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Viewing cable 06TOKYO1327, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/14/06

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06TOKYO1327 2006-03-14 01:47 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO7513
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1327/01 0730147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140147Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9683
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/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/COMPATWING ONE KAMI SEYA JA
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7729
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5099
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8224
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5125
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6279
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1107
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7298
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9279
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 001327 
 
SIPDIS 
 
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 03/14/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4)   Yomiuri poll: 81% feel income gap is growing, most blame 
  Koizumi reforms, but 54.9% of public still support Koizumi 
  Cabinet 
 
5)   Prime Minister Koizumi to visit US in late June, with USFJ 
  realignment, beef likely on summit agenda        5 
 
Iraq deployment: 
6)   British announce pullout of 800 troops from Samawah area by 
  May 
7)   Vice foreign minister says it will be "difficult" to start 
withdrawing GSDF troops from Samawah late this month 
 
USFJ realignment issues 
8)   Koizumi, Abe adamant on going ahead with Iwakuni base plan 
  despite recent referendum rejecting jet transfer from Atsugi 
9)   Government to continue to seek Iwakuni's understanding 
despite referendum result 
10)  Criticism wells up in LDP on Iwakuni's plebiscite on Atsugi 
jet transfer as inappropriate theme 
11)  Prime Minister Koizumi says negative results of Iwakuni 
referendum poses difficulty for the bilateral security 
relationship 
12)  Concern that Iwakuni's negative public stance on USDF 
realignment plans could spread to other base-hosting communities 
13)  Washington irritated at Tokyo for impasse in local 
coordination on USFJ realignment plans 
14)  Government realizes that revision of interim USFJ 
realignment agreement would help break local impasse but doing so 
may be difficult 
15)  In recent bilateral talks, Japan asked to foot bill for 75% 
of $10 billion cost of Marine transfer to Guam 
 
16)  Opposition wants to summon witnesses to Diet to probe into 
  alleged "secret pact" on Okinawa reversion 
 
17)  LDP's Taku Yamasaki practicing reconciliation diplomacy by 
  meeting dignitaries in South Korea 
 
18)  US company that shipped bones with beef to Hong Kong was one 
  of suppliers cleared by Japan last year as reliable shippers 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Skymark Airlines operated planes without fixing dent on fuselage 
for nine months; Transport Ministry to impose punishment 
 
Mainichi: 
Hyogo police to arrest 2 teens for killing disabled homeless man 
with Molotov cocktail 
 
Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun 
TSE to delist Livedoor on April 14 
 
SIPDIS 
 
TOKYO 00001327  002 OF 010 
 
 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Individuals, businesses less dependent on social safety net as 
economy improves 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Outcome of Iwakuni vote: Local residents ignored 
(2)  Milosevic: The end result of stoking ethnic tensions 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Iwakuni referendum: Content of "popular will" should be 
examined 
(2)  Dubious call in World Baseball Classic 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Crimes by Livedoor too heavy to be forgiven with delisting 
(2)  Telecommunications and broadcasting technologies: Separation 
of research institutions will only please foreign businesses 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Persuasive efforts necessary to realize US force realignment 
plans 
(2)  Investors must be aware of seriousness of delisting Livedoor 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Iwakuni base: Importance of national security should be 
taken into consideration 
(2)  Land and Infrastructure Ministry urged to present unified 
quake-resistance standards 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Lack of consideration for local residents brings about 
Iwakuni vote results 
(2)  Efforts needed to have citizens understand court system, 
principles 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 13 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
10:31 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
11:00 
Met with former New York Mayor Giuliani, joined by Foreign 
Ministry North America Affairs Bureau Director-General Kawai. 
 
12:02 
Attended a liaison council meeting of the government and the 
ruling parties. Afterwards, met Foreign Minister Aso. 
 
14:00 
Met State Minister in Charge of Measures for Declining Birthrate 
Inoguchi, Cabinet Office Policy Officer Hayashi, and Gender 
Equality Bureau Director-General Natori. Later, met State 
Minister in Charge of Financial Affairs Yosano and Council on 
Economic and Fiscal Policy members Honma and Yoshikawa. 
 
TOKYO 00001327  003 OF 010 
 
 
 
15:00 
Met Deputy Foreign Minister Yabunaka. Afterwards, met Environment 
Minister Koike, Global Environment Bureau Director-General 
Kobayashi, and Deputy Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Saka. 
 
17:02 
Attended an executive meeting in Diet. 
 
17:41 
Met Administrative Vice Finance Minister Hosokawa at Kantei. 
 
