Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• Personnel affairs relating to the Supreme Court Justice
• The Central Disaster Prevention Council
• The Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved four general and other measures, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Inada made a statement concerning the linkage between the employment and pension receipts of national public servants. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the policy on new hires of national public servants and a report pursuant to the provisions of Article 106-25, Paragraph 1, etc., of the National Public Service Act. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning Japan's ODA White Paper 2012. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and I, respectively, made statements concerning the holding of the Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications; the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare; the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; and the Minister of the Environment; respectively, made statements concerning personnel affairs relating to the heads of independent administrative agencies.

I would like to report on personnel affairs relating to the Supreme Court Justice, which was decided at today's Cabinet meeting. As Supreme Court Justice Mutsuo Tahara will be retiring due to reaching the retirement age, the Cabinet has decided to appoint lawyer Mr. Michiyoshi Kiuchi as Mr. Tahara's replacement for the position of  Supreme Court Justice as is shown in the material distributed to you.

Regarding the 32nd meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council, today, the first meeting of the Central Disaster Prevention Council since the inauguration of the Abe administration was convened ahead of the Cabinet meeting. At the meeting, the establishment of the Disaster Prevention Countermeasures Implementation Council and the FY2013 Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Drills Outline were decided. In particular, with regard to the Disaster Prevention Countermeasures Implementation Council that was established and I will be chairing, this is a body which will discuss disaster prevention countermeasures themes that cut across the various ministries and agencies and translate this into action. In this regard I have asked for the active cooperation of the relevant ministries and agencies. In addition, there were reports regarding the review of the legal system for disaster countermeasures and the status of considerations with regard to the preparedness against a massive Nankai Trough earthquake and Tokyo inland earthquake. These matters will continue to be deliberated thoroughly in order to further enhance and reinforce our disaster preparedness.

I would like to report on the Ministerial Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country Nation. At today's Cabinet meeting, the convening of the Ministerial Council  on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-Oriented Country, which will be led by the Prime Minister and comprised of all Cabinet members, was approved in order to ensure that there is close coordination among the relevant administrative agencies regarding the measures for realizing a tourism-oriented nation and to promote them effectively and comprehensively. The first meeting of the Ministerial Council was held following the Cabinet meeting. At the meeting, the Prime Minister delivered the opening remarks, saying that the Government will make concerted efforts to rebuild a vibrant Japanese economy based on the growth strategy and push hard for measures to turn Japan into a tourism-oriented nation which will be even more attractive than our neighboring countries. Then, under the leadership of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the meeting confirmed the next steps, including the establishment of an action program by this summer.

Q&As

• Three months since the inauguration of the Abe administration
• The TPP

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Today marks the third month since the Abe administration was inaugurated. Can you please share any comments you have?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: These three months have felt both long and short and there was a constant sense of urgency. However, this is the second Cabinet for the Abe administration. In this context, our stance to date has been to first demonstrate to the people what the Government needs to do and to steadily take steps to this end. In particular, the administration has set out the major goals of revitalizing the Japanese economy, achieving reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and ensuring thorough crisis management. With regard to these goals, all Cabinet members are making utmost efforts as if they were all the ministers in charge, while of course carrying out their own duties. In this regard, I believe steady progress is already being made. I believe that we have gained the understanding of the people for these efforts and that this is reflected in the high level of approval of the Cabinet. Therefore, with this current sense of urgency, we will continue to steadily and promptly implement these policies one by one to meet the expectations of the people while fulfilling our accountability to the people as much as possible.

REPORTER: Related to the preceding question, a moment ago you stated that this was the second Abe Cabinet. As it gets off to a steady start, is there anything that strikes you about the second cabinet that is different or better compared to the first cabinet?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: At the time of the first cabinet, we strove to address all kinds of issues all at once. Looking back now, I feel that on some things we may not have been very thorough. Relying on numbers, laws were passed one after another. However, I suspect that there was insufficient explanation to the people and not enough time was taken. Therefore, this time, our approach is to set out what we need to do, begin to take steps to this end, and in this process, make efforts to obtain the understanding of the people as much as possible regarding what it is that we are promoting.

REPORTER: Earlier you identified the revitalization of the Japanese economy as one of the agenda items of the current Abe Cabinet. I believe a major task that is currently ahead of you is the establishment of the growth strategy. How much importance do you attach to this? Also, what kind of strategies do you intend to set out in which sectors?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In order to revitalize the Japanese economy, "three prongs" are necessary. The first is bold monetary policy, which was stated in the Joint Statement between the Government and the Bank of Japan (BOJ). This includes the 2% price stability target. And with regard to the BOJ Governor and Deputy Governors who will execute this, the new structure has been put in place with the consent of the Diet, including members from opposition parties. With regard to the second prong, flexible fiscal policy, as well, we have been able to pass the draft supplementary budget and are now asking for deliberations on the regular budget. As to the third prong, the growth strategy, various people have pointed to this as being the most important, and we share this belief. In this context, we have set our sights high and far for this prong and have announced that Japan will join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, which will enable Japan to grow by taking careful measures, and we will make every effort to fully translate this into action. While fully securing what we should secure, including naturally the agricultural sector, and securing the positive aspects of Japan, one by one we will translate this into action as we believe Japan has a critically significant role to play in the Asia-Pacific region in the realm of free trade.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Returning to the subject of the TPP, I believe the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan has requested that the preliminary calculations of the TPP's economic impact be released according to region. How will you be addressing this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is first the question of whether or not this is feasible, by that I mean, whether they can be region-specific. There is also the question of what approaches are possible. These questions are currently being reviewed.

REPORTER: What kinds of things are feasible?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As the calculation method is a universal index, we will study to see if it can be applied on a regional basis.

REPORTER: The party has requested the release of at least the price reductions of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products at the level of regional agricultural administration offices. How will you be dealing with this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The figures regarding how much the prices of agricultural products will be reduced by have already been released. Are you asking if these figures can be released by region?

REPORTER: Yes.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe whether or not this can be done is among the matters which will be considered.