Press Conferences

Mr. Yasuhisa Kawamura, Foreign Press Secretary: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will hold Explore REAL JAPAN projects, which will assist in disseminating information for the purpose of wiping out unfounded rumors, in Seoul, Republic of Korea from February 19 to February 21.

The projects, which are taking place with the cooperation of four local governments (Aomori Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, and Kagoshima Prefecture), comprehensively supply information about the actual conditions and appeal of regional areas, including tourist attractions and local products, for the purpose of wiping out unfounded rumors following the Great East Japan Earthquake. I have details on the specific activities as follow.

On February 19, MOFA will invite related parties from the Korean side to a reception at the Official Residence of the Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (ROK) that aims to communicate current conditions in affected areas that have been rebuilt. Tourist attractions and local products of the participating local governments will be introduced. The event will supply Japanese sake and offer a demonstration of local cuisines from Tohoku.

The events will be held at Wangsimni Station BITLEX from February 20 to February 21. They will include introductions to attractions by Korean bloggers who visited Aomori Prefecture, Fukushima Prefecture, and Miyagi Prefecture, Fukushima craft products (such as daruma dolls), and other activities and stage performances.

MOFA hopes that these activities will foster a mood that wipes out unfounded rumors by communicating accurate information regarding reconstruction of the affected areas and highlight a “fresh and seasonable Japan” by supplying the latest information.

Press Secretary Kawamura: On February 26, MOFA will jointly host the FY2015 “INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON ACCEPTANCE OF FOREIGN NATIONALS AND THEIR INTEGRATION INTO JAPAN” cosponsored by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Shinagawa City.

We have already held this workshop, which covers themes of promotion of understanding by local society and the provision of information to foreigners, six times. This will be the seventh one.

Japan has arrived at an era in which it needs the engagement of not only women and the elderly, but also of foreigners, in order to maintain and strengthen the vitality of its economy and society and innovativeness amid concerns about labor shortages due to the aging population.

This workshop will address the topic of “Diversity Management in Workplaces” with a focus on foreigners at work and hold discussions on ways for Japanese and foreigners to cooperate in workplace.

Mr. William Lacy Swing, Director-General of International Organization for Migration (IOM), will make the keynote speech, Japanese and foreign experts will give presentations, and a panel discussion will take place among Japanese and foreigners who work at Japanese and foreign-capital companies.

Mr. Yoji Muto, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, is scheduled to make opening remarks at the International Workshop.

Endo, Yomiuri Shimbun: I have a question about the explanation of the comfort women issue at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women yesterday. A Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs provided an explanation of the comfort women issue this time. What are your thoughts about ways of removing misperceptions about the comfort women issue in the international community and future explanations from this perspective?

Press Secretary Kawamura: Yesterday (February 16) Mr. Sugiyama, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, explained Japan’s view on the comfort women issue and its efforts, as the representative of the Japanese Government, at the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s review on Japan.

The response covers facts that the Japanese Government has already been providing in response to questions posed as part of a review on Japan under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Japan’s response primarily rests on sincere implementation of the agreement reached by the Government of Japan and the Government of the ROK at the end of last year. I think this is important. Japan has explained its fundamental position regarding the issue and related background at the United Nations and other venues in the context of the international arena and international treaties and responded to requests from committees based on various human rights conventions.

Japan intends to continue utilizing suitable opportunities to carefully and sincerely explain its view, initiatives, and related facts to the international community.

Endo, Yomiuri Shimbun: I have another question. You mentioned the Japan-ROK agreement in your reply. Has anything changed in Japan’s stance due to the Japan-ROK agreement reached at the end of last year or is it limiting its explanation to the facts because the two sides agreed not to criticize each other in the agreement?

Also, has there been any action from the ROK government toward Japan regarding the explanation? Please address these two points.

Press Secretary Kawamura: I’ll start with the first point of whether anything has changed in the nature of our explanation. While this is repetitive, the Government explained its views in this session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women as a response to a question from the Committee. Our response focused on the facts. Of course, we also explained items from the Japan-ROK agreement reached at the end of last year, but the content mainly consisted of a response to a question from the committee and provided facts regarding the issue that Japan has already explained.

As to the second question on a reaction by the ROK side or whether there was any request, I would like to refrain from answering this because it is related to diplomatic interactions. Basically I think it is important for both Japan and the ROK to implement the agreement in a responsible manner.

Sakamoto, Sankei Shimbun: North Korea is sending a message that it plans to launch a missile again in the future. Please explain your view on this point.

Press Secretary Kawamura: I believe this is being reported in the media, but would like to refrain from reacting to individual media reports. However, regarding North Korea’s serious provocative actions since the start of the year with the nuclear test and ballistic missile launch, these are grave threats to the safety of the international community, Japan, and the region, and the Government is consulting with related countries, particularly at the Japan-United States-ROK level, on responses and putting efforts into swift adoption of a resolution at the United Nations. Japan has also taken its own measures, while encouraging swift adoption of a resolution. We retain these fundamental positions.

Sakamoto, Sankei Shimbun: I think dialogue with ASEAN countries is taking place in the United States. Please explain Japan’s view of this effort and the Government’s thoughts on the situation in the South China Sea.

Press Secretary Kawamura: I understand that the U.S.-ASEAN Special Leaders’ Summit held on February 15-16 in the United States featured opinion exchanges on a variety of areas, such as economy, politics, and national security, and that a joint statement was issued.

The Government would like to refrain from making specific comments because this is related to interactions among other countries. However, it welcomes that the Special Leaders’ Summit took place because reinforcement of the strategic partnership between the United States and ASEAN is very important for the stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

I am aware that the meeting issued a joint declaration (Sunnylands Declaration) that mentioned reaching peaceful solutions to conflicts. Japan has explained its position on issues in the South China Sea in the past. It is important for countries to refrain from taking unilateral actions that raise tension and take actions based on principle of the rule of law. Japan welcomes the announcement of the Sunnylands Declaration that includes such principle.