Prime Minister Naoto Kan held the ninth meeting of the Local Sovereignty Strategy Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on reforming the regional offices of the national government, introducing subsidies in the form of block grants, among other matters.

Based on the discussion, Prime Minister Kan said, "Even if the streamlining of the regional offices of the national government does not instantly reach the finish line, I believe concrete steps will be taken and in the process a decentralized regional government system will materialize that will take firm responsibility. I see this as a major trend going forward.
I would like the government to first and foremost accomplish what it needs to do this fiscal year up to the final stage of the formulation of the budget."