Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Japanese

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

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CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Next, I would like to report about the implementation of a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Today the Cabinet decided that on Sunday, March 11 this year, the Government will host a ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ceremony is scheduled to be attended by Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress and representatives from all sectors of society. The Prime Minister and I made statements concerning the ceremony and the Prime Minister gave instructions for the ceremony, predominantly to Minister for Reconstruction in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake Hirano. As of today a Preparation Office for the Ceremony to Commemorate the First Anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake has been established in the Minister's Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. For further details please direct your questions to this office.

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Q&As

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REPORTER: I have a question concerning the commemoration ceremony for the Great East Japan Earthquake. This will be the first such commemoration ceremony to be held by the national government. Could you tell us of the aims of this ceremony and the reasons behind why it will be held in Tokyo and not in the disaster-affected regions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Great East Japan Earthquake was unprecedented in its scale and magnitude, affecting an extremely wide area of Japan and claiming a very large number of victims, as well as having a tremendous impact on the lives of people around the country. Accordingly, it was felt that it would be important for the Government to hold a national event to commemorate the first anniversary of the disaster and remember those affected. With regard to the decision to hold the ceremony in Tokyo, I believe that in addition to the national government the regional governments will also be holding their own ceremonies to commemorate the disaster. Given that various ceremonies will be held in the three prefectures of the Tohoku region and also in various municipalities, the decision was made to hold the national ceremony in our nation's capital, Tokyo, as a symbol of the nation's commemoration of the unprecedented Great East Japan Earthquake, which claimed so many victims.

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