200,000 people enjoy Akahata Festival, pledging to defend Constitution

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200,000 people enjoy Akahata Festival, pledging to defend Constitution

A total of 200,000 people from around the country took part in the Japanese Communist Party's 39th Akahata Festival held November 3-5 in Tokyo, and enjoyed its political, entertainment, cultural, and sports programs and events.

Participants showed enthusiasm for the defense of the Constitution and pledged to achieve the JCP's progress in the 2007 two nationwide elections.

On November 3, JCP Social Science Institute Director Fuwa Tetsuzo gave a lecture with the theme of "Scientific View" which has become a major event at the festival.

The gymnasium where the lecture meeting took place was already full 30 minutes before it began. About 3,000 people in the arena and aisles listened eagerly to the lecture entitled, "Today, the world is interesting."

On the main stage, a panel discussion on Article 9 took place. Pointing out the pioneering role of the article, four panelists criticized Prime Minister Abe's scheme to adversely revise the Constitution.

For the first time in the festival history, a Korean chorus group performed. A woman dancing with her grandchild said, "I missed the chance to watch the popular Korean dramas on TV, but today I am impressed by their music." Other artists played salsas and operas.

Many participants visited the exhibition entitled "JCP takes the high-road as a political party" that shows the realities of the JCP from five aspects - opposition party diplomacy, Party Program, party activities at the grassroots level, finance, and history.

On the second day, more than 300 buses carrying participants from throughout the country arrived one after another at the venue.

Following a performance by a popular rock band, participants listened to a commemorative speech given by JCP Chair Shii Kazuo on the main stage. (see separate item)

In a panel discussion on the Japanese economy, panelists analyzed how the "structural reform" policy has adversely affected the living conditions of the public, and offered a prospect for economic reform that improves the living conditions.

Listening to Okinawan traditional music, the audience began to dance by forming circles.

At an open-air theater, traditional comic storytelling and performing arts attracted a record-high of 4,000 people.

About 200 candidates in their 20's and 30's for next year's local and Upper House elections gathered at the gymnasium arena, and expressed their determination to change government policies in order to improve young people's employment and living conditions.

At the traditional board games section, tournaments between professional women players attracted the attention of participants. 600 people watched a movie on a communist novelist who was killed by police at the age of 29 in 1933.

On the last day, JCP Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi had a talk with an essayist whose sons are famous comic storytellers, following in the footsteps of her late husband. Participants wept and laughed at their social satire.

The essayist, Ebina Kayoko, said, "During the war we could not even laugh. Laughter is heard only in peace time. Let's join hands to defend Article 9."

All programs of the festival ended with the performance by a famous chorus group.

During the Akahata Festival, 142 people joined the JCP. A young new member from Saitama Prefecture said, "I want to make this Akahata Festival a memorable event to start to live a meaningful life." Another new member from Yamanashi Prefecture said, "I want to change this society in which life hinges on money."

A 24-year-old man from Chiba Prefecture said, "I have long felt the JCP was tacky, and I never talked about politics at my workplace. But, with worsening working conditions, I have come to think that something should be done."
-Akahata, November 4-6, 2006