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Viewing cable 06TOKYO2400, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 05/02/06

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06TOKYO2400 2006-05-02 01:05 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO0113
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #2400/01 1220105
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 020105Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1628
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 8630
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6002
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9197
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 5978
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 7171
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2058
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8237
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0082
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 002400 
 
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 05/02/06 
 
 
Index: 
 
1)   Top headlines 
2)   Editorials 
3)   Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Alliance enters new stage: 
4)   US, Japan seal USFJ realignment agreement at two-plus-two 
  meeting in Washington, but skirt issue of total cost of 
  implementation 
5)   JDA chief Nukaga at two-plus-two proposes new scheme of US- 
Japan defense cooperation to replace "guidelines" 
6)   Two-plus-two statement stresses US-Japan cooperation to stop 
nuclear plans by Iran, North Korea, and seeks transparency from 
China on arms buildup 
7)   US strategy in USFJ realignment aims at stronger deterrence 
against China 
8)   Biggest hurdle to realignment agreement will be 
implementation, especially local coordination and 3-trillion yen 
total cost to Japan 
9)   Prime Minister Koizumi to explain realignment agreement to 
Okinawa Governor Inamine prior to cabinet approval of pact 
 
10)  New Komeito puts off approval of bill raising JDA to a 
  ministry, giving priority to passage of revision of Basic 
  Education Law 
 
Koizumi diplomacy: 
11)  Prime Minister Koizumi in Africa pledges $18.7 million to 
  help resolve Sudan dispute 
12)  Koizumi's speech to African assembly aims at creating new 
links with countries on that continent 
 
South Korean ties: 
13)  Senior Vice Foreign Minister Shiozaki presses ROKG to set up 
  meeting of foreign ministers 
14)  LDP's Taku Yamasaki told in Seoul that four candidates vying 
to succeed Koizumi as prime minister all lack leadership 
15)  ROK poll: For South Koreans, Japan is the second most feared 
country after North Korea 
 
16)  Asahi poll: 70% of public, 90% of people in their 20s, never 
  heard of the Tokyo War Crimes Trials 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
All five newspapers: 
Japan, US reach final accord on realignment of US forces in 
Japan; Japan-US alliance enters new stage; Futenma base 
relocation to be completed by 2014 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1)  Do you know about the Tokyo War Crimes Trials? 
(2)  Tokyo and Fukuoka should present persuasive blueprints for 
hosting the Olympics 
 
Mainichi: 
(1)  Japan-US security talks: Prime Minister Koizumi must talks 
 
TOKYO 00002400  002 OF 010 
 
 
about the shape of new alliance 
(2)  Iran's nuclear issue: International community, centering on 
China and Russia, should continue efforts to convince Iran 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1)  60th anniversary of Tokyo Trial: Japanese people must 
examine its war responsibility 
(2)  Enforcement of Corporate Law: Corporations are now free to 
design institutional arrangements 
 
Nihon Keizai: 
(1)  Japan should get chance for economic growth in global 
markets by promoting reforms 
 
Sankei: 
(1)  Tomorrow is Constitution Day: Is Japan prepared enough for 
threats? Let's amend Article 9 of the Constitution to build 
foundation for independence 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1)  USFJ realignment: Implementation is not going to be an easy 
process 
(2)  Forest conservation: Consideration needed for protecting the 
woods 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, April 30 & May 1 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2)  (Full) 
May 2 
 
Evening, April 30 
Attended dinner party hosted by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles. 
Stayed at Sheraton Addis Hotel. 
 
Morning, May 1 
Met at AU headquarters with AU Commission Chairman Konare. 
Delivered speech on Japan's Africa policy. 
 
Afternoon 
Attended luncheon hosted by Konare. Left (for Ghana) from Addis 
Ababa Airport on government plane. 
 
