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Viewing cable 06TOKYO1342, DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 03/14/06

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06TOKYO1342 2006-03-14 08:00 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO7717
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1342/01 0730800
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140800Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9708
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 7739
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5111
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8235
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5135
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6289
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1118
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7309
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9290
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 09 TOKYO 001342 
 
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:  DAILY SUMMARY OF JAPANESE PRESS 03/14/06 
 
INDEX: 
 
(1) Iwakuni residents say 'no' to relocation plan; Government 
fears domino effect 
 
(2) Editorial: National security ignored in Iwakuni plebiscite 
 
(3) Editorial: Realignment of US bases in Japan requires firm 
persuasion 
 
(4) Junior LDP members meet Abe, may support his candidacy in 
presidential race 
 
(5) SDF integration set for Mar. 27; Massaki named to top joint 
command 
 
(6) Government to set up two new organizations with eye on 
applying pressure on Pyongyang; Strict application of law 
 
(7) Editorial: Will forest environment tax really contribute to 
conservation? 
 
ARTICLES: 
 
(1) Iwakuni residents say 'no' to relocation plan; Government 
fears domino effect 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Abridged slightly) 
March 13, 2006 
 
Does the Japanese public accept a Tokyo-Washington agreement to 
relocate US forces in Japan? Residents of Iwakuni in Yamaguchi 
Prefecture said 'no' to this question yesterday. Although the 
government outwardly denied any fallout from the Iwakuni 
referendum, the outcome is likely to spoil the government's 
coordination efforts for the relocation of the US Marine Corps' 
Futenma Air Station in Okinawa. Some government officials fear 
that a domino effect might kick in to affect other local 
governments. Some local areas are taking seriously Iwakuni's 
rejection of the central government's policy. 
 
Toranosuke Katayama, secretary general of the LDP caucus in the 
House of Councillors: "The state is responsible for national 
security and defense. The matter is not appropriate for a local 
plebiscite. It's a kind of regional egoism." 
 
Former LDP Vice President Taku Yamasaki: "The results will be 
valid only for one week because Iwakuni will be merged with 
neighboring municipalities on March 20." 
 
Other government and LDP executives also played down yesterday 
the outcome of the Iwakuni plebiscite. Chief Cabinet Secretary 
Shinzo Abe also simply commented last night, "We will continue 
offering explanations sincerely to obtain the understanding and 
cooperation of local areas." 
 
Contrary to such words, the government attentively watched the 
developments of the Iwakuni referendum. The Defense Agency 
implemented a system to immediately inform defense chief Nukaga 
and other executives once turnout topped the 50% line. Leaning of 
prospects that opponents would dominate the vote, a Foreign 
Ministry official discouragingly said, "The situation doesn't 
look good." 
 
TOKYO 00001342  002 OF 009 
 
 
 
The government's gaze is directed not only at Iwakuni but also at 
its coordination with local areas over Futenma, which is now at a 
critical stage. The relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma 
Air Station is the highlight in the realignment of US forces in 
Japan. But Okinawa Gov. Keiichi Inamine and Nago Mayor Yoshikazu 
Shimabukuro are opposed to a plan to relocate the Futenma 
airfield to Cape Henoko in Nago. The Japanese and US governments 
are also considering relocating a new U.S. Army headquarters, 
known as a Unit of Employment X (UEx), to Camp Zama, and an 
aerial tanker unit to Kanoya in Kagoshima Prefecture. Chiefs of 
local communities, including Zama and Kanoya, are also opposed to 
the planned US force realignment. 
 
The government fears Iwakuni triggering a nationwide domino 
effect to conduct plebiscites, including Okinawa over the Futenma 
relocation plan. A senior Defense Agency official noted: 
"Although the majority of Iwakuni residents said 'no' to the 
government plan, we cannot change (the government plans). Any 
changes to the plans would push other municipalities toward 
referendums." 
 
The government cannot afford to make compromise, and strong 
backlashes would follow its outright rejection of the wishes of 
local areas. The central government is in a dilemma. 
 
Although the government has been adamant not to make any changes 
to the Futenma relocation plan, some have begun searching for 
ways to revise it. 
 
For instance, the Nago municipal government presented the 
permissible scope of making changes to the plan. Defense Agency 
Director General Fukushiro Nukaga held talks last week with Gov. 
Inamine and Mayor Shimabukuro in which the defense chief left 
some room for altering the plan, saying, "Ultimately I will make 
a decision." Prime Minister Koizumi has also instructed Taku 
Yamasaki to explore ways for making compromise, stating, "Local 
reactions are split, and coordination is necessary." 
 
