ID :
175508
Thu, 04/14/2011 - 19:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/175508
The shortlink copeid
Kan vows to create new Japan through rebuilding quake-hit areas
TOKYO, April 14 Kyodo - Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Thursday committed to rejuvenating Japan by turning the northeastern coastal region devastated by last month's earthquake and tsunami into one of the world's most desirable places to live.
''I'd like you to present a plan that will open up a great opportunity to renew Japan and create a better society for the Japanese people,'' Kan said at the first meeting of a panel tasked with developing a grand design for reconstruction.
Kan said Japan would overcome ''the worst crisis in its 65-year postwar history'' by putting together its wisdom and power, and heeding the voices of people suffering from the March 11 natural calamities.
The Reconstruction Design Council, headed by Makoto Iokibe, president of the National Defense Academy of Japan, has been asked by Kan to prepare the first set of proposals on how to rebuild the region by the end of June.
Iokibe, a diplomatic history expert, said at a news conference after the meeting that reconstruction of the region needs to be supported by the whole country along with cooperation by all parliamentarians, regardless of political parties.
Iokibe also proposed that Japan have a new tax aimed at financing the huge costs for reconstruction.
The council will basically meet every Saturday until it devises the set of proposals and aim to come up with a final plan by the end of this year, the chair said.
As the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, triggered by the twin natural disasters, is ongoing, Iokibe said it remains uncertain to what extent members of the panel can craft a future vision for areas affected by high levels of radiation.
But he said they agreed to consider outlining a program for the areas in some kind of form and reflect it in the final plan as much as possible.
Kan is considering developing an environmentally friendly town with a population of about 50,000 to 100,000 somewhere in an inland area in the event residents need to leave their homes near the tsunami-stricken plant for many years.
Each policy, such as also whether to introduce a new tax, will be discussed in detail by a group of experts under the council's umbrella.
Kan will launch a new government task force, in which all Cabinet members will participate, in the foreseeable future. Based on concepts to be presented by the design council, the task force will draft a specific reconstruction plan.
The design council's other members include architect Tadao Ando, scriptwriter Makiko Uchidate, Keio University head Atsushi Seike, Sony Corp. Vice Chairman Ryoji Chubachi and Takashi Mikuriya, a University of Tokyo professor of political science.
Philosopher Takeshi Umehara will serve as special adviser to the panel.
Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai, Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso and Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato, whose prefectures have been severely affected by the disasters, are also part of the 15-member council.
''I'd like you to present a plan that will open up a great opportunity to renew Japan and create a better society for the Japanese people,'' Kan said at the first meeting of a panel tasked with developing a grand design for reconstruction.
Kan said Japan would overcome ''the worst crisis in its 65-year postwar history'' by putting together its wisdom and power, and heeding the voices of people suffering from the March 11 natural calamities.
The Reconstruction Design Council, headed by Makoto Iokibe, president of the National Defense Academy of Japan, has been asked by Kan to prepare the first set of proposals on how to rebuild the region by the end of June.
Iokibe, a diplomatic history expert, said at a news conference after the meeting that reconstruction of the region needs to be supported by the whole country along with cooperation by all parliamentarians, regardless of political parties.
Iokibe also proposed that Japan have a new tax aimed at financing the huge costs for reconstruction.
The council will basically meet every Saturday until it devises the set of proposals and aim to come up with a final plan by the end of this year, the chair said.
As the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, triggered by the twin natural disasters, is ongoing, Iokibe said it remains uncertain to what extent members of the panel can craft a future vision for areas affected by high levels of radiation.
But he said they agreed to consider outlining a program for the areas in some kind of form and reflect it in the final plan as much as possible.
Kan is considering developing an environmentally friendly town with a population of about 50,000 to 100,000 somewhere in an inland area in the event residents need to leave their homes near the tsunami-stricken plant for many years.
Each policy, such as also whether to introduce a new tax, will be discussed in detail by a group of experts under the council's umbrella.
Kan will launch a new government task force, in which all Cabinet members will participate, in the foreseeable future. Based on concepts to be presented by the design council, the task force will draft a specific reconstruction plan.
The design council's other members include architect Tadao Ando, scriptwriter Makiko Uchidate, Keio University head Atsushi Seike, Sony Corp. Vice Chairman Ryoji Chubachi and Takashi Mikuriya, a University of Tokyo professor of political science.
Philosopher Takeshi Umehara will serve as special adviser to the panel.
Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai, Iwate Gov. Takuya Tasso and Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato, whose prefectures have been severely affected by the disasters, are also part of the 15-member council.
