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 personnel decisions and one general measure.

In ministerial discussions following the Cabinet meeting, the Minister of the Environment and Minister Nemoto made statements concerning interim storage facilities in Fukushima Prefecture for soil removed by decontamination work, and waste contaminated by radioactive materials.

Q&As

• The serving duration of the current Cabinet

(Abridged)

REPORTER: The current Cabinet has served for over 600 days and is the longest-serving Cabinet since World War II. What is your opinion regarding this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I usually say, the Prime Minister has set out three pillars for us Cabinet members to address: Revitalizing the Japanese economy, reconstruction after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and achieving thorough crisis management. I think what it comes down to is the fact that we, all Cabinet members, have continued to devote ourselves single-mindedly to addressing these issues in line with the Prime Minister’s instructions, as if we were each the minister in charge. 

(Abridged)