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Jun 28 09:32 PM US/Eastern
YOKOSUKA, Japan, June 29 (AP) - (Kyodo) — A 33-year-old newcomer beat the incumbent backed by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in a Yokosuka mayoral election in Kanagawa Prefecture on Sunday -- a result seen as a blow to the prospects for Koizumi's son in the upcoming national election.
Former city assembly member Yuto Yoshida defeated Ryoichi Kabaya, 64, who sought reelection with Koizumi's all-out support, and lawyer Masahiko Goto, 49, to become the third youngest city mayor in Japan. All of the candidates stood nominally as independents.
Known for hosting the largest U.S. naval base in the Pacific, Yokosuka is the major component of the Kanagawa No. 11 constituency, where Koizumi's 28-year-old son, Shinjiro Koizumi, hopes to succeed to his father's seat in the House of Representatives election expected to be held in August at the earliest.
Yoshida apparently drew support from voters hoping to see a change in local politics after a campaign focusing on criticism of bureaucratic meddling in politics. Kabaya, his chief rival in the election, was a former national bureaucrat.
Yoshida garnered votes not only from supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan but from those backing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The voter turnout was 45.22 percent, up 5.03 percentage points from the previous election.
During the campaign, Yoshida also vowed to file a request with the U.S. Navy to disclose information associated with the deployment of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George Washington in Yokosuka as its home port.
Born in Yokosuka, Yoshida won the most votes in both the two previous city assembly elections in 2003 and 2007, after working for an information technology business and studying at a Waseda University graduate school.
Kabaya failed to take advantage of organized support from local assembly members of the LDP, the DPJ and the New Komeito Party, the LDP's coalition partner in national politics, plus major local businesses.
- Rumors of planned leadership reshuffle groundless, says anonymous LDP source
Despite earlier signs to the contrary, it appears that Prime Minister Taro Aso has abandoned a reshuffle of the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), insiders say.
"It requires a huge volume of energy to replace three leading party officials, and isn't easy," said a high-ranking official of the government who spoke on condition of anonymity.
To prepare for the upcoming House of Representatives race, Aso, who leads the LDP, had begun considering replacements for top party officials, who have been criticized for lacking enough speaking ability to appeal to the public. However, he faced stiff opposition from ruling coalition legislators, including high-ranking government officials.
If he cannot carry out a reshuffle of the LDP leadership, Aso's influence on his administration will further decline, which will give momentum to those within the ruling coalition trying to force him to step down.
The rumors about the personnel reshuffle spread within the LDP shortly after Aso held a news conference on Thursday last week. Some close aides to Aso remarked that the LDP leadership would be reshuffled, and that additional legislators would be appointed to his Cabinet to relieve Cabinet ministers who now hold multiple posts.
Opponents arranged a two-hour meeting between Aso and LDP Secretary-General Hiroyuki Hosoda on Saturday night in a bid to ensure that Hosoda remain in his post.
The following day, Hosoda told reporters in Tokyo that he did not know whether Aso intends to reshuffle the party leadership. Hosoda also said in an NHK program: "I told the prime minister, 'I'll leave the personnel reshuffle to your discretion.' The prime minister then said, 'That's what I'm now thinking about. But I've never mentioned any specific plan on whom I should select or when or how I should carry it out.'"
Another high-ranking official of the LDP said Aso expressed displeasure about senior party members mentioning a reshuffle of the party leadership. "He said in his meeting (with Hosoda), 'People around me are spreading groundless rumors.'"
The prime minister will ascertain the situation within the ruling coalition before making a final decision, according to party sources.
Aso is still considering appointing new Cabinet members to relieve Cabinet ministers who have multiple posts, including Kaoru Yosano, who serves as finance minister, minister for financial services and minister for economic and fiscal policy.
(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2009
- Ex-top bureaucrat acknowledges secret Japan-U.S. pact on port calls by vessels with nukes
A former top bureaucrat in the Foreign Ministry has admitted that he received from his predecessor a document on a secret Japan-U.S. agreement on port calls by U.S. vessels carrying nuclear weapons.
Ryohei Murata, 79, who now lives in Kyoto, received the document from his predecessor when he assumed the post of administrative vice foreign minister in July 1987.
"I had heard that there was a secret agreement, but I first saw a Japanese document on it when I became administrative vice minister," Murata said in an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun.
The Japanese government has denied that Tokyo ever reached a secret agreement with Washington to allow U.S. military vessels carrying nuclear arms to call at Japanese ports when the two countries revised their bilateral security treaty in 1960.
Murata said his predecessor handed him an envelope containing the document when he took over, saying, "Please explain its contents to the minister."
While he was in his post from July 1987 to August 1989, he explained the details of the secret agreement to two foreign ministers, Tadashi Kuranari and Sosuke Uno, who are now deceased, and handed the document over to his successor when he stepped down.
When revising the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Tokyo and Washington agreed that the U.S. would seek prior consultations with Japan when it made major changes to the U.S. military's equipment and operations in Japan's territory. At the time, the two countries reached a secret accord that calls at Japanese ports and passage through Japan's territorial waters by U.S. military vessels carrying nuclear weapons would not be subject to prior consultations.
