Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 10/19/09

VZCZCXRO3014
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2399/01 2912352
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 182352Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6886
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/USDOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
RULSDMK/USDOT WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J5//
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA//
RHMFIUU/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 9308
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6953
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0771
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4223
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7465
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1445
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8100
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7635

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002399

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR E, P, EB, EAP/J, EAP/P, EAP/PD, PA;
WHITE HOUSE/NSC/NEC; JUSTICE FOR STU CHEMTOB IN ANTI-TRUST DIVISION;
TREASURY/OASIA/IMI/JAPAN; DEPT PASS USTR/PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
SECDEF FOR JCS-J-5/JAPAN,
DASD/ISA/EAPR/JAPAN; DEPT PASS ELECTRONICALLY TO USDA
FAS/ITP FOR SCHROETER; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR;
CINCPAC FLT/PA/ COMNAVFORJAPAN/PA.

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 10/19/09

INDEX:

1) Top headlines
2) Editorials
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei)

Futenma flip-flopping:
4) U.S. will accept minor modification to Futenma agreement (Asahi)

5) Cabinet asks for continuation of assistance to relocation site
communities (Asahi)
6) PM Hatoyama: Futenma relocation decision to be made next year
(Asahi)
7) FM Okada: Govt. will aim to reach a decision on Futenma this year
(Yomiuri)

Refueling mission:
8) Japan Govt. examining shift of replenishment ships to anti-piracy
operation (Sankei)
9) DOS hopes for continuation of refueling mission (Sankei)
10) LDP to submit refueling bill (Nikkei)

Foreign relations:
11) FM Okada: U.S. concerns about East Asian Community (Nikkei)
12) FM Okada says he would like to discuss no-first use policy with
U.S. (Nikkei)

Defense & Security:
13) Secretary of Defense Gates to visit Japan tomorrow (Sankei)
14) Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mullen to visit Japan (Nikkei)
15) Okada tells Kanagawa Gov. Matsuzawa SOFA to be reviewed next
year (Yomiuri)

Opinion polls:
16) Mainichi poll: 72 PERCENT support cabinet; 71 PERCENT approve
cutting supplementary budget by 2.9 trillion yen (Mainichi)
17) Yomiuri poll: 53 PERCENT believe coalition partners out of
synch; disarray on security, alliance (Yomiuri)
18) Nikkei poll: Support for cabinet remains at 70 PERCENT level;
61 PERCENT give high marks to job performance (Nikkei)
19) Jiji poll: cabinet support rate at 60.6 PERCENT ; third highest
for a cabinet just after its inauguration (Nikkei)

Child abduction issue:
20) Eight ambassadors visit Minister of Justice Chiba; express hope
Japan will sign Hague Convention (Nikkei)
21) At least two years required for the GOJ to accede to the Hague
Convention (Nikkei)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
U.S. to accept minor changes in Futenma relocation plan

Mainichi:
Hatoyama government launches half of pledges in manifesto

Yomiuri:
Vaccination against new flu to cover all applicants with single
inoculation

TOKYO 00002399 002 OF 010

Nikkei:
Value of shares in global markets now close to level just before
financial crisis

Sankei:
Government eyes use of refueling vessels for combating pirates

Tokyo Shimbun:
U.S. defense official indicates willingness to agree to move
construction site for Futenma replacement facility offshore

Akahata:
JCP makes demands requests to new government on budget requests,
issue of bureaucrats' Diet replies

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Let's introduce school autonomy system

Mainichi:
(1) Welfare Minister Nagatsuma expected to promote reform of social
security system
(2) Japan welcomes inclusion of golf as sports at 2016 Olympic
Games

Yomiuri:
(1) Treat serious new-flu patients on priority basis
(2) New Rengo system: Deal with issues through coordination between
labor and management

Nikkei:
(1) Goal of 25 PERCENT cut in greenhouse gas emissions: Aim at
introducing fair emissions-trading system, carbon tax

Sankei:
(1) New type of influenza: Ensure smooth vaccinations
(2) Speedily work out JAL reconstruction plan

