Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have two items to report. The first concerns the extraordinary Cabinet meeting held a moment ago. I will speak a bit on what happened. During the meeting, we approved the first supplementary budget for FY2011, which consists of the general account budget for FY2011, the special account budget, and the budgets of government agencies. The Minister of Finance provided an explanation of the supplementary budget's content. We also approved the draft fiscal policy speech to be delivered by Minister of Finance Yoshihiko Noda at the Diet session following this press conference. Furthermore, we approved the draft special measures law to secure necessary financial resources to deal with the Great East Japan Earthquake, and we decided on the promulgation of a law.

The second item concerns compensation for losses incurred by the nuclear incident. The Review Panel on Conflicts over Compensation for Damages by Nuclear Power was convened this afternoon, and a first-round guidance was drafted concerning the scope of compensation. The first-round guideline includes in its scope losses and costs incurred by evacuation orders, shipping restrictions and other instructions, operational losses, and losses related to asset values. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), which acts as a secretariat for the Panel, will be holding a press briefing at 17:00 today on the content of this guideline, so please ask them for further details. I strongly expect that the Panel will promptly proceed forward with the drafting of a second-round guideline and subsequent policies, deliberating on this matter in an even more robust way so as to consider losses incurred by those in the agricultural and fisheries industries due to malicious rumors. I would like to add that it was decided that anyone who has already suffered a loss as a result of recent incidents has a right to demand compensation. Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) today established a bureau dedicated to handling compensation demands. I expect TEPCO to address compensation demands from those who suffered losses, including that incurred due to malicious rumors, based on the first-round policy that has just been formulated. It is important that not only those who had to flee their homes but also those who are in extremely difficult situations, including those in the agricultural and fisheries industries and small- to medium-sized enterprises, receive appropriate compensation as promptly as possible. Therefore, we will accelerate discussions on the overall scheme to ensure the steady implementation of payments, which will include assistance from the Government. It is expected to take a certain amount of time for all procedures for compensation to be completed and for all compensations to be actually paid. This being the case, it is important that those covered by the first-round guideline - those who had to leave their homes or halt the shipment of products - receive a temporary payment from TEPCO as quickly as possible. I am aware that TEPCO, following the announcement of the policy, is considering the implementation of temporary payments. The Government will strongly request them not just consider this matter but actually implement it.

Q&As

REPORTER: Please tell us about your evaluation of the first-round guideline and your expectations for the second-round guideline onward.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We established an independent panel instead of having the Government directly determine the policy this time. We are having these policies decided on by a non-stakeholder. More than having the Government side, the one requesting that work to be done, conduct an evaluation, it is vital that TEPCO promptly begin actual temporary payments in light of the first-round guideline. The most important thing is to have them make the actual payments. The Government intends to pursue TEPCO in a strong manner regarding this issue.

REPORTER: The Prime Minister previously mentioned that all persons requesting temporary housing would be able to move into such housing by around mid-August. However, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said at a later press conference that no such forecast had been made. Is it true that the Government has not yet made a forecast to have housing ready, for example, by mid-August?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I do not have a precise recollection of the Prime Minister's comment, but we face various different hurdles concerning such issues as the securing of supplies, workers, and building sites. Currently, and at the very least, the Government is doing everything in its power to secure materials and will exert every possible effort to have disaster victims be able to move into temporary housing by such a time.

REPORTER: You just mentioned that the temporary payment by TEPCO should be "prompt." Do you personally have any concrete timeframe in mind?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Simply put, the sooner the better. In particular, there are businesses unable to generate revenues, suffering expenses only. We have started with 1 million yen temporary payments to all evacuees as the minimum necessary for living expenses. The payment must be made immediately to those evacuees that have requested it. Therefore, the Government is demanding that the payments be made as quickly as possible. Every minute counts.

REPORTER: That was a very strong way of phrasing it. Do you feel like TEPCO is hesitating in some way?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not heard anything like that directly, but the purpose of what we are doing is not just to establish a guideline. The purpose is to have payments made based on a guideline. We had the Panel work as quickly as possible to draft the guideline, so I think that some sense of speed is being demanded of TEPCO in regards to this first-round guideline.

