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On November 24, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Fukushima Prefecture.
 
The Prime Minister observed a multipurpose medical helicopter at a medical facility in Futaba District, and held an exchange of views with hospital staff.
 
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister visited the Nakano area in Futaba Town, and held an exchange of views with the representatives of local companies. After that, the Prime Minister visited the area around Futaba Station. Later, Prime Minister Abe visited Azuma Baseball Stadium at Azuma Sports Park in Fukushima City with Mr. Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee  (IOC) and then held a meeting with President Bach at Azuma Gymnasium.
 
When completing his visit to the area around Futaba Station, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Here in Futaba Town, centered on Futaba Station, the specified reconstruction recovery zone and its development are finally underway. I truly feel that reconstruction is steadily moving forward, one step after another, here in Fukushima Prefecture.
 
In Tomioka Town, a medical facility that offers emergency medical services has started operations this spring. Medical care is fundamental to our lives. The Government will exert every effort to develop lifeline infrastructure, including medical facilities, in order to enable residents to return to their homes with peace of mind. Moreover, there is no revitalization without the reconstruction of industries and ‘nariwai’ (occupations and livelihoods that sustain people’s daily lives). In Futaba Town, new business facilities leading to the future of this town are being developed such as the planned establishment of a factory for carbon fiber, which is used in the aerospace field, utilizing the Government’s Subsidies for the Location of Businesses (that Support Independence and Repatriation and Create Employment). I am truly delighted to see the progress in the establishment of new businesses.
 
Taking advantage of the full opening of the JR Tokiwa Line, scheduled for spring 2020, the Government will exert every effort to promote the revitalization of ‘nariwai,’ utilizing these subsidies, towards the partial lifting of evacuation orders for the area around Futaba Station.
 
In 2020, Japan will host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. After this, I will visit Azuma Baseball Stadium with President Bach of the IOC. I truly hope to demonstrate to the world the successful reconstruction of Japan and Fukushima. There will be no revitalization of Japan without the revitalization of Fukushima. With this strong determination, the Government will stand on the frontlines and do everything it can, not limiting ourselves to the Fukushima reconstruction and revitalization period that ends in 2020, but continuing beyond that, until the full reconstruction of Fukushima is achieved.”
 
In addition, the Prime Minister said the following about the selection of Japan as the host of the 2025 World Exposition,
 
“Japan was elected to host the World Exposition in 2025. All of us worked very hard to achieve that and I am delighted by this result.
 
We won this bid to host this exposition thanks to these dedicated efforts of everyone in Osaka, Kansai, the Japan World Expo Committee, including Chairman Sakakibara and Governor Matsui, Secretary-General Nikai of the LDP, and the Parliamentary League to support this bid. I want to once again express my thanks to everyone involved. I would also like to convey my most heartfelt gratitude on behalf of Japan to the (BIE) Member States that supported us. At the same time, I also commend Russia and Azerbaijan for their own strong bids.
 
I would like to make this World Exposition one that draws many people around the world to Osaka, Kansai and fills people with dreams and wonders. It is my hope that the power of the Kansai region will invigorate the entire country, including the disaster-affected regions.”