Shii holds meeting with Nishijin silk fabrics producers in Kyoto

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shii holds meeting with Nishijin silk fabrics producers in Kyoto

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on March 7 spoke about prospects for economic reform focusing on solid manufacturing in a meeting with 250 small- and medium-sized industrialists in Kyoto.

Kyoto has a 1,200-year-old silk fabrics industry known as Nishijin Ori. It is now in crisis.

In the opening speech the organizer of this meeting said, "Look, there is a lot of talk in Nagatacho (Japan's political powerhouse center) about millions of yen being given to politicians in donations at a time when a Nishijin Ori craftsman earns only 200 yen an hour. Please welcome JCP Chair Shii, who is working hard to defend the interests of the public."

In his speech Shii said, "Workers at small- and medium-sized enterprises account for 70 percent of the country's workforce. They are the key players in the Japanese economy. These small enterprises are making a great contribution to society by providing jobs and returning more profits to local communities than large corporations do. They are resourceful in terms of artisanship and expert skills."

"However," Shii said, "when it comes to government budget allocation to small- and medium-sized enterprises, the fiscal 2009 budget plan gives only 45,000 yen per enterprise to their development in stark contrast with 8 million yen set aside for every member of the U.S. forces stationed in Japan under the name of the 'sympathy budget'."

Participants' stated their demands from the floor, including one in opposition to the raising of the consumption tax, which is collected at every stage of the silk fabric production process.

Shii said that the Japanese Communist Party is calling for a small- and medium-sized enterprises charter to increase the government budget for such enterprises to one trillion yen from the present 20 million yen, and for measures to expand domestic demand and strengthen ties with other East Asian countries.

Stressing the JCP support for manufacturing and craftsmanship, Shii said the present U.S. economy is the best illustration of how an economy turns out after it abandons manufacturers and rushes into financial speculation.

- Akahata, March 8, 2009