Cablegate: Japanese Morning Press Highlights 02/01/10

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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 02/01/10

INDEX:

1) Top headlines
2) Editorials

Futenma:
3) Gov't to make final decision on relocation site (Nikkei)
4) Gregson says U.S. has no other option than to await Japan's
decision on Futenma relocation site (Yomiuri)
5) Okada defends Hirano over statement on Nago election result
(Tokyo Shimbun)
6) Oshino Village head says his community willing to accept Futenma
replacement facility (Tokyo Shimbun)
7) Fukushima says SDP will not allow base to be built in Henoko
(Nikkei)
8) Kitazawa: Nago election result complicates relocation (Yomiuri)

Foreign relations:
9) Ambassador Roos: Threats from China, North Korea remain; alliance
necessary for regional stability (Sankei)
10) Ambassador Roos: Marines withdrawal would impact effectiveness
of U.S. military (Yomiuri)
11) Ambassador Roos stresses Marines necessity (Asahi)
12) Japan, China experts fail to close gap in understanding of
history (Yomiuri)
13) NHK broadcast of news on report of bilateral history research
panel temporarily interrupted in China (Asahi)

14) Roos, other Envoys demarche foreign minister on Japan's
accession to Hague Convention (Yomiuri)
15) Okada: Weapons sales to Taiwan will not create decisive
U.S.-China confrontation (Tokyo Shimbun)

Politics:
16) Maehara hints at demand for Ozawa's resignation depending on
future developments (Yomiuri)

Secret accords:
17) Release of report on secret nuclear accords to be delayed again
(Tokyo Shimbun)

Economy:
18) Gov't urges JAL to adopt Mitsubishi Regional Jet (Nikkei)

Space:
19) Japan's manned space expedition would be difficult without U.S.
participation (Nikkei)

Opinion:
20) Mainichi poll: 76 PERCENT think Ozawa should resign if Ishikawa
indicted (Mainichi)

Articles:

1) TOP HEADLINES

Asahi:
Bill for taxpayer numbering system to be submitted next year

Mainichi:
Poll: 76 PERCENT respondents want Ozawa to resign; 50 PERCENT

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support Hatoyama cabinet

Yomiuri:
Japan, China still wide apart on perceptions of history; joint
history research committee compiles report

Nikkei:
Human resources in distribution, service industries firmly
established

Sankei:
Japan-China Joint History Research Committee releases report; major
gap evident on number of victims in Nanjing Incident

Tokyo Shimbun:
Japan, China wide apart on history perceptions; joint history
research committee report lists both up to 200,000 and more than
300,000 as number of victims of Nanjing Incident

Akahata:
JCP policy chief Koike urges senior vice finance minister to
eliminate additional clause on consumption tax hike during NHK
program

2) EDITORIALS

Asahi:
(1) Businesses must not be allowed to take advantage of the poor
(2) Export of linear motor cars: Aim at world beyond Galapagos

Mainichi:
(1) Politics and money: Face up to warning from general public
(2) FRB Chairman Bernanke needs to show solid results to restore
public distrust

Yomiuri:
(1) Issue of granting local voting rights to permanent foreign
residents must not be used in maneuvering for party interests
(2) Discussion on financial resources essential for child-rearing
support

Nikkei:
(1) Review power supply system for low-carbon society

Sankei:
(1) Japan-China Joint History Research: Gap in views on number of
victims of Nanjing Incident makes sense
(2) North Korea's firing at South Korea: Reject intimidating
demands

Tokyo Shimbun:
(1) Tax code debate: Innovative ideas essential for growth
(2) Battle against global warming: Use forests as bridge between the
South and North

Akahata:
(1) Akahata marks 82nd anniversary: Paper determined to use occasion
to explore new politics

3) Foreign Minister Okada: Government will make final decision on
Futenma relocation site

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NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
February 1, 2010

Referring on a TV Asahi program yesterday to the victory of a
candidate opposed to hosting the U.S. Futenma airfield in the recent
Nago mayoral election, Okinawa Prefecture, Foreign Minister Katsuya
Okada said: "(The Futenma issue) was a significant issue (in the
mayoral election), but that is not the only issue. While taking the
will of Nago residents into account, the government will make a
final decision from the standpoint that this is a security issue."
His remarks suggested he believes that the existing plan to move the
Futenma base to the coastal area of Camp Schwab remains an option

Okada pointed out: "It is a great mistake to discuss the Futenma
issue while regarding U.S. military facilities as nuisance
facilities."

