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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Iwate Prefecture.

The Prime Minister attended the opening ceremony of the Reconstruction Support Roads (the Kamaishi-Akita Line of the Tohoku Throughway) held in Tono City. Afterwards, he participated in tree planting activities for the Sakura Line 311 project in Rikuzentakata City and visited a Fire and Disaster Prevention Center. He also visited a soy sauce brewing plant that has reopened in Ichinoseki City.

After the visit, the Prime Minister said,

“Since my visit to Rikuzentakata City three years ago, the Disaster Prevention Center has been completed, as has the Community Hall. Public housing for disaster-stricken households that can accommodate 300 households will be completed next year, and I have heard that nearly all of the public housing for disaster-stricken households will be completed within FY2016.

In addition, we are moving forward steadily with the construction of Reconstruction Support Roads. Today I attended an opening ceremony for a portion of those roads. I was truly delighted to see the happily smiling faces of all the local people there.

Beyond that, I looked around this plant. Despite being washed away by the tsunami, this company thoroughly maintained the employment of its workers, rebuilt its plant here, and is developing new products. I want the Government to fully support people like all of you. The operating rate in Rikuzentakata is currently improving.

I would like to exert even greater effort to develop Rikuzentakata even further beyond what it was like before the disaster.

I also participated in tree planting for the Sakura Line 311 project. Since November 5 has been designated World Tsunami Day, I also hope that we will share the knowledge and lessons learnt from the terrible experience for disaster prevention and mitigation across the country and the world.

The Rugby World Cup will be held here in Iwate Prefecture. I want to put effort toward the reconstruction of residences and employment and work thoroughly for mental and physical health care so that we will be able to demonstrate to the world how reconstruction efforts are flourishing through the Rugby World Cup and Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Additionally, in response to a question on correcting disparities in the value of votes, the Prime Minister said,

“I understand that a third-party organization will be created under the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and that this third-party organization will advance discussion based on the judgment of the Supreme Court. I want to first wait for this discussion. We are of course taking the judgement of the Supreme Court seriously.”