Press Conference by Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru Regarding the Opening of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, His Visit to Hyogo Prefecture, and Other Matters

(On Prime Minister Ishiba’s thoughts and aspirations for the success of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which opens today, following his attendance at yesterday’s opening ceremony and his tour of the pavilions; the opinions expressed by the participants at the round-table discussion held today at Kawasaki Heavy Industries; his thoughts on the impact of the recent U.S. tariff measures, Japan’s support for domestic companies in response, and what Tokyo will request of Washington during Minister Akazawa’s upcoming visit to the United States for earnest negotiations; and how Prime Minister Ishiba will incorporate into his policies the insights from his visit to A-Step KOBE earlier today and the subsequent round-table discussion there.)

I would like to express my appreciation as we successfully held the opening ceremony yesterday, and today, the Expo finally opens its doors to welcome visitors. I truly believe that the opening ceremony yesterday was wonderful, thanks to the tremendous efforts made by so many people. Japan’s new charm that was beautifully integrated with its traditions contributed to the impressive ceremony. We were honored to receive gracious words from His Majesty the Emperor. I am confident that this Expo will be enjoyable to many people. Throughout the duration of the Expo, we will work together with various municipalities, including Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, as well as with the private sector, to ensure its success. However, this success is not the ultimate goal in itself. Through this Expo, we hope to regain a sense of global unity. In a world that is currently facing division, we hope to demonstrate what it means for the world to join hands and how we can collectively create a new Japan. This Expo also serves as a kind of experiment for the future, and its theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” We hope to convey this message to the world and make this Expo one that ushers in a new era. We would greatly appreciate your support as well.

Accompanied by some Diet members, I then received detailed requests and remarks from Kawasaki Heavy Industries and its related companies, while the Japanese Government is currently taking all possible immediate measures. Naturally, one strong request was to urge President Trump to withdraw the tariff measures. However, the request was not just about urging the President, but also reaching out to governors and members of Congress as Japanese companies have a presence at many locations across all 50 states in the U.S. This is something the Japanese Government and the ruling parties are committed to addressing properly. As immediate countermeasures, we are providing support for financing and employment. We have established 1,000 consultation centers nationwide, including those here in Hyogo Prefecture and Kobe City. We also heard requests for these centers to provide swift and appropriate responses. We intend to respond to these needs accurately and effectively.

Today, we visited Kawasaki Heavy Industries and its related companies. Often, discussions involving President Trump are about four-wheeled vehicles. However, I was reminded of the importance of considering two-wheeled vehicles as well, as different responses apply to different products and business sectors. When we engage with President Trump or relevant U.S. cabinet members, we need to keep in mind President Trump’s aim to revitalize American manufacturing and provide jobs for those who have been left behind, as we explain how the events will unfold. However, we need to question whether the current tariff measures will truly contribute positively to achieving this goal. Japan has been the largest investor in the U.S. and the top contributor to job creation in the U.S. for over five consecutive years until now. The various resources for this have been generated through exports from Japan. Therefore, it is crucial for us to ensure that they understand that Japan’s presence and exports from Japan have brought about employment and investment in the U.S. To achieve this, we intend to offer convincing explanations, accurately reflecting the voices from those on the ground. With the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry taking a central role, the Minister, State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers are visiting various locations across the country today. We believe that accurately conveying such voices is the most crucial task for our Government. Today, we are also joined by the Mayor as we seek to work together with other municipalities, as well as the ruling parties, to address this situation. We also intend to listen to the opinions of the opposition parties.

Kobe is known as one of the most progressive cities nationwide in promoting gender equality, with the Mayor playing a central role in these efforts. Today, I had the privilege of listening to the voices of various female entrepreneurs and those concerned for a significant amount of time. It was truly a valuable opportunity. We received thoughtful input to create an environment where women can work comfortably, and how they can enhance their skills while managing childbirth and childcare. I intend to reflect these insights in our national policy. It is clear that many women have a strong desire to work more, contribute more to society and achieve self-fulfillment. The question is how well the support system caters to their aspirations. Furthermore, it would be necessary to remove one by one various long-established social customs, assumptions and what might currently be called unconscious biases. While time is limited, given the rapid decline in population and marriage rates, it is crucial to incorporate the advanced examples from cities like Kobe and opinions from both the administration and private sector into our national policy to the greatest possible extent so that we can give shape to a new form of Japan that originates from local initiatives. That’s all from me.

（On the thoughts Prime Minister Ishiba had when visiting Kobe East Park to see the meditation space and “Memorial and Reconstruction Monument” following the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake; and whether he intends to establish a regional hub of the Disaster Management Agency in Hyogo Prefecture?）

I was struck anew by the realization that it has truly been 30 years since that earthquake. When it occurred, I was in my constituency in Tottori Prefecture, where I was serving my third term as a Diet member. Due to the geographical proximity to Kobe, Tottori was also hit by tremendous tremors. I visited the affected areas many times afterward and 30 years have passed since then. After that, Japan was hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake and, just last year, by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. I believe we have learned a great deal from the lessons of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that hit Kobe. Furthermore, we have received various proposals not only from Kobe but also from the Union of Kansai Governments, which has given a proposal regarding the planned Disaster Management Agency at a very early stage. We must build a new Japan based on the tragic and sorrowful lessons learned from this region, and I believe that is the path to honoring the spirits of those who lost their lives. Thanks to the efforts of many people, the wonderful city of Kobe is now being rebuilt, and we must spread the various visions learned in Kobe throughout Japan. The Disaster Management Agency is one form of culmination of such visions. From the perspective of redundancy, considering an earthquake beneath the Tokyo Metropolitan Area or a Nankai Trough earthquake occurring at the high probability of 80% and 70% within the next 30 years, with the crisis becoming a real possibility, we have doubled the budget and personnel for the establishment of the Disaster Management Agency starting this fiscal year. Aside from the question of where such hubs will be located, we plan to present an overall outline by June. Regarding the location, as I earlier referred to redundancy, we will select the most suitable places from that perspective, with a possible structure being equipped with a main office and branch offices. Today, Diet members belonging to the ruling parties are also present, and we will carefully consider the views of those in the Diet, as well as the views of the administration, as the Mayor is also here, to choose the best location for Japan. We have not decided on any specific locations at this point. That’s all.