Yamaguchi cites key challenges before Suga government

January 23 , 2021

On January 22, Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi engaged Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in a formal questioning session at the House of Councilors. Yamaguchi raised an array of major challenges that the Suga administration must tackle, including the coronavirus pandemic, childcare, the Tokyo Olympics and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Yamaguchi called on the administration to take every precaution in preparing for the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination program, adding that Komeito would establish a special task force to coordinate with the party’s local and prefectural legislators in support of the government’s effort. He said that it was imperative to extend every possible assistance to the healthcare community and frontline workers as they battle the pandemic. He urged that the special law on infectious diseases be revised in a fair and balanced manner at the earliest possible opportunity.

Turning to the Tokyo Olympiad and Paralympics, Yamaguchi said a successful Games, if conducted safely, would symbolize the world’s triumph over COVID-19 where humanity reaffirms its pledge to achieve a full recovery. He said the Games would also accelerate Japan’s transition to a barrier-free society by developing and adopting the requisite infrastructural hardware and software.

Yamaguchi then congratulated US President Joe Biden on his new administration, saying that he looked forward to Japan and the US further fortifying their diplomatic and security partnership. He expressed great hope that the Biden administration would carry forward former US president Barack Obama’s commitment to building a nuclear-free world and urged Suga to invite nations endorsing the recently ratified Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to Hiroshima and Nagasaki to hold a special conference.

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