The prefectural assembly’s September session is soon to begin and we are compiling the supplementary budget to be proposed for the month. We are in the final adjustment stage and the budget will amount to about 14 or 15 billion yen.
 In the budget, we will include measures for the most pressing issues. We will freeze the implementation of projects using the funds allocated by the national government for the time being. However, it’s been reported by the media that the supplementary budget is highly unlikely to be revised in the national diet session in October, so we will propose the budgets for planned projects without making a fuss.
 One of the pressing issues is the elimination of jelly fish. We will propose the budget for the jelly fish elimination project using the small trawlers or fixed fishing nets.
 As for the measures against the new-type swine flu, we will monitor the situation and deal with it flexibly. We will also propose the budgets for installations of 15 negative pressure rooms (for the measures against the flu) and movable artificial dialyzers for the kidney disease sufferers in case they have got infected by the flu.
 With regard to environmental issues, we will propose budgets for the promotion of growing a lawn by using the “Tottori Method,” and the support project for development of home electric appliances which can work on the direct electric current generated by solar energy.
 Furthermore, in relation to the economic and employment measures, we are planning to budget the “bio-frontier” project. It aims to facilitate drug development by methods such as transplanting human genes into mice. We are finally going to implement it.
 Regarding the safety and security measures, in response to the mudslide disaster which occurred in Yamaguchi Prefecture the other day, we conducted a survey in the prefecture with a focus on the care facilities for the elderly. As a result, it’s been found that 21 care facilities are located in the areas at the high risk of mudslides. Further surveys are required in order to draw up necessary measures. And if some hard (impersonal) measures are possible, we will promptly include their expenses in the budget compilation. We will make a thorough deliberation and propose related budgets in the prefectural assembly’s September session.

 In relation to the entry of the San’in Coast Geopark into the Global Geopark Network, the delegation of the Global Geopark Network Committee will visit and inspect the San’in Coast on September 10 and 11. They will go over Kyoto and Hyogo Prefectures on September 10, and Tottori Prefecture on 11. In Tottori, we will show them around the Uradome Coast, Tottori Sand Dune and so on, provide them with a brief explanation, and exchange opinions with them. I will accompany the tour if possible. The registration (of the San’in Coast) in the Global Geopark Network is an important matter for us. We are afire with determination to make the most of this opportunity in order to realize the goal.
 On September 4, I will visit the headquarters of Asiana Airlines, to meet and talk with the president, Mr. Yun Yeung-doo, and make a request to him that the Yonago-Seoul flight services be maintained on a regular basis. After that, I will go to Russia by way of South Korea, and probably be able to meet Governor Darkin (of Primorsky Krai) on September 5. An interview with the local media is also on the itinerary. From September 6, I will take part in the “Tottori Week” campaign. In Vladivostok, the students of Yonago Nishi High School will perform (traditional arts) and we will send out information related to tourism or industries. After customs procedures for the Japanese pears are finished, we will promote and sell the pears over the counter. After that, I will go back to South Korea on the way to Yonago and attend EATOF (the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum).
 This time’s EATOF is the last chance to see Governor Kim Jinsun of the Gangwon Province. So I will attend the forum with gratitude for this opportunity. In the forum, I hope that the tourism utilizing the cruise ferry (DBS Cruise Ferry) will be on the agenda, and that we will gain EATOF’s support in the entry of the San’in Coast Geopark in the Global Geopark Network.
 In addition, I hope to obtain consensus on the establishment of the promotion conference for the utilization of the ship service. At this moment, I understand that we are in agreement with the Russian and South Korean sides on the basic framework. I hope to utilize the visits to Russia and South Korea and reach a formal agreement. If possible, I would like to execute an agreement with each of the two sides. At any rate, I will try to obtain consensus and I hope and expect that a formal agreement will be obtained before I come back to Tottori.
 As for my immediate schedule, today I will meet 15 prefectural residents who made I-turn, J-turn, or U-turn to Tottori with the support of Tottori Prefecture Agricultural Development Corporation. Also, a theater play titled “Claudia no Inori (Claudia’s Prayer)” will make its premiere debut in Tokyo today. We will seize this opportunity to promote Tottori Prefecture and display tourist panels and give away Japanese pears on a first-come-first-served basis there.
 In addition, I will attend the association of people from Tottori Prefecture living in Tokyo and hold the opening ceremony of our business office in Tokyo, which will be relocated and opened tomorrow in the building where our antenna shop is located. Various additional events are included in my schedule, such as the discussion meeting with the parties in the finance sector on September 11.

 Whether petition-based politics will change or not depends on the realization of decentralization. Since the Democratic Party of Japan ran the campaign on regional sovereignty platform in the Lower House Election, I strongly hope that they will establish an administrative style under which each region can manage and settle necessary matters on its own without going to Kasumigaseki (a district in Tokyo where most of the national government offices are situated, which figuratively refers to the national bureaucracy of Japan).
 Various changes are anticipated from now on. These changes are what the national public hopes for, so I urge the DPJ to keep their pledges and make them happen. In the process, I think they will need to make sure that the burden will not be placed on regions. For that purpose, certain efforts will be required, such as the establishment of a consultative body with regional governments.

 As the election has just ended, I think that every prefecture is busy assessing the situation. When the situation calms down, I will start making appeals about our circumstances with other prefectures which share the common goals.

 (After the reporter’s mentioning that the prefectural administration has probably compiled their budget for the projects in the supplementary budget presented in June, and requesting that Governor Hirai comment on his current idea regarding this issue,) Frankly speaking from the standpoint of a regional government, I must say that such a cancellation is totally unacceptable. Some parts of the budget have already been implemented. If Tokyo said that the implementation of the budget will completely be cancelled, any and all local autonomy would collapse. I urge the DPJ to take a realistic approach as a ruling party.

 We would have to conduct an analysis to answer that.

 Although I haven’t had a formal discussion with Mayor Takeuchi, we share the same passion. I will support Gainare so that the team will be promoted to J2 in J league.

 There may be arguments for and against it. However, the purpose and circumstance of the sports fund is also there. It’s a matter of course that the whole fund should not be spent on it. Some degree of discipline needs to be maintained.

 The subsidization from public money happens only once, in principle. I hope the team will stabilize their management from now on.

 (After the reporter’s referring to the formal decision that chartered flights will be operated between Yonago Airport and Hawaii from December 19,) If the demand grows, the service launch of regular flights will become more and more likely, I think. Starting from running chartered flights would be a realistic approach.