October 20, 2019

A memorial service hosted by the Japanese Communist Party for 189 party activists and assemblypersons who died over the past year took place on October 19 in Hachioji City in Tokyo with 120 relatives from 65 bereaved families from throughout Japan participating.

After offering a silent prayer for the 189, JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira on behalf of the Central Committee delivered a memorial address. Koike in gratitude to the deceased said, “They were devoted to developing a united front to achieve democratic transformation that will change the nation’s political course and contribute to a better future as stated in the Party Program.”

He went on to say that the party in its history has entered a new era of seeking to establish a coalition government of opposition parties and that to work even harder toward this goal is the only way to gratefully acknowledge the sacrifices and commitments made by the 189 as JCP members.

Representatives of the bereaved families gave speeches and recollected how the deceased committed themselves wholeheartedly to develop the collaboration of opposition parties and concerned citizens.