Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held the 29th meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council at the Prime Minister's Office.

Discussion took place on the revision of the Basic Disaster Management Plan, among other matters.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "Looking back at the year 2011, I realize that this year was beset by various kinds of disasters both inside and outside Japan, most notably the Great East Japan Earthquake. I would like to express once again my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to those who lost their lives and those affected by the disaster.
The excuse that the unexpected has happened will no longer be accepted. The point, I believe, is how we should prepare ourselves on the premise that something beyond expectations can happen.
The main topic of discussion today is the revision of the Basic Disaster Management Plan, based on the report compiled by the Expert Panel on Earthquake and Tsunami Countermeasures in Light of the Lessons Learned from the 2011 Tohoku-Pacific Ocean Earthquake. I would like you to have a thorough discussion so as to steadily promote disaster management measures."