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Viewing cable 07TOKYO5603, JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS 12/19/07

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07TOKYO5603 2007-12-19 01:34 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Tokyo
VZCZCXRO5237
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #5603/01 3530134
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190134Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0411
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/USFJ //J5/JO21//
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA
RUAYJAA/CTF 72
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 7441
RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 5045
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 8710
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 3764
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 5682
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0711
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 6760
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7482
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TOKYO 005603 
 
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 12/19/07 
 
 
Index: 
 
1) Top headlines 
2) Editorials 
3) Prime Minister's daily schedule (Nikkei) 
 
Defense and security issues: 
4) Japan successfully intercepts missile in Hawaii test, but debate 
over cost effectiveness of MD continues, with 1 trillion yen 
allocated for system (Mainichi) 
5) Government to change guidelines for emergency responses to allow 
missile intercepts under prior-approval set up (Mainichi) 
6) Antiterrorism bill to allow MSDF refueling mission to continue 
expected to be finally rejected by the opposition-controlled Upper 
House on Jan. 11 (Nikkei) 
7) Former GSDF Samawah commander turned lawmaker makes pitch in 
Upper House for adopting the antiterrorism special measures bill 
(Yomiuri) 
8) Agreement between U.S., Japan reached on host-nation support, but 
issue of phasing out labor allowances for Japanese employees remains 
(Yomiuri) 
9) Differential pay to local employees remains as the sole issue in 
the now settled host-nation support agreement (Nikkei) 
 
Defense scandals: 
10) Moriya to be re-arrested yet again as more bribe money 
uncovered, but his wife released from jail (Mainichi) 
11) Former Yamada Corp. exec Miyazaki, now under arrest, gave 
"fixer" Akiyama 100 million yen to set up channels between Japan, 
U.S. that he could tap (Mainichi) 
12) Akiyama to be summoned to testify before the Diet as a sworn 
witness (Mainichi) 
 
13) LDP's Taku Yamasaki sets up political subcommittee on the Korean 
Peninsula, aiming at normalizing Japan's relations with the DRPK 
during Fukuda tenure (Sankei) 
 
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura, who says he absolute believes 
in UFOs, unhappy with government's official view rejecting their 
existence (Sankei) 
 
DPJ election strategy: 
15) Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) to focus election strategy on 
the urban voter, plans to run female candidate in Tokyo against 
former defense chief Koike (Tokyo Shimbun) 
16) DPJ expects to have 250 candidates lined up by early next year 
to run in next Lower House election (Yomiuri) 
 
Articles: 
 
1) TOP HEADLINES 
 
Asahi: 
Wheat price to be raised again in April, likely to affect bread, 
noodle prices 
 
Mainichi: 
Moriya rearrested over taking 3.64 million yen in bribes 
 
Yomiuri: 
Moriya served fresh arrest warrant for allegedly extending favors 
for 7 types of defense equipment in return for 3.63 million yen in 
 
TOKYO 00005603  002 OF 010 
 
 
bribes 
 
Nikkei: 
Matsushita, Canon, Hitachi in talks to form alliance to build flat 
TV panels 
 
Sankei: 
MSDF succeeds in missile intercept test, paving way for major role 
in MD system; Constitutional review imperative 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
New students at nursing care schools drop 13 PERCENT 
 
Akahata: 
Hokuriku Electric Power Co. hides 8 active faults near Shiga nuclear 
power plant 
 
2) EDITORIALS 
 
Asahi: 
(1) Former Vice-Defense Minister Moriya rearrested 
(2) Austerity essential in compiling supplementary budget 
 
Mainichi: 
(1) MD test: It is not a dream system yet 
(2) Medical fees must be used to stop doctors from leaving 
hospitals 
 
Yomiuri: 
(1) Moriya's acceptance of cash must be condemned 
(2) Medical-related budgets expose limits to automatic cuts 
 
Nikkei: 
(1) Economy needs close watch 
(2) Lisbon treaty gives flexibility to EU 
 
