Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda attended a ceremony to present the Prime Minister's commendations for contributors to child and youth education and child-rearing initiatives, held at the Prime Minister's Office.

The ceremony is intended to honor companies, groups, and individuals who have made outstanding achievements in activities for assisting child and youth education or supporting child-rearing and families raising children, with the purpose of contributing to the sound development of children and youths.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"For more than three years since we took over the government, we have been materializing the principle of 'children first' in various ways. I believe the governmental policies have made great advancements, such as the new child allowance, free tuition at public senior high schools, and the passage of the 'three bills related to child-rearing' as a part of the comprehensive reform.
However, when I visited a child-rearing support facility in Tokyo the other day, I heard frank opinions from mothers and fathers on their concern about being isolated when raising their children. It made me realize once again the necessity of supporting child-rearing as the entire society.
In order to ensure the sound growth of children and support parents struggling with child-rearing, efforts by the national and local governments alone are not enough. We must unite the power of various parties, including the regions, citizens and NPOs, and expand the network of support more and more as the entire society.
Those who are awarded today provide occasions for children to have various experiences to acquire a zest for living, or extend their hands warmly to parents struggling with child-rearing.
They are precisely the frontrunners in the regional activities.
We must fulfill our responsibility for the future generation. I would like to close my congratulatory address with my pledge to make my utmost effort together with you so that a day will come in the future when Japan is referred to as the best country for children and child-rearing in the world."