The secret agreement surfaced in May 1981 when the Mainichi Shimbun reported that Edwin Oldfather Reischauer, who served as U.S. ambassador to Japan in the 1960s, admitted that U.S. military vessels carrying nuclear arms called at Japanese ports under a bilateral accord.
Nevertheless, the Japanese government has denied ever having reached such a secret agreement. "We don't think the U.S. ever brought nuclear arms into Japan's territory as the country never sought prior consultations over the issue. We have no intention of asking the U.S. about the matter."
Murata criticized the Japanese government's stance as "distortion." "I feel sad when I wonder how long it will maintain this stance."
He urged Japan to admit the existence of the secret agreement. "The accord was reached during the Cold War era. Both Japan and the U.S. had their own circumstances and confidential information they had to protect. It's not something that should be criticized."
He also said port calls and passage through Japan's territorial waters by U.S. vessels carrying nuclear arms shouldn't be covered by the Japanese government's three non-nuclear principles of which nuclear weapons must not be produced, possessed or enter Japan's territories.
Moreover, Murata revealed that the ministry chose not to widen Japan's territorial waters in five straits -- including Soya, Tsugaru and Tsushima -- in order to ensure passage through these straits by U.S. vessels carrying nuclear arms, so as not constitute bringing nuclear weapons into Japan.
"Japan could have widened it to 12 nautical miles but did not do so. I thought it was unreasonable, but I didn't say anything about it because I wasn't in charge of it," he said.
Japan designated the width of its territorial waters in the five straits as three nautical miles under its 1977 Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone -- instead of 12 miles permitted under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2009
- Japan Post Holdings' board approves reappointment of Nishikawa as president
A motion to reappoint nine board members of Japan Post Holdings Co., including president Yoshifumi Nishikawa, was approved at the company's regular shareholders' meeting on Monday.
Following the meeting, the company filed a request for approval of the board's decision with Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato, and a formal decision to retain Nishikawa as president of the company was expected to be made later in the day.
The shareholders' meeting was held at the headquarters of Japan Post Holdings in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. Akio Nakamura, deputy head of the Ministry of Finance's Financial Bureau, attended the meeting on behalf of the government, the only shareholder in the company.
Controversy had arisen over the reappointment of Nishikawa, with former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama resigning after he voiced strong opposition to Nishikawa remaining following Japan Post Holdings' controversial attempt to sell its Kampo no Yado inns.
(Mainichi Japan) June 29, 2009
- 5. NATIONAL NEWS
Rainy season over in Okinawa area
June 29, 2009
NAHA, Okinawa Pref. (Kyodo) This year's rainy season in the Okinawa area appears to have ended, five days later than usual and 11 days later than last year, meteorological officials said Sunday. continued ...
- 9. NATIONAL NEWS
LDP hoping to get bills passed fast, call election
June 29, 2009
Kyodo News
The Liberal Democratic Party sought cooperation Sunday from opposition parties to get key bills through the Diet as soon as possible.
Senior opposition leaders responded positively, which is expected to make it easier for Prime Minister Taro Aso to dissolve the Lower House soon and call a general election. continued ...
- 10. NATIONAL NEWS
Finding U.S. landing site faces delay
June 29, 2009
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) A candidate site for a permanent facility in Japan for U.S. warplanes to practice landing on aircraft carriers will not be selected by the primary deadline of July, according to Japanese and U.S. sources. continued ...
- 15. NATIONAL NEWS - JUN HONGO
Aso, Lee confirm cooperation on N. Korea
June 29, 2009
By JUN HONGO. Staff writer
Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak agreed Sunday to intensify joint efforts to stop Pyongyang's nuclear programs and urged North Korea to abide by a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning its recent nuclear test. continued ...
- Defense procurement program rapped again (6/29)
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
A defense procurement program long criticized as inefficient and a waste of taxpayers' money is under fire again.
At issue is the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, which allows the Defense Ministry to buy military ordnance directly from the United States. Under the program, the two countries sign documents that specify the price Japan must pay upfront.
The final price is calculated only after the equipment is delivered.
However, delays in delivery of the hardware and other factors have led to a huge amount of transactions in which no final accounting has been made.
The accumulated amount of transactions that remain outstanding reached 362.6 billion yen in fiscal 2007, sources said. continued ...
- 'Muneo' stages comeback as people's politician (6/29)
BY SO WAKAMATSU, THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
He was once demonized as the greedy villain of Japanese politics. In just a few years, however, lawmaker Muneo Suzuki has completed one of the most remarkable comebacks to the public stage, where he now portrays himself as a champion of the downtrodden.
The 61-year-old Lower House member, who is on bail for bribery and other convictions, has become a much sought-after speaker at events nationwide. Fast-talking and full of vigor, he draws large audiences with his popular touch. continued ...
- EDITORIAL: Political donations (6/29)
Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano is singlehandedly in charge of the Aso administration's economic and fiscal policies. The leader of the main opposition Minshuto (Democratic Party of Japan), Yukio Hatoyama, will become the next prime minister if his party wins the next Lower House election. These two key members of the two main parties are now facing allegations involving political donations. continued ...