18:30 
Met Finance Minister Tanigaki, Vice Finance Minister Hosokawa, 
Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs Watanabe, and 
Budget Bureau Director-General Fujii. 
 
18:55 
Had a haircut at the barbershop at Capitol Tokyo Hotel. 
 
21:10 
Arrived at official residence. 
 
4) Poll: 81% see social divide as widening; 56% attribute 
expanding gap to Koizumi reforms 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
An overwhelming 81% of the Japanese public think income and other 
economic disparities are expanding, the Yomiuri Shimbun found 
from its face-to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted 
March 11-12. The proportion of those who do not think so was no 
more than 16%. Among those who think the social divide is 
widening, 56% attributed the expanding gap to Prime Minister 
Koizumi's structural reform drive, with 40% saying it has nothing 
to do with the premier's restructuring initiative. The poll shows 
a majority of the nation sees the widening gap as a 'shadow' of 
the structural reforms. 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked if they thought they 
could overcome economic disparities if they work hard. In 
response to this question, "no" accounted for 59%, with "yes" at 
39%. 
 
"The winning and losing sides must not be fixed," Koizumi stated 
in his recent Diet reply. "Anyone losing one day must be given 
another chance to win the next day," the premier added. However, 
many people seem to think that the gap has become fixed. Among 
those who do not support the Koizumi cabinet in particular, 69% 
do not think the gap can be overcome. 
 
Poll: Cabinet support rate at 54.9% 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The Koizumi cabinet's support rate was 54.9% in a face-to-face 
nationwide public opinion survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun 
on March 11-12. The figure was up 1.4 points from the last survey 
taken in February. Its approval rating continued slipping from 
December last year. In the latest survey, however, it rose for 
 
TOKYO 00001327  004 OF 010 
 
 
the first time in four months. The nonsupport rating was 35.9 % , 
down 0.3 points. 
 
In the breakdown of public support for political parties, the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party stood at 42.3%, up 3.0 points 
from the 39.3% rating in the last survey. The leading opposition 
Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) was at 11.1%, down 
2.2 points from the 13.3% rating in the last survey. The DPJ's 
support rate was the lowest level ever since DPJ President 
Maehara took the helm of his party in September last year. It can 
be taken as reflecting the DPJ's sustaining of a blow from the 
party's email fiasco. 
 
5) Prime Minister Koizumi likely to visit US, possibly in late 
June 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The Japanese and US governments have launched coordination to 
arrange a visit by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to the United 
States, possibly in late June, for a summit with President George 
W. Bush. If realized, this visit would be the prime minister's 
last tour of the US in office, as he has declared he will step 
down in September, when the tenure of his presidency of the 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) expires. The prime minister will 
reconfirm the relationship of trust with President Bush, as well 
as the importance of the Japan-US alliance. 
 
The Japanese side has sounded out the US side about a prime 
ministerial visit to the US on June 18 or after, when the current 
session of the Diet wraps up. US Ambassador to Japan Thomas 
Schieffer has invited the prime minister to make an official 
visit to the US. The prime minister is expected to be treated as 
a state guest in the same way as the Emperor. 
 
There have been 13 meetings between Koizumi and Bush, including 
their last one in Kyoto last November. On the agenda will be the 
realignment of US forces in Japan, North Korea's nuclear 
ambitions, the strained Japan-China relations, and the Asian 
situation. 
 
On the US force realignment, the two governments are trying to 
come up with a final report by the end of March. In the planned 
meeting, both leaders will discuss cooperation in the security 
area, including the US military transformation. Japan is making 
preparations for a pullout of Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) 
troops from Iraq in the first half of this year. Assistance for 
the reconstruction of Iraq from a medium- and long-term 
perspective after the withdrawal of GSDF troops will also be on 
the agenda for the summit. Whether to resume US beef imports is 
likely to be left as an outstanding issue until then. 
 
6) British defense secretary announces plan to withdraw 800 
troops in May from southern Iraq, possibly including Samawah 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
Keiko Iizuka, London 
 
British Defense Secretary John Reid announced March 13 that 
 
TOKYO 00001327  005 OF 010 
 
 
Britain would withdraw about 800 troops from southern Iraq in May 
to keep the troop level at 7,000. Reid had explicitly said 
Britain would begin pulling out troops from areas relatively 
stable. It is certain that Muthanna Province, including Samawah 
where Self-Defense Force troops have been carrying activities, is 
subject to the planned pullout. British forces' moves are likely 
to have an impact on the SDF's withdrawal plan. 
 
