The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Suga proud of his record, regrets short time in office
Departing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga rated his administration highly as he looked back on his year in office, during his final scheduled press conference on Tuesday.
He said his administration “paved the way for various reforms,” but regretted that his tenure only lasted for a little over a year.
“One year is too short to respond to the diverse tasks I have had to deal with,” he said.
Early last month, Suga announced that he would not run for reelection as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, effectively giving notice that he was ending his term as prime minister. Since his announcement, new infections with the novel coronavirus have trended downward, leading one LDP member to sarcastically say that the situation “has become the biggest gift to the new prime minister.”
Suga during the press conference repeatedly emphasized that the COVID-19 vaccination rollout has advanced markedly through his leadership. Japan has outpaced the United States in terms of the vaccination rate, he said.
“Japan had lagged far behind until just a few months ago,” he said.
In reference to his government having set a target of administering 1 million vaccination shots a day, he said: “We set [a goal] we couldn’t go back on. I’m truly glad we did.”
With regard to diplomatic and security policies, fields in which Suga had been expected to struggle, he touted his achievements. He said he had reinforced the Japan-U.S. alliance and had helped realize an in-person Quad summit with the leaders of the United States, Australia and India.
“I was able to show the course that Japan should take,” he said.
As to his future political activities, he brought up his ideas to support young people and nonprofit organizations.
“I want to realize the policies I have advocated,” Suga said. “I want to pursue policy-specific study meetings, rather than faction-led ones.”
On the day, he attended the meeting of the Committee on Rules and Administration of both houses of the Diet for the first time in six months, making his last scheduled responses to questions in the Diet. During the meeting with the House of Representatives committee, Suga referred to the improvement of the medical care service system, saying, “I want this to be sufficiently continued by the next administration.” (Sept. 30)