Press Conference by the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hagiuda

(There were statements on the overview of the Cabinet meeting.)

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: Next I would like to make an announcement regarding the third meeting of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Promotion Headquarters. Today, the third meeting of the SDGs Promotion Headquarters chaired by Prime Minister Abe was held prior to the Cabinet meeting. At the meeting, the Headquarters decided on the establishment of “the Japan SDGs Award” to recognize the pioneering initiatives implemented by companies and organizations. This year’s Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform is once again expected to incorporate the further promotion of the implementation of SDGs. Accordingly, the Government will further accelerate initiatives for the SDGs, including the realization of work style reform, the furtherance of the efforts of local governments, and the promotion of private sector initiatives.

Q&As

REPORTER: I have a question regarding the special measures bill for the abdication of His Majesty the Emperor. The bill is anticipated to be passed and established during the plenary session of the House of Councillors today. While this has not happened yet, when it does it will mark a turning point. Can you please share the comments of the Government?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: We understand that in the compilation of discussions recently received from the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice-President of the House of Councillors, it is noted that broad public understanding had been obtained on the abdication of the Emperor. It is also stated that Diet members shared the view that legislative measures for the abdication should be established during the current session of the Diet, based on the common recognition of the political parties and factions that such measures would be taken to realize the abdication of the reigning emperor. The Government has taken the compilation of discussions seriously. We drafted and recently submitted to the Diet the Bill for the Special Measures on the Imperial House Law Concerning the Abdication of His Majesty the Emperor and Other Matters, which faithfully reflects the content in the compilation of discussions and draws on the final report of the advisory council as a reference. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives last week and is scheduled to be voted on later today during the plenary session of the House of Councillors. The Government hopes that the bill will be swiftly established into law. In addition, with regard to the challenges to ensuring the stable succession of the Imperial Throne, the consideration of the status of the female members of the Imperial Family, including the possibility of allowing them to keep their Imperial status after marriage, and so on, we will respect the intentions of the supplementary resolutions that were adopted by the committees of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.

REPORTER: I believe you will now be proceeding with the preparations to set a specific date for the abdication and establish the next era name. What points will be taken into account in proceeding with the preparations?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: The bill specifies that a cabinet order shall stipulate the law’s entry into force within three years. In this light, we will move forward quickly with the procedures.

REPORTER: I have a question in connection with the abdication. The supplementary resolutions of both Houses state that the status of the female members of the Imperial Family, including the possibility of allowing them to keep their Imperial status after marriage, would be considered swiftly after the law enters into force. How will the Government go about doing this?

DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY HAGIUDA: We hope to have wide-ranging discussions concerning the consideration of the status of the female members of the Imperial Family, including the possibility of allowing them to keep their Imperial status after marriage, other matters related to how the Imperial Throne will be succeeded, as well as measures for coping with the decline in the number of Imperial Family members. As the supplementary resolutions were adopted at the Diet, we will take responses that respect these resolutions.

(Abridged)