Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: My question is in regard to the decontamination of the area surrounding the TEPCO's Fukushima Nuclear Power Station. According to the findings of a Fukushima University survey of all households in eight towns and villages, the percentage of households responding that they have no intention of returning has risen to 27%. Of these households, nearly 80% gave difficulties of decontamination as the reason. Based on these findings, how does the Government plan to speed up or move forward with the decontamination?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I also hear about these sentiments more often recently from the older people in that area who come here from time to time, saying that young people in particular are no longer returning. As for the Government, we will make utmost efforts to carry out the decontamination so that the affected people can resume their secure and safe livelihoods as quickly as possible. For example, while areas with particularly high radiation levels require long-term initiatives, for all other areas in which the Government is directly involved, we aim to implement decontamination measures near living spaces and other areas, and transfer the resulting contaminated soil and other materials sequentially to interim storage facilities by March 2014. As Minister Hosono has said, there is no change to the fact that the Government will indeed carry out decontamination work thoroughly and with responsibility.

(Abridged)