Video-streaming of Shii’s questioning on temporary workers attracts massive favorable comments

Japan Press Weekly

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

Video-streaming of Shii’s questioning on temporary workers attracts massive favorable comments

With Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo’s questioning at the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on October 7 drawing great public interest, particularly among young workers, the number of accesses to Websites showing the video of Shii’s interpellation has reached 90,000 as of October 18.

Shii used the question time to condemn the abuse of temporary workers, and the video stream of the questioning was provided by online video sharing services YouTube and Niconico Douga.

The video stream on the October 7 questioning by Shii was played nearly twice the number of times as that of his February 8 questioning on the issue of contingent workers, which was viewed about 63,000 times during the two weeks after it was made available on the same Websites.

During the Shii questioning on temporary workers at Toyota Auto Body Co. Ltd, viewers wrote comments upon hearing Shii sharply criticize of Prime Minister Aso Taro and Labor Minister Masuzoe Yoichi. During the questioning Shii said to Prime Minister Aso and Labor Minister Masuzoe, who were unable to respond to Shii’s questions, “You are so frightened to hear the name ‘Toyota’ that you cannot even agree to investigate.”

A viewer posted a comment saying, “I am impressed by a party that can criticize Toyota in such a direct and confrontational manner.”

Another viewer wrote, “I’m self-employed. I have come to think about the JCP since I saw Shii on the Website”.

Another said, “When it comes to debates, the JCP can better take on the Liberal Democratic Party than the Democratic Party can.” -Akahata October 20, 2008