7) Yachi: Difficult to begin pulling out GSDF troops from Samawah 
in late March 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
Touching on the timeframe for withdrawing Ground Self-Defense 
Force troops from southern Iraqi city of Samawah, Vice Foreign 
Minister Shotaro Yachi said in a press conference yesterday: 
 
"The situation does not allow an immediate pullout of troops from 
Samawah. In view of the political process (including the 
establishment of a new government) and the security situation, 
the stage has not been set." 
 
Yachi thus revealed the view that it would be difficult for Japan 
to begin withdrawing GSDF troops in late March, as originally 
planned. 
 
8) Transfer of US carrier-borne fighter jets to Iwakuni; No 
change in plan, says prime minister; Abe - "Why referendum now?" 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 14, 2006 
 
Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, carried out a referendum over 
whether to accept the relocation of US carrier-borne jets to the 
city. The number of voters who cast a negative vote has largely 
exceeded those who voted in favor of it. Commenting on the 
results, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi categorically said: 
"The same results would be obtained in referendums on military 
bases anywhere. That is the difficult point on security issues." 
He then stated that there would be no change in the relocation 
plan. The comment was made in reply to a question asked by 
reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. Many 
government officials and ruling party members are skeptical about 
the referendum held by Iwakuni. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe during a press conference the 
same day noted, "If Japan and the US reach an agreement in talks, 
then it will basically be a final decision." He thus ruled out 
the possibility of the referendum affecting future bilateral 
talks. He expressed his displeasure, noting: "Those who were 
negative toward holding a referendum did not vote. The merger of 
Iwakuni and nearby municipalities is to take place shortly. Many 
residents in the vicinity of Iwakuni are skeptical about holding 
of a referendum at such a time." 
 
Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe 
told a news conference, "I am concerned about the trend of giving 
priority to local communities' wishes regarding the security 
issue spreading." He thus expressed a strong concern over the 
result of the referendum this time spilling over into other 
affected communities, such as Okinawa. 
 
TOKYO 00001327  006 OF 010 
 
 
 
9) Government, ruling coalition to seek Iwakuni's understanding 
following plebiscite 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The government and ruling parties are visibly baffled by 
Iwakuni's plebiscite on Sunday in which a vast majority rejected 
the government's plan to relocate carrier-borne aircraft from the 
US Navy's Atsugi base to the air station in the city. But many 
expressed their determination to continue seeking Iwakuni's 
understanding. Some opposition members criticized the government 
for a lack of explanation and other factors, one saying, "The 
government should respect the outcome of the referendum." 
 
Before reporters at his official residence last night, Prime 
Minister Junichiro Koizumi played up his determination to 
continue working hard to obtain the understanding of Iwakuni for 
producing a final report on the realignment of US forces in Japan 
by the end of this month. 
 
The Iwakuni plebiscite has not prompted the government to change 
its policy. 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) President Seiji Maehara 
delivered a speech in Tokyo in which he rapped the government, 
saying, "The government drove Iwakuni into the plebiscite, which 
was a serious mistake." 
 
10) Burst of criticism of plebiscite over Iwakuni relocation 
issue in LDP; "Question itself is questionable," LDP member says 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The plebiscite held by Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on the 
planned relocation of US carrier-based aircraft to the city ended 
up with a vast majority of residents voting against the move. 
This has led to a welling up of criticism of the referendum 
itself in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). LDP Upper House 
Caucus Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama commented: "It's 
improper to hold a plebiscite on security and defense issues. 
There is a growing momentum of self-determination votes in 
municipalities with grand mergers of cities, towns, and villages 
having occurred since the beginning of 1989. In recent years, the 
number of regional referendums has been on the sharp increase. 
Meanwhile, an argument simmering in the political world is that 
it is questionable to hold a plebiscite over such matters as 
foreign and security policies. (Iwakuni City's) referendum has 
now helped revive this kind of criticism. 
 
11) Prime Minister Koizumi: "It's difficult" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi late yesterday was asked at his 
official residence by reporters about the result of Iwakuni 
City's plebiscite. He said: "Residents anywhere would say no if 
they are asked whether to allow the presence of a base. That's 
why security matters are difficult. It's indeed difficult to keep 
 
TOKYO 00001327  007 OF 010 
 
 
a balance between regional and national issues." 
 
12) Growing trend of referendum is a matter of concern 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
At a meeting yesterday of the liaison council of the government 
and the ruling parties, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary 
General Tsutomu Takebe complained: "The result is regrettable 
indeed. I'm concerned that a trend of prioritizing local logic 
over security issues will spread across the country." LDP Upper 
House Caucus Secretary General Toranosuke Katayama also 
criticized Iwakuni Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, who held a plebiscite, 
noting: "The right thing to do is for the head of local 
government and the chairman of the local assembly to deal with 
the issue." 
 
