Summary of Minister Fujii’s Post-Cabinet Press Conference
Overview
Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Fujii reported that the September unemployment rate was 2.4%. He said the ministry would issue operational guidance on handling a mayor’s resignation when the mayor cannot express their intentions, and would begin accepting municipal applications for the Furusato Resident Registration System. He also discussed the start of a review of measures against special fraud schemes using international calls and the appointment of officials in charge of the Regional Future Strategy. In response to questions, he addressed cybersecurity measures, development of a secondary capital, and responses to information leaks.
Key points
- The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in September was 2.4%, down 0.1 percentage points from the previous month.
- The ministry will issue advisory guidance stating that, when a mayor is unconscious and recovery is not expected in the near future, it is acceptable to interpret the Local Autonomy Act and the Public Offices Election Act as meaning that the office is vacant.
- The ministry will begin reviewing effective measures against special fraud schemes that exploit international calls.
- Following the enactment of the Secondary Capital Act, the government will formulate a basic policy and its approach to designation procedures.
Overview
In his opening remarks, the minister covered statistical results, municipal systems, fraud countermeasures, and regional strategy. During the question-and-answer session, he explained responses to cyberattacks, information leaks, and development of a secondary capital.
Impact
The Furusato Resident Registration System was described as a way to make people with ties to local areas visible and help secure local community leaders and revitalize regions.
Secondary capital development was described as establishing a backup for the capital’s core functions in the event of a major disaster, correcting excessive concentration in Tokyo, and forming a multipolar, decentralized economic zone.
Details
Following the case in which the former mayor of Hachirogata Town became unconscious, the town, its assembly, the Governor of Akita Prefecture, and the National Governors' Association requested institutional arrangements. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will organize operational responses and issue advisory guidance. It said that when determining that recovery is not expected, it is desirable to ensure the appropriateness of the decision through measures such as providing information to the assembly speaker in advance and reporting to the assembly. The ministry will continue considering institutionalizing the arrangements in law.
The system is scheduled to launch in March next year, and applications from participating municipalities to use the system will be accepted from today through January 29 next year. In a letter, the minister urged governors and mayors of cities, wards, towns, and villages nationwide to participate and make use of the system. The ministry will advance system design and development while taking municipal administrative and financial burdens into account.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will assess whether telecommunications carriers can strengthen their efforts and consider effective measures, including publicizing the option to suspend fixed-line international calling. Discussions will begin on November 2 in a working group on measures against improper use.
Following instructions to formulate the Regional Future Strategy Implementation Framework by the end of the year, officials at the director-general level and above from relevant ministries were appointed as officers in charge, and officials at the division-director level and above as deputy officers in charge, to clarify responsibility by area, including infrastructure development and human resource development. The government will support the formation of industrial clusters that draw on regional strengths.
Following personal information leaks caused by cyberattacks, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is considering measures, using NICT's expertise and working with relevant ministries, to secure communications networks and local governments. The government has instructed that its emergency measures package be finalized by next week.
Regarding the information leak involving GMO Internet Group, the ministry said it is coordinating with relevant ministries and communicating with telecommunications carriers. As the matter is ongoing, it declined to comment on specific responses or individual communications.
The Secondary Capital Act took effect on October 30. The basic policy will be formulated within 1 year after the law takes effect, and the government plans to present the basic approach to designation, among other matters, during November. It will also present a schedule to ensure that designation procedures proceed smoothly.