Statement by Minister MAGOSAKI Kaoru, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the 22nd Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Asia Regional Dialogue
2023/4/27
Thank you, Madam Chair,
As we have previously shared, Japan recognizes the Ainu population as an indigenous people of Japan, and the Government has been consulting closely with parties concerned with Ainu communities to address various issues.
In 2019, Japan enacted legislation on the comprehensive promotion of local Ainu communities, with which the Ainu people can, for example, log in state-owned forests and catch salmon in rivers, for the purpose of protecting and promoting their traditional culture.
Madam Chair,
Earlier in this forum, there was a participant who claimed to be a "Ryukyuan". Okinawa, like other regions in Japan, has its own unique and distinctive culture and traditions over its long history.
The Government has been committed to preserving and promoting these cultures and traditions with much respect.
At the same time, there is no widely shared recognition in either Okinawa or Japan at large that the people of Okinawa are indigenous people.
In fact, some local councils in Okinawa -- namely Tomigusuku, Ishigaki, Ginowan, Motobu and Miyakojima –
have actually taken actions to the contrary, demanding the withdrawal of references to the people of Okinawa as indigenous people by adopting resolutions.
The people of Okinawa are equally Japanese nationals, and fully enjoy all their rights and entitlement to relief measures as such.
While this is not a forum to discuss national security issues, we would like to stress that the Governments of Japan and the United States are working on issues including PFAS, based on scientific knowledge and in cooperation with the local authorities to alleviate the concerns of the people in Okinawa and throughout Japan.
Finally, there was some reference to the ALPS treated water, following a statement by another Member State.
The phrase “nuclear contaminated water” is extremely misleading.
The concentrations of radioactive materials in the water to be discharged is far below the regulatory standards, and thus ALPS treated water is distinguished from “nuclear contaminated water” by the IAEA, which is the appropriate venue for discussions based on scientific basis.
Japan has been taking measures strictly abiding by relevant international law while giving due considerations to international practice under reviews by the IAEA and will continue to do so.
Madam Chair,
The Government of Japan will keep engaging with issues of indigenous peoples in cooperation with the international community and to achieve a society where the diversity and the dignity of all individuals is respected.
I thank you.
As we have previously shared, Japan recognizes the Ainu population as an indigenous people of Japan, and the Government has been consulting closely with parties concerned with Ainu communities to address various issues.
In 2019, Japan enacted legislation on the comprehensive promotion of local Ainu communities, with which the Ainu people can, for example, log in state-owned forests and catch salmon in rivers, for the purpose of protecting and promoting their traditional culture.
Madam Chair,
Earlier in this forum, there was a participant who claimed to be a "Ryukyuan". Okinawa, like other regions in Japan, has its own unique and distinctive culture and traditions over its long history.
The Government has been committed to preserving and promoting these cultures and traditions with much respect.
At the same time, there is no widely shared recognition in either Okinawa or Japan at large that the people of Okinawa are indigenous people.
In fact, some local councils in Okinawa -- namely Tomigusuku, Ishigaki, Ginowan, Motobu and Miyakojima –
have actually taken actions to the contrary, demanding the withdrawal of references to the people of Okinawa as indigenous people by adopting resolutions.
The people of Okinawa are equally Japanese nationals, and fully enjoy all their rights and entitlement to relief measures as such.
While this is not a forum to discuss national security issues, we would like to stress that the Governments of Japan and the United States are working on issues including PFAS, based on scientific knowledge and in cooperation with the local authorities to alleviate the concerns of the people in Okinawa and throughout Japan.
Finally, there was some reference to the ALPS treated water, following a statement by another Member State.
The phrase “nuclear contaminated water” is extremely misleading.
The concentrations of radioactive materials in the water to be discharged is far below the regulatory standards, and thus ALPS treated water is distinguished from “nuclear contaminated water” by the IAEA, which is the appropriate venue for discussions based on scientific basis.
Japan has been taking measures strictly abiding by relevant international law while giving due considerations to international practice under reviews by the IAEA and will continue to do so.
Madam Chair,
The Government of Japan will keep engaging with issues of indigenous peoples in cooperation with the international community and to achieve a society where the diversity and the dignity of all individuals is respected.
I thank you.