Japanese → English transcript

Ms. Mizuhō Uemura.

I am not asking whether you are aware of it or not. This is, well,

Their Majesties the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita,

during Their Majesties’ reign,

that They were thinking this deeply about the people

and about our country— that is what They showed us, and yet are we supposed to

meekly swallow these pushy, um, opinions? Our country’s people too,

you know, if possible they would like to return to the earth,

to be returned to Japanese soil.

I believe there are people who wish to be buried in the ground.

However, since we hold harmony to be most precious,

and we also place great importance on public hygiene, is it not the case that

we choose cremation?

I want it clearly stated that our country is one where, when in a village,

you follow that village’s ways. It has to be said clearly.

And of course, there are Muslims who are lawfully residing here, working diligently,

and, as members of Japanese society, contributing

to our country— I naturally am well aware that there are many such people.

But when it comes to values, culture, and ideas of justice, it is only natural that

in some respects they differ from the sensibilities of us ordinary Japanese.

That is precisely why, when we accept them into society, we must fully recognize

that there will be good influences and also influences that are not so good, and,

taking that properly into account,

if the political side does not clearly draw the line of“ this is OK,

that is not OK,” I would like to say that local communities will end up in trouble.

As for these issues between Muslims and our existing society,

I think we must learn from what is happening right now in Europe and America.

If you are going to end your life in Japan, it will be by cremation or,

well, with a high out- of- pocket cost, you will have to arrange for international

transport of the remains and have the burial carried out in your home country— I

said earlier that I really want people to understand that,

and I still believe that we need to make that clear through law, that we,

the members of the Diet, the political side, must show our stance.

Um, this question here, actually, well,

I did not give prior notice of it, but…

To close, could we have one more word from the Minister? Minister of Health,

Labour and Welfare Takemi Yes. Well, from my position as the one in charge

of this law, as I have been saying this is, after all, classified as an autonomous

local affair,

so I would like each municipality

to consider it while taking into account the actual conditions in their region. Ms.

Mizuho Uemura We do

not need any more burial grounds for in- ground burials than we have now.