Tuesday, June 28th, 2011(17:30～19:30)
Residence, The Hague

Good evening
Excellencies, Generals, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for joining us today to celebrate Japan’s Self Defense Forces Day.

On 11th March, a tremendous earthquake followed by an enormous tsunami struck Japan and caused over 20,000 casualties and over 7,000 missing. At present there are more than 135,000 evacuees. The nuclear power plant in Fukushima has also been heavily damaged as a result of this tsunami.
A maximum of 100,000 personnel from the Self Defense Forces were deployed for the rescue and recovery operations and 43,000 personnel are still active in these operations.

For the past three and a half months, my embassy has been overwhelmed by the compassion expressed in so many different ways by our Dutch and International friends. There are truly no words to convey our deep gratitude for this.

Japan is now struggling in unison to recover completely as early as possible, harnessing the support and solidarity offered to us from all over the world, and the Self Defense Forces are playing a role in it.

About the situation in Japan, only a word of caution or a request for caution comes from my government. While International organizations such as ICAO, IMO and WHO have been making objective assessments, I would call on all of you to trust such information rather than being misguided by sensational reports. In this context, I would like to underline that travelling to Japan does not entail any danger nor any health risks.

For 57 years since its establishment, Japan’s Self Defense Forces have contributed to global security and prosperity. Also, the Japanese government has made a decision on the National Defense Program Guidelines for FY 2011 and beyond last December. Under these new guidelines, “Efforts to improve the global security environment” are set out as one of the main roles of Self Defense Forces.

The guidelines state that to deal with the global security challenges, Japan will robustly engage in international peace cooperation activities along with diplomatic efforts and enhance cooperation with EU, NATO and European countries.

The Netherlands and Japan have worked together in Cambodia and Iraq, and Japanese Navy vessels are currently working together with NATO and EU fleets in the Gulf of Aden. I hope that the cooperation between Japan and The Netherlands and other countries in the world will be strengthened in the future.

In closing I would like to offer my deep thanks to you and your country again.

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