Based on a Nikkei article, this essay examines Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s request that companies increase production of medical masks, protective clothing, disinfectants, and ventilators, along with his pledge that the government would buy unsold stock for reserves. It focuses on the need to secure the production and supply chains of essential goods domestically, the cooperation of Sony, Toyota, Teijin, Koken, Kao, and Shiseido, and criticizes NHK for failing to report the crucial implication: Japan’s need to reduce dependence on China.

April 16, 2020
“Production and supply chains for important goods must be secured domestically,” he said, asking for cooperation in supplying goods and equipment within Japan.
The following is from today’s Nikkei.
The parts that NHK’s news program reported last night, and the parts that it did not report, are clear.
It goes without saying that the parts it did not report were omissions made out of deference to China.
Even so, Arima last night clearly gave the impression that he was speaking toward Chinese officials beyond the camera.
His comments on President Trump’s perfectly natural criticism of the WHO by the United States were nothing but pseudo-moralism, in other words, hypocritical moral posturing taken to the limit, defending China and aligning with China’s position.
It was so clear that even I was astonished.
Suspension of funding to the WHO.
Formation of another organization to replace the WHO.
A clear rejection, or declaration, against China’s outrageous conduct.
At last, the United States’ patience has snapped.
Precisely because the shock to China was so great, China must have worked powerfully on NHK.
And thus, unintentionally, the camera exposed Arima’s true nature.
The parts emphasized in bold within the text, apart from the headline, are the parts that NHK never reported.
Sony and Teijin cooperate in increasing production.
Medical equipment.
Prime Minister: “The government will buy up inventory.”
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on the 15th asked companies that manufacture medical masks, protective clothing, and medical equipment, which are in short supply in the response to the new coronavirus, to increase production.
He then stated, “If by any chance products remain unsold, the government will buy them up as reserves.”
The aim is to support companies in increasing production despite their concern that demand may decline in the future.
On the 15th, the Prime Minister held a video conference at the Prime Minister’s Office with executives of companies that produce medical masks, protective clothing, and other items.
He called on them, saying, “I want you to increase production boldly and without anxiety.”
The Prime Minister cited high-performance medical masks known as N95 masks, disinfectants, medical gowns, and ventilators, saying, “These are indispensable in medical settings in the fight against the new coronavirus.”
“Production and supply chains for important goods must be secured domestically,” he said, asking for cooperation in supplying goods and equipment within Japan.
The Prime Minister explained that related expenses had been secured in the fiscal 2020 supplementary budget proposal, which the government aims to pass within the month, and also said, “If necessary, we will not hesitate to use reserve funds.”
There are concerns about shortages of protective clothing and medical masks in medical settings.
However, companies had been slow to increase production or enter the market.
This was because they found it difficult to make capital investments amid concerns that supply would exceed demand after the new coronavirus infection subsides.
There were also voices within the Liberal Democratic Party saying that the government should purchase almost the entire quantity.
The video conference on the 15th was attended by Keidanren Chairman Hiroaki Nakanishi, as well as executives from Koken, Kao, Shiseido, Teijin, Sony, and Toyota Motor Corporation.
Sony stated that it would begin supporting the manufacture of ventilators.
It explained that it would begin production in about three months and “would like to realize the supply of more than 1,000 units.”
Toyota said that it would produce medical protective masks.
It also emphasized that, with regard to the production of ventilators, it would support medical equipment manufacturers by utilizing the Toyota production system.
Teijin will newly manufacture medical gowns.
It will begin production within the month and supply 9 million gowns by the end of June.
Koken has decided to invest in equipment at domestic factories and will double the supply of N95 masks for medical institutions.
Kao and Shiseido explained that they had established production systems for disinfectants.