Press Conferences

Mr. KITAMURA Toshihiro, Press Secretary: As this is my first press conference, I would like to briefly introduce myself.

My name is KITAMURA Toshihiro. I have been appointed Press Secretary on July 1.

I look forward to engaging with you all.

Let me tell you one thing, I believe the important role of Press Secretary is to accurately, promptly, and as faithfully as possible, inform the Japanese people in an easily understandable manner about the diplomatic efforts being undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Government of Japan. At the same time, I think it is also important to gain empathy and understanding toward Japan from people overseas.

To carry out the role, at the press conferences, I intend to answer all of your questions accurately, promptly, and again, as faithfully as possible.

I was previously the Director of the Press Division. However, I did not have many opportunities to build experience speaking myself at press conferences, so I probably have some room for improvement. Even so, I would like to improve myself based on your advice and criticism. Depending on the question or the circumstances, I may not be able to provide a straightforward answer. In some cases, I may not be able to respond to a question, but even in those cases, I will certainly get confirmation and answer later.

Again, if I have some room for improvement, I intend to do better. I look forward to engaging with you all.

Press Secretary Kitamura: I have an announcement.

It is about the FY2024 Mid-Career Recruitment Examination by MOFA.

From Monday, August 12 to Sunday, September 29, we will be accepting applications from mid-career workers to hire them as career-track personnel.

In response to feedback that the conventional selection process requires preparation for an examination, which is difficult to take while working another job, MOFA began its unique recruiting of mid-career workers from the last fiscal year. Last fiscal year, MOFA hired five mid-career workers from a wide range of fields, including AI and IT, telecommunications and media, the legal profession, and other industries. After joining the ministry, they immediately put their knowledge to use and are now working on the front line of diplomacy at international conferences and summit meetings.

The international environment surrounding Japan is changing at an unprecedented speed, and the diplomatic issues are increasing in number and complexity. Under these circumstances, Japan needs personnel with abundant professional experience and diverse backgrounds. We look forward to receiving applications from those who wish to work on the front line of diplomacy for the peace and prosperity of Japan and the international community.

For more information, please see the examination details published on MOFA’s website today.

That is all from me.

Jiji Press, Murakami: I would like to ask about the sexual violence incident involving U.S. military personnel stationed in Okinawa. Today, at the press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi revealed that incidents including non-consensual sexual acts by U.S. military personnel had also occurred in February and August last year, and this January. In response to these incidents, has MOFA made any requests to the U.S. side?

Press Secretary Kitamura: It is extremely regrettable that the incidents you are referring to have occurred. Incidents and accidents caused by U.S. military personnel and others provoke great concern to people in local communities, and this is unacceptable.

For the cases we are aware of, to the U.S., MOFA expressed regret over the incidents and requested that discipline be strengthened and thorough measures be taken to prevent a recurrence in view of the seriousness of the sex-crime incidents by U.S. military personnel.

Generally speaking, MOFA may receive information about a case as needed, based on the decisions made by the investigative authorities, with the assumption that we handle the information with care. I would like to add that not all cases under investigation are shared with us.

In any case, we will continue to take various opportunities to request the U.S. to ensure the prevention of incidents and accidents.

Kyodo News, Hayashi: I have a question related to incidents involving U.S. military personnel. Yesterday, Minister Kamikawa expressed MOFA’s intention to consider sharing information on incidents in the future while holding discussions with relevant ministries and agencies, including investigative bodies. Will MOFA discuss with the National Police Agency, the Ministry of Justice, and other relevant authorities? If so, please share with us your view on these discussions and their timing.

Press Secretary Kitamura: As the Chief Cabinet Secretary stated at the press conference yesterday, given the concerns and worries of the people of Okinawa, MOFA has already been consulting with relevant ministries and agencies on how they can respond, based on the instruction by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, while also considering factors including the privacy of the victims and the impact on investigations and other matters.

At this time, the specific schedule has not yet been decided.

Kyodo News, Hayashi: In that case, is my understanding correct that MOFA has already held the discussion?

Press Secretary Kitamura: Yes. To reiterate, as the Chief Cabinet Secretary stated at the press conference yesterday, relevant ministries and agencies have already begun discussion and consideration.

