[Provisional Translation]

The State Ministers for the Reshuffled Third Abe Cabinet were determined during today’s Cabinet meeting.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the attestation ceremony for the newly appointed State Ministers at the Imperial Palace. The Prime Minister then returned to the Prime Minister’s Office, where he held a commemorative photograph session with Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga and the newly appointed State Ministers, and attended the first meeting of State Ministers.

The Prime Minister said during the meeting,

“I would like to offer some remarks to the meeting of the State Ministers.

Since the inauguration of the Abe Cabinet, we have exerted every effort to fulfill the promise made to the people of Japan to “restore Japan.” As a result of Abenomics, employment has risen by more than 1 million people, wages have risen for two years in a row, the number of bankruptcies among small- and medium-sized enterprises has declined dramatically, and our exit from deflation is imminent. We are making steady progress on the reconstruction of housing and employment in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and we have further reinforced the foundation of our security frameworks.

Japan is finally ready to greet a new dawn. Now is precisely the time that we must begin renewed nation-building. I have reshuffled my Cabinet today so that we can make a strong start on this. With this new group by my side, we will hoist high the flag of our movement to promote the dynamic engagement of all citizens. Furthermore, with great force, we will shoot three new arrows toward the three major targets of achieving the highest annual GDP since World War II of 600 trillion yen, raising the desired birthrate to 1.8, and reducing the number of people who leave employment to provide nursing care to zero. I would like each State Minister to thoroughly fulfill your responsibilities so that you become a driving force behind the movement to promote the dynamic engagement of all citizens.

Working closely together with Parliamentary Vice-Ministers, I ask that you all build appropriate relationships of trust with your subordinates in the bureaucracy, create an environment in which all ministries and agencies are able to fully exercise their capabilities, support Ministers, and manage national politics. I hope that you will each fully exercise your respective strengths as you fulfil your duties, working as one and giving your utmost to pursue politics for the people and the nation. With that I would like to conclude my address. Thank you.”