Japan Press Weekly
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eWhy are people interested in JCP now?f Shii talks on TV program
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 14 appeared on TV Asahifs gSunday Projecth program that aired live. In the interview, he answered questions as to why the JCP is attracting attention now and how the party recognizes serious issues of employment. Citing European governmentsf measures to secure employment, he stressed responsibilities the government should fulfill and explained the JCPfs efforts to overcome gcapitalism without rules.h
Why is it the JCP right now?
At the beginning of the segment of the program, TV Asahi announcers said, gAmid the worsening employment situation and working conditions under the recession, the Japanese Communist Party is seen to be very invigorated. Why is the JCP attracting young peoplefs attention? What are they expecting from the JCP? We will ask JCP Chair Shii Kazuo if the JCP has a prescription for improving the economy.h
Then Shii had a discussion with journalist Tawara Soichiro:
Tawara: Many young people are reading Capital. Why Capital now? Wefve also witnessed the Kanikosen (gThe Factory Ship,h a novel by Kobayashi Takiji) attracting a wide readership. And the JCP is increasing its membership.
Terasaki Takashi (TV Asahi announcer): I hear that the JCP is reaching people on the Internet.
At the start of the interview, video footage from Shiifs speech at the December 4 rally for a drastic revision of the Workers Dispatch Law was shown with a narration: gThe rapidly worsening employment situation and the raging storm of restructuring.h Participants in the video were seen shouting, gStop the illegal corporate restructuring schemes! Major corporations must fulfill their social responsibility to secure jobs!h
Then it said, gThe JCP is attracting attention amid the economic downturn. It has received more than 13,000 new members since September last year and been covered by magazines targeting automobile fans and business managers,h showing the December issue of gNew Model Magazine Xh and the December issue of gBOSSh magazine featuring Shiifs lecture at a business workshop. It also introduced the British major newspaper Telegraphfs web article entitled, gJapan's young turn to Communist Party as they decide capitalism has let them down.h The theme of Shiifs interview was gWhy is it the JCP now?h
JCPfs call for eradicating eworking poorf and correcting ecapitalism without rulesf is gaining support
Tawara: Wefve seen a major increase in public interest in the JCP. In Germany, Marxfs Capital is a best-seller. In Japan, in addition to the big Kanikosen boom, increasing number of people are also reading Capital. Shii: Thatfs right.
Tawara: The JCP has received 13,000 new members between September last year and November this year. The readership of Akahata has also increased by 18,000 in the last seven months.
Shii: Yes, we have long experienced a decline in the Akahata readership since the 1980s. However, the readership has finally begun to increase. So we can say we are turning around and gaining momentum.
Concerning the membership, we have made progress for 13 consecutive months with 13,000 people joining the party. I think this represents a major change taking place.
Tawara: Why are people interested so much in Marx and the JCP now?
Shii: One main reason is that our efforts to resolve the gworking poorh problem have gained support for the JCP.
At the same time, many people are beginning to ask whether or not Japan should continue to accept capitalism without rules. We have no decent rules to defend the peoplefs living conditions regarding employment, social services, medium- and small-sized firms, and many other fields. I believe that an increasing number of people have empathy for the JCPfs call for an end to gcapitalism without rulesh - Akahata, December 16, 2008
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