Inauguration of the Reshuffled Fourth Abe Cabinet
Cabinet Secretariat, Tuesday, October 2, 2018
[Provisional Translation]
On October 2, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled the Cabinet for the first time since the inauguration of the Fourth Abe Cabinet.
After collecting letters of resignation at an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, a leaders’ meeting of the ruling parties was held with Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi of Komeito. Following this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the list of Cabinet members. Furthermore, the attestation ceremony for newly appointed Ministers of State was held at the Imperial Palace, marking the official inauguration of the reshuffled Fourth Abe Cabinet.
Later, Prime Minister Abe held a press conference on the Cabinet reshuffle. Afterwards, the Prime Minister convened the first Cabinet meeting, and then held a commemorative photograph session.
Congratulatory Call to Deputy Director-General and Distinguished Professor Tasuku Honjo
Cabinet Secretariat, Monday, October 1, 2018
[Provisional Translation]
On October 1, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a congratulatory call to Distinguished Professor Tasuku Honjo, Director-General of the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study (KUIAS), who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
In his congratulatory telephone call, the Prime Minister said,
“Professor Honjo, I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations. I feel very proud as a fellow Japanese citizen. Your research gives hope and light to many patients suffering from cancer. Some of the people I owe a great deal to were also saved by OPDIVO, the medicine that was an outcome of your research. I am truly grateful for your work.
I was told that you went to great lengths to carry out your research, even making equipment on your own.”
“During the first Abe administration, you gave us wonderful proposals and recommendations as an Executive Member of the Council for Science and Technology Policy. I believe that these proposals and recommendations are being applied and utilized in various ways. Thank you so much. I have great hopes for you to enjoy even further success in the future. Once again, my sincere congratulations.”
Courtesy Call from the Managing Director of the IMF
Cabinet Secretariat, Thursday, October 4, 2018
[Provisional translation]
On October 4, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received a courtesy call from Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Joint Meeting of the Ministerial Council on the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake and Typhoon No. 21, and the Tourism Strategy Promotion Council
Cabinet Secretariat, Friday, September 28, 2018
[Provisional Translation]
On September 28, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a joint meeting of the Ministerial Council on the 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake and Typhoon No. 21, and the 24th meeting of Tourism Strategy Promotion Council at the Prime Minister’s Office.
At the meeting, after discussing the draft Immediate Measures to Secure the Safety and Peace of Mind of Foreign Tourists during Emergencies, a report was made on the state of damage in the disaster-affected areas. Thereafter, a discussion was held on the status of each ministry and agency’s response, the support measures and Typhoon No. 24.
Based on the discussion, the Prime Minister said,
“First and foremost, today we have just approved the Immediate Measures to Secure the Safety and Peace of Mind of Foreign Tourists during Emergencies, in response to the lessons learned from the recent series of disasters. We will swiftly implement a series of measures such as a 24 hour-a-day multilingual call center, expanding the English-language announcements in Shinkansen (bullet trains), and allocating Chinese or Korean speaking personnel to airports. To achieve our goal of welcoming 40 million foreign tourists to Japan per year by 2020, we will send a renewed message to the world that Japan is a safe and secure destination.
Three weeks have passed since the Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake. During this period of time, there has been steady progress in the restoration of lifelines thanks to the efforts of the various parties concerned. Nonetheless, many people are still forced to live hard lives. In addition, the decline in domestic and overseas visitors throughout Hokkaido is heavily affecting the tourism industry. The Government must exert every effort to provide robust support for restoring the lives and ‘nariwai’ (occupations and livelihoods that sustain people’s daily lives) of the people in the affected areas.
To that end, today we designated the recent earthquake as ‘Disaster of Extreme Severity,’ and compiled a series of measures, which we need to implement urgently, based on the needs of the disaster-affected areas. Specifically, we will implement various measures such as emergency temporary housing for those affected by the disaster; urgent responses to rivers blocked by landslides; support for agricultural, forestry and fishery businesses, including dairy businesses, aimed at the resumption of their operations as soon as possible; assistance that is mindful of the needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; introducing the “Hokkaido Fukko Wari” discount, which subsidizes up to 70% of the travel and lodging fees throughout Hokkaido, from October 1 in addition to strengthening the provision of information for foreign tourists; formulating measures based on emergency inspections of electrical infrastructure and others; and establishing hubs with home power generation equipment, in preparation for the increased electricity demand in winter.
