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On July 29 and 30, the Children’s Diet (or Kodomo Kokkai) was held in the House of Councillors as an opportunity for children who will build the future to exchange their views under the main theme of “Restoration from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Our Future”. This marked the first time in 12 years that the Children’s Diet was held, and it was attended by 150 fifth or sixth grade schoolchildren from elementary schools across the nation.
On the first day, July 29, after the Speaker of the Children’s Diet announced the opening of the sessions, children formed six committees and discussed for over two hours about their bonds with families and friends, the bonds across the whole of Japan and within regions, and the bonds with people around the world. President of the House of Councillors Kenji Hirata also gave an address at the opening ceremony. On July 30, the children held the plenary session at the chamber of the House of Councillors and adopted the “Children’s Diet Declaration” with a push-button voting system. Minister for Reconstruction Tatsuo Hirano and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also gave addresses on the day.
PM Noda said “Your generation will be the key players to address future issues”, and “I look forward to the day when I see you grown up and supporting this nation”, referring to the future agendas such as reconstruction from the disaster and the aging society. Noda joked "It was the first time people listened to me quietly since I became prime minister", and said “I admire your attitude in listening to others without heckling.”
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