A referendum is a general vote by residents on certain issues 
involving a local government. Under the law, a referendum is 
allowed only when issues concern, for instance, a dissolution of 
a local assembly, a resignation of the head of a local government 
and an establishment of a council on merger. In the event of 
asking residents about certain policy measures, a referendum 
should be held after establishing an ordinance. The referendum 
has no binding force. 
 
13) US frustrated with stymied local coordination over USFJ 
realignment, calls for Japan to initiate political leadership 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
March 14, 2006 
 
Washington, Yoichi Kato 
 
Japan and the United States are now in the final phase of 
intergovernmental talks over the planned realignment of US forces 
in Japan to release a final report by the end of this month. In 
the meantime, however, the US government is increasingly fretting 
over the Japanese government's taking time to obtain local 
consent. As it stands, Washington is concerned about the 
bilateral alliance's possible destabilization. One US government 
official fears that the two countries may not be able to carry 
out their realignment plans agreed to in an interim report, which 
was released in October last year and incorporates burden- 
lessening measures such as to moving US Marines from Okinawa to 
Guam. Washington is calling for Tokyo to take the initiative in 
forging a final settlement along with the interim report. 
 
"Our Japanese counterparts were under pressure to comply with 
local calls," says a US government official who attended the 
recent Hawaii round of working-level consultations held until 
March 11 over the US military presence's realignment. With this, 
the official voiced his frustration, noting that the realignment 
talks have not been based on strategic needs. 
 
Washington wonders why the Japanese government has effectively 
given a veto to local governments. This lies behind Washington's 
distrust. The US government is urging the Japanese government to 
make a decision on its security policy in consideration of 
national interests. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001327  008 OF 010 
 
 
In the interim report released last October, however, the 
Japanese government committed itself to thorough coordination 
with local governments through cabinet ministers in the process 
of making specific realignment plans. The United States is now 
asking Japan to carry out this commitment. The Japanese and US 
governments also ran into rough waters over the planned 
relocation of Futenma airfield in Okinawa Prefecture. Eventually, 
the two governments agreed to relocate the airfield's heliport 
functions to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in the island 
prefecture. "We agreed to do so because Defense Agency Director 
General Ono at the time said it's possible." With this, one US 
government official underscored the Japanese government's 
responsibility. 
 
In the meantime, the US government remains flexible, saying it 
will consider rectifying the agreed relocation plan if it meets 
the US military's requirements. 
 
14) Interim report modification holds key 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The Japanese government remains committed to working out a final 
report on the realignment of US forces in Japan by the end of 
March, following up on the interim report released last fall. 
However, the question is whether the Japanese government can 
revise each specific realignment plan incorporated in the interim 
report if it tries to complete local coordination within the 
remaining timeframe. However, the Japanese and US governments 
still differ on the issue of burden sharing in terms of the costs 
of an agreed plan to move US Marines from Okinawa to Guam. Some 
government officials are now beginning to hint at foregoing this 
realignment plan. 
 
The city of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture polled its residents 
on March 12 over the advisability of accepting the planned 
relocation of US carrier-borne fighter jets to a local base. As a 
result, a majority of Iwakuni's citizenry voted "no" to that 
realignment plan. The government therefore cannot expect the city 
to consent to the plan by the end of March. 
 
Another focus is on the issue of relocating Futenma airfield in 
Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the island prefecture's northern 
coastal city of Nago. In this case as well, the Nago city 
municipal government is seeking to modify the government plan. 
"We may have to make some concessions on the current plan," said 
an executive of the New Komeito party, a coalition partner of the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party. "The question is whether the 
prime minister will agree to do so," he added. 
 
15) US wants Japan to pay 75% of 10-billion-dollar cost of 
relocating US Marine Corps in Okinawa to Guam 
 
SANKEI (Page 1) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The full details of the cost of relocating US Marines stationed 
in Okinawa to Guam, which the US government presented during the 
bilateral working-level talks to discuss the realignment of US 
forces in Japan, were unveiled yesterday. The US side called on 
Japan to shoulder 75% of the total cost of the relocation, which 
 
TOKYO 00001327  009 OF 010 
 
 
comes to approximately 10 billion dollars (approximately 1.175 
trillion yen), covering five items, including the construction of 
a command center and infrastructure. It was also learned that the 
US indicated it would reject the idea of a meeting of the Japan- 
US Security Affairs Consultative Committee, referred to as the "2- 
plus-2," to reach a final agreement, unless an agreement is 
obtained from affected local communities, such as Okinawa. 
 
