Press Conferences

Ms. KOBAYASHI Maki, Press Secretary: I have an announcement at the outset.

Japan has decided to hold the fourth meeting of the International Group of Eminent Persons for a World without Nuclear Weapons (IGEP) in Yokohama, on May 21 and 22.

The Meeting is a forum of which Prime Minister Kishida announced the establishment. The participants from both nuclear and non-nuclear-weapon States exchange ideas and thoughts beyond their respective national positions and engage in candid discussions concerning a concrete path towards the realization of a world without nuclear weapons.

The first meeting held in Hiroshima in December of the year before last, the second meeting held in Tokyo last April, and the third meeting held in Nagasaki last December respectively.

This meeting will be focusing mainly on deepening discussion among the IGEP members. As at the second meeting held in Tokyo, there are no plans for foreign political leaders, Prime Minister Kishida, or Foreign Minister Kamikawa to attend the meeting. However, we are coordinating with the IGEP members, if circumstances permit, to pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Kishida and get them to report on the discussions during their stay in Japan.

The Government of Japan intends to continue and strengthen realistic and practical efforts towards a world without nuclear weapons, through the efforts of the IGEP and the like.

That is all from me.

Mainichi Shimbun, Odanaka: I would like to ask about Prime Minister Kishida’s making a ritual masakaki tree offering for Yasukuni Shrine. Prime Minister Kishida made a ritual masakaki tree offering for Yasukuni Shrine related to Annual Spring Rites. In response, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) have issued statements protesting and expressing regret over the prime minister’s actions. Please tell us Japan’s reaction to this and what, if any, diplomatic response has been taken.

Press Secretary Kobayashi: On Prime Minister Kishida’s making a ritual masakaki tree offering, I understand that he acted as a private individual.

As we have repeatedly stated, we believe it is only natural to pay respects to those who gave their lives for their country, no matter what country they are from, whether Japan or another country.

There is no change to Japan’s policy to continue to strengthen its relations with other countries, including China and the ROK, its neighbors.

As to your question about our diplomatic response, China made a representation through diplomatic channels on April 21 in Tokyo and Beijing, and we explained Japan’s position on the matter.

Thereafter, we are aware that the ROK issued a statement in the name of the spokesperson.

Chugoku Shimbun, Miyano: My question concerns the IGEP. First, please share with us the particular objectives of this fourth meeting.

I also would like to ask about the agenda of the meeting. Some hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) have been asking that the appropriateness of nuclear deterrence be addressed in the discussions for a long time. Will this topic be included at this meeting? In addition, on the schedule going forward, is my understanding correct that the IGEP will make a recommendation for the 2025 NPT Review Conference after holding the three or so more meetings, including the upcoming fourth meeting?

Press Secretary Kobayashi: At this time, I would like to refrain from answering on the outlook and outcomes of discussions of the fourth meeting. We will probably conduct a briefing at the meeting or when we are closer to that time.

In any case, at the upcoming meeting, the IGEP will further discuss concrete measures to bring the harsh “reality” closer to the “ideal” on the basis of the current security environment.

With regard to the schedule as you asked about, the IGEP will make a final recommendation for the upcoming NPT Review Conference, which is scheduled for 2026. To do that, the IGEP will make a recommendation towards the third Preparatory Committee for the NPT Review Conference next year after a certain number of meetings, as you stated.