Cablegate: Daily Summary of Japanese Press 11/02/09

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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.

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TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO PGOV PINR ECON ELAB JA

SUBJECT: DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 11/02/09

INDEX:

(1) Discord in Hatoyama cabinet on Futenma relocation (Mainichi)

(2) Editorial: Fatigue of foreign minister who is obsessed with

Kadena is worrying (Nikkei)

(3) Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye: Major change might wreck

progress in negotiations on Futenma relocation (Sankei)

(4) Investigative authorities suspect dependents of U.S. service

members at Yokota Air Base involved in motorcycle accident (Sankei)

(5) Scramble for lithium in South America: Sharp increase in demand

for raw materials for batteries for cell phones, eco-cars (Asahi)

(6) Poll on the Constitution of Japan (Mainichi)

(7) Poll on reading (Yomiuri)

ARTICLES:

(1) Discord in Hatoyama cabinet on Futenma relocation

MAINICHI (Pages 1, 3) (Full)

November 2, 2009

Thirteen years after the agreement on the return of the U.S. forces'

Futenma Air Station, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa is rushing

the relocation to the coastal area of Camp Schwab in line with the

Japan-U.S. agreement; Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada has shifted

gear to advocating a plan to merge Futenma with Kadena Air Base; and

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is taking a long-term view, saying, "I

will be the one to make the final decision." This article looks at

Hatoyama cabinet members' conflicting motives for their stances on

U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) realignment issues.

During his flight aboard the government plane to Thailand to attend

the ASEAN summit meetings on the evening of Oct. 23, Hatoyama called

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirofumi Hirano on his cell phone and told

him: "Messrs. Okada and Kitazawa are both working very hard on this

issue. I would like to watch how things unfold. You should do the

same."

Before he left for his trip, Okada had negated the Japan-U.S.

agreement of 2006 on the relocation of the Futenma base (in Ginowan

City, Okinawa) to the coastal area of Camp Schwab (in Henoko, Nago

City) where V-shape runways would be built and proposed the merger

of Futenma with Kadena Air Base, a plan that was once examined and

rejected by the two governments. His differences with Kitazawa, who

favors carrying out the agreed plan, came into the open, and there

has been increasing criticism of the "discord" inside the cabinet.

During his visit to Japan, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on

Oct. 20 pressed for the implementation of the existing plan and

asked for a decision before U.S. President Barack Obama's visit from

Nov. 12. This inflamed the Futenma issue. During the recent House of

Representatives election the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) had

pledged the relocation of the Futenma base out of Okinawa, so this

caused the Hatoyama administration to scramble to find ways to

reconcile the current Futenma relocation plan with its election

TOKYO 00002532 002 OF 014

pledge, resulting in discrepancies in the ministers' response.

Yet, Hatoyama appeared unruffled by U.S. "pressure" and the upheaval

inside the cabinet. In contrast to Kitazawa, who wants a conclusion

by President Obama's visit, and Okada, who is aiming at a solution

before year end, he is sticking to his position of deferring a

decision until after the Nago mayoral election in January.

Hatoyama's aides explain what is on the mind of the Prime Minister

-- who does not prohibit his ministers from making various

statements in the name of upholding politician-led decision-making

and insists that "I will be the one to make the final decision" --

as follows: "If he submits to the U.S.'s dictate, it would amount to

following apting the Liberal Democratic Party administration's

policy of following the U.S. blindly" (remarks at the House of

Councillors plenary session on Oct. 30). It is apparent that he is

using this issue as a litmus test of "departure" from the "diplomacy

of subservience to the U.S."

Hatoyama has adopted a noncompliant attitude toward the U.S.

However, his own words and actions are partly responsible for the

confusion.

On July 21, the day the Lower House was dissolved, the DPJ's Seiji

Maehara (currently minister of land, infrastructure, transport, and

tourism) and Akihisa Nagashima (currently parliamentary secretary of

defense) called out to Hatoyama in the Diet and asked him: "What do

you intend to do?" Hatoyama had just stated in Okinawa City two days

earlier that he will "take action to at least relocate (the Futenma

base) out of Okinawa." Maehara and Nagashima, who have strong

connections with the U.S., became seriously concerned.

