On April 2, the first meeting of the Manifesto study group on the topic of decentralization and regulatory reform was held inside the Diet building. Chair Koichiro Gemba addressed the meeting, saying, “This study group is to cover three areas. These are regional sovereignty, regulatory reform and administrative reform. Our mission is to carry out a review to determine the state of policy implementation of the [2009] Manifesto [in this areas], and make additions and revisions.”

Gemba said, “I believe that the House of Councillors election provides us with an opportunity to revise the Manifesto. The Manifesto for the general election focused on detailed policy proposals, but we must flesh out the ideas of “a new concept of public service”, “human ties” and “an economy for human beings” announced by Prime Minister Hatoyama in his Policy Speech in the Diet. If we do not bear in mind the fact that there can be no policies without financial resources, we will not be able to obtain the trust of the Japanese people. How can Japan be financially successful and in what areas can we create employment?: we must engage with such issues in this study group, I think that would come under the area of regulatory reform. We became Diet members for the sake of Japan and the people of Japan, so I would like us to engage in a lively debate and to produce a meaningful proposal.”

Next, study group Secretary General Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi explained the format of the study group to the members. He said that meetings would be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week, and indicated the expectation that a proposal could be drafted by the last week of April.