Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have one item I would like to report. Today, based on Article 20 Paragraph 3 of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Nuclear Emergency Preparedness, we instructed the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture to place shipping and consumption restrictions on Pacific Sandeel and young lance fish caught in the prefecture. For details, please direct your inquiries to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) or the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

Q&As

REPORTER: Today, it was reported that the Government has set a policy for the establishment of a no-entry zone within a 20km radius of the nuclear power station, and has begun consultations with local municipalities on the issue. I would like to know about the state of discussion on this matter.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The situation at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is still not sufficiently stable, and thus in order to ensure public health and safety, we would like to ask that no one enter the area within 20km of the station unless there are special instructions to do so from the national government or local governments. It is unfortunately the case that there are some people who have entered this area, and so we are currently moving forward with discussions with local municipalities on the establishment of an no-entry zone as a means of enforcing entry restrictions.

REPORTER: What is your current forecast for when exactly the zone will be established?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We are currently moving forward with our discussions with local municipalities on this matter.

REPORTER: On that point, is it still possible that you may not establish such a zone?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The primary purpose of the establishment of the zone, at any rate, is to ensure public health and safety - that is to say, if we do establish it. Currently, we are asking the public not to enter the evacuation zone for health reasons. In principle, we would like everyone to comply with this, based on the spirit of the order to evacuate. This is the current situation, and it is unfortunate. We, of course, understand how this makes everyone feel. We, in particular, understand how those who evacuated with little more than the clothes on their backs must feel. In fact, it is precisely because we understand how the public feels that our discussions on temporary reentry have proceeded as far as they have. If everyone remains patient for a little while longer, we should be able to realize a method by which residents can safely and temporarily visit their homes. I think it would be preferable if everyone understood this situation and complied with our instruction to evacuate. Unfortunately, some people are entering the evacuation zone. As not a small number of people are doing this, we must discuss the establishment of a no-entry zone. This is the current state of affairs.

REPORTER: Related to that, in addition to the health of the residents of the area, I wonder if you are discussing this as a means to establish order in the 20km zone as well - for instance, to prevent burglaries?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: While I won't deny that this will have the secondary effect of acting as a crime prevention measure, we currently already have police dispatched to the zone for this. The police officers are following safety precautions when they enter the zone, and I believe that they are showing certain results. Accordingly, if we do establish a no-entry zone, its primary purpose will actually be to ensure public health and safety.

REPORTER: With regard to the evacuees' temporary return to their homes, you have been saying up until now that the details are being finalized. Has any outlook or target in terms of timing been decided?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We would like to achieve this temporary return at the earliest juncture. For example there are a number of local government offices that were unable to bring out the documents they require to do their work and this is causing great inconvenience and impacting the functions of these government offices. In that respect, we would like to proceed as quickly as possible with the temporary return and we are currently in the final stages of making such arrangements.

REPORTER: Approximately how many people are in the 20km radius of the power station and why are they remaining there?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: After taking the necessary safety precautions, members of the police service and the Self-Defense Forces are entering the area to engage in three kinds of activities. These are anti-crime patrols, search missions, and checking if any people remain in the area. For the details of these operations and how many people have been persuaded to leave the area, please direct your questions to the Nuclear and Industry Safety Agency (NISA). Also, although there are no precise details concerning numbers, I have heard reports that there are not a few people who are actually still remaining within the 20km radius area.

REPORTER: Is the Government considering the implementation of a no-entry zone and the temporary return home for evacuees as a combined set of measures?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: In terms of logic, there would be no need to combine these two measures together as a set. However, in terms of actual operations and the designation of a no-entry zone, entry restrictions would have to be stringently implemented in order for it to be effective. At the same time, operations to allow for temporary entry into the area should also be implemented, which fully ensure the safety of all those who enter. Although in terms of logic these two operations are not necessarily a combined package, they could be viewed as two sides of the same coin, and therefore it is possible that they could be implemented together.

