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Viewing cable 06TOKYO1354, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 03/15/06

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06TOKYO1354 2006-03-15 02:01 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO8843
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #1354/01 0740201
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 150201Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9737
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 7750
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5122
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8246
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5146
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6300
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1128
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7318
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9299
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 12 TOKYO 001354 
 
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 03/15/06 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
4)   Foreign Minister Aso to visit US during Golden Week 
  holidays, meet Secretary Rice 
 
5)   Premier Wen says that improvement of China-Japan relations 
  will not come until Koizumi leaves 
 
6)   Former chief cabinet secretary Fukuda to travel to Seoul on 
  parliamentary fence-mending effort 
 
Defense and security issues: 
7)   Breaking with peaceful-use-of-space principle, LDP panel is 
  drafting bill that would allow MD or spy satellite-related 
  military use of outer space 
8)   USFJ realignment: Japan informed that resettling Okinawa- 
based US Marines in Guam to cost over 1 trillion yen 
9)   Japan proposes footing 40% of cost of Marine move to Guam, 
with the rest of financing coming as loans 
10)  US, Japan agree to partial return of Yokota Air Base's air 
control space 
11)  Hit-run accident in Hachioji: USFJ reduces pay of sailor as 
punishment 
12)  Father of boy hit by US sailor in car accident angry at 
"light punishment" 
 
Beef woes: 
13)  Discovery of third BSE-infected cow in US further erodes 
  Japanese consumer confidence in US beef 
14)  MAFF reports that three of US facilities certified as ready 
to ship beef to Japan were on the USDA's inspection report for 
improper BSE procedures 
15)  Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) sending questionnaires 
to all 37 US facilities with licenses to ship beef for Japan 
 
Minshuto in crisis: 
16)  Poll shows public expects Ichiro Ozawa to be the next head 
  of Minshuto 
17)  Text of advertisement inserted in major dailies by disgraced 
Minshuto lawmaker Nagata apologizing for phony e-mail 
18)  Nagata refuses to resign his Diet seat 
19)  Minshuto erupts in anger of statements by party president 
Maehara 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
LDP committee considering use of space for defense purposes under 
new law 
 
Mainichi: 
Tokyo District Court decides keeping news sources secret is 
illegal; Media reporters not allowed to refuse to testify if news 
report found to be in violation of confidentiality 
 
Yomiuri: Sankei: 
 
TOKYO 00001354  002 OF 012 
 
 
Former Livedoor President Horie found to have ordered window- 
dressing; Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office indicts five 
former executives 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
Moving primary balance into black: Achieving 2% of GDP to be 
aimed on assumption of 3% nominal growth 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
USEN and Livedoor to seal tie-up deal possibly before end of 
month 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Livedoor: Market vulnerability that allowed company to 
violate law 
(2)  National flag, anthem: It is too much to punish teachers for 
not following orders by Tokyo Education Board 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Delisting of Livedoor: It is necessary to take a second look 
at market control 
(2)  System of using lockup as alternative prison should be 
abolished 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  Keeping news sources secret: Court decision denies meaning 
of press reports 
(2)  Series of leaks: Is Winny the only problem? 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Stem the downward spiral in strained China-Japan relations 
(2)  Bureaucracy to blame for bid-rigging involving Defense 
Facilities Administrative Agency officials 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Special pricing system for newspapers essential for media 
choice 
(2)  Livedoor: Market watchdogs need change of consciousness 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  Livedoor incident is not over yet 
(2)  Paralympics: Participation from broader spectrum of people 
needed 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, March 14 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
09:02 
Attended a cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Agriculture 
Minister Nakagawa stayed behind. Followed by Defense Agency 
Director General Nukaga. 
 
09:48 
Arrived at Kantei. 
 
10:15 
 
TOKYO 00001354  003 OF 012 
 
 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Suzuki. Followed by Lower 
House member Taizo Sugimura.Prime Minister: "Congratulations" 
(hearing he will get married in May). Study hard and do your 
best. 
 
