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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

JCP puts up good fight in by-election in Kanagawa

In the October 23 House of Councilors by-election in the Kanagawa constituency near Tokyo, the Japanese Communist Party candidate, Hatano Kimie, put up a good fight, remarkably doubling the share of votes cast. It was the first major national election since the September 11 House of Representatives general election.

The winner was Kawaguchi Yoriko, former Foreign Minister, who ran on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party ticket with support from the Komei Party.

Hatano increased the percentage of the JCP share of votes to 16.38 percent from the 6.98 percent in the recent House of Representatives proportional representation general election.

In Zama City, where the city administration and citizens are joining together in opposition to the planned relocation of the U.S. Army's 1st Corps to U.S. Camp Zama, the JCP as the only party calling for opposition to the relocation received 18.14 percent of the votes cast, 2.5 times that of the House of Representatives general election.

The major newspaper Asahi reported, "A point at issue was the realignment plan of U.S. forces in Japan, but only Hatano squarely voiced 'opposition' to the plan."

Commenting on the election result at a press conference at the JCP head office on the evening of October 23, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi said, "The election has changed power relations between the parties in a positive manner. The JCP's good fight seems to have paved the way for success in the future. Hatano's good fight shows how high residents' expectations are for JCP's campaign promises and the issues raised by the JCP. We will do our utmost to carry out our campaign promises." -- Akahata, October 24 & 25, 2005