Relocation out of Okinawa was a policy included in the DPJ's Okinawa

Vision compiled in July 2008. In June, Maehara, who visited the U.S.

with Koichi Takemasa (currently senior vice minister of foreign

affairs) and the author of draft of the Okinawa Vision, had met with

former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (currently

assistant secretary of state) Kurt Campbell - who was a negotiator

for the agreement on Futenma's return and later called for revising

the Camp Schwab relocation plan -- and other U.S. officials. Maehara

came back convinced that "the Futenma issue can be renegotiated from

scratch under an Obama administration."

However, after the Obama administration was launched in January

2009, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that it will carry on

with the existing plan. Maehara's and others' prediction was off

the mark, so the manifesto for the Lower House election regressed to

an abstract expression that the DPJ will "deal with the issues of

U.S. military bases in Japan in the direction of a review."

Nevertheless, Hatoyama's statement is still regarded as a pledge in

Okinawa even today, so he is not in a position to simply betray

Okinawa's expectations.

Okada's proposal on Futenma-Kadena merger is an attempt to strike a

balance between giving up on relocation out of Okinawa and reducing

the burden on Okinawa.

At his meeting with USFJ Commander Edward Rice and U.S. Ambassador

John Roos at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Oct. 29,

Okada stressed: "A change of administration has taken place in

Japan. It will not do to ask us to proceed as promised (by the

previous administration)." However, the U.S. side indicated

TOKYO 00002532 003 OF 014

repeatedly that the merger plan proposed by Okada "is not possible"

for the following reasons: (1) this will undermine the capacity to

respond to contingencies; and (2) the presence of Marines mainly

comprising helicopter units on a base where the Air Force's fighters

are permanently deployed will undermine base functions.

The Kadena merger plan was considered twice in the past: first in

1996 at the Japan-U.S. Special Action Committee on Okinawa (SACO) as

a proposal to downsize bases in Okinawa. It was rejected, with an

agreement being reached on constructing a removable replacement

facility offshore. However, this facility was changed to an airport

for joint military and civilian use with a 2,000-meter runway under

the basic relocation plan of 2002.

Subsequently the basic plan became deadlocked, so the U.S. side

presented various proposals for revising the original plan from 2003

onward, including the Kadena merger plan. At that time, the Defense

Agency considered a proposal to construct heliports in the Kadena

ammunition depot area, while MOFA endorsed a proposal to downsize

the plan to reclaim land in waters off Henoko (the "Nago light"

proposal), but these proposals faded out.

In the end, the Defense Agency pressed for the plan to relocate the

heliport to the coastal area of Camp Schwab as a compromise, but in

the bilateral agreement reached in May 2006, the plan was further

transformed into a massive public work project with two runways.

Nagashima and others who are familiar with the process led by the

LDP held study meetings in the DPJ on this issue and suggested the

Kadena merger plan to Okada, who was then DPJ secretary general, in

July, before the Lower House election. Okada regarded this as a

"realistic plan" that will reduce the cost and time required for

Futenma's return by utilizing existing base facilities.

After Okada became foreign minister, he conveyed his doubts to

senior MOFA bureaucrats that "spending 400 billion yen (in

construction cost) to reclaim that sea area just doesn't make sense

to me" and instructed them to re-examine the process that led to the

agreement.

While like the Prime Minister, Kitazawa's focus is on Okinawa, the

Ministry of Defense (MOD), which serves as the communication channel

with Okinawa, faces some unique problems.

On Oct. 28, Tsuyoshi Gibu, mayor of the town of Kin, who has been

involved with the Futenma relocation issue for many years as the

leader of a municipality adjacent to Nago City, told Hirano at the

Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) on Oct. 28: "Prime

Minister Hatoyama is saying that he will make a decision after

looking at the outcome of the election, but we want him not to make

a decision in a way that will sharply split the people of Okinawa."

To the local governments in Okinawa, which were once forced to make

a bitter decision to accept Futenma's relocation within the

prefecture, the government's zigzagging is perceived as an act of

betrayal. The Prime Minister's statement that he will gauge the will

of the people of Okinawa through the outcome of the Nago mayor

election in January has given rise to suspicions that he is

"shifting the responsibility (onto Okinawa) again." The MOD, which

is at the forefront of negotiations with the local communities, is

increasingly critical of the Prime Minister. A senior MOD official

said, "His sense as a politician is questionable."

TOKYO 00002532 004 OF 014

Kitazawa's position on seeking a solution in line with the existing

plan reflects the mood in the MOD. On Oct. 17, he dispatched

Director General Genzo Inoue of the Bureau of Local Cooperation to

inspect the Kadena ammunition depot, the Shimoji island airfield,

and other sites that were once proposed as relocation sites, showing

his intention to look for alternative plans. However, he concluded

in all cases that relocation will be "difficult." There is also an

opinion that the exercise was for the purpose of persuading Okada,

who still insists on the Kadena merger plan.

