomotaka Hayashi
There is strong interest in agricultural policy due to the debate
over reviewing the rice production adjustment (gentan) policy. Both
parties are campaigning vigorously to win support. The Democratic
Party of Japan (DPJ) is advocating once again the creation of a
system of income subsidies for farming households, which was
instrumental for its victory in the House of Councilors election two
years ago, while the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) pledges to
increase farmers' income. We looked into the background of their
agricultural policies, which have often been ridiculed as a "battle
of pork barrels."
Q: What is the state of agriculture in Japan?
A: Sixty percent of farmers are 65 years old or older and few have
successors. Total farmland has decreased to three-fourths of its
peak, and farmland left untilled is equivalent in area to Saitama
Prefecture. Over the past 10 years the food self-sufficiency rate
has remained at the 40 percent level, which is the lowest among the
industrialized countries. There is no lack of issues relating to
agriculture.
Q: Why has this happened?
A: Simply put, this situation arose because farming does not make
money. Income from agriculture shrank by 50 percent between 1992 and
2006. Retailers have become more powerful, so the increase in cost
of oil or fertilizers has not been reflected in the prices of
agricultural products. Furthermore, little progress has been made in
enlarging the size of farms, which is necessary for cost cutting.
Many farmers earn less than they spend on production.
Q: What is the system of income subsidies for farming households
proposed by the DPJ?
A: It is a mechanism by which the government makes up for the
difference between product cost and selling price. The DPJ's
manifesto (campaign pledges) calls for introducing the system in
FY11. As a first step, income subsidies will be paid for rice,
wheat, soybean, and other high-cost crops requiring extensive land
use. In the future, the system will also be applied to livestock
products, as well as to workers in the timber and fishing
industries.
Q: What is the LDP's thinking on this?
TOKYO 00001880 006 OF 012
A: Its manifesto says it will "strengthen domestic agricultural
production and increase farmers' income," but the document does not
contain concrete plans or numerical targets. Overall, its proposals
read like a continuation of the present policy of doling out
generous subsidies to secure farmers' income. The manifesto has
shifted from the existing policy of emphasizing farms of a certain
size to "abolishing the land area and age requirements."
Q: What is the policy of the two parties on gentan?
A: On the assumption of maintaining the gentan policy, the LDP will
continue to advocate "full utilization of rice paddies" to allow not
only cultivation of wheat and soybean but also rice used for rice
flour and fodder in addition to rice as a staple food. The DPJ
advocates an "optional system," in which only farming households
that choose to meet numerical production targets receive income
subsidies.
Q: Both parties appear to be generous to farmers, but is this not
unfair from the standpoint of non-farmers?
A: Japan cannot compete with Australia or the U.S., where low-cost
production using wide tracts of land is possible, in price no matter
how hard farmers work to manage their farms. On the other hand,
relying on imports for agricultural products becomes a security
issue. If the paddies are neglected, they also become an
environmental issue because, for example, flooding will occur more
easily. Support for agriculture is meant to compensate for these
multifaceted functions. This thinking is common not only to the two
parties, but to all political parties.
Q: What is the impact of this on World Trade Organization (WTO)
negotiations and trade policy?
A: The conclusion of an agreement in WTO negotiations will have a
serious impact on rice and other crops currently protected by high
import tariffs. However, none of the parties' manifestos offers ways
to cope with the WTO agreement. The DPJ has revised its manifesto to
read "promote negotiations" for, rather than "conclude," a free
trade agreement.
(6) Head of agricultural cooperatives' political arm calls for firm
resistance to FTA with U.S.
ASAHI (Page 7) (Full)
August 14, 2009
The conflict between the JA Group and the Democratic Party of Japan
(DPJ) has intensified as the general election approaches. The group,
which employs 2.6 million people and has a membership of 5 million,
is the biggest supporter of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). How
does it plan to engage in dialogue with the DPJ in the future? We
interviewed Koichi Kawaida, head of JA's political arm, the National
Federation of Farmers' Organizations for Agricultural Administration
Movement (Zenkoku Nogyosha Nosei Undo Soshiki Renmei or Zenkoku
Noseiren).
