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 three measures for submission to the Diet, a cabinet order, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs made a statement concerning emergency grant aid for improvement of humanitarian situation in Eastern Ukraine; the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications concerning State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers who will support the Minister in charge of postal privatization; the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology concerning State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers who will support the Minister in charge of education rebuilding and the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games; the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry concerning State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers who will support the Minister in charge of industrial competitiveness; the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism concerning State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers who will support the Minister in charge of water cycle policy and work related to the development of integrated tourism resort areas; the Minister of Defense concerning State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers who will support the Minister in charge of security legislation; and Prime Minister Abe concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

I would like to announce that with the reshuffling of the second Abe Cabinet, we have decided to ask the individuals listed in the material in front of you to serve as expert members of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. Similarly, I would like to announce that with the Cabinet reshuffle, we have decided to ask the individuals listed in the material in front of you to serve as expert members of the Industrial Competitiveness Council.

Q&As

• The cabinet’s approval rating
• The consumption tax increase
• The issue of the recognition of history
• The emergency grant aid pertaining to Ukraine

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the Cabinet’s approval rating. According to an opinion poll that TV Tokyo and Nikkei Shimbun conducted on September 3 and 4, the Abe Cabinet’s approval rating increased 11 percentage points from August to 60%. The Cabinet’s approval rating also increased in the polls conducted by other agencies. What are your thoughts regarding these results? Do you perceive that the Cabinet reshuffle affected the results?    

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I do often say that a higher Cabinet approval rating is better than a lower one. We believe that the expectations of the people have led to a higher approval rating. To be able to meet their expectations, the Prime Minister will spearhead efforts and has given instruction for seven items. Indeed, the Cabinet will work to live up to the people’s expectations by steadily translating these items into actions, including reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and economic revitalization.

REPORTER: My question is in relation to this. I gather that one of the highlights of the Cabinet reshuffle was the appointment of a record-tying five female Cabinet members. In our poll, 58% of the people praised the fact that six women were appointed, including appointments to executive party posts. Percentages were also high in the polls conducted by other companies. Do you attribute the increased expectations for the administration to the appointment of female Cabinet members?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: One of the Cabinet’s policies is the realization of a society in which all women shine. I presume that in accordance with this policy, the Prime Minister appointed a record-tying five female Cabinet members in order to lead by example. I imagine that such measures are indeed having an effect, as demonstrated by the opinion polls.

REPORTER: I have another question regarding opinion polls. In an opinion poll conducted jointly by the Nippon Television Network and Yomiuri Shimbun, 62% of those polled said they praised the Prime Minister’s decision to keep key ministers, including the Minister of Finance and the Chief Cabinet Secretary. Fifty-four percent of those polled also praised the appointment of Mr. Ishiba as Minister in charge of Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan. Both are high percentages. Can you please comment on these figures?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe the numbers show that the people seek a stable administration.

REPORTER: Governor Kuroda of the Bank of Japan (BoJ) expressed the view during his press conference that the consumption tax should be increased to 10% as planned, saying that otherwise, markets would begin to harbor doubts regarding the Government’s will and efforts to achieve fiscal soundness. What is your opinion regarding Governor Kuroda’s point of view? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The BoJ Governor has made similar statements during previous meetings of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy. I think there is no difference from his existing stance. In any case, it remains wholly unchanged that a decision will be made by the end of the year as to whether or not the consumption tax will be increased. The decision will be based on a careful review of the economic situation, including the July-September growth rate and its recovery.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Amidst middling economic recovery, do you consider that the BoJ’s additional monetary easing measures are necessary, as indirect support in the lead-up to the Prime Minister’s decision to increase the consumption tax?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Financial policy falls under the jurisdiction of the BoJ; and therefore, the Government would like to refrain from making comments. It is important that the Government and BoJ manage the economy while maintaining communication with each other.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the issue of the recognition of history. Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy of Sri Lanka, former Special Rapporteur on violence against women, who prepared the 1996 United Nations (UN) report in which she identified the former Japanese military’s use of “comfort women” as sexual slavery and advised the Government of Japan to apologize and pay compensation, sat down for an interview with us. In the interview, Ms. Coomaraswamy expressed that there was no need to revise the report. Can you please comment on behalf of the Japanese Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, with regard to the Report of the Special Rapporteur, it is regrettable that the report did not take into account Japan’s basic position concerning this issue, as well as the efforts Japan has made to date. In our opinion, there is no mistake that parts of this report were influenced by the content of the articles which Asahi Shimbun recently retracted. Japan has not confirmed any objective sources proving “forceful recruitment.” Furthermore, at the recent meeting of the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Japan noted that the reference to “sexual slavery” was inappropriate. Japan will continue to carefully explain its position to the international community, including to the UN.  

REPORTER: I have a related question. As you just stated, this report was compiled based on testimonies made by Mr. Seiji Yoshida, among other sources. Does the Japanese Government have any intention to request the withdrawal of this report?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan has continued to consistently state that the reference to “sexual slavery” was inappropriate, as there is nothing that proves forceful recruitment. The Government will continue to carefully explain its position.

REPORTER: Regarding the Foreign Minister’s statement during the Cabinet meeting that you mentioned in your opening statement, can you please tell us a little more about the emergency grant aid pertaining to Ukraine?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Minister for Foreign Affairs announced that emergency grant aid of US$300,000 would be provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Japan will collaborate further with UN agencies to provide prompt assistance for health and welfare and non-food items.