Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There is nothing I have to report. I would like to entertain your questions.

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question about the Unit 2 reactor of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and the leaking of contaminated water from the pit. Apparently a number of potential measures are being considered including the absorption of the contaminated water using water injected with chemicals. However, little progress seems to have been made. What is the Government's view of this situation and what reports have you received today about the operations that are underway to achieve a breakthrough in this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This situation has now been continuing for some time and although it may be said that the dispersal of the radioactive materials that have been leaked results in their impact being diluted, as the cumulative volumes of radioactive materials leaked becomes greater, the impact on the sea also increases. We therefore strongly recognize the need to contain this situation as soon as possible and prevent the impact spreading into the sea. Through the Integrated Headquarters the Government has directed Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to make a swift response to this issue. Instructions have been given to advance various considerations and operations that could feasibly deal with the situation, including stopping leakage through land-based pipes within the grounds of the power plant and also stopping leakage in certain sections on the coastal side of the power plant. I have received reports that both of these possibilities are being considered and multiple options are being pursued.

REPORTER: With regard to comparing land-based contamination and water-borne contamination, you just mentioned the fact of "dilution." Some experts have mentioned that the release of radioactive materials into the sea would result in them being diluted, and that the degree of contamination would therefore not be as bad as land-based contamination. What is the Government's view on the degree of leakage onto land and sea?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have no doubt that different experts will have various opinions, but whatever the case, whether it is the continuing leakage of high concentrations of radioactive materials into the sea, or the penetration of radioactive materials into the ground, both of these situations need to be contained and stopped as a matter of urgency. It is not a case of giving one priority over the other.

REPORTER: The preparatory meeting has begun for this year's Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In a press conference on the site of the preparatory meeting a representative of the Japanese Government mentioned that a list may exist, which details revisions to the Government's reduction targets for greenhouse gases. Will the current nuclear power plant accident have an impact on the Government's emissions reduction targets, such as causing changes or revisions to plans?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It goes without saying that this disaster will have a tremendous impact on various fields in Japan. However, in specific terms it is not possible to say with any certainty what these impacts may be. Our primary aims are to make every effort to provide assistance to people affected by the disaster, move towards recovery, and contain the situation at the nuclear power plant. As we continue with these actions, in the medium term the impact of the disaster on Japan and the various challenges being faced will become clear and we must then decide on a direction to face such challenges. With regard to global warming countermeasures, now is not the time to discuss a specific direction or course of action.

REPORTER: The opposition party has proposed to increase the number of Cabinet ministers by three persons. Have you requested the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to provide candidates for ministerial positions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The governing Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is currently calling for cooperation with regard to increasing the number of Cabinet members or vice ministers and others. My recognition of the situation is that it is in a different dimension from domestic political situation. As the reality we faced prior to and now face after the disaster, the role that the Government has to play with the sense of the emergency has expanded almost beyond recognition. The request to increase the number of ministers is therefore being made from the perspective of administrative necessity.

REPORTER: I have a related question about a grand coalition for the purpose of recovery from the disaster. Within the LDP there are those calling for a change of prime minister as a condition for a grand coalition. However DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada has said that the condition for a grand coalition is that Prime Minister Kan stays in his position. What is your view of this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There are many opinions circulating in the newspapers about a grand coalition, but what I, as Chief Cabinet Secretary, have said on a number of occasions is that the opposition parties have indicated that in the face of this disaster and the nuclear power plant accident, they are ready to provide full cooperation to the Government. In actual fact, in consultations between the ruling and opposition parties, the opposition parties have provided extremely constructive and significant proposals and information. Under this situation of all-party cooperation, the Government will continue to acquit its responsibilities to the fullest degree.

REPORTER: The Prime Minister has stated that the Reconstruction Design Council will be launched this week. What will be the membership and scale of this council?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: To be precise, the Prime Minister has stated that the Reconstruction Design Council is aimed to be launched next Monday, April 11, which will be one month since the disaster occurred. Specific details concerning the scale of the council and its membership are being devised under the leadership of the Prime Minister. At the current point, therefore, I cannot report any specific details.

REPORTER: Will Diet members be part of this council?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As I have just said, we are not at the point at which I can make a report concerning the membership of this council.