4) U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Gregson says U.S. will wait
for PM Hatoyama's decision on Futenma relocation

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
February 1, 2010

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Wallace Gregson, who is
currently visiting Japan, met with Governor Hirokazu Nakaima in
Ginowan City, Okinawa, on Jan. 31 to discuss the relocation of the
U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. According to accounts by the
governor and other officials after the meeting, with regard to Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama's plan to arrive at a conclusion on the
relocation issue by the end of May, Gregson said: "If that is what
the Prime Minister is saying, he will probably be able to do so. All
we can do is wait."

Gregson also met with the mayors of the town of Kadena and other
local governments hosting the Kadena Air Base (KAB) on Jan. 31. With
regard to the proposal to integrate the Futenma base with the KAB,
Gregson stressed that, "The U.S. side does not favor such a plan.
The current plan that is being executed after a long process of
negotiations with the Japanese government is the best option. We
would like to proceed with this plan earnestly."

5) Foreign Minister Okada supports Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirano

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
February 1, 2010

When asked on a TV Asahi program yesterday about Chief Cabinet
Secretary Hirofumi Hirano's comment that there was no reason to take
the result of the Nago mayoral election into account, Foreign
Minister Katsuya Okada supported Hirano, noting, "His remarks went a
little too far in a way, but he also said that the will of local
residents is important. It is harsh to blame him for making that
comment alone."

Okada then said: "Since the issue is a security issue, the central
government must take responsibility for it in the end. Mr. Hirano is
of the same opinion."

6) Mayor of Oshino Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, reportedly
positive on accepting Futenma relocation

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)

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February 1, 2010

It was learned on Jan. 31 that at an informal meeting with Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Jan. 30, Mayor Yasunori Amano of Oshino
Village, Yamanashi Prefecture, where part of the Ground Self-Defense
Force Kitafuji training area is located, made remarks that could be
interpreted as an indication of his willingness to accept the
relocation of the U.S. forces' Futenma Air Station. This was
disclosed by several participants in the meeting.

The remarks were made at an exchange of views between the mayors of
Yamanashi Prefecture and the Prime Minister held in Kofu City. Amano
said to the Prime Minster during this meeting: "You seem to be
experiencing great difficulties. If this concerns the relocation of
the U.S. Marines, we would like to cooperate." Hatoyama reportedly
responded with: "I don't think it (relocation to Oshino Village)
will happen, but if the issue comes up, I would appreciate your
considering the possibility."

7) SDP leader Fukushima says SDP "will not allow" Henoko relocation

NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full)
January 31, 2010

State Minister for Consumer Affairs, Declining Birthrate Mizuho
Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), attended a
meeting held in Tokyo to oppose the relocation of the U.S. forces'
Futenma Air Station to the coastal area of Camp Schwab (in Henoko,
Nago City, Okinawa) on Jan. 30. She said: "It is impossible to build
a military base in Henoko. The SDP will not allow it."

8) Defense chief tells U.S. current Futenma relocation plan
difficult

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
January 30, 2010

Defense Minister Kitazawa met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of
Defense Gregson and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos yesterday at the
Defense Ministry and discussed the outcome of the Jan. 24 mayoral
election in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, and its repercussions in
connection with relocating Futenma airfield, a U.S. military base
located in the prefecture. This is the first time that the Japanese
government has directly explained the result of the mayoral election
in a meeting.

Kitazawa referred to the Nago mayoral race, which ended in the
election of a new mayor opposed to accepting the relocation of
Futenma airfield. "The past fortnight has been quite hard," Kitazawa
said. He explained that it will now be even more difficult to
implement the current plan to relocate the Futenma facility to
Nago's Henoko area. Gregson reiterated the United States' position
that the current plan is the best one.