US force realignment will not realize without local consent. At 
present, prospects are gloomy even for holding a Japan-U.S. 
Security Consultative Committee meeting of foreign and defense 
ministers (2 plus 2) in later this month. 
 
Some have questions about Mayor Ihara's intent 
 
Apparently relieved with the outcome of the plebiscite, Iwakuni 
Mayor Katsusuke Ihara said in a press conference last evening, 
"The opinion of Iwakuni residents is now clear, and I'm 
relieved." 
 
Armed with yesterday's referendum that overwhelmingly rejected 
the government's plan to relocate US carrier-borne aircraft to 
the city, the mayor plans to urge the central government to 
rescind the plan. 
 
Some have questions about to what extent Ihara intends to oppose 
the plan. 
 
Ihara was reluctant to accept a plan to relocate a large 
transport helicopter unit from Hawaii to Iwakuni in late 2001, 
but he shifted his stance and accepted the plan in the following 
year. The city subsequently received subsidies for building the 
 
TOKYO 00001342  003 OF 009 
 
 
new city office building, which is now under construction. 
 
In Iwakuni, the subsidies are regarded as the quid pro quo for 
the turnaround. "Mayor Ihara has obtained substance by keep 
opposing the relocation plan," a Defense Agency official familiar 
with the circumstances explained. 
 
In offering an explanation to residents prior to the plebiscite, 
Ihara also stated: "We can gain more by speaking our minds. We 
won't get much if we willingly (accept) the plan." 
 
The plebiscite that overwhelmingly rejected the government plan 
carries great weight. Depending on what the city can get in 
return for the outcome of the plebiscite, the municipal 
government may come under fierce criticism, ending up imposing a 
burden on the city. 
 
According to the Asahi Shimbun's exit poll, 38% of the voters 
accounted for LDP supporters and of them 86% voted against the 
plan. Toshiyuki Kuwahara, president of the city assembly, did not 
go to the polls. He feared that if an overwhelming majority voted 
against the plan, that would be tantamount to waging a war on the 
central government and talks on economic stimulus measures would 
not move forward. 
 
Visibly upset by the results, a Yamaguchi prefectural official, 
who had worked hard for accepting the plan, also commented: "If 
opposing the plan would serve in the interests of the prefecture, 
that should be the people's choice. It's important to make a 
clever decision. It would be too unfortunate if people opposed 
the plan and received nothing in return." 
 
(2) Editorial: National security ignored in Iwakuni plebiscite 
 
SANKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
In the March 12 plebiscite, a vast majority of residents of 
Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, rejected the government's plan to 
relocate US carrier-borne aircraft from the US Navy's Atsugi base 
to the air station in the city. The government still intends to 
maintain the relocation plan, as agreed upon with the US last 
October. 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe stated yesterday, "Basically 
when an agreement is reached through Japan-US talks, that will be 
our final conclusion." The government's response is natural in 
view of the security environment surrounding Japan. 
 
The relocation plan is specifically designed to transfer 57 US 
carrier-borne aircraft and 1,600 servicemen to the Iwakuni base 
once the construction of an offshore runway is completed in 
fiscal 2008. 
 
Defense Agency Director General Fukushiro Nukaga noted, "For the 
security of Japan, the Iwakuni plan must be realized at all 
costs." The relocation is a key factor in the planned US force 
realignment intended to improve deterrent capability and reduce 
burdens on municipalities hosting US bases. The transfer of 
carrier-borne aircraft is unmistakably intended to deal with 
China and North Korea. 
 
The Japan-US Security Consultative Committee of foreign and 
 
TOKYO 00001342  004 OF 009 
 
 
defense ministers (2 plus 2) confirmed last year that the two 
countries would jointly deal with China's military buildup, North 
Korea, which test-fired two short-range missiles March 8, and 
other types of threats including international terrorism. 
 
To begin with, it is not appropriate to take a local vote on a 
matter directly connected with the peace and security of Japan, 
which is the top priority for the central government. Local 
referendums must be limited to regional themes, such as mergers 
of municipalities. 
 
Moreover, Iwakuni's local referendum ordinance will become void 
once it merges with seven neighboring municipalities March 20. 
Mayor Katsusuke Ihara, who proposed the plebiscite, will also 
step down from his post March 19. The new city's mayoral election 
will question again the propriety of the transfer plan in April. 
Ihara noted in a press conference March 12, "National defense 
policy rests with the central government, and (local areas) do 
not have the authority to dictate it." Ihara thus acknowledged 
that the relocation plan was not subject to the Iwakuni 
referendum in the first place. What was the plebiscite all about? 
 
