In interview, Prime Minister Kishida speaks in detail about aims to break free of weak-economy mindset, utilize Hiroshima’s influence for nuclear abolition
Jan. 1, 2024
by Masaharu Nakagawa, Staff Writer
In an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shared his New Year’s resolutions, desire to achieve elimination of nuclear weapons, and views on his political party’s politics and money scandal. Mr. Kishida touched on his belief that “results matter in politics” and showed his willingness to move forward toward the ideal of nuclear abolition.
(About New Year’s resolutions…)
Talk about your resolutions for this year.
For more than two years, since the start of my administration, we have made efforts in diverse areas involving the economy, society, and diplomacy. This year, I want to demonstrate tangible results from those efforts.
As for the economy, I resolve to realize a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution through public and private initiatives, centered on wage hikes. I hope Japan will rise to a new stage of economic development by the country breaking away from its current weak-economy mindset marked by deflation and cost-cutting. Policies that focus on children and childrearing will be enhanced by expansion of child allowances and other measures. In the area of diplomacy, numerous key national elections are scheduled around the world this year. I want to promote summit diplomacy with world leaders based on our diplomacy efforts conducted to date.
How will you raise your approval rating?
I will pay heed to severe criticism from the public through my approval ratings. Results matter in politics. I truly believe it is crucial for the Japanese public to understand that the government has tackled challenges that required immediate action.
(About elimination of nuclear weapons…)
At the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations) held in Hiroshima, leaders of four nuclear-armed nations visited our city. What is the next step toward achievement of a world without nuclear weapons?
At the summit, we compiled an independent statement by the G7 leaders regarding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation for the very first time. Above all, we were able to gain consensus among many nations about our shared aim to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. During last year’s UN General Assembly, held in September, Japan sponsored a high-level event seeking adoption of a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT).
We must never forget the ideal of realizing a world without nuclear weapons. Displaying a roadmap to achieve such a goal is the responsibility of government. We will make good on the Hiroshima Action Plan we announced at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference two years ago.
What is on your view on Japan’s participation in the meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as an observer nation?
The TPNW can be an off ramp from our current situation on the way toward the ideal of a world without nuclear weapons. However, not a single nuclear-weapons nation has joined the treaty. We must consider how we can bring the nuclear powers closer to that goal. I am confident that Japan, the only nation to have suffered an atomic bombing during wartime, can play the role of exhibiting that determination and making efforts to achieve that goal.
We believe Hiroshima is a symbol of recovery, just like Geneva, Switzerland serves as a symbol of disarmament. What are your thoughts about inviting more international conferences or specialist organizations to the city?
Through the holding of the summit in Hiroshima, I was reminded of Hiroshima’s great potential as a city for communicating a message of peace to the world. It is important to take advantage of the city’s influence on international public opinion in a proactive manner.
(About UNESCO’s Memory of the World program…)
In the spring of 2025, a decision will be made about registration of the visual archives of the Hiroshima atomic bombing with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) program known as “Memory of the World.” That year marks the 80th commemoration of the atomic bombing. Successful registration of the archives would be a great opportunity to convey the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons.
Representing a valuable record created by citizens that experienced the atomic bombing as well as photojournalists at the time, the archival information must receive worldwide recognition. The government needs to make efforts to ensure that the archives are successfully registered. The starting point for all initiatives aimed at a world without nuclear weapons is the reality of the atomic bombing. Any effort to pass on traces and records of the atomic bombing to future generations is truly important.
(About LDP’s money and politics scandal…)
When you won election for the first time in 1993, you called for political reforms. To resolve the scandal marked by kickback money from fund-raising parties for factional politicians in your Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), bold and concrete measures are required.
First, I have a strong sense of crisis about the fact that the scandal has led to distrust of politics among the public. I must offer my apologies. Those of us engaged in politics must always act with a sense of caution and continue to address this problem. The entire party will unite to resolve the issue. In my position as LDP president, I plan to take the lead.
With the large-scale, vote-buying scandal caused by former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, a note was discovered that could prove his receipt of 67 million yen in cash from senior officials of the government led by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Will your party investigate that funding issue?
I know about the reporting, but I do not have a grasp of the facts. Results of investigations have indicated that money provided from the LDP was not used directly for vote buying. I will respect information resulting from the party’s formal investigations.
