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Viewing cable 07TOKYO3013, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07TOKYO3013 2007-07-03 00:54 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO1575
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #3013/01 1840054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 030054Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5125
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//
RUALSFJ/COMUSJAPAN YOKOTA AB JA//J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 4274
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 1858
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 5438
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 0965
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 2667
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7704
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3762
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4855
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 11 TOKYO 003013 
 
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 07//07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule 
 
Opinion polls: 
4) Kyodo's Upper House election polls: Cabinet non-support rate 
jumps to 58.1 %  , almost double the 32 %   support rate; DPJ 
favored over LDP, 24 %   to 17 % 
5) Mainichi poll: 70 %   want a change of government; 66 %   say the 
DPJ gives them a good feeling, compared to 33 %   who favor LDP 
 
6) Defense Minister Kyuma attends military ceremony at Yokota Air 
Base 
 
Kyuma flap: 
7) Prime Minister Abe trying to calm the furor created by Defense 
Minister Kyuma's remark about atomic bombings being "unavoidable" 
8) All opposition parties want Kyuma dismissed, while the ruling 
camp is hurriedly trying to wrap up the Diet and start campaigning 
 
9) Some members of ruling camp so angry at Kyuma for remarks that 
they want him to beg on hands and knees, even resign 
10) Kyuma gaffe a heavy blow to Abe government, LDP just before the 
election 
11) Protests by atomic bomb victims in Nagasaki, Tokyo over Kyuma's 
remarks 
12) Former Prime Minister Mori says Abe not to blame for Kyuma issue 
 
13) Vice Defense Minister Moriya on Kyuma issue: No comment 
14) Kyuma flap brings out gap between Japan's postwar policy to ban 
nuclear weapons and reliance of US nuclear umbrella 
15) Japan never protested to the US regarding its dropping of 
nuclear bombs on Hiroshima, Nagasaki 
 
16) Three labor bills among the legislation shelved until the next 
Diet session 
 
17) Vice Foreign Minister Yachi sees early restart of six-party 
talks unlikely despite Hill's remarks 
 
18) Former ambassador to Thailand Okazaki, one of Abe's chief 
unofficial advisers, involved in revision of Yushukan Museum at 
Yasukuni Shrine 
 
19) Japan to sign energy pact with India, working on one with US, 
China 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Goodwill Group's illegal temporary staffing business revealed by 
Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's investigation 
 
Mainichi: 
Chongryon asset fraud suspect Mitsui may have misled investors to 
collect 300 million yen 
 
Yomiuri, Sankei & Tokyo Shimbun: 
 
TOKYO 00003013  002 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07 
 
Parties in Tokyo air pollution suit accept court-brokered deal 
 
Nikkei: 
Government to expand tax breaks for charitable donations by 
corporations 
 
Akahata: 
JCP firmly opposed to hiking taxes on the people: LDP, New Komeito, 
DPJ giving preferential treatment to big companies 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) 28 %   approval rating for Abe cabinet brings tension to Upper 
House race 
(2) Shareholders meetings: Both sides need to come up with visions 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) Parties in Tokyo air pollution suit accept court-mediated sum: 
Firms, government both bear heavy responsibility 
(2) Privacy act: Revision indispensable 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Settlement of Tokyo air pollution suit may be one step toward 
improving the environment 
(2) BOJ Tankan for June: BOJ needs dialogue with market 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Time to raise interest rates amid moderate economic expansion 
(2) Thorough verification necessary for complete abandonment of 
nuclear programs 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Debate between party heads needed also in areas of diplomacy, 
security 
(2) Settlement of Tokyo air pollution suit praiseworthy 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Upper House election: Abe politics trapped in vicious circle 
(2) Amagasaki derailment: Why was the driver afraid? 
 
Akahata: 
(1) Kyuma's remarks condoning atomic bombings: Unqualified to hold 
office 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, July 2 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
09:07 
Met Defense Minister Kyuma at the Kantei, followed by Health, Labor 
and Welfare Minister Yanagisawa. 
 
