ニュース 2015/03/17 Hosono expresses deep sympathy for Vanuatu cyclone damage On March 17, DPJ Policy Research Committee Chair Goshi Hosono held his regular press conference inside the Diet. At the start, he commented on the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu, stating, “Terrible damage has been caused. A great many buildings, including those in the capital city, have been destroyed. I would like to express my deepest sympathies. I am aware that the Japanese government has already set assistance plans in motion, and we would like to whole-heartedly support such efforts.” Hosono also announced that a Growth Strategy Study Committee (tentative translation) chaired by he himself had been established under the DPJ’s Next Cabinet. He said that this Committee would provide a forum to consider issues related to the growth strategy, which had been discussed separately in various policy subcommittees, in a concerted fashion. He commented, “Abenomics is engaging in top-down policies. In contrast to this, I hope that we can provide the Japanese people with an image of how regional economies can be improved from the bottom up. We should not aim simply to produce results in a few months’ time, but to engage in repeated discussions before finally producing something worthwhile.”