Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

(Abridged)

Q&As

• Japan's energy policy

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The Government's request to Hokkaido to save electricity by more than 7% will expire today. There have been no cases in particular of power shortages and other problems which had been of concern. Can you discuss your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Government's power saving initiative ended on September 7 in the service areas of Kansai, Shikoku, and Kyushu Electric Power Companies and will end today in the service area of Hokkaido Electric Power Company. This summer, the power saving target was generally achieved, or an even larger demand reduction was able to be achieved in the areas served by each electric power company. We would like to express our appreciation to the people in Japan and the business community for their immense cooperation with the power saving effort. In addition to the cooperation with the power saving initiative, thanks to, for example, the efforts made to secure power supply, including the restarting of Oi Nuclear Power Station, as well as the fact that there were few problems experienced at nuclear power stations compared to usual years and that no droughts occurred which exceeded prior expectations, we were able to get through the summer without having to implement planned power outages. In regards to saving power without the imposition of numerical targets, as the late summer heat is expected to continue, we will ask people to save power within a reasonable range until September 28. With respect to further analysis of this summer's power supply-demand factors and this winter's power supply-demand measures, we will present this information at another time following intra-Government coordination.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Returning to the subject of energy policy, which I also asked about yesterday, has the Government received a report of the visit to the United States of Special Advisor to the Prime Minister Akihisa Nagashima and Parliamentary Secretary of Cabinet Office Hiroshi Ogushi?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: These two officials held meetings with U.S. officials to inform them that Japan will continue to fulfill its responsibilities to the international community among other contents. Broadly speaking, I understand that the two sides confirmed they would continue to hold discussions and work together as Japan works out its strategy. I believe various reports will be made going forward.