Large corporations close plants after accepting subsidies from local gov’t

Large corporations across Japan are shutting down or selling their factories after receiving generous financial support from local governments. This delivers a heavy blow to the local employment situation and economies.

Japan needs closer ties with East Asia, not with US and TPP editorial (excerpts)

Prime Minister Kan Naoto at the World Economic Forum in Davos said that Japan will reach a decision in regard to joining the TPP free-trade pact by June as well as placed emphasis on the important role of the Japan-U.S. alliance. The linkage he made between the TPP and the bilateral alliance clearly reveals what the TPP is all about.

Shii: Gov’t should defend life and safety of public

In the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting on February 2, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo urged the government to change its policy toward protecting people’s livelihoods and their safety. He took up the issues of the dismissals of employees at the Japan Airlines (JAL), the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade pact, and the overly high national health insurance premiums.