(Originally published on January 1, 2024)
In an interview with the Chugoku Shimbun, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shared his New Year’s resolutions, desire to achieve elimination of nuclear weapons, and views on his political party’s politics and money scandal. Mr. Kishida touched on his belief that “results matter in politics” and showed his willingness to move forward toward the ideal of nuclear abolition.
(About New Year’s resolutions…)
Talk about your resolutions for this year.
For more than two years, since the start of my administration, we have made efforts in diverse areas involving the economy, society, and diplomacy. This year, I want to demonstrate tangible results from those efforts.
As for the economy, I resolve to realize a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution through public and private initiatives, centered on wage hikes. I hope Japan will rise to a new stage of economic development by the country breaking away from its current weak-economy mindset marked by deflation and cost-cutting. Policies that focus on children and childrearing will be enhanced by expansion of child allowances and other measures. In the area of diplomacy, numerous key national elections are scheduled around the world this year. I want to promote summit diplomacy with world leaders based on our diplomacy efforts conducted to date.
How will you raise your approval rating?
I will pay heed to severe criticism from the public through my approval ratings. Results matter in politics. I truly believe it is crucial for the Japanese public to understand that the government has tackled challenges that required immediate action.
(About elimination of nuclear weapons…)
At the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations) held in Hiroshima, leaders of four nuclear-armed nations visited our city. What is the next step toward achievement of a world without nuclear weapons?
At the summit, we compiled an independent statement by the G7 leaders regarding nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation for the very first time. Above all, we were able to gain consensus among many nations about our shared aim to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. During last year’s UN General Assembly, held in September, Japan sponsored a high-level event seeking adoption of a fissile material cut-off treaty (FMCT).
We must never forget the ideal of realizing a world without nuclear weapons. Displaying a roadmap to achieve such a goal is the responsibility of government. We will make good on the Hiroshima Action Plan we announced at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference two years ago.
What is on your view on Japan’s participation in the meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as an observer nation?
The TPNW can be an off ramp from our current situation on the way toward the ideal of a world without nuclear weapons. However, not a single nuclear-weapons nation has joined the treaty. We must consider how we can bring the nuclear powers closer to that goal. I am confident that Japan, the only nation to have suffered an atomic bombing during wartime, can play the role of exhibiting that determination and making efforts to achieve that goal.
We believe Hiroshima is a symbol of recovery, just like Geneva, Switzerland serves as a symbol of disarmament. What are your thoughts about inviting more international conferences or specialist organizations to the city?
Through the holding of the summit in Hiroshima, I was reminded of Hiroshima’s great potential as a city for communicating a message of peace to the world. It is important to take advantage of the city’s influence on international public opinion in a proactive manner.
(About UNESCO’s Memory of the World program…)
In the spring of 2025, a decision will be made about registration of the visual archives of the Hiroshima atomic bombing with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) program known as “Memory of the World.” That year marks the 80th commemoration of the atomic bombing. Successful registration of the archives would be a great opportunity to convey the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons.
Representing a valuable record created by citizens that experienced the atomic bombing as well as photojournalists at the time, the archival information must receive worldwide recognition. The government needs to make efforts to ensure that the archives are successfully registered. The starting point for all initiatives aimed at a world without nuclear weapons is the reality of the atomic bombing. Any effort to pass on traces and records of the atomic bombing to future generations is truly important.
(About LDP’s money and politics scandal…)
When you won election for the first time in 1993, you called for political reforms. To resolve the scandal marked by kickback money from fund-raising parties for factional politicians in your Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), bold and concrete measures are required.
First, I have a strong sense of crisis about the fact that the scandal has led to distrust of politics among the public. I must offer my apologies. Those of us engaged in politics must always act with a sense of caution and continue to address this problem. The entire party will unite to resolve the issue. In my position as LDP president, I plan to take the lead.
With the large-scale, vote-buying scandal caused by former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, a note was discovered that could prove his receipt of 67 million yen in cash from senior officials of the government led by then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Will your party investigate that funding issue?
I know about the reporting, but I do not have a grasp of the facts. Results of investigations have indicated that money provided from the LDP was not used directly for vote buying. I will respect information resulting from the party’s formal investigations.
(Originally published on January 1, 2024)
