Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I would like to mention the outline of today's Cabinet meeting. Twelve items including general items as well as government ordinances and personnel decisions were approved. From the ministers, the Minister of Finance reported on the FY2011 supplementary budget no. 2 and supplementary provision no. 2.

Also, as already reported by the media - and I understand that Minister Matsumoto, too, has given a press conference and so forth - Minister for Reconstruction Ryu Matsumoto visited the Prime Minister at 8:45am this morning and submitted his letter of resignation. I understand that although the Prime Minister persuaded him to stay in office, Minister Matsumoto's decision to resign was firm and the Prime Minister accepted his resignation.

Q&As

REPORTER: When Minister Matsumoto visited the Prime Minister at 8:45am, what did the Prime Minister say to him? If there is anything you know, can you please share it with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have not asked the Prime Minister about the details and content of their conversation. However, I have been informed that the Minister expressed his intention to resign essentially because his manner of speech, whatever the motive may have been, has ultimately hurt the feelings of the disaster victims. Also, this matter will cause trouble to the Cabinet, beginning with the administration of the Diet. Furthermore, it will inevitably have an adverse impact on reconstruction which needs to proceed with a sense of urgency.

REPORTER: With the minister in charge of reconstruction resigning after one week, some people are saying that this will cause delays in the recovery and reconstruction process. What are your thoughts on this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This situation is very regrettable, and it has caused great concern and inconvenience to the disaster victims in so many ways. The Prime Minister has said that he would like to decide on Minister Matsumoto's successor as quickly as possible, and that we will make our utmost efforts to minimize the impact of this matter on the reconstruction as much as possible.

REPORTER: Chairman Shigeru Ishiba of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and others have stated that the person who ought to resign is not Minister Matsumoto but Prime Minister Kan. Already some are questioning Prime Minister Kan's responsibility for appointing Minister Matsumoto. What is your response to that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe it is natural in some respects that a variety of opinions exist. Bearing in mind those opinions, however, I believe it remains unchanged that indeed the Prime Minister has a responsibility to carry forward the tasks of the Government every day, and moreover, has to thoroughly fulfill his minimum responsibilities, beginning with the passage of the special public debt legislation.

REPORTER: To confirm, Minister Matsumoto is resigning not only from his post of Minister for Reconstruction in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake but also from his post of...

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Minister of State.

REPORTER: Minister of State. Minister Matsumoto is resigning from all of his posts. Did the Prime Minister say anything about this at the Cabinet meeting or the gathering of ministers that followed?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I reported at the beginning of the meeting that Minister Matsumoto submitted his letter of resignation and would therefore not be attending the Cabinet meeting. At the gathering of ministers that followed, a report was made of what I mentioned a moment ago, that Minister Matsumoto brought his letter of resignation for the reasons I gave, and although the Prime Minister persuaded Minister Matsumoto to stay in office, he accepted his resignation became the decision to resign was firm.

REPORTER: The Prime Minister made that report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Yes, the Prime Minister.

REPORTER: You noted that the Prime Minister would like to decide on the successor quickly. Bearing in mind that the Budget Committee meetings are scheduled to start from tomorrow at the Diet, is my understanding correct that the Prime Minister would like to make the decision by the end of today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: This is not a matter which should be determined upon by the decision of the Prime Minister. He hopes to make a decision as quickly as possible. Naturally, I believe the Prime Minister has the Diet schedule and so on in mind. I understand that this is a matter which will be dealt with "as quickly as possible" rather than "by what time."

REPORTER: Regarding Minister Matsumoto, he said at his press conference that he had several things he wants to say. Although I'm not aware of the entire content of the press conference, from Mr. Matsumoto's perspective, does he have the feeling that he was somehow forced to resign? Yesterday, you indicated that you had no intention to hear what he had to say. Does that mean that the Prime Minister's Office had already accepted Minister Matsumoto's intention to resign and thus asked him to do so?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Both the Prime Minister and I had no idea that Minister Matsumoto would be submitting a letter of resignation, and we tried to persuade him to stay in office.

REPORTER: If you don't mind, can you tell us at around what time you first heard about his resignation? Did he contact you last night? Or did he suddenly say this morning that he wanted to resign?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: He brought his letter of resignation at 8:45am. The schedules of the Prime Minister and Minister Matsumoto were arranged this morning so they could meet.

REPORTER: Although former Minister for Reconstruction Matsumoto said yesterday during a door stepping interview that he intended to keep working, today he announced his resignation. I understand that this may have been quite a surprise to you. Do you know what changed for Mr. Matsumoto? Was it because he came to believe that his actions would have a negative effect on the reconstruction process? Did you hear anything about what might have changed him over the past day?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: That is something you will have to ask Mr. Matsumoto. I cannot make a personal guess about that. During the informal gathering of Cabinet ministers, all we discussed was that he wished to quit for the three reasons I mentioned a moment ago.

REPORTER: Do you believe that this matter has caused the Kan Cabinet to lose the trust of the people in the disaster area?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Regardless of what Mr. Matsumoto's intentions were, he himself has acknowledged that he hurt the feelings of the disaster victims and apologized. This is something that in the widest sense, the entire Cabinet needs to accept.