- EDITORIAL: Checking Korean ships (6/29)
The ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party has worked out an outline of a bill for Japan's inspections of ships traveling to and from North Korea to see whether they are carrying nuclear materials or other banned items. Such inspections are part of the international sanctions against North Korea contained in a resolution recently adopted by the United Nations Security Council. continued ...
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prime Minister Taro Aso hinted Saturday night during talks with LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda that he would retain three top Liberal Democratic Party executives, party sources said.
According to the sources, Aso and Hosoda discussed the timing of the dissolution of the House of Representatives for a general election, as well as possible ministerial appointments in light of the fact that some ministers concurrently hold multiple cabinet posts.
Concerning the timing of the lower house dissolution, Aso reportedly expressed his intention to prioritize the enactment of important bills over the dissolution for the time being and plans to wait until after the July 12 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election before making a decision.
His remarks highlight confusion within the LDP over the three top executive posts--a lack of cohesion that could result in a further decline in Aso's power.
At the meeting, which was held at a Tokyo hotel, Hosoda reportedly said he would leave the issue of the key posts to the prime minister.
In response, Aso is said to have implied he would not meddle with the three senior jobs, saying: "I've never mentioned a reshuffle of the party's executive posts. It's people outside [the party] who are talking about it."
Though Aso reportedly did not express a desire to make changes to his Cabinet, a minor reshuffle still remains a possibility.
Meanwhile, Aso also indicated the early enactment of important laws such as a special measures bill for the Ship Inspection Operation Law, an amendment of the Organ Transplant Law and a compensation bill for unacknowledged sufferers of Minamata disease.
The special measures bill for ship inspections likely will be submitted to the Diet on Friday. By indicating that these bills will be enacted during the current Diet session, Aso has made it clear he will not dissolve the lower house before the metropolitan assembly election.
Prior to meeting Hosoda, Aso met with Yoshinobu Shimamura--a special prime ministerial assistant--at the same hotel. Shimamura reportedly advised Aso not to juggle the three senior LDP officials and not to dissolve the lower house before the Tokyo election.
Some LDP members are openly demanding that Aso resign, but he likely will choose to stay in power, dissolve the lower house and hold a general election. Eyeing voting in early August, Aso likely is keen to effect intraparty cooperation and is expected to make his final decision by taking into account the results of the Shizuoka gubernatorial election to be held on Sunday and the Tokyo assembly election.
(Jun. 29, 2009)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama said Saturday he intends to freeze the execution of any budgetary appropriations he considers wasteful, including the government's plan to build a state-run art center for media products dubbed the "hall of anime," if the DPJ takes power after the next House of Representatives election.
"I'll make every effort to reinstate extra welfare payments for single-parent households, instead of building a 'hall of anime,'" Hatoyama said at a gathering in Sapporo.
His remarks indicate that he is considering using the 11.7 billion yen earmarked for constructing the "hall of anime" included in the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget to fund the additional welfare payments.
The party estimates it will cost in the region of 18 billion yen to reinstate the welfare payments for single-parent households.
At a press conference earlier on the day, Hatoyama said the DPJ's manifesto would not include target dates for realizing its policies.
(Jun. 29, 2009)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Unexpectedly strong hostility within the Liberal Democratic Party toward the idea of replacing the incumbents in three of the party's most senior posts prompted Prime Minister Taro Aso to tell LDP Secretary General Hiroyuki Hosoda he is unlikely to make any changes in the party's leadership ahead of the upcoming House of Representatives election.
"There's neither proof nor any record that I considered [a reshuffle]," Aso reportedly told Hosoda in a meeting Saturday.
But despite this seeming bid to appease antagonists in the party, the under-fire prime minister appears to have lost further support among the party rank and file.
A senior party official reportedly was disconcerted after fielding numerous calls Saturday from LDP Diet lawmakers asking if top party executive posts or the Cabinet really would be reshuffled.
"Dissolving the House of Representatives takes a lot of effort, but the appointment [of new senior party officials] takes a lot more," the official said. "I wonder if it's too much for the current prime minister."
Aso is believed to have started contemplating changes in the party's executive because he hoped to put someone new in one of the three senior roles to become the face of the party's campaign for the next lower house poll.
Names such as Yoshihide Suga, vice chairman of the party's Election Strategy Council and an ally of Aso, apparently were bandied about for such a role. But support for such a change has fizzled out, with some party members saying that replacing the top executives would be tantamount to admitting that the party could not win the election with them in place.
"The prime minister hasn't mentioned anything about changing the current executive," a source close to Aso said Saturday. "The current executive is doing a good job."
However, with information regarding a possible shake-up being circulated as if it were true, a fuzzy picture of the prime minister's intentions has emerged.
Meanwhile, Aso implied at a press conference Thursday at the Japan National Press Club that he had not ruled out dissolving the lower house before next month's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election.
Aso's main intention then was to stifle calls from the within party for his ouster, but the strong opposition to such a move seems to have forced the embattled prime minister to signal in his meeting with Hosoda that his priority is to pass key bills in the Diet.
(Jun. 29, 2009)
Jun 28 09:32 PM US/Eastern
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