• 

On February 27, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Today, I spoke on the telephone with Mr. Tetsuma Esaki, who is currently in hospital. He explained that, for the time being, he needs to receive in-hospital medical treatment and is unable to fulfil his responsibilities as a minister during the budget deliberations. He said that he therefore wishes to resign from his position. It is necessary for Mr. Esaki to stay in the hospital for some time and receive treatment, and I have decided to respect his wishes.

Currently, we are right in the midst of the budget deliberations. Determining that we must pass the budget as soon as possible and that we cannot afford even a single day’s delay, I have decided to ask Diet member Teru Fukui to succeed Mr. Esaki. Mr. Fukui has served as Deputy Chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party and is a policy expert. Furthermore, Mr. Fukui has also served as Chairman of the Special Committee on Okinawa and Northern Problems of the House of Representatives. He is therefore well-versed in matters related to Okinawa and the Northern Territories and I believe he is the right person for strongly promoting the relevant measures. Working together with the newly-appointed Minister Fukui, I will do my utmost to respond to matters related to Okinawa and the Northern Territories, consumer affairs, and issues concerning territorial land and sea, among others.”