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Why is government going to introduce system of income
compensation for farmers so hastily?
(2) New tax panel should come up with fair, transparent system that
can convince

Akahata:
(1) Supreme Court urged to hold hearing on suppression of leaflet
distribution in Katsushika Ward

3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei)

Prime Minister's schedule, October 18

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 19, 2009

10:40 Participated in Denenchofu Clean Festa with wife Miyuki at
Denenchofu Seseragi Park.
12:09 Had lunch with wife Miyuki at Chinese restaurant in Denenchofu
Razan.
12:55 Went to Denenchofu Branch of Precce supermarket.

TOKYO 00002399 003 OF 010

13:17 Arrived at private residence.

4) U.S. to accept minor change to Futenma relocation plan; presses
Japan for implementation of agreement

ASAHI (Top play) (Excerpts)
October 19, 2009

Hiroshi Ito, Washington

A high-ranking U.S. Defense Department official indicated that
Washington would accept moving the envisaged facility replacing the
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa
Prefecture) about 50 meters further offshore than under the existing
plan, adding that the U.S. government would not accept major changes
to the existing plan. The official pressed the Hatoyama
administration, which is exploring ways to move the air station out
of Okinawa or even out of the country, for the early implementation
of a bilateral agreement, warning that the failure to implement the
agreement would deal a serious blow to relationship of trust between
Japan and the United States.

The official revealed the view ahead of Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates's visit to Japan on Oct. 20. Tokyo and Washington reached an
agreement in 2006 on the existing (Futenma) relocation plan as part
of a "package deal" that includes the relocation of U.S. Marine
Corps to Guam and the return of U.S. military bases and facilities
in Okinawa. Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima later requested the
alternative Futenma facility be located further offshore than the
planned site, and the Hatoyama administration is examining how the
Henoko district was selected as the relocation site.

"It is natural for the new administration to reexamine how the
bilateral agreement was reached," the high-ranking U.S. official
said. "We believe the agreement is worth implementing." The official
also said that major changes to the existing plan would result in
other decisions, indicating that such would have an impact on other
agreements made between Japan and the United States besides U.S.
force realignment. The official repeatedly expressed hope for the
implementation of the existing agreement.

The official showed some understanding about moving the replacement
facility offshore, saying, "If the governor calls for moving the
facility 50 meters, it is a matter that concerns the governor and
the Japanese government," adding, "If the Japanese government
proposes it to the United States, it will be studied within the
framework of the existing agreement."

According to the Japanese government's study, the replacement
facility can be moved 55 meters or so without redoing the
environmental impact assessment. The high-ranking official indicated
that the facility can be moved 50 meters or so without making
changes to a set of procedures, such as the environmental
assessment, within the framework of the existing agreement.

At the same time, on the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling
mission in the Indian Ocean, which is to expire next January, the
official showed understanding for the withdrawal of the force. The
Hatoyama administration is earnestly looking for new measures to
support Afghanistan in place of the refueling mission. "Assistance
does not have to be military," the official said.

TOKYO 00002399 004 OF 010

5) Cabinet Office requests continuation of development of Futenma
functions relocation site in fiscal 2010

ASAHI (Page 4) (Full)
October 17, 2009

In return for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air
Station to Nago City in the northern part of the main island of
Okinawa, over the last 10 years the government has been carrying out
the North Development Program, under which 10 billion yen has been
allocated annually for Okinawa Prefecture, Nago City, and 12 other
municipalities. The government fundamentally intends to continue the
program with the Cabinet Office asking for 7 billion yen in its
estimated budget request, submitted on Oct. 16, for fiscal 2010.
State Minister for Okinawa Seiji Maehara said, "I will not link this
program to the base issue. Along with Okinawa Prefecture, I would
like to press ahead with the program, which will promote Okinawa's
economic independence and development." He thus explained that the
ministry has filed the request regardless of the fate of the Futenma
relocation issue.

