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2012/10/03
DPJ holds workshop for DPJ members of the House of Councillors in Sendai, Miyagi
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On October 3, the DPJ members of the House of Councillors held a workshop entitled "Keep up the Fight Tohoku, Keep up the Fight DPJ," in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. The objectives of the workshop were to dig deeper into the challenges of the reconstruction effort after the Great East Japan Earthquake and to develop a common understanding on how the party should advance reconstruction as the third reshuffled Noda Cabinet takes office.
In his opening speech, Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi (DPJ House of Councillors Caucus Chair) said, "It has been three years since the change of government. Last year we held a workshop in Fukushima Prefecture and this year we are meeting in Sendai. As the banner reads, 'Keep up the Fight Tohoku, Keep up the Fight DPJ,' we have to move forward." "We cannot afford to lose the next House of Councillors election in July next year. Out of the 89 DPJ House of Councillors members, 47 will end their term. The remaining 42, including the President of the House of Councillors Kenji Hirata, must work hard for steering the Diet. We also have to make efforts to ensure the best results possible at the House of Representatives elections." said Koshiishi.
Acknowledging the third Noda Cabinet reshuffle, Koshiishi stated that "Prime Minister Noda has expressed his determined intent to restore Japan to a nation of hope and pride. It is crucial that we enhance the understanding and support for Prime Minister Noda’s objectives, 'responsibility and security of tomorrow', among the people of Japan so that the DPJ can once again win the trust of our nation." He also emphasized that "In the end, we must all come together." Koshiishi noted that the party executive meeting and the Standing Officers Council will be held under the new structure on October 5, and addressed the workshop stating, "I would once again like to ask for your cooperation with the understanding that, as the ruling party, we have been charged with the responsibility."
The reappointed Minister for Reconstruction Tatsuo Hirano stated that "There have been criticisms that reconstruction efforts have been significantly delayed, something I cannot deny." He also said that considering there are still people who have yet to be able to secure a place to live and a place to work, it is totally understandable that there would be such criticisms. Hirano also stated that "On the other hand, for instance, the restoration of the ports, roads and farmland has been progressing as scheduled, or even quicker than originally estimated." He then went on to give specific examples to shed light on the situation; the number of pontoons and vessels for aquafarming has increased; reconstruction work on seafood processing facilities has been progressing; and restoration of major corporations, including Nissui, and medium- to small-sized enterprises using the group subsidy are well underway. Hirano added, "However, compared to prior to the March 11 earthquake, only 60 to 70% has been recovered". Hirano explained that there are a number of issues which require time, for example relocating to higher ground, which involves difficult decisions that will need to be made by local residents and the task of securing land through negotiations with land owners. Hirano then asked workshop attendees for their support on the reconstruction effort, commenting on the challenges being faced in Fukushima and that "150,000 people are currently taking refuge away from the affected area and 60,000 Fukushima residents are currently living outside of the prefecture. The situation remains extremely difficult and the effects of harmful rumors continue to be a problem."
Minister Hiroyuki Nagahama, who has assumed the position of the Minister of Environment, reflected on his efforts in environmental policies saying, "Since being first elected in the early 1990s, I had the privilege of being responsible for environmental policies in the DPJ’s Next Cabinet (shadow cabinet), while also being part of the Committee on Environment. Japan was sometimes regarded as being undeveloped in terms of environmental policies; however, I was working hard to have the Agency of the Environment elevated to the Ministry of the Environment." "Building a safe and secure Japan is easier said than done. Former Minister of Environment Goshi Hosono advised me to visit Fukushima and lend an ear to the residents of the region before developing measures to address the situation. Governor of Fukushima Prefecture Yuhei Sato advised me to live in and commute from Fukushima. I must start from square one." said Nagahama, who also expressed his determination to exert every effort to fulfill the responsibility with which he has been charged.
Acting Secretary General Jun Azumi, who represents the electoral district of Miyagi No. 5 which includes Ishinomaki City, also addressed the workshop, reflecting on how it took a week of travel time to get back to his hometown after the earthquake. Azumi went on to describe the three challenges that have become apparent to him since the earthquake.
Firstly, Azumi noted that there were almost 5,000 victims in Ishinomaki City alone and pointed out that it was the areas that had underestimated the potential damage of a tsunami that had received the most catastrophic damage. "Residential areas and other built up areas located upstream had less fear of tsunamis and, unfortunately, consequently suffered greater damage," said Azumi, emphasizing the importance of promoting awareness for tsunamis. Secondly, Azumi pointed out the necessity of improving the stockpiling of emergency supplies, stating, "It is crucial that we have sufficient supplies to survive the first three days to one week after a disaster." Finally, he also said, "We must definitively establish land ownership." The primary schools and junior high schools in the area were built on land voluntarily contributed by land owners, and consequently, the land on which the schools were built had multiple owners. It has been difficult and time consuming to contact and obtain approval from the various land owners when trying to build temporary accommodation on the land and has been a hindrance to the reconstruction effort. "We would like to develop better policies with the lessons we learned from these experiences. I am determined to exert every effort together with my fellow party members under the leadership of Secretary General Koshiishi, and I would greatly appreciate your cooperation." said Azumi.
After the workshop, the participants had a tour to grasp the situation and problems of the affected areas in Miyagi Prefecture. They had a close look at a waste processing facility, received a briefing about a project regarding collective relocation for disaster prevention, and exchanged views with local people.
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