Japan Press Weekly

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2016 May 11 - 17 TOP3 [POLITICS]

4,000 young people call for vote to change politics

About 4,000 young people on May 15 marched in demonstration through downtown Tokyo, calling on each person as a sovereign member of the country to use the right to vote to bring a dramatic change in politics.

Holding up colorful placards reading, “Go and Vote,” “Our future, Our Choice,” and “End war laws,” young demonstrators paraded through the busy holiday area of Shinjuku and chanted, “Let’s change politics,” in rhythm of a drum beat and to music from the leading pickup truck. Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Kira Yoshiko joined this parade.

Tanaka Moeko, 22, said she began taking part in anti-war events triggered by the forcible enactment of the war laws. “I want a well-rooted democratic Japan which never has a hand in any war.”

Nakayama Ayumi, 26, spoke from a float vehicle. Calling on the people of her generation to go to vote, she said, “We have only two months to go until the July national election. People aged 18 and 19 have become eligible voters. Vote for our future!”

Member of SEALDs Otaka Yuho, 21, said, “I don’t think elections are meaningless. An election is not where we decide the winner and the loser but where we can make a choice who we think is the best choice for us.”

Prior to the demonstration, a rally took place at a nearby park. Koyama Minoru, chairman of the Democratic Youth League of Japan, pointed out that the war legislation was bulldozed through last year but many people throughout the country are still protesting against its forcible enactment. It is the young people who are leading this nationwide action, he said.

Koyama said that the power of youth trying to influence politics is now gaining momentum and added, “Let us use elections to open the door to our future with the present Constitution.”

Past related articles:
> Late teens in nationwide concerted action call for end to war laws [February 22, 2016]
>High school students call for joining in demos to repeal war legislation [January 23, 2016]
> Youth organizations opposing war bills multiplying nationwide scale [August 14, 2015]
> 5,000 high school students parade in Shibuya to oppose PM’s war bills [August 3, 2015]
> Young voices against war legislation echo across Japan [July 11-14, 2015]