Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

(Abridged)

Q&As

REPORTER: President Barack Obama of the United States is set to visit Hiroshima. What is the Japanese Government’s assessment of the decision of President Obama?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: President Obama will visit Hiroshima following the conclusion of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit. The visit will pay tribute to all of the victims. We consider that alongside the recent visit to Hiroshima by the G7 foreign ministers and the issuance of the Hiroshima Declaration on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, the visit will present an extremely important historic opportunity in providing international momentum for the creation of a world without nuclear weapons. The Government of Japan sincerely welcomes the visit.   

REPORTER: I have a related question. Will the Japanese Government not be seeking an apology for the dropping of the atomic bombs?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: It is the strong wish of the survivors that the tragedy of the atomic bombings never be repeated. The Government understands that President Obama will visit Hiroshima to pay tribute to the victims and send out a strong message to ensure that the tragedy of atomic bombings is never repeated and to create a world without nuclear weapons. Japan sincerely welcomes the President’s visit to Hiroshima based on such wishes 70 years after the end of World War II. Japan will work with the U.S. Government to realize a peaceful and secure world without nuclear weapons to ensure that nuclear weapons, which brought considerable tragedy to humankind, are never utilized ever again. We believe it is critically important that actual and steady efforts are made to this end.   

REPORTER: Is it the Japanese Government’s wish that the President meet with survivors when he visits Hiroshima to get a better sense of the situation of the atomic bombings?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan will be coordinating with the U.S. side regarding the concrete logistics.

REPORTER: What factors do you believe led to the realization of this Hiroshima visit?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, in answer to your question, it was the U.S. Government that decided on President Obama’s visit. It is not true that the visit was prearranged between the Japanese and U.S. Governments. That said, Japan has always stated from before that it is extremely important that world leaders visit Hiroshima in pursuing a world without nuclear weapons.

REPORTER: Prime Minister Abe has striven to deepen Japan-U.S. relations since taking office. How will this visit to Hiroshima by a sitting U.S. President, over 70 years after the end of WWII, affect Japan-U.S. relations?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: In any case, since the inauguration of his administration, Prime Minister Abe has advanced diplomacy underpinned by the belief that Japan-U.S. relations and the Japan-U.S. Alliance form the cornerstone or the foundation of Japanese diplomacy. The Government believes that President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima will lead to sending a very strong message about Japan’s efforts to create a world without nuclear weapons.

REPORTER: The U.S. Government has said that the visit will pay tribute not only to the victims of the atomic bombings but to everyone who died in WWII. Does the Japanese Government share this understanding?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: I am not aware of what the U.S. Government stated. In any case, if what the U.S. Government meant was that tribute would be paid vowing never to repeat the tragedy of atomic bombings, then I believe it is exactly as such.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I would like to confirm whether the Japanese Government construes the visit in a future-oriented or forward-looking manner from the standpoint of aiming for a world without nuclear weapons.

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Japan sincerely welcomes President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima based on such views. It is critically essential that efforts be made with the U.S. President and the U.S. Government to realize a peaceful and secure world without nuclear weapons, in order to ensure that nuclear weapons, which could bring considerable tragedy to humankind, are utilized never again.

(Abridged)