Townspeople choose JCP mayor

Japan Press Weekly

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

Townspeople choose JCP mayor

Another communist mayor has come into power. In the Asahi Town mayoral election in Toyama Prefecture on May 16, Waki Shigeo, former town assembly member of the Japanese Communist Party, was elected to steer the town administration over the conservative incumbent. Supported by a citizens’ group, Waki has become the 9th JCP mayor in Japan.

During the election campaign, Waki called for an increase in the number of doctors and nurses at general hospitals, the implementation of after-school care for children, and many other policies in response to requests from the townspeople. He promised that he will establish a town administration open to the townspeople.

Kazuie Noboru, who first asked Waki to run for the one-on-one battle with the autocratic incumbent Uozu Ryuichi, said, “Mr. Waki was the only person I knew who spoke up against the authoritarian mayor in the assembly. His way of working and talking with people was so honest that I couldn’t imagine any other person who could run against the incumbent in the race. Asahi Town is very conservative, but townspeople without political affiliations like me along with a wide range of people, including JCP members and even conservatives, banded together for the first time to break through the regime of authoritarian control.”

Nakajin Masao, chairman of the Asahi Town Assembly, said, “We are disappointed in both the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan. Mr. Waki is a communist, but many people like his personality. I myself rode in Mr. Waki’s campaign car to call on townspeople to vote for him.”

Wakiyama Masami, head of the local fishery cooperative, said, “We are very glad that Mr. Waki is now our mayor. Now we know where to go and who to consult with on issues related to the marine environment and decline in catches of fish.”

The incumbent camp conducted anti-communist propaganda during the election campaign. However, such a worn-out approach did not work well on the Asahi townspeople.

- Akahata, May 18, 2010