10:35 
Met NHK management committee member Shigetaka Komori. 
 
11:01 
Attended safety award ceremony. Afterward met Russian Deputy Premier 
Naryshkin. 
 
TOKYO 00003013  003 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07 
 
 
12:13 
Met Tokyo air pollution chief plaintiff Junji Nishi. 
 
14:00 
Recorded video message for LDP website. Afterward met LDP Secretary 
General Nakagawa. 
 
15:12 
Met Lower House member Yasutoshi Nishimura. 
 
16:09 
Met Vice Foreign Minister Yachi at the Kantei. 
 
17:02 
Attended LDP executive meeting in the Diet building. 
 
17:23 
Returned to the Kantei. 
 
19:12 
Returned to his official residence. 
 
4) Poll: 24 %   to vote for DPJ, 17 %   for LDP; Cabinet support 
hits lowest 32 % 
 
TOKYO (Page 1) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
Kyodo News conducted a telephone-based nationwide public opinion 
survey on June 30 and July 1 to probe public attitudes toward this 
month's election for the House of Councillors. 
 
In the survey, respondents were asked which political party or which 
political party's candidate they would vote for in their 
proportional representation blocs. In response to this question, 
24.5 %   picked the leading opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(Minshuto), up 2.4  percentage points from the last survey taken 
June 23-24. The DPJ topped all other parties. The ruling Liberal 
Democratic Party was at 17.9 %  , down 1.9 points. The margin 
between the two parties has widened. In electoral districts as well, 
the DPJ topped all other parties at 22.9 %  , up 0.9 points from the 
last survey. The LDP was at 19.2 %  , down 2.2 points. 
 
What lies behind such results is apparently public dissatisfaction 
with the problem of the government's pension record-keeping flaws. 
Meanwhile, the LDP and its coalition partner, New Komeito, rammed a 
number of bills-including those related to a reform of the Social 
Insurance Agency-through the Diet in the face of opposition from the 
opposition bench. Furthermore, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma 
justified the United States' dropping of A-bombs on Japan, saying it 
"couldn't be helped." The survey results this time can be taken as 
reflecting these factors. This shows that the LDP and the Abe 
government are under fire from the public. 
 
The biggest focus is whether the ruling coalition can maintain its 
present majority of the seats in the House of Councillors, including 
those not up for reelection. Asked about this, a total of 52.4 % 
answered that they would like the ruling coalition to lose its 
majority, up 4.1 points. Meanwhile, the proportion of those who 
would like the LDP-led coalition to maintain its majority was 32.5 % 
 , down 4.0 %  . 
 
TOKYO 00003013  004 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07 
 
 
The approval rating for the Abe cabinet was 32.0 %  , down 1.5 
points. The Abe cabinet's support rate renewed its record low since 
Abe took office in September last year. The disapproval rating also 
reached 58.1 %  , up 0.4 point. 
 
Respondents were also asked what to do if the ruling coalition fails 
to keep its majority in the House of Councillors. To this question, 
38.4 %   said the House of Representatives should be dissolved for a 
general election, up 7.4 points. In the meantime, the proportion of 
those who insist on replacing the prime minister was only 10.6 %  . 
 
In popularity rating for proportional representation, New Komeito 
stood at 5.7 %  , with the Japanese Communist Party at 4.2 %  , the 
Social Democratic Party (Shaminto) at 1.3 %  , the People's New 
Party (Kokumin Shinto) at 0.7 %  , and the New Party Nippon (Shinto 
Nippon) at 0.2 %  . "Undecided" accounted for 41.0 %  . 
 
In addition, respondents were further asked to pick up to two issues 
which they think are important. To this question, "pension" was 
still high with 60.1 %  , though the figure was down 3.3 points from 
the last survey. Among other issues, "education" was at 22.1 %  , 
and "social divide" at 19.8 %  . 
 
Those "very interested" and "somewhat interested" in the upcoming 
election totaled 75.2 %  . 
 
