{"id":3861,"date":"2009-07-20T00:21:16","date_gmt":"2009-07-19T15:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=3861"},"modified":"2009-07-20T00:21:16","modified_gmt":"2009-07-19T15:21:16","slug":"aso-cabinet-email-mag-aso-explains-himself-away-to-the-outside-world-as-he-asks-for-renewed-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/?p=3861","title":{"rendered":"Aso Cabinet Email Mag: Aso explains himself away to the outside world as he asks for renewed power"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Handbook<\/a>\"\\\"<\/a>\"Foreign<\/a>\"\\\"<\/a>\"\u300c\u30b8\u30e3\u30d1\u30cb\u30fc\u30ba\u30fb\u30aa\u30f3\u30ea\u30fc\u3000\u5c0f\u6a3d\u5165\u6d74\u62d2\u5426\u554f\u984c\u3068\u4eba\u7a2e\u5dee\u5225\u300d\uff08\u660e\u77f3\u66f8\u5e97\uff09\"<\/a>\"JAPANESE<\/a>\"sourstrawberriesavatar\"<\/a>UPDATES ON TWITTER: arudoudebito<\/p>\n

Hi Blog. On the eve of Aso finally dissolving his Cabinet and reading the country for another election, bashing politicians resumes its role in society as one of the national sports. And it times like these one enjoys watching politicians kinda squirm to explain themselves. Here’s Aso doing his, asking for more tenure because, well, he’s entitled to it. Direct from the Aso Cabinet, his mail magazine justifying himself. Enjoy it as a time capsule of attitude and rhetoric, as he flies his LDP into the group. Assume crash positions, everyone. Arudou Debito in Sapporo<\/p>\n

From: “Cabinet”
\nDate: July 15, 2009 11:27:11 PM MDT (CA)
\nSubject: [Aso Cabinet E-mail Magazine No.39] (July 16, 2009)
\nReply-To: kantei@mmz.kantei.go.jp
\nCourtesy of Peach
\n========================
\nAso Cabinet E-mail Magazine No.39 (July 16, 2009)
\n<\/strong>========================
\n“A time of decision” <\/strong>
\n— Message from the Prime Minister (Provisional Translation) <\/em><\/p>\n

On Monday this week, I made the decision to dissolve the House of Representatives early next week.<\/p>\n

Since taking office last September, I have consistently stated that the responsibility of politics is to ensure the peace of mind of our citizens and to safeguard people’s daily lives.<\/p>\n

In order to discharge this responsibility, my cabinet has focused all its energies on economic and stimulus measures. Abnormal circumstances require extraordinary countermeasures. We have passed four budgets.<\/p>\n

Although we are still facing austere economic circumstances, the policy effects are gradually appearing, bringing some bright signs in the Japanese economy. Production has started to grow in business with many related industries and a broad base, such as eco-cars and energy-saving home appliances.<\/p>\n

We have placed particular emphasis on maintaining employment. For businesses which fail to increase sales despite all efforts and find it difficult to maintain employment, we have expanded the employment adjustment subsidies, thus supporting the employment of more than 2.5 million people.<\/p>\n

We have also enhanced support for micro, small and mid-sized enterprises. Approximately 800,000 companies, or one in five of about 4.2 million small and mid-sized enterprises nationwide, are making use of a total of approximately 16 trillion yen in loans and credit guarantees. Securing their cash-flow has led to the job security of a great many people, numbering more than 5 million.<\/p>\n

I will resolutely pursue economic countermeasures so that Japan will regain its vitality and each household and micro, small and mid-sized enterprise can sense economic recovery.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, I have also done my utmost for the security of Japan.<\/p>\n

We have strengthened the Japan-US alliance, the cornerstone of Japanese foreign policy and the pillar of our security. In close communication, President Barack Obama of the United States and I are collaborating in efforts to address issues, not least the financial crisis and others including the North Korean issue and the fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n

North Korea’s missile launches and nuclear tests are a real threat to the safety and peace of mind of the Japanese people in their daily lives. Japan took a leading role in the United Nations Security Council in sending a resolute message to North Korea. We are currently preparing a law for inspection of North Korean cargo, so as to render the Security Council resolution effective. The bill has already been passed by the House of Representatives, and I call for the cooperation of the opposition in the Diet for its enactment.<\/p>\n

To Japan, which relies on the Middle East for 90 percent of its crude oil, measures to counter piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan are of vital importance for maintaining our livelihoods. In order to achieve peace in the region, we have responded boldly in cooperation with other countries around the world.<\/p>\n

The responsibility of politics is none other than to safeguard people’s daily lives and to protect Japan.<\/p>\n

