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On May 20, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 18th meeting of the Council on Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on the draft outline of the Basic Policy for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy 2019, after the expert members of the Council said a few words.
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
“There can be no revitalization of Japan without vibrant regions. With this belief, the Abe Cabinet has raised high the flag of regional revitalization and tackled this issue as a top priority through government-wide efforts for the last five years. As our efforts will enter the second phase*, a new stage, from next fiscal year, we have new members attending this meeting. From their 20s to 70s, a wide array of people who make significant contributions in various areas across this country have joined this Council. There are noticeably many more women, and they have brought a change of atmosphere. I would like to express my profound gratitude to everyone for gathering today despite your busy schedules.
 
Through the efforts made in the first phase, we are seeing surging energy in the regions, such as the setting of new record highs in agricultural exports for the past six years in a row and the emergence of inbound tourism as a new major industry. In the meantime, regional revitalization has started progressing significantly, including increases in local tax revenue by 40 to 50% in most prefectures in the last six years. At the same time, excessive concentration of the population in Tokyo poses a major issue, and such circumstances require more stepped-up efforts.
 
The new era of Reiwa has begun this month. The Chief Cabinet Secretary, who announced the name, will be joining us later; the new era name, Reiwa, came from Manyoshu. The collection of 32 poems on plum blossoms, from which the name was taken, was written at Dazaifu in Fukuoka Prefecture; this era name is one in which a local area played a leading role. It looks like Dazaifu currently has many tourists every day. That is in fact providing a major boost to regional revitalization. I believe we must make the era of Reiwa an era for vibrant regions.
 
In autumn, many people from all over the world will visit various areas of Japan for the Rugby World Cup. Once the new year begins, it will be finally the year of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. I would like to elevate regional revitalization to a new dimension, when all of Japan will be filled with excitement. I believe this will be a perfect opportunity for each region. I am looking forward to hearing your candid views with such a wish regarding the next phase of our efforts on regional revitalization.”
 
*Second phase (2020-2024) of the comprehensive strategy for overcoming population decline and vitalizing local economy