Today, we also designated Typhoon 19,* Typhoon No. 20** and Typhoon No. 21*** as ‘Disasters of Extreme Severity’ and compiled a series of assistance measures for the recovery and reconstruction work in response to the damage caused by the strong winds of Typhoon No. 21. Specifically, we will implement the following measures: a series of measures towards the full and early restoration of the terminal facilities and the repair of the damaged access bridge of Kansai International Airport, through close cooperation among the relevant ministries and agencies, the operating company and others; the promotion of regional attractions and the dissemination of reliable information through traditional and social media, as well as support for promotional campaigns by airline companies and others, aimed at restoring the demand for tourism at an early date; the early recovery of port functions, by rapidly repairing the affected port facilities, including Kobe Port; a series of assistance measures that is mindful of the needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; a range of support for agricultural, forestry and fishery businesses, which enable them to resume operations as soon as possible.
We will allocate 15.3 billion yen for the Hokkaido Fukko Wari discount and other measures from the contingency fund. This will be approved at the cabinet meeting today. I would like all of you to implement these support measures with a sense of speed, so that people in the affected regions can move forward and work to rebuild their lives and to restore their ‘nariwai.’
Currently, Typhoon No. 24**** is approaching Japan with extreme strength, and the Government has increased its level of vigilance. I would like all of you to work as one to prevent damage and injuries as much as possible, working closely with municipalities and other related organizations, making full use of the experiences gained from Typhoon No. 21. I also ask the people to take action to protect their lives, such as making prior preparations and being mindful of evacuating early.
*Typhoon Soulik
**Typhoon Cimaron
***Typhoon Jebi
****Typhoon Trami
Japan-Bulgaria Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
Foreign Affairs, Thursday, September 27, 2018
On Thursday, September 27, commencing at 2:30 p.m. (local time) (3:30 a.m. Friday, September 28, Japan time), Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, during his visit to New York to attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, held a meeting with Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva, Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
1. Minister Kono stated that Japan will further strengthen the bilateral relationship towards the “Three anniversaries” between Japan and Bulgaria in 2019. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Zaharieva also expressed her intention to cooperate with Japan as 2019 will be an extremely important year for Bulgaria as well
2. In addition, the two sides shared the view that they will promote concrete cooperation with regard to the support for the Western Balkans, as announced when Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, visited Bulgaria in January this year.
3. Both sides reaffirmed that it is important for the international community to continue to ensure the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
(Reference) The “Three anniversaries” between Japan and Bulgaria
2019 is a year in which “Three anniversaries” between Japan and Bulgaria will overlap – the 110th anniversary of the beginning of bilateral contacts, the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and the 60th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations.
Japan-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Foreign Affairs, Thursday, September 27, 2018
On Thursday, September 27, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, during his visit to New York to attend the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, held a meeting with H.E. Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, Minister of External Affairs of India, commencing at 6:15 p.m. (local time: 7:15 a.m. on Friday, September 28, Japan time) for approximately 20 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
At the beginning, Minister Kono stated that he is glad to meet Minister Swaraj again following her visit to Japan at the end of March, explained that India is the most important partner for realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, and stated that he hopes to ensure close communication between the two countries' foreign ministers and further invigorate Japan-India relations. Minister Swaraj replied that she is happy to meet again, and intends to make firm preparations for a visit to Japan this year by H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. Minister Kono explained that he intends to make coordination so that concrete outcomes are generated in all fields, including security, the economy and economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
The two ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, towards realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. They confirmed the importance of ensuring that the international community fully implements the UN Security Council resolutions, towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
G7 Finance Ministers’ Statement on Argentina (October 2, 2018)
Ministry of Finance, Tuesday, October 2, 2018
“We welcome the commitment of the Argentine authorities to implement macroeconomic policies and a reform agenda to stabilize the economy and promote growth, which are reflected in the recent staff-level agreement that is being considered by the IMF Executive Board.