Sankei: 
(1) Moriya rearrested: Shed light on possible involvement of 
lawmakers 
(2) Strengthened Japan-U.S. alliance expected to follow successful 
Aegis missile test 
 
Tokyo Shimbun: 
(1) Moriya rearrested: MOD procurement system must be corrected 
(2) Working conditions must be reviewed in order to stop declining 
birthrate 
 
Akahata: 
Unidentified pension accounts issue requires greater efforts 
 
3) Prime Minister's Official Residence (Kantei) 
 
Prime Minister's schedule, December 18 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
08:11 
Attended a private-sector/government executive council meeting on 
promoting work/life balance. Later, attended a study meeting on 
priority strategy for supporting children and families. 
 
 
TOKYO 00005603  003 OF 010 
 
 
09:03 
Attended a cabinet meeting in the Diet building. Later met Health, 
Labor and Welfare Minister Masuzoe. Then met Education Minister 
Tokai. Followed by New Komeito President Ota. 
 
10:07 
Met former Secretary General Nakagawa at the Kantei. Followed by 
Resources and Energy Agency Director General Mochizuki and Deputy 
Vice METI Minister Toyoda. 
 
11:04 
Met Lower House member Taku Eto. Later, LDP headquarters chief 
Sakamoto, and others. 
 
13:21 
Met Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Futahashi. 
 
15:14 
Met Futahashi. Followed by Cabinet Intelligence Director Mitani. 
 
16:01 
Met Cabinet Office Vice Minister Uchida. Later, met Deputy Foreign 
Minister Yabunaka and Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Director 
General Sasae. 
 
17:02 
Attended a ceremony to grant certifications for special reform 
district plans, regional revitalization plans, and shopping district 
revitalization plans. Later, attended a meeting of cabinet ministers 
responsible for monthly economic reports. 
 
18:10 
Met New Komeito Policy Research Council Chairman Saito. 
 
19:11 
Returned to his private residence in Nozawa. 
 
4) MD test successful: Cost effectiveness the next topic of 
discussion 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully carried out a sea-based 
Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) interceptor test off a U.S. Hawaiian 
island. Japan has already deployed the ground-based Patriot Advanced 
Capability 3 (PAC-3) interceptor system. The government will now 
start operating Japan's missile defense (MD) shield system 
consisting of the SM-3 and the PAC-3. The government plans to lay 
down a MD network throughout the country by fiscal 2012 in order to 
deal with the threat of North Korea's ballistic missiles. The total 
cost of SM-3 and PAC-3 shielding, however, is estimated at 800 
billion yen to 1 trillion yen. It will be even more costly to 
introduce an advanced MD system of the next generation. This will 
likely give rise to arguments for cost effectiveness due to the 
country's dire fiscal straits. 
 
"I wonder if you can gauge the effectiveness of something or the 
cost of saving the lives of people. You only say the price is so 
high. That doesn't hit the nail on the head, and you are thinking 
with your heart rather than your head," quipped Defense Minister 
Shigeru Ishiba, visibly upset in a press conference when asked about 
 
TOKYO 00005603  004 OF 010 
 
 
the cost effectiveness of MD and aware that the high cost of 
introducing an MD system has been a  target of criticism. 
 
Ishiba is concerned about the threat of North Korea's ballistic 
missiles. In 1998, North Korea launched a long-range Taepodong 
ballistic missile that flew across over Japan. At the time, the then 
Defense Agency had just started its study of an MD system. The 
agency then geared up for its introduction. 
 
According to the Defense Ministry, the budget for MD introduction 
will peak at 186.3 billion yen in the current fiscal year, the 
initial year of interceptor missile deployment. The MD budget for 
the remaining fiscal years up to 2012 is estimated to be lower than 
the current fiscal year's budget, according to the Defense 
Ministry. 
 
