Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan
• Yasukuni Shrine
• Growth Strategy
• The TPP
• The ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of Japan's restoration of sovereignty and return into the international community

REPORTER: The United States Senate Armed Services Committee has issued a report in which it advises that funding for the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa to be relocated to Guam should be frozen due to a lack of progress concerning plans for the relocation of Futenma Air Station. What is the Government's reaction to and evaluation of this report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have seen reports concerning this matter. However, the relocation costs in the defense budget for fiscal 2013 are different to those of the previous year as the budget requests submitted by the United States Government have been approved for the first time in two years. Also, the freeze of  the funds supplied by Japan to the United States was partly lifted. Given this situation, the Government will continue to monitor developments in the United States Congress, including this report and seeks to continue to cooperate with the United States to ensure that progress towards relocation to Guam is not affected.

REPORTER: Chairman Levin of the Senate Armed Services Committee has previously stated his opinion that the relocation from Futenma to Henoko would be difficult, so while you mention that the Government will continue to monitor developments in the United States Congress, how do you propose to advance the agreement reached between Japan and the United States?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government of Japan has recently submitted an application for landfill construction at Henoko. We are therefore committed to making every effort to gain the understanding of Okinawa Prefecture with regard to the relocation.

REPORTER: On a related note, you have mentioned the various dedicated efforts being made by the Government on the issue of Okinawa, including with the prefecture itself, and also in the Japan-U.S. summit meeting and in cooperation between the two governments. However, the U.S. Government and the U.S. Congress are two separate entities, as can be seen by the comments made by Senator Levin, so does the Government of Japan intend to make efforts to seek the understanding of the U.S. Congress with regard to Okinawa-related issues?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is a fact that the administration led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has returned to power after a hiatus of three years and four months. During that blank period there was a significant loss of trust in Japan-U.S. relations and when the LDP-led administration returned to power relations were still strained. However, following the Japan-U.S. summit meeting held in February between Prime Minister Abe and President Obama, the relationship of trust between the two countries was restored. This point was noted by Prime Minister Abe in a press conference following the summit meeting, who stated that trust had been regained at the governmental and leader levels between Japan and the United States. At the same time, the Government will continue to make approaches to the U.S. Congress as we seek to build a relationship that is appropriate for Japan and the United States as allied countries.

REPORTER: The annual Spring Festival of the Yasukuni Shrine will take place for three days from April 21. The Prime Minister has previously stated that he will be making an offering of a "masakaki" (a votive stick). Is there no change to this plan to not actually visit the shrine but to make a votive offering instead?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not spoken with the Prime Minister concerning this issue. However at the time of the first Abe Administration, the policy was not to state whether the Prime Minister would visit the shrine or worship there or not, and I believe that this is also the case in the current administration.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Will you be visiting the shrine yourself?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The policy is as I have just stated, namely that no statement will be made about whether members of the Government will or will not visit, nor whether they have or have not visited.

(Abridged)

(In relation to the Prime Minister's speech at the Japan National Press Club)
REPORTER: With regard to the Government's three-pronged approach to economic revitalization, I believe that the first two prongs have been executed, but people are still waiting in suspense for specific measures relating to the third prong, on growth strategy. What is the Government's response to this third prong of measures for economic revitalization?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is currently engaged in concerted efforts towards the achievement of the third prong of measures for economic revitalization, and I believe that today the Prime Minister announced measures that set out a direction for growth strategy. As I have said on previous occasions, I believe that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement will be the biggest contributor to growth strategy. As the Prime Minister has stated today, the Government is promoting various policies and the TPP, which will be significant for growth strategy.

REPORTER: I have a question concerning growth strategy. There are press reports that it has been decided to make it possible to issue multiple entry visas to Russian nationals. Russia is a country of growing importance for Japan, in terms of energy and other sectors, so could you tell us your opinion about whether the issuance of multiple entry visas to Russian nationals is expected to further advance and develop relations with Russia going forward?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not heard anything about whether a decision has been made to issue such visas. If it is the case that such a decision has been made I would report it to you accordingly. However, I feel that for some years, relations between Japan and Russia have been somewhat lukewarm. During the Golden Week holiday period (starting from the end of April) the Prime Minister is scheduled to make a visit to Russia, and I have great expectations for the outcome of the summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Putin, given the fact that relations with Russia are very important for Japan. The Government expects that  the upcoming summit meeting will become a breakthrough and would like to build strong and friendly relations between Japan and Russia.