9) Ambassador Roos says China, DPRK remain threats in East Asia,
Japan-U.S. alliance indispensable for regional stability

SANKEI (Page 8) (Full)
January 30, 2010

U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos gave a speech at Waseda
University in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, on Jan. 29 in which he indicated

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that China and North Korea remain threats to Japan and East Asia and
emphasized that "the Japan-U.S. alliance is indispensable for
regional stability." With regard to the relocation of the U.S.
forces' Futenma Air Station, he said that the current plan agreed
upon by the two sides in 2006 to relocate the Futenma base to the
coastal area of Henoko is the "best" option.

Discussing security in East Asia, Roos stated: "Despite the end of
the Cold War, the same level of risk (as before its end) remains."

With regard to China, Roos pointed out that while its relations with
Japan and the U.S. are deepening in the economic field, militarily,
China "has built up its cyber attack capability and is proceeding
with the introduction of the most advanced nuclear weapons and
submarines." He warned that North Korea "is the most militarized
country in the world with an armed force exceeding 1 million." He
said that a "collapse of the regime" brought about by a transition
of power in this country, which is expected in the near future, is
also a security threat.

The Ambassador also stressed that "the importance of Okinawa in
terms of defense is increasing." He stated that the current Futenma
relocation plan "is the result of a dialogue between the two
countries that lasted over a decade, and it is the best option."

10) Roos: U.S. military's effectiveness will be affected if Marines
are withdrawn from Japan

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
January 30, 2010

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos delivered a speech yesterday at Waseda
University in Tokyo, in which he said the U.S. Marine Corps
stationed at Futenma airfield and other bases in Okinawa Prefecture
is "one of the most important forces" among the U.S. forces in
Japan. "If there are no Marines in Japan, the mobility and
effectiveness of our forces in the region will be affected," Roos
said, indicating a negative view of relocating the U.S. military's
Futenma airfield overseas and substantially reducing the presence of
U.S. Marines stationed in Okinawa.

Roos cited a threat to the security environment of Japan as a reason
for the necessity of the U.S. military presence in Japan, pointing
in particular to North Korea, which has been developing nuclear
weapons, as "the most immediate concern." He noted "growing concern"
about the possibility of the North Korean regime collapsing in
connection with a power succession (from North Korea's General
Secretary Kim Jong Il).

11) Roos stresses need for Okinawa Marines

ASAHI (Page 8) (Full)
January 30, 2010

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Roos delivered a speech yesterday at Waseda
University in Tokyo, in which he emphasized the necessity of
continuing the presence of U.S. Marines in Okinawa. "If the Marines
are all withdrawn from Japan, their mobility will be impaired," Roos
said, countering calls in Japan for the transfer of the Marines to
Guam.

Roos cited China's military expansion and North Korea's nuclear and

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missile development. In this regard, he noted that the security
environment of Japan is the same as that at the time the Berlin Wall
collapsed in 1989 and is complex. He emphasized that the U.S.
military presence in Japan is at a level needed to attain regional
stability and deterrence.

Meanwhile, Roos also touched on the realignment of U.S. forces in
Japan, including the plan to relocate Futenma airfield, a U.S.
military base in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. "The Japanese and U.S.
governments have arrived at the current plan as a result of holding
discussions for over 10 years," he stressed. In addition, he also
indicated a sense of wariness about calls for reviewing Japan's
burden sharing of costs for the stationing of U.S. forces in Japan,
which is called "omoiyari yosan" ("sympathy budget").

12) Japan, China still wide apart on perceptions of history; joint
history research committee produces report

YOMIURI (Top play) (Excerpt)
February 1, 2010

The Japan-China Joint History Research Committee (Japanese chair:
University of Tokyo Prof. Shinichi Kitaoka), comprising academics
from the two countries, released a report yesterday. Views on
history, centering on the prewar period, remained wide apart, with
the Japanese side's paper saying that the number of victims in the
(1937) Nanjing Incident was no more than 200,000, while the Chinese
paper indicated that more than 300,000 were killed. The announcement
of a report on modern history since 1945 was postponed at the
request of the Chinese side. The committee intends to launch the
second phase of research by replacing some members. The project is
expected to encounter difficulties.