5) Poll: DPJ favored by 66 %  , LDP at 33 %  ; 70 %   hope to see 
change in governing framework 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
The Mainichi Shimbun conducted an online public opinion survey on 
June 29-30 to probe public attitudes toward this month's election 
for the House of Councillors. "Which do you like better, the Liberal 
Democratic Party or the Democratic Party of Japan (Minshuto)?" In 
response to this question, 66 %   picked the DPJ, with 33 % 
choosing the LDP. "Do you hope to see a change in the governing 
framework?" To this question, "yes" accounted for 70 %  , with "no" 
at only 29 %  . 
 
Among men, 31 %   like the LDP better, with 68 %   preferring the 
DPJ. Among women, 35 %   favor the LDP while 64 %   like the DPJ 
better. All these figures are severe for the LDP. 
 
In the survey, respondents were also asked whether they would like 
to see a change in the ruling coalition of the LDP and New Komeito. 
In response, "yes" and "no" were on a par at 50 %   both among LDP 
supporters and among Komeito supporters. This shows that half the 
respondents, even among those who support the ruling parties, want 
to see a change in the LDP-led coalition. Among Abe cabinet 
supporters as well, opinion was split with "yes" at 51 %   and "no" 
at 48 %  . 
 
In addition, respondents were also asked about the government's 
pension record-keeping flaws. "Do you think the government can check 
within one year as explained by the government?" To this question, 
92 %   gave negative answers. Respondents were further asked if they 
thought the opposition parties have fully played their roles to 
pursue the government's responsibility to answer public 
expectations. In response, 82 %   answered "no." The survey shows 
 
TOKYO 00003013  005 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07 
 
that many were turning a severe eye not only to the government and 
ruling parties but also to the opposition parties. 
 
Meanwhile, various political parties are going to field celebrities 
in the election. Asked about this, 78 %   said it is "questionable," 
with 22 %   seeing "no problem." 
 
6) Kyuma attends USFJ ceremony 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma attended a US military ceremony that 
was held yesterday at the US Air Force's Yokota base in Tokyo to 
commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the 
headquarters of US Forces Japan. In his speech there, Kyuma pointed 
to the existence of "many challenges" between Japan and the United 
States, such as realigning the presence of US forces in Japan and 
propelling bilateral cooperation on missile defense. In addition, 
Kyuma suggested the need for the two countries to exchange views 
closely. "I'd like to endeavor to carry out these challenges in a 
steady way," he stressed. 
 
7) Prime Minister reprimands Kyuma in bid to promptly quell 
aftermath of his remark: Negative reaction from LDP members in Upper 
House, whose seats are up for reelection 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2007 
 
In connection with the issue of Defense Minister Kyuma remarking 
that the dropping of atomic bombs by the US "could not be helped," 
Prime Minister Abe yesterday called him in to the Kantei and 
strongly reprimanded him. Abe apparently aimed at quickly quelling 
the uproar Kyuma's speech had created. However, the fallout from 
Kyuma's remark still continues. 
 
Following Kyuma's statement, the arrangement has been made for 
Tomihisa Taue, mayor of Nagasaki City, and Takaichi Yoshihara, 
speaker of the Nagasaki City Assembly, to visit the Kantei to hold 
talks with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Matoba. They are expected 
to hand-deliver a letter from the Nagasaki City' Assembly lodging a 
protest, noting that Kyuma's remark, which has slighted the feelings 
of the victims of atomic bombings, is unacceptable. They will seek 
the withdrawal of the remark. They will also meet with Kyuma at the 
Defense Ministry. 
 
An increasing number of members of the ruling parties are now 
concerned about a negative impact of the remark on the upcoming 
Upper House election compounded by the setback from the pension 
premium payment error issue. The LDP and the New Komeito will seek 
explanations from Kyuma tomorrow. 
 