14:30 
Met Foreign Ministry Middle Eastern and African Bureau Director 
General Yoshikawa. Later met Secretary General Takebe and 
Regional System Research Council Chairman Ibuki. 
 
16:00 
Met Public Security Investigation Agency Director General Oizumi. 
 
17:33 
Attended a meeting of the Central Traffic Safety Measures 
Council. 
 
18:24 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Foreign Minister Aso to visit US during early May Golden Week 
holidays 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso has decided to visit the US during the 
Golden Week holidays that start in late April. He plans to meet 
with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He will also stop in 
San Francisco, where former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, his 
grandfather, signed the Peace Treaty in Sept. 1951. The aim is to 
stress his stance of giving priority to the Japan-US alliance and 
play up his candidacy in the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) 
presidential election in September. 
 
During the foreign ministerial meeting, Aso will discuss the 
situation in Iraq and the nuclear development programs of Iran 
and North Korea in the run-up to summit between President Bush 
and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is scheduled to visit 
the US possibly in late June, and. During his stop in San 
Francisco, he plans to visit the Opera House, where the ceremony 
for the Peace Treaty took place, and the Golden Gate Club, where 
the Japan-US Security Treaty was actually signed. 
 
5) Chinese premier makes clear China's stance of excluding Prime 
Minister Koizumi 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
By Nobuyoshi Sakajiri, Beijing 
 
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said yesterday the Japanese people 
were not to blame for the strains in Japan-China relations. He 
even tacitly proposed promotion of private-sector exchanges in a 
bid to ease strained ties. He made it clear, however, 
 that China would seek to repair its relations with Japan by 
excluding Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who he said has made 
no efforts to bridge the gulf between the two countries due to 
his visits to Yasukuni Shrine. 
 
Wen also said: "If this (Yasukuni) issue is not resolved, it will 
 
TOKYO 00001354  004 OF 012 
 
 
be difficult for bilateral relations to develop smoothly under a 
post-Koizumi government." 
 
He made the remarks during a press conference broadcasted live 
across China. It is extremely rare for a Chinese leader to 
clearly state that the source of the current situation does not 
lie with the Japanese people. 
 
At a news conference after China's annual session of Parliament 
at the Great Hall of the People, Wen said: 
 
"The source of the current situation does not lie with China, nor 
with the Japanese people, but with the Japanese leader. Repeated 
visits to Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals, 
by Japanese leaders have offended the people of China and other 
Asian countries." 
 
In the background of Wen's statement, China's messages to improve 
its relations with Japan have not conveyed to the Japanese side, 
according to a Chinese government official. 
 
6) Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Fukuda to visit ROK 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda of the Liberal 
Democratic Party (LDP) will make a three-day visit to South Korea 
starting today. He, along with former Prime Minister Yasuhiro 
Nakasone and others, will attend a joint general meeting of the 
Japan-ROK and ROK-Japan Cooperation Committees composed of 
lawmakers and academics from Japan and South Korea. The general 
meeting will take place in Seoul. A conversation with President 
Roh Moo Hyun and others is being arranged to occur tomorrow. 
 
Fukuda is deputy director of the committee. The general meeting 
will hold symposiums focusing on politics, the economy and 
culture. The theme of the conference is "Japan-ROK cooperation 
aimed at creating an East Asia community." Fukuda is scheduled to 
participate in a panel discussion on politics. 
 
