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 15 general and other measures, the promulgation of a treaty and legislation, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions.

With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism made statements concerning the White Paper on Greater Tokyo 2014, the White Paper on Land 2014, and the White Paper on Tourism in Japan, 2014.

The Act to promote Healthcare and Medical Strategy, which was passed during the current session of the Diet, entered into full force today. The Headquarters to promote Healthcare and Medical Strategy was established by law under the Cabinet. Today, the Headquarters to promote Healthcare and Medical Strategy held its first meeting through written deliberations. The Headquarters set out rules pertaining to its operations, among other items. In addition, the Expert Panel to promote Healthcare and Medical Strategy was established to conduct technical studies and deliberations regarding the plan for the promotion of R&D in medicine. The Government will work steadily to promote strategic measures in the areas of health and medicine in parallel with the preparations for the establishment of the Japan Medical Research and Development Organization which will commence operations next fiscal year.     

For more information, I ask that you please direct your inquiries to the Office for Healthcare and Medical Strategy of the Cabinet Secretariat.

With that, I would like to take your questions.

Q&As

• The reform of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives
• The Casino bill

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the reform of the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives. Yesterday, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) compiled its reform proposal, and decided that the central union system, including JA-ZENCHU (Central Union of Agricultural Co-operatives), would be transitioned into a new self-sustaining system. I get the impression that the LDP’s proposal does not go so far as to abolish the central union system, which the Government had been requesting. Do you have any comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, with regard to the reform of the agricultural cooperatives, I understand that the ruling parties are currently making arrangements based on the idea that we will undertake fundamental reforms to allow regional agricultural cooperatives to play a leading role in turning agriculture into a growth industry, and to ensure that they are able to fully channel their energies towards this goal.

Furthermore, I understand that arrangements are being made with the ruling parties towards the transition into a new organization.  

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question in regard to the so-called casino bill. The other day, the Prime Minister visited a casino in Singapore. My first question is, what are your expectations towards this bill?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, we have high expectations that integrated resorts will contribute to tourism promotion, regional revitalization, industry promotion and so on.

However, taking into account crime prevention and other factors, it would be a necessary precondition to also establish a variety of accompanying measures. Therefore, the view of the Government is that the relevant ministries and agencies should examine the necessary institutional arrangements.

This is a piece of legislation tabled by Diet members and the Government would like to refrain from commenting on Diet proceedings. In any case, we hope to create a mechanism for moving forward with this matter, based on thorough discussions with the relevant ministries and agencies.  

(Abridged)