Prime Minister Naoto Kan held the first meeting of the Council for Intensive Discussion on Social Security Reform at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Council was established under the Headquarters of the Government and Ruling Parties for Social Security Reform, chaired by the Prime Minister and comprised of relevant ministers, senior officials of the ruling parties, and experts from the private sector, for the purpose of intensively discussing the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems, as well as advancing the discussion in a manner that is open to the public.

This day, discussion took place on the procedures of the Council meetings, and other matters.

Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said, "I believe that there was a unanimous consensus that the discussion should be advanced together with the people and in a way that the people can easily understand.
In addition to this, although healthcare, pensions, and long-term care had always been considered as the pillars of the social security system, issues of childrearing and employment concerning those who support the system must also be included in the discussion, in order to have truly meaningful discussion. I am confident that we were able to share the same understanding on this."