Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

(Abridged)

Q&As

• The Nuclear Regulation Authority's partial revision to the simulation results of the dispersion of radioactive materials

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Yesterday, the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) made a partial revision to the results of the radiation diffusion forecasts that it had released. What are your views on this, and how will this impact relevant local governments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: NRA is an independent committee. While it had released a simulation of the dispersion of radioactive materials, I understand that there were some errors. I believe yesterday there was an apology. Nevertheless, this is extremely regrettable. Moving forward, this data will be used by local governments as reference information for establishing their local disaster management plans. Given that this data is of very high interest to local governments, including municipalities, NRA will be giving further explanations at tomorrow's regular meeting. The Government wishes that NRA provide sincere and careful explanations to local governments in order to ensure that there is no further confusion.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in regard to NRA's forecast map. While I understand that this is an independent committee, how was the announcement of these dispersion forecasts communicated to you or the Government in the first place?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: While I can only speak for myself, I was not aware that this was being done until immediately prior to the disclosure. I believe there was coordination going on at the working-level.

(Abridged)