Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Fujimura

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The Ministerial Meeting on Okinawa
• The "points in contention" compiled regarding the Imperial Household System

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: I would first like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved two general measures and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the Senior Vice Minister and Parliamentary Secretary who will support the Minister for Postal Service Privatization. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism made a statement concerning the Senior Vice Minister and Parliamentary Secretary who will support the Minister for Ocean Policy. Prime Minister Noda made a statement concerning the appointment of Senior Vice Ministers of each ministry and agency to concurrently serve as Senior Vice Ministers to the Cabinet Office and concerning acting ministers while ministers in charge are away from Japan on an overseas visit.

Next, I would like to speak about the meeting of the Ministerial Meeting on Okinawa that was held. The purpose of convening the Ministerial Meeting is for the relevant ministers to exchange views candidly, in order for the Government as a whole to make sincere efforts toward reducing the burden of the bases in Okinawa and tackling the issues concerning the promotion and development of Okinawa. As today's meeting was attended by new ministers following this week's Cabinet reshuffle, information was shared among the relevant ministers regarding the current status and a candid exchange of views was held. The meeting affirmed that the Government as a whole will continue to tackle the various issues in consultation with the relevant ministers.

Also, I would like to speak slightly at length on the following matter. Bearing in mind the expert hearings on the Imperial Household system which were held for a total of six times from February to July of this year, the "points in contention" was compiled, and so let me disclose the contents to you. I believe you already have the material. With respect to the decreasing number of Imperial Family members due to the marriage of female Imperial Family members and maintaining the activities of the Imperial Household, the "points in contention" clarifies the basic perspectives which should be considered going forward in light of the variety of views which were raised in the expert hearings. In addition, the report discusses whether or not the specific measures which were proposed are feasible in relation to the Constitution and other legal systems. These are the main aspects that the Cabinet Secretariat considered and examined in the report. Based on the proposals presented in the expert hearings, the proposals are organized into two broad proposals: 1. Enabling female members of the Imperial Family to retain their Imperial Family status after marriage; and 2. Enabling female members of the Imperial Family to support the activities of the Imperial Household even after leaving the status of Imperial Family member. The former proposal is further broken down into two proposals: A. Providing Imperial Family status to the spouse and children; and B. Not providing Imperial Family status to the spouse and children. Further studies will be carried out regarding which proposal to adopt or whether multiple proposals will be combined, all the while taking into account future debates which will be held among people at all levels of society. The "points in contention" has been distributed to you. It is also available on the website (of the Prime Minister's Office in Japanese). A wide range of opinions will be solicited from people at all levels of society. Regarding the details, the Secretariat will be providing thorough explanations on the substance of the report at a press briefing, which will include a Q&A session, from 12:15 pm today.

Q&As

• Japan-North Korea relations

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the consultation that was held at the director-level of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) between Japan and North Korea. I believe the consultation was held over three days at the end of August. During that same time, previous Minister for the Abduction Issue Matsubara independently sent officials from the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue and his own aide, and they had contact with North Korea's diplomatic corps. What is your view on this? Also, please explain whether Prime Minister Noda and you had given prior approval or authorization with regard to this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: Although this was alleged as some kind of dual diplomacy, let me first state that the Government of Japan will continue to make efforts to resolve the various outstanding concerns comprehensively, including the abduction issue, under MOFA's leadership and in partnership with the relevant ministries and agencies. Therefore, I believe there is no substantiation for such claims. The officials who attended the director-level preliminary consultation did so upon MOFA's coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies. Furthermore, then Minister Matsubara consulted and coordinated with the Prime Minister's Office. Thus, I believe the appropriate arrangements were made, and it was not at all the case that these meetings were going on separately.

REPORTER: Does that mean that Prime Minister Noda had approved them?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY FUJIMURA: The Government made the necessary arrangements as I described. In other words, all the meetings took place through a unified approach through close coordination. Naturally, the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue carries out various activities on a daily basis, including information gathering, as you are aware. There is no problem with that.

(Abridged)