Jiji Press, Murakami: I would like to ask additional questions related to my first question. You stated that MOFA made requests to the U.S., was Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Okano the one who made the requests? If possible, please tell us to whom were the requests made. Additionally, yesterday, Minister Kamikawa stated that MOFA will urge the U.S. to implement concrete measures based on the perspective of the WPS. In terms of the security of Okinawa, I believe the situations in which these sex crimes occur runs counter to the perspective of the WPS, which Minister Kamikawa has been promoting. Please tell us about what measures MOFA intends to implement.

Press Secretary Kitamura: On the requests to the U.S., as I mentioned earlier, for the cases we are aware of, MOFA expressed regret in view of the seriousness of the sex-crime incidents by U.S. military personnel. Regarding the details, I do not have documents now, but I will confirm them later.

The other question was about WPS. Firstly, it is as I have answered the earlier, Japan expressed regret over the incident and requested that discipline be strengthened.

In addition, we understand that the U.S. has expressed deep concern over this issue and regret for causing people anxiety, and that it intends to continue to fully cooperate with the investigations by the local authorities and the trials.

Based on that, MOFA will thoroughly urge the U.S. to implement concrete measures that fully take into account the WPS perspective, as Minister Kamikawa stated yesterday.

As for concrete countermeasures, we are still considering them. WPS, to reiterate, as many of you know, is about protecting women and other vulnerable people in conflicts, with women themselves taking leadership positions to prevent conflict and participate in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance.

Regarding “protection” of these concepts, Japan has specified that it will promote all efforts based on a survivor-centered approach in the third edition of the National Action Plan on WPS, formulated by the Government of Japan in 2023. The approach includes strengthening awareness raising and education to prevent sexual violence and gender-based violence, and strengthening the rule of law to protect victims and survivors and punish perpetrators. Therefore, we will urge the U.S. side towards a concrete response and formulating measures to the prevent incidents and accidents based on these perspectives.

Asahi Shimbun, Saito: My question is related to U.S. military personnel. At the beginning of the conference, I believe you said that MOFA is not informed and reported to about all cases. MOFA said that it handled the cases revealed last week, which occurred in December and May and that are now being prosecuted, in accordance with the reporting system under the 1997 Japan-U.S. Agreement. Leaving aside the question of whether MOFA informed Okinawa Prefecture or not, is it your understanding that MOFA has followed the appropriate procedures?

Press Secretary Kitamura: I would like to answer your question in general terms. I understand that your question is about the March 1997 Japan-U.S. Joint Committee Agreement on the “Procedures for reporting incidents and accidents pertaining to U.S. Forces Japan.” It is criteria for incidents and accidents involving the U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) that the U.S. must report to the Government of Japan as well as other reporting channels, in order to ensure the prompt response of Japanese authorities to incidents and accidents involving USFJ and to minimize the impact of such incidents and accidents on local communities.

In the agreement, it is subject to report “incidents and accidents that may cause substantial harm or damage to Japanese people or their property.”

Furthermore, it is my understanding that Japanese authorities share information based on appropriate decision making and according to the specific individual case. Particularly, when it comes to cases concerning the privacy of the victims and cases concerning the investigation like these incidents, we understand that we must handle the cases carefully, taking into consideration the impact on the reputation or privacy of the persons involved, any possible impact on investigations and trials, including those in the future, as well as the extent of that impact.

On these cases, to reiterate, in deciding whether to make this case public or not, the investigative authorities took into account the fact that it was a sex crime and making it public may have had a significant impact on the reputation and privacy of the victims. MOFA has responded to the incidents based on such decisions made by the investigative authorities.

On sharing information with local municipalities on serious incidents in the future, given the concerns and worries of the people of Okinawa, MOFA has been considering it during discussions with relevant ministries and agencies, including investigative bodies, while also considering factors including the privacy of the victims and the impact on investigations.

Asahi Shimbun, Saito: I just need a short answer. The Chief Cabinet Secretary explained that appropriate procedures have been followed. Do you mean that the Government spokesperson can say so, but MOFA cannot answer?

Press Secretary Kitamura: As I stated earlier, incidents and accidents that may cause substantial harm or damage to Japanese people or their property...

Asahi Shimbun, Saito: Please shortly answer without repeating.

Press Secretary Kitamura: We consider that it is subject to the reporting procedures.

Asahi Shimbun, Saito: My question is whether the handling of these two cases, or rather, the previous one, conforms with the procedures.

Press Secretary Kitamura: I understand the Chief Cabinet Secretary said that a case such as this one applies. That being said, MOFA regularly maintains appropriate communication with the U.S. side, Japanese authorities share information based on appropriate decision making and according to the specific individual case.