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On June 11, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the third Host Town Mayor’s Meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.

At the meeting, a discussion was held on recent developments, and some “Arigato” Host Towns for Supporting Reconstruction made presentations.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,

“Welcome to the Prime Minister’s Office today. I can sense the excitement of the participants filling this room and it fills me with joy. Now, the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games is just a little more than a year away. I want the Games to be filled with the warm feelings of all the people in Japan. Our Host Town Initiative is a key initiative to achieve this. In particular, the ‘Arigato’ Host Towns are an integral part of our efforts to materialize the Recovery and Reconstruction Games. I hope that the circle of exchange with countries extending their supports for reconstruction, presented by the three municipalities today, will expand across the whole of the disaster-affected communities. 

We intend to communicate vigorously the reconstruction of Tohoku, which is being progressed by the concerted efforts of all partners, even utilizing the framework of the Liaison Meeting of ‘Arigato’ Host Towns for Supporting Reconstruction, which has been established today. The Government will firmly support positive efforts made by local governments affected by the disaster. Furthermore, it is also important to take this opportunity of the Paralympic Games to materialize an inclusive society, making it a legacy that we can boast of to the next generation. I hope that exchanges with athletes with disabilities in the Host Towns of a Harmonious and Inclusive Society will make the concept of an inclusive society become deeply rooted in communities.

I would like to ask all the members gathered here to expand this circle of exchange widely across your respective communities and to develop your relationships further with your partner countries, taking advantage of your opportunity as a Host Town and making these exchanges more frequently. I have high expectations for you all.

I did not expect such a large number of people to gather here today for this meeting of the Host Towns. Most of the mayors from Yamaguchi Prefecture, where I am from, are present today, while I saw a few are actually absent. As such a great number of participants joins us, I would like to create a great momentum towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is just a little more than a year away, and to promote Japan’s hospitality to the world. To this end, I ask for your continued support and cooperation. Thank you.”