Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Japanese

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• The holding of a meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters (the revisions of the designations for the restricted areas and areas to which evacuation orders have been issued in Naraha Town, Fukushima Prefecture)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA:

(Abridged)

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters was held. At the meeting it was decided to revise the designations for the restricted areas and areas to which evacuation orders have been issued in Naraha Town. In addition, it was decided to reduce the scope of the restricted areas in oceanic regions from a 20km radius from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to a 5km distance from the coastline. In view of the preparations that will be required relating to the revisions of the designations for the areas in Naraha Town (Fukushima Prefecture) and in oceanic regions, the revised designations will be implemented from midnight on Friday, August 10. The revision of the area designations is the first step towards the return home of the people affected, and all ministries and agencies concerned will make concerted efforts to implement measures to ensure the reconstruction of the affected regions. In order that progress can be managed and implemented appropriately based on the mid- to long-term roadmap, a report has been made concerning revisions to the roadmap, taking into account and reflecting the measures implemented to date. The items for revision have been to reflect the contents of implementation plans that relate to improving trust, including a response to the vulnerability of temporary peripheral facilities by upgrading them to permanent facilities, as well as to disclose the results of work implemented to date together with the future work schedule and timings for implementation. The Government and TEPCO will work together in accordance with the revised roadmap and will proceed steadily with operations based on the prerequisite of ensuring the safety of workers.

Q&As

(Abridged)