Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

On Saturday, March 19, Prime Minister Abe will attend the graduation ceremony of Japan Coast Guard School in Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture. Approximately 70% of the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) personnel are graduates of Japan Coast Guard School who support the JCG at the front line. This is the first time a Prime Minister of Japan is attending the graduation ceremony of Japan Coast Guard School.

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the release of a video of a man believed to be freelance journalist Mr. Jumpei Yasuda. Since then have you been contacted by the organization that is considered to have captured Mr. Yasuda? Have there been any changes in the situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is taking all possible responses while making use of a variety of information networks. The bottom line is that we are dealing with the situation by giving our top priority to ensuring the security of Japanese nationals.

REPORTER: I have a related question. I assume that you need to coordinate with the relevant countries in the region. Are there any telephone talks or the like planned with state leaders, foreign ministers, or others?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Government is taking a variety of responses with priority given to ensuring security and respecting human life. I would like to refrain from saying anything further.

REPORTER: I would like to ask about the relocation of ministries and agencies to regional areas. The pilot relocation of the Consumer Affairs Agency to Tokushima Prefecture ended today. Can you please comment on the achievements and the challenges in realizing the relocation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I believe we are still in the phase of conducting such trials. I expect that the direction will become clearer in the course of conducting various trials.

REPORTER: While I understand that the examination process has yet to take place, can you once again explain your views regarding the deep-seated concerns about how a relocated ministry or agency can coordinate with other ministries and agencies or take response in an emergency?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: So as I said, we are conducting trials to see whether that is actually the case. If it turns out that it is not working, then we will simply stop. If we worry about the relationships with other ministries and agencies from the outset, no progress will be made. In this regard, I view that conducting trials is a good thing.

REPORTER: I would like to go back to your opening statement regarding the Prime Minister’s attendance of the graduation ceremony of Japan Coast Guard School. You stated that this will be a first by a Prime Minister. What is the reason that the Prime Minister decided to attend the ceremony?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I stated a short while ago, approximately 70% of the JCG personnel are graduates of Japan Coast Guard School. I expect that the Prime Minister’s attendance of the graduation ceremony will provide great encouragement to the JCG personnel who support the JCG at the front line. In particular, in recent years, JCG is executing very important duties directly linked to Japan’s national interests, including ensuring the security of the waters surrounding Japan, maintaining public security, protecting the environment, and maintaining Japan’s maritime interests. JCG also conducts patrols of Japan’s territorial waters in the sea areas near the Senkaku Islands. Under these circumstances, the Prime Minister will visit or attend the ceremony to offer words of encouragement to these personnel who are working hard at the front line for national interests and for the people of Japan.

(Abridged)