S/ Ishiba Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan: On New Year's Day, there was an earthquake on the Noto Peninsula. It's been almost a year now. I want to make Japan the world's top disaster prevention country that places utmost importance on human life. 

Prime Minister Ishiba said in a speech on December 26 that it is impossible to predict earthquakes with 100% accuracy, but advances in science will improve the ability to do so. He said that the government will significantly increase the budget for the Japan Meteorological Agency to place priority on disaster prevention.   

He also emphasized his intention to improve the environment of evacuation shelters, saying that sleeping on the floor of gymnasiums is not something that should be done in developed countries. 

Prime Minister Ishiba also spoke about regional revitalization, another important issue for the government.  

He said that the concentration of everything in Tokyo has still not been alleviated and emphasized his desire to make regional areas of Japan a place that is chosen by young people and women.