Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Edano

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First, I would like to report on the Prime Minister's attendance of the peace memorial ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Prime Minister Kan is scheduled to attend the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony, which will be held in Hiroshima City on Saturday, August 6, as well as the Nagasaki Peace Ceremony on the Occasion of the 66th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing, which will be held in Nagasaki City on Tuesday, August 9. Following both ceremonies, the Prime Minister is scheduled to meet with the Special Ambassadors for Denuclearization.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question on the ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This year's ceremonies will be held as questions are raised about nuclear power and energy policies. In this context, what message does the Prime Minister want to send in attending both ceremonies? What is the intention of the Government? Please share with us your thoughts at this point in time.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I believe the Prime Minister will be delivering remarks at the ceremonies on August 6 and 9, so I hope you can attend and listen.

REPORTER: On a related note, you mentioned "Special Ambassadors for Denuclearization." Does this mean the Prime Minister will meet with them both in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: As of now, I understand that is how the schedule is being coordinated.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question on the shipment ban of cattle. Right now, what is the status of the considerations on the shipment ban of beef cattle with regards to Iwate Prefecture and Tochigi Prefecture?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I understand that the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) are carrying out a variety of consultations with the local communities.

REPORTER: I have a question on the issue of staged forums for steering public opinion regarding nuclear power. There have been reports about the involvement, etc. of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) or the Governor of Saga Prefecture. What are your thoughts on this issue? Please tell us your views on how the Government will address this issue.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: First of all, even when we were an opposition party, we indicated that there are problems with positioning NISA as one of the agencies of METI in the course of the various reforms of government agencies. It is very regrettable that our preparations for addressing this problem and reforming the organization were not finished in time, before the nuclear incident. While the individual members of NISA have been working very hard, especially after the incident, I believe, in terms of structure and organization, that there is a major problem from the start with the fact that NISA was structured in this way. Therefore, I hope NISA will be first separated from METI as soon as possible.

REPORTER: Regarding the issue of the email campaign of the Kyushu Electric Power Company, an external committee has said that the comments of the Governor of Saga Prefecture served as a catalyst for the orchestrated email campaign. What are your thoughts on this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: Although I am aware of the news reports about the press conference of the Governor of Saga Prefecture, etc., I am not aware of the facts and details. I understand that an external committee of the Kyushu Electric Power Company is verifying the facts, so I would like to first wait for the verifications.

REPORTER: I believe Mr. Jun Azumi, Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), made inappropriate remarks about the local leaders in the disaster-affected areas in connection with the reconstruction. What are your thoughts on this issue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY EDANO: I am aware of some of the news reports, and I understand this issue is about comments he made on a TV program. However, as I have not watched the TV program itself and do not know what he said precisely, I believe it is better that I refrain from commenting.