Japan and the United States plan to co-develop an advanced SM-3 
system of the next-generation type by fiscal 2014. The government 
has yet to decide on whether to mass-produce the advanced MD system. 
However, the government's financial burden will skyrocket if the new 
MD system is to be introduced. The interceptor missile fired off 
Hawaii was imported from the United States for approximately 2 
billion yen. A domestic defense-related business also says, "The MD 
budget is huge, but there's no merit for us. It doesn't have a 
future-oriented aspect to it." 
 
5) Prior intercept order eyed for SDF counteraction 
 
MAINICHI (Page 2) (Abridged) 
December 19, 2007 
 
The Maritime Self-Defense Force successfully shot down a projectile 
in its test-firing of a sea-based Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) 
interceptor, and the SM-3 will go operational early next month. 
Ahead of SM-3 deployment, the government decided yesterday to revise 
its emergency action guidelines for missile defense (MD) operation. 
 
The government will revise the MD guidelines for the ground-based 
Patriot Advanced Capability 3 (PAC-3) interceptor system, which was 
first deployed in March. If and when a foreign country prepares to 
launch ballistic missiles, the defense minister will be allowed to 
order the Self-Defense Forces in advance to intercept ballistic 
missiles with the SM-3. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will 
hold a joint meeting of its defense-related divisions today to 
approve revising the MD guidelines. The government will shortly make 
a cabinet decision on this matter. 
 
6) DPJ executive predicts that new refueling bill will be voted down 
in Upper House on Jan. 11 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full 
December 19, 2007 
 
A senior member of the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan 
(DPJ or Minshuto) indicated yesterday that the bill to resume the 
refueling operation in the Indian Ocean would be voted down in a 
House of Councillors plenary session on January 11. After New Year's 
break, the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is 
scheduled to meet on Jan. 8 and 10. The senior DPJ member indicated 
that chances are high for the committee's adoption of the bill on 
Jan. 10 and the plenary session's vote on Jan. 11, saying, "We will 
work hard until the last moment." If a vote is not taken on Jan. 11, 
 
TOKYO 00005603  005 OF 010 
 
 
60 days will have passed on Jan. 12 since the legislation was sent 
from the House of Representatives, allowing the ruling camp to 
regard the Upper House's inaction as de facto rejection under the 
Constitution. 
 
7) "Mustached commander" appeals to public 
 
YOMIURI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
"People don't know very much about the new antiterror legislation's 
significance and importance." 
 
On Dec. 18, the House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense 
Committee met. Masahisa Sato, a House of Councillors member of the 
ruling Liberal Democratic Party, expressed his view before the 
committee. Committee members present in the room were straightened 
up when the committee meeting was in a mood to wind up. 
 
Sato headed an advance team of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, and 
he is known as the "mustached commander." The LDP yesterday set up a 
corner on the Japanese version of YouTube. On it, Sato explains the 
new antiterror legislation as an SDF-member-turned lawmaker. He also 
visits various places in the country to speak on the legislation. He 
seems to be most directly feeling the public's lack of understanding 
on the legislation. 
 
In the committee meeting, Sato talked about his visits to Niigata, 
Hokkaido, and Fukushima for three days from Dec. 15. He stated: "I 
explained the bill's significance. One person said, 'Oh, is that so? 
Then I support it.'" 
 
"We've now discussed the bill." With this, the ruling coalition is 
now seeking to take an early vote on the legislation. The LDP has 
told its members to limit their question time to about 10 minutes. 
However, Sato continued his questions for about 20 minutes. He made 
an appeal there: "It's important to give easy-to-understand 
explanations about how we are actually affected (in the aftermath of 
halting the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling activities in 
the Indian Ocean). I will do so. I want the government to do so 
together." 
 
8) Review of sympathy budget settled, but setting timeframe for 
abolishing pay allowances remains a challenge 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
Now that an agreement has been reached between the Ministry of 
Defense (MOD) and the All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union 
(Zenchuro) to abolish the allowances to Japanese employees working 
at U.S. bases, the question of reviewing Japan's host nation support 
(the so-called sympathy budget) for U.S. Forces Japan has generally 
been settled. Although a MOD official described the agreement to 
abolish the allowances as a major achievement, a timeframe for the 
phase out has yet to be determined. 
 
