Press Conferences

Tanaka, Chugoku Shimbun: While the historic visit by Mr. Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, has been announced, what factors do you think led to realization of the visit? Was there anything the Japanese side offered to create the environment for accepting the visit?

Mr. Yasuhisa Kawamura, Foreign Press Secretary: The Government of the United States decided to proceed with a visit by President Obama to Hiroshima, and the Governments of Japan and the United States were not in advance coordination during the process that led to the decision. The Japanese side did not have any specific thoughts about the process on the US side that led to the decision or what it was thinking. In light of the content announced by the US side yesterday, the Government of Japan thinks this event offers a historic opportunity to pray for all of the victims and to revitalize international momentum for realizing a world without nuclear weapons through this visit as well as the Hiroshima Declaration by the G7 Foreign Ministers. The Government of Japan offers a heartfelt welcome to the decision.

I think the points just mentioned reflect President Obama’s view. The Japanese side understands that the visit is to send a strong message toward a world without nuclear weapons to ensure the atomic bombing tragedy will never be repeated.

Tanaka, Chugoku Shimbun: This is related. In recent years, the Government of Japan has placed more emphasis on visits with atomic bombing victims and has been strengthening these appeals. Couldn’t this be seen as a concrete result of these efforts?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: Japan’s basic approach up to now and at the G7 Foreign Minister’s meeting last month has been to strengthen calls to the world to realize a world without nuclear weapons. Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, have been regularly talking about the importance of world leaders coming to see with their own eyes the realities of atomic bombings and working together to move toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons. The Government believes the decision by the US side on a Hiroshima visit by President Obama took place within this context.

Tanaka, Chugoku Shimbun: I have one more question. The US White House Press Secretary commented at a press conference held in the early morning hours today that the Japan-US alliance has changed greatly over 70 years and that the visit offers an opportunity to put a spotlight on the current Japan-US alliance. What are your thoughts about the impact on the Japan-US alliance from the Government of Japan’s viewpoint?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: I would like to refrain from adding commentary by the Japanese side on individual statements and announcements from the US side. Having said that, the Government of Japan has repeatedly explained in regard to the positioning and importance of the Japan-US alliance that it is the cornerstone of security, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and I would like to restate that this continues to be the Government of Japan’s core foreign policy.

Kobayashi, Asahi Shimbun: This is related. Please explain to the extent possible the format and timing of contact to the Government of Japan from the Government of the United States regarding this decision.

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: Yes. The US side informed us yesterday that it decided to proceed with a visit by President Obama to Hiroshima. The two Governments were not in coordination prior to then.

Kobayashi, Asahi Shimbun: Could you indicate the rough timing yesterday and the content?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: I would refrain from commenting to that level of specificity. Japan received a message regarding this decision yesterday, and we sent a reply that Japan truly welcomes this visit. We intend to work with the US side regarding events in Hiroshima, including visits to sites and other related matters.

Kobayashi, Asahi Shimbun: While I think the US side has announced the aim of President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, how did it directly explain the purpose of the visit to the Government of Japan?

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: I would like to refrain from announcing detailed interactions and content. The White House Press Secretary and others have made related announcements. The Japanese side understands the US view from these comments, and Prime Minister Abe and Foreign Minister Kishida expressed Japan’s thoughts yesterday. As already mentioned previously, Japan believes that President Obama’s visit will consist of praying for the victims and sending a strong message toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons that prevents this type of atomic bombing tragedy from ever happening again. Japan’s view is that it wholeheartedly welcomes President Obama’s intent and visit to Hiroshima 70 years after the war and that it is important to make steady efforts along with the Government of the United States toward the realization of a peaceful and secure world without nuclear weapons that prevents the use of nuclear weapons that are capable of causing a major human tragedy from ever happening again. I think you can see the aim when read together with the Government of the United States’ announcement.

Foreign Press Secretary Kawamura: While I refrain from commenting specifically on the stage and content of interactions, both sides provided announcements or comments yesterday (Japan time) and I think you can understand from reading these that Japan and the United States headed in the same direction in regard to a visit by President Obama to Hiroshima and in working together on preparations.