6) Hatoyama eyes reaching conclusion next year on Futenma
relocation

ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
October 17, 2009

Prime Minister Hatoyama clarified yesterday that he will postpone
making a final decision until next year on the pending issue of
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan,
Okinawa Prefecture. This is apparently because there is no prospect
for "moving Futenma airfield out of Okinawa Prefecture or Japan" as
pledged by his ruling Democratic Party of Japan in its manifesto.

However, Japan and the United States have already reached an
intergovernmental agreement to relocate the heliport functions of
Futenma airfield to Henoko in the island prefecture's northern
coastal city of Nago by 2014. To that end, the government will
presumably have to start the construction of an alternative base
there during the next fiscal year. The U.S. government is also
likely to call on the Hatoyama government to accept the agreement.

7) Okada aiming to reach conclusion later this year on Futenma
relocation

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Abridged)
October 18, 2009

Foreign Minister Okada yesterday underscored his intention to reach
a conclusion by the end of this year on the pending issue of
relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan,
Okinawa Prefecture. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hatoyama implied his
intent to postpone making a final decision on the issue. "The
question is whether to earmark it in the fiscal 2010 budget, so I'm
expecting to decide by the end of this year," Okada told a press
conference held yesterday in the city of Tsu, Mie Prefecture. Asked
about Hatoyama's remarks, however, Okada went no further than to
comment that Hatoyama meant to say it would be better to proceed
with the matter in a cautious manner.

8) Government considering allowing refueling vessel to serve on
antipiracy mission

TOKYO 00002399 005 OF 010

SANKEI (Top play) (Excerpts)
October 19, 2009

Given the likelihood that the Maritime Self-Defense Force's supply
vessel is likely to be withdrawn from the Indian Ocean, the
government is looking into the option of allowing the ship to
provide fuel to foreign vessels engaged in antipiracy operations off
Somalia. Many U.S. and European naval vessels that were engaged in
antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean are now combating
piracy off Somalia. The view is prevalent in the Japanese government
that refueling services off Somalia can be a new means to contribute
to the international community, making up for the termination of the
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. If the government can obtain
the understanding of the Social Democratic Party, which is reluctant
to send the Self-Defense Forces on overseas missions, the United
States and European countries, this might emerge as a strong option
for replacing the refueling mission.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has repeatedly indicated that the
government will not simply extend the refueling mission in the
Indian Ocean. The government is considering providing civilian
support to Afghanistan to replace the refueling mission. Whether
Tokyo can obtain the understanding of Washington, which expects
contribution in personnel, with the Somalia piracy plan alone
remains to be seen.

9) U.S. Department of State hopes Japan will continue assistance to
Afghanistan

SANKEI (Page 8) (Full)
October 17, 2009

The Hatoyama administration is now coordinating views with the
possibility of withdrawing Maritime Self-Defense Force personnel
from their refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Referring to this,
U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesman Wood at a press conference on
Oct. 15 said, "What Japan does in the future is up to Japan to work
out." However, he continued, "We hope that Japan will find a way to
continue to assist the ongoing operations in Afghanistan." Wood
highly praised Japan's refueling operation, saying, "It was a very
important contribution. We are deeply grateful."

10) LDP to submit refueling bill, other legislation at upcoming
extra Diet session

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 19, 2009

Appearing on a NHK talk show yesterday, the main opposition Liberal
Democratic Party's Diet Affairs Committee Chairman Jiro Kawasaki
said the LDP will submit a special measures bill designed to
facilitate cargo inspections of ships going in and out of North
Korea, as well as a bill to continue the Maritime-Self Defense Force
refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, at the upcoming extraordinary
Diet session, to be convened on Oct. 26. He also said on the TV talk
show, "Although we will discuss the matter with the New Komeito, we
will submit the bills as lawmaker-initiated legislation to the
Diet."