In 1997, Nago conducted a referendum on the relocation of Futenma 
Air Station, which threw the city into deeper turmoil. There is 
still no prospect for the relocation of the air station. 
 
Mindful of the interests of the entire country, local governments 
must not forget that they are responsible only for regional 
matters. 
 
(3) Editorial: Realignment of US bases in Japan requires firm 
persuasion 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
In the March 12 plebiscite, Iwakuni residents said "no" to the 
plan to shift carrier-borne aircraft from the US Navy's Atsugi 
base to the air station in the city, which is specified in the 
bilateral plan to realign US bases in Japan. Although local 
residents have the right to express their wishes based on local 
ordinances, national security rests with the central government. 
When there are gaps in views between the central and local 
governments, there is no other way but to aim for an agreement 
through talks. 
 
Talks were held last week between senior foreign and defense 
officials of Japan and the US. They have been working hard to 
produce a final report on US force realignment before the end of 
this month. The final report, which will essentially be a 
concrete implementation plan, is expected to clearly specify 
timeframes. But in many cases, Tokyo has yet to obtain the 
consent of affected local governments. 
 
The government plans to give priority to the Japan-US agreement 
and convince local governments based on it. Some are criticizing 
such a step as jumping the gun, but the central government is 
allowed to act at its own discretion to some extent. It is 
international common sense that the Japan-US alliance is 
functioning to bring stability to the Asia-Pacific. The 
government's stance also comes from the fact that political 
parties supporting the Japan-US security system garnered large 
numbers of seats in past national elections. 
 
TOKYO 00001342  005 OF 009 
 
 
 
The plan to transfer aircraft from the Atsugi base in the 
residential area to an offshore base in Iwakuni resembles the 
relocation of Futenma Air Station to Nago. In view of the risks 
of the two cases, it is undoubtedly desirable to relocate them to 
new sites. But when it comes to the base issue, people tend to 
agree in principle and oppose the specifics. A concept has 
surfaced to discuss a realignment promotion bill to get it 
approved in the Diet to convince local governments. 
 
The bill could be a carrot or a stick to local governments. It 
will allow the central government to provide local governments 
supportive of US force realignment with subsidies to revitalize 
their economies beyond the conventional base measures. The 
legislation may also pave the way for shifting some powers from 
local governments to the central government to make it difficult 
for local governments to put up resistance or delay actions based 
on their legal powers. 
 
The step, which seems difficult to build consensus even in the 
government and ruling bloc, is expected to draw strong reaction 
from local governments. The government and ruling bloc are 
expected to take the step as the last resort after their 
strenuous efforts failed to win local consent. They can take some 
other steps before resorting to it. Liberal Democratic Party and 
New Komeito lawmakers are required to take action from a broad 
perspective instead of just serving the interests of their 
constituencies. Members of Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), 
the largest opposition party attaching importance to the Japan-US 
alliance, should do the same. 
 
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and post-Koizumi contenders must 
visit Okinawa and Iwakuni. After all, national security rests on 
the central government. 
 
(4) Junior LDP members meet Abe, may support his candidacy in 
presidential race 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 14, 2006 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe met with about 10 House of 
Representatives members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) at 
a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo last night. The LDP members from 
various factions agreed to hold a meeting periodically. According 
to a participant, those serving two to five terms in the Lower 
House joined the meeting, including Yoshimi Watanabe 
(independent), Midori Matsushita (Mori faction), Taimei Yamaguchi 
(Tsushima faction), Yoichi Miyazawa (Niwa/Koga faction), 
Yoshitaka Masuhara (Ibuki faction); and Shinji Inoue (Kono 
faction). 
 
These LDP members met at LDP headquarters just after Prime 
Minister Koizumi dissolved the Lower House on Aug. 8 of last 
year, under this slogan: "Let's form a young LDP centering on Mr. 
Abe." There is the possibility that the group would support Abe 
in the LDP presidential race slated for September. In the 
meeting, Abe did not refer to the presidential election. The 
participants reportedly exchanged views on the situation in 
electoral districts and other matters. 
 