7) LDP mulls legislation for defense-purpose space exploration 
 
ASAHI (Top play) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will seek to create a new 
law, aiming for the promotion of Japan's space activities in the 
defense area. Japan's space exploitation, based on the 
government's interpretation, has been limited to activities for 
nonmilitary purposes only. However, the newly planned 
legislation, initiated by an LDP special committee on space 
activities, is intended to ease the government's interpretation. 
It will pave the way to Japan's space exploration for 
unaggressive defense-oriented purposes involving reconnaissance 
satellites and missile defense (MD). In addition to research and 
development as the core of Japan's space activities, the LDP will 
also weigh space exploitation for national security, disaster 
prevention, and industrial development. The LDP leadership would 
like to introduce the legislation to the Diet at next year's 
ordinary session after coordination within the ruling coalition. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001354  005 OF 012 
 
 
In 1969, the Diet adopted a resolution on the peaceful uses of 
outer space. In conformity with this parliamentary principle, the 
government has restricted Japan's space exploitation to 
activities in nonmilitary areas only. Meanwhile, the Self-Defense 
Forces' use of satellites is also limited to commercial-off-the- 
shelf technologies. 
 
The LDP-initiated legislation is aimed at easing the government's 
conventional interpretation of space activities. Its easing will 
lead Japan to a major turning point. For example, it will be 
possible for Japan to develop spy satellites outdoing civilian 
satellites in resolving power. In addition, Japan currently 
depends on the United States for its early detection of ballistic 
missile launches. However, the legislative step will also make it 
possible for Japan to do so with its own early warning 
satellites. 
 
In addition, the LDP will further seek to exploit outer space for 
strategic purposes. To that end, its bill is intended to improve 
the efficiency of space-related policy measures that have been 
separately promoted by several government ministries and 
agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, 
Science and Technology and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and 
Industry. The bill is also aimed at creating a system to unify 
their disparate space-related programs. At the same time, it will 
require the government to establish a cabinet portfolio for space 
exploitation and to set up a council for apace strategies under 
the cabinet. 
 
In late February, the LDP set up a subcommittee on the peaceful 
uses of outer space under its special committee on space 
activities. The subcommittee, regarding the government's 
interpretation as internationally peculiar, has discussed the 
advisability of allowing space exploration for unaggressive 
defense-oriented purposes, with former Education, Science and 
Technology Minister Takeo Kawamura presiding. 
 
The LDP had initially intended to call on the government to 
reinterpret the Diet resolution. However, the LDP will aim for a 
package of legislative measures in order to dissolve various 
issues related to space activities. The subcommittee will meet on 
March 28 to adopt the legislation, and then it would like to work 
out a draft bill by August for further discussions. 
 
"We will work it out in the ruling coalition, and if possible, 
we'd like to present it to the Diet during next year's ordinary 
session," says an LDP executive. However, the LDP is scheduled to 
elect its new president in September and its executive lineup 
will also change. Even more, the LDP will have to go through 
coordination with its coalition partner, the New Komeito party. 
As it stands, there are hurdles to clear before the LDP presents 
the bill to the Diet. 
 
In 1998, North Korea test-launched a ballistic missile. In the 
aftermath of that incident, Japan developed an intelligence- 
gathering satellite, which was at the same level as private- 
sector satellites with the resolution of up to one meter in 
conformity to the government's interpretation of nonmilitary 
activities. In 2004, the Japan Business Federation (Nippon 
Keidanren) proposed reviewing the Diet resolution as well as 
Japan's self-imposed three principles on arms exports. 
 
 
TOKYO 00001354  006 OF 012 
 
 
8) Cost of redeployment of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam likely 
to exceed 1 trillion yen, according to modified estimation; 
Japan's share to reach as much as 75% 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
During the recent working-level talks of foreign and defense 
officials from Japan and the United States held in Hawaii on 
March 7-11, the US team had estimated as the overall cost of the 
redeployment of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam approximately 10 
billion dollars - a figure that exceeded the initial estimate. 
This comes to about 1.1 trillion yen at the exchange rate used 
for the fiscal 2006 budget bill. The Tokyo Shimbun learned this 
yesterday. Given a possible expansion in the redeployment cost, 
both sides have decided not to specify such items as the overall 
cost and the cost-sharing percentages of Japan and the United 
States. Meanwhile, the two nations have agreed in principle on a 
scheme of Japan providing loans to the US in the way to shoulder 
a portion of the US share. 
 
