Regarding the recent magazine article by Administrative Vice Minister for Finance Yano Koji in which he criticized the economic stimulus measures compiled by the ruling and opposition camps as a “pork-barrel” battle, Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Chairman Tokura Masakazu noted at his regular press conference on Oct. 18 that “fiscal integrity must be upheld, but [Japan] is currently facing a situation that requires fiscal spending.” On Yano’s placing his opinion piece in the magazine, he said that Yano “had been given the green light by the finance minister and the article is his personal opinion, not the government’s position.” (Abridged)