• 
• 

 
On September 20, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the 23rd meeting of the Reconstruction Promotion Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
At the meeting, a discussion was held on initiatives for the acceleration of reconstruction.
 
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
 
“Reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake remains a top priority to the Cabinet even after eight and a half years have passed. I request the Cabinet members to share the mindset of and work like a Minister for Reconstruction, and exert all-out efforts to achieve full-scale reconstruction at the earliest date possible.
 
Just one year and a half is left until the end of the reconstruction and revitalization period. Even after the end of this period, we intend to complete reconstruction under political responsibility and leadership. To that end, we will compile a basic policy on reconstruction within the year. I ask each minister, working with the Minister for Reconstruction, to make a review on your respective reconstruction measures being implemented so far and exert thorough efforts towards this compilation, including closely identifying in detail the situations in disaster-affected areas.
 
There will be no reconstruction of Tohoku without the reconstruction of Fukushima, and there will be no revitalization of Japan without the reconstruction of Tohoku. I would like to ask for your cooperation as we follow through with our hands-on approach, listening to the voices of those who are affected, and work on the acceleration of our reconstruction efforts with the government working in unity, by eliminating government silos.”