Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The report of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission on the National Diet

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The report of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission set up by the Diet has compiled and positioned the entire nuclear accident as a "manmade", not natural, disaster. The report contains fairly harsh content that places the burden of responsibility on the Prime Minister's Office, stating for instance that interference by the Prime Minister's Office disrupted the chain of command at the nuclear power station. I would like to ask you once again how you take this and whether or not this will mean reparations from the government for instance, or if there is the possibility of this having any other effect.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: First of all, I would like to express my respect to the Commission for submitting its report. The Commission conducted many detailed hearings and so forth regardless of the really short time they had. I don't know if this will be announced later today, but this evening there will be explanatory meetings for Diet members, and briefings. I have heard this will take place at around 7:00 p.m. tonight. Beyond that, I have now actually just looked at seven recommendations from the report in a digest version. The final report of the Government's investigation and verification committee will be released at the end of this month. In terms of Government activity, (abridged) we will carefully take in the content of each report, and implement any necessary response. That is my comment at this moment in time.

(Abridged)