13) NHK's Japanese-language program in China temporarily disrupted
during report on history research

ASAHI (Page 1) (Full)
February 1, 2010

Koichi Furuya, Beijing

A program on NHK's World Premium Japanese-language channel was
disrupted for several tens of seconds in China during airing of news
on Japan-China joint history research on the night of Jan. 31. The
screen went black when images of the Tiananmen Incident were being
aired after reports on the number of people killed during the
Nanjing Incident and other matters. The screen eventually returned
to normal to show the segment of the Japanese reporter's report in
Japan.

14) Eight Hague Convention member countries urge FM to accede to
international convention on child custody

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
January 31, 2010

The ambassadors of eight countries to Japan, including U.S.
Ambassador John Roos, called on Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada at
the ministry on Jan. 30 and urged Japan to swiftly accede to the
Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child
Abduction which specifies rules on resolving disputes concerning
international marriage.

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"We must take steps toward resolving such conflicts in some way or
another," Foreign Minister Okada said. "There are differences
between the legal systems (of Japan and other countries)," Okada
also said, seeking their understanding on the fact that the Japanese
government requires some time to look into the matter.

15) Foreign Minister Okada: U.S., China will avoid decisive
confrontation over arms trade

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full)
February 1, 2010

In reference to China's strong reaction against the U.S.
government's decision to sell arms to Taiwan, Foreign Minister
Katsuya Okada said on a TV Asahi program yesterday, "This event was
within the predictable range for China. The United States and China
will not confront each other decisively over it."

With regard to the triangular relationship among Japan, the U.S. and
China, "Although the existence of China is important for Japan, the
quality of our relationship with China is different from our
relationship with the U.S., with which Japan concludes an alliance,"
stressing his stance of placing importance on Japan-U.S ties.

16) DPJ heavyweights make statements touching on Ozawa's resignation
over fund-raising scandal

YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full)
February 1, 2010

A number of influential politicians in the government and the
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) who distance themselves from DPJ
Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa made statements yesterday touching on
the need for his resignation depending on developments in the case
involving false donation statements by his fund-managing
organization, Rikuzan-kai.

Delivering a speech at a meeting of his own group in Saitama City,
former Policy Research Council chairman Yukio Edano indicated that
Ozawa should take responsibility, including resigning, if he fails
to fulfill his accountability. He said: "When the prosecutors
complete their questioning for the criminal case, he should give a
clear-cut explanation. In the event he cannot obtain public
understanding, he should take responsibility."

Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara
also said at a party meeting in Kyoto: "If the case moves into a new
phase, we must demonstrate that the party is capable of purifying
itself." He thus hinted that he would urge Ozawa to resign depending
on future developments.

Appearing on an NHK program, Senior Vice Finance Minister Yoshihiko
Noda emphasized: "Our ultimate goal is for the ruling coalition to
win the upcoming House of Councillors election and establish a
stable government. We will think about what we need to do to that
end based on the circumstances."

17) Panel to delay submission of report on secret nuclear pacts
again

TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Full)

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February 1, 2010

An expert panel of the Foreign Ministry tasked with examining
documents related to alleged four secret pacts between Japan and the
U.S. decided in its sixth meeting yesterday to give up on compiling
a report on its findings in February. The panel, chaired by Tokyo
University Professor Shinichi Kitaoka, has decided to put together a
report at an early date with the end of March as the deadline.

The late vice foreign minister Hisanari Yamada said (in 1981) that
he had acknowledged that the U.S. was not obligated to hold
consultations with Japan before U.S. military vessels carrying
nuclear weapons make stopovers in Japan or pass through Japanese
territory. Yamada was serving as vice foreign minister at the time
when the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was revised in 1960. The panel
has discovered the existence of an audio tape containing a recorded
interview in which the late bureaucrat testified on the secret pact.
The panel has decided to ask Tokyo International University
Professor Yoshihisa Hara, who held the interview with Yamada, to
present the tape.

