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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Fukushima Prefecture.

First, the Prime Minister observed the Ogawara Reconstruction Hub area in Okuma Town in Futaba County. Following this, he exchanged views with residents who have returned to their homes, at the Cycling Terminal in Tenjin-misaki Sports Park in Naraha Town.

In the afternoon, the Prime Minister attended an opening ceremony and unveiling ceremony for the Naraha Remote Technology Development Center. Afterwards, Prime Minister Abe observed a robot demonstration. Following this, the Prime Minister visited the Kokonara Shopping Area, where he and the Joint Public and Private Sector Team exchanged views with business operators.

After his visit, the Prime Minister said,

“I will work to ensure that as many of the people who wish to return to their hometowns as possible are able to do so, at the earliest possible date.
The lifting of evacuation orders is not the end of reconstruction; it is the beginning. We will continue to address this issue while being sympathetic to the concerns that people have.

We are thoroughly monitoring the water. At the same time, we understand that we must address everyone’s concerns.

Furthermore, employment is extremely important. As the Joint Public and Private Sector Team conducts individual visits, we hope to carefully listen to your views and learn about what we can do to address your concerns, so that we can take action accordingly.

I also wish to state once again that I think that the driving force for reconstruction is the feelings of all of the residents of this region toward their hometowns. We must exert every effort so that your hopes can be fulfilled.

Today I was shown a model of the reconstruction hub for the Ogawara area in Okuma Town, an area that I also visited last year. It was clear to me that the project plan is steadily taking shape. There is no doubt that our reconstruction efforts are making progress, step by step, and that we are beginning to see a path toward the future.

Based on the basic policy of the Abe Cabinet that ‘there can be no revitalization of Tohoku without the reconstruction of Fukushima, and there can be no revitalization of Japan without the reconstruction of Tohoku,’ I intend to push forward with reconstruction, while remaining sympathetic to the feelings of the residents of this region.”

Additionally, Prime Minister Abe also said the following about the potential holding of a summit meeting between Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

“There are plans for a Japan-China-ROK summit meeting to be held soon and we are currently coordinating the schedule for that. At that time I very much hope to hold a Japan-ROK summit meeting.

Difficult issues exist between our countries precisely because Japan and the ROK are neighbors, and it is especially because such issues do exist that I think the leaders of our respective countries must meet and hold frank discussions.

If a summit meeting is held, I would like to discuss a wide-variety of issues, including not only politics and diplomacy, but also the economy, personal exchanges, and culture.”