Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue regarding comfort women
• The statistics released on foreign visitors to Japan
• The gubernatorial election in Okinawa

(Abridged)

REPORTER: If I may ask a question about your comments yesterday, I was wondering if you could share your views on the Kono Statement. At the time the Kono Statement was issued, Mr. Kono acknowledged that “comfort women” had been forcefully taken away. My understanding is that you commented that this was a major issue. Do you consider that the Kono Statement itself has faults?   

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No. At the time, the Governments of Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) were committed to putting a full stop to this comfort women issue and building a future-oriented relationship. In this context, the two countries coordinated with each other on the drafting of the Kono Statement. The Japanese Government, under the recognition that the so-called “forcefully taking away” of women could not be confirmed, compared and coordinated the language of the Kono Statement with the ROK Government as firmly as possible, to the extent that the facts were not distorted. And in this process, before the Kono Statement was released, the ROK President expressed appreciation for the draft Kono Statement presented by the Japanese side. The Kono Statement was released on this basis. However, despite the fact that stable Japan-ROK relations had been restored for some time following this process, this issue was brought up again several years ago and has begun to cast a shadow on Japan-ROK relations. At a House of Representatives hearing, former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ishihara, who was responsible at the working level for drafting the Kono Statement at the time, has testified that this was extremely regrettable. Against this backdrop, I have stated that the Government will uphold and will not revise the Kono Statement. At a press conference that was held on the occasion of releasing the Kono Statement, when questioned about whether Japan had recognized the fact that the women had been forcefully taken away, then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono stated that “we accept that to be the case.” Furthermore, there were The Asahi Shimbun’s articles on the testimony of Mr. Seiji Yoshida at the time. We hold the view that an awareness began to spread across the international community, including the ROK, as if women had been forcefully taken away.

REPORTER: Then your understanding is that the Kono Statement itself has no faults?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have made it clear that we will not revise the Kono Statement and we will uphold it.

REPORTER: So you are not denying the Kono Statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No.

REPORTER: There is one more question I would like to ask. Yesterday, you said that a correct recognition of history is needed. What is a correct recognition of history with regard to the comfort women issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated moment ago, as no evidence was found indicating that women were forcefully taken away, the Japanese and ROK Governments compared and coordinated the language of the Kono Statement as firmly as possible, to the extent that the facts were not distorted. The Kono Statement was an outcome of this process. However, when questioned about whether Japan had recognized the fact that the women had been forcefully taken away, Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono stated that “we accept that to be the case.” A distinction should be made between the Kono Statement and Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono’s response.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Government often raises the point that no documents were found indicating that women were forcefully taken away. Nevertheless, outside of Japan, the point at issue is also the fact that private recruiters took women to comfort stations against their will, for example, through coaxing or other means similar to human trafficking. In Japan, scholars, too, are settling on this recognition that women were not forcefully taken away in the ROK. However, this is ultimately an issue about responsibility. Taking women by deceiving them is also human trafficking. Some question whether this is really different from taking women by abducting them, including by kidnapping. In this sense, the Western media and the ROK media do not make this distinction. In other words, the Japanese Government’s views are being interpreted as a denial of all elements of coerciveness. Outside of Japan, this is seen as the heart of this matter in my view. What is your view on this point? Do you consider it important to address only the issue of the “forcefully taking away” of women?    

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No documents were confirmed indicating that women were forcefully taken away. In addition, at the time, as I stated a short while ago, The Asahi Shimbun published articles about Mr. Seiji Yoshida’s testimony that the Japanese military took away comfort women forcefully. We believe that under such circumstances, Japan’s honor and trust were undermined. Therefore, we would like to make a clear distinction.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm a few points. Regarding reports of the forcefully taking away of women through kidnapping, you said that it was important to restore Japan’s honor. I also understand that the Japanese military was involved through private recruiters. However, what is your view regarding the opinion that nevertheless, overall, there was coercion by Japan, especially at comfort stations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I gather there are various views on the matter. However, I would like to refrain from commenting on this.

REPORTER: But in the Kono Statement, it is stated clearly that the overall atmosphere at comfort stations was a coercive one.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, we have made it clear that the Government will not revise the Kono Statement and that we will uphold it. History saw the human rights of women being violated when wars broke out. Ever since the end of World War II, Japan has worked to make the 20th and 21st centuries free of human rights violations. With regard to the issue you just raised, we deem that it should be studied by historians, both in Japan and overseas, as well as by experts.