4) Futenma relocation to be completed in 2014; Japan, US reach 
final accord on USFJ realignment 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Top play) (Abridged) 
May 2, 2006 
 
WASHINGTON-Japan and the United States held a 'two-plus-two' 
meeting of their intergovernmental security consultative 
committee on the morning of May 1 (late at night on the same day 
Japan time), with their cabinet ministers for foreign and defense 
affairs attending. In the meeting, the Japanese and US 
governments reached a final agreement on the planned realignment 
of US forces in Japan. The final report specifies a timetable to 
complete the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air 
Station in Okinawa Prefecture to a coastal area of Camp Schwab in 
the island prefecture by 2014 and also to complete the 
redeployment of about 8,000 US Marines from Okinawa to Guam by 
that year. Consequently, the two governments have now wrapped up 
 
TOKYO 00002400  003 OF 010 
 
 
their realignment talks held for about three years. 
 
The 'two-plus-two' ministerial was held at the US Department of 
State with Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Defense Agency Director 
General Fukushiro Nukaga attending from Japan and Secretary of 
State Rice and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld from the United 
States. Nukaga met the press after the meeting and stressed: 
"It's about time to consider the objective and ideal of bilateral 
security arrangements between Japan and the United States in the 
place of the current guidelines (for bilateral defense 
cooperation between the two countries)." 
 
In response to the agreement, the Japanese government is expected 
to present a package of relevant legislative measures for fund- 
raising purposes to the Diet at its extraordinary session this 
fall at the earliest. However, the final report does not touch on 
Japan's total share-estimated at 26 billion dollars or 
approximately 3 trillion yen-in cost sharing for the overall 
realignment of US forces in Japan. In the Diet, opposition 
parties are poised to hard pursue the grounds for Japan's cost 
sharing to that huge extent. The government will be held 
accountable for the purpose and significance of base realignment 
plans. 
 
The final report focused on two major challenges in terms of 
integrating the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and US Forces Japan 
(USFJ) for their strategic fusion and alleviating Okinawa's base- 
hosting burden. 
 
The final report also refers to the planned construction of a 
replacement facility for Futenma airfield, aiming at its 
completion by 2014. The final report describes the overall return 
of Futenma airfield after its relocation. The newly planned 
alternative facility for Futenma airfield is designed to have a V- 
shaped pair of airstrips with an overall length of 1,800 meters. 
The final report presumes that it will take three years to carry 
out an environmental assessment of construction methodology and 
will take five years to complete construction work. 
 
The final report estimates the agreed redeployment of US Marines 
from Okinawa to Guam at 10.27 billion dollars (approx. 1.2 
trillion yen). Japan is to pay 6.09 billion dollars including a 
fiscal outlay of 2.8 billion dollars. The United States will bear 
the rest. The Japanese and US governments once agreed to complete 
Guam relocation by 2012 but will have it coincide with Futenma 
relocation. 
 
5) At 2+2 meeting, JDA Director-General Nukaga proposes creating 
new framework for defense cooperation, which will replace 
"guidelines" 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 2, 2006 
 
By Tatsuya Fukumoto, Washington 
 
At a joint press conference held at noon of yesterday (early 
hours of today) after the Japan-US Security Consultative 
Committee (2+2), Defense Agency Director-General Nukaga stated 
that "I said it might be time to reconsider the purposes and 
principles of the previous Japan-US guidelines for defense 
cooperation," which were established in 1997. He revealed that he 
 
TOKYO 00002400  004 OF 010 
 
 
had proposed at the 2+2 meeting that consultations be launched to 
create a new framework for defense cooperation that would replace 
the previous guidelines. 
 
As bilateral consultations on the realignment of US forces in 
Japan have bolstered the direction of expanding and deepening the 
Japan-US alliance, the JDA wanted to insert a review of the 
guidelines into a final report. Its thinking is that "the 
guidelines have already become antiquated, because they have few 
words about missile defense, for example," according to a senior 
JDA official. 
 
