Chairman Mitarai's comment at his press conference

( Policy items needed to be included in the election pledges )

The upcoming general election campaign should be the place of hard policy debate to get out of the Japanese economic crisis and get the economy back on a recovery track.
The ruling and opposite parties are required to include the following policy measures in their manifestos:

1. Responsible approach to the economic crisis and promotion of policy measures to ensure the economic growth with the initiative of business
2. Comprehensive social security system reform to remove anxieties of the Japanese people, drastic policy measures to increase birth rate, sweeping reforms of tax system and fiscal reconstruction
3. Regulatory and economic law reform to make full use of private-sector dynamism, and also promotion of e-government
4. Promotion of technological innovation to boost Japan's international competitiveness
5. Promotion of environment and energy policies while keeping the balance of economic growth, environmental conservation and energy security reinforcement
6. Educational reforms to nurture people's sense of public morals and to increase human resources with a generous and attractive personality
7. Reinforcement of social safety net and promotion of diversification of working styles as well as employment methods
8. Introduction of quite a new state system (Doshu-sei) and development of attractive regional economies though exploitation of new frontier of agribusiness and tourism
9. Promotion of trade, investment and economic cooperation to survive intensifying global competition
10. Consensus building toward the revision of the Constitution, and pursuit of diplomacy and national-security policy with a strategic stance

Bold and concrete action with a schedule on the items above is the key. Concerning the eighth issue, the fundamental law to promote the new state system,or Doshu-sei is urgently needed.

( G8 summit )

The G8 leaders are expected to take the following actions in the upcoming L'Aquila summit:

1. Cooperating to climb out of the global financial and economic crisis
2. Working out a roadmap for a sustainable economic growth driven by private sector dynamism
3. Concluding the WTO Doha round as soon as possible to prevent the rise of protectionism
4. Consensus building to generate a fair and effective post Kyoto framework based on the participation of all the countries responsible for a great amount of the greenhouse gas emission

( The gubernatorial election in Shizuoka )

New comer candidates run in the election. The name of the game was what specific policy the candidate showed and how they explained to Shizuoka people. It can not be denied that the political situation in Nagata-cho had any influence on the local election. But the national election is a different story. The Japanese people say yes or no to nationwide policies shown by political parties.