REPORTER: Do you think it is possible to handle the government administration toward reconstruction given the current situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Of course, I think that we need to work harder to politely and exactly communicate the attitude and intentions of the Government to the disaster victims and those in the affected regions. But in addition to that, as I just said, we must not pause in our efforts; we must proceed forward with the basic policy for reconstruction and other matters. There are many issues related to reconstruction about which we should have a sense of urgency, such as passing the Act on Special Provisions concerning Issuance of Government Bonds. This is obvious. I think that running away from these responsibilities would be irresponsible in itself.

REPORTER: I have another question. I believe that this is a truly major resignation. Don't you think that given the circumstances, the Prime Minister himself should give a press conference about this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I will communicate your opinion to the Prime Minister.

REPORTER: Mr. Matsumoto has been Minister of State for Disaster Management for three months, and was chosen as Minister for Reconstruction in this capacity I think. Who might be a suitable successor for him?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As that is a matter of Cabinet personnel, I believe that it should be left up to the discretion of the Prime Minister. If the Prime Minister consults with me about this I will tell him my opinion, but I don't intend to go beyond that and say anything to the press.

REPORTER: Related to that, previously you have said that you believe it is desirable for the job of Minister for Reconstruction to be held as a dedicated position. Following the sudden resignation this time and the need to choose a successor, do you still think that it would be better for it to be a dedicated position, or is it acceptable for Mr. Matsumoto's successor to hold the position concurrently?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I have repeatedly stated the generally held opinions about this. The generally held opinion has not changed.

REPORTER: What do you think of this "generally held opinion"?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that it has not changed. It continues to be the generally held opinion.

REPORTER: Ever since the beginning of the Kan administration, there has been a string of resignations by people such as Seiji Maehara, Minoru Yanagida, and Sumio Mabuchi. I would be interested in hearing what you think about all of this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Each of those cases involved matters specific to the person in question. Since all of their reasons were different, I do not believe that I can make an overall comment on that.

REPORTER: I just have the feeling that this administration has had a little more trouble than a normal administration. It makes me feel that we are now at the beginning of the end of the administration but, well, what do you think?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Each of the cases you mentioned involved different circumstances and reasons. As I just said, I do not believe that I can make an overall comment about that.

REPORTER: Outside of the Cabinet meeting and informal gathering of ministers afterward, did the Prime Minister say anything at all or issue any instructions about Mr. Matsumoto's successor?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: He said that he wanted to name a successor as soon as possible.

REPORTER: I believe that the senior vice-ministers, parliamentary vice-ministers and heads of local response headquarters to be involved in reconstruction were chosen through consultation with Mr. Matsumoto. Are there any plans to rethink these personnel choices?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Beyond that, the most important thing right now is that we first choose the next Minister for Reconstruction in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake.

REPORTER: I would like to confirm something. Is it possible that the heads of local response headquarters will be changed along with the change of the Minister? Will new decisions on that be made? Is it believed that these personnel should be appointed in consultation with the Minister for Reconstruction?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I think that I speak for the Prime Minister as well when I say that first and foremost we must decide on the successor for Mr. Matsumoto. We need to do this urgently before anything else.

REPORTER: Meaning that it is possible?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Meaning that we intend to first choose successor for Mr. Matsumoto.

REPORTER: Did any other ministers aside from the Prime Minister make comments regarding Minister Matsumoto's decision to resign at today's Cabinet meeting or the informal gathering afterwards?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: There was no comment worth referring to.

REPORTER: I understand that the decision on a successor for Mr. Matsumoto is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, but in a general sense, I believe it is more desirable to appoint someone from the Tohoku Region. However, I understand that some are concerned about the possibility that such a person might have too close a relationship with local civil engineering and construction companies. What is your opinion on that?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The decision is up to the Prime Minister. There are those that believe work would go smoother if someone from Tohoku were appointed, and those who believe that this would make work more difficult. I understand that both opinions exist. The Prime Minister will take into account all viewpoints and make a decision himself, as he has the right to do so.

REPORTER: Sorry for so many questions about this, but do you think Mr. Matsumoto's resignation will help discussions in the Diet to proceed more smoothly?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: What I have heard from the Prime Minister is that one of things Mr. Matsumoto said was that he thought he would cause problems, including in the Diet, due to his string of comments. Since this issue does involve the Diet, I think what happens next will heavily depend on the Cabinet's ability to clearly explain the events of this matter up until this point and earn the understanding of each Diet member.

REPORTER: My apologies for the question on a slightly different topic, but earlier you said that it was difficult to mark out the range of areas affected by reputational damages. Have you come across any method for establishing this range yet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: The exact policy for this will be debated by an independent committee placed under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). I think that it would not be right for a politician to make a statement that might affect the work of an independent organization. I do think that, if we try to define the range of reputational damages according to only one standard or guideline, from an objective standpoint there are both cases where decision can be made on the range of areas eligible for compensation due to reputational damages, and where there are divided opinions on judging whether cases are really reputational damages or not. Naturally I expect the independent committee to make a clear decision about the range of reputational damages.