The US has insisted on the need to construct infrastructure in 
Guam, such as barracks, housing, recreation facilities, roads and 
water works. The US initially had estimated the overall 
relocation cost to be 8 billion dollars, or 888 billion yen, but 
after re-estimating the cost, it modified it upward. 
 
The relocation cost is to be shared by Japan and the US. But in 
part because of fiscal difficulties, the US called on Japan to 
provide loans to the US to cover a portion of the US share, with 
one official reportedly saying: "If no financial assistance comes 
from Japan, US Marines based in Okinawa would have no choice but 
to remain there." 
 
Both negotiating teams have reached a general agreement on a loan 
formula, but by the US re-estimation, the redeployment cost has 
ballooned. The Japanese team then asked the US to present a clear 
basis for the re-estimation, with one Japanese official saying: 
"Otherwise we cannot convince the people at home about the need 
for Japan's payment." The US officials replied to the Japanese 
side that it would be difficult to come up with it quickly. 
 
9) Cost of relocation of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam: Plan 
floated for Japan to pay 40% of the cost 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
The Japanese government has floated an idea of Japan paying 40% 
of the relocation cost of US Marines from Okinawa to Guam, an 
issue that has drawn much attention in the realignment of US 
forces in Japan, sourced revealed yesterday. The remaining 60% 
would be covered by loans from the Japan Bank for International 
Cooperation (JBIC) and other means. The purpose is to constrain 
Japan's payment. However, the US has asked Japan to cover 75% of 
the overall cost. With both sides far apart, the two nations will 
narrow the gap in working-level talks of foreign and defense 
officials that are to reopen as early as next week. 
 
The idea of Japan paying a 40% share of the cost was brought up 
by a Japanese official during the recent working-level talks held 
in Hawaii on March 7-11. The US initially had estimated the 
 
TOKYO 00001354  007 OF 012 
 
 
overall relocation cost at 8 billion dollars, but in the recent 
talks, the US pointed out the necessity of adding 2 billion 
dollars to the previous cost, insisting that 10 billion dollars, 
or about 1.75 trillion yen, would be required for the relocation. 
If the US request goes as is, Japan's payment will run to 7.5 
billion dollars or approximately 881.2 billion yen. 
 
Based on the previous US estimation of 8 billion dollars for the 
relocation cost from Okinawa to Guam, Japan had estimated the 
overall cost of the realignment of US forces in Japan to be 3 
trillion yen or so if its payment of the relocation cost is held 
down to 40%. But the US has raised the requested amount of 
Japan's payment in every round of talks. If Japan accepted such a 
request, its payment would expand even further. 
 
Of the Guam relocation cost, it is assumed that Japan will cover 
the costs of constructing a headquarters, barracks, and training 
facilities, as well as things like hospitals and schools. Japan 
plans to pay 40% of the total relocation cost from the defense 
budget in the general account over 10 years. 
 
10) Part of Yokota RAPCON area to be returned in USFJ 
realignment; Tokyo, Washington agree in general principle 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
In realigning US forces in Japan, the governments of Japan and 
the US agreed in general principle that the US side return to 
Japan part of Yokota Air Base's radar approach control (RAPCON) 
area. The plan is to return the uppermost region of the space 
area. Tokyo and Washington are speeding up efforts for the 
coordination of the scale to be returned and a timeline for that. 
The two countries aim for the planned return by the end of 2009, 
when the fourth runway is expected to be constructed at Haneda 
Airport. The return of the airspace, if realized, will lead to 
easing flight routes above the Tokyo Metropolitan area 
overcrowded with civilian planes. 
 
