Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I have an announcement regarding the appointments of State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers. During the extraordinary Cabinet meeting a short while ago, State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers were decided as shown in the list in front of you. The attestation ceremony for State Ministers will be held from 3:30 pm, and the first meeting of State Ministers will be held from 6:30 pm. The letters of assignment will be given to Parliamentary Vice-Ministers from 7:10 pm, and the first meeting of Parliamentary Vice-Ministers will be held from 7:25 pm.

Q&As

• The appointments of State Minister and parliamentary Vice-Minister

REPORTER: I would like to ask a question regarding the appointments of State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers. I believe most of them were reappointed. Can you first explain the aim behind these appointments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There was a Cabinet reshuffle in early September, and State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers were appointed at that time. Following the elections of the House of Representatives, all Ministers except for one were reappointed. In this sense, in order to execute the policies that the Abe Cabinet has set out, it was deemed desirable that State Ministers and Parliamentary Vice-Ministers also be reappointed. Except for one State Minister and one Parliamentary Vice-Minister, all were reappointed.  

REPORTER: I have a related question. The members who were replaced this time included Mr. Nobuhide Minorikawa, who was State Minister of Finance. He was replaced by Mr. Isshu Sugawara. Also, Mr. Takashi Otsuka, who was Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, is not on the list. Various problems surrounded both of them, including the issue of politics and money and, how shall I say it, violence against women. Why were these two individuals replaced?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: They expressed their wish to turn down the posts. Accordingly, we replaced them with new members.

REPORTER: My question is in connection with the previous question. What did the two individuals say with regard to the reasons for turning down the offer?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: They did not mention anything specific. They said that they wished to turn down the posts. I understand they turned down the posts based on a variety of circumstances.

REPORTER: Did the party conduct a survey of its members’ wishes? Also, were nominations from party factions accepted?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: My understanding is that the party conducted a survey of the members’ wishes. In any case, in principle, the party’s executives have not changed either, including the Vice-President and Secretary-General. The members were basically reappointed under these circumstances.

REPORTER: You said that the two individuals expressed their wish to turn down the posts. Were they persuaded to stay?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As it was their wish to turn down the posts, we accepted their wishes.

REPORTER: This conversation with the two of them took place with you, the appointer?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: They discussed this with the relevant ministers, me, or the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretaries.