[Provisional translation]
On April 21, 2026, Prime Minister Takaichi attended a meeting of members of Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) in Tokyo.
The Prime Minister said in her address:
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan. I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to Keizai Doyukai for reaching a truly significant milestone—the 80th anniversary of its establishment—and for successfully holding this meeting today with so many in attendance. This January, Mr. Yamaguchi assumed the post of Chairperson. I sincerely look forward to his great success.
When Keizai Doyukai was founded in April exactly 80 years ago, its Mission Statement said, ‘This is the very moment when we should join forces, crack the whip on one another, use our ingenuity to the maximum, and do our utmost for the reconstruction of the Japanese economy.’ I can keenly feel the strong resolve of the founding members, who sought to join forces and muster their wisdom to help Japan rise again amid the postwar chaos.
Japan is now facing an extremely harsh and difficult situation that includes high prices, a stagnant potential growth rate, and the most severe and complex international environment since the end of World War II. Nevertheless, I believe that now is the time to learn from our predecessors and get Japan back on its feet. I have unwavering belief in the latent power of Japan and its people. I will push ahead with robust economic policies and take on challenges to carve out a future of hope.
The Takaichi Cabinet will take a step forward to enhance predictability for business operators. Furthermore, we will drastically strengthen efforts to promote domestic investments.
In the FY2026 tax reforms, we established a tax scheme for promoting bold capital investments. In the FY2026 budget as well, we have significantly stepped up funding for policies to facilitate strategic investments that enhance resilience against potential crises and investments that promote growth while also making strategic allocations across the budget.
In the run-up to the formulation of the FY2027 budget, which will start from the budget request stage for the first time since the Takaichi Cabinet’s inauguration, we will give concrete shape to our budget formulation policies in the Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform to be compiled this summer. These will include investment-promotion policies through the use of budgets providing fiscal outlays across multiple fiscal years and long-term funds. With regard to strategic investments that enhance resilience against potential crises, investments that promote growth, among others, we will also introduce an administrative mechanism with a separate heading in the budget over multiple fiscal years so that they also lead to reductions in our debt-to-GDP ratio. Furthermore, in ‘Japan’s Growth Strategy,’ we will compile comprehensive support measures that address both the supply and demand sides, including bold investment promotion measures, government procurement, and regulatory and institutional reforms.
I sincerely hope that the members of Keizai Doyukai will work in collaboration with the Government to engage in active, bold domestic investments.
In light of the current situation in the Middle East, we have been taking all possible measures to protect people’s lives and livelihoods and prevent disruptions to economic activities. On March 11, we moved ahead of the rest of the world in releasing oil stockpiles equivalent to approximately 45 days of consumption and took a leading role in the largest-ever coordinated release of oil stocks by the IEA (International Energy Agency). In addition to securing the necessary amount of oil for Japan as a whole, we have been strengthening measures to address distribution bottlenecks occurring in some areas.
At the same time, I announced ‘POWERR Asia’ at the AZEC (Asia Zero-Emission Community) Plus Summit last week with the aim of working together with Asian countries from which Japan import various critical goods derived from petroleum products and building resilient supply chains for energy and critical minerals to pave a path by which Asia as a whole is able to become strong and prosperous. This initiative includes not only short-term support measures, such as credit enhancement to procure crude oil for like-minded Asian nations, but also the strengthening of oil stockpiling capacities in the Asian region and the upgrading of industry by securing critical minerals and diversifying energy sources. We will thus deepen our cooperation with Asia in tackling structural challenges as well.
While this year marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Keizai Doyukai, it is also another milestone: the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the Showa era. On April 29, we will hold a ceremony to commemorate the Showa centenary. Standing on the foundation of prosperity that our predecessors in the Showa era built and learning from their wisdom and efforts, let us boldly take on new challenges to make Japan strong and prosperous across the entire archipelago.
In closing, I would like to offer my best wishes for the further growth of Keizai Doyukai as well as the good health and continued success of all those present here today. Thank you very much.”