Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the extraordinary Cabinet meeting
• Considerations regarding a National Award for former Yokozuna Taiho (sumo wrestler)
• The holding of the Information Security Month

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would first like to give an overview of the extraordinary Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved three general measures - Article 1 of the General Account supplementary budget, Article 1 of the Special Account supplementary budget, and Article 1 of the Budgets of Government Agencies' supplementary budget for FY2012 - as well as legislation proposals. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Finance made a statement concerning the supplementary budget for FY2012 (Article 1 of the General Account, Article 1 of the Special Account, and Article 1 of the Budgets of Government Agencies).

Next is about considerations regarding a National Honor Award for Mr. Koki Naya (former Yokozuna Taiho). The late Mr. Koki Naya won a record 32 makuuchi (top division) tournaments in the history of sumo. He was a symbolic figure of the high economic growth of the Showa period as illustrated by the fact that he was referenced in the popular expression "Kyojin, Taiho, tamagoyaki" - a list of children's three favorite things at the time. He was loved by not only the sumo world but also by many Japanese people, and gave society bright hope and courage, while contributing significantly to the promotion and development of sumo. In this light, the Secretariat has been instructed to consider the presentation of a National Honor Award to Mr. Naya. Moving forward, a final decision will be made upon also hearing the opinions of relevant persons.

I would like to inform you about the holding of the Information Security Month. Recently, information security threats have come to light, including violations of personal privacy and outflows of critical information of government agencies and companies, due to cyber-attacks, etc. against various Japanese organizations. In order to counter these threats, it is of course important that the Government takes initiatives, but it is also essential that each and every citizen deepen their understanding of information security and take appropriate responses. Thus, the Government will designate February as Information Security Month and carry out a variety of measures through close public-private coordination. We hope many people will take this opportunity to become more conscious about "information security." Regarding the details of the initiatives, I ask that you please inquire at the National Information Security Center.

Q&As

• The issue of "comfort women"
• Consideration of the domestic production of F35 fighter jet parts
• The passage of three warships of the Chinese Navy between Miyokojima and the main island of Okinawa

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In response to the question from Chairperson Shii of the Japanese Community Party, the Prime Minister replied with regard to the Kono Statement that, "I, as Prime Minister, would like to refrain from making any further remarks," and "it is appropriate for the Chief Cabinet Secretary to deal with this issue." Specifically what kind of responses are you considering? Do you intend to go so far as to review the Kono Statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: With regard to the Kono Statement, I have stated the basic view of the Abe Cabinet a number of times at these press conferences since my appointment. I believe it comes down to the basic view. I understand the Prime Minister's reply today to mean that as the Statement was made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono, I, the Chief Cabinet Secretary, should answer questions regarding this matter.

REPORTER: Then at this stage, you are at square one?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, no, as I have responded to questions a number of times here, the view of the Abe Cabinet is first and foremost that this matter should not be turned into a political or diplomatic issue. At the same time, bearing in mind also that the previous Abe Cabinet made a Cabinet decision with regard to this matter, historians and eminent persons from Japan and overseas are currently carrying out a variety of studies on this matter. Therefore, it is desirable to further examine this matter from an academic perspective. That is my view regarding the Kono Statement, which I have stated up to the previous time, and this is the view of the Cabinet.

REPORTER: I have a related question. What Mr. Shii was asking was that, as the Kono Statement recognized on the basis of testimony that there was forceful recruitment, whereas Mr. Abe stated that no documents were found proving coercion, Mr. Abe's statement seems to be in contradiction with the Kono Statement. Regarding this point, is your present view then the same as the Kono Statement, which recognized on the basis of testimony that there was coercion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As various people - eminent persons and historians - are now studying this matter, our view at this point in time is that it is desirable to further examine this from an academic perspective.

REPORTER: I understand about the scholars, but the question concerns the view regarding the Prime Minister's statement. What I would like to ask is, what is the distinction between the Prime Minister's view and the Kono Statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: So, with regard to the Abe Cabinet, the policy of the administration can be understood as I explained a short while ago.

REPORTER: I have one more question. In today's response to questions at the Diet, the Prime Minister stated, "I am deeply pained when thinking of the women who experienced immeasurable pain and suffering." This sounds as though the Prime Minister is acknowledging that there was coercion in a broad sense at comfort stations. In other words, leaving aside how the comfort women were recruited, it sounds as though the Prime Minister is acknowledging that the women did go through a terrible experience at comfort stations and that there was coercion. Is my understanding correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Concerning the Prime Minister's statement today, in which he stated with regard to the issue of comfort women - "I am deeply pained when thinking of the women who experienced immeasurable pain and suffering," we understand that similar views have been held by previous Cabinets.

REPORTER: The issue of coercion in the so-called broad sense and narrow sense has been greatly disputed. I believe because the Prime Minister previously focused on coercion in the narrow sense, the matter became extremely complicated. So, along the lines of the Kono Statement, is the Government's position then that there was coercion at comfort stations after women were brought to comfort stations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: So in the context of these feelings, the Abe Cabinet believes this matter should not be turned into a political or diplomatic issue. What I have stated rests on this basis.

REPORTER: Please excuse me, but your response deviates from my question. Will questions like the one I have asked be examined in the discussions among eminent persons?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Our view is that it is desirable to further examine this matter from an academic perspective in view of the various opinions.

REPORTER: Syria has said that it was hit by an Israeli air strike yesterday. Israel intends to adopt the F35 fighter. If Israel utilizes an airframe which uses parts that can be used in Japan, will this not conflict with the Three Principles on Arms Exports? If you could please share your views on this.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is now internally examining how this will be handled in relation to the Three Principles on Arms Exports if, hypothetically speaking, Japanese companies are involved in the production of F35 parts.

REPORTER: If the Government approves the exports as an exception to the Three Principles on Arms Exports, then will the Government authorize this exception even in cases in which they aid international conflicts, which is something that the Government deems should be avoided, as has been expressed to date I believe in the Statements by the Chief Cabinet Secretary?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: These are among the issues which are currently being examined within the Government.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the passage of the three warships of the Chinese Navy between Miyakojima and the main island of Okinawa. While this is the high seas and Japan may not have legal jurisdiction, does the Government have an intention to make any moves in response to the passage? Also, in passing through the strait, was any advance notice, etc., given to the Japanese Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First, it has been confirmed that three vessels of the Chinese Navy proceeded from Miyakojima towards the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean. On this basis, the Government is consistently monitoring movements in the sea areas around Japan, including this sea area, and will continue to make every effort to carry out patrols and surveillance.

REPORTER: Does this mean that at this time no responses are formally being taken towards China?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Not in this regard.

(Abridged)