Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The contaminated water issue

(Abridged)

REPORTER: When Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy Ichita Yamamoto delivered an address at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, I believe he was asked by the IAEA and relevant countries to provide timely and accurate information (regarding the contaminated water issue). In response to these opinions, does the Government intend to take any kind of responses going forward?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, let me explain what we have done to date. With regard to the outflow of contaminated water, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided information to all overseas diplomatic missions in Tokyo on a total of eight occasions. Furthermore, outside of Japan, we have provided information to various parties, including international organizations and the foreign media. In addition, with regard to information dissemination overseas, it was decided at the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Council for Contaminated Water and Decommissioning Issues on the 10th that proactive public relations efforts directed at the foreign media will be conducted under the Office of Global Communications of the Cabinet Secretariat, with the cooperation of relevant ministries and agencies. The Government will continue to steadily carry out wide-ranging public relations efforts.

(Abridged)