New Komeito Diet Policy Committee Chairman Yoshio Urushibara 
yesterday vented his anger against Kyuma: "We are doing our best to 
shore up the Abe administration. Making a statement that will work 
as a drag at such a time is impermissible. It is bound to affect the 
Upper House election negatively. We are furious. What is he up to?" 
 
8) Opposition parties to demand Prime Minister Abe dismiss Kyuma 
from office over A-bomb remarks 
 
 
TOKYO 00003013  006 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07 
 
NIHON KEIZAI (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2007 
 
All the opposition parties have decided to demand that the prime 
minister dismiss Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma due to his remarks 
describing the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the 
United States as "something that couldn't be helped." The opposition 
camp intends to demand Kyuma's presence in Diet deliberations and 
call Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's responsibility into question ahead 
of the upcoming House of Councillors election. For the sake of the 
election, the government and the ruling parties want to quell the 
matter quickly. 
 
Calling Kyuma to his office yesterday morning, Prime Minister Abe 
sternly warned him to watch his mouth so as not to cause any 
misunderstanding. Shortly after Kyuma's remarks, Abe defended him, 
saying: "I think that he simply introduced the United States' view." 
But growing criticism seems to have forced Abe to shift his stance. 
 
Abe also stressed to reporters that he had no intention of 
dismissing Kyuma. Kyuma, meeting the press after his meeting with 
Abe, described the opposition parties' pressure to fire him, said: 
"There have been such demands before, as well." 
 
The mood in the ruling camp is severe. New Komeito Diet affairs 
chief Yoshio Urushibara said to the press in a strong tone: "We have 
been working hard to buoy up the Abe administration. Any comment 
thwarting our efforts is intolerable. (Mr. Kyuma) offered an 
apology. He should not have made such remarks in the first place." 
 
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori of the Liberal Democratic Party 
also took this view in Yokohama: "Some cabinet ministers are prone 
to make controversial remarks, and they have caused public distrust 
in the entire cabinet." Upper House lawmaker Sanzo Hosaka, who is 
going to run in the upcoming race, in a meeting in Tokyo called for 
the defense minister's resignation. 
 
Kyuma has repeatedly made controversial comments. In January, he 
said that the Bush administration's decision to launch the Iraq war 
was a mistake, conflicting with the government's view. All those 
developments can explain why his latest remarks have drawn such a 
strong reaction from other ruling members. 
 
But with the Upper House election drawing closer, some think fueling 
the matter is not wise. Earlier this year, Health, Labor and Welfare 
Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa came under heavy fire as he likened women 
to baby-making machines. But Abe continued to defend Yanagisawa. 
Abe's options this time are also limited. 
 
9) Kyuma's remarks on atomic bombings hurts ruling parties; Calls 
for his dismissal growing 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2007 
 
In the wake of Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma's comment that the US 
atomic bombings could not be helped, many in the ruling parties are 
concerned that the controversial remarks will inevitably affect the 
outcome of the House of Councillors election. Lawmakers of the New 
Komeito, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic 
Party (LDP), are also calling for Kyuma's dismissal. 
 
 
TOKYO 00003013  007 OF 011 
 
SUBJECT: JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 07//07 
 
Yoichi Masuzoe, chairman of the LDP Upper House Policy Research 
Council, stressed last night in Yokohama: 
 
"I want the defense minister to take responsibility. I'm not saying 
he should quit his post. He should restudy history and apologize to 
the public. I hope the minister will kneel on the ground during his 
campaign across the nation." 
 
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Hakuo Yanagisawa also made 
controversial remarks by calling women "baby-making machines." In 
the Aichi gubernatorial election held in February soon after 
Yanagisawa's remarks, the candidate backed by the ruling coalition 
faced an uphill battle even though he had been expected to win an 
easy victory. 
 
Therefore, many in the ruling coalition assume that they will face 
an uphill battle in the upcoming election, with a senior LDP member 
saying: "Like the baby-making machine remark, Kyuma said something 
he should not have said. An attack by the opposition is 
unavoidable." 
 
