[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a Meeting of the Ministerial Council on the Response to the Mass Stabbing Incident at the Facility for the Disabled, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, there was a report on the “Response to the Mass Stabbing Incident at the Facility for the Disabled.”

Based on the report at the meeting, the Prime Minister said,

“A large number of disabled people lost their precious lives in the incident at Tsukui Yamayuri-En. I once again offer my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives.

This kind of incident is something that can never be forgiven, and must never happen again.

The examination into this incident made problem points clear, such as the lack of a systematic mechanism in regions to support people after hospitalization has ended and they are released, and that collaboration among hospitals and municipalities has been insufficient.

The policies compiled this time to ensure this never happens again will construct a continuous support system to make it possible for people with mental disabilities to live their lives in the regions after the end of hospitalization and their release without becoming isolated.

I instruct all relevant ministers to collaborate and advance concrete initiatives in order to ensure the effectiveness of these policies to make sure this never happens again.”