"This is Yasuo Fukuda. This week went by in the blink of an eye."
-- Message from the Prime Minister (Provisional Translation)

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Japanese

This is Yasuo Fukuda. This week went by in the blink of an eye.

The week started with a question-and-answer session in the Diet plenary and was followed by interpellation in the Budget Committee. All week long I fended off the questions that came to me from the Diet members during the deliberations.

I received some feedback from the readers of this e-mail magazine regarding the manner in which I answered these questions. Some thought that it sounded as if I was reading word-for-word from prewritten scripts; and others commented that they could not understand what I was saying because I was speaking too fast. I did make an effort to answer each question in the most comprehensible manner possible, but I do know that it is of the utmost importance that the people actually understand what I have to say. I will make sure that all of my future explanations are as clear as possible.

I was glad to receive a thousand comments and responses to last week's e-mail magazine. I would especially like to thank each and every one of the readers who shared their valuable views and opinions. In particular, many readers kindly offered me words of advice on how I can succeed in winning back the people's trust. Here are a few examples:

"Explain everything without concealing anything."
"Mistakes happen. When they do, you must fix the underlying behavior."
"Ensure that those in socially vulnerable positions can lead ordinary lives."

The above remarks reminded me of the people's stern perception of those in politics and the administration, that they "conceal information," "cling to conventional customs and ways of thinking" and "have an elitist mindset." I fully recognize that the way to recover trust is to simply, one by one, do that which we all know to be right.

I received many e-mails congratulating me on assuming the post of Prime Minister. In addition, I received numerous e-mails with encouraging messages, urging me to continue carrying out reforms resolutely. These were truly uplifting during my first busy days. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation for these comments as well.

The Fukuda Cabinet E-Mail Magazine has officially been inaugurated with the publication of this issue. I am sure you will also enjoy reading the enthusiastic greetings which I have asked various ministers to make. I am looking forward to continuing to hear your opinions and thoughts.

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