11) U.S. concern about East Asian Community initiative groundless,
says foreign minister

TOKYO 00002399 006 OF 010

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
October 17, 2009

Referring to U.S. concern about Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's
Initiative for an East Asian Community, Foreign Minister Katsuya
Okada at a press conference on Oct. 16 said, "(The U.S. concern) is
groundless. It is an overreaction to worry about it at this stage."
He also took the view that it is not necessary to rush to come up
with the specifics of the initiative, noting, "It is a vision for
the future. There is no need to make it concrete in the beginning."

12) FM Okada indicates willingness to discuss no-first-use of
nuclear weapons with U.S., implying government's policy switch

NIKKEI (Page 3) (Full)
October 19, 2009

In a speech presented in Kyoto yesterday, Foreign Minister Katsuya
Okada said: "I hope Japan and the U.S. will thoroughly discuss the
issue of no-first-use of nuclear weapons," on the premise that the
International Commission on Nuclear Nonproliferation and
Disarmament, an expert panel, will compile a report by the end of
the year. Okada said that the report is now likely to include the
policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons. He emphasized: "We would
like to respect the policy and to make it the government's policy."

Okada pointed out: "The government has so far asked the U.S. to
refrain from referring to the policy (of no-first-use of nuclear
weapons) because of a possible weakening of (the U.S.') nuclear
deterrence capability." He then remarked: "We cannot rule out the
policy of no-first-use of nuclear weapons as a major policy
direction of the government," indicating a possibility that the
government would revise its policy.

13) U.S. Defense Secretary Gates to arrive in Japan tomorrow; might
accept moving planned runways further offshore without making change
to Futenma relocation site

SANKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
October 19, 2009

Takashi Arimoto, Washington

A U.S. government official underscored to the Sankei Shimbun on Oct.
17 that the governments of Japan and the United States have settled
on the coastal area of Camp Schwab as the relocation site for the
U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station (in Ginowan, Okinawa
Prefecture) after many years of talks between the two sides. The
official reiterated the U.S. view that it cannot accept a plan that
has emerged in Japan to integrate the functions of Futenma Air
Station into Kadena Air Base.

At the same time, the official indicated that if the Hatoyama
administration accepts the relocation of Futenma to the coastal area
of Camp Schwab in Okinawa, Washington is ready to consider Okinawa's
call for moving the envisaged runways further offshore than the
planned site. The officially was apparently putting pressure on the
Japanese government to accept the existing replacement site by
exhibiting a flexible stance about making a change to the planned
construction site for the runways ahead of Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates' visit to Japan on Oct. 20.

TOKYO 00002399 007 OF 010

Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has been calling for the planned
runways be moved further offshore than the planned site in the
Henoko district. The official indicated that the U.S. government
would accept moving the (runways) 50 meters or so, saying, "It is a
matter that concerns the Japanese government and Okinawa, and if
there is a formal request from the Japanese side, we will look into
it."

Secretary Gates is scheduled to stay in Japan until Oct. 21. In his
talks with Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, Secretary Gates is
expected to tell his Japanese counterpart that the Futenma
relocation was agreed upon not between two political parties but
between the governments of Japan and the United States after
explaining the status of progress on the U.S. side for the
realignment of U.S forces in Japan.

14) Top U.S. brass to visit Japan

NIKKEI (Page 9) (Full)
October 17, 2009

Sachiko Deshimaru

WASHINGTON-Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mullen, who tops the
United States' armed services, will visit Japan next weekend,
sources said Oct. 15. Mullen is expected to visit Japan after
Secretary of Defense Gates's planned visit to Japan from Oct. 20.
Mullen will meet with Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa and others,
and he is expected to discuss such issues as the realignment of U.S.
forces in Japan and the North Korean situation. He will also convey
his gratitude to his Japanese counterparts for the Maritime
Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in the Indian Ocean,
Japanese and U.S. government officials revealed.

15) Okada says gov't to review SOFA next year

YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full)
October 17, 2009

Foreign Minister Okada met yesterday with Kanagawa Gov. Shigefumi
Matsuzawa at the Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, they
discussed the issue of revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces
Agreement, or SOFA for short. "It's an issue we are going to address
next year," Okada told Matsuzawa. The ruling Democratic Party of
Japan, in its manifesto, pledged to revise SOFA provisions.