The agreement was reached during the working-level talks of 
defense and foreign affairs officials held Mar. 7-11 in Hawaii. 
Defense Agency Director General Nukaga yesterday met with Prime 
Minister Koizumi in the Diet building and reported the details of 
the talks to him. The prime minister responded: "I would like you 
to appropriately deal with bilateral realignment talks and do 
your utmost in order to obtain understanding from the affected 
local communities." He thus ordered Nukaga to compile a final 
report on the USFJ realignment before the end of March, while 
making efforts to obtain understanding from concerned local 
governments. 
 
11) US Navy Command punished hit-and-run US sailor with pay cuts 
without opening military court 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
US military authorities have punished a 23-year-old female sailor 
based at the US Navy's Atsugi base (which straddles Yamato and 
Ayase cities in Kanagawa Prefecture) with a pay cut and other 
penalties, sources revealed yesterday. The sailor was under 
arrest on suspicion of running down three schoolboys with her 
 
TOKYO 00001354  008 OF 012 
 
 
vehicle in Hachioji, Tokyo, last year and then fleeing the 
accident scene, a violation of the road traffic law. She was 
released later in the day, however, the reason being that she was 
"on duty" -- treatment that is in accordance with the Japan-US 
Status of Forces Agreement. The case took the form of legal 
procedures instead of a court-martial. 
 
According to US Navy Headquarters in Yokosuka in Kanagawa 
Prefecture, the decision was made on March 2. The punishments 
included: (1) a 50-%, two-month base-pay cut worth 1,551 dollars, 
or 180,000 yen; (2) a 45-day suspension from duty (suspended); 
(3) and a demotion (also suspended). The sailor received such 
punishments for her "reckless driving." In a military trial 
presided over by a judge, a prosecutor and a defense lawyer are 
present. But in the case of "disciplinary action" that does not 
follow judicial procedures, the captain of the vessel concerned 
plays the main role. 
 
While driving a wagon at around 1:00 p.m. Dec. 22, 2005, the 
sailor ran down three elementary schoolboys on a national highway 
in Hachioji, injuring them. Hachioji police officers subsequently 
found her parked along the road about 1 kilometer away from the 
scene and arrested her on suspicion of violating the road traffic 
law and other charges. 
 
In Japan, a hit-and-run case that involves multiple victims could 
result in a jail sentence. But in the case of the US sailor, only 
her pay will be cut, and the demotion and other penalties were 
suspended. A source connected with the US military explained: 
"Making comparison is difficult as the form of court and the 
concept of faults are different between the two countries. The 
view that punishments against US servicemen are too lenient is 
biased. We believe the punishment this time is severe." 
 
12) A victim's father angry 
 
MAINICHI (Page 31) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
Learning of the punishment against the female sailor, Shinya 
Onari, 41, of Hachioji, the father of one of the victims, said in 
an angry tone: "In Japan, if one commits a traffic accident, that 
person would lose his social status and everything else. The 
punishment of a pay cut is way too light." 
 
13) US finds 3rd case of BSE, casting shadow over Japanese 
consumers' trust in US beef 
 
MAINICHI (Page 9) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
The discovery of a third case of BSE in the US may increase 
Japanese consumers' concern about the safety of US beef, though 
the case will not directly affect Japan-US negotiations on 
whether Japan will resume US beef imports. Recently, banned bones 
were also found in a US beef shipment to Hong Kong. 
 
Health, Labor, and Welfare Minister Jiro Kawasaki and 
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister Shoichi Nakagawa 
said in their respective press conferences yesterday that the new 
case of BSE would not affect Japan-US beef negotiations, given 
that the infected cow was over 10 years of age and that the case 
 
TOKYO 00001354  009 OF 012 
 
 
was confirmed because the US inspection system functioned. 
 
Japan has provided as conditions for imported beef: (1) beef from 
cattle 20 months of age or younger and the removal of specified 
risk materials; and (2) imports only from plants authorized by 
the US government. Theoretically, even if the potential BSE risk 
of US beef is high, there will be no problem as long as the 
conditions are observed. Agriculture Department chief 
veterinarian John Clifford stated: "Of the about 650,000 cows 
tested in the US, only two were found infected. The possibility 
of contracting BSE is extremely low." 
 
