40 years since return to Japan, Okinawans’ struggles still continue

“The strength shown by the unity of people that forced the return of Okinawa to Japan 40 years ago must be reignited to break away from the current security treaty structure and realize a genuine return of Okinawa to the principles enshrined in the Japanese Constitution,” said JCP parliamentarian Akamine Seiken.

To reaffirm importance of urban agriculture needed

Advocates of a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pact call for “a stronger agriculture in exports” in chorus. However, a Tokyo farmers’ cooperative leader said, “Before being strong in exports, it is more important to focus on domestic consumption and increase domestic production.”

Tax the rich to recover domestic demand

The House of Representatives on May 8 began discussing a set of bills to increase the consumption tax rate, but the need is for the National Diet to explore ways to not continue to rely on the regressive consumption tax.