Kitazawa stated at the interpellation at the House of Councillors

plenary session on Oct. 30: "Politics that takes the popular will

lightly will face the retaliation of popular will."

Hatoyama does not rule out the possibility of relocation out of

Okinawa; Okada is working for Futenma's merger with the Kadena base;

and Kitazawa accepts relocation to Henoko. All three attach

importance to reducing the burden on Okinawa, but they all differ in

their perception of popular will.

On his part, Gibu expresses his frustration: "While they will indeed

spend time examining various plans, is the acceptance of the current

plan their actual intention in the end?" If the Okinawans are

betrayed after their expectations for relocation out of Okinawa are

raised by the administration, the Hatoyama administration will face

a backlash.

President Obama will be visiting Japan in 10 days. The Prime

Minister keeps saying "there is no need to come up with a conclusion

before the visit." How does he propose to integrate the complex and

interconnected factors of demonstrating a change from the previous

LDP-New Komeito administration, build a "close and equal Japan-U.S.

alliance," and show sympathy for Okinawa all at one fell swoop? The

leadership of the Prime Minister, who has decided to adopt a

wait-and-see attitude, will be put to test on various occasions from

now on.

(2) Editorial: Fatigue of foreign minister who is obsessed with

Kadena is worrying

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)

November 1, 2009

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada seems a little tired. We are worried

about him.

He wants to visit the United States armed with a plan to integrate

Futenma Air Station, a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter base, with

Kadena Air Base. But if he meets Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

without carrying out prior coordination in the cabinet and local

governments, he will be told to organize opinions in Japan first.

Shortly after assuming office, Foreign Minister Okada flew to New

York and met with his counterparts from other countries on the

sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Soon after returning to Japan,

the foreign minister made a tour of South Korea, China, Afghanistan,

Pakistan, and Indonesia. He must have done his homework in

preparation for the extraordinary Diet session as well.

Okada is 56 years old, which is not young. He apparently cannot get

over his exhaustion from this summer's House of Representatives

election. His remarks on the Futenma issue particularly have given

TOKYO 00002532 005 OF 014

us the impression that the foreign minister has not had enough time

to rest his body and mind.

The foreign minister is obsessed with the Kadena merger plan, while

Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa's thinking is close to what was

agreed upon between Japan and the United States. But both want to

reach a conclusion swiftly. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama

has not mentioned any specific options. He has indicated that he

will take his time to reach a conclusion.

Differing views among the Prime Minister, foreign minister, and

defense minister have undermined trust in Japan's foreign policy and

the Hatoyama administration.

The foreign minister's stance on the Kadena plan remains unclear. To

Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, he explained that it was his

"personal idea." Asked by a Liberal Democratic Party member during a

House of Councillors plenary session, he replied that he made the

"statement in his capacity as foreign minister." Those responses

seem haphazard and are uncharacteristic of Okada, who attaches

importance to logic.

The Kadena plan, which does not require the construction of a new

base, seems highly feasible. But there is a solid reason why the

option, once studied more than 10 years ago, was not adopted.

The U.S. military pointed out the operational difficulty in allowing

fixed-wing aircraft, such as fighters, and rotary-wing helicopters

to take off and land on the same base. Kadena and other

municipalities opposed the option, saying that they would be forced

to bear a greater burden, including noise.

Okada must have learned of those developments from U.S. Forces Japan

Commander Lt. Gen. Edward Rice and Nakaima.

The foreign minister is examining the process of past negotiations

between Japan and the United States. He should take a firsthand look

at the sites in question before reading documents and thinking with

his head. We want to see Okada visit Futenma, Kadena, and Henoko,

listen to the opinions of persons concerned, and think about the

matter with an open mind before rushing to visit the United States.

The Prime Minister has said that the foreign minister should not

have commented on the Emperor's "words" at the opening ceremonies of

Diet sessions. Okada is naturally humble and careful. We think he

made this comment that drew criticism from the Prime Minister

because of his fatigue, which he might not be aware of. If this is

not the case, the situation will become more serious.

