Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

• The issue related to the Three Principles on Arms Exports
• The issue related to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• The issue related to related to bullying

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the Three Principles on Arms Exports. I understand that the National Security Strategy expected to be formulated by the Government in the near future will include clauses aimed at the revision of the Three Principles on Arms Exports. Could you share with us the Government's objective?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is currently discussing the matter, and has been receiving a variety of opinions from experts from the Council on National Security and Defense Capabilities. In light of this, I believe that, led by the National Security Council, the Government will proceed with the formulation of a strategy in cooperation with the ruling parties, while taking the advice of experts into account. We have yet to decide upon any policies.

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Due to preparations for the 2020 Olympics, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is expected to be particularly busy at this time. However, due to the 50 million yen loan taken by Tokyo Governor Inose, the Government's administrative function has practically come to a halt. Could you share with us your views on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not sure that it is appropriate for me to comment on behalf of the national Government, but the administrative functions of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government are extremely important for its citizens. In that sense, I believe it is natural that the Tokyo Metropolitan Government should maintain operations to ensure that citizens' lives are not affected.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question related to bullying. It has been revealed that the number of reported cases of bullying at primary schools, junior high schools, high schools and special schools for challenged across Japan in FY2012 reached 198,000, the highest since the survey started in FY1985. Could you share with us your thoughts on this and how the Government plans to respond?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: 198,000 cases were reported, which is a 182% increase over the previous year. I believe that this may be attributed to the schools' and the Board of Education's move to take a more proactive approach in identifying cases of bullying, as a result of the incident in Otsu City. They have, for example, revised the questions in the survey on bullying and launched systems such as installation of boxes for reporting. Through these initiatives, I think that, in a sense, cases of bullying that would potentially not have been disclosed, have been brought to light. In any case, the Education Rebuilding Implementation Council has produced its first recommendations, and the Government will also earnestly address this issue led by the principle that bullying is never to be tolerated, while also taking into account the Act on Promotion of Bullying Prevention Measures, which was formulated in June this year.