Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have no special announcements from my side this time. If you have questions, go ahead.

Q&As

REPORTER: I am Hiramoto of Nippon Television.

There are reports that three workers were exposed to high levels of radiation during work on the Unit 3 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station today. What information do you have at the moment regarding the injuries these workers sustained?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Today, the workers were laying cables. As you are aware, atmospheric radiation levels are monitored constantly as employees carry out their work. Unfortunately, the workers' feet came into contact with water containing high levels of radiation, and as a result the workers were exposed to radiation levels of 170mSv or more. This is extremely unfortunate, but I have received words that the workers in question have been taken to hospital where they are now receiving treatment.

REPORTER: What about the condition of their injuries?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The only information I have is that workers were exposed to high levels of radiation when their skin came into contact with water. I expect there will be a more in-depth report on what happened from the people on the scene once those details become available.

REPORTER: I am Kuribayashi of Yomiuri Shimbun.

Today, Governor Mimura of Aomori Prefecture had talks with Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Sengoku and apparently asked for government subsidies to fund rebuilding efforts after this disaster. Given the crisis management situation in the affected areas, it is likely that money for rebuilding will become a major issue in the months ahead. In terms of a supplementary budget, on the other hand, from the perspective of fiscal discipline, do you think that the government needs to exercise restraint in issuing additional national bonds?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, in terms of what little is left of this fiscal year, we need to give careful consideration right up until the end of the fiscal year to the question of how to use the available contingency funds most effectively for disaster relief.

Once we enter the new fiscal year, I think inevitably we will be looking at some kind of supplementary budget. In terms of fiscal discipline, we must not disregard fiscal discipline altogether. On the other hand, we must not get ourselves into a situation in which we end up with being unable to issue the necessary national bonds. We need to ensure that we secure all the necessary funds.

Quite frankly, I think this is an extremely difficult issue. I have already given instructions to the Minister of Finance. I met with the Minister of Finance yesterday and told the ministry to consider the overall picture in assessing the situation.

REPORTER: I am Sato of the Asahi Shimbun.

I understand that Diet Members representing seats in Fukushima Prefecture have requested that the national government buy up produce from Fukushima Prefecture affected by the restrictions in place. What are your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have already said that compensation will be paid to all those who have been affected by the restrictions placed on shipping as a result of the nuclear power station situation, not only those in Fukushima Prefecture. The question is: When is the best time to do this? Obviously, if there is too much delay it could affect people's immediate day-to-day livelihood.

In that sense, I think that the idea of the government buying up the affected produce is one proposal. At the moment we are looking into addressing the situation in which people's immediate livelihoods are threatened because of uncertainty about when they might receive compensation.

REPORTER: I am Oda of the Sankei Shimbun. This is in connection with the first question about the injuries to the workers exposed to high levels of radiation. Originally, safety levels for people doing emergency work were set at 100mSv, but these levels were raised to 250 mSv following the recent earthquake. Do you believe that this change in the regulations was appropriate?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: These steps were taken on the advice of specialists. Although of course it is preferable for radiation levels to be as low as possible, it is my understanding that the safety standards were set at current levels based on various findings to date that for people doing dangerous work like this, it is possible to prevent any adverse impact on workers' health from radiation levels up to 250mSv. Even so, it is clearly the case that the lower these levels are, the better. In particular, the present case is being treated as an accident. The workers involved have been taken to hospital and are receiving treatment. Normally, workers are exposed to radiation in the atmosphere, which is monitored constantly. I'm sure you followed the recent media reports that showed conditions when fire fighters were working on the scene. In this case, the exposure was not to radiation in the atmosphere, but came about when the workers' feet became immersed in water. The workers involved were not even fully aware that they were being exposed to large amounts of radiation, or that they were being exposed to radiation from an unanticipated source. For this reason, in addition to making sure that the affected workers in this case receive the very best medical treatment, I think we need to ensure that greater care is taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the course of work from now on.

REPORTER: I am a reporter for Asahi Shimbun. In a news conference just held by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), there was discussion to the effect that the measurements for the temperature in the spent nuclear fuel pool at Unit 3, the previous data, had not been accurate. I would like to ask, once again, what the understanding of the government is.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am not personally aware of the NISA press conference itself, but the fuel pool at Unit 3 cannot be monitored directly, so we are receiving the cooperation of the Self-Defense Force and other parties and monitoring the situation from the air. Therefore, when we make decisions regarding a range of issues such as the timing for injecting water from the outside, we have assumed from the beginning that there would be a certain margin of error, that there would be a margin of error compared to the normal situation where the temperature is measured directly, and have been repeatedly monitoring the temperature as often as possible from the outside.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Is there information regarding such matters as a sudden rise in the temperature being relayed from the site?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not received such information regarding the fuel pool at Unit 3 as of this moment.

