Press Conference by Minister Saito (Excerpt)

*Note: This is a provisional translation for reference purposes only.

11:03 to 11:13 a.m.
Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Press Conference Room, METI Main Building

Opening Remarks

Damage from the heavy rain in the Noto region

At the beginning, I would like to mention two points.
The first point is our response to the heavy rain that affected mainly the Noto region. First, I would like to pray for the souls of those who perished in the recent heavy rain disaster that hit mainly the Noto region. I would also like to express my heartfelt sympathy for all those who were affected by the disaster.
As for the status of damage, as of 6:30 a.m. this morning, around 3,500 households were out of power, mainly in Wajima and Suzu Cities and Noto Town. Hokuriku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution Company has assembled a force of around 3,000 restoration workers in its service area and continued all-out restoration work while ensuring the safety of the workers.
At present, in cooperation with the local governments, the company is conducting restoration work at facilities for elderly people and shelter facilities as a priority, and the restoration work has made gradual progress, starting with places that can be accessed.
In addition, one gas station in Suzu City is out of service due to flood damage, but as of now, there has been no report regarding supply disruptions, including at city gas and LP gas facilities, and oil refineries and oil tank depots.
Last Friday, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) established a disaster liaison office and dispatched personnel of the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry’s Hokuriku Branch of the Electricity and Gas Industry Division to the Ishikawa prefectural government and Hokuriku Electric Power in order to collect information and take necessary actions.
In particular, yesterday, in cooperation with the Ishikawa prefectural government and relevant business operators, we devoted intensive efforts to restoration work for telecommunications and electric power at shelter facilities.
Ishikawa Prefecture, which suffered particularly severe damage from the recent heavy rains, is a region that is on a path toward restoration and recovery from the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which occurred in January this year.
Floods and other damages have been confirmed at temporary workshops established in Wajima as part of livelihood support activity. We will continue to deal with the situation in ways that accommodate those who were affected by the disaster in cooperation with the affected local governments so that they can proceed with recovery efforts with peace of mind.

Fourth Sanriku-Joban Weeks campaign

Let me move on to the second point. We will hold the Fourth Sanriku-Joban Weeks campaign from October 1 to November 4 in order to communicate the attractiveness of foods produced in the Sanriku-Joban region and expand their consumption from the viewpoint of controlling reputational damage related to the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea.
During this period, we will use the Sanriku-Joban Mono Network, in which more than 1,100 companies participate, to expand consumption that supports the Sanriku-Joban region through employee cafeterias and food vans. On the government’s side, ministries and agencies will take the initiative in purchasing lunch box meals and also hold events to communicate the attractiveness of those foods. For my part, I would like to enjoy delicious seafood from the Sanriku-Joban region. It is very important to let as many people as possible know just how delicious the food is.
I hope that people who have eaten Sanriku-Joban foods will do so again and that those who have not will try them.
As for the details, the administrative staff will give you a briefing later.
I will end my remarks here.

Question-and-Answer Session

China’s resumption of imports of Japanese fishery products

Q: Last Friday, it was announced that Japan and China agreed on the gradual resumption of imports of Japanese fishery products that China has suspended following the discharge of treated water stored at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the sea. China was the largest export destination for fishery products. What is your reaction to the agreement on the resumption? The specific timing of the resumption has not been decided. I assume that the effort to eliminate reputational damage is still only halfway through. Going forward, how are you going to promote efforts to eliminate the reputational damage to the foreign markets?

A: First, as announced by Prime Minister Kishida and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan has reached the recognition of certain points with China with respect to the discharge of ALPS treated water.
The Japanese side conveyed its readiness to conduct additional monitoring concerning ALPS treated water under the framework of the IAEA. For the Chinese side, it was indicated that China will start the adjustment of the import restriction measures concerning Japanese fishery products and steadily restore imports of Japanese fishery products that meet the standards. There has been no change in Japan’s position that the restrictions should be removed immediately. The government hopes to use the latest announcement as a stepping stone to the removal of the restrictions.
As this additional monitoring will be under the framework of the IAEA, it will play the central role in making practical progress from now on.
METI will cooperate with MOFA and other relevant ministries and agencies and engage in firm collaboration with the IAEA toward early implementation.