Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the first meeting of the Advisory Council on Vitalizing Towns, People and Jobs, at the Prime Minister's Office.

At the meeting, the expert members of the Council introduced examples of specific measures related to vitalizing towns, people and jobs, and exchanged views on the measures the Government must take.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Presently, the three arrows of Abenomics that we are advancing have produced definite improvement in areas such as employment and wages. Putting aside the figures for April, May and June, which were just after the consumption tax had been raised, the economy is basically showing growth.

Our objective is to ensure that the effects of this economic growth are felt in every corner of Japan. However, many are of the opinion that the nation's overall economic growth has yet to reach the local regions.
At the same time, Japan also needs to thoroughly address the issue of the various structural problems that it is facing, such as the declining population and the extreme aging of society. We must address the challenge of how to radically change the current situation, in which human resources are rapidly moving from local regions to urban areas, while local regions are experiencing a steady decline in the availability of human resources, fewer jobs, and a weakened economy.
Both towns and local regions have huge potential, and the people of Japan can lead healthy lifestyles in both. I believe that creating a nation of this kind truly leads to the happiness of the people. By doing so, I am convinced that we can secure a sustainable growth path.
Issues such as the declining population and the extreme aging of society are more urgent and serious in the local regions. I will make full-fledged efforts to build up the local regions so that they are transformed into places where young people can feel pride and have dreams and hopes for the future, and where everyone can live with peace of mind.
However, I do not mean that we should tell young people to live in the local regions. Rather, we must create local regions that make young people think that living there can lead to fuller lifestyles, and that local regions better allow them to reach their full potential through their own passion and efforts. To do so, we must make far-reaching structural changes. We will create jobs in the local regions, and generate the flow of new people into these regions. We will resolve the issues faced by local regions while taking into account each of their individual characteristics.
I believe that we must use these measures to halt the trend of extreme population concentration in Tokyo, and develop appealing home towns, each with their own unique characteristics.
I look forward to hearing broad discussions and frank opinions on these issues, and reflecting these in measures to create local regions that are full of individuality. Thank you.”