REPORTER: Please tell us about what specifically was discussed this afternoon in the executive meeting between the Government and Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Today, the supplementary budget proposal was approved by the Cabinet and will be submitted to the Diet. We are now working to acquire the understanding of constituents in each party and the cooperation of everyone including on the agenda of the Diet. In the meeting, we received report that various discussions and consultations are being carried out by head of the People's New Party, Shizuka Kamei, among all parties towards the prompt passing of the proposal and the Basic Act on Disaster Reconstruction.

REPORTER: Was any conclusion made about the treatment of the Basic Act?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: No particular change has been made to our usual policy.

REPORTER: On a related note, did you come to an understanding on the presenting of the Basic Act by the middle of the week?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: We did not make any decisions that particularly deviated from our policy up until now.

REPORTER: On an unrelated note, Mr. Yoshida, the head of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station stated in an interview that as another tsunami similar to that at the time of the recent disaster would be fatal, it is imperative to build a breakwater. What is the status of progress with regard to tsunami countermeasures at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Naturally it is necessary for the power station to be able to withstand aftershocks and the possibility of further tsunami as there is still a possibility of aftershocks occurring. It is therefore necessary to make every effort to respond to such scenarios. The details of what can be done in terms of such countermeasures are being deliberated by the Integrated Headquarters.

REPORTER: Mr. Yoshida stated that he had heard that materials for a breakwater had already been procured. I understand that the Integrated Headquarters is responsible for the detailed response, but is the Government aware of any measures concerning this breakwater?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The Government's stance is to make every effort to ensure that the power station is secure in the face of aftershocks and tsunami caused by aftershocks. With regard to the specific details of procurement of materials, I think that is a matter where information would be exchanged within the Integrated Headquarters and is not of a nature that would require a report being made to me.

REPORTER: I believe that you recently met with Ambassador John V. Roos of the United States. What was the content of your meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: It is more accurate to say that rather than having a meeting with Ambassador Roos, I received a courtesy call from Senator Carl Levin, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and Senator James Webb, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, who were accompanied by Ambassador Roos. Both senators expressed their sympathies concerning the Great East Japan Earthquake and noted their respect for the tremendously well-ordered response to the disaster by the people of Japan in the affected regions. In response, I expressed the gratitude of the Government for the cooperation provided by the United States, including from U.S. Forces. Both senators have visited Guam and Okinawa and have exchanged opinions on the issue of the relocation of the Futenma Air Station, and I stated that I would make every effort to gain the understanding of the people of Okinawa on the basis of the agreement that was reached between Japan and the United States in May last year.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the criteria and levels for radiation levels set out by the MEXT that limit outdoor activities at schools in Fukushima Prefecture. Mr. Kenji Utsunomiya, President of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, has stated that the criteria for radiation-controlled areas as stipulated under laws and ordinances are too vague and pose safety issues and has issued a statement requesting revision of these stipulations. I believe that Mr. Utsunomiya is referring to the MEXT stipulated limit of an annual cumulative exposure to radiation of 20mSv, which he states is almost four times greater than the standard for radiation-controlled areas stipulated under law, which is set at 5.2mSv. What is your evaluation of Mr. Utsunomiya's statement, particularly in view of the fact that you are also a lawyer?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is one opinion from the leader of an organization, in this case the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and I would like to hear expert views on this opinion, including from the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC).

REPORTER: This relates to the question asked before about the Basic Act on Reconstruction. Mr. Kamei, the leader of the People's New Party, has indicated his opposition to the Cabinet decision scheduled for May 2. Is it the Government's intention for the Cabinet to approve the Basic Act during the Golden Week holiday?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: No decision has been made to change the existing policy. The situation remains unchanged in that members of the DPJ will continue to confer with Mr. Kamei and members of the opposition parties to seek their understanding, and Mr. Gemba, chairman of the Policy Research Council, will seek the understanding of his counterpart Mr. Ishiba on this matter.

REPORTER: Changing the topic a bit, April 28 is the anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty of San Francisco. Sixty years have now passed since the restoration of sovereignty following the occupation after World War II. We are now facing our largest crisis since the end of the War, and there also continue to be a variety of problems with regard to territorial affairs. I would like to ask what you think "sovereignty" really means.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: States are currently the units which collectively form the international community. Each state has a will which it decides upon within its states. This will is a structural element of the international community. The importance of there being an independent decision made about this will not change as long as the international community continues to be composed of states. I think the main premise of all governmental and administrative activities is that the legitimacy to rule, or 'sovereignty' from the position of those entrusted this responsibility, be firmly maintained.

