[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the tenth meeting of the Headquarters for Promoting Decentralization Reform at the Prime Minister’s Office.

During the meeting, discussion took place on the policy for following up on the proposals received from the regions in 2016.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“The vitalization of abundant, positive, and dynamic regions is a top priority for the Abe Cabinet. It is important to increase the autonomy and independence of the regions, and to create unique and highly appealing regions through the regions themselves coming up with ideas and exercising ingenuity.

As part of this year’s decentralization reform measures, taking the basic stance of thoroughly listening to the views of the regions and as a result of detailed discussions, we have responded to more than three-quarters of the proposals, focusing on proposals that are closely connected to people’s lives, such as those that contribute to support for children, childrearing, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

In order to further advance reforms for the regions based on regional ideas, I would like all ministers to continue to exercise strong leadership and to steadily advance initiatives based on the policy determined today. Thank you.”