Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Council for Nuclear Power that will be held today. I imagine that discussion will take place on the future research and development of fast breeder reactors in Japan. Can we assume that this discussion will also include the option of decommissioning Monju nuclear reactor?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: To date the Government has worked in in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and other ministries, agencies and organizations concerned, with regard to the response to Monju. From the perspective of sharing a common understanding on this issue there are plans to hold a meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Council for Nuclear Power today. I would like to present the decisions made by the council once the meeting has concluded.

REPORTER: I have a related question. The Monju nuclear reactor has hardly ever been in actual operation and past administrations, including the previous Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) administration also discussed decommissioning it. The starting point for the revision of the plan for Monju on this occasion was the recommendation of the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) in November last year. Other than the NRA recommendation was there any other driving force leading to the current revision, such as a direction stipulated by the Government?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As you have just noted, since the recommendation of the NRA was received in November last year the Government has been considering a response, working in cooperation with MEXT and other ministries, agencies and organizations concerned. It is in that context that the council meeting will be held today and we will be seeking to discuss various issues, including on a direction for the future.

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about the Monetary Policy Meeting of the Bank of Japan (BOJ), which is scheduled to be held today to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the large-scale financial easing implemented by the BOJ. The BOJ’s stated price stability target of two percent in two years has not been achieved, so what is the Government’s assessment of the situation?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: The Monetary Policy Meeting of the BOJ is currently behind held. I have received a report that the meeting will be conducting a comprehensive assessment from the perspective of considering what is necessary to achieve the price stability target of two percent at the earliest possible time. I would imagine that various matters will be considered based on such an assessment.

REPORTER: I have a related question. It is also being said that the Government has still only partly completed its own efforts to exit deflation, so as the BOJ engages in an assessment of its own measures to date, does the Government consider that it is necessary to assess its own policy responses, including Abenomics?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: There is absolutely no change to the Government’s basic stance of working in close cooperation with the BOJ and making concerted efforts to mobilize all policy measures, including financial and fiscal policy and structural reforms, to achieve the stated goals of Abenomics.

(Abridged)