Q: You have issued a statement opposing the conclusion of a free
trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S., which is included in the DPJ's
manifesto. However, the DPJ has revised this to "promoting
negotiations" for an FTA.
TOKYO 00001880 007 OF 012
Kawaida: Agriculture will be ruined by the conclusion of an FTA. An
FTA is absolutely unacceptable for me as a representative of
farmers. Deputy President Ichiro Ozawa indicated on August 8 that
Japan should aim to conclude an FTA. His statement is different from
a personal opinion expressed by a Diet member. We will not be
deceived.
Q: Don't you think an emotional conflict will linger between you and
the DPJ?
Kawaida: We don't want to fight before an election. However, if the
DPJ talks about concluding an FTA or breaking up agricultural
cooperatives, we will have to ask, What do you mean?
Q: The DPJ claims that JA should be politically neutral.
Kawaida: Superficial "political neutrality" will not help protect
agriculture. In agriculture there are factors beyond human control,
such as poor harvests and natural disasters. Based on the thinking
that when something happens, the government should take care of
farmers, we have maintained our connection with the ruling party
since World War II. Because the LDP holds power in the current
administration, it is natural for us to support the LDP.
Q: You decided in spring that the JA will field candidates in the
House of Councilors election of July 2010. Will you have your
candidates recognized as official LDP candidates regardless of the
outcome of the Lower House election?
Kawaida: That is our plan at present. However, if a change of
administration takes place, the JA Group will conduct internal
deliberations on how to deal with it. In principle, candidates will
come from the JA Group. Several parties, including the LDP, had
approached four or five of our people, but we declined politely.
Since the election is fast approaching, I'd rather not talk about
this subject anymore.
Q: Some regions have stopped their one-sided support for the LDP.
The Aomori Noseiren, for instance, is allowing its members to vote
freely.
Kawaida: I heard that there are (JA members) who are DPJ members or
chapter heads. I think it is up to an individual's judgment.
However, we are unanimous in resolutely resisting the FTA.
Q: Do you think changes of administration will take place frequently
from now on?
Kawaida: That's probably going to be the case. JA will just have to
deal with politics on a case-by-case basis to achieve its goal of
protecting farmers. We have supported the LDP for 60 years, and
perhaps we have sometimes given it too much support.
Q: What do you think of the DPJ's policies?
Kawaida: I am not clear about them yet. I wonder where the funding
for income subsidies for farming households will come from. Other
groups may complain. However, if the DPJ's policies will enable
farmers to make ends meet, then I have no objection to them.
Q: Don't you think you need to hold a constructive dialogue with the
TOKYO 00001880 008 OF 012
DPJ?
Kawaida: For sure, a constructive dialogue is necessary -- that is,
if they actually take over the reins of government.
(Interviewer: Kenji Oyamada)
(7) FRB estimate that U.S. economy is about to bottom out is
reasonable, according to four economists: Concern about stimulus
policy effects running out in Japan
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 7) (Full)
August 14, 2009
Since the Federal Reserve Board (FRB) on August 12 released a
statement saying that economic activities in the U.S. are beginning
to bottom out, the U.S. economy has entered a phase of looking for a
chance to start picking up. The pace of recovery will likely be
moderate, as the jobless rate is still expected to rise. The future
of the Japanese economy will become unclear once the round of
stimulus measures has run its course. Tokyo Shimbun asked four
economists about their outlooks for the Japanese and U.S. economies.
They are concerned about the downside risk factors for both
economies.
All four economists agree that the upward revision of the FRB's
economic outlook this time is appropriate. This is because favorable
factors, such as the effects of subsidies for automobile trade-ins
and the halting of the downturn of the housing sector, are present.
However, barriers against an economic pickup are high. As a
disturbing factor, all four economists cite that adjustments to
excessive spending financed by loans have not ended yet. Taro Saito
at the NLI Research Institute says that the U.S. economy will not be
able to regain it strength, which once served as a driving force for
the global economy.