“We strongly support the commitment and determination of the Argentine authorities to achieve a strong and stable Argentinian economy that benefits the people of Argentina.”
Tax Convention with Iceland will Enter into Force
Ministry of Finance, Tuesday, October 2, 2018
[Provisional translation]
1. On October 1, the exchange of diplomatic notes between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of Iceland for entry into force of the Convention between Japan and Iceland for the Elimination of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income and the Prevention of Tax Evasion and Avoidance (signed on January 15, 2018) took place in Reykjavik.
2. This Convention, accordingly, will enter into force on October 31, 2018 (the thirtieth day after the date of exchange of diplomatic notes) and will have effect:
(a) in Japan:
(i) with respect to taxes levied on the basis of a taxable year, for taxes for any taxable years beginning on or
after January 1, 2019; and
(ii) with respect to taxes levied not on the basis of a taxable year, for taxes levied on or after January 1, 2019; and
(b) in the Republic of Iceland:
(i) with respect to taxes withheld at source, for income derived on or after January 1, 2019; and
(ii) with respect to other taxes, for taxes chargeable for any taxable year beginning on or after January 1, 2019.
(c) The provisions concerning the exchange of information and the assistance in the collection of taxes have effect from October 31, 2018, without regard to the date on which the taxes are levied or the taxable year to which the taxes relate.
Emergency Assistance to the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in the Republic of Indonesia
JICA, Thursday, October 4, 2018
The Japan International Cooperation Agency will provide emergency relief goods as below in response to the damage caused by the Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster in the Republic of Indonesia, in light of the humanitarian perspective and the friendly relationship between two countries.
1. Disaster situation
The Earthquake and Tsunami Disaster, which happened around 17:02(local time)on September 28, has caused serious human and property damage. According to Badan Nasional Penanggulangpan Bencana, the damage situation as of October 3 was as follows:
Deaths 1,407
Injured 2,550
Missing 113
Evacuees Approximately 71,000
Collapsed houses Approximately 66,000
2. Goods supplied
A. Emergency relief goods (from the JICA warehouse in Singapore)
Tents
Generators
Water purifiers
Flocculants
B. Shipping schedule
The goods will be transported from the JICA warehouse in Singapore to Balikpapan on the next available flight.
Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting
Foreign Affairs, Tuesday, October 2, 2018
1. The Government of Japan, United Nations, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC) will co-organize TICAD Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo on October 6th and 7th. The main objectives of the meeting are to review the progress of measures announced at TICAD V and VI at the ministerial level and to prepare for TICAD7 to be held from August 28 to 30 in 2019 in Yokohama.
2. On this occasion, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan will hold bilateral meetings with African Foreign Ministers with a view to further develop relationship with African countries.
3. In addition, side events such as business seminars will be organized at the margin of this Ministerial Meeting.
[Reference 1] Attendees
The Delegations of 54 African countries (Ministerial level)
Co-organizers: Government of Japan, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank and African Union Commission (AUC).
International and Regional Organizations
Other partner countries
[Reference 2] TICAD
TICAD is an International conference led by Japan and co-organized by the United Nations, the United Nations Development Program(UNDP), the World Bank and the African Union Commission (AUC) to discuss the development of Africa. Until TICAD V in 2013, the meetings were held every 5 years since 1993. TICAD VI in 2016 was held in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya) for the first time in its history. From 2016 onwards, TICAD is held every three years alternately in Africa and Japan.
TICAD I - III was hosted in Tokyo and TICAD IV and V in Yokohama. TICAD7 is to be held in Yokohama from August 28th to 30th in 2019.
[Reference 3]
The following side events are scheduled to be held :
Private Sector Engagement Part 1 & 2 (Co-organized by MoFA, UNDP and JETRO)
Japan - Africa Business Fair (Organized by MoFA)
African Clean Cities Platform (Co-organized by Ministry of the Environment, JICA，UNEP，UN-Habitat and City of Yokohama)
Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD) High-level meeting (Co-organized by JICA and MoFA,)
Embarking STI Open Innovation for Leapfrog Africa(Organized by JICA，World Bank and UNDP）
Civil Society Side Event (Organized by Citizen Network for TICAD）
