Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• A meeting of the Ministerial Council on Prices
• Cabinet approval on the establishment of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved three general and other measures, the promulgation of a treaty and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning the establishment of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion. Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the White Paper on Police 2013. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning emergency grant aid to the Federal Republic of Somalia in response to the polio outbreak. I made a statement concerning the visit to Sri Lanka of Her Imperial Highness Princess Tsuguko.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting Minister Furuya and Prime Minister Abe made statements concerning the damage caused by torrential rains from July 26 onwards. Minister Yamamoto and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made statements concerning the policy for the allocation of budgets and other resources related to science and technology in FY2014.

Before the Cabinet meeting, a meeting of the Ministerial Council on Prices was convened. At today's meeting, the Ministerial Council consented to approving the appraisal policies of Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., and Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., pertaining to an application for approval of changes to the supply provisions. With regard to the household electricity price hikes that were applied for, the requested 11.41% increase at Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., has been trimmed to 8.94%, due to cost saving measures amounting to approximately 33.4 billion yen. Similarly, the requested 10.94% increase at Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., has been trimmed to 7.80% due to cost saving measures of approximately 13.1 billion yen, and the proposed increase of 10.20% by Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Inc., has been trimmed to 7.73%, through cost saving measures of approximately 13.6 billion yen. For further details, please direct your inquiries to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Based on the Japan Revitalization Strategy and the Healthcare and Medical Strategy, which were approved on June 14, today the Cabinet approved the establishment of the Headquarters for Healthcare and Medical Strategy Promotion, comprised of all Cabinet ministers and chaired by the Prime Minister, with myself acting as vice chair. A meeting of the new headquarters will be held in the coming days and under the new organization the Government will make concerted efforts to promote healthcare and medical strategy, acting in a coordinating role for research and development in the medical sector. For further details, please direct your inquiries to the Office for Healthcare and Medical Strategy.

Q&As

• The convening of the extraordinary session of the Diet
• Deputy Prime Minister Aso's remarks on the Nazi regime

REPORTER: Today the extraordinary session of the Diet will be convened. This is the first session for some time in which there will be no division between the two houses of the Diet. Although the extraordinary session is a short one, could you tell us of the Government's stance and how it intends to approach Diet matters?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This is the first session of the Diet since the recent election and marks the start of the new composition of the House of Councillors. As such, and seeking to respond to the expectations of the people of Japan, the Government will concentrate on advancing discussions in the Diet on the major issues that were raised during the election campaign, such as the revitalization of the Japanese economy. We seek to go forward while gaining the understanding of all political parties and groups.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: With regard to the comment made by Deputy Prime Minister Aso, although he withdrew the comment yesterday, the opposition parties have indicated that they do not consider the matter closed, even if the comment has been withdrawn. Some opposition parties are seeking to question the responsibility of the Prime Minister as the person with authority to appoint ministers, but the Government has made it clear that there will be no substantive discussions on this issue in the Diet, making it difficult for opposition parties to follow it up. What is your opinion of the stance taken by the opposition parties?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yesterday, I noted that I had spoken with the Deputy Prime Minister concerning this issue and that his comment had created misunderstanding. As it was a misunderstanding I do not believe that there are any issues to discuss concerning differences of views or values and the nature of the matter is not one that needs to be deliberated in the Diet.

REPORTER: You have just stated that there is no need to deliberate the matter in the Diet, but there are some members of opposition parties that intend to seek clarification or an explanation in some form, even if the matter is not deliberated. What are your views on providing such an explanation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Deputy Prime Minister withdrew his comment yesterday. As I have just stated, I believe that the comment raised an example that did not give an accurate picture of the intentions of the Deputy Prime Minister and it was for this reason that he decided to withdraw it. In that sense, given that the comment caused misunderstanding, there is no difference in views that require explanation and now that the comment has been withdrawn I believe the matter to be concluded.

(Abridged)