SNA (Tokyo) — The following stories were reported today by the Shingetsu News Agency.

The Top Headline

—Kyodo News poll has Abe Cabinet approval rating falling nine points to 38.7%. This is consistent with the recent Jiji Press poll. One big difference, however, is that the Kyodo poll shows “non-support” for the Abe Cabinet shooting up to 48.2% of the public, a dangerously high level. Mainichi Shinbun poll shows Abe Cabinet public support plummeting twelve points to 33% in the wake of Moritomo Gakuen forgery revelations. Non-support skyrockets. Asahi Shinbun poll shows results similar to the Mainichi. They have the Abe Cabinet approval rating dropping to 31%, with disapproval jumping to 48%.

Politics

—Mainichi Shinbun: It seems that an unidentified ruling party lawmaker pushed the Education Ministry to pressure the Nagoya School Board over Kihei Maekawa’s lecture. It wasn’t previously clear why the bureaucrats would have had a vendetta against Kihei Maekawa, but a pro-Abe politician? Surely!

—Why? A Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker pressured the Nagoya School Board over Kihei Maekawa’s lecture. The Japanese media clearly knows who the lawmaker is, since they say he couldn’t be reached for comment. Why, why, is the Japanese media not reporting the lawmaker’s name? Is it a secret?

—Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan calls for Nobuhisa Sagawa to be made to testify in the Diet as soon as possible, suggesting that tomorrow, Monday, would be appropriate timing.

—The leadership change turning the Nukaga Faction into the Takeshita Faction may have a serious impact on the September presidential race within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Wataru Takeshita is thought likely to support Shigeru Ishiba more than Shinzo Abe.

—Yomiuri Shinbun worried by Abe initiative: “In the US, the Fairness Doctrine requiring broadcasters including TV stations to ensure political fairness and impartiality was abolished in 1987. As a result, biased reporting increased, playing a major role diminishing public trust in media.”

—According to a Kyodo News poll out today, about 2/3 of the public now agrees with the opposition demand that First Lady Akie Abe must be called to testify in the Diet about the Moritomo Gakuen scandal. Other interesting results in Kyodo poll: 52% say Taro Aso must resign, while 66% say responsibility for the Moritomo Gakuen scandal lies with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The public seems to get it: This time it’s not really Aso’s scandal but rather Abe’s scandal.

International

—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declares at the National Defense Academy graduation ceremony: “Peace can never be given by someone.” How true! Look at THIS guy’s inflated claims, for example!

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