(5) SDF integration set for Mar. 27; Massaki named to top joint 
command 
 
TOKYO 00001342  006 OF 009 
 
 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 12, 2006 
 
The Defense Agency will integrate the three Self-Defense Force 
services' respective chains of command on March 27. The SDF Joint 
Staff Council (JSC), currently in place to top the Ground, 
Maritime, and Air Self-Defense Forces (GSDF, MSDF, and ASDF), 
will be abolished and will be replaced with a reorganized body 
named the Joint Staff Office (JSO), which will serve as the SDF's 
integrated joint command. The GSDF, MSDF, and ASDF currently have 
their respective staff offices authorized to command their 
respective operations. The JSO will integrate their operations 
under its command for more efficient operations. Hajime Massaki, 
currently in the post of JSC chairman, will be the first JSO 
chief to represent the three SDF branches and serve as an aide-de- 
camp to the director general of the Defense Agency. 
 
Under the SDF's current chains of command, the Defense Agency 
director general issues directives and orders to the GSDF, MSDF, 
and ASDF through their respective chiefs of staff, who are 
basically entitled to command their respective operations. The 
three SDF services use different languages and have different 
cultures, according to a GSDF brass officer. At the time of the 
1995 Hanshin (Osaka-Kobe) earthquake, for instance, the SDF's 
airlift of foodstuffs was delayed in disparate heliborne 
operations. 
 
The Defense Agency plans to place the JSO chief between its 
director general and the three SDF branches in order to beef up 
their joint operations under the SDF's integrated chain of 
command, thereby expediting decision-making and commanding for 
the SDF's rapid and effective readiness. 
 
The JSO, under its chief and deputy chief, will have four 
elements for administration, operational planning, defense 
planning, and command and communications systems. In addition, 
the JSO will also have a spokesman. The JSC is currently staffed 
with about 400. The JSO's staffing, however, will be increased to 
about 500. 
 
In its actual operational planning, the JSO will call up troops 
from the three SDF services to organize joint task forces to be 
readied for ballistic missile defense (BMD), major earthquake 
disasters, incursions on Japan's outlying islands, evacuation 
activities for Japanese nationals overseas, international 
emergency relief operations, and various other possible 
contingencies. 
 
(6) Government to set up two new organizations with eye on 
applying pressure on Pyongyang; Strict application of law 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Slightly abridged) 
March 14, 2006 
 
The government's special assignment team to deal with the 
abduction issue (chaired by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiji 
Suzuki) yesterday decided to establish two cross-sectional 
organizations designed for stricter application of existing laws 
and strengthened information collection capability. The aim is to 
strengthen pressure on North Korea. The government will aggregate 
information on wrongdoings by North Korea and strengthen a 
crackdown system. It will not invoke economic sanctions for the 
 
TOKYO 00001342  007 OF 009 
 
 
time being, but it will aim to extract concessions from Pyongyang 
by switching to a policy of applying pressure. 
 
Crackdown on misdeeds, including illegal exports, to be toughened 
 
The organizations to be established anew are the Law Enforcement 
Team and the Information Collection Council. The Law Enforcement 
Team will consist of department director generals and councilors 
of the Justice Ministry, the Finance Ministry (MOF), the Ministry 
of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), the Financial Services 
Agency, the National Police Agency, and the Japan Coast Guard. 
The team will collect information on illegal exports of products 
convertible for military use and the smuggling of narcotics and 
counterfeit money. At the same time, strict inspections will be 
carried out on North Korean vessels. Police and the Japan Coast 
Guard will establish a joint investigation system. The team will 
have its first meeting today. 
 
The umbrella body of the Law Enforcement Team is an informal 
taskforce set up by Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinto Abe last 
December. The teamwork has already produced results, as can be 
seen in the fact that the Yamaguchi Prefectural Police raided a 
Tokyo trading company on suspicion of violating the Foreign 
Exchange Law by illegally exporting freeze-dryers, which can be 
converted to make biological weapons. 
 
The Information Collection Council will be comprised of the 
Public Security Investigation Agency director general, the vice 
foreign minister, the National Police Agency director general, 
and the Cabinet Intelligence director. The panel will analyze 
information on North Korea's illegal activities so that its 
efforts can lead to identifying abductors and confirming whether 
abductees are alive in North Korea. 
 
The Law Enforcement Team will mainly be in charge of measures to 
apply pressure on North Korea, which involves cooperation among 
several agencies. Revising the reduced rate currently applied to 
the property tax imposed on facilities related to the General 
Federation of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun) and 
strengthening surveillance on money laundering have been 
suggested as measures to be taken by each government agency, 
based on laws under its jurisdiction. 
 
Abe during yesterday's press conference underscored: "I will face 
North Korea with dialogue and pressure. The ultimate pressure 
will be applying economic sanctions. However, there are many ways 
of applying pressure before reaching that stage." 
 
Some have suggested that North Korea may take some action in 
order to move forward its relations with Japan with an eye on 
September when Prime Minister Koizumi's tenure expires. There are 
signs that North Korea expects Japan to play the role of broker 
for improving relations between the US and North Korea. 
 