Yoshiki Shinke of the Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute estimated
that the rate of a decline in the jobless rate has shrunk, but it
will once again rise to 10 percent. Mitsumaru Kumagai at the Daiwa
Institute of Research is concerned about a rise in long-term
interest rates stemming from the fiscal deficit. Takahide Kiuchi at
the Nomura Securities Financial and Economic Research Center views:
"The U.S. financial market is unstable. It will take about three
times longer than past cases to recover. Full-fledged economic
recovery will not take place before the middle of next year."
It is hard to devise a scenario for the Japanese economy, which is
dependent on foreign demand, turning around, unless the U.S. economy
recovers smoothly. The effects of stimulus measures are propping up
the domestic economy. However, the future of the economy is unclear
due to the worsening employment situation. Shinke pointed out, "The
rate of a decline in capital spending is shrinking. Capital spending
will be basically smooth this fiscal year." Kumagai also took a
forward-looking stance, estimating, "Economic recovery will continue
due to the effects of policies implemented, consumption, and
recovery seen in some industry areas." Both indicated the view that
there are downside risk factors to the future.
Kiuchi, in the meantime, predicted: "Stimulus measures are cashing
in on future demand. Their effects are now beginning to run out.
Employment adjustments by companies will now target permanent
TOKYO 00001880 009 OF 012
workers. The economy will return to the negative territory in the
January-March quarter next year."
Since recovery in exports and industrial output has not yet led to
final demand, Saito took a harsh view: "Domestic demand will be
weak. Capital spending will also be sluggish. The effects of
stimulus measures will continue until year's end. However, the
economy will decline again next year."
Economic growth outlook by economists
Economic growth projection (%)
July-Sept quarter Oct-Dec quarter Comment
Takehide Kiuchi
Nomura Securities Financial and Economic Research Center Economic
Research Department manager
Japan 2.8
U.S. about 3
Japan 0.4
U.S. 1.8 Though the U.S. economy is now in good shape due to
response to the sharp decline and the effects of implemented
policies, full-fledged recovery will not take place until after the
middle of next year. The Japanese economy could hit a second
bottom.
Yoshiki Shinke
Dai-Ichi Life Research Institute chief economist
Japan 2.8
U.S. 2.9
Japan 3.5
U.S. 2.5 The U.S. housing sector will show signs of stopping its
decline. Japans' exports will grow steadily before the end of this
fiscal year.
Mitsumaru Kumagai
Daiwa Institute of Research senior economist
Japan 1.0
U.S. 2.5
Japan 1.1
U.S. 1.9 Economic recovery is now a global trend. The economy has
climbed out of the worst phase. In the meantime, there are still
downside risk factors in both the Japanese and U.S. economies.
Taro Saito
NLI Research Institute chief researcher
Japan 3.7
U.S. 1.3
Japan 1.2
U.S. 1.1 The U.S. economy will soon hit bottom, but it will have no
power to serve as a driving force for the global economy. Stimulus
measures have produced results promptly in Japan. However, domestic
demand is weak.
TOKYO 00001880 010 OF 012
(8)Editorial: Bluefin tuna trade embargo - How can we continue to
enjoy tuna?
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full)
August 14, 2009
The United States and Europe intend to propose a blanket trade ban
on bluefin tuna at a conference next March of the Contracting
Parties to the Washington Convention to restrict trade of threatened
species. Since Japan consumes about 80 percent of the fish catches,
it should take action.
Japanese people are very fond of tuna, but there are few Japanese
who care about where and how tuna is caught and brought to our
dinner tables.
It was in the second half of the 1990s, when the belly of tuna with
a high fat content (Otoro), which used to be very expensive, began
to be served at conveyor-belt sushi bars at low prices. The reason
is because Mediterranean countries began to export to Japan an
enormous volume of tuna that was fattened up through fish farming.
Fish farming, which is similar to "buying rice before the harvest,"
accelerated a decrease in the amount of tuna. It is also believed
that a global increase in fish consumption will fuel the depletion
of the resource.
