j a p a n e s e m o r n i n g p r e s s h i g h l i g h t s（j p n e s e m o r n i n g p r e s s h我g h l g h t s）.doc

JAPANESE MORNING PRESS HIGHLIGHTS March 29, 2002 AMERICAN EMBASSY, TOKYO PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION OFFICE OF TRANSLATION AND MEDIA ANALYSIS (03-3224-5360, tokyoots@state.gov) TODAY’S FEATURES Top headlines 2 Editorials 2 Prime Ministers daily schedule 3 U.S., Japan, ROKs TCOG meeting early next month to discuss abduction issue for first time 3 Political money scandals: -- Even Koichi Katos credit card and health insurance paid from political funds 4 -- Koichi Kato being investigated by Tokyo prosecutors for tax evasion 4 -- LDPs Kato will likely resign Diet seat after he testifies 5 -- Koichi Kato told faction aide he has made up his mind to quit the Diet 5 -- Prime Minister Koizumi orders restriction on political donations from public-works-related companies 5 -- Former SDP lawmaker Tsujimoto hospitalized for fatigue 5 JDA chief Nakatani tells Diet that new emergency legislation will target mass terrorism 6 Metropolitan police set up new unit to guard the Prime Ministers new official residence 6 Okinawas anger unabated despite guilty verdict in airman rape case 6 Foreign aid: -- Ruling coalition secretaries general asked by Palestinian representative not to seek 10 percent cut in the ODA budget 7 -- New system of tied ODA loans to be introduced to rescue Japans general contractors 7 Seasoned Japan hand, Robert Orr, takes over cockpit at Boeing, Japan 8 Japans automakers reaping the benefits of recovering U.S. economy 8 Unemployment in February stayed about the same at 5.3 percent 8 Kyoto Protocol to be presented to the Diet today for ratification 8 (MHIX020329) TOP HEADLINES Asahi: No evidence that Koichi Kato spent money for living expenses from his bank account; Credit cards charges also paid from bank account for political funds [Translation below] Mainichi: Lawmaker Kato to resign from the Diet; LDP, Minshuto agree to summon Kato to testify before the Diet as early