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 23 general and other measures, draft bills, cabinet orders, and personnel decisions. With regard to statements by ministers, Minister Yamaguchi made a statement concerning the Consumer Basic Plan. The Minister of Justice made a statement concerning a Diet report on the enforcement status of the Act on the Control of Organizations Which Have Committed Acts of Indiscriminate Mass Murder as well as the status of control on organizations pursuant to the Subversive Activities Prevention Act. The Chairperson of the National Public Safety Commission made a statement concerning a report on the enforcement status of the Act on the Control of Organizations Which Have Committed Acts of Indiscriminate Mass Murder. The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, respectively, made statements concerning personnel affairs relating to the heads of independent administrative agencies.

I would like to report on the appointment of the Vice-Minister of the Reconstruction Agency and other appointments which were decided during the Cabinet meeting. Effective March 30, Mr. Yasuo Harada, Vice-Minister of the Reconstruction Agency, will resign from his position, and he will be succeeded by Mr. Masakatsu Okamoto, Director General of the Reconstruction Agency. Also, effective March 30, it was decided that as Mr. Okamoto’s replacement, Mr. Koichi Yoshida, Deputy Vice-Minister for Construction, Engineering and Real Estate Industry, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, will be appointed as Director General of the Reconstruction Agency. Minister for Reconstruction Takeshita has made a separate announcement regarding these appointments. For more information, I ask that you direct your questions to the Reconstruction Agency.    

Q&As

• The Prime Minister’s visit to U.S.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to change the subject to the Advisory Panel for the Prime Minister’s statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. According to the summary of the Advisory Panel’s meeting that was disclosed yesterday, the meeting adjourned with the members’ opinions remaining divided over the issue of whether or not World War II should be viewed as a war of aggression. How do you personally look at this situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: From the outset, the Government has asked the members of the Advisory Panel to conduct extensive discussions so that we can hear the various views of the members. In this sense, I believe the Government should refrain from responding to each and every comment made by the Advisory Panel members.

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States. You stated that the two sides are still coordinating on whether or not the Prime Minister will deliver an address to Congress. Within the United States, some have raised concerns that the Prime Minister has revisionist views on history. At the Diet, the Prime Minister responded that he does not embrace historical revisionism. During his visit to the United States, does the Prime Minister intend to deliver remarks to dispel such U.S. concerns? 

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is a clear fact that the Prime Minister is not a historical revisionist. Over the past 70 years since the end of the war, Japan and the United States have developed into invaluable partners who work together for the peace and prosperity of the international community, while also deepening their bilateral alliance based on common values, such as basic human rights, democracy, and rule of law. In light of the efforts made by both countries, I expect that during the Prime Minister’s U.S. visit, the two sides will hold wide-ranging discussions on security cooperation, economic issues including the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as global issues, and further deepen Japan-U.S. relations.

(Abridged)