REPORTER: I have a question about the TPP. Minister Amari is currently in Indonesia having meetings with ministers from Australia and New Zealand, which have yet to agree to Japan's participation in the TPP negotiations. Could you tell us the status of discussions at the current point?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Following commitments in the Diet, Minister Amari has travelled at short notice to Indonesia, where he is engaged in meetings with the countries concerned. My recognition of the current situation is that talks are in the final stages.

REPORTER: Is the outlook that approval for Japan's participation in the TPP negotiation process will be gained from all the remaining countries by the end of today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have not heard any report about this as yet, but I believe that talks are now in the final stages.

REPORTER: You have just stated that the TPP would be a most significant factor for growth strategy, the third prong of economic revitalization. However, the fact is that yesterday the trade statistics showed that Japan's trade deficit expanded to its largest ever level for the second year running. The background to this situation is that Japan's automobile and electrical manufacturers, etc., are offshoring their factories, which makes it difficult to achieve increased exports from Japan itself. Could you tell us how the Government proposes to utilize the TPP to expand exports, given the current situation for the Japanese economy where factories are located outside of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all the appreciation of the yen has turned to yen depreciation. It is a fact that the yen exchange rate is one of the major factors affecting the trade deficit. However, as the strong yen has now started to depreciate, this has sparked an increase in exports and therefore it can be expected that the large trade deficit will be eliminated over the course of time. Japan is a country that has based its post-war development on being a nation built on trade. Therefore, my largest concern has been that when the yen appreciates to a level lower than 80 yen to the U.S. dollar, it becomes impossible for our manufacturing sector, which is one of Japan's particularly strong sectors, to make any profit from exporting products. It is also a fact that our electrical manufacturers, which, together with the automobile industry, have been a driving force behind Japanese industry, face stiff competition from companies such as Samsung and LG in the Republic of Korea (ROK). The yen has not yet recovered to its pre-Lehman shock levels, but as the excessively strong yen is now in a corrective phase, an environment is being created in which it will be possible for Japan's manufacturing industries to once again create profit by manufacturing goods in Japan and exporting them, and the facilitation of such an environment is a very important role that the Government should perform. In that sense, through the TPP the Government seeks to create a situation in which it is possible to capitalize on Japan's strengths in manufacturing.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of Japan's restoration of sovereignty and return into the international community scheduled for April 28, in the midst of opposition being voiced from Okinawa, it has also been pointed out that bearing in mind the Constitution of Japan, the attendance of Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress could be viewed as using Their Majesties for political purposes. What is the view of the Government ?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe that such a criticism can be applied to the ceremony in any way whatsoever. The ceremony will be held to commemorate the milestone 60th anniversary of the entry into force of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, in which it is stated that full sovereignty of the Japanese people over Japan is recognized. The restoration of sovereignty also marked Japan's return to the international community and our activities as part of that community and in that sense I believe it is important for Japan to carve out our own future based on experiences and lessons to date. At the same time, we must certainly not forget that Okinawa, Amami and Ogasawara were placed outside the national administration of Japan for a period following the entry into force of the treaty and that the people of these regions were obliged to endure a troubled road full of hardships. It is still the case that the people of Okinawa are being required to bear the burden of bases and it is therefore important to engage in efforts to reduce that burden. In any case, I believe that it is important that this ceremony provides an opportunity to renew our resolve to carve out our own future for the entire nation, including Amami, Ogasawara and Okinawa. That is the purpose of the ceremony and in that sense I believe it is only natural for Their Majesties to attend. Therefore, I do not believe that discussion on Their Majesties being used for political purposes applies in any way to this ceremony.

(Abridged)