16) Poll: Cabinet support at 72 PERCENT

MAINICHI (Page 1) (Abridged)
October 19, 2009

The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a nationwide public opinion survey
regarding the Hatoyama cabinet, which has now been in office for a
month since taking the reins of government The Hatoyama cabinet's
support rate was 72 PERCENT , remaining high despite a drop of 5
points from the last survey conducted Sept. 16-17 shortly after its
debut. The nonsupport rate was 17 PERCENT . Among those who support
the now-ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), 99 PERCENT
supported the Hatoyama cabinet. In addition, 57 PERCENT of those
with no particular party affiliation and 39 PERCENT of those who
support the now-opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) supported

TOKYO 00002399 008 OF 010

the Hatoyama cabinet.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ
stood at 40 PERCENT , down 5 points from the last survey. The LDP
was at 14 PERCENT , inching up from its record low of 12 PERCENT in
the last survey. Asked about the desirable framework of government
after next summer's election for the House of Councillors,
respondents were split, with 36 PERCENT choosing the DPJ's
single-party government and 32 PERCENT preferring the current
DPJ-led coalition with the Social Democratic Party and the People's
New Party.

17) Poll: 53 PERCENT see discord in coalition gov't over security
issues, Japan-U.S. relations

YOMIURI (Top play) (Abridged)
October 18, 2009

The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a face-to-face nationwide public
opinion survey on Oct. 10-11. In the survey, a total of 53 PERCENT ,
or more than half the respondents, answered "no" when asked if they
thought the tripartite coalition government led by Prime Minister
Hatoyama and comprising the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) and its
two coalition partners, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the
People's New Party (PNP), was functioning well. "Yes" accounted for
only 33 PERCENT . Respondents were also asked what issues they
thought were dividing the three ruling parties. To this question, 21
PERCENT chose "security," topping all other choices. Among other
choices, "Japan-U.S. relations" accounted for 18 PERCENT , followed
by "an overhaul of postal privatization" at 15 PERCENT and "a
fiscal turnaround" at 11 PERCENT .

It has now been about a month since the new DPJ-led government came
into office. The SDP has been strongly calling for a review of the
current plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station
in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. Meanwhile, the PNP has insisted on
overhauling postal privatization and has called for introducing a
loan moratorium system for the sake of small businesses. The public
apparently saw such developments as indicating disharmony within the
coalition government.

18) Poll: Cabinet support remains over 70 PERCENT

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Abridged)
October 19, 2009

The rate of public support for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his
cabinet remained high at 73 PERCENT in the latest public opinion
survey jointly conducted by the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and TV Tokyo on
Oct. 16-18, though the figure was down 2 percentage points from the
last survey conducted in September right after the Hatoyama
cabinet's inauguration. The nonsupport rate rose 4 points to 21
PERCENT . In the survey, respondents were also asked if they
approved of the Hatoyama cabinet's job performance. To this
question, "yes" accounted for 61 PERCENT , the highest level among
recent cabinets.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the ruling
Democratic Party of Japan stood at 55 PERCENT , down 3 points from
the last survey. The opposition Liberal Democratic Party dropped 1
point to 21 PERCENT .

TOKYO 00002399 009 OF 010

The Hatoyama cabinet's approval rating was over 60 PERCENT among
all generations. The highest figure came from those in their 30s,
reaching 81 PERCENT . By gender, the Hatoyama cabinet's support rate
was 75 PERCENT among male respondents and 71 PERCENT among female
respondents. Among DPJ supporters, the Hatoyama cabinet's support
rate was 96 PERCENT . Also, a third of those supporting the LDP
supported the Hatoyama cabinet.

Polling methodology: The survey was taken by Nikkei Research Inc.
over the telephone on a random digit dialing (RDD) basis. For the
survey, samples were chosen from among men and women aged 20 and
over across the nation. A total of 1,553 households with one or more
eligible voters were sampled, and answers were obtained from 1,008
persons (64.9 PERCENT ).