The talks were held March 7-11. During the talks, the US side 
presented the costs of relocating US Marines in Okinawa to Guam, 
by dividing the spending items into five: (1) operational 
facilities, including a command center; (2) barracks and related 
facilities, such as a gymnasium; (3) family houses and lodgings; 
(4) the construction of infrastructure, such as roads, 
electricity, and water-supply system; and (5) the construction of 
a road system linking the base with a port. 
 
The US had previously informed Japan that the estimate of the 
total cost of the planned transfer would be approximately 8 
billion dollars (940 billion yen), but it now explained that the 
estimate had risen to 10 billion dollars as a result of detailed 
calculations. Chances are that the total costs presented this 
time will most likely increase further, because the cost of 
creating a road system outside the base has not been included. 
The cost of the construction of facilities for training of Self- 
Defense Forces personnel in Guam has not been included, either. 
 
The US has called on Japan to shoulder 75% of the total costs, or 
881.2 billion yen. The Japanese side asked the US to adopt a loan 
system for the construction of family houses, seeking repayment 
of the cost from the US. The two countries will reexamine the 
details of Japan's share and the loan system at the next round of 
the working-level talks. A final settlement will likely be 
reached on a political level. 
 
16) Testimony by Yoshino called for over "secret pact" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
In yesterday's House of Councillors Budget Committee session, 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) lawmaker Toshio Ogawa and 
Social Democratic Party head Mizuho Fukushima sought testimony by 
former Foreign Ministry American Bureau chief Bunroku Yoshino of 
Yokohama, who had indicated to the Mainichi and others that Japan 
and the US concluded a secret pact over the return of Okinawa in 
1972. Board members will discuss at a later date whether to 
summon Yoshino to the Diet. 
 
The board meeting also plans to discuss whether to ask the 
government to disclose the following: (1) a breakdown of the 320 
million dollars Japan had paid to the US at the time of the 
Okinawa reversion; (2) data on talks on the reversion of Okinawa 
kept by the Foreign Ministry and the Finance Ministry; and (3) 
documents to prove that the US paid 4 million dollars to Japan. 
 
17) Taku Yamasaki meets with Kim Dae Jung, other key officials in 
South Korea 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 4, 2006 
 
 
TOKYO 00001327  010 OF 010 
 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Taku Yamasaki 
yesterday made a day-trip to South Korea. In Seoul, he met 
separately with former President Kim Dae Jung, pro-government Uri 
Party chairman Chung Dong Young and former Grand National Party 
Secretary General Li Sang Tuk. Kim reportedly plans to visit 
 
SIPDIS 
North Korea shortly. Yamasaki appears to have exchanged views 
with them on the improvement of strained bilateral relations due 
to Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to Yasukuni Shrine and 
measures to find a breakthrough on the North Korean nuclear 
issue. After returning home, Yamasaki told reporters in Tokyo, "I 
had brief talks with South Korean officials on the future and 
present state of Japan-South Korea relations. I did not tell 
Prime Minister Koizumi about my visit to South Korea beforehand." 
 
18) US firm that sent beef containing SRM to Hong Kong cleared 
Japanese inspection last year 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 5) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
A US meat-processing plant that recently shipped beef containing 
banned bones to Hong Kong has been authorized by the US 
government to handle Japan-bound beef and had also cleared an 
inspection by the Japanese government last December to certify 
beef shipments to Japan. According to informed sources yesterday, 
The Japanese inspection had concluded: "The meat-processing 
process is proper." Although Hong Kong and Japan have provided 
different import conditions, the disclosure of the sloppy 
processing at a plant authorized to import beef to Japan may 
affect Japan-US beef negotiations. 
 
Japan reinstated its ban on US beef imports after finding 
vertebral columns contained in a beef shipment from another 
plant. Regarding the question of whether the latest ineligible 
shipment to Hong Kong will affect Japan-US negotiations, Vice 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Mamoru Ishihara said 
in a press conference: "The question is whether the incident is a 
special case or a structural problem." 
 
The plant in question is owned by leading American meat packer 
Swift Beef Co. The plant was one of the 11 plants inspected last 
December by the Japanese government, out of the 40 or so 
authorized plants in the US. After the inspection, the Japanese 
government announced. "We found they were processing meat 
properly." 
 
SCHIEFFER