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On April 22, a plenary session of the House of Representatives was convened and resolutions explaining the response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and expressing appreciation for the international assistance received in conjunction with the disaster were both passed unanimously.
Chair of the Committee on Rules and Administration Tatsuo Kawabata explained the content of the resolutions. He first expressed his condolences for those who had lost their lives in the disaster and his sympathy for the survivors. He also expressed his appreciation to those who have been striving to carry out rescue and recovery efforts and reconstruction efforts under dangerous conditions, and for the warm outpouring of support received from those both inside and outside Japan in the form of monetary donations and material assistance.
Following this, Kawabata proposed a resolution relating to the response to the Great East Japan Earthquake that contained the following points: (1) The government will rally the nation in order to realise the speedy recovery of survivors’ livelihoods and the reconstruction of the areas affected by the disaster, (2) We will speedily restore provision of basic human needs in the affected areas by securing lifelines and temporary housing, focus on employment measures, and work to stabilize people’s livelihoods, as well as promoting the speedy restoration of industrial infrastructure such as transport networks, communications infrastructure, primary industries and small and medium-sized businesses, (3) We will make every effort to avoid secondary disasters by speedily rebuilding the network for providing medical and nursing care services in the affected areas, and prioritise the reconstruction of educational environments so that children can return to the classroom as soon as possible, (4) The government will make every effort to engage in the recovery of administrative functions for local authorities in the affected areas, obtaining cooperation from local authorities in other areas where necessary, (5) We will move to draft and implement a comprehensive reconstruction plan, with wide public participation, including from the affected areas, that will propose the creation of a new style economy and society which will be among the most advanced in the world and be strong in the face of disaster, (6) We will work to strengthen the system for measuring natural disasters, in particular earthquakes, and to further enhance research into ways to predict such disasters, as well as undertaking as comprehensive review of the way in which crisis management is carried out, (7) In relation to the nuclear power plant accident, we will ensure the disclosure of information, work to ensure that the situation is resolved as soon as possible under the authority of the government, make every effort to prevent the spread of damage to human health and the environment, and take thorough measures with regard to compensation and redress, (8) We will provide information about the damage caused by the nuclear power plant accident to the international community in an accurate, prompt and appropriate manner.
In his explanation of the main points of the resolution expressing appreciation for the international assistance received for the Great East Japan Earthquake, Kawabata said that Japan had received offers of held from more than 140 countries and regions, nearly 40 international organizations, and numerous NGOs from around the world. He also referred to the fact that many international rescue teams had gone to the affected areas to carry out emergency rescue activities. He stressed that such assistance had encouraged and heartened not only the inhabitants of the affected areas but also the whole of Japan, and had been a great source of strength in enabling people to shift from disaster to reconstruction and to maintain their hope in the future.
Kawabata finished his speech by expressing his deep gratitude for international support on behalf of the Japanese people, saying, “We Japanese truly appreciate the friendship shown by the international community. We vow never to forget this feeling [of gratitude] and to continue along the path toward reconstruction together with our friends in the international community. I would also like to express our resolution to continue to exert every effort on behalf of the international community in future.”
Prime Minister Naoto Kan then spoke on behalf of the government, explaining that the administration had urgently engaged in the vigorous promotion of measures necessary for disposal of debris and construction of temporary housing, and that the transport network had mostly been restored to normal. He reported that the government was planning to submit supplementary budgets and related legislation in the near future in order to further advance recovery efforts. Kan stressed, “The government fully respects the object of this Diet resolution, and will continue to make every effort to resolve the nuclear power plant accident, as well as having the entire cabinet working together toward enhancing overall disaster response and promoting recovery and reconstruction measures.”
With regard to international assistance, Kan commented, “I believe this is a demonstration of the warm solidarity shown by the international community toward the Japanese people. At the same time, I feel renewed conviction that we can revive and revitalize Japan through utilizing the true potential of the Japanese people and the cooperation of the international society.” Kan expressed his appreciation to the international community, and stressed that Japan would continue to make an active participation to international society, and would make the utmost effort to overcome these difficult circumstances.
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