Shinagawa talks on radio about economic activities for the people

Japan Press Weekly

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

Shinagawa talks on radio about economic activities for the people

Shinagawa Masaji, permanent director of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, appeared on an NHK radio talk show on April 28 and discussed an economic policy that Japan should follow in order to benefit the general public.

Shinagawa, who is also a coordinator of the National Association for a Peaceful, Democratic, and Progressive Japan (Kakushinkon), was the first to be interviewed on the talk show entitled "Japan's future, my suggestion."

Asked how he feels about the "tent village" that was opened during the New Year holidays for laid-off temporary workers, Shinagawa said that amid the worldwide economic recession continuing since last year, Japanese politicians have been obsessed with politicking rather than focusing on policies. But thanks to the temporary shelter, which attracted media attention as an effort to rescue jobless people, "citizens have realized how politicians deal with politics and economic policies without considering people in need of emergence assistance," he said.

Shinagawa stressed that although the government normally implements policies, "in the case of the 'tent village', people made the first move, which is very significant because it has shown that citizens can make a difference in Japan's future."

Concerning the "structural reform" policy, he said, "It only considers the interests of major corporations. What is more, the government implemented it to meet U.S. demands."

He also stated, "The need now is to improve the living conditions of those people at the bottom of society so that they can enjoy a better quality of life," referring to Article 25 of the Constitution which guarantees the Japanese citizens' right to live without distress.

Asked about how he sees the links between the war-renouncing Japanese Constitution and capitalism, Shinagawa said, "It is the biggest task in my economic activities." Recalling his own experience during the war, he said, "Article 9 makes it clear that Japan can no longer go to war."

"With this Constitution, why can't Japan seek an economy based on a humanistic perspective? Actually, it does not even have a coherent national point of view," he added.

- Akahata April 29, 2009