As I am in a position of responsibility, I must clarify the fiscal revenues for policies and the path to restore fiscal health in the long term. I must also show a clear diplomatic vision to protect the people. I will work together with the people to create a vision of the future of Japan.<\/p>\n

How do we balance the enhancement of the social security system, such as pensions, medical care, and nursing care, with the rebuilding of public finances? How do we work with the international community to address the North Korean issue, which threatens the security of Asia, and the piracy issue, and to fight against terrorism?<\/p>\n

For these difficult issues, I will listen to what the people have to say and dedicate myself to fulfilling my political responsibility to safeguard people’s daily lives and to protect Japan.<\/p>\n

Lastly, on the website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet we created a new section under the title of a “Japan which I Seek to Achieve,” which introduces my views on the following four topics*: achieving a society providing peace of mind; foreign policy; growth strategy; and global environmental issues. Please take a look.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

* The section is currently prepared in Japanese only. For the English translation of the Prime Minister’s speeches and the transcript of a press conference on these topics, please click below. <\/p>\n

– Speech by Prime Minister Taro Aso on A “Society Providing Peace
\n of Mind which I Seek to Achieve” (June 25, 2009)
\nhttp:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/asospeech\/2009\/06\/25speech_e.html <\/a><\/p>\n

– Japan’s Diplomacy: Ensuring Security and Prosperity Speech
\n by H.E. Mr. Taro Aso, Prime Minister of Japan (June 30, 2009)
\nhttp:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/asospeech\/2009\/06\/30speech_e.html <\/a><\/p>\n

– Japan’s Future Development Strategy and Growth Initiative
\n towards Doubling the Size of Asia’s Economy (April 9, 2009)
\nhttp:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/asospeech\/2009\/04\/09speech_e.html <\/a><\/p>\n

– Speech on the Environment by Prime Minister Taro ASO (June 10,
\n 2009)
\nhttp:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/asospeech\/2009\/06\/10kaiken_e.html <\/a><\/p>\n

* Profile of the Prime Minister
\nhttp:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/asoprofile\/index_e.html
\n<\/a>
\n========================
\n[What’s New in Government Internet TV] <\/p>\n

<1ch>Prime Minister
\n[Prime Minister’s Week in Review]
\n– Ceremony to Present the National Honor Award and other topics
\n (June 29 – July 5, 2009)
\nhttp:\/\/nettv.gov-online.go.jp\/eng\/prg\/prg1900.html <\/a><\/p>\n

* Please click below to open “Japanese Government Internet TV”
\n in English.
\nhttp:\/\/nettv.gov-online.go.jp\/eng\/index.html <\/a><\/p>\n

========================
\n[What’s up around the Prime Minister] <\/p>\n

– Ministerial Council on Monthly Economic Report and Other Relative
\n Issues (July 13, 2009) and other topics
\nhttp:\/\/www.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/asophoto\/index_e.html <\/a><\/p>\n

* Please click below to open the online magazine
\n “Highlighting JAPAN,” which introduces the main policies of
\n the Japanese Government, as well as Japan’s arts, culture,
\n science and technology, among other topics.
\nhttp:\/\/www.gov-online.go.jp\/eng\/publicity\/book\/hlj\/ <\/a>
\n<\/em>
\n========================
\n[Aso Cabinet E-mail Magazine] <\/p>\n

– Click below to make comments on this e-mail magazine
\nhttp:\/\/www.mmz.kantei.go.jp\/enquetePcEn
\n<\/a>
\n– Subscription, cancellation, and backnumber of this e-mail
\n magazine
\nhttp:\/\/www.mmz.kantei.go.jp\/foreign\/m-magazine\/
\n<\/a>
\nGeneral Editor : Prime Minister Taro Aso
\nChief Editor : Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Jun Matsumoto
\nPublication : Cabinet Public Relations Office
\n 1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, Japan <\/strong>
\nENDS<\/kantei><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Aso Cabinet Email Mag, on the eve of the dissolution of his administration: <\/p>\n

The responsibility of politics is none other than to safeguard people’s daily lives and to protect Japan.<\/p>\n

As I am in a position of responsibility, I must clarify the fiscal revenues for policies and the path to restore fiscal health in the long term. I must also show a clear diplomatic vision to protect the people. I will work together with the people to create a vision of the future of Japan.<\/p>\n

How do we balance the enhancement of the social security system, such as pensions, medical care, and nursing care, with the rebuilding of public finances? How do we work with the international community to address the North Korean issue, which threatens the security of Asia, and the piracy issue, and to fight against terrorism?<\/p>\n

For these difficult issues, I will listen to what the people have to say and dedicate myself to fulfilling my political responsibility to safeguard people’s daily lives and to protect Japan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,26,14,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-humor","category-ironies-hypocrisies","category-japanese-politics","category-tangents"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3861\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.debito.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}