Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Prime Minister's visit to TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Prime Minister's visit to the nuclear power station in Fukushima. First of all, what do you consider to be the purpose and intention of this visit?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Prime Minister has been visiting the disaster-affected area once a month. This current visit to Tokyo Electric Power Company's (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station is part of these visits. At his destination, the Prime Minister is expected to make observations at the premises of the nuclear power station, and confirm the progress of the contaminated water measures. In particular, this visit comes in the wake of the Government's compilation of the Basic Policy for the Contaminated Water Issue at the beginning of this month, and in the wake of the Prime Minister's announcement of a program at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session aimed at fundamentally settling this issue. The Prime Minister has expressed his commitment towards deciding on and executing such programs responsibly. Therefore, I believe today's visit to Fukushima is in line with the Government's stance, which is to play a proactive role in settling this issue without leaving the matter up to TEPCO.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Around when was this visit decided?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe it was September 3 that the Basic Policy for the Contaminated Water Issue was approved. It was after that that the Prime Minister himself decided to make the visit.

REPORTER: So it was sometime after September 3 and before the Prime Minister's departure for the IOC Session?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes. As the Government decided on the contaminated water measures, the Prime Minister, holding himself accountable, decided to fully deal with the situation by examining the site in person.

(Abridged)