Press Conferences

Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs: I have an announcement at the outset.

From yesterday, June 2, through today, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eide of Norway is visiting Japan on the occasion of the Norwegian National Day of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Later I am scheduled to hold a meeting with Foreign Minister Eide.

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Norway. Building on our longstanding friendship and cooperation, I would like to exchange views on the international situation with Foreign Minister Eide and confirm the strengthening of cooperation in various fields, including security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges.

That is all from me at the outset.

Kyodo News, Sakaguchi: I would like to ask about the Republic of Korea (ROK) presidential election. Voting and vote counting are under way today in the ROK’s presidential election, and the overall results are expected to come out late tonight through early tomorrow morning. Attention is focused on the fate of Japan-ROK relations that have improved under the Yoon administration. Even amid the turmoil within the Yoon administration, you visited the ROK, and I believe you were in constant communication with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul and took pains to keep improving the relationship. In order to confront China and North Korea, which continue to develop nuclear weapons and missiles, and address the situation in East Asia, how does Japan intend to build the Japan-ROK relationship with the new administration?

Minister Iwaya: As you indicated, voting and vote counting are under way today in the ROK’s presidential election, and I understand that the overall results are expected to come out late tonight through early tomorrow morning. We will be closely watching them.

Regarding Japan-ROK relations, as I have stated previously, Japan and the ROK are important neighbors that should cooperate with each other as partners in addressing the various challenges facing the international community. Considering the current international situation and security environment, as you just mentioned, we view that the importance of Japan-ROK relations and Japan-U.S.-ROK cooperation will not change at all.

Based on this basic view, Japan will continue to communicate closely with the ROK side for the stable development of Japan-ROK relations.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about Mr. NAGASHIMA Shigeo. Mr. Nagashima, the Yomiuri Giants’ lifetime honorary manager, has passed away. He also served in international roles, including manager of the Japanese national team at the Olympic Games. Please share your thoughts, including his contributions to sports diplomacy.

Minister Iwaya: I would like to express my sincere condolences upon learning of the passing of Mr. Nagashima Shigeo, also known as “Mr. Professional Baseball,” who was deeply loved by the people of Japan.

I feel great sadness personally. As children, we in my generation always watched Mr. Nagashima and Mr. Oh on television. Playing little league baseball myself, I remember now as a child being happy and jumping for joy when the “ON” (Oh-Nagashima) duo hit home runs.

In addition to his remarkable achievements in professional baseball, Mr. Nagashima, as you mentioned, led the Japanese national baseball team as manager and qualified the team for the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. As an Executive Advisor to the Japanese Olympic Committee, he also contributed to the international success of the Japanese sports community.

Furthermore, Mr. Nagashima was involved in fostering baseball players overseas. In 2012, he was awarded the “Medal of Friendship” from Cuba. As these examples demonstrate, his contributions were regarded highly by the international community. He has left an immense legacy in building friendly ties with countries around the world through baseball and sports. Additionally, he served as a torchbearer at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. He has deeply moved people in Japan and around the world.

I would like to express my profound respect for Mr. Nagashima’s significant achievements through sports over many years, and once again offer my condolences and heartfelt sympathy.

Asahi Shimbun, Kato: I would like to ask about Secretary of Defense Hegseth’s remarks at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. On May 31, in his speech, Mr. Hegseth presented a coherent vision for Indo-Pacific security for the first time under the second Trump administration and identified the region as a “priority theater.” At the same time, he also urged allies in Asia to increase their defense spending. While this was a meeting that brought together defense ministers from various countries, could you please share your thoughts on Mr. Hegseth’s remarks and tell us about any impacts on Japan’s security policy?

Minister Iwaya: I would like to refrain from commenting on each point made in Secretary Hegseth’s speech at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue you mentioned. My overall impression was that Secretary Hegseth’s remarks demonstrated the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, and Japan views the speech positively in this regard.

On the matter of defense spending that was raised, what is important is not the amount or the percentage but the substance of defense capabilities. As I have stated before, Japan will steadily and independently proceed with fundamentally reinforcing its defense capabilities in accordance with our National Security Strategy.

Amid this severe security environment, Japan will constantly consider efforts for strengthening its deterrence and response capabilities and continue to advance such efforts.

Furthermore, we will continue to maintain close communication with the U.S. in order to enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance.

Independent Web Journal, Hamamoto: I have a question regarding Ukraine. In a statement dated May 30, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine announced that it would postpone a payment of USD 665 million in debt to international creditors. It has been reported that Japan may bear part of the losses in the event that Ukraine defaults. Will Japan be taking over the payment? Furthermore, Japan has continued to use its taxpayers’ money to provide financial support for Ukraine, turning a blind eye to the hardships faced by Japanese citizens even as the outlook for Ukraine’s victory grows increasingly grim. Was there truly a need to provide support for Ukraine totaling as much as around USD 12 billion or around 1.8 trillion yen? I believe the Kishida and Ishiba administrations must be held strictly accountable for their failure to forecast the situation. A war’s outcome is not determined solely by right and wrong but by victory and defeat. What is your view on the accountability of Japan’s naïve diplomacy that fails to consider realism?

Minister Iwaya: We are aware, as you just pointed out, that the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine announced the postponement of repayment of approximately USD 665 million in debt to holders of debt securities issued by Ukraine.

The Government of Japan does not hold these securities. Nevertheless, we will continue to closely monitor the financial situation in Ukraine and related developments.

That being said, generally speaking, should there be a default on public debt held by the Government of Japan, we would not immediately take over the payment. Rather, Japan would join an international consultative framework and consider the response together with other creditors. I would like to reiterate that Japan does not hold the Ukrainian securities you referred to.

Regarding our response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as I have repeatedly stated, Japan has provided support for Ukraine based on a strong sense of crisis that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force should not be tolerated anywhere in the world. This view remains unchanged. As you mentioned, we have pledged a total of over USD 12 billion in humanitarian, budgetary, and recovery and reconstruction support to Ukraine, and we have been steadily implementing this assistance. Japan will continue to work closely with the international community, including the G7, and continue our support to ensure that a just and lasting peace returns to Ukraine.

Yomiuri Shimbun, Kamimura: I would like to ask about the incident that killed Japanese citizens in Dalian, China. I understand that there was an incident in Dalian in late May in which two Japanese people were killed. Please tell us about the facts that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) is aware of and how it is responding.

Minister Iwaya: The Consulate-General of Japan in Shenyang received a report on May 25 from the public security authorities of Liaoning Province that two Japanese citizens were killed in Dalian City on May 23, and that the suspect had already been taken into custody.

The authorities explained that the incident was caused by a business-related dispute between acquaintances.

In response to this incident, we are currently providing necessary support to the victims’ families. We will continue to respond appropriately from the perspective of protecting Japanese nationals.