Given the nation's tight fiscal situation, the government aimed at 
deep cuts in Japan's HNS as a whole, which is far higher than that 
of other countries. At the same time, the government needed to give 
consideration to Japan-U.S. relations which have become unstable due 
to the suspension of the refueling operation in the Indian Ocean and 
 
TOKYO 00005603  006 OF 010 
 
 
other factors. This prompted the government to put emphasis on 
reducing the differential pay and language allowance to Japanese 
employees that would not increase the burden on the United States. 
 
Although Zenchuro agreed to abolishing the allowances at an early 
stage, talks with MOD on measures to mitigate radical changes face 
rough going. Zenchuro staged two strikes, which started to worry the 
U.S. side about the effect on base operations. The government had to 
heed to a U.S. request for making efforts to avoid strikes, and MOD 
settled the matter by making concessions to Zenchuro. 
 
MOD intends to end the drastic change alleviation measures in five 
years. But a senior Zenchuro official said: "From the perspective of 
their welfare, the allowances will have to stay beyond the next five 
years." There still remains a seed of conflict for future talks. 
 
9) Sympathy budget generally settled; Step to be taken to alleviate 
drastic change in differential pay 
 
NIKKEI (Page 2) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
Negotiations on Japan's host nation support (the so-called sympathy 
budget) for U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) have generally been settled. An 
agreement was reached between the Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the 
All Japan Garrison Forces Labor Union (Zenchuro) to abolish the 
"differential pay" of adding a 10 PERCENT  allowance to the civil 
servants' base bay and the language allowance. The only remaining 
matter is how to handle the USFJ facilities maintenance costs that 
will go into in the fiscal 2008 budget bill. 
 
Labor and management also agreed to abolish the pay raise system 
that allows salaries to increase beyond the pay scale. In the fiscal 
2008 budget bill, the sympathy budget will be reduced by 370 million 
yen from this year. As a measure to alleviate drastic change, MOD 
will pay 50 PERCENT  of the differential pay and the language 
allowance for five years and review them thereafter. 
 
10) Moriya rearrested over bribes 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
December 19, 2007 
 
The special investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public 
Prosecutors Office rearrested former Administrative Vice Defense 
Minister Takemasa Moriya yesterday on suspicion of accepting about 
3.64 million yen in bribes from a former executive of defense 
contractor Yamada Corp. The former executive was also rearrested for 
giving the alleged bribe. It has been found that Yamada Corp. spent 
a total of approximately 7.5 million yen in bribes and expenses for 
golf trips for Moriya. 
 
Prosecutors also rearrested Osamu Akiyama, former chief of Yamada 
Corp.'s US subsidiary, for giving the bribe the same day. Moriya's 
wife Sachiko, who had been arrested over her involvement in Moriya's 
receipt of bribes, was released for the reason that she played a 
minor role and that she regrets what she did. 
 
11) Yamada Corp. former executive gave 100 million yen to Japan-U.S. 
center in anticipation of influence peddling 
 
MAINICHI (Top Play) (Excerpts) 
 
TOKYO 00005603  007 OF 010 
 
 
Evening, December 18, 2007 
 
It is now suspected that Yamada Corp. gave funds not only to former 
Administrative Vice Defense Minister Takemasa Moriya but also to 
Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the Japan-U.S. Center for Peace 
and Cultural Exchange. Akiyama is close to lawmakers lobbying for 
defense interests. Motonobu Miyazaki, a former executive of the 
defense contractor, told persons around him that he transferred 
approximately 100 million yen into a bank account of Akiyama. He 
also admitted to the remittance during questioning by the special 
investigation squad of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office, 
saying: "We offered money in anticipation of its influence peddling 
to help us receive orders." 
 