Japanese consumers, however, now cast a shadow over the safety of 
US beef. One consumer said: "The number of cattle subjected to 
inspection is far smaller in the US than in Japan, which has 
mandated blanket testing. A considerable number of infected cows 
might have been overlooked." The Food Safety Commission has also 
been calling on the US to expand its inspection system and 
tighten feed regulations. 
 
14) Three meat-processing plants certified for exporting to Japan 
included among nine whose improper anti-BSE process pointed out 
by OIG 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 8) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the US Department of 
Agriculture stated in its report that the process of removing 
specified risk materials had not been properly carried out at 
nine meat-processing plants in the US. On this issue, the 
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry revealed yesterday 
that three plants certified by the US government to export beef 
to Japan were among the nine, according to an additional 
explanation from the US. The ministry added, though, that since 
OIG inspection had been conducted before they were authorized for 
exporting beef to Japan and improvement measures had been taken, 
there is no problem at present. 
 
The Japanese government sent a list of questions to the US 
government in response to a report from the OIG this February. 
Washington has replied to the questions as of March 13. 
 
15) Minshuto to send questionnaires to offices of 37 plants 
authorized for exporting beef to Japan 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
The BSE issue taskforce of the Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), headed by Vice President Kenji Yamaoka, decided 
yesterday to send questionnaires to the offices of the 37 meat- 
processing plants certified by the US government to ship beef to 
Japan. The opposition party plans to ask the questions of whether 
it is possible to (1) accurately select cattle 20 months of age 
or younger; (2) separate cattle that have not been fed meat-and- 
bone meal from others; and (3) implement blanket testing. 
 
16) Poll: Ozawa tops all others at 18% for next DPJ president, 
Kan at 17%, Maehara in 4th place 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
 
TOKYO 00001354  010 OF 012 
 
 
March 15, 2006 
 
Ichiro Ozawa, who once was a vice president of the leading 
opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto), topped 
all others at 18% as the most appropriate candidate to head the 
party for the next term, the Yomiuri Shimbun found from its face- 
to-face nationwide public opinion survey conducted March 11-12. 
Former DPJ President Naoto Kan ranked second at 17%, followed by 
DPJ Secretary General Hatoyama at 13%. The party's incumbent 
president, Seiji Maehara, ranked fourth at 10%. Maehara is losing 
his grip on the party due to his clumsy handling of the 'fake 
email' incident that the DPJ took up in the Diet. Few wanted him 
to see him elected for another term. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked to pick only one from among 
nine likely candidates expected to run in the DPJ's presidential 
election scheduled for this September. Even among DPJ supporters, 
Ozawa stood at 28%, with Kan at 25%. Maehara ranked fourth at 
11%. Broken down into age brackets, Ozawa was popular among those 
in their 60s and Kan among those in their 20s. 
 
Respondents were also asked who they thought would be the most 
appropriate candidate to become the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party's president after Prime Minister Koizumi who will step down 
in September. Among nine names given, Chief Cabinet Secretary Abe 
topped all others at 45%, securing his top position from the last 
survey taken in February. Among others, former Chief Cabinet 
Secretary Yasuo Abe stood at 11%, Foreign Minister Aso at 6%, 
 
SIPDIS 
former LDP Secretary General Koichi Kato at 3%, Internal Affairs 
and Communications Minister Takenaka at 3%, and Finance Minister 
Tanigaki at 2%. There was no marked change in their popularity 
percentages and standings. 
 
Abe was picked by 58% of those in support of the Koizumi cabinet 
and by 60% of those in support of the LDP. He was also the first 
pick among those in support of other political parties and among 
those not in support of the Koizumi cabinet. 
 
