Prefectural Measures Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease

We plan to propose a number of measures, including a supplementary budget of 2.4 billion yen, at the opening of the prefectural assembly on June 1. We will place particular emphasis on supplementing the extant budget with funds earmarked for countermeasures against foot-and-mouth disease. We will be able to prepare ourselves for functional implementation of the budget We plan to convene with municipalities and representatives of the agricultural industry to develop a well-rounded program of countermeasures against the disease to be put into effect as soon as the foot-and-mouth disease manual currently under construction is complete.  We are also considering that it may be necessary to provide finance loans to the commerce and industry sector for possible damages caused by misinformation and the disease’s negative influence on the trade. I’d also like to make an appeal for the strengthened collaboration and setup of a strong mutual assistance structure to protect the Chugoku Region from the disease at the Chugoku Regional Governors’ Conference.
They have suffered dreadful losses from the disease in Miyazaki Prefecture. I’m deeply sorry about that. A large number of breeding bulls are likely to be destroyed, and we in Tottori, the roots of Wagyu beef, would like to do our utmost and lend them our support and resources in production of breeding bulls and so on. We are ready to collaborate with Miyazaki Prefecture for joint production of the breeding bulls. 

Outcomes of the Special Session of the Association of Prefectural Governors

Prime Minister Hatoyama put forth a request to us for cooperation in reducing the burden on Okinawa Prefecture with regard to the problem of the American military base, at the special session of the National Governors' Association yesterday. Okinawa’s situation is understandable, but at first, the national administration ought to take the responsibility for the location of a suitable place and the careful deliberation on what physical arrangements need to be made and what problems to be solved before making this kind of requests, and the relevant regions should respond to the requests honestly. That’s how it should be, I think.

Model Proposition for “Three-Stage Rocket Authority Decentralization”

Yesterday I gave an explanation of the conclusion on the long-debated issue of regional sovereignty and decentralization of power to Mr. Osaka, a special advisor to the prime minister. I suggested that the existing three-tiered administrative system of the national, prefectural, and municipal governments should be streamlined into a system like a three-stage rocket, in which the governments at the three stages coordinate their efforts like the three stages of a rocket falling away and bring administrative services to the people in the promptest possible manner and at the highest level of quality. I hope that this model for decentralization will be given earnest consideration in the national arena.

Nano-Optonics Energy, Inc. Press Release

I attended the Nano-Optonics press conference, where it was announced that SWdesign representative Satoshi Wada would be joining their team as designer. As a big step forward for smart grid and micro-grid technology, this project is a golden opportunity for Tottori as we strive to be a leader in advancement of eco-friendliness in the future.  

Outcomes of Northeast Asian Administration Summit

I attended the Northeast Asian Administrative Summit for International Exchange and Regional Cooperation and held talks with Mongolia’s Tuv Aimag, China’s Jilin Province, Russia’s Primorsky Krai, and South Korea’s Gangwon Province. A three-way agreement for the promotion of trade and tourism was made between Tottori Prefecture, Gangwon Province, and Primorsky Krai, and the summit’s joint declaration also incorporated support for the International Manga Summit 2012. It was quite a fruitful conference. 

Interview with Producers of Korean TV Drama

I’m very pleased to announce that on meeting with Mr. Chung Taewon, the president of the Korean TV drama production company, the first thing out of his mouth was, “We’ll film in Tottori.” Now that Tottori has been selected as the location site, we will have adequate communication with the production company and promptly prepare ourselves in order to accept and welcome them.

 Initiation of Official Hydro-Park Warning Announcement System

Nine hydro-parks within the prefecture have been outfitted with sirens and warning lamps to alert the public of dangerous flooding conditions in the event of severe downpour.  We expect this will enhance the safety of our rivers. For the safety and security of prefectural residents, we will brace our nerves and prepare ourselves toward the upcoming watery season.  

Q. You expressed Tottori Prefecture’s intention to jointly produce breeding bulls with Miyazaki Prefecture. Will you be specific about that?

(After the reporter’s questioning whether Tottori Prefecture is planning to furnish Miyazaki with Tottori’s breeding cattle and collaborate with Miyazaki to raise them,) Miyazaki cattle share a great deal of common genetics with Tottori Prefecture’s, and the characteristics of Tottori’s Ketaka strain of cattle are pronounced strongly in the bloodline of Miyanaki’s one. Preservation of breeding cattle and development of the Wagyu beef industry is a challenge to be dealt with by a concerted effort between our prefectures. Specifically speaking, we are suggesting to them that we should jointly produce breeding cattle using the cattle sperm Tottori’s side offers, for example.

Q. What is the program of development for the foot-and-mouth disease manual like, and does providing finance loans to commerce and industry sector mean mitigating the current finance system?

At present, we’re working on reaching a settlement for what information is to be provided to relevant parties in agricultural industry as well as what measures are to be taken for disease containment and against harmful rumors. As for economic assistance to commerce and industry, we’re thinking more along the lines of expanding the provisions of the current loan system.

Q. How do things look for an empirical experiment plan for a new route targeting China, in relation to stimulation measures for cargo and passenger ships?

We’re still in the midst of negations with the relevant parties. We hope to implement such experiments somewhere by the middle of this fiscal year, if possible. We’d probably want to first try sending cargo shipments to Northeast China and get a feeling for the pros and cons of the operation in real terms.

Q. What is the schedule for the prefectural support committee for the Korean drama production?

We’re in the midst of negotiations with relevant parties, and the exact location within the prefecture for the filming hasn’t been decided yet. While continuing to collect relevant information, we will try and have the location support committee up and active by the end of June at the latest.

Q. What was the secret to getting them to film in Tottori? Do you have the collaboration of the Film Commission?

We’ve been told it had to do with the wide sphere of Tottori’s information transmission, and aid of our Korean-speaking staff, who helped the Korean staff who came to investigate Tottori and responded to their requests, which Korean side highly appreciated. We haven’t been offered any assistance by the Film Commission yet, but it would be nice to have their cooperation in our location support.

Q. Will discussions on management reform of Tottori University of Environmental Studies, and the pros and cons of their publicalization, in particular, start in June?

I hear that the university made discussions on its curriculum and administration, which we should appreciate. We’ve been handed an urgent request for interview today by University Board Chairman Hachimura, and we’d like to listen to what he says first in order to decide on our next measures.

Q. As governor, what are your thoughts on the repeal of the lottery publicity projects recommended by administrative budget screening?

(After the reporter’s mentioning that proceeds from lotteries occupy a significant portion of regional revenues,) The authority to conduct public lotteries belongs to the National Governors' Association, so I question the appropriateness of Tokyo’s decision to review the lottery projects at the screening with no respect for the governors’ association. However, I think it was natural and appropriate to raise awareness through the screening and review inefficiency in the budget and amakudari (parachuting of bureaucrats). But eliminating wastefulness should be conducted from the viewpoint of the local public body, and the final decision should be left to the regional side, I think.

Q. This concerns the water quality issue of Koyama Lake. As governor of the prefecture, a party in charge of the sluice gates of the lake, how do you feel about the prospect of opening the sluice gates?

 It’s necessary to make our way toward the solution through the complication of feelings the residents and those in the fishing and agricultural industries have respectively. We will hold through discussion with Tottori City, a local party in charge, and find a way to break the deadlock.
  

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