However, the Foreign Ministry has been unwilling to review the 
guidelines, with Vice Foreign Minister Shotaro Yachi remarking: 
"We don't think there is anything inconvenient about the 
guidelines for now." In addition, some in the US government are 
of the opinion that "what is necessary is a new framework that 
will be more powerful than the guidelines." 
 
A review of the guidelines was not specified in the final report. 
Nukaga therefore proposed reviewing the guidelines at the 2+2 
meeting and, he revealed at the press conference that he had made 
such a proposal. 
 
6) Japan, US to cooperate to discourage North Korea and Iran from 
developing nuclear arms; Will seek transparency in China's 
military buildup 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 1) (Full) 
May 2, 2006 
 
The governments of Japan and the US during a joint press briefing 
after yesterday's meeting of the Bilateral Security Affairs 
Committee (two-plus-two meeting of defense and foreign ministers) 
announced their determination to strengthen bilateral cooperation 
in order to prevent North Korea and Iran from developing nuclear 
arms. Tokyo and Washington shared concerns about a threat from 
China's military buildup and the Taiwan Strait issue, though they 
avoided singling out that country or to name the place in 
question. 
 
Regarding Iran's uranium enrichment activities, the statement 
noted: "Japan and the US will persuade Iran to suspend all of its 
uranium enrichment-related activities and fully cooperate for 
inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The 
two countries have arrived at an agreement on the need that the 
UN Security Council acts in cooperation." 
 
Regarding North Korea's nuclear issue, Japan and the US called on 
that nation to come back to the six-nation talks unconditionally 
and immediately; dismantle its nuclear weapons program dismantle 
its nuclear weapons programs in a complete, irreversible and 
verifiable way; and suspend all illegal activities. 
 
On China's military buildup, the statement underscored that there 
should be more transparency regarding its move to modernize its 
military power in the region. Touching on the Japan-US joint 
strategic target mapped last February, which for the first time 
alluded to the need for a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan 
Straight issue, the statement noted that Japan and the US would 
closely cooperate in order to achieve that target. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002400  005 OF 010 
 
 
7) US strategy now focuses on deterrent capabilities against 
China 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 2, 2006 
 
By Fumi Igarashi, Washington 
 
The US government's basic strategy appears to use the ongoing 
realignment of US forces in Japan to boost its deterrent 
capabilities against China, which has continued an arms buildup 
at a rapid pace. Washington will next seek to implement what has 
been agreed on (between Japan and the US) and deepen cooperation 
between the US forces and the Self-Defense Forces (SDF). 
 
The joint statement released after the Japan-US Security 
Consultative Committee (2+2) yesterday mentioned that "(four 
cabinet members) sought an even more transparency of 
modernization of military capabilities in the region." This 
phrase does not point to any country by name, but it apparently 
takes into account China, which continues its military buildup 
focusing on air and naval forces and spends two to three times 
annually what it says are its military expenditures. 
 
The US Department of Defense in its Quadrennial Defense Review 
(QDR) unveiled this February clearly describes China as "a most 
potential competitor for the United States in military terms," 
and indicates the US remains alert to that country. Pentagon 
thinks that in order to prevent China from taking hostile action 
in the future, it is essential for the US to establish a 
defensive system with its allies. In this sense, the ongoing 
realignment of the US forces in Japan is the first step toward 
that goal. 
 
8) High hurdles remain before implementation of US force 
realignment plans 
 
MANICHI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Negotiations with local communities running into difficulties 
 
The final report completed by Japan and the US on the morning of 
May 1, local time, proposes large-scale realignment plans for US 
forces in Japan, with a senior Defense Agency official calling it 
"the largest-scale reorganization in a half century." But no 
agreement has yet to be reached in the government on how to 
secure the fiscal resources to finance the plans, and the 
formation of detailed plans will start from now. The government 
is facing difficult negotiations with many base-hosting 
communities on which a greater burden will be inevitably imposed, 
including Zama City in Kanagawa Prefecture and Iwakuni City in 
Yamaguchi Prefecture. Uncertainty is still looming large over the 
feasibility of the planned USFJ realignment. 
 
