Prime Minister Naoto Kan attended the fourth meeting of the Task Force Team for Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the promotion of the research on HTLV-1, comprehensive countermeasures for the disease, and other matters. There was also a video message from Prof. Shiro Asano, former Governor of Miyagi Prefecture, saying, "It must have been difficult to make a decision on addressing HTLV-1-related illnesses, particularly as there are not many patients. I now feel a strong resolve to address this problem by all means. I expect that this will also result in breakthroughs in addressing other diseases."

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "Comprehensive countermeasures were compiled today, and their content received a very positive evaluation.
I am very pleased that definite progress has been made, with encouragement from Prof. Asano that change can be made if there is the will, or in other words the passion, to do so.
I would like to announce that the same task force team will continue with the follow up. While thoroughly addressing this issue, I believe that the first step forward was made in creating a model task force team-based approach for finding breakthrough solutions for those who suffer from various diseases."