REPORTER: I am Hiramoto of Nippon TV. I have a question regarding the effect of radioactive material on tap water. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued its opinion regarding the ingestion of tap water in light of the existence of radioactive material above maximum contaminant limits in one sample yesterday. Today, there appears to have been a new case in the city of Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture where maximum contaminant limits were exceeded. On the other hand, numbers lower than maximum contaminant limits were registered this afternoon in Tokyo Prefecture. What is your view of this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is our understanding that how tap water will be affected and how that will occur along the timeline will change according to a variety of factors and circumstances such as the weather. Because of these circumstances, the national government would like to have the local governments everywhere monitor the water supply activities under their respective jurisdictions as often as possible. The national government will do its utmost to firmly consolidate the results through the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

On the other hand, with regard to the future outlook and other matters regarding the situation, we believe that we must put that data together to some extent and analyze them in cooperation with experts. Whatever the precise numbers are at any particular moment must be considered within that overall picture in cooperation with those experts. Therefore, we would like to deal with the numbers that are being observed in a comprehensive manner under the assumption that there may be a little fluctuation going forward, instead of looking at the numbers individually. That is precisely why we are asking for a certain measure of response if certain levels are observed even if the numbers are such that drinking such water for a day or two would not have any effect.

REPORTER: This is the decision of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, but the Metropolitan Government removed the restriction after one instance in which numbers below the maximum contaminant levels were detected. From the consumer's point of view, there is the matter of the time lag between the observation of such levels and the actual distribution of the tap water. Given such a situation, won't a response where restrictions are lifted when levels fall below the maximum levels and re-imposed when they exceed them instead of taking a comprehensive approach only invite more confusion? That is a criticism that is being made. What is your opinion about that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In the immediate instance, that is a matter for the decisions to be made by the respective local governments under their own authority. We do not believe that we are at a stage right now where the national government should issue directions and the like directly. However, considering whether this is a temporary situation where the numbers rise, then go back down again, or is a situation that will continue for some time while there is a little fluctuation, the national government will consider these matters based on reports from all quarters and taking into consideration the analyses of the experts. If this is not a temporary situation but is a tendency that will continue for some time while fluctuating up and down, then we will have to request the respective local governments to take certain measures, but we believe that we are not at the stage to do so.

REPORTER: Won't it take time to decide whether or not it is a temporary situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that this is a matter to be discussed with the experts based on the data that has been accumulated and is not one whose nature allows me to provide an outlook on my own.

REPORTER: There is talk about reopening the Grand Prince Hotel Akasaka in Tokyo as a shelter for the three months until it is dismantled. Has the government heard about this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that this is a specific matter that should be considered and coordinated by the Headquarters for Special Measures to Assist the Lives of Disaster Victims. We have received many offers from local governments all over Japan that are willing to receive victims who have been evacuated. However, this is a situation in which they must be matched with the evacuees and the intentions and wishes of the evacuees themselves. We believe that this is not a case in which the state should be telling them where to go just because there are openings. So, we are now taking measures to provide the local governments of the evacuees with as detailed information as possible on where it is possible to accept them including the specific hotel in question?where we have received offers to accept evacuees?so that people who want to do so can easily raise their voices and be brought together.

REPORTER: Lastly, concerning the radiation exposure of the people working at the site. I have heard that they got foot injuries and were hospitalized. If the exposure level exceeds the upper limit of 250mSv, will those people be completely forbidden to work in the nuclear plants in the future? Or else, is it necessary for them to return to the work after a certain period? Who do you think should be responsible for seeing that their health damages are compensated and their livelihood and employment are secured going forward?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, please be aware that 250mSv is an annualized figure. I believe that people at the site are trying hard to make sure that this level would not be exceeded. In the case that this level was exceeded, those people will not be allowed to work in the nuclear plants for one year.

On that basis, what should be done for the long-term issues should be decided depending on individual cases, like the position at the workplace and the kind of work the person is engaged in. Accordingly, we should judge case by case how the nuclear reactor law and/or the labor safety law could be applied. Please inquire to NISA concerning the nuclear reactor law and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare concerning the labor safety law.

REPORTER: I am Kobayashi of TV Asahi. A working-level meeting of the Joint Council for Earthquake Disaster Response ? a body consisting of members of the government and ruling and opposition parties ? was held today at the Diet building. I heard that there was a consensus that an evacuation warning should be issued also for the residents in the 20-30km zone who are currently advised to stay indoors, according to the briefing by opposition parties. Have you received any reports about it? What are your thoughts on this argument?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have received reports that there were complaints that the people living in the 20-30km zone have difficulty obtaining supplies, among other difficulties. Meanwhile, apart from judging whether or not evacuation is necessary, seamless support must be provided from outside from early on for the people inside the zone, especially those requiring medical treatment. Instructions were given so that they can receive appropriate medical treatment somewhere outside the zone. I believe necessary works are already nearly complete for that matter.