Akiyama reportedly has acted as an intermediary between Japanese and 
American defense companies and politicians. The Japan-U.S. center 
makes arrangements for visits to the U.S. by Japanese lawmakers and 
regularly holds a meeting of the Japan-U.S. Security Strategy 
Council by inviting American defense experts. Since fiscal 2003, the 
center has arranged visits for 21 lawmakers, including Finance 
Minister Fukushiro Nukaga and former Democratic Party of Japan 
President Seiji Maehara. 
 
12) Upper House committee decides to summon Akiyama as sworn 
witness 
 
MAINICHI (Page 1) (Full) 
Evening, December 18, 2007 
 
The House of Councillors Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee has 
decided to summon Naoki Akiyama, executive director of the 
Japan-U.S. Center for Peace and Cultural Exchange, to the Diet as a 
sworn witness. The committee initially planned to summon him on Dec. 
20, but since Akiyama has said he would accept the summons, a 
decision on the date has been entrusted to the chairman. 
 
13) In first meeting of LDP North Korea panel, Yamasaki says ties 
should be normalized under Fukuda administration 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
The Liberal Democratic Party's subcommittee on issues related to the 
Korean Peninsula, chaired by former Defense Agency Director General 
Seishiro Eto, held its first meeting at party headquarters 
yesterday. The panel was created to back up the government's policy 
toward North Korea. Former Vice President Taku Yamasaki, who assumed 
the post of supreme advisor, expressed hopes that the party will 
strengthen ties with North Korea through the panel, saying: "I would 
like to normalize diplomatic ties between Japan and North Korea 
under the Fukuda administration." 
 
The first meeting brought together about 30 members of the Diet, 
including former Defense Agency Director General Gen Nakatani. 
Yamasaki emphasized that the establishment of the panel is in 
accordance with Prime Minister Fukuda's wishes. He then implied that 
he would visit to Pyongyang, remarking: "We will be very busy next 
year in dealing with issues with the Korean Peninsula. The party 
will take proper steps to address the situation." 
 
Yamasaki is known for having his own personal networks in North 
Korea. In April 2004, he held a meeting with Jong Thae Hwa, then 
 
TOKYO 00005603  008 OF 010 
 
 
ambassador for normalization talks with Japan in Dalian, China. He 
also visited North Korea this January and reportedly met with Kim 
Yong Kon, National Defense Committee counselor, and others. The 
visit was criticized as "dual diplomacy." 
 
14) Chief Cabinet Secretary Machimura: UFOs definitely exist, 
unhappy with government's formal response 
 
SANKEI (Page 5) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura stated in a press 
conference yesterday: "I am sure that unidentified flying objects 
exist." He elaborated: "Otherwise, it is impossible to explain the 
Nazca Lines (in Peru, which some believe were created by aliens), 
isn't it?" 
 
The government yesterday adopted in a cabinet meeting an official 
response to a question by Ryuji Yamada, a Democratic Party of Japan 
member. The statement says that the government has not confirmed the 
existence of UFOs. It was the first time for the government to deny 
the existence of UFOs. Machimura, while stressing that it was his 
personal view that UFOs exist, said: "The government has offered 
only a boilerplate response in its formal statement." 
 
15) DPJ to place importance on urban areas in next Lower House 
election 
 
TOKYO SHIMBUN (Page 2) (Full) 
December 19, 2007 
 
The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) 
has begun setting forth a clear stance of placing importance on 
policy measures for urban areas in campaigning for the next House of 
Representatives election. The DPJ won a sweeping victory in the July 
House of Councillors election, by playing up its policy of giving 
priority to improving regional economies by narrowing socioeconomic 
disparities regional. What are reasons for the party trying to 
review its campaign strategy? 
 
DPJ head Ichiro Ozawa along with Takako Ebata, a former associate 
university professor, whom the party has informally endorsed as its 
candidate to run in the Tokyo No. 10 electoral district held a press 
conference yesterday. In it, Ozawa emphasized: "We must do our best 
to have her win the race." Ebata will compete in the race with 
former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike. It is unusual for Ozawa to 
introduce a candidate in a press conference. 
 
