(Excerpt)
(Tuesday, August 28, 2026, 11:09 pm to 11:16 pm)
[Opening remarks:]
- Minister)
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At today’s Cabinet meeting, I received approval for my participation in the Group of 20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting to be held in Asheville, North Carolina in the United States, as well as my travel to San Francisco to visit AI-related and other companies. As the world economy still faces a wide variety of risks, including the situation in the Middle East, I intend to significantly contribute to discussions on various issues related to the world economy and international finance while building relationships with finance ministers and others from various countries.
Next, the Cabinet decided today to use a total of 147.8 billion yen in reserve funds in order to implement the Package to Support the Lives and Livelihoods of the Affected People related to the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake decided yesterday. Specifically, 76.7 billion yen is earmarked for the reconstruction of the lives of the disaster victims, including improvement of living environments during evacuation, securing of housing, and disposal of disaster waste; 37.9 billion yen is earmarked for the reconstruction of livelihoods, including support for disaster-affected business operators and disaster-affected agriculture, forestry, and fishery operators, and support for the reconstruction of tourism-related industries; and 33.2 billion yen is earmarked for disaster recovery efforts, etc., including the recovery of public civil engineering facilities and public facilities. As for the utilization of the reserve funds, Governor Kimura of Kumamoto Prefecture, who, in fact, worked directly under me as Counsellor to Director, Secretariat for Promotion of Regional Revitalization when I was the Minister of State for Regional Revitalization and is communicating frequently with me, expressed his gratitude to us for these matters I just mentioned, such as the subsidy rate for the livelihood reconstruction support that is substantially at the requested level and the implementation of the Kyushu Reconstruction Support Discount, which pleased me very much and I would like to share with you. As the stage of reconstruction progresses, the affected area will have various needs, so we will do our best to support reconstruction.
[Questions and answers:]
- Q.
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I would like to ask two questions in connection with the online press conference hosted by the Japan National Press Club on the 26th by Judge AKANE Tomoko, President of the International Criminal Court (ICC). In the press conference, President AKANE said that since the sanctions imposed by the United States, it has been impossible for her to use credit cards or send money, and that she was certain that there would be various inconveniences in Japan too. The Japanese government is not imposing sanctions on President AKANE under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. Is there a possibility that Japanese financial institutions will restrict or refuse domestic transactions with or remittance to and from President AKANE because of U.S. sanctions? In addition, does the government intend to approach financial institutions in any way to ensure necessary financial services? That is my first question. Secondly, on the 25th, Prime Minister TAKAICHI clearly stated that she gave advice to President AKANE so that she would not have trouble with financial transactions, such as remittance, in case sanctions were imposed on her, and that she also assisted her with procedures. Please tell us whether, and with what specific procedures, the Ministry of Finance and the Finance Services Agency participate in this.
- A.
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With regard to the International Criminal Court (ICC), I am aware that the U.S. government recently announced sanctions, including freezing of assets in the United States and prohibition of transactions with corporations and individuals in the United States. Generally speaking, I understand that financial institutions are taking actions based on the announcement, however as this is a response by individual financial institutions, I would like to refrain from commenting as usual. Although the government will refrain from being specific, the Financial Services Agency has been adequately communicating with President AKANE, and we will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other organizations to respond appropriately while communicating as necessary. With regard to the Prime Minister’s statement, there is nothing for us to add to the statement because of the nature of the matter, and of course, we will refrain from making further comments. However, as I have just mentioned, the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Services Agency have been communicating with President AKANE and relevant persons, and we will continue to cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other organizations to respond appropriately while adequately communicating as necessary.
