Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato

• The Prime Minister's plan to visit Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY KATO: I would like to report to you about the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Abe to Iwate Prefecture. Directly after his appointment, the Prime Minister paid a visit to Fukushima Prefecture, which was followed last month by a visit to Miyagi Prefecture. Following on from these visits, this weekend, on February 9, the Prime Minister will be visiting the two prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi, where he will see for himself the current status of reconstruction. In specific terms he will be visiting a disaster memorial facility in Rikuzentakata City, after which he will visit the site of a public housing project for disaster victims that is nearing completion. He will then visit the people affected by the disaster who are residing in temporary accommodation and listen directly to their opinions. Also, in Ofunato City he will visit a sweet factory and sake brewery to see for himself the reconstruction efforts being implemented in local trade and commerce. In Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture he will view the status of reconstruction of the fishing port and also the ice-making and ice-storage facilities that are indispensable for full recovery of the fishing industry.

Q&As

(Abridged)