I have great pleasure in announcing my reappointment as Chairman of the LDP Finance Committee following the recent reshuffle of the Party officials. Having the experience of serving in this post on two consecutive terms, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate my determination to serve the Party to the best of my ability in order to assure the sound management of the Party as the head of its financial affairs division.?

Furthermore, as a member of the LDP President’s twice-weekly cabinet meeting, I am actively making every effort to restore the Party’s strength and standing in a challenging political environment.

I was also reappointed as Acting Chairman of the Research Commission on Social Security System and Chairman of the Committee on the Handicapped in the Party. I will continue to strive for increased welfare for the handicapped including allocating more budgetary funds while listening to the opinions of the handicapped and their families.

Of course there are other crucial issues in need of urgent solution, including the further promotion of the administrative and fiscal reforms, implementing measures to counteract the declining birthrate and aging society, the promotion of the development of industry, establishing of a sound school education system, and the rectification of disparity among Japanese citizens and in various fields and regions. Remembering the founding spirit of our Party, "Politics must serve the public interest”, I will make my best endeavors to seek solutions of such problems. In closing, I would like to humbly ask for your continued guidance and support.