Press Conferences

Reporter: You will be visiting Australia to attend the Japan-Australia “2+2” consultations. What is your aspiration for the visit? In addition, reports state that you are set to secure the 20 recommenders needed for the presidential election of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and that you will be holding a press conference on September 11 to announce your candidacy. Please tell us the facts.

Minister Kamikawa: I will visit Australia from today. The objective of this visit is the Japan-Australia 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Consultations (“2+2”). I have been holding “2+2” meetings with four countries in two months, in July with the U.S. and the Philippines, respectively, with India in August, and with Australia this time.

Australia, a maritime nation in the Pacific, shares a significant solidarity or bond with Japan. Japan has been working together with countries of ASEAN, other Asian countries, and island countries in the larger context of our relationships, in order to develop the security environment or strengthen connectivity in this entire region. Such has been the course of our cooperation.

Furthermore, Australia is a member of the Quad. Bilaterally, Minister for Foreign Affairs Wong and I have exchanged views four times as women foreign ministers. Minister of Foreign Affairs Joly of Canada is another woman foreign minister in this region. The three of us are partners who have joined forces to raise various policies, issues, and ideas with each other from the perspective of women. I am very much looking forward to holding such discussions or exchange of views this time as well.

Regarding your second question, from today, I, as Foreign Minister, will be working hard without losing focus to achieve outcomes at the important “2+2” consultations. I have been using the time available as much as possible to actively visit people and inform them of my determination and ambitions to obtain their support.

We are just a step away from securing the recommendations. I believe we are now quite close to getting there, and we are in the process of confirming. I hope to turn each recommender’s support into tangible form and reach my ultimate goal. In this sense, I visited various places today as well.

The members of Team Yoko have supported me fervently to produce Japan’s first woman prime minister, and I have been moved in many instances along the way. Amid this significant momentum, I have a renewed resolve to make strides toward announcing my candidacy.

I am convinced that my candidacy itself will be an opportunity to demonstrate that Japanese politics will change and that the LDP will change. People overseas are also following with keen interest, so I hope I can manage to break through the barrier. With such aspirations, I am pushing forward with everything I have got.

Reporter: Secretary-General Motegi held a press conference to announce his candidacy, at which considerable weight was placed on economic policy. What kind of an economic platform will you present when you announce your candidacy? Please share your present ideas.

Minister Kamikawa: Both companies and individuals are engaged in interesting activities in the fields of economic policy and diplomacy. To interconnect the economy and diplomacy, I am implementing economic frontier diplomacy.

The Japanese and overseas economies are linked. We are thoroughly analyzing such linkages based on data, and at the same time, working to align with reality. The startup sector, as well as fields like reskilling, fluctuate considerably. We are also in a digital era, and we will be leveraging these advancements. In this sense, I believe there are numerous seeds of major growth for solving challenges.

As for what kind of policy I will be presenting, I will be explaining it when I announce my candidacy and would like to refrain from saying any more at this time. In this age, I believe it is extremely important to create a growing and attractive Japanese economy. I intend to advocate for a future-oriented, robust economic policy.

Reporter: Today, at his press conference to announce his candidacy, Secretary-General Motegi stated that he would not raise taxes for defense and would not impose additional insurance premiums for child-rearing support. What are your thoughts on these remarks on the signature policies of the Kishida administration?

Minister Kamikawa: I am aware that such remarks had been made at a press conference. I will refrain from commenting on each remark made by a candidate. The question of what kind of economic policy will be adopted in this current age is an urgent issue, and I intend to present a clear policy.

Reporter: I have a question about your candidacy for the presidential election. You stated earlier that you are getting close to the 20 recommenders. However, some reports state that you will be holding a press conference on September 11. Is there a chance that you will be holding a press conference at an earlier date, as soon as the 20 recommendations have been officially secured? Or do you plan to hold the press conference on the 11th, just before the election is officially announced on the 12th? What is the current outlook of your schedule?

Minister Kamikawa: As I stated earlier, I believe the manner in which it will be held and the details, such as the place, time, and date, should be decided after carefully discussing with the members of Team Yoko. But to get there, there is ahigh hurdle of securing recommendations. To clear it, I will campaign until the very very end and strive to secure the recommendations.

In any case, the presidential election will begin on the 12th, so the previous day, the 11th, will be the last day. I think it will depend on when the recommendations can be secured with certainty. I believe that will be the key.