Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

We will hold the first meeting of the Council for the Protection of Information from 11 am on January 17. The purpose of the meeting is to hear from external, third-party experts in order to ensure appropriate implementation of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets.

During the meetings, discussions will be held on implementation guidelines for the designation of special intelligence, the removal of such designation, and assessment of appropriateness. The experts will also be asked to discuss matters required to appropriately implement the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets and the associated cabinet orders. The Government will then incorporate their opinions as we formulate implementation guidelines and cabinet orders.

The experts who will comprise the council are as listed on the documents distributed to each of you. They have vast experience and outstanding insight in their respective areas of expertise and have been commissioned by the Prime Minister. For more details on this topic, please contact the Preparatory Office for Enforcement of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets of the Cabinet Secretariat.

Q&As

• The issues related to the Tokyo gubernatorial election

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the Tokyo gubernatorial election. Former Prime Minister Hosokawa expressed his intention to run in the Tokyo gubernatorial election with the support of former Prime Minister Koizumi, who, like Mr. Hosokawa, favors denuclearization. What are the Government's views on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I have stated previously, everyone is free to run for Governor but it is then up to the public to decide. In light of this, as I reflect on the current situation in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, I think Tokyo faces numerous challenges, which I have spoken about on a number of occasions. These challenges include the development of policies required to address social security issues such as childcare waiting lists and nursing care, given that birthrates are declining and society is aging. Another challenge is developing Tokyo into an international city in preparation for the Olympics. As for nuclear policy, however, I believe this is something that the entire country, including the municipalities in which the power plants are located, must develop together. I do not think it is something that should be decided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government alone.

REPORTER: I understand that Mr. Hosokawa and Mr. Koizumi are positioning themselves to run in the election, taking up denuclearization as a key issue of their campaign. If that is the case, are you of the view that it does not make sense to run a campaign based solely on an anti-nuclear stance?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe that ultimately, the issue of nuclear power plants is something that the entire country, including the municipalities in which the power plants are located, should address together. It is not a policy that should be decided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government alone.  I think that is the case. Moreover, in light of declining birth rates and the aging of society, there are many different issues that Tokyo will have to address concerning social security policy, including what to do with childcare waiting lists, and nursing care. Therefore, I think that such issues will also become points of debate.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Mr. Koizumi has sought to stir up conflict and polarize the issue, stating that the election will be fought between two groups - those who believe that Japan is able to prosper without nuclear power and those who believe that Japan cannot prosper without it. I think that Mr. Koizumi would probably place the national Government in the latter category. What are the Government's thoughts?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In relation to energy policy, a matter that is truly of the utmost importance, we pledged to the people that we would make the most of renewable energy during the House of Representatives election. Furthermore, we appealed a policy of reducing nuclear power generation as much as possible, whereupon we were voted into power. There has been no change in our policy since the House of Representatives election and throughout the House of Councillors election. We will sincerely address the issue in line with our pledges. I think that the desire for denuclearization is shared by all citizens, particularly in light of the accident in Fukushima. I believe political parties also share this view. Nevertheless, realistically speaking, while the Government will address this by fully promoting renewable energy, in our position we are also responsible for ensuring a stable supply of electricity. Therefore, we intend to also deal with this issue in a thorough and steady manner.

REPORTER: Does that mean you think it is not possible to choose one of the two options presented by Mr. Koizumi?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Realistically, I think that this is not possible.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Earlier you stated that it is not possible to choose one of the two options. However, Mr. Koizumi is calling for immediate decommissioning of all nuclear power plants. I understand that this view ultimately differs from that of the Government. Is there any possibility that you or the Prime Minister, for example, would discuss this issue directly with Mr. Koizumi?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do not believe so. The Government has already made its basic energy policies clear during the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors elections with the approval of the public and we are now implementing those policies. Therefore, I believe that our basic policy should remain the same. Furthermore, the issue of nuclear power is not a policy that should be decided by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government alone. In fact, we receive our electricity from the municipalities in which the power plants are located, so I think this is an issue that should be addressed by the nation as a whole.

(Abridged)