Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

JAPANESE

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have a report concerning the Ministerial Council on Monthly Economic Report and other related issues that was held today from 2:00pm. With regard to the current state of the Japanese economy, it was noted that although the economy is continuing to pick up while difficulties remain due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, the speed of the recovery has slowed and has been revised downwards. With regard to the prospects for the economy, while it is expected that the economy will continue to pick up, caution is required as there are downside risks stemming from further slowing down of less resilient overseas economies, and volatile fluctuations in exchange rates and stock prices. For details, please direct your questions to officials in charge of Economic and Fiscal Analysis of the Cabinet Office.

The second item I have to report concerns the visit of Prime Minister Noda to Fukushima Prefecture. The Prime Minister will visit Fukushima Prefecture tomorrow, October 18, returning to Tokyo the same day. In the prefecture he will visit locations where residential housing is being decontaminated and will also visit locations such as temporary accommodation facilities and a kindergarten. He will also be speaking with evacuees and parents of kindergarten children to listen to their concerns about daily life.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: This is completely unrelated to the last question, but according to some media sources the Government is to grant fishing rights to companies in the special zones for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake under certain conditions, such as that they hire seven or more local fishermen. Please clarify the authenticity of these reports and the situation of considerations currently being made on the release of fishing rights.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I saw that the media had written some specific information about this, but to put this more accurately, we are currently in the final stages of considering a special zones bill. We are considering a special exception for fishing licenses as a special measure for regulations and procedures. The content of that exception is in line with the Basic Act on Reconstruction, and it indicates that a system should be established that allows companies in communities of need that mainly comprise local fishermen to acquire fishing rights without being subordinated to fishery cooperatives. We are currently making further internal considerations on this policy.

(Abridged)