March 1, 2017
In the Minamiaso Village Assembly election in Kumamoto Prefecture on February 26, Japanese Communist Party candidate Tateishi Takehiro won a seat, the first-ever JCP seat held in the assembly.
Tateishi ran for an assembly seat four times without success. However, he never gave up and finally won a seat. Following his victory, the phone at the Tateishi’s campaign office rang off the hook with JCP members and supporters from across Japan congratulating him on his success. Tateishi also received congratulatory phone calls form JCP Vice Chair Ichida Tadayoshi and JCP Lower House member Tamura Takaaki. They both had visited the village to support Tateishi’s candidacy.
Tateishi joined the JCP during his employment as a coal miner, which he started at the age of 18 after graduating from high school, and through his experience as a union representative.
Seeking to establish the JCP presence in the assembly, Tateishi settled in Minamiaso Village 15 years ago. Since then, he promoted joint efforts between the JCP and villagers concerned and worked to support various local demands, such as the provision of free medical care for children up to 15 years old and the operation of community bus services on a regular basis.
A high school student, who was a first-time voter in this election, said, “I’m really glad to know that my vote helped Tateishi achieve a victory. I’ll keep this as a moment to remember.”
Tateishi expressed his determination, saying, “In the coming March session of the assembly, I’ll work hard to fulfill my election promises to reduce the national health insurance tax and introduce a free school lunch program.”
Tateishi ran for an assembly seat four times without success. However, he never gave up and finally won a seat. Following his victory, the phone at the Tateishi’s campaign office rang off the hook with JCP members and supporters from across Japan congratulating him on his success. Tateishi also received congratulatory phone calls form JCP Vice Chair Ichida Tadayoshi and JCP Lower House member Tamura Takaaki. They both had visited the village to support Tateishi’s candidacy.
Tateishi joined the JCP during his employment as a coal miner, which he started at the age of 18 after graduating from high school, and through his experience as a union representative.
Seeking to establish the JCP presence in the assembly, Tateishi settled in Minamiaso Village 15 years ago. Since then, he promoted joint efforts between the JCP and villagers concerned and worked to support various local demands, such as the provision of free medical care for children up to 15 years old and the operation of community bus services on a regular basis.
A high school student, who was a first-time voter in this election, said, “I’m really glad to know that my vote helped Tateishi achieve a victory. I’ll keep this as a moment to remember.”
Tateishi expressed his determination, saying, “In the coming March session of the assembly, I’ll work hard to fulfill my election promises to reduce the national health insurance tax and introduce a free school lunch program.”
