2005 JUNE 15 - JUNE 21 NEWS

JAPAN-U.S. 'DEFENSE' TALKS MUST BE DIRECTED TOWARD U.S. BASE CLOSING
Alarmingly, the recent talks concerning U.S. military realignment were used to explore ways to maintain and strengthen U.S. bases, far from reducing the burdens on host localities. [more]

JAPANESE AND U.S. FUNDS ARE TO PREY ON POSTAL PRIVATIZATION
It was an open secret that there was pressure from the U.S. Department of Treasury behind the move to privatize Japan's postal savings and postal life insurance. [more]

THE PRIME MINISTER'S VISITS AND THE CALL OF 'YASUKUNI'
The third of the series of Akahata articles examines the question: Why does the prime minister continue his Yasukuni Shrine visits although he draws a line of distinction between his view of war and Yasukuni's view? [more]

DIET
* Bill to adversely revise nursing care insurance passes committee (June 17, 2005)
* LDP and Komei force Diet term to be extended for two months (June 18, 2005)

ARTICLE 9
* Article 9 association inaugurated within non-life insurance companies (June 19, 2005)

KIMIGAYO
* 'Kimigayo'-refusing teachers ordered to attend correctional session (June 15, 2005)

U.S. FORCES

Japan-U.S. 'defense' talks must be directed toward U.S. base withdrawal -- Akahata editorial, June 15, 2005
* Lower House passes bill to deal with MD system (June 15, 2005)
* U.S. forces increasing low-altitude flight exercises during holidays over Hiroshima (June 18, 2005)
* Residents oppose NLP and U.S. Marines relocation to U.S. Iwakuni Base (June 20, 2005)
* U.S. Camp Zama looks for off-base housing units (June 21, 2005)

YASUKUNI SHRINE
* The prime minister's visits and the call of 'Yasukuni' (June 11, 2005)
* Ichida: Stop visiting Yasukuni before building a new memorial! (June 21, 2005)

WAR ORPHANS
* Japanese war orphans march calling for state relief system (June 21, 2005)

DEREGULATION

Review life-threatening deregulation in order to maintain transport safety -- Akahata editorial, June 17, 2005

POSTAL PRIVATIZATION
* Privatized postal savings bank will lose from new speculative business (June 16, 2005)

Japanese and U.S. funds are to prey on privatized postal services to plunder 340 trillion yen -- Akahata editorial, June 16, 2005 (excerpts)
* Foil passage of bills on postal service privatization and nursing care system (June 16, 2005)

LABOR
* KEPCO workers get 2.3 billion yen in back pay for overtime work (June 16, 2005)
* Largest number of workers received compensation due to mental illness (June 18, 2005)

WORLD CONFERENCE
* Action and cooperation for nuclear-free world called for (June 17, 2005)

ELECTION
Vote for JCP in Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election -- Akahata editorial, June 19, 2005

JCP
* JCP CC chair and secretariat head attend Africa Day reception (June 17, 2005)
* Fuwa meets with Syrian ambassador to Japan (June 21, 2005)