[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the Gathering of the Prime Minister and Individuals with Disabilities at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister visited each of the participating organizations’ booths, which were set up in the South Garden, conversed with participants and also watched stage performances, including Zuiho Taiko (drums), Iwami Kagura (theatrical dance), and wheelchair dancing.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“Today’s event opened with a spirited Zuiho Taiko performance. This event was first held in 2007 during the first Abe administration, and later in 2013 it was held for the second time, and now this year marks the third occasion. As this is the third time, I feel that the performances have become much more accomplished. I am not the type to often be praised by others, but the one praise I do receive is for bringing sunny weather with me wherever I go. Today, too, we are greeted by this clear and completely cloudless sky. The recent G7 Summit in Ise-Shima also enjoyed fine weather, despite the forecast for rain, which was perhaps thanks to my good luck with the weather. This is why we have never planned for it to rain during this event. This event was planned for today based on the assumption it would be a sunny day.
Today, we are joined by individuals with disabilities activein a wide range of areas. It has been ten years since the implementation of the Comprehensive Support Act for Persons with Disabilities. It is in this milestone year that I asked all of you who have worked diligently and achieved results while living a life requiring tackling challenges in various fields to gather here.

The greatest policy agenda of the Abe administration is realizing a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged. In such a society everyone can pursue their dreams. Everyone can develop and advance their skills. Everyone can have a place to belong and work hard. This is the type of Japan that I would like to create. I believe that eliminating each and every hurdle to this plan is the responsibility of the government and politicians.

Today, I look forward to talking about various things with you here today. I would like to ask about the challenges you face in life and learn more about your successes in each of your chosen fields. Then, I would like to share this with everyone in Japan and through social media, everyone in the world, which in turn will give many people an added sense of courage.

I am very honored by the presence of everyone gathered here, and thank you for travelling from across Japan to be with us today, and look forward to spending a fun and rewarding time with you here today.”

The Prime Minister said the following after attending the Gathering of the Prime Minister and Individuals with Disabilities.

“The year 2016 marks the ten year anniversary of the Comprehensive Support Act for Persons with Disabilities. The first thing that comes to mind is how the situation has changed over the last decade. This event was first held in 2007 and now nine years have passed since then. I truly received an added boost of courage after interacting with all of you here working hard in your respective fields. I understand you still face challenges. But, for example, agriculture-welfare collaboration is an area where you have established a presence that is higher than others and one that is top in Japan, creating agricultural products with a great deal of added value through organic cultivation and the elimination of pesticides. In terms of confections, too, you are creating very high quality products. In this sense, we created an environment over these past 10 years where individuals with disabilities have been able to fully utilize their talents.

The important thing for the future is overcoming emotional barriers, not just the physical ones. The healthy and the disabled tend to be separated, but we must tear down this barrier. We will create a Japan where these barriers can be broken. Toward that end, we must make further progress with creating a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged. I will work hard so that individuals with disabilities across Japan can smile even more.”