The ruling LDP is desperate to win a seat in the Nagasaki 
constituency, from which Kyuma was elected. A senior LDP member, 
however, took a severe view: "Since his comment rubbed Nagasaki 
people the wrong way, it will certainly affect the election." 
 
10) Defense Minister Kyuma's controversial remarks about atomic 
bombing a serious blow to ruling camp 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2007 
 
The victims of atomic bombs are now venting their anger on 
controversial remarks made by Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma that the 
US atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki "could not have been 
helped." Abe cabinet ministers have continued making inappropriate 
remarks since the inauguration of the cabinet last September. Kyuma 
made his controversial remarks at the worst timing, just before the 
House of Councillors election this month. Although he retracted his 
comment and Abe reprimanded Kyuma over the remarks, his comment on 
atom bombs remains a big blow to the government and ruling parties. 
 
Abe summoned Kyuma to his official residence early Monday and warned 
him to be more careful with his words that may be misunderstood. 
Kyuma then apologized and retracted his remarks. 
 
Kyuma made the controversial comment on Saturday. Abe tried to calm 
down the negative reactions brought by Kyuma's comment out of 
concern that it would unavoidably have an adverse impact on the 
outcomes of the Upper House election if he did nothing. 
 
Abe yesterday repeatedly stressed to reporters that he would not 
dismiss Kyuma, saying, "I want him to make efforts for nuclear 
disarmament." 
 
A government official expressed his confidence that Kyuma's 
withdrawal of his remarks and Abe's reprimand have put an end to the 
Kyuma flap. 
 
However Abe cabinet ministers have made inappropriate remarks almost 
every month since the cabinet was formed. Kyuma's controversial 
comment this time around has raised questions about Abe's 
 
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leadership. 
 
11) Anger swirling around Kyuma's controversial remarks 
 
ASAHI (Page 1) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
In reaction to Defense Minister Kyuma's controversial remarks 
calling the US atomic bombings "unavoidable," members of victims' 
groups and others held protests in Tokyo, Nagasaki, and other cities 
yesterday. 
 
The Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers' Organizations 
and the Tokyo A-bomb Sufferers' Organization held an emergency 
gathering at the House of Representatives' Diet members' office 
building last evening. Mariko Iida, 75, chairman of the latter group 
who survived the bombing of Nagasaki, angrily said: "Although he 
must have heard of victims' hardships, he made a statement taking 
the side of the United States, which dropped the atomic bombs. It is 
impermissible." Japan confederation deputy chief Kanzo Iwasa, 78, 
who survived the bombed of Hiroshima, grumbled: "His words might be 
taken as 'unavoidable' even if nuclear weapons are used again." The 
participants adopted a resolution calling on Prime Minister Abe to 
withdraw his remarks defending Kyuma and instruct him to take 
responsibility for the remarks in question. 
 
At Peace Park in Nagasaki, about 80 persons, including A-bomb 
victims from three organizations, also staged a sit-in yesterday, 
carrying a banner saying, "Don't forgive Kyuma's comment." 
 
12) Mori: "Prime Minister is not responsible" for Kyuma's remarks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
Yu Takayama 
 
In a speech yesterday at a gathering of candidates-to-be for the 
upcoming Upper House election, former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori of 
the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) mentioned Defense Minister 
Fumio Kyuma's recent controversial comments that America's dropping 
of atomic bombs on Japan "couldn't be helped" and stood by the prime 
minister by noting, "Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is not responsible 
for that." Mori continued, "Although the prime minister bears the 
responsibility as a person with appointive power, he (Mr. Kyuma) has 
not made remarks significantly deviating from what is socially 
acceptable in the past." Mori thus indicated that the prime 
minister's responsibility should not be questioned. 
 
As for the dropping approval ratings for the Abe cabinet in the wake 
of such problems as missing pension records, Mori spoke for Abe: 
"Mr. Abe is solid and firm in his attitude, but lawmakers working in 
the Prime Minister's Official Residence were initially not familiar 
with that attitude (and confused). That caused the approval ratings 
to go down. Now, things are going smoothly." 
 
