Press Conference by Minister Akazawa (Excerpt)

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

8:39-8:53 a.m.
Friday, April 10, 2026
In the elevator hall, 2nd floor, the annex to the House of Representatives building

Opening Remarks

Program to support 10,000 Japanese food exporters

At the beginning of this year, Prime Minister Takaichi instructed me to work to boost exports of Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products in cooperation with Mr. Suzuki Norikazu, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as one of the two challenges that she wants me to embrace this year. Today, in response to the prime minister’s instruction, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) will launch a program to support 10,000 Japanese food exporters in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to increase exports of agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products from Japan. Exports of these products have been steadily expanding, but in order to achieve the target of increasing their total export value to 5 trillion yen in 2030, we need to foster the implementation of relevant measures at an even more accelerated pace. Based on this recognition, under the newly launched program, we will strive to achieve the following three targets: generate new demand for Japanese products overseas; increase the number of players in the export sector; and add more value to the exports in response to overseas needs. Through this program, METI and MAFF will cooperate with other related organizations to give seamless support to the many companies engaging in agricultural, forestry, fishery and food businesses in each region, enabling them to begin exporting their products. To this end, we will open a special web portal to provide registered companies with support-related and other relevant information. This evening, we will hold a kickoff meeting for the program, which I will attend with Minister Suzuki and Mr. Komori Takuo, Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, who will be in charge of this program at METI. Parliamentary Vice-Minister Komori has been demonstrating great ability at the ministry, taking on additional responsibilities while I have been occupied with the situation in the Middle East. I respect him from the bottom of my heart. He has been committed to the recovery of areas afflicted by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, which occurred on January 1, 2024. The support program reflects his strong commitment to boosting exports of agricultural, forestry, fishery and food products from the afflicted areas in Noto. I would like to make a concerted effort under the program to make specific achievements. Representatives from the Regional Bureaus of Economy, Trade and Industry, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation will also participate in today’s kickoff meeting. The administrative staff will provide further details.

Release of national oil reserves

Concerning the situation in the Middle East, we are intensively focusing on procuring oil via alternative routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz. In May, we will be able to procure oil from alternative routes to an amount exceeding 50% of that imported via the Strait of Hormuz to Japan last year. We will therefore be able to secure oil supplies for this year and beyond. From the first half of May, however, in order to continuously ensure the stable supply of crude oil, we will conduct a second release of national oil reserves to the amount equivalent to 20 days of domestic consumption. Also, we will continue to lower the mandatory private-sector oil reserve requirement by 15 days over the next month. Through these measures we will secure enough oil supplies to meet overall demand in Japan. Briefly put, we will be able to secure oil supplies to meet overall demand in Japan for this year and beyond, while minimizing the release of reserves by steadily importing oil via alternative routes. The administrative staff will provide further details.

Visit to Hokkaido

Tomorrow, Saturday, April 11, I will visit the new base of Rapidus Corporation in Hokkaido. On that day, the company will open an Analysis Center on the premises as an important facility to improve semiconductor performance and yield. Also, Rapidus Chiplet Solutions will start its full-scale operation there, and an opening ceremony will be held locally. I will attend this ceremony together with Mr. Suzuki Naomichi, Governor of Hokkaido, and Mr. Yokota Ryuichi, Mayor of Chitose City. I will also exchange opinions about the latest progress made by Rapidus with stakeholders and take a tour of the factory.

Question-and-Answer Session

Issues faced by the semiconductor industry

Q: Concerning Rapidus, which you mentioned just now, the semiconductor industry is regarded as one of the top priorities in Japan’s growth strategy. Please share with us your views on the current issues faced by the industry.

A: I think the key to building a robust economy is AI transformation in each industrial field. To this end, the 2-nanometer chips being developed by Rapidus are indispensable. METI has been promptly supporting TSMC and Rapidus in making capital investment and conducting R&D. Going forward, the importance of measures implemented on the demand side will also increase, including measures for the accelerated use of AI, enhancement of AI development capabilities, and the promotion of the design and development of semiconductors necessary for each purpose. Based on this recognition, through my visit to Rapidus, I would like to confirm the present situation of the semiconductor industry with my own eyes for the promotion of the industry.

Task force to secure the stability of critical goods in Response to the Situation in the Middle East

Q: Yesterday, the task force to secure the stability of critical goods held its second meeting. Please let us know the details of the discussion held at the meeting.

A: Yesterday, on Thursday, April 9, we held the second meeting of the task force to secure the stability of critical goods in Response to the Situation in the Middle East. In order to grasp the actual circumstances and measures implemented for the solution of supply-related issues, participants from relevant ministries held discussions on the creation of a direct sales system to ensure smooth oil distribution as well as on the actual status of the medical supply chain identified at the meeting of the Task Force to Secure Supplies of Pharmaceuticals, Medical Devices, and Medical Supplies that are Vulnerable due to the Situation in the Middle East situation, also held on the same day. In particular for the medical field, under the internal system enhanced by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, we will promptly identify issues and monitor supply situations throughout the process from the manufacture of products to their use at medical sites by ongoing fixed-point observation as well as through the contact points established for information collection and through the emergency medical information system (EMIS) revamped for online reporting from 13,000 hospitals and other medical institutions. The EMIS was widely utilized during the COVID-19 crisis. Concerning fuel oil and oil-based products, we have secured these products in sufficient amounts to meet overall demand in Japan, but there have been some imbalances in supply and bottlenecks in distribution. Accordingly, participants in the meeting agreed on the need to further enhance relevant measures. With the need to protect people’s lives and livelihoods as our top priority, we will implement all necessary measures in close collaboration with related ministries and government agencies.

U.S.-Iran agreement on ceasefire

Q: With regard to the Middle East situation, conflict is occurring across the region despite the ceasefire announcements made by the United States and Iran, and the reimposition of a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz has been declared. Please share with us your views on the situation and the outlook for the Strait of Hormuz.

A: You said “across the region,” but the main focus is in Lebanon. I know that both the United States and Iran have made announcements covering ceasefire arrangements. We welcome this as a positive development. What is of utmost importance is to bring the situation under control, including ensuring the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. We expect that the two countries will reach a final agreement through diplomacy as soon as possible. I will refrain from making any predictions about the future situation in the Middle East, but as I have already said, we have secured supplies of fuel oil and oil-based products in an amount sufficient to meet overall demand in Japan for this year and beyond. We will continue to make efforts to secure supplies of these products, while working to solve issues related to imbalances in supply and bottlenecks in distribution. In order to protect people’s lives and livelihoods, we will implement all necessary measures going forward.