Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As this year marks 70 years since the end of World War II, the Prime Minister has previously indicated his willingness to deliberate on what kind of country Japan should aspire to be on the occasions of the 80th, 90th and 100th anniversaries that lie before us in the future, with listening to the opinions of experts. Based on this, the Government has decided to establish the Advisory Panel to the Prime Minister on the History of the 20th Century, and the Role of Japan and the World Order in the 21st Century. The list of members of the Advisory Panel has been distributed to you. This Advisory Panel is scheduled to hold its first meeting on February 25, and is expected to conclude its discussions and report to the Prime Minister by summer this year.

H.E. Mr. Bronisław Komorowski, President of the Republic of Poland, and his spouse will make a working visit to Japan from February 26 to 27. As “the leading country of Central and Eastern Europe,” Poland is Japan’s vital partner with which we share basic values and work together to address global issues. During the summit meeting with Prime Minister Abe, the two sides are expected to exchange views regarding bilateral relations, the situation in Ukraine, the regional situation, such as the Middle East and Asia, Japan-EU relations, and other topics, and deepen bilateral cooperation.

Q&As

REPORTER: Just to confirm, I understand that the Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Advisory Panel will be elected by its members. Do you have in mind Mr. Nishimuro as Chair and Dr. Kitaoka as Deputy Chair? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Nothing has been decided. The Chair and the Deputy Chair will be chosen at the first meeting.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Can you once again tell us what aspects were taken into account in selecting the members of the Advisory Panel? How did you balance the membership?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We expect the Advisory Panel to carry out discussions from a broad range of perspectives. Therefore, we asked those from diverse sectors, including scholars in politics and history, journalists, and business persons, representing different age ranges to join as members.

REPORTER: I have a question in connection with the Advisory Panel. Will the Advisory Panel’s final output be a single draft statement to serve as a basis for further discussion? Or will it be coming out with multiple draft statements?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: My understanding is that issues including the outcome of the Panel will also be discussed among the Panel members.

REPORTER: To confirm then, in other words, this is not a panel that will serve as a reference for the drafting the 70th anniversary statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Advisory Panel will be established not for drafting the Prime Minister’s statement for the 70th anniversary, but so that the Government can hear opinions from a range of experts in considering the exact content of the statement.

REPORTER: If I may confirm, is it accurate that the Government will draft the statement and the Advisory Panel will serve as a reference for the discussion?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct.

REPORTER: I have a question to confirm. You stated that the Advisory Panel would be  a panel to the Prime Minister. Is this then a private advisory panel of the Prime Minister?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe you can construe it as such.

REPORTER: One more question. Past statements for the 50th and 60th anniversaries were released on the anniversary of the end of WWII. Do you intend to formally release Prime Minister Abe’s statement for the 70th anniversary on August 15 as well? Or are you also considering other dates?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I would like to refrain from prejudging something that has not been decided yet.

REPORTER: Roughly speaking, when do you intend to compile the statement?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In terms of the timing, we are aiming for the summer.

REPORTER: I have a related question. Then, in addition to the compilation of the statement, the discussions among experts will also come to an end by the summer?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: That is correct.

REPORTER: I have a related question. About how many times will the Advisory Panel hold meetings before concluding discussions?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: This has not been decided yet. I expect such issues to be discussed at the first meeting.

REPORTER: I understand that the statement will be drafted based on the experts’ discussions. Around when will these discussions end?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: They will be over in time to release the statement by around the summer. The specifics have not been formally decided yet. These matters will be decided during the first meeting.

REPORTER: I think the members will find it hard if the Government simply gives them such vague requests. Are you going to ask them to discuss what form of outcome, for example a report, they will submit? Does the Government not have any requests for the Advisory Panel?
CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, as I have often stated, the Abe Cabinet upholds the position on the recognition outlined by previous cabinets in its entirety, including the Murayama Statement for the 50th anniversary and the Koizumi Statement for the 60th anniversary. The 70th anniversary statement will be drafted on this basis. We have made this clear. We expect the members will carry out various discussions in this regard. As the Prime Minister has stated consistently, we wish to concentrate wisdom in writing a new statement, in which we will send out a clear message to the world on issues such as Japan’s remorse regarding WWII; the path Japan has taken as a peace-loving nation after WWII; what kinds of further contribution Japan should make to the Asia-Pacific region and to the world; and what kind of country Japan should seek to become as we head towards the 80th, 90th, and 100th anniversaries to come. In this process, we would like to hear the opinions of a range of experts.

REPORTER: Will the language of the finalized statement be coordinated with the ruling parties?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Such matters will be decided going forward.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to return to the topic of the statement. I recall you saying that the members of the Advisory Panel would be selected under your leadership. Is it correct to understand that the members were selected under your leadership?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I selected the members in consultation with various people.

REPORTER: Looking at the members, there are some who share views similar to the Prime Minister’s and there are some who do not. Did you take into consideration having a balanced group of “conservatives” and “liberals” for example?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: We have asked people from a variety of sectors representing different age ranges to be members of the Advisory Panel.

(Abridged)