REPORTER: There are some reports that the Government and Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) are considering the establishment of a compensation body to deal with the nuclear power station accident and that the Government is preparing 9 trillion yen in public funds. Are these reports true and if so, what is the status of considerations regarding this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: A broad policy direction has already been made clear by which TEPCO will issue compensation for those people who have been affected by the accident and the Government will provide the necessary assistance. What must be implemented in an expedited manner is the provision of the temporary payments of 1 million yen per household to the people who have been evacuated, followed by the next step, which is the expedited provision of temporary compensation payments to businesses that were operating in the areas affected. The priority is to give primary consideration to these payments and implement them forthwith. Methods by which the Government may assist TEPCO to implement compensation payments have not reached a concrete phase as has been reported in the press.

REPORTER: In his personal email magazine Senior Vice Minister of Finance Sakurai has commented on Prime Minister Kan's responses to the Diet Budgetary Committee two days ago, saying, "If the Prime Minister's answers alone evoke such opposition, it is only natural that people will call for the Prime Minister to be replaced." This is a comment from a Senior Vice Minister, criticizing the Prime Minister. What are your views on this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have seen the reports about this matter, but I have not seen the email magazine in question. It is for the Minister of Finance, the direct superior of the Senior Vice Minister, to investigate and make an appropriate response.

REPORTER: I have a question on a different matter, concerning reports that two Japanese nationals have been detained in North Korea. What are the facts surrounding this matter and what is the Government's response?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am aware of the reports that you mention, however due to the nature of the matter I would like to refrain from comment.

REPORTER: The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Fukushima Prefecture. What is his purpose in doing so and why is he making such frequent visits, bearing in mind that this will be the fourth visit?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As far as I am aware the specifics of the visit, including the areas the Prime Minister will visit and the people he will meet have not yet been confirmed. A number of options are currently being considered and coordinated. Although it is of course very important for the Prime Minister to coordinate various responses from Tokyo, it is also important for him to actually meet people who have been affected by the disaster or the nuclear power station accident, or listen to the opinions of the people from local governments who represent the voices of the residents. Seeing the disaster-affected area for himself will allow the Prime Minister to gain a full understanding of the situation, and this will facilitate a full response from the Government with regard to recovery and reconstruction and also for the people who have evacuated from the vicinity of the power station and who unfortunately will have to remain away from their homes for six to nine months. In this sense, there is great significance in the Prime Minister gaining a direct understanding of the situation.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning the specifics of the temporary return home for the evacuees. How long will one visit be and will all people who have evacuated from the 20km area be eligible to return temporarily to their homes?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is something that is currently being considered and arranged, in view of what measures can be taken to ensure people's safety.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the study group established under the Reconstruction Design Council. With regard to the positioning of the study group, you said that you wanted it to "provide expert and multi-disciplinary views." What is the relationship of this study group to the Reconstruction Design Council?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The final design and proposal will be compiled and submitted by the Reconstruction Design Council. Given the extent of the disaster, however, discussions are expected to cover a very wide range of areas and it will be necessary to have comprehensive expert input. As it would be unrealistic to expect the Reconstruction Design Council, the parent body of the study group, to engage in discussions on all specialist matters each week, the opinions of other able scholars and experts are being sought through the study group, which will be fed back to the Reconstruction Design Council itself. The final concept and direction of the plan will then naturally be drawn up by the Council. The experts in the study group will contribute to the details of the design that will be drawn up. This is the way in which the various competencies and roles of the Council and the study group are expected to function.

REPORTER: The Reconstruction Design Council is expected to come up with its first proposal at the end of June. Will the study group be submitting proposals to the Council prior to that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Reconstruction Design Council is a consultative body and the Government is asking for a proposal to be issued on the basis of consultations among experts and scholars. Therefore, with regard to the specific process, that is for the members of the Council to decide, and make a judgment on whether to provide a report in a consolidated format, or issue at different times reports that would set out a direction for reconstruction in various specific fields.