Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to read out an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved two general measures, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions.

With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries made a statement concerning the establishment of the national forest plan. The Minister of Finance made a statement concerning personnel affairs relating to presidents of special companies. Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, I made a statement concerning the establishment of the Office for the Promotion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Minister Mori made a statement concerning enhancement the recruitment and promotion of female national public servants at ministries and agencies.

I would like to explain about the establishment of the Office for the Promotion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To contribute to the smooth preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have decided to establish the Office for the Promotion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games within the Cabinet Secretariat under Minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Shimomura. The Office will be in charge of coordinating administrative affairs of ministries and agencies. In addition, Special Advisor to the Cabinet Takeo Hirata will be appointed as Director of the Office.

On October 1, at the train crossing for the JR Yokohama Line in Midori-ku, Yokohama City, Ms. Natsue Murata was hit by a train while trying to save a man who was lying on the crossing, and passed away. I offer my prayers to Ms. Murata who passed away and my sincere condolences to her family.

With regard to this matter, the Government will award Ms. Murata a Medal with Red Ribbon in honor of her efforts to save another person's life at the risk of her own life. Since Ms. Murata has passed away, it was decided at today's Cabinet meeting to award the Silver Cup to her family and to confer Ms. Murata with a posthumous honor. For more details, please contact the Decoration Bureau of the Cabinet Office.

Also, in addition to these awards, it was decided that Prime Minister Abe will present Ms. Murata with a letter to laud her courageous act and express his condolences. I will deliver this letter to her family on October 6 by myself. Regarding the details of the letter, please contact the Cabinet Affairs Office.

That is all from me.

Q&As

• The Fukushima Nuclear Power Station
• The Award of Ms. Murata with a posthumous honor
• TPP Negotiation
• The Office for the Promotion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• The Regulatory Reform Council

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding Fukushima Nuclear Power Station. There was a news alert that the advanced liquid processing system (ALPS), which has been treating the contaminated water, had stopped. Are you aware of this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: No, not at this moment. Please hold on for a moment.

We were informed that today, at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the abnormality alarm for the ALPS, which is carrying out tests for the removal of radioactive substances from contaminated water, went off at around 6:43 am, and therefore, the water treatment operation has been suspended. The cause is currently under investigation. However, no abnormalities have been found, such as leakage from the ALPS.

REPORTER: Concerning the letter, will it be from the Prime Minister or the Government of Japan?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It will be from the Prime Minister.

REPORTER: What led to this decision to present a Medal with Red Ribbon and a letter to Ms. Murata?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: With regard to the reasons which led to this decision to laud Ms. Murata's courageous act, we have decided to laud her courageous act because we wanted to etch into our memory together with people , Her efforts to rescue a stranger at the risk of her own life stood out in contrast to the current general tendency of not paying much interest to others. With regard to the medal, as the person who will be awarded a Medal with Red Ribbon to save other person's life at the risk of her own life has passed away, a Silver Cup will be awarded to her family and Ms. Murata will be conferred with a posthumous honor. That is the meaning behind the awards.

REPORTER: I believe these awards have also been presented in various cases in the past. Which kinds of past cases did you base today's decision on? What led to today's decision?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In terms of past cases, one of the cases which is still fresh in our memory is the time when two people died while trying to save a person who fell onto the tracks of the Yamanote Line at Okubo Station. A similar award was presented at that time as well.

REPORTER: Is it unprecedented for the Chief Cabinet Secretary to deliver the award?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I understand that in the previous instance as well, the Chief Cabinet Secretary went to deliver the award.

REPORTER: What did the Prime Minister say with regard to Ms. Murata's courageous act?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated moments ago, Ms. Murata, despite knowing that a train was coming right after, put her own life at risk because she wanted to do whatever she could to save the fallen person. As a result, she lost her own life. Such courageous person should be etched into the memory of the people. With this in mind, the Prime Minister stated that he would like to laud her efforts.

REPORTER: In the Yamanote Line case at Okubo Station, then-Prime Minister Mori went to the funeral and other services. This time, I assume it is difficult for Prime Minister Abe to attend due to schedule constraints. Is that the reason why you will be going?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There were cases in which Chief Cabinet Secretary went and both the Prime Minister and the Chief Cabinet Secretary went. There have been a variety of cases.

REPORTER: Regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, today's front page of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Japan made a specific offer to the US to eliminate tariffs on 92%. Can you please confirm whether this is true?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is no truth to this.

REPORTER: While I believe there will be further negotiations to reach an agreement, if the Japanese Government offers a percentage in the range of the low- to mid-90s during the negotiations, what does the number signify?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Minister Amari is now conducting the negotiations and he has been entrusted with all of the negotiations. I understand that Minister Amari himself believes that this 92% number is erroneous.

REPORTER: Is Japan offering a number close to 92?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, there is no such fact at all.

REPORTER: With regard to the Office for the Promotion of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, can you once again explain what the aim of this office is and how big this office will be?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Minister Shimomura issued the order  of establishment as the minister in charge. In order to hold a successful Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, we will need to coordinate between many relevant ministries and agencies. Based on this view, the office was established to fully support Minister Shimomura and to undertake ministry-wide and Government-wide efforts to make the Games a success.

REPORTER: Around how many people will make up the Secretariat?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I don't think there will be that many people. The number will be increased gradually according to the amount of work that needs to be done.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Regarding today's meeting of the Regulatory Reform Council, I believe that the Council will compile its views regarding the review of worker contracts and other matters. Can you please share with us your thoughts on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The meeting of the Regulatory Reform Council is still currently in session. In any case, I believe the opinion will probably be raised that a fundamental review is necessary.

Naturally, these views of the Regulatory Reform Council will be taken into account in making various considerations regarding this system.

As the Council is in the middle of its meeting, I am not yet aware of what kinds of opinions will be raised.

REPORTER: According to reports going around, review of the prohibition of short-term dispatch work has also been brought to the table. What was the intention behind this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: So as I said, if that is what the Regulatory Reform Council proposes, we will obviously take that into consideration. However, I don't think this is a matter which can be entirely decided at the Council. Therefore, naturally, it will be considered as an opinion.

REPORTER: I believe one of the main points of Abenomics is wage increase. While naturally this will depend on corporate vitality and so on, there may be concerns that if dispatch work on full-time basis increases, then wages will decrease. What is your view regarding this kind of balance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I said, the Council is holding its meeting right now, and it has not yet presented its vision. I am sure a variety of reform proposals will be presented as this is the Regulatory Reform Council. If such a vision is presented, it is the Government's position to then examine these reform proposals.