Fukuda, who ranked second, gained support to a certain extent-14% 
among those not in support of the Koizumi cabinet and 18% among 
those in support of the DPJ. 
 
17) Text of newspaper advertisement offering apology for "fake e- 
mail" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 39) (Full) 
March 15, 2006 
 
There was no truth in the e-mail claimed (by Hisayasu Nagata and 
Minshuto) that (former Livedoor President Takafumi Horie) had 
instructed his subordinate to transfer 30 million yen to the 
second son of Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Tsutomu 
Takebe. The e-mail was totally groundless. 
 
We deeply apologize for it. 
 
Through budget committee meetings and party-head question-and- 
answer sessions, House of Representatives member Hisayasu Nagata 
and Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) pointed out as if 
Livedoor had transferred 30 million yen to a bank account held by 
Mr. Takebe's second son and that Livedoor funds had flowed to 
people close to Secretary General Takebe. Those statements were 
 
TOKYO 00001354  011 OF 012 
 
 
totally groundless. 
 
We sincerely apologize to Mr. Takebe, his second son, and people 
connected with the company run by him for severely defaming their 
reputations. We also deeply apologize for causing tremendous 
trouble to the operations of the company. 
 
We will request the portion defaming them be expunged from the 
Diet minutes. Fully aware of the influence of statements by Diet 
members, we will face question-and-answer sessions at the Diet, 
which is thoroughly investigating the facts. 
 
March 15, 2006 
 
Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan) 
Hisayasu Nagata, House of Representative member 
 
18) Minshuto lawmaker Nagata refuses to resign, but will offer 
apology at disciplinary panel 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
House of Representatives member Hisayasu Nagata of the main 
opposition party Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), whose 
party membership has been suspended due to the uproar he created 
in the Diet by alleging that Livedoor Co. founder Horie sent an e- 
mail ordering his staff to transfer money to Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP) Secretary General Tsutomu Takebe's son, yesterday 
again rejected the possibility of his resigning from the Diet. He 
told reporters in the Diet building: "Since I have entrusted my 
political fate to the disciplinary committee, I'm waiting for its 
judgment." Some Minshuto lawmakers have called on him to quit his 
Lower House seat. 
 
The Lower House Committee on Discipline decided yesterday in a 
meeting that it would hold a session tomorrow to explain the 
action planned against Nagata. The panel is now coordinating a 
plan to let Nagata express an apology on March 22. The ruling 
camp has proposed making Nagata's apology and questioning him in 
the same session, but Minshuto has rejected a question-and-answer 
session. 
 
In negotiations between the ruling and opposition camps of the 
disciplinary committee,  Minshuto lawmakers have expressed their 
intention to respond to the ruling bloc's demand that a person 
who provided the false e-mail to Nagata be summoned to testify as 
a witness before the committee if Nagata would agree to do so. 
Minshuto's chief committee director Hirofumi Hirano said, "We 
have judged that summoning of the person in question is 
unavoidable in order to supplement his account of his actions." 
The party will not respond to a request for his testimony should 
the ruling camp do so. 
 
19) Many executive board members criticize Maehara 
 
ASAHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
March 15, 2006 
 
Many member of the executive board of Minshuto (Democratic Party 
of Japan) criticized and voiced objections in a meeting yesterday 
against party head Seiji Maehara over his remarks about the 
 
TOKYO 00001354  012 OF 012 
 
 
political fate of party lawmaker Hisayasu Nagata. Maehara and 
other executive members were busy offering apologies. The present 
Minshuto leadership appears to be losing momentum. Nobutaka 
Tsutsui blasted Maehara for having expressed his view in a speech 
 
SIPDIS 
on March 13 that he would leave it up to Nagata as to whether he 
would give up his Diet seat. "If we present information little by 
little while watching the trends of public opinion. You at first 
said that he did not need to resign." Maehara then apologized, 
saying, "What I meant is that the party has already punished him. 
There is no change in my remarks." 
 
SCHIEFFER