The latest extraordinary Diet session, which started after the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda was inaugurated, ended on Friday. Mr. Noda put priority on "safe driving" in the Diet — that is, minimizing controversial or problematic statements by him and his Cabinet members when they answer questions in the Diet.
Therefore, the prime minister left the impression that he was carefully avoiding straightforward answers to penetrating questions by opposition members. Although a month has passed since he became prime minister, Mr. Noda has held few news conferences — another result of the safe-driving tactic.
Even so, he made it clear that he will push reconstruction from the triple disasters of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and the nuclear crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant while sticking to the idea of raising taxes.