Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO Finally, I have a report on the Prime Minister's visit to Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture. The plan is that on Saturday, June 11, the Prime Minister will take a day trip via U-4 jet to Iwate Prefecture, and then travel to Kamaishi City to participate in the Government-organized "Town Hall Meeting on Moving Kamaishi City and Otsuchi Town Back to Normalcy."

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the Prime Minister's visit to Kamaishi City. With the town meeting being held in Kamaishi City, I wondered if the Prime Minister won't be visiting Otsuchi Town as well? Also, exactly what kind of issues will be discussed at the meeting?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO With each ministry and agency planning measures to return disaster-affected areas to normalcy, at the town hall meeting we will hear any requests the people in local municipalities have to the Government. We have plans to hold similar meetings throughout Iwate Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture from June 11 onward. As the first such meeting will be held on June 11, the Prime Minister and others, including Cabinet Office Senior Vice Minister Tatsuo Hirano, will participate and have an exchange of opinions with the residents of Kamaishi City and Otsuchi Town. The Prime Minister's schedule before and after the meeting is currently being arranged.

REPORTER: Related to that, what is the Prime Minister thinking in terms of the decision to go to the disaster region and have an opinion exchange this time?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO As part of the response to the earthquake, the challenge of making living conditions close to the way they were before the disaster is something that many and especially those in evacuation centers truly struggle with every day. The Government must work to understand as much as possible the situation in the disaster-affected region and the wishes of its residents, and begin work to fulfill those wishes. The Prime Minister judged that it would be preferable if he could directly hear the voices of the people as the Government prepares for this work.

REPORTER: If any measures are to come from the opinions the Prime Minister actually hears during his trip, an additional budget will be needed. Is the Prime Minister considering reflecting these results of this trip into the second supplementary budget?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO There are many different measures that might be implemented for work toward a return to normalcy, not a few of which can be undertaken through mere administrative arrangements. Of course, I think there are also measures which will require the formulation of a new budget, or even large amendments to laws. I assume that after hearing a variety of opinions we will start work from those measures which we can immediately move forward with.

REPORTER: Even though tomorrow marks three months since the Great East Japan Earthquake, there has been very little progress with regard to reconstruction in the disaster areas. When visiting Ishinomaki City, the Prime Minister said that this would be given "top priority" and gave his promise that he would begin activities for this, but in reality, some in the disaster areas are referring to the time as "the empty three months." Do you believe that the Government has been meeting the promises it has made over the past three months?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO As a result of the enormous earthquake disaster, many people affected by the disaster are still being forced to live under extremely difficult conditions. We in the Government feel very sorry for this. I am aware of the various criticisms some have against the Government, but we are putting forth our best efforts. I intend to take into consideration the many thoughts and opinions of those in the local regions and disaster areas, and speed up the work further.

REPORTER: If there are any areas for which you feel you may have fallen short, which areas would they be?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO About this, too, there have been many things said by many people. I believe that if I were to mention only one or two of the things that I've heard, it may lead to some misunderstandings or for some to interpret me as saying that everything else is fine. I am aware of the fact that we are receiving many comments such as, "You probably could have worked faster had you put a little more effort into such and such an area."

REPORTER: In contrast, what are some areas in which you feel confident that work has gone well?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO For that, too, all I can say is that I feel that the Government, under the existing system, has been putting forth its best efforts. But again, in the current situation where there are still so many disaster victims suffering under such difficult conditions, for me to make comments about what we have done well would, I believe, invite misunderstanding.

REPORTER: About temporary housing, the Prime Minister has said that the goal is to complete construction by mid-August and that he wants to remain in his post until those affected by the disaster have been able to move into the housing. When people begin living in temporary housing, they will have to cover more costs on their own. However, with no work, they have no money either. Thus, in places like Minamisanriku Town, only 30% of those who won the lottery to live in a temporary house have actually moved in. How do you feel about this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO Given the extensive destruction of the basic infrastructure that supports the lifestyles of the public, we have been exerting every effort to expedite the construction of temporary housing, a basic necessity. At the same time, because industrial infrastructure has also been destroyed in many areas, we are concurrently working hard to rebuild that infrastructures as well; which is to say that we are trying to create new employment opportunities. Unfortunately, I have to admit that the recovery of industry and employment takes more time than the construction of temporary housing. I intend to work harder to accelerate progress.