(3) Harvard University Prof. Joseph Nye: Major change might wreck

progress in negotiations on Futenma relocation

SANKEI (Page 3) (Full)

October 31, 2009

Takashi Arimoto, Washington

Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye on Oct. 30 said in a strong

tone of voice to the Sankei Shimbun that the Japanese government

should accept the existing plan to relocate the U.S. Marine Corps'

Futenma Air Station to a coastal area of Camp Schwab, citing there

is a risk that Tokyo's call for making significant changes to the

TOKYO 00002532 006 OF 014

Futenma relocation plan will wreck the progress made in negotiations

between the two countries.

At a U.S. congressional hearing in June before the inauguration of

the Hatoyama administration, Nye predicted that friction would occur

in the Japan-U.S. alliance.

"When a new government is inaugurated by a political party that

advocates the need for a change in the election, it is unavoidable

that a certain amount of friction will occur. I don't think the

current friction is any greater than I imagined," said Nye. He

warned: "There is a possibility that if the Japanese government

seeks a perfect solution to the Futenma base, it will regard a good

solution as an enemy. There is a risk that Japan's call for a major

change will spoil all the efforts made by the two countries up until

now."

Nye pointed out that the Futenma issue has continued since he served

as assistant secretary of defense (from 1994 to 1995) when President

Bill Clinton was in office.

"I don't want to see the United States and Japan spending another 14

years on this issue. It would be best to remove the Futenma issue

from the agenda between the two countries by compromising on the

existing agreement," said Nye.

In reference to the fact that Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has made

it clear that he plans to move forward in reexamining the Japan-U.S.

alliance given that next year marks the 50th anniversary of the

revision of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Nye said: "The security

treaty has become the foundation for stability in East Asia. It can

be said that next year will be a year to reconfirm the importance of

Japan-U.S security arrangements."

Moreover, he noted that the present situation is similar to the year

of 1996 when former President Clinton and former Prime Minister

Ryutaro Hashimoto signed the Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on

Security. "There was economic friction at that time. Even if there

are differences, the security treaty will benefit the two countries.

In addition to North Korea, China, which has been gaining economic

strength, is also Japan's neighbor. Therefore, Japan's alliance with

the United States is a realistic approach. I hope that a new

declaration will be issued."

(4) Investigative authorities suspect dependents of U.S. service

members at Yokota Air Base involved in motorcycle accident

SANKEI (Page 23) (Full)

October 31, 2009

In an investigation into an incident in August in which a female

rider was seriously injured after falling off her motorcycle in

Musashimurayama City, Tokyo, police now suspect that several

dependents of U.S. military personnel at U.S. Yokota Air Base -

located near the site of the incident - were involved in the

incident. The Sankei Shimbun obtained this information in an

interview with investigative authorities yesterday. The police began

to suspect this possibility based on eyewitness testimonies and

images taken by security cameras. The Second Organized Crime Section

of the National Police Department (MPD) is stepping up its efforts

to search for evidence in the case.

TOKYO 00002532 007 OF 014

According to the MPD, a female company employee, 23, fell off her

motorcycle after running into a rope strung across the street, and

fractured her skull at around 11:30 p.m. on August 13.

The synthetic fiber rope was strung across the street between a

pillar in front of the entrance of a warehouse of a trucking company

and an electric pole. The rope is usually strung between two poles

in front of the entrance of the warehouse with the aim of keeping

all unauthorized automobiles out.

When a patrol car passed along the street at around 11:10 p.m., the

rope was not strung across the street. Police believe that the rope

was tied there during a period of about 20 minutes between 11:10

p.m. and 11:30 p.m. when the accident took place.

The NPD believes that the accident was caused as a result of

malicious mischief, and is investigating the incident as an

attempted murder case. According to the investigative authorities,

when one car arrived at the scene just after the incident, young

foreigners stood in its way and prevented it from passing through.

The driver of the car said he saw a motorcycle lying on the ground

behind the foreigners at that time.

The injured woman also said: "I saw foreigners." Furthermore, a

security camera recorded a suspicious young foreigner passing an

area near the site of the incident on a bicycle just before the

accident.

The police have yet to obtain evidence that identifies the

offenders, such as fingerprints. But as a result of the analysis of

the images taken by cameras, the NPD has come to suspect that

several dependents of U.S. service members were involved in the

incident.

Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which stipulates

the legal status of U.S. military personnel in Japan, family members

of military personnel are placed outside the reach of the agreement.

Given this, observers take the view that there should be no obstacle

for the Japanese side to carry out the necessary penal procedures.