As for the thorniest issue of transferring the US Marines' 
Futenma Air Station, It is expected to take "three years for an 
environmental assessment and five years for construction." This 
is the most optimistic scenario, and if the relocation process is 
delayed, the entire realignment timetable might be significantly 
moved back to a later date. 
 
 
TOKYO 00002400  006 OF 010 
 
 
With respect to the return of US military bases in the southern 
part of the Okinawa mainland, the final report incorporated this 
expression: "That depends on Japan's financial contributions." 
This can be taken as a message from the US that if coordination 
in the government does not go smoothly over Japan's share of the 
total cost to transfer Marines to Guam, the US will postpone the 
base-return plan. 
 
Final report stops short of specifying 3 trillion yen 
 
The US estimated Japan's share of the total cost for realigning 
US forces in Japan at 3 trillion yen. But this figure was not 
included in the final report. The report, though, noted: "The 
Japanese government will bear the expenses needed for 
constructing facilities and other purposes to which there is no 
reference in the report." This means that Japan will have to 
shoulder a huge amount of expenses, including those for the 
transfer of the Futenma Air Station and carrier-based aircraft to 
the US Marine Corps' Iwakuni Air Base, in addition to about 6.09 
billion dollars (about 700 billion yen) as its share of the total 
cost to relocate Okinawa-based Marines to Guam. 
 
The US has yet to present a definite overall estimated cost for 
realigning US forces in Japan, so there is no adequate basis for 
the 26 billion dollars (about 3 trillion yen) presented by US 
Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Lawless as Japan's share of the 
total realignment cost. 
 
9) Prime minister to explain USFJ realignment plans to Okinawa 
governor prior to cabinet approval of government policy 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Following a final agreement reached between Japan and the US on 
the realignment of US forces in Japan, Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi decided yesterday that he would meet Okinawa Governor 
Keiichi Inamine prior to cabinet approval of the government's 
realignment policy. The prime minister intends to explain plans 
to reorganize US military facilities in Okinawa, including the 
relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station to a 
coastal area of Camp Schwab, as well as measures to spur 
Okinawa's development, in an effort to solicit understanding from 
the governor. 
 
10) New Komeito to put off procedures to approve bills upgrading 
Defense Agency to a ministry, giving priority to amending Basic 
Education Law 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 2, 2006 
 
The New Komeito has decided to postpone to June the procedures 
for approving a set of bills upgrading the Defense Agency to the 
status of a ministry. The government has been preparing the bills 
to submit them to the current Diet session. The reason is because 
the Defense Agency is expected in June to release a report on 
measures to prevent a recurrence of rid-rigging practices, as 
well as to arrive at a decision on an organizational reform plan 
to dismantle the Defense Facilities Administration Agency (DFAA). 
The New Komeito thus has made it clear that it will not discuss 
the issue of upgrading the Defense Agency to a ministry until the 
 
TOKYO 00002400  007 OF 010 
 
 
bid-rigging scandal involving the DFAA is resolved. In the 
background, many party members are opposed to the idea of having 
a revision of the Basic Education Law and the upgrading of the 
Defense Agency occur at the same time. Therefore, unless the term 
of the ongoing Diet session is extended, it will be difficult to 
pass the bills to upgrade the agency to a ministry during the 
current session. 
 
New Komeito head Kanzaki and Secretary General Tetsuzo Fuyushiba 
were enthusiastic about an early realization of upgrading the 
Defense Agency to the status of a ministry under the present 
leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), having mind the 
original agreement with the LDP on upgrading the agency when the 
two parties formed a coalition, as well as a change in October of 
New Komeito top executives. They were also concerned that if the 
bills were carried over to next year's ordinary session, there 
could be a negative effect on unified local elections and the 
Upper House election. Following the LDP's Defense Division's 
approval on April 28 of the name of "a Defense Ministry" and the 
outline of the plan to upgrade the agency, some New Komeito 
lawmakers said that party should start internal discussions soon 
after the Golden Week holidays in early May. 
 
