Active Discussions in the Diet |
In the Special Committees for Relocation
of the Diet and Other Organizations of the House of Representatives and the
House of Councilors, active discussions has been made from various viewpoints
inviting witnesses from various sectors. (For detail of
the discussions in either House, refer to the official record of the proceedings
of the Diet published by each House).
| Director Kazuo Hiramoto of the Mitsubishi Research
Institute, Inc. pointed out the significance and effects of the relocation
from five viewpoints, "Keys to National Reconstruction (Impact
on nations who have lost their objectives)," "Minimization
of Earthquake Disasters Anticipated (construction of a control
tower not simultaneously damaged with Tokyo)," "Balanced
Land Formation (correction of unipolar concentration in Tokyo),"
"Camphor for the Modification of Tokyo (effective utilization
of the site after relocation by concentrated investment)" and
"Economic Effects of Construction and Nurturing of Next-Generation
Industries (great effects on Japan's economy)."Following
his presentation, discussions were developed on ways of formulating a national
consensus, interrelationship between the relocation and decentralization
of authority, the economic spin-off expected, and the merit of the relocation
for Tokyo. |
| Malaysian Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Japan Tan Sri Khatib explained the status of the
capital relocation to the new city of Putrajaya, and Australian Minister
to Japan Trevor Wilson explained the sequence of events leading up to the
relocation to Canberra and how Canberra changed after the relocation. Following their explanations, discussions were developed on the significance of the relocation and how to formulate national consensus on Putrajaya now undergoing construction for relocation, as well as the problems which arose in the process of relocation to Canberra and the issues which could not be assumed at the initial stage of planning the relocation. |
 |
| Professor Takashi Onishi of the University of
Tokyo pointed out that the intention to relocate changes depending on the
social and economic situations, and it is necessary to study capital duplication
or separation as a realistic form of relocation. Professor Kuniko Inoguchi of Sophia University pointed out that the vitality of cities other than Tokyo, and the whole of Japan, can be maintained or improved by devoting all our energies to upgrade the competitive power of Tokyo as a world-class city rather than relocation, as it is possible that environmental pressure might increase due to the relocation. Following their presentations, discussions were developed on the right or wrong of Tokyo alone being responsible for the international functions of Japan, the problems and future images of Tokyo, the ways of redevelopment and the right and wrong of dispersing its capital functions. |
Main Current Trends in the Diet and Government |
<Related to the Diet> |
|
| April 28, 1999 | The Special Committee of the House
of Representatives had an interpellation inviting Malaysian Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary to Japan Tan Sri Khatib and Australian Minister to Japan
Trevor Wilson |
May 12, 1999 |
The Special Committee of the House of Councilors
had an interpellation inviting Professor Takashi Onishi of the University
of Tokyo and Professor Kuniko Inoguchi of the Sophia University |
May 19, 1999 |
The Special Committee of the House of Representatives
had an interpellation inviting Mr. Eisuke Uchinaka, a journalist. |
May 26, 1999 |
The members of the Special Committee of the House
of Representatives had an observation tour (Miyagi prefecture) |
| The Special Committee of the House of Councilors
had an interpellation inviting Ms. Mikiko Ishii, an illumination designer |
|
<Related to the Government> |
|
April 14, 1999 |
The 5th public hearing in Sendai |
April 16, 1999 |
A joint session of the 16th meeting of the Council
and the 13th meeting of its Investigation Subcommittee |
| April 26, 1999 | The 6th public hearing in Hiroshima |
May 17, 1999 |
The 7th public hearing in Sapporo |
| May 20, 1999 | A joint session of the 17th meeting of the Council
and the 14th meeting of its Investigation Subcommittee |
May 27, 1999 |
The 8th Pnblic hearing in Takamatsu |