Since it is difficult for just one country to manage tuna, which is
a migratory fish, five regional fisheries management organizations
(RFMOs) that were formed by countries concerned manage tuna. One of
the RFMOs, the International Commission for the Conservation of
Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) decided last fall on a broad reduction of
fishing quotas, but there is no end to the poaching of tuna for the
fish farming, the under-declaration of fish catches, and illegal
fishing operations due to the organization's weak penalties.
Therefore, assessments of the RFMO system are low.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has backed moves to totally ban the
trade of tuna, warning that Mediterranean tuna is faced with the
threat of extinction. If the total embargo is approved by a
two-thirds vote, not only exports and imports but also deep-sea
fishing will be impossible.
The Japanese government hosted a joint conference of the RFMOs the
year last in Kobe City and the conference adopted an action plan to
recover tuna. This means that the government has taken a positive
stance toward strengthening regular restrictions. Mitsubishi
Corporation last September released a statement that said: "Unless
the continuity of tuna is secured, we will review our involvement in
the tuna business." In order to protect the "tuna culture" by
evading the trade embargo, the Japanese government has no other
choice but to present concrete measures while expressing its
determination to manage the resource prior to the ICCA annual
meeting in November. Using "marine eco-labels" authorized by
Britain's Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an effective way to
give consideration to an ecosystem.
Obtaining consumers' understanding is also indispensable. In a bid
to prevent consumers from involuntarily supporting the poaching and
extinction of tuna, the government should undersatnd the actual
situation of food distribution while paying attention to the label
TOKYO 00001880 011 OF 012
indicating the place of origin. The government also should review
consumer behavior.
(9) TOP HEADLINES
Asahi:
Transport Minister played key role in helping local construction
companies receive orders for highway expansion projects
Mainichi:
Health Ministry amends medical center improvement guidelines to
require prenatal care hospitals to provide emergency treatment for
mothers
Yomiuri:
141 municipalities grant inappropriate pay raises: 3.3 billion yen
paid to 9,200 officials
Nikkei:
Isetan Mitsukoshi to open five more department stores in China as
pillar of overseas operations
Sankei:
DPJ to build national memorial for war dead, after launching
administration; plans for advisory panel
Tokyo Shimbun:
Actual jobless rate tops 9%?: LDP to focus on expanding safety net;
DPJ to protect workers first
Akahata:
JCP's comprehensive assistance measures will strive for change from
basic problems
(10) EDITORIALS
Asahi:
(1) 2009 general election: Start new industrial revolution in mature
Japan; Create mechanism for sharing growth markets in Asia
Mainichi:
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Political reform; Politicians are too
easy on themselves
(2) Viewpoint: Lower House election; Postal privatization - Dealing
with the aftermath of the frenzy is tough; by editorial writer
Eietsu Imamatsu
Yomiuri:
(1) Pension reform: Go beyond partisan opposition and search for
common ground
(2) U.S. financial policy: FRB exploring exit strategy
Nikkei:
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Question policies; Proposal for
making highways toll-free is full of problems
(2) U.S. economy's resilience still weak
Sankei:
(1) Politics and money: Will Ozawa and Hatoyama of DPJ continue to
ignore money scandals?
(2) Obon festival - time to offer prayers for ancestors; Opportunity
to think about taking over as head of the family
TOKYO 00001880 012 OF 012
Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) 2009 Lower House election: Resource policy that will promote
growth urged
(2) Bluefin tuna trade embargo: How can we continue to enjoy bluefin
tuna forever?
Akahata:
(1) Withdrawal from nuclear umbrella now being brought into
question
(11) Prime Minister's schedule, August 13
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
August 14, 2009
08:29
Took a walk on the grounds of the official residential quarters.
10:44
Met former Lower House member Taimei Yamaguchi, chairman of the
Saitama Prefectural Chapter, at party headquarters. Afterward he met
party employees to provide encouragement.
12:01
Visited Isetan Department Store, Shinjuku.
12:23
Arrived at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.
15:44
Met Chief Cabinet Secretary Kawamura.
18:45
Appeared on a news program at the TBS Broadcasting Center in
Akasaka.
19:47
Returned to the official residential quarters.
ZUMWALT