REPORTER: A number of media reports have stated that the Government has given instructions for a special sheet to be placed over the reactor buildings at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Can you confirm what instructions have in fact been issued by the Government? Until now you have stated that covering the reactor buildings with a special sheet is one of the various options available. Have there been any further developments with regard to this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: With regard to the first part of your question, by the "Government," if you are referring to things that I or the Prime Minister may have stated, at the current point we have not given any specific instructions regarding this issue. However, under the Integrated Headquarters, the Government and TEPCO are jointly engaged in various consultations and considerations, and I have received reports that a wide variety of options are being simultaneously reviewed and considered. The option of the special sheet that you mention is possibly among the options that are currently being considered.

REPORTER: According to the Yomiuri Shimbun this morning, there was an error on the website of the Prime Minister's Office regarding water contamination data. How exactly did this come to pass?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Basically reports are received from TEPCO via the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), and from there consolidated onto paper and uploaded. It was reported to me that some of the information contained in these reports was not accurate. This is a rather difficult issue. I believe that the reports we receive should immediately be consolidated and uploaded nearly automatically, in principle. As it is apparent that verification was inadequate, I think that we must redouble our efforts on this.

REPORTER: According to research by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), the radiation level in the atmosphere seems to be on a downward trend throughout the country. Do you think that if there is no change in the conditions at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant this downward trend will continue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Again, I would like you to ask technical questions at the press conferences of NISA or the NSC. I believe that a certain amount of radioactive particles are unfortunately still being released from the nuclear power plant at this time. On the other hand, obviously, the amount being released is significantly lower than it once was. Particularly, with regard to radioactive iodine, given its short half-life, the effect of what has been released is getting smaller. If these conditions continue, then the radiation level is likely to drop to a certain extent with the passage of time. Though radiation levels are decreasing, the effect of the material being released from the nuclear power plant may stay constant for a while. We need to think about such issues. We are having experts conduct analysis particularly within the areas affected by the disaster in order to determine the effect that the nuclear incident will ultimately have. At the moment, I cannot say with certainty to what point radiation levels will fall, as conditions are currently such that we cannot really accurately measure the amount of radioactive particles being released from the power plant.

REPORTER: It was reported that those at the working level feel that the Government should revise its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 from the 1990 level. What is your opinion of this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The report I have received about this is that the statement made was not official, and that it just touched upon this as one possibility. In general, the situation is as I explained earlier - the major themes of the work of the Government changed dramatically after the earthquake. I think that everyone is aware of this in some way or another. I cannot deny that any perspective is possible. However, as to whether we are in a position to make a definite decision about the direction we will go in - particularly with regard to the future of the nuclear power plant or the areas affected by the disaster - we are not. We do not yet fully understand each situation. I think we will only be able to set policy on any issues that may have been affected by the earthquake after we have a clear understanding of how reconstruction will play out, what the direction for reconstruction will be and how realistic that direction is.

REPORTER: Does this mean that it is possible that the Government will revise climate change objectives and targets depending on the situation going forward and developments concerning reconstruction then?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I wouldn't really agree if it were reported that we will "revise" the targets. We are considering all possibilities, including but not limited to a 25% reduction of greenhouse gases. The earthquake had an effect on many of the issues our country is dealing with. As we reach certain stages we must begin to consider these issues thoroughly. In a wider and general sense, I believe nothing is out of the question, but at the current point in time, we have not decided anything. We are not yet at a point where we can make a decision either.

REPORTER: I feel that the Government began to move toward business-as-usual from April 1. That day was a Friday and a few days ago the Prime Minister held a press conference. Today is the first weekday of the month, will the Prime Minister be accepting doorstepping interviews from today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that is being discussed as the Prime Minister's Office. From my position, and I believe this is the general understanding in the Government, given the current situation at the nuclear power plants in particular, and in consideration of the fact that many people are suffering under unusual situations due to the need to evacuate, we feel it is very important to provide appropriate information on more frequent basis than usual. I believe we must also make sure that all involved organizations - including TEPCO, NISA and the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) - are following through with the provision of speedy and appropriate information about the nuclear power plant incidents as well. I also think that we must make sure that information on the activities of the Headquarters for Special Measures to Assist the Lives of Disaster Victims as well as each ministry and agency working under it are released in a smooth and appropriate manner. So my response to your question is that I hope we can really follow through with this. As to what issues the Prime Minister must explain or announce about, thorough consideration must be given to how the Prime Minister communicates with the people. At the same time, there are now many decisions which must be made by the Prime Minister himself - many more than under normal circumstances. To the extent that it is necessary and does not interfere with his work, some planning should be done to allow for the Prime Minister to explain the issues he is responsible for himself. Instructions for this have been issued both by myself and the Off9ice of Cabinet Secretary for Public Relations.