Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held a meeting with Chairpersons of Prefectural Assemblies at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his opening address, "Various kinds of disasters are occurring one after another in many parts of the country even after the Great East Japan Earthquake. This month, extensive damage was caused in Northern Kyushu due to heavy rain. I would like to express once again my heartfelt condolences to the victims and sympathy to those affected by the disaster. The government is determined to take every measure to support the affected municipalities.
This session of the Diet is approaching the closing stage, and the discussions on various important bills are reaching the crucial point. In order to not put off issues that must be decided, and to make decisions when it is necessary to do so, the Noda Cabinet is struggling every day.
Recovery and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, the revitalization of the Japanese economy, the comprehensive reform of social security and taxation systems, local sovereignty reforms; these are all grave issues that we cannot overcome without cooperating closely with the regional society.
The role of municipalities that are close to people's living is now becoming more important than ever. In such situation, I believe that we must exchange opinions with regions in a straightforward fashion, exercise wisdom, and further develop mutual understanding, as partners in solving the problems and achieving the reform."