JCP and DYLJ jointly appeal to young people celebrating Coming-of-Age Day

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JCP and DYLJ jointly appeal to young people celebrating Coming-of-Age Day

On January 8 marking Coming-of-Age Day, the Japanese Communist Party and the Democratic Youth League of Japan jointly took to the streets to appeal to young people who became 20 years old, saying that the JCP and the DYLJ will support the young people in their efforts to achieve their dreams.

In front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo, JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira said, "The JCP is a party that has been squarely confronting the Liberal Democratic Party politics in order to build a hopeful future," explaining the JCP policies on the increasing poverty rate and the widening social gaps, the adverse revision of labor laws, and the adverse revision of the Constitution.

Referring to the harsh living conditions of young people who are suffering from low-wage, unstable, non-regular employment, Koike said, "The JCP will never condone the legitimization of the corporate practice of 'disguised contract work' which the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) is seeking."

In Yokohama City and Tokyo Nakano Ward on the same day, Akahata reporters conducted on-the-street-interviews with 50 people who turned 20 years old, and 70 percent of the respondents expressed opposition to the adverse revision of Article 9.

Respondents said, "If Japan actively appeals to the world its stance of not maintaining armed forces, the world will change" and "Fighting wars with the United States will be more dangerous than refraining from maintaining armed forces."

29 respondents said that they are worried about their future, referring to problems such as employment and pension.
- Akahata, January 9, 2007