Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Establishment of an investigation team on protection of confidentiality in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in relation to the secretary at the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo
• Restarting operations at nuclear power stations (Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station and Oi Nuclear Power Station)

REPORTER: Regarding the Secretary at the Chinese Embassy which I also asked about yesterday, it is reported that he and Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Nobutaka Tsutsui were acquaintances and that confidential documents of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries may have been leaked. What is your understanding of the facts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: My understanding as of now is that first thing this morning, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Michihiko Kano instructed (abridged) that an investigation team concerning protection of confidentiality should be set up with Senior Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tsukasa Iwamoto as the head of the team and that an investigation should be immediately conducted. I believe the team will be carefully gauging the facts.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the restarting of operations at Hamaoka Nuclear Power Station, the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture reaffirmed his view that the timing at which a decision will be made will not come during his term of office, which is until July 4 of next year. How does the Government view these local developments when it is said that there is a shortage of electricity?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I believe the Governor's statement was to the effect that from a commonsense perspective, it was difficult to conceive that the terms and conditions that make resumption possible will be in place in the next one year. With regard to Hamaoka, in addition to the stress test - the primary assessment, a number of mid- and long-term measures were presented while the power station was shut down. Unlike the others, a number of measures were presented, such as the installment of a breakwater wall and floodwall. I believe upon their construction, the safety will be verified, and then the community's further understanding will be sought. In restarting operations at the nuclear power station, as with the others, at the stage of completing the safety confirmation, the Government will take measures to sufficiently obtain the understanding of local governments and a certain level of understanding of the public and so on. There is no change to this approach of the Government.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning Oi Nuclear Power Station. According to some reports, in relation to the special safety monitoring system that is requested by Fukui Prefecture, the Government is considering the possibility of having the Senior Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and other senior officials stationed at the power station. Can you verify the facts? Also, when does the Government intend to notify these policies to Fukui Prefecture?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have also touched on these matters concerning the request of Fukui Prefecture at these press conferences as well. And I understand that considerations are now being made to establish there, a special monitoring system comprised of responsible stakeholders, including the Government, the power utility operator, and the plant manufacturer. I have not been informed about any decisions having been made regarding a specific system or about so and so being stationed, as is being reported. I understand that this is under consideration. I believe considerations are now being made to establish a system under the leadership of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), with the cooperation of the municipality - Fukui Prefecture - where the nuclear power station is located.

(Abridged)