Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• Prime Minister Abe's attendance at a ceremony of Ise Shrine.
• The shut down of US governmental agencies
• The extraordinary Diet session scheduled to commence mid-October
• The arrival and departure slots of international flights at Haneda Airport･The closure of UN Women Japan Liaison Office
• The change of layout of the press conference room

REPORTER: Prime Minister Abe today attended a ceremony at Ise Shrine. Could you provide us, on behalf of the Government, with an explanation as to why the Prime Minister attended the Shikinen Sengu Ceremony?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that the Prime Minister attended the ceremony as a private citizen. I do not believe the attendance violates the nation's rules on the prohibition of Government involvement in religious activities, or so-called separation of religion and state, and I understand that he attended the ceremony as a private citizen.

REPORTER: Just to clarify, do you believe that today's attendance does not violate the constitutional principle of separation of religion and state at all?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, that is correct. I understand that the visit does not violate that principle and that the Prime Minister made the visit as a private citizen.

REPORTER: The conflict between the Republican and Democratic parties in the US continues, and governmental agencies remain shut down. Could you tell us how the Government views this and your thoughts on any potential impact the shutdown may have on Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have been informed that there have been similar instances of this in the past. I hope that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible. At this stage I understand that it has had no impact on Japan at all.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the extraordinary Diet session scheduled to commence mid-October. Following the House of Councillors election, the distortions caused by the division in the Diet was eliminated with the ruling parties accounting for a majority of seats in both Houses. Could you tell us with what stance the Government will approach the extraordinary Diet session?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Thanks to public support, the ruling parties won the House of Councillors election and the division within the Government was completely eliminated. During the extraordinary Diet session, we will provide thorough explanations of items that need to be explained and will strive to produce outcomes that meet public expectations.

REPORTER: I believe that there are a number of crucial bills slated to be submitted. Could you tell us what your priorities are? Also, you mentioned providing thorough explanations as you attempt to pass the bills, but I believe that there have been concerns that the Diet session will be proceeded in a forceful manner. Could you tell us how you will attempt to pass the bills during the Diet session?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As we know, there are bills carried over from the previous Diet session. These are urgent bills that have impacts on the lives of citizens. Therefore, we will address those bills first, as soon as possible. At the same time, I truly hope that the upcoming Diet session will be able to put the economic growth strategy into action.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the arrival and departure slots of international flights at Haneda Airport. All Nippon Airways was given 11 slots by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) while Japan Airlines (JAL) was given 5. Could you share with us your thoughts on this difference in the number of slots allocated?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that MLIT determined the allocation after considering a number of factors.

REPORTER: I have another question on the same topic. You mentioned that there were a number of factors, but am I right to understand that the decision was made after considering the recent injection of public funds into JAL?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that MLIT considered a number of factors including such thing before making their decision. If you would like to know more details on the topic, please contact MLIT.

REPORTER: There is a United Nations (UN) agency that works on advancement of the status of women known as UN Women. Its Japan Liaison Office will close at the end of October. The reason for the closure was that the UN Women headquarters did not receive as much funding as expected from the Japanese Government. More specifically, while the headquarters expected to receive 10 million dollars, it only received 940,000 dollars. The Abe administration promotes the participation of women in the workforce and during Prime Minister Abe's address to the UN General Assembly, he said that he respects the operations of UN Women and that he aims for Japan to become one of the major contributors. The closure seems to be in stark contrast with Government policy, so could you share your thoughts with us?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I did not actually have any knowledge of the closure but the Prime Minister did deliver such a speech. The Government's policy of supporting women has not changed at all, and the Government will naturally provide various supports in relation to this.

REPORTER: Beginning with this afternoon's press conference, the atmosphere of the room has changed after the front row of seating was removed. Could you tell us what the reason was for doing this and what your thoughts are on the change?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Well, I believe that in yesterday's newspaper, it was mentioned that I am always looking down. When I provide answers to the journalist asking the question, I tend to look down toward him/her. However, one of yesterday's letters to the editor said that I should not forget that I am not only providing a response to the journalist but also to the rest of Japan and even to the whole world. I thought it was a very poignant comment, so today we changed the layout as a trial.

REPORTER: How do you feel about the change, where you are looking and the atmosphere of the venue?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I will have a look at the video recording of the press conference to see how it looks, but I thought it was very true that I should not forget that I am actually responding to the whole country and the world, so we are doing this as a test run. I will endeavor to hold future press conferences bearing in mind that I am speaking to the entirety of the public.