Measures to apply pressure through strict application of current 
laws 
 
Measures taken jointly by six government agencies 
    METI will make a list of companies that are suspected of 
illegally exporting products convertible for military use. 
    Police will provide information on counterfeiting and drug 
smuggling 
    Police and the Japan Coast Guard will jointly inspect North 
 
TOKYO 00001342  008 OF 009 
 
 
Korean vessels anchored at Japanese ports 
    The Justice Ministry and the Finance Ministry will assign 
personnel at immigration control and customs offices for 
for 
strengthened surveillance of belongings (of North Korean 
travelers). 
    Police officers who can speak Korean fluently will be 
dispatched to immigration control offices and customs houses. 
 
Measures to be taken individually by each government agency 
 
    Make boat state control on North Korean vessels stricter 
    Strengthen surveillance of money laundering 
    Appropriate taxation on facilities related to Chongryun 
    Strengthen inspections of mail in order to prevent illegal 
transfers of money 
 
(7) Editorial: Will forest environment tax really contribute to 
conservation? 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 5) (Full) 
March 13, 2006 
 
Moves are afoot across the nation to introduce a forest 
environment tax as part of efforts to control floods and secure 
water resources by preserving forests. Its philosophy makes sense 
to some extent, but if no explanations are given to residents on 
the details of planned projects and procedures, it will be 
difficult to obtain their agreement. 
 
nt. 
 
Local governments are allowed to introduce a forest tax or forest 
environment tax as a special tax. Kochi Prefectural Government 
was the first prefecture to adopt the tax in fiscal 2003. Since 
then, 13 prefectures have introduced or have decided to introduce 
the tax. Shiga Prefecture plans to adopt it in fiscal 2006, and 
Aichi Prefecture is studying the matter. 
 
According to authorities, the purpose of the tax is to prevent 
disasters and secure water resources by preventing further 
devastation of privately own forests that have been left untended 
due to the stagnant forestry business. Tax revenues will be used 
to finance measures to thin out forests, grow broad-leaved trees, 
and to publicize the need to preserve forests. However, the 
government has yet to give accurate explanations about problems 
resulting from deforestation. Discussions on effective projects 
have not been fully conducted, either. 
 
In the farmland reform that was promoted as part of postwar 
democratization, absentee landowners were done away with, and 
ownership of the land was given over to farmers. But no measures 
were carried out regarding forest possession. Domestic lumber was 
in high demand from the early postwar period through the early 
1970s. During this period, forestry businesses earned huge 
profits. 
 
Later, though, the forestry industry declined. Tax money is about 
to be poured into the industry to finance measures to take care 
of even privately owned forests. This is an utterly unreasonable 
approach. There are some individuals and organizations making 
efforts to grow and take care of forests despite poor sales. 
Unfair treatment must be avoided. 
 
TOKYO 00001342  009 OF 009 
 
 
 
Local governments that have decided to adopt plans to preserve 
neglected private forests with public funds should enforce 
regulations to strictly restrict afforestation, tree trimming, 
and land use by land owners and leaseholders, as well as to have 
them return accrued profits to the government's coffers. 
 
In the technical field, detailed research and study will become 
necessary to work out effective ways of planting trees and 
cutting forests in order to preserve forested mountains. 
 
Heavy rainfalls in September 2000 caused landslides in the region 
around the Yahagi River running from Nagano Prefecture through 
Aichi and Gifu Prefectures. As a result of the floods, about 
35,000 square meters of driftwood covered the Yahagi dam 
reservoir. 
 
The Honokuni Morizukuri no kai (Association for Promoting 
Mountain Afforestation), including Minoru Morita, conducted 
research to find out the age, species, and place of origin of the 
driftwood. The research results provide useful guidance. 
Specifically, the following contents were made clear: (1) If cut 
trees are left untouched on a mountain, they tumble down the 
mountainside when the area is flooded; (2) if Japanese cedars or 
Japanese cypress are planted on a mountainside, heavy rain will 
tear up the trees, so bushy trees are desirable; and (3) planting 
trees in areas of rocky soil susceptible to weathering will not 
be effective. 
 
In order to protect forests, such measures as trimming trees and 
increasing broad-leaved trees are not sufficient. It is 
imperative to explore effective means to preserve forests while 
taking into consideration such elements as geological conditions, 
climate, landforms, and possible disasters first and then to 
implement projects. The blithe idea that introducing the new tax 
should come first is unacceptable. 
 
SCHIEFFER