Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 13 general and other measures and also cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made a statement concerning the FY2011 White Paper on Fisheries. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the consumer price index. The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning Tokyo's bid to host the 2020 32nd Olympic Games and 16th Paralympic Games. The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry made a statement concerning personnel affairs relating to the heads of special companies and independent administrative agencies.

Next, I have an announcement regarding a personnel decision which was approved at the Cabinet meeting concerning the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency. Effective June 1, Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency Shingo Haketa will resign from his position. He will be replaced by Vice Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency Noriyuki Kazaoka, who will be replaced by former Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office Shinichiro Yamamoto.

I have one more announcement. Today, before the Cabinet meeting, the 9th meeting of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy was held. At today's meeting, the Headquarters approved the guidelines on future initiatives for promoting the use of renewable ocean energy, which relevant ministries and agencies have been reviewing since October of last year. In addition, the Headquarters confirmed to start establishing a new Basic Plan on Ocean Policy. Reports were also given on the report of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding Japan's claim to expand its continental shelf, and on the status of progress made in FY2011 regarding the basic plan on the preservation of the low-water line.

Q&As

• The guidelines approved by the Headquarters for Ocean Policy to promote the use of renewable ocean energy
• The ROK's supreme court ruling related to the individuals' right to claim postwar compensation

REPORTER: What is the aim of these guidelines approved by the Headquarters for Ocean Policy with regard to the initiatives for promoting the use of renewable ocean energy?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: We see these as the basis for ensuring that the promotion of the use of renewable ocean energy will lay the foundation for creating a new energy society. Japan, a maritime country, has quite a large endowment of usable renewable energies in the ocean area, including ocean wind energy, wave energy, and tidal energy. It is important to quickly make practical use of and utilize technologies that make use of these energies, from the standpoint of future energy policy or the development of a low-carbon, recycle-oriented society. Based on this recognition, it is also essential that the reliability and durability of these technologies are verified, actually in the ocean, with a view to putting the renewable ocean energy into practical use. Therefore, in order to accomplish this, relevant ministries and agencies must work together in this endeavor. Thus, under the leadership of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, the Government guidelines were decided to implement: 1) Policies for accelerating the development of technologies that make practical use of the energies; and 2) Policies for promoting the practical use and commercialization of these energies. In accordance with these guidelines, the Government intends to advance specific initiatives moving forward.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding a different matter, in the Republic of Korea (ROK), yesterday, the Supreme Court, in its first judicial ruling, indicated that in the damage suit filed against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., etc. by former ROK laborers who were forced to work during the war, the individuals' right to claim compensation has not been invalidated. While this issue concerns the issue of property claim, what is the Japanese Government's assessment?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As this is a matter concerning another country, and moreover, concerning a judicial ruling, I would like to refrain from giving an immediate comment at this moment in time. However, the details are being confirmed at this time. As a general discussion, I would like to state the Japanese Government's consistent position on the issue of property claim between Japan and the ROK. There is an agreement called the Agreement Between Japan and the Republic of Korea Concerning the Settlement of Problems in Regard to Property and Claims and Economic Cooperation, and the Government is of the position that this issue was already completely and ultimately resolved based on this agreement. This is stated very clearly in Article 2-1 of the Agreement. Our position is that this issue was fully concluded as an agreement.