Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

• An overview of the Cabinet meeting
• The Ministerial Meeting Relating to Remuneration of National Public Servants

I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved two general and other measures, cabinet orders and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the National Personnel Authority's (NPA) report regarding the remuneration of national public servants in regular service. I made a statement concerning a visit to Argentina by Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado and a visit to Canada by Her Imperial Highness Princess Ayako for the purpose of short-term overseas study. Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning temporary acting ministers while ministers are away on overseas visits. In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the damage caused by torrential rains in the Tohoku region from August 9 onwards.

On August 8, a report was received from the NPA in which it was stated that it would not be necessary to revise the remuneration of national public servants. The Ministerial Meeting Relating to Remuneration of National Public Servants was held today following the receipt of that report. At today's meeting, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications explained the report and sought opinions from the relevant ministers. A further ministerial meeting will be held on this subject at an appropriate timing when the need arises.

Q&As

• Yasukuni Shrine
• The clash of the U.S. Forces helicopter in Okinawa

REPORTER: I have a question concerning visits to Yasukuni Shrine. This morning Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Shindo and Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission Furuya both paid visits to Yasukuni Shrine. While I understand that the stance of the Cabinet is that Cabinet ministers will make their own judgment about whether to visit or not, it is anticipated that such visits could invite a negative reaction from neighboring countries. What are your views on the visits this morning?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have said before, I believe that no matter what country you are from, we all share a desire to clasp our hands together to pray for the repose of the souls of those who sacrificed their precious lives in battle for their country and express our respects. I am aware through press reports that Cabinet ministers have visited Yasukuni Shrine today. However, my understanding is that they visited the shrine in their capacity as private individuals. Personal visits made to the shrine concern freedom of religion, and I believe therefore that it is not for the Government to intervene in such decisions.

REPORTER: Although Prime Minister Abe has not visited the shrine today, Diet member Mr. Hagiuda has visited Yasukuni Shrine, and has made an offering of money (tama-gushi-ryo) for a sacred tree branch to be offered at the shrine on his behalf, as the chief representative of the Liberal Democratic Party. What is your view about why the Prime Minister made such a decision?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: These are actions made by the Prime Minister in a private capacity and therefore I do not believe that the Government should state its views on the matter. It was ultimately a decision made by the Prime Minister himself.

REPORTER: You have stated that the decision to make an offering instead of visiting the shrine today was made by the Prime Minister himself. However, last year, before he became Prime Minister, the Prime Minister visited the shrine on August 15 and also in the autumn, and is reported to have expressed remorse at not visiting the shrine when he previously served as Prime Minister. If that is the case what is the reason for a decision being made to send an offering of money today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated many times previously, it is not for me to make any comment in my position as Chief Cabinet Secretary about whether the Prime Minister does or does not visit the shrine. Also, with regard to the offering of money that was made today, this is not a decision made by the Government and is ultimately the choice made by Prime Minister Abe based on his own thoughts.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: On the subject of visits to Yasukuni Shrine, given that the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, yourself and the Minister for Foreign Affairs are not making visits this time, what impact do you think this will have on Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan-China relations, including any impact on foreign ministerial talks or summit-level talks?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have already noted, all visits to the shrine are made in a private capacity and therefore the Government does not make any statement about whether ministers should or should not visit. I would like to refrain from making any comment about the impact the fact of visiting or not visiting would have on foreign relations.

REPORTER: Today a little trouble was caused when a group of ROK parliamentarians visited Yasukuni Shrine to protest about visits by Cabinet ministers. What is your view of this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government received prior information that ROK parliamentarians were planning such a visit and issued a request to the ROK Government, asking for cooperation in calling on the parliamentarians in question to refrain from taking action. Despite this request it is extremely regrettable that the ROK parliamentarians have engaged in such actions.

REPORTER: In what form did the Government issue a request to the ROK Government? What sort of response was received?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: A request was made through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noting that such actions had the potential to cause disturbance and confusion.

REPORTER: As was already noted in a previous question, you are unlikely to visit Yasukuni Shrine yourself today, the day marking the end of the WWII, but what was it that made you decide whether you would or would not visit? From our perspective, we would infer that it was in view of the anticipated reaction from China or the ROK, but what points did you consider that helped you come to a decision to not visit the shrine?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I made a decision that takes in the broader perspective.

REPORTER: So did your decision include consideration about the anticipated reaction from neighboring countries?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: My decision was made from a determination to take in the broader perspective, as I have just stated.

REPORTER: Did Ministers Shindo or Furuya, or Minister Inada, who is expected to visit the shrine this afternoon, contact or consult with you in advance about their visits?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Not at all.

REPORTER: Did the Prime Minister consult with you at all about his decision to make a monetary offering?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, he did not.

REPORTER: You have maintained a consistent stance of not commenting about actions made in a private capacity, but from an objective viewpoint it is a fact that these actions will have various diplomatic repercussions. Former Prime Ministers in the past have stated that it is unthinkable for the Prime Minister to make a visit in a private capacity when they have explained their decisions to visit or not. Do you think that there is no need to explain the potential diplomatic impact to the people of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated on frequent occasions, the stance of the Abe administration is that it is not for the Government to state whether ministers should or should not visit the shrine. The basic stance of the Government, which I have already mentioned, is that any decision to visit the shrine is made in a private capacity and it is not for the Government to intervene in such decisions.

REPORTER: With regard to the U.S. Forces helicopter crash in Okinawa, U.S. Forces Japan have announced that flights of the same type of helicopter that was involved in the accident will resume. Did the Government receive any information about this decision, and has any information been forthcoming about the cause of the accident, which has yet to be verified, or about measures to prevent a reoccurrence?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: On August 14 the U.S. side indicated that flights of the same type of helicopter involved in the accident, which had been halted, would resume from August 16, and provided explanations to local governments to this effect. Naturally a similar explanation was provided to the central government also. With regard to the safety of the helicopter in question, the U.S. side has indicated that extremely detailed inspections have been performed that are not usually implemented, as well as thorough training being provided to flight personnel in addition to their physical and mental health being confirmed. As a result of these measures no structural defects have been found on the helicopter in question and its safety has thus been confirmed. That is the gist of the explanation that was received.

REPORTER: So did the Government approve the resumption of flights upon receiving this explanation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: While the Government understands the necessity to operate this type of helicopter for the purposes of search and rescue, it goes without saying that the operation of aircraft of U.S. Forces in Japan must be implemented with due consideration to public safety. Therefore, given the concerns of local residents, the Government is requesting that the United States continues to implement thorough safety measures and engage in an investigation into the cause of the accident.

REPORTER: Returning to the issue of Yasukuni Shrine, while I fully understand the Government's stance about not making comments about visits to the shrine, there is also an ongoing discussion about the separate enshrinement of Class A war criminals. It is a fact that following the enshrinement of Class A war criminals Emperor Showa ceased making visits to the shrine. What is the view of the Abe administration concerning this issue and will any moves be made in the future to create an environment in which Class A war criminals could be separately enshrined?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am aware of the various discussions on this issue. As I stated at the beginning of this press conference, I believe that no matter what country you are from, we all share a desire to clasp our hands together to pray for the repose of the souls of those who sacrificed their precious lives in battle for their country and express our respects. It is for this reason that the Government does not intervene in the matter of whether people visit or not and the Prime Minister himself does not make any statement about whether he visits or not. The Government seeks to continue to maintain this stance.