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[Provisional Translation]

The annual comprehensive disaster prevention drills for 2015 were held on September 1, Japan's National Disaster Prevention Day. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took part in the drills together with all Cabinet members.

This year, the drills were conducted based on a scenario in which a Tokyo Inland Earthquake occurred at 7:10 a.m., with a magnitude of 7.3, a maximum seismic intensity of 6 Upper , and its epicenter in eastern Tama, Tokyo.

As part of the drills, the Prime Minister himself walked to the assembling point at the Prime Minister’s Office, and held the first meeting of the Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters. Afterwards, the Prime Minister held a press conference to explain the overview of the earthquake and the status of the Government's response, and to give a message to the people.

Then, the Prime Minister led a government inspection team to the venue in Tachikawa City, Tokyo, where the joint disaster prevention drills were being conducted by the nine municipalities in the Kanto region. After observing a rescue and assistance drill  from a monorail, the Prime Minister participated in a firefighting drill using a standpipe fire hose and a rope tying drill, and then observed a rescue and assistance drill from a collapsed building.

Following that, the Prime Minister said in his address at the closing ceremony of the drills,

“It is of great significance that disaster prevention day drills of this scale were held today, with the participation of over 100 organizations and approximately 10,000 people, including the local people of Tachikawa City and the surrounding areas, as well as the police, the fire department, the Japan Coast Guard, the Self-Defense Forces, TEC-FORCE, DMAT, and members of the private sector.

Many people voluntarily and wholeheartedly participated in today’s drills, including approximately 1,200 elementary and junior high and high school students, on which the future of Japan rests.

It is important that each and every person stands ready and prepares for disasters, so that everyone can protect their own lives. I would like to ask the relevant organizations and community members to regularly ensure that preparations have been made for disasters by deepening understanding about the activities that each person should carry out themselves during times of disaster, as well as understanding about each other’s respective activities, through practical drills like the ones conducted today.

This year as well, there has been a spate of damage wreaked by typhoons and torrential rainfall in each region, and one volcanic eruption after another, including the eruption on Kuchinoerabu-jima Island . The natural conditions of Japan make the country prone to disasters, with no regard to place, such as earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rains, and volcanic eruptions.

In order to protect the lives and property of the Japanese people, the Government will prepare against other major disasters, including Tokyo Inland Earthquakes, which some fear may occur in the future. We will constantly revise disaster prevention measures, and work as a single entity on disaster countermeasures through self-help, mutual support, and public assistance  collaborations.

In closing today, I would like to express my appreciation to everyone who wholeheartedly participated in today’s drills.”

Lastly, the Prime Minister was presented a disaster prevention book from Mr. Yoichi Masuzoe, Governor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government .

After the observation, the Prime Minister was asked about the lengthening timespans for life in evacuation conditions for those who were forced to move after the eruption on Kuchinoerabu-jima Island, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and other disasters, along with efforts to rebuild the lives of evacuees in the future. In response, the Prime Minister stated,

“Immediately after a disaster occurs, we exert every effort for rescue and urgent relief. After that, we are fully committed to securing emergency temporary housing. And then, in order to respond to the lengthening timespans that people are spending as evacuees, and other matters, we will thoroughly secure housing and employment. I think that it is necessary to offer support for people in these situations.

We will secure permanent housing, including public housing. To that end, we will also continue financial and loan support.

Furthermore, we will support people as they rebuild their lives. At the same time, I believe it is important to offer support for mental health care. I also think it is important to offer support that meets the needs of disaster victims and is in line with their feelings, while drawing upon the various experiences we have had with disasters up until now.”

Additionally, in response to a question on the presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP), the Prime Minister stated,

“I assumed the presidency of the LDP in 2012. Under the slogan of ‘We will restore Japan ,’ I have created policies in order to exit deflation and encourage strong economic growth. However, my work is only half complete. There are significant issues related to regional vitalization and other matters still before us if we are to spread the effects of economic recovery throughout Japan. I think that measures for the declining birthrate are also of key importance. Perseverance will make us stronger. I am resolved to continue to further advance policies in order to thoroughly fulfill that responsibility.”

Furthermore, in response to a question on reports about the decision to halt the use of the official logo of the 2020 Tokyo Games by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games , the Prime Minister stated,

“I believe that the Organising Committee made this judgment in light of a variety of situations. In any case, I believe that we must hold an Olympic Games that receives the blessings  of the public.”