Press Conference by the Chief Cabinet Secretary (Excerpt)

Opening Statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga
There were statements on the overview of the Cabinet meeting and others.

Q&As

(Abridged)

REPORTER: I have a question about the attendance of Prime Minister Abe at the Hiroshima and Nagasaki peace memorial ceremonies. This is the fifth consecutive year for the Prime Minister to attend the ceremonies. Since last year's ceremonies there have been various developments relating to world peace, including the President of the United States changing from President Obama, who called for a world without nuclear weapons, to President Trump, as well as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons being adopted by the United Nations. Could you tell us what message the Prime Minister will be sending out in his address first at the peace memorial ceremony in Hiroshima, including whether he will be referring to these developments?

CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY SUGA: As I mentioned earlier, the Prime Minister will again be attending the ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki this year. The specific content of his addresses will be considered right up to the day of each ceremony and will be delivered by the Prime Minister on each day. However, fundamentally, the Prime Minister will reverently express his sincere condolences to the souls of the atomic bomb victims. As the only country to have experienced atomic bombings in war the Prime Minister will also express his resolve that the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should never be repeated and his determination to realize a world free of nuclear weapons. These are the fundamental aspects of his address and specific details will be considered right up to the day of the ceremonies.