[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 14th meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, discussions were held on initiatives to accelerate reconstruction.

Based on the discussions, the Prime Minister said,

“Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake is a top priority for the Abe Cabinet. Nearly 200,000 people are still being forced to live as evacuees. Reconstruction is still only half complete, but full-fledged efforts to rebuild homes in the disaster affected regions are underway.
I visit the disaster affected regions nearly every month. This is a step-by-step process, but I have felt for myself that we are steadily moving forward with reconstruction.

There is only a half year left in the intensive reconstruction period. In April of next year we will at last begin the latter part of reconstruction, the five year ‘reconstruction and revitalization period.’ The next half year represents the culmination of the first five years of reconstruction, so this is a crucial period. We must accelerate reconstruction further during this period to pave the way for the ‘reconstruction and revitalization period.’ For that purpose, I intend to thoroughly advance the rebuilding of homes and achieve ‘psychological recovery,’ through measures including the revitalization of industry and employment in the affected regions, and support for community building.

Next Monday I will visit Fukushima.

We are making steady progress toward reconstruction, as represented by the lifting of evacuation orders for Tamura City, Kawauchi Village, and Naraha Town. The Government will lead the way towards reaching the full-fledged reconstruction and revitalization phase.

‘There can be no revitalization of Japan without the reconstruction of Tohoku.’ I would like every minister to share the mindset that we are all Ministers for Reconstruction. I again instruct you all to be sympathetic to the feelings of the people of the affected regions and exert every effort for reconstruction in your respective roles, acting with a sense of speed and without limiting yourselves by conventional ideas.”