(5) Scramble for lithium in South America: Sharp increase in demand

for raw materials for batteries for cell phones, eco-cars

ASAHI (Page 7) (Excerpts)

November 1, 2009

Toshihiko Katsuta, Atakama Salt Lake, Chile

Demand for lithium as a material for rechargeable batteries for PCs,

cell-phones and electric cars is on the sharp rise. There is a

fierce scramble for the material in South America, which reportedly

has 80 percent of lithium reserves. Japan, which is one of the

largest battery-producing countries, is frantic about securing the

material. I visited lithium-production sites in Chile.

Eighty percent of the world's lithium reserves lying at bottom of

salt lake

The area of Atakama Salt Lake is roughly 3,000 square kilometers,

which is equivalent to the area of the sand dunes in Tottori

Prefecture. Although it is called a salt lake, only scattered parts

are covered with water. Most of the lake is covered with sandy

TOKYO 00002532 008 OF 014

pieces of rock salt.

Lithium lies more than 10 meters beneath the lake bed. I learned

that snowmelt from the Andes penetrates the layers of rock salt and

melts lithium salt as it seeps to the lake bottom.

SQM, a leading Chilean company operating at the lake, draws water

from about 200 wells. The water is kept in dozens of evaporation

ponds, each as big as a soccer ground. The water is left in the

ponds for about 10 months for solar evaporation. As the

concentration of lithium in the water becomes high, the water

becomes increasingly yellowish.

Japan desperate to secure stable supply

Competition to secure lithium has already started. Lithium-ion cells

manufactured by Japanese companies command nearly 50 percent of the

global production. Japan relies on imported lithium. The greatest

supplier is Chile. Most of Chile's lithium is produced at Atakama

Salt Lake. A number of business people from Japanese companies have

visited SQM.

At present South America produces 50 percent of the world's lithium.

There are Uyuni Salt Lake (Bolivia), and Rincon Salt Lake

(Argentine) in the region bordering Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. It

is said that the three salt lakes alone account for 80 percent of

Lithium reserves in the world, if those that cannot be developed are

included.

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), an

independent administrative agency, and Sumitomo Corporation have

begun talks with the Bolivian government on the development of

lithium at Uyuni Salt Lake.

Bolivians remember that Spain, its former colonial master, once

exploited their silver reserves. As such, although they are

appreciative of Japan's offers for technological cooperation and

financial assistance, they are negative toward the idea of

conducting joint development, insisting they want to develop lithium

on their own. A JOBMEC executive said, "Bolivia is protective."

South Korea, the largest lithium-cell producer next to Japan, and

France are also interested in Uyuni Salt Lake.

Korea Resources Corporation President Kim Shin Jong said during an

interview given to the Chonsun Ilbo, "We will go abroad and win the

future battle for lithium by all means."

(6) Poll on the Constitution of Japan

MAINICHI (Page 11) (Full)

November 1, 2009

Questions & Answers

(T = total; P = previous; M = male; F = female)

Q: Are you interested in debate on amending the Constitution?

T P M F

Very interested 14 19 9

Somewhat interested 52 51 54

Not very interested 26 23 28

TOKYO 00002532 009 OF 014

Not interested at all 7 6 8

Q: Do you approve of amending the Constitution?

T P M F

Yes 58 62 55

No 32 32 32

Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question)

Why?

T P M F

Because the present Constitution is not appropriate for the times 54

55 52

Because the present Constitution was imposed by the U.S. 10 12 9

Because the present Constitution has never been amended since its

enactment 22 17 27

Because there is a gap between the Self-Defense Forces' activities

and Constitution Article 9 9 13 6

Because the present Constitution honors individual rights

excessively 3 2 3

Q: (Only for those who answered "yes" to the foregoing question) How

do you think the Constitution should be amended? (Up to three)

T P M F

Rewrite the Constitution into Japanese language that is easy to

understand because its current wording sounds like translatese 36

33 38

Define the Self-Defense Forces clearly 37 43 30

Allow Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense 13 20

7

Review the Emperor-as-a-symbol system 9 9 9

Abolish the Diet's bicameral system and adopt a unicameral

legislature 15 17 14

Introduce a direct vote for the people to elect the prime minister

42 40 44

Expand decentralization even more 32 36 27

Create new rights for the people 22 18 26

Incorporate new obligations for the people 14 14 14

Ease requirements for amending the Constitution 14 14 15

Q: (Only for those who answered "no" to the foregoing question)

Why?

