NHK gave top play to a report that the Defense Ministry disclosed on Monday the activity logs of GSDF troops in Iraq, saying that the troops operated in dangerous regions. All commercial networks led with reports that the Finance Ministry released on Monday a statement denying a tabloid report that Vice Minister Fukuda sexually harassed female reporters.

Most national dailies gave top play to the Defense Ministry’s release yesterday of daily activity logs for GSDF logistical support operations in Iraq from 2004 through 2006, highlighting that some of the records described “combat” and “gunfire” in the vicinity of GSDF barracks even though Japanese personnel were only supposed to be deployed in “noncombat zones.”  Other main front-page items included high-level economic dialogue between Japan and China held in Tokyo on Monday, Vice Finance Minister Fukuda’s denial of a sexual harassment allegation, and Niigata Governor Yoneyama’s intention to resign ahead of the publication of a weekly magazine alleging his inappropriate involvement with a woman.