Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• The Prime Minister's visit to Fukushima Prefecture

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I have an announcement regarding Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's visit to Fukushima Prefecture. Tomorrow, Saturday, July 7, Prime Minister Noda will visit three cities in Fukushima Prefecture - Iwaki City, Kawauchi Village, and Fukushima City. Specifically, first, the Prime Minister will visit sites such as the tourism and local products center and a temporary accommodation facility in Iwaki City and an elementary school in Kawauchi Village. I understand that the Prime Minister will hear from people, including those who were caught in the earthquake and tsunami disaster and are still evacuating as well as from those who have already returned to their homes, about the challenges they face daily, among other issues. Secondly, the Prime Minister is expected to exchange views with the heads of the municipalities of the places he is visiting and of other areas, including the Governor of Fukushima Prefecture. It will be a full-day visit from early morning lasting to the evening.

Q&As

• A report by the Frontier Subcommitte of the Council on National Strategy and Policy (in relation to the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan)

REPORTER: Later today, the Frontier Subcommittee of the Council on National Strategy and Policy will submit its report to the Prime Minister. While I understand that the report is to contribute to the future Strategy for Rebirth of Japan, how does the Government intend to reflect the contents of the report into the policies of the administration?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Since the first meeting in February of this year, the Frontier Subcommittee (Chairman: Takashi Onishi) has held intense debates under a very tight schedule at the four panels on prosperity, happiness, wisdom, and peace, respectively. I understand that based on the discussions carried out at the panel meetings, from 5:30pm today, the Frontier Subcommittee is expected to compile a consensus report of the Subcommittee. The Frontier Subcommittee's report is a compilation of experts' views and proposals focusing on Japan's ideal future in 2050 and a policy roadmap for realizing this ideal future. Later, the report will be briefed to the Council on National Strategy and Policy and utilized as material for discussion on the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan, which the Council on National Strategy and Policy will compile. These are the steps which will be taken moving forward.

REPORTER: I have a related question. I believe discussions were held on a variety of topics. However, I would think it would be difficult to incorporate diplomacy or security issues debated at the Peace Panel into the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan. How does the Government intend to reflect these items into its policies?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: As I mentioned briefly a moment ago, the Frontier Subcommittee's report covers quite a long time period, extending up to 2050. Meanwhile, the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan that is expected to be compiled by the Council on National Strategy and Policy sets forth up to 2020 as the target period. In this sense, my understanding is that the Frontier Subcommittee's report includes a variety of long-term and short-term proposals, and therefore, those which can be applied to the Strategy for Rebirth of Japan, which covers the period up to 2020, will serve as materials for discussion.

(Abridged)