JCP candidate campaigns in the home grounds of Abe Shinzo

Japan Press Weekly

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

JCP candidate campaigns in the home grounds of Abe Shinzo

Kisaki Daisuke, a Japanese Communist Party member, is busy preparing to run in the upcoming House of Representatives election from Yamaguchi's No.4 constituency. The constituency has long elected the Liberal Democratic Party's Abe Shinzo, former prime minister, who implemented neo-liberal policies, which include "structural reform," while advocating constitutional revision.

However, the deep-seated conservative climate that has supported the LDP vote base is weakening rapidly. Angered by the present misgovernment of the LDP-Komei coalition, people are turning to the JCP.

In March, Kisaki was seen with JCP members of House of Councilors Nihi Sohei at a JCP public assembly held in an auditorium of the Fishermen's Cooperative Association as part of the Nagato City Assembly election. It was unprecedented that the Association allowed the JCP to hold its public assembly in the auditorium. The stage was set against a background of the Hinomaru flag, a symbol of Japanese militarism throughout World War II.

Since Kisaki announced his candidacy in September last year, he has been canvassing in the city every day. He has given more than 1,000 speeches in the streets. He is now keenly aware of what citizens are expecting from the JCP.

When he spoke about the JCP's policy in the streets of a fishing district of Nagato City, one old fisherman on a motorcycle stopped to listen to the speech. When Kisaki ended his speech, the fisherman shouted, "You, stick with it! Say more!" It was unbelievable that people cheered the JCP in the street.

The area is known for its marine product industry and people in this area have firmly supported Abe since his father Shintaro was a Diet member and Foreign Minister.

A chief priest of a Shinto shrine in Shimonoseki City said hopefully, "Every farmer near this shrine says that farming is not profitable at all and farmers do not want to have their children have to take over the farm. People would be surprised to hear me say that it's time to have the JCP in power. In order to improve farmers' livelihoods and establish a society free of wars, the JCP should do more."

While people's anger at the government's harsh policy is increasing and voters' antipathy toward the JCP is decreasing, many people still have high expectations for the Democratic Party of Japan to take power in place of the LDP.

Regarding this situation, Kisaki said, "I want to appeal to the public that the issue of the upcoming House of Representatives general election is not about a choice between the LDP and the DPJ but about which way Japan should move forward. Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is a symbol of LDP politics that has reached an impasse. The DPJ is almost the same as the LDP. As I'm a candidate fighting against them, I feel my responsibility to the public to inform them of a true alternative."

- Akahata, June 25, 2009