[Provisional translation]
(Opening Statement by Prime Minister Takaichi)
Thank you for your hard work.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries YANA Kazuo has informed me of his intention to resign from his ministerial post. He explained that he could no longer allow the matter to disrupt Diet deliberations and wished to avoid a situation in which he would remain unable to concentrate on agricultural, forestry and fisheries administration.
Thank you for your hard work.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries YANA Kazuo has informed me of his intention to resign from his ministerial post. He explained that he could no longer allow the matter to disrupt Diet deliberations and wished to avoid a situation in which he would remain unable to concentrate on agricultural, forestry and fisheries administration.
As Prime Minister, I, too, cannot overlook a situation in which he would continue to be unable to concentrate not only on Diet deliberations but also on agricultural, forestry and fisheries administration. Furthermore, we must address important challenges one by one, including the Consumption Tax and Working Individuals’ Burden Relief Support Benefit Bill, our response to the situation in the Middle East, and the formulation of a budget to realize responsible and proactive public finances. For these reasons, I have decided to accept Minister Yana’s resignation.
I intend to announce his successor as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries tomorrow.
That is all.
That is all.
(Reporter)
I am Ueda from NHK. Thank you for taking my question.
I am Ueda from NHK. Thank you for taking my question.
As you mentioned in your opening remarks, Madam Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yana visited the Prime Minister’s Office a short while ago and subsequently announced his resignation during a press doorstep interview. First, could you tell us once again your thoughts on his resignation?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
He submitted his letter of resignation today, and I accepted it.
He submitted his letter of resignation today, and I accepted it.
(Reporter)
Madam Prime Minister, what was your candid reaction when he submitted his resignation? What went through your mind?
Madam Prime Minister, what was your candid reaction when he submitted his resignation? What went through your mind?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Well, I was the one who appointed him. Responsibility for his appointment rests, of course, with me as Prime Minister. I take my responsibility for the appointment very seriously, given that the situation has resulted in a minister’s resignation.
Well, I was the one who appointed him. Responsibility for his appointment rests, of course, with me as Prime Minister. I take my responsibility for the appointment very seriously, given that the situation has resulted in a minister’s resignation.
(Reporter)
First, how do you view the fact that the minister is being replaced less than a month after taking office?
Also, during deliberations at the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, you called on the minister to fulfill his responsibility to explain the matter, even though it was not clear whether there had been any illegality. Could you also explain why this has now led to his resignation?
First, how do you view the fact that the minister is being replaced less than a month after taking office?
Also, during deliberations at the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, you called on the minister to fulfill his responsibility to explain the matter, even though it was not clear whether there had been any illegality. Could you also explain why this has now led to his resignation?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
As for the timing, and why it happened at this particular point, the fact is simply that he submitted his letter of resignation this evening, and I accepted it.
As for the timing, and why it happened at this particular point, the fact is simply that he submitted his letter of resignation this evening, and I accepted it.
(Reporter)
Madam Prime Minister, you mentioned his successor in your opening remarks. Have you already approached anyone or made any requests regarding the appointment?
Madam Prime Minister, you mentioned his successor in your opening remarks. Have you already approached anyone or made any requests regarding the appointment?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
No, that is still to come. We are currently making arrangements.
No, that is still to come. We are currently making arrangements.
(Reporter)
I am Yokoyama from the Asahi Shimbun. I would like to ask a few questions. My understanding is that Minister Yana submitted his resignation to you of his own accord. Is it correct that the resignation came entirely from Minister Yana himself, rather than as a result of any suggestion or encouragement from you?
I am Yokoyama from the Asahi Shimbun. I would like to ask a few questions. My understanding is that Minister Yana submitted his resignation to you of his own accord. Is it correct that the resignation came entirely from Minister Yana himself, rather than as a result of any suggestion or encouragement from you?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
That is correct. We had arranged to meet this evening. As I mentioned, I spoke with him by telephone last night. Since the Budget Committee was meeting until the evening today, we had agreed that I would meet with him tonight and listen carefully to his explanation once again.
That is correct. We had arranged to meet this evening. As I mentioned, I spoke with him by telephone last night. Since the Budget Committee was meeting until the evening today, we had agreed that I would meet with him tonight and listen carefully to his explanation once again.
(Reporter)
Just to be clear, you did not ask him to resign, either during yesterday’s telephone conversation or at any other point?
Just to be clear, you did not ask him to resign, either during yesterday’s telephone conversation or at any other point?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
Not at all. He submitted his resignation today, and I accepted it.
Not at all. He submitted his resignation today, and I accepted it.
(Reporter)
Madam Prime Minister, had Minister Yana not submitted his resignation, did you intend to keep him in his post?
Madam Prime Minister, had Minister Yana not submitted his resignation, did you intend to keep him in his post?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
I had intended to meet with him this evening and hear his explanation, particularly as there had been further media reports. I had not made any decision in advance as to what judgment I would reach based on that explanation.
I had intended to meet with him this evening and hear his explanation, particularly as there had been further media reports. I had not made any decision in advance as to what judgment I would reach based on that explanation.
(Reporter)
I am Sawada from TBS Radio. Madam Prime Minister, you said, including during today’s committee deliberations, that you had instructed the minister to apologize because both his original remarks and his subsequent response were inappropriate. At the time, did you believe that this response would be sufficient to resolve the matter?
I am Sawada from TBS Radio. Madam Prime Minister, you said, including during today’s committee deliberations, that you had instructed the minister to apologize because both his original remarks and his subsequent response were inappropriate. At the time, did you believe that this response would be sufficient to resolve the matter?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
These were remarks he made in his local electoral district before becoming a minister. I had no way of knowing about them. He subsequently acknowledged having made those remarks. I also watched his subsequent press conference, but he merely described them as “expressions that could have caused misunderstanding.” I strongly reprimanded him for this and instructed him to properly retract the remarks and apologize, because, if he had indeed made those remarks, they were inappropriate.
These were remarks he made in his local electoral district before becoming a minister. I had no way of knowing about them. He subsequently acknowledged having made those remarks. I also watched his subsequent press conference, but he merely described them as “expressions that could have caused misunderstanding.” I strongly reprimanded him for this and instructed him to properly retract the remarks and apologize, because, if he had indeed made those remarks, they were inappropriate.
(Reporter)
I am Takada from the Tokyo Shimbun. Thank you for taking my question. Regarding this series of issues, I understand that you have called on Minister Yana to fulfill his responsibility to explain the matter. Do you believe that his explanations at press conferences and in the Diet have been sufficient?
I am Takada from the Tokyo Shimbun. Thank you for taking my question. Regarding this series of issues, I understand that you have called on Minister Yana to fulfill his responsibility to explain the matter. Do you believe that his explanations at press conferences and in the Diet have been sufficient?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
I listened to his explanations and responses in the Diet again today. However, I do not believe that he has yet provided an explanation sufficient to gain a full understanding of the matter, including on my part.
I expect him to continue fulfilling his responsibility to explain the matter in his capacity as a member of the Diet.
I listened to his explanations and responses in the Diet again today. However, I do not believe that he has yet provided an explanation sufficient to gain a full understanding of the matter, including on my part.
I expect him to continue fulfilling his responsibility to explain the matter in his capacity as a member of the Diet.
(Reporter)
I am Yokoyama from Asahi Shimbun. What are your thoughts on your responsibility for his appointment?
I am Yokoyama from Asahi Shimbun. What are your thoughts on your responsibility for his appointment?
(Prime Minister Takaichi)
As I stated earlier, responsibility for his appointment rests with me as Prime Minister.
As I stated earlier, responsibility for his appointment rests with me as Prime Minister.