[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Miyagi Prefecture.

In the morning, the Prime Minister visited the Shiogama Seafood Wholesale Market in Shiogama City. Afterwards, in Ishinomaki City, he observed public housing for disaster-stricken households and a site for group relocation for disaster mitigation in the Shin-Hebita area, and visited oyster producers. In addition, the Prime Minister also observed a land readjustment project conducted as part of reconstruction efforts in the central area of Onagawa Town.

After his visit, the Prime Minister said,

“Each region affected by the disaster faces its own circumstances and issues. We must address these issues as we move forward with reconstruction.

Today, I visited the disaster-affected areas of Shiogama, Ishinomaki, and Onagawa. In Shiogama, I heard about how the amount of fish being caught is steadily increasing, as is the number of tourists visiting the area. In Ishinomaki, alongside continued advances in "senary," or sixth-order, industrialization (in which agricultural, forestry, or fishery operations create new added value by integrating production, processing, and sales and promoting the use of local resources) of the fisheries industry, the income of fisheries producers is increasing in conjunction with productivity increases. I heard about such new efforts and trials being undertaken, and saw for myself the progress they are making. When I visited Onagawa previously, all we had were blueprints; almost no structures could be seen in the area. Those blueprints, the dreams of Onagawa, are steadily taking shape as buildings. Young people are coming in from Tokyo and other urban centers with the desire to make use of their own ideas and abilities. It is extremely heartening to see such trends emerging.

I will continue to visit the areas affected by the disaster as much as I can. In doing so, I want to make sure that we are responding to the needs of each area and that reconstruction is moving forward steadily. I also believe that it is important that we listen carefully to the opinions of residents on the issue of where specified waste will be processed. I intend to continue to make steady efforts to resolve this issue.”

Additionally, in response to a question on the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting to be held in Shanghai, China, on February 26 and February 27, the Prime Minister said,

“I hope that there will be wide-reaching and frank discussion at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting on structural issues such as excessive production capacity in China, financial affairs in the United States, and the economic impact of oil price fluctuations. As the country holding the G7 Presidency, I want Japan to lead discussions for promoting the growth and stability of the global economy.”