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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the 2015 New Year Party Jointly Hosted by the Three Economic Associations held in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I wish you all a very happy New Year.

This year, I intend to continue placing top priority on the economy. There are many things that must be done, and I will implement policies in a bold and speedy manner.

I will continue to devote maximum effort to pursuing economic revitalization with the economy as the highest priority, recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, revitalization of education, reform of the social security system, and establishment and rebuilding of diplomacy and security policies, as well as to regional vitalization and the creation of a society in which all women shine. Moreover, I also intend to advance the three arrows of Abenomics in a speedy and bold manner. 

At the end of last year, immediately after the election, we formulated our economic policies, our comprehensive strategy for regional vitalization, and our policy guidelines for tax system reform. Also, we intend within this month to formulate the supplementary budget and the budget for the next fiscal year. 

Also, in regard to growth-oriented corporate tax reform, we have decided to reduce the corporate tax rate by 2.5% in FY 2015 and by 3.3% in FY 2016, and aim to implement further reforms thereafter.

This reduction in corporate tax is closely connected to wage increases. As corporations improve their profitability and increase their competitiveness, they will then be able to maintain the employment needed to succeed against the global competition, increase employment, and improve the lifestyles of the people. I am strongly convinced of this, and I would also like many other people to share this conviction as well.

Further, I would also like to earnestly request that this be appropriately reflected in the prices paid to subcontractor companies.

In regard to the Diet, I would like it to operate as a Diet that carries out reforms.

I am determined to submit bills to strongly advance reforms in areas with vested interests, such as agriculture, medicine, employment and energy.

At the start of this new year, I would like to promise all of you that we will not go back on the reforms, or water them down in any way.

Also, there will be no revitalization of Japan without the reconstruction of the disaster area. Based on this way of thinking, we have been successively advancing policies to accelerate the reconstruction. Through such acceleration measures, we have steadily progressed with the reconstruction of housing, and developing towns in the disaster areas.

In particular, we will also take measures to eradicate the effects of harmful rumors. Last November we established a new sales route development team for processed fishery products from the disaster areas, through the combined efforts of the public and private sectors, as well as through your assistance. I am deeply grateful to all the members of the three economic associations for your cooperation in this regard.

In regular sessions of the Diet, we will prepare special measures and taxation measures for the reconstruction and revitalization of Fukushima, and would also like to implement measures to support the smooth return of those who evacuated Fukushima. 

2015 is the Year of the Sheep. This is said to be a year when leaves and branches grow on trees, then fruit appear, and then taste is added to the fruit making them delicious. With the kind cooperation of all of you, I would like to make this a year in which we also add flavor to all that we do.”