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In fact, the Senkaku Islands are... inherent territory of Japan that is recognized in our history and also by international law.

You don't implement change easily in Japan unless you explain very clearly why you need to do this change, how you're going to do this change and what's going to be the outcome of this change. If you offset or you forget to explain one of these three steps you're not going to do it.

One of the great tragedies is that there is so much less open land available in Japan today. Many Japanese come to New Zealand because of its beauty.

I think it is not necessary at this time to put forth a grand vision such as an East Asian Community. What we must do before that is create scenarios for Japan's response in case of a serious territorial incident.

Japan's beautiful seas and its territory are under threat, and young people are having trouble finding hope in the future amid economic slump. I promise to protect Japan's land and sea, and the lives of the Japanese people no matter what.

I speak of the old Japan, because out of the ashes of the old Japan there has risen a new Japan.

Compared with U.S. cities, Japanese cities bend over backward to help foreigners. The countryside is another matter.

I believe it is important that we Japanese write a constitution for ourselves that would reflect the shape of the country we consider desirable in the 21st century.

The Japanese people are usually very prudent, even when they are convinced change is necessary.