REPORTER: Today the Bank of Japan released an outlook report in which it downwardly adjusted its GDP growth forecast for FY2011. How does the Government feel about this? Is there the possibility that you will consider economic measures to prevent a recession in the overall Japanese economy in the future?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe that the Bank of Japan based that report on a number of various judgments. With the Government now putting everything into recovery and reconstruction, it goes without saying that a number of projects will be undertaken. We hope that these projects ensure or lead to a certain level of overall economic growth.

REPORTER: My question concerns the temporary visits into the No-entry Zone. Some time ago you forecast that you would be able to announce how this would be done during the Golden Week holiday period. However, many in local governments are reporting that there has been nothing concrete said on this by the national government and that it is now impossible to have anything done during Golden Week. How do you take this resistance from the local areas? In addition, have your forecasts and goals for this changed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: What I stated was that we would like to do this during Golden Week at the earliest. At the time I made that comment I also said we can only do this if we receive the cooperation of those in the areas in question. Consultations and coordination efforts with locals is the premise of their being the possibility of doing this at an early stage. This is what I said. This is not something the Government can do on its own; we must in the end come to a decision through consultations with locals. I believe I said this before as well. There are many different municipalities in the area. We hope to move forward with the visits as sequentially and as quickly as possible while discussing the local situation with each area.

REPORTER: It's just that I think there is a kind of disconnect between what the Government has announced and what is actually happening with this. This is also the case with the construction of temporary housing. Don't you feel that there has been a problem with the way you have communicated information?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: At the very least, I never announced when temporary re-entry would take place. In response to a question on the matter, I said that we would allow temporary re-entry during Golden Week at the earliest. In the end we must thoroughly discuss this with locals before making a final decision. I never said anything like 'we will start temporary re-entry during Golden Week.'

REPORTER: Does that mean that even now you expect this might happen during Golden Week?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This issue requires discussion and coordination with locals and regional governments. If feasible, I think that those in local governments as well would like to see visits begun as soon as possible. I think it would be best if we could do this by Golden Week, and so I would like to work closely with them, even right up to that time, in order to have temporary re-entry begun as soon as possible.

REPORTER: My apologies but I would like to change the subject. Today a lawsuit was filed by more than 22,000 people living around Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. This lawsuit is in relation to the amount of noise at the Base. I think the Government is working to reduce the burden being placed on Okinawa - well, with 22,000 plaintiffs, this is the largest lawsuit on the noise problem in the history of Japan - how does the Government take this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have heard reports about that, but I have not yet received a complaint on the details of the lawsuit, so I would like to refrain from making a direct comment on this issue. In any case, I think we must exert an even greater effort to reduce the burden being placed on Okinawa, including that caused by the noise problem.

REPORTER: As the Minister responsible for Okinawa, you requested that ministers start wearing kariyushi clothing as part of Cool Biz during the informal Cabinet meeting this morning. Are you thinking about introducing any concrete measures related to this? Up until now there have been instances when ministers have shown up in kariyushi for a certain Cabinet meetings or when those in the Cabinet Office in charge of Okinawa have worn kariyushi during the summer time. Are you considering any ideas to encourage this further?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Usually up until now each member of the Cabinet has worn kariyushi for a time just after the start of Cool Biz in June as a means of popularizing the clothes. We are not considering anything new in particular this time, and since we are starting Cool Biz a month early, I actually think that Tokyo may still be a bit cold for light clothing like kariyushi. I want to first consider if there is anything more we should do in addition to what has been done normally.

REPORTER: There is the possibility that Unit 3 at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station may be up and running again by July. What are your thoughts about this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that this may have been said within the managerial policy announcement made by Chubu Electric Power Company. The Government position on this is that we would like them to consider every possible safety measure, including emergency measures. In addition, with local governments becoming more and more concerned about nuclear power stations since the Fukushima incident, we would like to consider their opinions in determining how to move forward.