REPORTER: I would like to change the subject to the statistics released on foreign visitors to Japan. Up to this September, 9.73 million foreign travelers visited Japan in 2014. It has become certain that the number of foreign visitors to Japan will exceed the 10 million mark at a faster pace than last year. I think it can be said that this will serve as a boost to the growth strategy of the Government, which aspires to turn Japan into a “tourism nation.” Can you first comment on the statistics?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I believe the pace is such that we can pretty much expect to exceed 12 million people by the end of this year. To date, the Government has implemented a succession of policies to become a tourism nation, including the easing of visa requirements, the relaxation of the system of consumption tax exemptions for foreign visitors, and increases in customs and immigration personnel. We are pleased that such policies have contributed to sharp rises in the number of foreign visitors to Japan. We will continue to pursue further inventive approaches to make not only Tokyo but also the other areas of Japan attractive destinations to people from all over the world. Indeed, we will work to achieve 20 million foreign visitors to Japan by 2020, the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is expected to generate significant economic spillover effects.              

REPORTER: I have a related question. In your view, what are the challenges for achieving the 20 million target by 2020?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: To achieve this target, it will be critical to increase the arrival and departure slots at Haneda and Narita Airports. At Haneda, we are now working on this through the review of route changes. At Narita, we will be strengthening the airport’s flight control functions. Through such measures, it is forecasted that both airports will be able to increase arrivals and departures by around 40,000 per year. Simultaneously, facilities, such as customs and immigration, will be set up at local airports. We will also be showcasing Japan’s local areas to attract foreign visitors to Japan, which will contribute to the vitalization of local economies.      

REPORTER: I have one last question. This increase in foreign visitors is supported by Chinese visitors. The number of Chinese visitors to Japan has increased by 80% from last year. On the other hand, data shows that the number of Japanese visitors to China has been stagnating. What is your assessment of the current situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is true that the number of Chinese visitors to Japan has increased by more than 80%. In addition to China, the number of ROK visitors has increased considerably. It is also true that significant increases year-on-year were observed for visitors from Thailand and Australia. As for Japanese people, I think it will be good if more visit China. I imagine the people of Japan and China will be able to deepen their understanding for each other’s countries by visiting and seeing them.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the gubernatorial election in Okinawa Prefecture. Mr. Takeshi Onaga, who is expected to run for governor, unveiled his public pledge yesterday. Mr. Onaga said he was opposed to the construction of a base off the coast of Henoko and will take every possible measure to stop the construction. He said that if legal flaws are found with Governor Nakaima’s approval of the land reclamation, then he will invalidate it, and that if no flaws are found, withdrawal is also an option. You have always said that the Government will steadily proceed with the construction work, irrespective of the outcome of the gubernatorial election. Can you please give us your comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, I would like to refrain from commenting on behalf of the Government about individual candidates in local elections. The relocation of the U.S. Forces base from Futenma to Henoko was originally agreed between Japan and the United States 19 years ago. And 3 years later, or 16 years ago, the Government obtained the understanding of then-Governor of Okinawa Prefecture and then-Mayor of Nago City regarding the relocation. The relocation was decided because Futenma Air Station is in fact located in a densely populated residential area and adjacent to it is an elementary school. Indeed, the biggest challenge was to eliminate the dangers presented by Futenma Air Station. From this challenge arose the decision to relocate Futenma Air Station. Both the Government and Okinawa Prefecture have a shared recognition about eliminating the dangers presented by Futenma Air Station. That is a fact. The Government deems that the relocation to Futenma decided 19 years ago is the only viable solution in view of maintaining the deterrence of the U.S. Forces amid the severe security environment in Japan and removing the dangers posed by Futenma. In this context, the Government has been making ceaseless efforts with the local people since 16 years ago, when a vision was formed for the replacement of Henoko, and we finally obtained Governor Nakaima’s approval for the land reclamation application in December of last year. As Japan is a law-abiding country, we perceive that naturally the judgment has already been presented in accordance with the relevant laws and ordinances. The Government will continue to work to alleviate the burden of the bases in Okinawa in a visible manner. I was appointed Minister in charge of Alleviating the Burden of the Bases in Okinawa. Indeed, Okinawa, which makes up less than 1% of Japan’s total land area, is currently bearing more than 70% of the burden placed on Japan by the U.S. bases. Furthermore, lands south of Kadena account for 80% of the population of Okinawa. U.S. bases are concentrated in these lands. Eventually, by relocating Futenma to Henoko, the lands hosting 70% of the U.S. bases are set to be returned to Japan. Against this backdrop, the Government will steadily proceed with the land reclamation work approved by Governor Nakaima. At present, the return to the Okinawan people of the lands currently hosting approximately 70% of the U.S. bases is set, along with the relocation of 9,000 of the approximately 20,000 U.S. Marine Corps personnel to areas outside Okinawa Prefecture or Japan, including Guam. In this sense, the Government will steadily proceed with the plan. I believe candidate Onaga of course has an obligation to explain to the people in Okinawa Prefecture how he plans to eliminate the dangers presented by Futenma Air Station.