1. ‘Visible’ Reconstruction

2. The 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17)

3. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting

4. Prime Minister Noda Attends ASEAN-Related Summits

5. Prime Minister Noda Attends the G20 Cannes Summit

‘Visible’ Reconstruction

As Highlighted by the Establishment of the System of Special Zones for Reconstruction, the Cold Shutdown of the Reactors, etc.

Steps taken towards reconstruction

As we draw nearer to the end of 2011, we are continuing our relentless efforts towards reconstruction following the Great East Japan Earthquake [nine months ago]. Such efforts are paying off. Japan is now on a steady path to recovery. In a little more than a month after the Earthquake, the transportation infrastructure in the affected areas, including the Shinkansen bullet train system and expressways, was put back to normal for the most part. For instance, Sendai Airport, which had been closed after suffering extensive damage from the disaster, reopened on April 13. The central government has taken major initiatives; On April 11, it decided to set up an expert advisory body called the Reconstruction Design Council, which includes the governors of the affected prefectures.

In response to the Prime Minister’s instructions on April 12, on the afternoon of April 17 Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced the Roadmap towards Restoration from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. On June 7, the Government of Japan released a report to be submitted to the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Safety later in the month. Also, it set up the “Investigation Committee on the Accident at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Stations of Tokyo Electric Power Company” to conduct a thorough investigation. In September, the Government presented an additional report (final Report) on the progress in dealing with the nuclear accident since the IAEA Ministerial Conference in June on the occasion of the IAEA Board of Governors and General Conference in Vienna. It also held a briefing on the accident at the IAEA General Conference.

On July 29, the Government finalized its basic guidelines for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, which was formulated with the greatest possible respect for both the suggestions of the Reconstruction Design Council in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and the opinions of the local governments and other entities in the disaster-struck areas. Based on these guidelines, the Government approved the third supplementary budget, totalling 12.1 trillion yen, on November 21. On December 7, it enacted the law aimed at creating a system for designating “special zones for reconstruction.” Such designated zones will enjoy preferential treatment to facilitate the reconstruction process, including special measures for drastically streamlining regulations and procedures (concerning, for example, land use and the granting of fishing rights) and tax and financial incentives (an example of which is waiving taxation for start-ups for the first five years of business). Eligible local governments that seek to be designated as a special zone will submit a reconstruction plan for government approval and implement it if approved. Special measures and incentives will be applied to both domestic and foreign enterprises based on the non-discrimination principle. The Government of Japan welcomes inward investment by foreign enterprises and visits to Japan [by the people of your country] as partners for “open reconstruction.” In this way, the Government of Japan has been working hard with the affected local governments towards reconstruction based on these basic guidelines. [As notified earlier,] we will hold a memorial ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the March 11 disaster with the themes of remembrance, appreciation, and recovery around March 11 next year.

Let us reaffirm that, even during this process of reconstruction, we would like to reiterate our sincere gratitude for the tremendous assistance and condolences extended from all over the world.

Completion of “Step 2” of the Fukushima Daiichi Roadmap

Steady progress towards reconstruction is also evident in the path to the settlement of the accident at the TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. In its report on the progress of the above Roadmap on July 19, the Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters (NERH) confirmed that the goal of Step 1 of the Roadmap - to achieve steady decline in radiation levels - had been achieved. NERH also amended the roadmap itself so as to subdivide the goal of Step 2 - to put the release of radioactive materials under control and significantly hold down radiation levels - into ten targets (categories), including the target of bringing the reactors to “a cold shutdown condition” (a condition in which (i) the RPV bottom temperature is, in general, below 100 degrees centigrade, and (ii) the release of radioactive materials from the PCV is under control and public radiation exposure from additional releases is being significantly held down). In its 22nd meeting on December 16, the NERH announced the completion of Step 2 as scheduled. It said that the reactors at the TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station had been brought to “a cold shutdown condition” and stabilized, thanks to the effort and dedication of a countless number of people involved. On the same day, the NERH’s Government-TEPCO Integrated Response Office was replaced by the Government-TEPCO Meeting for Medium- to Long-term Measures. This new body will formulate a mid- to long-term roadmap based on which the organizations involved will engage in both work in the field and research and development towards decommissioning the reactors. We will continue to report on the progress regularly and thus make ourselves fully accountable. We remain committed to maintaining a safe and secure Japan.

Progress towards reconstruction in the eyes of the world

Since the disaster of March 11, we have taken every opportunity to ensure timely provision of accurate information to the international community. At the same time, we have asked the international community to act based on scientific evidence. As a result, a growing number of countries and territories that had imposed across-the-board restrictions on imports from any area, or broad area, of Japan are now easing these restrictions. Likewise, many of the countries and territories that had introduced restrictions on travel to Japan in the wake of the disaster have lifted some or all of these restrictions. Consequently, the number of foreign travellers to Japan has been on a recovery track. The number for the period from 12 to 31 March fell 72.7 percent from a year earlier. The number in November represents only a 13.1 percent decrease year-on-year, according to the latest figures available. These objective data lend credence to the fact that Japan is on a steady path to recovery and reconstruction.

We are rebuilding ourselves. And we remain committed to achieving that goal.