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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with chairpersons of prefectural assemblies at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address,

“I want to thank all of the Chairpersons of Prefectural Assemblies for gathering here today from across Japan despite your very busy schedules.

I am very pleased that we have this opportunity for frank discussion since all of you are community leaders and are working hard to further develop and advance your municipalities on a daily basis.

First, a number of major natural disasters have struck every corner of Japan this year, including the Kumamoto Earthquake and a series of record-breaking rainfalls caused by typhoons.

I would like to once again express my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives, and my deepest sympathies to all those affected by these disasters.

The economy continues to be the issue of greatest priority for the Abe Cabinet.

In order to fully escape deflation, realize medium- to long-term economic growth, and overcome our aging population and falling birthrate, we must follow through with structural reforms and make full use of the latent capabilities of Japan’s economy.

On October 11, the second supplementary budget was passed that includes economic measures to realize investments for the future.

The keyword of these economic measures is investment for the future. In order to further build upon the hidden potential of regions, we will advance measures for assisting with childcare and the growing needs of nursing care, looking toward a future in which all citizens are dynamically engaged.

Also, the entire Abe Cabinet is working together on work style reform, another pillar of our structural reforms.
As for vitalizing local economies, almost all municipalities have established regional versions of the comprehensive strategy, bringing us to the stage of all-out project development.

Each region will pave the way for their own future with their own ideas. Using new grants, we will support the challenge of vitalizing local economies led by municipalities.

We will listen carefully to the views of the regions. We will fully support enthusiastic and creative regional initiatives.

This is the basic stance of the Abe Cabinet.

I firmly believe that without the vitality of our regions and young people in these regions wanting to remain in their community, Japan has no future. The key to Japan’s growth is the growth of regions. The key to Japan’s vitality is the vitality of our regions. This is what I believe.

At today’s discussion, I hope to hear frank, unfiltered and region-based opinions from all of you in attendance.”