Policy Speech by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
to the 166th Session of the Diet

Embassy of Japan
January 29, 2007

On January 26, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a policy speech to a plenary session of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors after the opening ceremony of the 166th session of the Diet.

At the outset, Prime Minister Abe said, "I would like to make Japan a country that will serve as a new role model in the international community of the 21st century. In order to realize this, we must not be content with the brilliant post-war Japanese success model, which our predecessors started and built from the ruins of the war.

Now the time has come to boldly review these post-war regimes all the way back to their origins, and set sail on a new course. In order to realize 'a beautiful country, Japan ,' my mission is none other than to draw a new vision of a nation which can withstand the raging waves for the next 50 to 100 years to come."

Prime Minister Abe then delivered the basic policies for national administration in the areas of strengthening growth potential, creating a society full of opportunities that guarantees a chance to challenge again and again, creating attractive regions, advancing administrative and financial reform of central and local governments, rebuilding education, realizing a healthy and safe society and Proactive Diplomacy.

In concluding his speech, Prime Minister Abe stressed to the people of Japan and the members of the Diet that "Yukichi Fukuzawa once said that the samurai spirit is distinguished by 'a willingness to face daunting challenges and persevere to accomplish the tasks.' It must have been that challenging spirit, which dares to take on difficult tasks optimistically, that enabled our country to forge the modern Japan from the Meiji Restoration. Let us join hands together to carve a bright future, believing in the potential of our country and ourselves."

The transcript of the entire speech is available at:

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abespeech/2007/01/26speech_e.html

[Related links]

* Speech by Prime Minister Abe at the North Atlantic Council: “ Japan and NATO: Toward Further Collaboration” ( January 12, 2007 )

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/pressreleases/2007/0112.htm

* Policy Speech by Prime Minister Abe to the 165 th Session of the Diet ( September 29, 2006 )

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abephoto/2006/09/29shoshin_e.html

* Profile of Prime Minister Abe

http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/abeprofile/index_e.html