[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the first meeting of the Hometown Development Practical Action Team at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I would like to make some remarks on the establishment of this Hometown Development Practical Action Team.

It is no exaggeration to say that many hometowns all around Japan are on the verge of crisis in the midst of the progression of our decreasing population and the extreme aging of our society.

We will promote efforts for hometown development that can instill people with a love of hometowns as bastions of the hearts of Japanese people and bring back hometowns that we can be proud of. This will contribute greatly to vitalizing local economies and the realization of a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged, which are top priorities for the Abe Cabinet.

There have been deliberations in the Advisory Council on Hometown Creation up to this point on the overall direction and principles of hometown creation. Based on the results of the discussion, we will start putting initiatives for hometown creation into action. This is a most important matter. I think that it will raise many issues, and that it will be a difficult thing to do. However, I want to enter a new phase that will produce grand opportunities for hometown creation across the country.

We have gathered you here to take on the role of promoting hometown creation in the midst of your busy schedules. As the Hometown Development Practical Action Team, I want you to directly see the actual state of the places working for hometown creation all around the country, and strongly promote hometown creation for the future of Japan under the leadership of Special Advisor Kawai. I request that you exercise leadership on this issue.”