Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the second meeting of the Headquarters for Promoting Decentralization Reform at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on decentralization reform, the transition of the clerical work and authority from the national government to local governments, and other matters.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"In the meeting of the Headquarters for Promoting Decentralization Reform today, I would like to receive a report from Minister Shindo on the basic way of thinking concerning the decentralization reform, and consider and share the direction of initiatives within the Abe administration for decentralization reform.
In regard to the transition of the clerical work and authority from the national government to local governments, we have heard strong interest for this from the public and regions. In the Government, we must carefully build upon the course of developments up until now and the voices from the regions, work as one, and make steady progress on this issue.
I would like to ask that all relevant ministers work within the fields you have jurisdiction over, exercise leadership to take the initiative on measures for reform and act as the driving force for decentralization reform.