19) Poll: Hatoyama cabinet's support rate at 60.6 PERCENT , 3rd
highest ever

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Abridged)
October 17, 2009

The public approval rating for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his
cabinet marked 60.6 PERCENT in a public opinion survey conducted by
Jiji Press on Oct. 9-10. The disapproval rating was 15.6 PERCENT .
It was the first Jiji Press poll for the Hatoyama cabinet since
coming into office. The Hatoyama cabinet's support rate upon its
inauguration scored the third highest percentage among its
predecessors ever since the Ikeda cabinet was launched in July 1960,
following the Koizumi cabinet at 72.8 PERCENT in a survey conducted
in May 2001 and the Hosokawa cabinet at 62.9 PERCENT in a survey
conducted in August 1993. The figure apparently reflects the
public's expectations for the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto
that pledged such policies as breaking away from dependence on
bureaucrats.

The survey was conducted across the nation on a face-to-face basis,
with a total of 2,000 persons chosen from among men and women aged
20 and over. The response rate was 67.4 PERCENT .

20) Eight ambassadors ask justice minister to sign Hague Convention

MAINICHI (Page 28) (Slightly abridged)
October 17, 2009

Junichi Ishikawa

U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos and the ambassadors of seven
other countries visited Justice Minister Keiko Chiba at the Ministry
of Justice on Oct. 16 and asked that Japan sign the Hague Convention
on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

The eight ambassadors issued a joint statement after the meeting,
saying: "Parents whose children have been taken away to Japan have
no hope of reclaiming their children, making it extremely difficult
to exercise parental rights. It is important to find a concrete
solution. We will cooperate positively with the new administration."
At a news conference held after the cabinet meeting on the same day,
Chiba said: "I am aware that there are international opinions on
this issue. We will deal with this based on the overall trend."

The Hague Convention stipulates that when the parent whose children
have been taken away applies to reclaim his or her children, the

TOKYO 00002399 010 OF 010

government of the country where the children have been taken is
obliged to cooperate in returning them to the original country of
residence. Japan and Russia are the only G-8 countries that are not
signatories to the Convention.

21) Japan's membership in the Hague Convention to take two years at
the least

YOMIURI (Page 1) (Slightly abridged)
October 18, 2009

It was learned that while the government plans to speed up efforts
to sign the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International
Child Abduction setting the rules for settling disputes arising from
international marriages, the submission of the related bills to the
Diet, which will be the prerequisite for membership in the
Convention, will not take place until 2011.

The Hague Convention stipulates that if one parent in a failed
international marriage takes the children to his or her home country
without the other parent's consent, the children will be returned to
their original country of residence.

One reason why Japan is hesitant to sign the convention is because
many cases in which Japanese mothers bring their children back to
Japan involve domestic violence by the ex-husband.

However, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has announced that steps
will be taken promptly to study signing the convention. On Oct. 16
U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos and the ambassadors and ministers
of seven other countries asked Justice Minister Keiko Chiba to sign
the convention at an early date. With rising pressure from the
international community, there is now increasing momentum in favor
of signing the convention.

However, legislation of the required domestic laws will take time.
Signatories to the convention are obliged to locate the children and
return them to their countries of residence in cases where they have
been taken away. Specifically, a "central authority" of the
government will serve as the point of contact for receiving
complaints from parents whose children have been taken away, and if
the courts rule that the children should be returned, the offending
parents will be ordered to return the children.

For this reason, the National Government Organization Law will have
to be amended and new special laws will also have to be legislated
to authorize the courts to issue orders to return children. The
Justice Ministry's Legislative Council has advised that
"deliberations will take one year," according to a senior ministry
official. Therefore, the submission of the related bills to the
Diet, which will be the prerequisite for signing the Hague
Convention, can only take place at the regular Diet session in 2011
at the earliest, and it is likely that Diet approval may take even
longer.

ROOS

© Scoop Media