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On November 13, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Association Chairpersons of Town and Village Assemblies, held in Tokyo.
 
The Prime Minister said in his address,
 
“First, my heartiest congratulations to everyone who received an award today. I would like to express my sincere good wishes and respect for all of you.  
 
I am delighted about the convention of the ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Association Chairpersons of Town and Village Assemblies and the 63rd National Convention of the Chairpersons of Town and Village Assemblies. I would also like to congratulate, once again, everyone who received the 70th anniversary commemorative award. I would like to express my utmost respect for everyone who has worked tirelessly in your respective town and village assemblies toward the development of your local governments and the revitalization of the local communities, as well as for the hard work and achievements of those who have come before you.
 
This year, we have once again faced a series of major natural disasters in regions throughout Japan, such as typhoons, earthquakes, heavy rains and record-breaking storms. I express my condolences for the people who have lost their lives, and extend my sympathies to everyone who has been affected by these disasters. Last week, we compiled a policy package towards the rebuilding of lives and ‘nariwai’ (occupations and livelihoods that sustain people’s everyday lives) of those who were affected by the series of typhoon disasters. As the first step to implementing this policy package, we have decided to disburse over 130 billion yen of contingency funds. Moreover, we will formulate a supplementary budget to provide seamless support for recovery and reconstruction in the affected areas, and further strengthen efforts to build national resilience, based on the issues and lessons drawn from the recent disasters.
 
Last month, we made free early childhood education and childcare for all children from ages 3 to 5. We will also make higher education for those children truly in need free of charge from April next year. We will boldly develop the blue print of a social security system that can bring peace of mind to all generations from children to the elderly, and which is befitting of the Reiwa era.
 
Japan will not have vitality unless its regions do. The Abe Cabinet has provided strong support for the creative and innovative initiatives of local communities through the utilization of means including the 100-billion-yen Regional Revitalization Promotion Grant. As a result, regional revitalization has started progressing significantly.
 
For example, the village of Nishiawakura in Okayama Prefecture has established an entrepreneurship support system known as a “Local Venture School” for aspiring Regional Vitalization Cooperation Volunteers, and is engaged in ambitious initiatives including renovating childcare facilities managed by the village into research facilities equipped with childcare functions, and developing an environment that enables the childrearing generation to focus on their businesses. These initiatives have created employment for 99 people in the village of about 1,500 people, over four years up till 2018, and attracted 130 new residents.
 
To expand such trends across the whole of Japan, we will continue to raise high the flag of regional revitalization, and put utmost efforts into creating vitality in the regions going forward.
 
The Rugby World Cup ended recently. I was greatly inspired and touched by the wonderful play of powerful players from around the world, including the huge success of the Japanese team. Next year, the Olympic Torch Relay will finally commence from Fukushima Prefecture, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held. As the whole of Japan is filled with a sense of dynamism for the future, we intend to tackle bold reforms with the spirit of a challenger in all policy areas or fields, without being constrained by conventional thinking.
 
My hometown is the former town of Yuya-cho, a small town in the Sanin (the shadows of the mountains) region of Yamaguchi Prefecture. It has now been incorporated into Nagato City as a result of the municipal merger. While the number of towns and villages has fallen significantly due to the municipal merger or these towns and villages are the place which enrich their lives, we are the ones who have continued to protect Japan’s traditions and long history, its culture and beautiful ties between people, and its world-class natural environment. I think that you have all held a sense of pride in these things in your work and the achievements you have produced to date. The towns and villages are precisely the hometowns of Japan, and the hometowns that we should protect. Alongside with this sentiment, I want to bring about dramatic changes that will give young people a sense that there may be opportunities waiting for them in the towns and villages, or that the towns and villages may be the places that can enrich their lives. This is what I hope to achieve.  
 
Once again, I would like to express my deep respect to everyone here for the hard work you have put into protecting the regions.
 
I would like to conclude my address for the ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Association Chairpersons of Town and Village Assemblies by extending my best wishes for the continued development of the Association, and for the further success of everyone present here today.”