岸田首相、子育て現場視察スタート　石川・小松で当事者の声聴取

　岸田文雄首相は４日、最重要課題に位置付けた子ども・子育て政策に関し、全国各地の当事者の話を聞く現場視察をスタートさせた。先頭に立って「異次元の少子化対策」を進める姿勢をアピールする狙いだ。
　午前中は石川県小松市の建設機械大手コマツの育児関連施設を訪れ、関係者と意見交換した。首相は「子育て環境が親御さんを支え、親御さんたちが日本の経済、地域の幸せを支える。こうした好循環を感じた」と語った。（2023/02/04-12:09）

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday started visiting people concerned with child-rearing to hear their opinions directly, in a show of his commitment to tackle the country's low birthrate.
   Outcomes of the trips will be reflected in an outline of unprecedented measures to address the low birthrate to be drawn up by the government at the end of March. Kishida puts his top priority on policies related to children and child-rearing.
   On Saturday morning, Kishida had talks with people at a child care facility at construction machinery maker Komatsu Ltd. in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan.
   "I felt that there is a virtuous cycle where the favorable child-rearing environment is supporting parents, who in turn support the Japanese economy and happiness within the community," Kishida said.
   In a parliamentary speech last month, Kishida promised to visit places across the country and hear voices of people at the frontline in considering policies to address the low birthrate.