However, there is entrenched opposition to upgrading the Defense 
Agency within the New Komeito and its support organization, the 
religious sect Soka Gakkai, citing the move harks back to past 
militarism and nationalism. In an attempt to prevent the bills 
upgrading the agency from being put off to next year's regular 
Diet session, the New Komeito intends to go along with the LDP's 
plan to introduce the bills to the current Diet session and then 
to carry them over to the next Diet session. 
 
11) Prime Minister Koizumi pledges 18.7 million dollars to 
resolve conflict in Sudan; Stresses support for Africa's effort 
to become self-reliant 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Excerpt) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi on the morning of May 1 (evening of the 
same day, Japan time) made a speech on Japan's Africa policy at 
the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During the 
speech, he revealed his determination to continue providing 
financial cooperation to Africa to back its effort to become self- 
reliant. As an immediate measure, Japan will outlay a total of 
18.7 million dollars to be used to resolve the conflict in 
Darfur, Sudan. The prime minister also indicated a desire to 
tackle reforming the UN Security Council in cooperation with 
African nations. 
 
12) Prime Minister in speech calls for cooperation with Africa; 
Strategic move for UN reform 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Tetsuo Hidaka, Addis Ababa 
 
Prime Minister Koizumi in a speech on Japan's Africa policy 
underscored a stance of attaching importance to Africa, 
reflecting the fact that it is now of urgent necessity to deal 
with poverty, disputes, and infectious diseases facing Africa. 
 
TOKYO 00002400  008 OF 010 
 
 
Another reason is that Africa, which accounts for about 30% of UN 
members, is indispensable for Japan's efforts to realize its 
diplomatic policy, including reform of the UN Security Council 
(UNSC), in the international community. 
 
In the speech, the prime minister called for strengthened ties 
with Africa in wide areas, such as measures to deal with 
infectious diseases, the global environment, energy, terrorism, 
and UN reform. 
 
Famine and infectious diseases in Africa are now major issues for 
the international community. The prime minister has presented 
Japan's first overall action program to deal with infectious 
diseases as a launch of full-fledged assistance. 
 
Another reason for his Africa visit is to make a strategic move 
for reform of the UN and the UNSC. 
 
Japan last year presented along with Germany, India, and Brazil a 
resolution to expand the UNSC but failed to have it adopted. The 
reason for the failure is that it was unable to coordinate with 
the African Union. 
 
This year, Japan has drafted its own UNSC reform proposal 
intended to increase membership by six seats and sought support 
from concerned countries, but its effort failed. For Japan, which 
is desperately trying to regain momentum, strengthening relations 
with African nations is essential in finding a breakthrough, as a 
Foreign Ministry source put it. It wants to obtain understanding 
for UN reform by promoting cooperation in various fields. 
 
The prime minister's visits to Africa also appear to be intended 
to counter China, which is stepping up diplomacy in the region, 
which has rich natural resources, including oil. 
 
13) Senior Vice Foreign Minister Shiozaki calls for early Japan- 
South Korea foreign ministerial 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 3) (Excerpts) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Kiyoshi Nakamura, Seoul 
 
Senior Vice Foreign Minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki met with Foreign 
Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki Moon in Seoul yesterday and 
proposed that Japan and South Korea should hold a foreign 
ministerial meeting at an early date. According to a South Korean 
news agency, Shiozaki called for a foreign ministerial on the 
sidelines of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Qatar to start on 
May 23, and Ban replied: "We will consider it positively." 
 
In the meeting, both sides reconfirmed the contents of the 
agreement reached in the bilateral vice ministerial talks on 
April 22 on the issue of Japan's maritime research. They also 
agreed to swiftly schedule negotiations on demarcating their 
exclusive economic zones (EEZ). 
 
