Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

Tomorrow, on Saturday May 17, the Prime Minister is planning to visit Fukushima Prefecture. More specifically, the Prime Minister will observe local initiatives designed to alleviate concerns over possible health effects of radiation, and initiatives by farmers and the local communities to address the damage caused by harmful rumors. The Prime Minister will also exchange opinions with local people.

Q&As

• The issue of the right of collective self-defense
• The 2020 Tokyo Olympics

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question concerning the comments by Masashi Waki, Secretary-General for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the House of Councillors. In relation to the right of collective self-defense, he expressed the view that Diet deliberations prior to obtaining Cabinet approval might be desirable. He argued that there is no need to think of the Diet as merely a venue for the deliberation of bills. Does the Government regard what he said as one of the options?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government will entrust all Diet affairs to the Diet.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: It has been reported that revenue exceeded expenses for the Sochi Olympics by 800 million rubles. 800 million rubles is equal to approximately 2.4 billion yen. With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in mind, what are your expectations in terms of the economic success?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is still a significant amount of time before the Tokyo Olympics. Therefore, I would like to refrain from any speculation at this point. However, I believe that hosting the 2020 Olympics is like a dream come true for Japan, and in preparation for this, Tokyo and the rest of Japan will work as one to ensure that they too are a success. At the same time, the 2020 Olympics will be held in an environment different from that of the previous Tokyo Olympics as the city undergoes rapid internationalization, and we face the issue of an aging society and a low birth rate. I believe that the upcoming Olympics will be a starting point that will bring with it great potential for further development of Japan’s future.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Japanese Ambassador to the United States Kenichiro Sasae contributed an article to The New York Times of the United States to counter the paper's criticism of the Japanese Government's aims to permit the exercise of the right of collective self-defense. Could you share with us the objectives of the article, and also how the Japanese Government intends to communicate its policies overseas?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I also read the May 8 New York Times editorial. The editorial presented extremely mistaken views derived from a one-sided analysis of the matter. We understand that this is why Ambassador Sasae rebutted the editorial by contributing an article. I hope that The New York Times will carefully examine how the Japanese Government has addressed this matter and the debate on this topic within Japan before publishing their articles. Regardless, the Prime Minister has explained in his press conference how the Government intends to proceed with the issue of the right of collective self-defense. We will thoroughly explain this matter to other countries.