[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 16th 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.
Since April, we have entered the reconstruction and revitalization period and set the stage for ‘finishing up’ the ‘true reconstruction’ of Fukushima. With a strong resolution to achieve everything that is needed, we must promote seamless support for those affected by the disaster, the reconstruction of homes and towns, and the revitalization of employment.

I myself have visited the region affected by the disaster close to 30 times. It is important that we push forward with initiatives, while remaining sympathetic to the feelings of the residents of the region. At the Reconstruction Forum on the 5th Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake held in June, I was able to listen to the opinions of the young people and companies of the region who will be responsible for its future. I felt that we are already starting to see the creation of the ‘new Tohoku’ that everyone is hoping for.

Tourism is one method for the acceleration of that process. This year will be the starting year for the reconstruction of tourism in Tohoku. We will accelerate the reconstruction of tourism by communicating the charms of Tohoku within Japan and abroad, and through such initiatives as invitations for educational trips, all in order to achieve the goal of tripling the number of foreign nationals that visit and spend a night in the region by 2020.

The Government is working on the front lines and taking the initiative to create an environment that will allow for the lifting of evacuation orders in areas other than zones where the return of residents would be difficult in order to realize  the swift return home of people who wish to return by March of next year. I hope to compile the Governments thinking on zones where the return of residents would be difficult as well soon.

‘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, and help in eliminating vertical segmentation, while also turning their attention to the frontlines, so that reconstruction can be completed in the affected areas at the earliest possible time during the reconstruction and revitalization period.”