13) Administrative Vice Defense Minister: "I'll refrain from making 
a comment" on Kyuma's controversial remarks 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
 
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At a press briefing yesterday afternoon, Administrative Vice Defense 
Minister Takemasa Moriya was asked about Defense Minister Fumio 
Kyuma's comments that the dropping of atomic bombs by the United 
States "could not be helped" and said: "On the part of the Ministry 
of Defense, I'll refrain from making a comment." 
 
When asked if it is not that the defense minister has often made 
slips of the tongue, Moriya noted: "When his remarks caused 
controversy, the defense minister has revealed his real intentions 
in the past." 
 
14) Kyuma's remarks reflect Japan's posture toward nuclear arms 
 
MAINICHI (Page 3) (Abridged slightly) 
July 3, 2007 
 
Japan's ambiguous attitude toward nuclear weapons lies behind 
Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma's controversial atomic bombing 
remarks. 
 
Japan's series of nuclear disarmament proposals since 1994 has been 
adopted by the United Nations. At the Nagasaki A-bomb peace memorial 
ceremony on August 9, 2006, then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi 
announced the country's determination to uphold the three 
non-nuclear principles and continue to spearhead the international 
drive for nuclear disarmament and permanent peace. 
 
At the same time, remaining in America's nuclear umbrella has been 
Japan's defense foundation. The 2006 Defense White Paper reads: 
"Japan believes it can build a watertight defense posture to ensure 
its security by using the deterrent power realized by the immense 
military power of the United States." 
 
Japan has become more dependent on America's nuclear umbrella since 
North Korea conducted a nuclear test last October. In her talks with 
Foreign Minister Taro Aso in October in Japan, Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice promised that the United States would follow 
US-Japan security guarantee agreements and would defend Japan. 
Around that time, Japan's nuclear option was debated. 
 
Being the only country to have suffered atomic bombs, calling for 
nuclear disarmament in the international community has been regarded 
as Japan's responsibility. But the gap between such an ideal and 
reality is expanding. The country seems to be prioritizing the 
political use of nuclear weapons over its call for nuclear 
disarmament. Kyuma's remarks reflect such a trend. 
 
Over the dropping of atomic bombs, the late Emperor Showa (Hirohito) 
indicated in a press conference in 1975: "It was unfortunate that 
(the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima), and I sympathize with the 
residents. But it was inevitable, for the country was in state of 
war." The late Emperor's view struck a chord with former Nagasaki 
Mayor Hitoshi Motoshima, who thinks Japan should mull what drove it 
to the war and call its responsibility into question rather than to 
underline its damage. 
 
Should the prime minister's reprimand and Kyuma's apology for his 
gaffe be enough to put the case behind once and for all? The defense 
minister's remarks have created a stir in Japan's nuclear armament 
debate. 
 
15) Postwar government has never protested atomic bombings 
 
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YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
How has the Japanese government responded to the dropping of atomic 
bombs by the US in 1945? 
 
The government lodged a strong protest with the US on Aug. 10, 1945, 
over the dropping of an atomic bomb in Nagasaki, through 
Switzerland, a neutral state, calling the use of atomic weapons a 
"new crime against humanity." However, according to a Foreign 
Ministry source, Japan has not lodged a formal protest with the US 
on the atomic bombings in the postwar era. 
 
During that time, Japan has depended on US nuclear deterrence for 
its security. For this reason, the Japanese government has steered 
clear of indicating any clear stance on whether the use of nuclear 
arms itself is illegal under international law. 
 
In the meantime, Japan has done its utmost to create momentum in the 
international community for abolishing nuclear arms. It has 
submitted UNGA resolutions seeking the abolition of nuclear arms 
every year since 1994 and has had all such resolutions adopted. Main 
features of Japan-sponsored resolutions are strengthening the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and seeking nuclear 
disarmament from nuclear powers. Japan has thus indicated its 
position as the only country on which nuclear weapons have been used 
to the international community. 
 