The Government is providing support to those people who wish to leave the zone. Furthermore, members of the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and others are bringing in supplies to the communities inside the 20-30km zone, although they may not be sufficient in amount.

That said, considering that the "indoor evacuation" has been continued for an extended period of time, we need to reconsider how much support has reached the people and in what way in the meantime, in determining if the current state of affairs is sustainable. We must bear in mind that, apart from the issue of the impact from the radiation, we need to consider what actions must be taken in response to the social demands emerging right now. At the same time, we must also be careful lest our instructions give the wrong signal to the people that the danger has spread further. We are thoroughly examining all these factors right now.

REPORTER: I am Tejima of Kyodo News. Today, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku instructed the administrative vice ministers of each ministry to draft a special measures law for post-earthquake reconstruction. Specifically, what kind of law does he envisage? When will it be submitted to the Diet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is not the case that we have a specific law in mind. In fact, during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, a considerable number of emergency laws were enacted. Some of them were later made permanent laws and are still valid today; others remained temporary laws and eventually expired. Given the scale of the disaster, including the area of damage, which is larger compared to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, it is quite likely that similar emergency laws will be needed. In this light, each ministry is currently engaged in various works to create frameworks for assisting disaster victims and other purposes. Drawing from the experience of Hanshin-Awaji, instructions were given to each ministry to pick up whatever things that seem feasible.

REPORTER: Changing the subject a little, as the weekend approaches, does the Prime Minister have any intentions of conducting any visits to the site again?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Generally speaking, the Prime Minister's stance is to be on-site as far as possible. Although he is provided with a steady stream of reports from various sources about the situation at the disaster areas, he has kept up a strong desire to see with his own eyes and hear with his own ears. It is also his constant thought to be as near to the nuclear power plant as is possible, in order to provide encouragement to those who are working hard amidst great danger on the site.

However, various parties have raised the objection that on-site visits by the Prime Minister are, conversely, a source of stress and burden to those who are on the site. Therefore, we are constantly struggling and seeking the right balance for the situation.

REPORTER: In that case, have any concrete plans for on-site visits been drawn up?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As of now, I have not heard anything to that effect.

REPORTER: I am Nanao of Nico Nico Douga. Recently, the sense is that reports on structural changes, such as an increase in the number of Cabinet members, are preceding other reports, and we are almost two weeks into the post-earthquake period. Could you tell us if Prime Minister Kan plans to make any announcements soon pertaining to comprehensive and concrete policies that will help to guide Japan along in the rebuilding process, including the provision of assistance to victims of the nuclear situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, we do recognize the great importance of signaling a clear direction or vision toward reconstruction and recovery from this disaster, in a broader context, at the right timing, and in particular, to bring hope for the future to all who have been affected by the crisis.

However, compared to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the scope of damage caused by this earthquake is very extensive. Depending on the region, while certain areas appear to be gradually moving from recovery to reconstruction, there are a significant number of areas in which efforts are still being made to rescue victims who may be awaiting help in the rubble and wreckage. There are also areas in which maximum energy is being poured into providing basic life support to those who have been evacuated and displaced. Furthermore, the nuclear accident arising as a result of this earthquake and tsunami stands apart as an extremely serious crisis; we are still in a precarious situation and cannot tell when and how this nuclear accident will conclude.

Within this overall structure, we are now reviewing the most appropriate timing for providing a vision and making plans toward reconstruction. Of course, we are now at a stage where a certain degree of progress has been made in deciding on the direction for reconstruction.

REPORTER: I am Kouketsu of Jiji Press. This is somewhat related. In the past week, there has been talk of the possibility of forming a coalition with the opposition party. Although Prime Minister Kan did not previously answer questions from reporters on such political developments, do you think that the Prime Minister is discharging his political responsibilities faithfully?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: While I think that this should ultimately be assessed by the citizens, with regard to this disaster, I believe that the Prime Minister is doing his utmost to fulfill his role in providing support for evacuees, to prevent the nuclear situation from worsening, bring it to a safe conclusion, and ensure that it creates minimal impact. As for how these should be assessed, I think that it the final assessment lies with the people.

