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 two personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the results of the labor force survey, the consumer price index, and the results of the household budget survey; the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare made a statement concerning the national ratio of jobs to applicants for November 2014; the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications made a statement concerning the State Minister and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister who will support the Minister in charge of the privatization of postal services; the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology made a statement concerning the State Minister and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister who will support the Minister in charge of Education Rebuilding and the Minister in charge of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games; the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry made a statement concerning the State Minister and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister who will support the Minister in charge of Industrial Competitiveness; the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism made a statement concerning the State Minister and the Parliamentary Vice-Minister who will support the Minister in charge of Water Cycle Policy; and Prime Minister Abe made a statement concerning acting Ministers while Ministers in charge are away on overseas visits.

Today, the fourth meeting of the Council on Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan was held before the Cabinet meeting, and discussions took place among distinguished experts for compiling a “long-term vision” to sustain a population of 100 million people and a “comprehensive strategy” to support motivated local communities. Based on today’s meeting, tomorrow, the Headquarters for Overcoming Population Decline and Vitalizing Local Economy in Japan will compile the “long-term vision” and “comprehensive strategy,” and they will be approved by the Cabinet. For more information, please direct your questions to Minister Ishiba.

Prior to the Cabinet meeting, the Meeting of the Ministerial Council on Snow Disaster Countermeasures was convened. Before the snow season arrives in full swing, the Prime Minister gave instructions on providing accurate information to the people, securing means of transportation and lifeline services, and ensuring prompt responses to areas isolated by snow or other circumstances. At all times, including the end-of-year and New Year period, the Government will take all possible measures to protect the lives and daily lives of the people from snow disasters. The Minister of State for Disaster Management is also calling on people to take precautions. We ask that the people continue to stay tuned to weather information and take full precautions against accidents that occur during blizzards, heavy snowfall, and snow removal work.

Today, the Headquarters for Ocean Policy held a meeting. Discussions took place on revisions to the Basic Policy concerning Preservation and Management of Remote Islands for Management of the Sea. Prime Minister Abe, the Headquarters Chair, gave instructions for the Basic Policy to be revised in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies by the end of the fiscal year.

Q&As

• The issue of a Yasukuni Shrine
• The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II

(Abridged)

REPORTER: A year ago today, the Prime Minister paid a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. Today marks the two-year milestone since the inauguration of the Abe Government. Last year, the Prime Minister visited Yasukuni Shrine on the milestone of his administration’s one-year anniversary. Does the Prime Minister have any plans to visit Yasukuni Shrine today?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government has stated repeatedly that it will not make any official announcement regarding whether the Prime Minister will or will not visit the shrine. That is the bottom line.

REPORTER: I presume from the Prime Minister’s schedule and other factors that the Prime Minister will not pay a visit to Yasukuni Shrine. I imagine this is out of consideration for China and the Republic of Korea with next year marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Am I correct?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not in a position to answer this question. The decision to visit the shrine or not is for individuals to make.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Thus far, the Murayama Statement was released on the 50th anniversary and the Koizumi Statement was released on the 60th anniversary. How will Prime Minister Abe’s statement on the 70th anniversary maintain consistency with previous statements? Or how will the Abe Government’s statement be set apart from previous statements? Can you please share your opinions regarding Prime Minister Abe’s statement if any?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In preparing the statement, we will be asking experts what they view as important as we approach the 70th anniversary and look ahead. In any case, I expect that the statement will be conceptualized based on the various proposals received from experts that relate to the path Japan has followed over the 70 years since the end of WWII, namely Japan’s pursuit of freedom, democracy, and peace, as well as to Japan’s future.