16) Ruling party Diet Policy Committee chairs agree to carry over 
three labor-related bills to next Diet session 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
LDP Diet Policy Chairman Toshihiro Nikai and his New Komeito 
counterpart Yoshio Urushibara yesterday met in the Diet building. 
They agreed to carry over three labor-related bills, a set of bills 
on establishment of a Japanese national security council, a bill 
amending the Broadcasting Law, a bill unifying pension systems, and 
a bill amending the local government employee law to the next 
session of the Lower House to be enacted during an extraordinary 
session slated to be convened in the fall. 
 
17) Administrative vice foreign minister: Early resumption of 
six-party talks "seems difficult" 
 
MAINICHI (Page 5) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
At a press conference yesterday, Administrative Vice Foreign 
Minister Shotaro Yachi touched on a high-level US government 
official's outlook that six-party talks on the North Korean nuclear 
issue would be resumed around July 10 and noted: "From a common 
sense point of view, holding them around that time seems difficult." 
US Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, America's chief 
negotiator in the six-party talks, has indicated at press 
conferences after his visit to North Korea on June 21 that the 
six-party talks may be resumed around July 10. 
 
18) Okazaki: "I am engaged in modifying descriptions at Yushukan" 
 
 
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ASAHI (Page 4) (Full) 
July 3, 2007 
 
Former Ambassador to Thailand Hisahiko Okazaki, an advisor to Prime 
Minister Abe on diplomatic issues, yesterday indicated his 
involvement in the ongoing review of descriptions in exhibits at the 
war museum Yushukan of Yasukuni Shrine. Okazaki said in a speech at 
the Foreign Correspondents Club in Japan: "I am now engaged in 
modifying descriptions used in exhibits at Yasukuni Shrine's 
Yushukan." He added: "I rewrote the original descriptions related to 
how the Japan-US War and the Sino-Japanese War were started." 
 
On the Japan-US War, Okazaki said: "It is true that President 
Roosevelt devised ways to prompt Japan to fire the first shot." 
Regarding the United States' motives, he remarked: "I deleted the 
part 'in order to emerge from the depression' and instead inserted 
these words: 'the 1937 isolation speech' (in which President 
Roosevelt criticized Japan, Germany and Italy after the start of the 
Sino-Japanese War)." 
 
With respect to the Sino-Japanese War, Okazaki stated: "China opened 
the war if it is limited to the second one that started in 1937," 
but he also said: "I added as a long-term cause the Japanese 
Imperial Army's operations starting in 1935 to separate Beijing and 
other places in the northern part of China from the Chinese 
government under the Nationalist Party." 
 
A spokesman for Yasukuni Shrine explained: "Upon listening to views 
from many experts, the shrine is reviewing descriptions on its own 
judgment." 
 
19) Japan agrees with India to draw up energy-conservation action 
program 
 
NIKKEI (Page 1) (Excerpts) 
July 3, 2007 
 
Yasuo Takeuchi, New Deli 
 
The governments of Japan and India issued a joint statement on 
energy cooperation yesterday. In order to save energy in India, both 
sides agreed to work out goals and voluntary action programs for 
each type of business. Japan aims to bring India into a framework to 
replace the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. The Japanese 
government also intends to call on the United States, China, and 
other major emitters of greenhouse gases to prepare similar goals 
and programs. 
 
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshiaki Amari, currently 
visiting India, and India's Planning Commission Deputy Chairman 
Ahluwalia signed the joint statement. 
 
The joint statement specifies Japan's technical assistance to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions in India. The two countries agreed to 
launch a project designed to dispatch experts to designated plants 
in steel, cement and other industries to check their efforts. Japan 
will accept 200 Indian trainees for energy conservation over the 
coming three years. Japan also plans to transfer technology to 
improve energy efficiency when coal is used for power generation 
after impurities are removed. 
 
SCHIEFFER