Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I asked this question during the morning press conference as well, but if I may I would like to ask it again. During this morning’s meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, Mr. Hosono of the Democratic Party of Japan asked the Prime Minister whether he considered the political leaders at the time as being among the victims of WWII. In response the Prime Minister stated that the political leaders at the time held some responsibility, but he did not make any definitive statements about whether or not he considered them among the victims. What is the view of the Government on this?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government’s position and the Prime Minister’s reply are as follows. In his reply the Prime Minister explained that he had paid his respects and prayed for the souls of all those who had fought for the country and perished on the battlefields concerned about their families, and that he had expressed his determination to build an age which is free from the sufferings by the devastation of war and pledged never to wage a war again before the souls of the war dead. The Government’s stance is that Japan accepts the judgments of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East and is in no position to raise any objections regarding this judgment. This has been the Government’s stance to date.

REPORTER: I have a follow-up question. With regard to Japan’s wartime leaders, both internationally, and also for Japan, which as you mentioned accepts the judgments of the Tokyo Tribunal, the Class-A war criminals are the most infamous. The position of Yasukuni Shrine is that these Class-A war criminals were martyrs of the Showa era, that they were not responsible, and that they were victims. If the Prime Minister does not clarify his stance on this, that is to say if he does not make clear his views regarding whether or not they were victims, or political leaders, or the ones responsible, then there is a risk that any visit he makes to Yasukuni Shrine will be misunderstood by the international community. Would you like to offer any comments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I explained moments ago, after his visit, the Prime Minister announced that the purpose of his visit was to express his determination to build an age which is free from the sufferings by the devastation of war and to pledge never to wage a war again before the souls of the war dead. I believe that is all there is to the matter.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: In light of recent events, in which Japanese nationals were taken hostage, I cannot help being reminded of the gravity of the abductions by North Korea. Allow me to ask once again if the Government intends to urge North Korea even more strongly to swiftly complete its investigation and other relevant actions.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Our stance on the abduction issue has remained consistent throughout. Japan has made it abundantly clear to the officials responsible from North Korea’s Special Investigation Committee that the abduction issue is one of the most important issues for Japan. We have strongly urged North Korea to carry out the investigations promptly, and notify the results to Japan swiftly and honestly. The Abe administration is making every effort to ensure the return to Japan of all abduction victims, based on the principles of dialogue and pressure, and action for action.

(Abridged)