14) LDP's Taku Yamasaki, now visiting ROK, says, "There's no 
strong leader" to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi 
 
ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
May 2, 2006 
 
TOKYO 00002400  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
By Yu Nogami, Seoul 
 
Former Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Vice President Taku 
Yamasaki, now visiting South Korea, late yesterday said of the 
four contenders to succeed Prime Minister Koizumi, namely, Chief 
Cabinet Secretary Abe, former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo 
Fukuda, Foreign Minister Aso, and Finance Minister Tanigaki: "A 
powerful candidate has yet to appear. In the past, there have 
been people who have been recognized as powerful leaders by many 
people. A typical example of this was 'San-Kaku-Dai-Fuku-Chu' 
(meaning San=Takeo Miki; Kaku=Kakuei Tanaka; Dai=Masayoshi Ohira; 
Fuku=Takeo Fukuda; Chu=Yasuhiro Nakasone). They were neck and 
neck with one another. But I can't feel something like that from 
the present contenders called 'Asa-Gaki-Ko-Zo' (Asa=Taro Aso; 
Gaki=Sadakazu Tanigaki; Ko=Yasuo Fukuda; Zo=Shinzo Abe)." 
Yamasaki was replying to questions from reporters traveling with 
him. 
 
Earlier in the day, Yamasaki met with lawmaker Kim Ki Choon of 
the opposition Grand National Party (Hannara) and others in 
Seoul. Yamasaki explained to them that Prime Minister Koizumi 
visits Yasukuni Shine based on "his belief," telling them, "This 
issue will be surely resolved by the person who succeeds Mr. 
Koizumi." Yamasaki, however, did not mention who is likely to 
succeed him and how the issue will be settled. 
 
15) Poll in South Korea: Japan is the second-most-feared country, 
following North Korea 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Kyodo, Seoul 
 
According to the South Korean CBS Radio, an opinion poll 
conducted on April 26 found that 29.5% of respondents cited Japan 
as "a threat to South Korea's national security," following the 
30.8% of those picking North Korea. 
 
Regarding the special speech delivered by President Roh Moo Hyun 
on April 25, in which he expressed his determination to hold 
sovereignty over the Takeshima (Dokdo) islets, 85.8% supported 
the speech, including 53.7% of respondents who strongly supported 
it. 
 
Asked about a South Korea-Japan summit, 63.3% said: "The South 
Korean president should hold a meeting with the Japanese prime 
minister and convey his position more specifically and clearly to 
the Japanese leader," while 24.1% replied: "There is no need to 
hold a South Korea-Japan summit." 
 
16) Poll: 70% don't know about Tokyo Trials 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Abridged) 
May 2, 2006 
 
Way back in the postwar days after the end of World War II, when 
Japan was under occupation, the United States and other allied 
powers tried Japan's WWII Class-A war criminals in the 
International Military Tribunal for the Far East or the Tokyo 
Trials. Six decades later, 70% of the Japanese public do not know 
 
TOKYO 00002400  010 OF 010 
 
 
what the Tokyo Trials were, the Asahi Shimbun found from its 
recent public opinion survey. Among those in their twenties, 90% 
did not know anything about that court. Among those who unaware 
of the court, few were opposed to the enshrinement of Class-A war 
criminals at Yasukuni Shrine and the prime minister's visits 
there. Meanwhile, 69% think the Japanese people have not yet 
fully pursued responsibility for the war. 
 
The survey was conducted across the nation on April 15-16. A 
total of 3,000 persons were sampled out of the nation's voting 
population for face-to-face interviews. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked if they knew what the Tokyo 
Trials were. In response to this question, 4% answered "very 
well," with 23% saying "somewhat." By contrast, 53% answered they 
knew that there was such a court but did not know what it was, 
with 17% saying they did not know that there was such a court. As 
seen from these figures, a total of 70% were unfamiliar with the 
Tokyo Trials. 
 
Respondents were also asked if they were in favor of prime 
ministers visiting Yasukuni Shrine. In response, "yes" accounted 
for 50%, with "no" at 31%. 
 
DONOVAN