18) Government urges JAL to introduce Mitsubishi Regional Jet

NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts)
February 1, 2010

The government will soon start coordination to urge Japan Airlines
Corp (JAL), which is currently under reconstruction, to consider
using the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the first domestically
produced small aircraft. The aim is to support a project to develop
jets domestically into which a huge amount of tax money will be
injected. The government will call on JAL to incorporate the
introduction of the MRJ in its reconstruction plan, for which the
company aims to obtain approval this summer.

The Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan decided on
Jan. 19 on JAL's reconstruction plan, which includes a measure to
replace its existing equipment with small-scale, energy-efficient
equipment. The plan specifies that the cash-strapped carrier should
begin using 50 small jets and regional jets with 50 to 100 seats.
The government's judgment is that the MRJ seating 70 to 90
passengers could be JAL's major next-generation small aircraft.

19) Japan's manned lunar exploration difficult if U.S. gives up on
lunar probe plan

NIKKEI (Page 8) (Full)
January 30, 2010

Japan worked out a space development program in June 2009,
incorporating its own plan to carry out lunar exploration with the
aid of an unmanned robot in 2020. Manned lunar exploration sending
astronauts to the moon is said to cost over 1 trillion yen, so Japan
has been looking into possibilities for an international project
involving the United States. If the United States gives up on its
lunar probe plan, it will be difficult for Japan to go ahead with
its manned lunar exploration.

Meanwhile, the United States has decided to extend its current plan
to use the International Space Station. In this case, the question
is how to ensure a delivery method (after the space shuttle is
retired from service). In September 2009, Japan for the first time

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lifted off the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV), an unmanned delivery
vehicle for one-time use only. However, there may be calls for
taking steps toward developing Japan's own space plane.

20) Poll: 76 PERCENT urge Ozawa to quit from party post; Hatoyama
cabinet's support rate at 50 PERCENT

MAINICHI (Top play) (Abridged)
February 1, 2010

The Mainichi Shimbun conducted a public opinion survey across the
nation on Jan. 30-31. In the survey, respondents were asked what
they thought ruling Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General
Ichiro Ozawa should do if Tomohiro Ishikawa, one of his former
secretaries and currently a DPJ lawmaker seated in the House of
Representatives, is prosecuted over a political fund scandal
involving Ozawa's fund management organization. In response to this
question, a total of 76 PERCENT answered that Ozawa should resign
from his party post, with 18 PERCENT saying there is no need for
him to resign. Meanwhile, the public approval rating for Prime
Minister Yukio Hatoyama's cabinet was 50 PERCENT . The figure
dropped 5 percentage points from the last survey conducted Dec.
19-20 but remained in the 50 PERCENT range. In addition,
respondents were also asked about the 'politics-and-money' problem
of Hatoyama, whose former secretary has been prosecuted over his
fund management organization's falsification of political fund
reports. In this case, however, those calling for his resignation
accounted for only 33 PERCENT . The Ozawa problem apparently drove
down the Hatoyama cabinet's support rate.

In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the DPJ
stood at 30 PERCENT , down 5 points from the last survey. "None," or
the proportion of those who do not support any political party, rose
6 points to 39 PERCENT . The two figures changed places for the
first time since the Hatoyama cabinet came into office. The leading
opposition Liberal Democratic Party leveled off at 16 PERCENT . This
figure shows that the LDP has failed to absorb those distancing
themselves from the DPJ and that the number of those with no
particular party affiliation has increased.

Respondents were also asked which political party (and which
political party's candidate) they would vote for in their
proportional representation blocs if an election for the House of
Councillors were to be held now. In this popularity ranking of
political parties, the DPJ scored 35 PERCENT , while the LDP was at
20 PERCENT . Among other political parties, the Your Party was at 6
PERCENT , the New Komeito at 5 PERCENT , the Japanese Communist
Party at 4 PERCENT , and the Social Democratic Party at 2 PERCENT .

ROOS

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