Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to give an overview of the Cabinet meeting. The meeting approved 14 general and other measures, draft bills, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning Japan Broadcasting Corporation's fiscal 2014 income and expenditure budget, business planning, and financial planning and opinions of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications attached thereto, among other matters. The Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning Japan's Official Development Assistance White Paper 2013. Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits, among other matters.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, Minister Furuya made a statement concerning the Government's response to the damage from the heavy snow and other natural disasters.

With regard to Mr. Ichiro Komatsu, Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, he has been hospitalized for checkup since the 24th of last month. He has been receiving chemotherapy for the tumor found in his abdomen. According to the hospital, Mr. Komatsu will have to visit the hospital once a week for treatment, but will be able to carry on as usual with his regular work. Therefore, Mr. Komatsu will be discharged from the hospital today, and will resume his work from next week. Effective from the 24th, Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau Komatsu will resume his duties. As such, Mr. Yusuke Yokobatake, Deputy Director-General of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau, will be relieved from his duties as acting Director-General.         

Q&As

• The issues related to the article of the Wall Street Journal regarding the comments of Special Advisor to the Cabinet Honda

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about Special Advisor to the Cabinet Etsuro Honda. You explained in your press conference yesterday afternoon that Mr. Honda lodged a protest to The Wall Street Journal, and that the newspaper expressed it was ready to make a correction. However, since then, Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, issued a comment saying, "Given it contains no errors, we see no reason to correct it and have made no commitment to do so." What are the facts in regard to this matter?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Special Advisor to the Cabinet Honda who was interviewed said that he was shocked when he read the article, and lodged a protest to the reporter who interviewed him.  That was what I was reported.

REPORTER: Is my understanding correct then that Mr. Honda lodged a protest to the reporter, and not to The Wall Street Journal? So it was not The Wall Street Journal that responded that it was  ready to make a correction; rather it was the reporter himself, responding in a personal capacity?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Yes, it was the reporter who interviewed Mr. Honda.

(Abridged)