Ozawa stressed his party's policy of attaching emphasis on urban 
areas, saying: 
 
"We must set our goal to secure the majority of seats in the Tokyo 
metropolitan area, which includes Tokyo and three other prefectures, 
the Kansai region such as Osaka and Hyogo Prefecture, and Fukuoka 
Prefecture in the Kyushu region." 
 
In the background, there are many single-seat constituencies in 
urban areas. In the 2005 Lower House election, the DPJ suffered a 
crashing defeat. Ozawa noted: "If we are defeated in those areas, it 
will be difficult for us to get the majority of the Lower House 
seats." He predicts that the outcome of races in the urban areas 
will be the key to a change of government. 
 
TOKYO 00005603  009 OF 010 
 
 
 
However, election cooperation between opposition parties seems 
difficult in some electoral districts in Tokyo and Kanagawa in which 
candidates backed by the DPJ and Social Democratic Party are decided 
to run. The DPJ has many challenges to overcome, including coming up 
with policy measures attracting unaffiliated voters. 
 
DPJ to field woman candidate in Tokyo No. 10 district, facing off 
LDP's Koike 
 
The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) decided yesterday in 
a meeting of its standing secretaries general to file eight 
candidates for the next House of Representatives election, including 
Takako Ebata, 47, former associate professor at the University of 
Tokyo, who will run in the Tokyo No. 10 electoral district. 
 
Former Defense Minister Koike now represents the No. 10 district. 
The DPJ has not filed candidates in 72 districts of the 300 
electoral districts across the nation. 
 
16) DPJ to be ready to field 250 candidates by early next year for 
next Lower House election due to delay in coordination on 
candidates 
 
YOMIURI (Page 4) (Slightly abridged) 
December 19, 2007 
 
The government and ruling parties have decided to set up a national 
council on social security affairs. The main opposition Democratic 
Party of Japan (DPJ or Minshuto) sees this move as a favorable wind 
blowing in its direction. The DPJ, however, has yet to craft a 
strategy for the next House of Representatives election due to a 
delay in coordinating candidates and other reasons. 
 
When asked by reporters yesterday about the plunging approval 
ratings for the cabinet of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in opinion 
polls by various news companies, DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa 
responded: "(Regarding the issue that identifying holders of a huge 
number of national pension accounts have become difficult) 
distrustful and irresponsible remarks by Prime Minister Fukuda and 
other government officials have enraged the public." He continued: 
 
"I want to see a dissolution of the Lower House as early as possible 
for a snap general election. If public opinion calls for an 
election, (the Prime Minister) will have no choice but to dissolve 
the Lower House and call it. It is not a technical issue to manage 
Diet affairs." 
 
Even if the House of Councillors adopts a censure motion against the 
Prime Minister, it would not be legally binding, although there is a 
view that the adoption of a censure motion should trigger Lower 
House dissolution. In the DPJ, a cautious view on the submission of 
a censure motion is spreading, with one senior party member saying, 
 
 
"We won't be able to get public support only by the Lower House's 
overriding a decision by the Upper House on the new antiterrorism 
special measures bill. I think it is not enough even with the 
pension-record fiasco." 
 
The DPJ has been slow in its election coordination. In a meeting 
yesterday of its standing secretaries general, the largest 
 
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opposition party informally endorsed candidates to run in eight 
electoral districts. The number of the DPJ candidates now totals 
ΒΆ227. Therefore, the party's target of filing 250 candidates before 
the end of the year is likely to slip to early next year. 
 
The DPJ has not yet fielded candidates in eight of the 25 electoral 
districts in Tokyo. The reason is that the party has not overcome 
the legacy of a crushing defeat in the 2005 Lower House election, in 
which it won only one seat out of 25; and so it has worked on the 
selection of candidates from scratch, considering that the Tokyo 
races would affect its performance across the nation. 
 
SCHIEFFER