Local Akahata Festivals held in preparation for local elections

The Japanese Communist Party's local Akahata Festivals were held in several cities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the newspaper and to achieve a major JCP advance in the simultaneous local elections next year and the coming national election.

At the festival in Osaka Prefecture on September 22 and 23, about 25,000 participants enjoyed watching music performance and shopping at booths selling local specialties from different parts of Japan. Ichida Tadayoshi, JCP Secretariat head, in a speech called on Osaka to keep leading Japan's political reform.

About 17,000 people came to Kyoto's Akahata Festival on September 22. JCP Policy Commission Chair Fudesaka Hideyo gave a speech. The largest number ever of shopping booths run by JCP supporters' associations livened up the festival.

The Akahata Festival in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, took place on September 22 for the first time in 4 years, attended by about 3,000 people. The 27th Akahata Shinshu Festival in Nagano Prefecture on September 23 also attracted about 3,000 people.

The JCP Central Committee will hold its 38th Akahata Festival in Tokyo from November 2 to 4. (end)