T P M F

Because the present Constitution is appropriate for the times 8 9

7

Because there is no definite reason to amend the present

Constitution 32 36 29

Because Constitution Article 9 might be amended 36 34 38

Because individual rights might be restricted or individual

obligations might be stipulated 5 5 5

Because it can't be said that the public and political parties have

conducted thorough discussions 17 15 19

Q: Constitution Article 9 stipulates Japan's renunciation of war in

its first paragraph and Japan's not maintaining a military in its

second paragraph. What do you think about amending Article 9?

T P M F

It should be amended in some way 48 55 42

TOKYO 00002532 010 OF 014

It should not be amended at all 43 40 46

Q: (Only for those who answered "it should be amended in some way")

How do you think should be amended?

T P M F

Amend only the first paragraph that stipulates Japan's renunciation

of war 9 10 9

Amend only the second paragraph that stipulates Japan's not

maintaining a military 26 32 20

Amend both paragraphs 17 19 13

Add a new clause 44 37 53

Q: Do you like America as a country?

T P M F

Yes 18 21 15

Yes to a certain degree 58 55 60

No to a certain degree 16 16 17

No 3 3 3

Q: How have your feelings toward America changed since President

Obama was sworn in this January?

T P M F

Like even more 17 15 19

Dislike even more 1 1 1

Unchanged 80 82 77

Q: Do you think Japan's foreign and security policies should be

oriented toward the United Nations, or do you think Japan should

prioritize cooperation with the United States?

T P M F

U.N.-oriented 76 76 76

Cooperation with the U.S. 17 20 15

Q: Japan is currently conducting Maritime Self-Defense Force's

refueling activities in the Indian Ocean for U.S. and other foreign

naval vessels in order to support the war on terror in Afghanistan.

The MSDF's refueling mission there, however, is to end in January

next year. Do you approve of extending the refueling mission?

T P M F

Yes 48 55 42

No 44 40 48

Q: The SDF's overseas activities, with the exception of its

participation in United Nations peacekeeping operations and disaster

relief operations, have been conducted under a time-limited special

measures law as in the case of its refueling mission in the Indian

Ocean and its assistance for Iraq. There is an opinion suggesting

the need to make an indefinite, permanent law that allows Japan to

send the SDF abroad as needed. Do you approve of this opinion?

T P M F

Yes 36 42 31

No 56 53 59

Q: What do you think Japan should do in terms of the SDF's overseas

activities in the future?

TOKYO 00002532 011 OF 014

T P M F

Japan should never ever send the SDF abroad 9 8 9

Japan may go so far as to participate in PKOs after a ceasefire 53

51 55

Japan may go so far as to send the SDF to a country at war to help

with its reconstruction 23 26 21

Japan may go so far as to use armed force depending on circumstances

10 13 8

Q: Japan has been making it a basic policy to maintain its three

nonnuclear principles of not producing, possessing, or allowing

nuclear weapons into the country. According to a former Foreign

Ministry bureaucrat's account, however, there was a secret deal

between Japan and the United States when the two countries revised

their security pact. This secret deal is said to have allowed U.S.

naval vessels carrying nuclear weapons to make port calls in Japan

and transit Japan's territorial waters. It is also evident from U.S.

archives. The government has maintained that there was no such

secret accord. Do you think the government should admit the

existence of that secret deal?

T P M F

Yes 60 64 55

No 32 32 33

Q: What do you think Japan should do about its three nonnuclear

principles?

T P M F

Maintain 72 70 73

Review 24 27 21

(Note) Figures shown in percentage, rounded off. "No answer"

omitted. Figures in parentheses denote the results of the last

survey conducted Sept. 16-17.

Polling methodology: The survey was conducted Sept. 11-13 across the

nation at 300 locations on a stratified two-stage random-sampling

basis. A total of 4,568 persons were chosen from among men and women

aged 20 and over (as of Sept. 30) for face-to-face interviews.

Answers were obtained from 2,615 persons (57 PERCENT ).

(7) Poll on reading

YOMIURI (Page 14) (Full)

October 25, 2009

Questions & Answers

(Figures in percentage)

Q: How many books did you read over the past month?

1 book 17

2 books 14

3 books 8

4 books 3

5 to 9 books 4

10 or more books 2

None 53

No answer (N/A) 0

Q: (Only for those who answered "none") Why? From among the reasons

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listed below choose as many as you like.

Because I had no time 51

Because there were no books that I wanted to read 21

Because I can get knowledge or information from other sources 18

Because I can live without reading books 18

Because I don't like reading books 10

Because books are expensive 2

Because I don't want to spend money buying books 3

Because health reasons prevent my reading books 16