Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga

(Abridged)

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: During today’s Cabinet meeting, a Cabinet understanding was adopted regarding the invitation of H.E. Mr. John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, and his spouse, Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama, First Lady of Ghana, for an Official Working Visit to Japan from May 17 to 20. During their stay in Japan, President Mahama and his spouse will make a State Call on Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In addition, Prime Minister Abe will hold a meeting with President Mahama and host a dinner for him. Ghana is a stable democratic nation in West Africa. President Mahama has worked at the Embassy of Ghana in Japan, and therefore has a special relationship with Japan. The Prime Minister and the President will exchange opinions on a variety of issues, looking ahead to the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) Summit that will be held in Kenya in August. Japan expects that President Mahama’s visit to Japan will further deepen the ties and cooperative relations between the two countries.

During today’s Cabinet meeting, a Cabinet understanding was adopted regarding the invitation of The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, and his spouse, Mrs. Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau, for an Official Working Visit to Japan from May 23 to 25. During their stay in Japan, Prime Minister Trudeau and his spouse will be received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In addition, Prime Minister Abe will hold a meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau and host a dinner for him. Japan and Canada are key partners in the Asia-Pacific region that share fundamental values as G7 members. Japan considers it critically important that Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Trudeau exchange opinions and share views on a variety of issues before the G7 Ise-Shima Summit. Japan expects that Prime Minister Trudeau’s visit to Japan will further strengthen the ties and cooperative relations between the two countries.

Q&As

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REPORTER: I have a related question. Can you please comment on the Cabinet’s approval of the draft supplementary budget? In addition, tomorrow will mark one month since the earthquakes began. Can you please explain the Government’s plans for the restoration and reconstruction work, including livelihood assistance for the affected people?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, since immediately after the earthquakes, rescue and relief efforts have been conducted with widespread cooperation, including the Self-Defense Forces (SDF), police, fire workers, Japan Coast Guard (JCG), and medical units, based on the Prime Minister’s instructions to do everything that is possible. Furthermore, supplies needed for the time being for living in evacuation centers and elsewhere, such as food and water, have been provided using an emergency fund. The Government has made concerted efforts and worked quickly to dispatch personnel, disburse ordinary local allocation tax grants ahead of schedule, and provide supports to the affected municipalities in terms of manpower and financing. We believe that the supplementary budget will make absolutely sure that financing is available for making further progress with the restoration and reconstruction work. In combination with the Kumamoto Earthquake Recovery Emergency Fund, the supplementary budget will be used to make all possible efforts to secure housing, restore infrastructure, and restore occupations such as those of small and medium-sized enterprises, the agriculture, forestry and fishery industries, and the tourism industry. After the draft budget was approved at today’s Cabinet meeting, it was swiftly submitted to the Diet. We will make every effort to have the budget passed at an early date. In addition, it will be one month since the earthquake. The Kumamoto earthquakes were entirely unprecedented earthquakes in which earthquakes registering 7 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale occurred in succession in the same region. They caused catastrophic damage. I once again extend my condolences to the victims of the earthquakes and my deepest sympathy to the affected people. As I stated moments ago, the Government is conducting search and rescue activities and providing livelihood assistance by mobilizing 30,000 operating units, including the SDF, police, fire workers, medical units, and JCG. We are making efforts to take responses in advance. Based on the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake, we have provided assistance to the affected municipalities without waiting for their requests. In this manner, 2.63 million meals have been provided. Furthermore, we are making every effort to achieve an early recovery and improve the living environment for the affected people living in evacuation centers. The Government will make its strongest efforts to ensure that the affected people can resume their normal lives, and that restoration and reconstruction can be achieved as quickly as possible. At the same time, we would like to thank the many volunteers who have helped with the restoration and reconstruction work, and ask for people’s continued cooperation with the volunteer activities.
 
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REPORTER: It will be almost half a year since the terror attacks in Paris. Can you once again elaborate on the Japanese Government’s readiness against the rising threat of terrorism and its efforts to prevent (a terror attack) during the Ise-Shima Summit that is coming up at the end of this month?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: Looking back, terror attacks took place in Paris last November and in Brussels this March. The Government views that the current situation is extremely severe. Notably, Japan will be hosting the summit soon. In any case, Japan is coordinating closely with the international community to take all possible measures against terrorism. In particular, the public and private sectors are collaborating to take border control measures and to protect soft targets, such as key facilities and public transportation services. In any event, the Ise-Shima Summit and President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima are taking place in the near future. To ensure the success of these events, the Prime Minister’s Office will act as the control tower and leverage the full capability of the Government for making utmost efforts to prevent terror attacks.  

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REPORTER: I would like to ask about the bid activities for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. French prosecutors revealed that they are investigating a 220 million yen payment made by Tokyo to a company linked with the Games. Can you please tell us what the Government is aware of?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: First of all, since January of this year, it has been reported that money was paid to a former President of the International Association of Athletics Federations in connection with the bid activities for the Tokyo Games. Based on the reports, the Japan Sports Agency inquired with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC). I have been informed that TMG and the JOC have said that they checked with the people involved in the bid and found that no payment was made as described in the news reports. As French prosecutors made the announcement that you referred to, the Government will make further efforts to find out the facts in coordination with the relevant ministries and agencies, and carefully check the facts with TMG and the JOC. 

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