Joint Meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council and Ministerial Council on the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI)
[Provisional translation]
On March 19, 2024, Prime Minister Kishida attended a joint meeting of the 39th Reconstruction Promotion Council and the 2nd Ministerial Council on the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI) at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on changes to the Basic Guidelines for Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake after the “Second Reconstruction and Revitalization Period” and the status of efforts regarding F-REI.
Following the discussion, Prime Minister Kishida said:
At the meeting, the participants engaged in discussions on changes to the Basic Guidelines for Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake after the “Second Reconstruction and Revitalization Period” and the status of efforts regarding F-REI.
Based on the discussions, Prime Minister Kishida said:
“Thirteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
We have made steady progress in reconstruction thanks to tireless efforts by people in the affected areas; however, the situation varies, depending on the area.
Last week, I attended Fukushima Prefecture’s memorial ceremony on March 11. Many people in areas affected by the nuclear disaster are still forced to take refuge.
Toward the full-scale reconstruction and revitalization of Fukushima, we will push ahead with the safe and steady decommissioning of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the development of a living environment in areas with evacuation orders lifted, and efforts toward the lifting of such orders in the Specified Living Areas for Returnees, among other measures.
In addition, the Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation, or the so-called F-REI, will mark its first anniversary soon.
I was in attendance at the opening ceremony last April, and F-REI has steadily moved forward under the leadership of President Yamazaki for the past year.
We will continue our government-wide efforts to develop F-REI into a world-renowned central institute for creative reconstruction.
In light of such progress, we will review the Basic Guidelines for Reconstruction and approve them in a Cabinet meeting later today, with an eye on reconstruction in the second reconstruction and revitalization period through FY2025.
In accordance with the Basic Guidelines, we will strive to move reconstruction forward in the remaining two years of the second reconstruction and revitalization period. At the same time, we will commence full-scale discussions on what reconstruction should be like after this period.
Without the reconstruction of Tohoku, there will be no revival of Japan. I ask all the ministers to continuously work on the reconstruction of the disaster-affected areas with such strong resolve.”