Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The leakage of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Concerning the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, it has become known that contaminated water has leaked into the sea and this is continuing. In effect, the previous administration's declaration that a state of cold shutdown that had been achieved no longer holds. What is your view regarding reviewing Step 2 of the roadmap, which factored into the declaration of achievement, or the impact on the realignment of the evacuation zones?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: With regard to the nuclear power station in Fukushima, in December two years ago, a state of cold shutdown was confirmed as a result of the quantitative evaluation of the state of the nuclear reactors, and even now, the nuclear reactors are in a stable state.

However, the reality is that, as has been reported daily, there remain a plethora of issues, including the disposal of contaminated water, decommissioning, compensation, decontamination, the realization of the affected people's early return to their homes, and their health management. The Government is now making every effort to resolve the many issues.

Given the circumstances that we are in, I believe the word "conclusion" (of the nuclear power station accident), which could be interpreted to mean that all of the issues have been resolved, is indeed inappropriate. The previous administration declared a "conclusion" and used this word. The Abe administration will, however, without using this expression, take all possible measures to address the array of post-accident issues, including contaminated water. That is our basic view at this time.

(Abridged)