REPORTER: However, I believe that accountability accompanies political responsibility. Do you think that he has lived up fully to his responsibility of being accountable?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There are role-sharing arrangements within the Cabinet. Of course, within that framework, I think that there are areas that the Prime Minister needs to provide explanations for personally, or areas that he should appeal to the people for. However, generally, in my role as the Chief Cabinet Secretary, I speak on behalf of the Prime Minister with regard to various measures taken by the government under the current situation. Alternatively, the respective Ministries provide explanations on items that the Ministry is dealing with. Amidst this, there is no clear and distinct way of specifying which items the Prime Minister should provide explanations on, and at what timing. I think that it is necessary for the Prime Minister to speak personally when the need arises, but in the context of the current role-sharing arrangements and the overall situation, we are considering on a case-by-case basis, specifically, what he should take on and at what timing. I think that this is what the current situation is like.

REPORTER: I am Oda of Sankei Shimbun. In relation to that, according to your explanation, the daily "doorstepping" of the Prime Minister that he has carried out prior to the earthquake has become somewhat meaningless. I was under the impression that press conferences are held at timings decided on by the Prime Minister. What are your thoughts on the revival of regular "doorstepping" interviews of the Prime Minister?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First, I hope that everyone understands that immediately after the earthquake on March 11, we regret that we have had no time to conduct regular press conferences and "doorstepping" interviews, as was also the case for myself. For instance, I think that no regular conferences were held on the evening of March 11, and I think that the press is fully aware that there were a number of days and time periods in which the number of lives that could be saved literally depended upon the government's immediate response at each instance. Amidst this situation, with regard to items that had to be conveyed directly to the people even as the government was engaged in dealing with the issues, there were cases where the Prime Minister personally provided explanations, as well as instances where I provided the explanations. I think that we are gradually moving from the initial situation in which things were changing every instant, to one in which changes are occurring on a daily basis. The Prime Minister and the government have no choice but to prioritize immediate matters that have to be dealt with and settled, and we are somehow making time in the gaps between such matters. The current situation calls for us to prioritize matters such as helping evacuees and dealing with the nuclear situation in the time that it takes to respond to "doorstepping" interviews and press conferences, but we are carrying out reviews and seeking answers on when to make time for these press events.

REPORTER: I am Kageyama of Mainichi Shimbun. Returning to the topic of the nuclear power plant, previously, I believe, Mr. Edano, you have made a statement to the effect that the premise was to decommission the nuclear plant. The basic steps involved in decommissioning a plant are halting operations, cooling, and sealing it in; of these steps, I think we are currently in the cooling stage. I believe it is necessary to move on to sealing in the plant after that, regardless of whether the cooling work proceeds smoothly. My question is, are there certain assumptions with regard to sealing in the plant, or has a certain degree of preparation gone into the work of sealing in the plant?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As a matter of course, nuclear experts, including Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), NISA, and the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC), are carrying out reviews on whether to seal in the plant, and how to seal it in. However, the cooling process is still ongoing, and various efforts are concurrently being made to that the cooling process is stabilized. As such, this is not the time to give a definite pronouncement on when and how we would enter the process of sealing in the plant. However, all the experts are conducting various simulations and carrying out reviews even as they proceed with the cooling work.

REPORTER: Excuse me. I think that those located in the vicinity of the nuclear power plant not only require information on the current situation, but also need information on what the future prospects could be like. What is the current outlook on the cooling work; how long, or how short, a time could it take?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that those located in the vicinity, or those who have been affected by the situation, such as the agricultural industry, desire a clear outlook on the future, as you rightly pointed out. If the "clear outlook" is one that is highly probable, then of course, I think that we should provide just that one forecast. However, if we do not stay on our guard and respond to the current situation at the nuclear plant with great care, I cannot deny that the situation that we have kept at bay thus far could further deteriorate.

Consequently, I think that it would be more irresponsible to provide a forecast on specific timings at this stage. Once it becomes possible to establish a certain outlook, we intend to provide that information as soon as we can.

CABINET SPOKESMAN: Excuse me, please cooperate with us on the procedures.

REPORTER: I am Oda of Sankei Shimbun.

The news organs in Fukushima Prefecture wish to receive simultaneous announcements at the headquarters for disaster response in Fukushima whenever the central government makes any announcements. There have also been requests for a government spokesman to be posted to the headquarters for disaster response in Fukushima. What is the government's stance on these requests?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First, regardless of whether such requests have been made, I think that it is a no-no for both parties if announcements and releases by the government do not reach those in Fukushima Prefecture almost simultaneously. As the Government's disaster response headquarters has an outpost in Fukushima, I think that it is pertinent and a matter of course that government representatives there convey matters decided on in Tokyo to them at the same time. I think that we need to take further steps to ensure that this is thoroughly implemented.

With regard to the posting of a government spokesman to the headquarters, if the Local national Disaster Response Headquarters requires any information on press releases, I think that it must be dealt with separately from Tokyo.

CABINET SPOKESMAN: Is that all?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Thank you.