Japan Press Weekly

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2017 March 8 - 14 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Japanese women call for ‘No War’ on International Women’s Day

On March 8, International Women’s Day, women’s groups in Japan jointly held an assembly in Tokyo and renewed their resolve to block the Abe government move to turn Japan into a war-fighting nation, including blocking the U.S. base construction in Okinawa.

Japan Federation of Women’s Organizations (Fudanren) President Shibata Masako delivered the opening speech on behalf of the organizing committee. She noted that the Abe administration aims to submit to the Diet a “conspiracy bill” to suppress public movements. “Strengthening the solidarity with women around the world as well as the alliance between opposition parties and concerned citizens, let’s work together to protect the peace Constitution, eliminate nuclear weapons, and achieve peace and gender equality,” said Shibata.

Mikami Chie, an independent journalist and film director who has followed the U.S. base issue in Okinawa for many years, gave the keynote address. Mikami pointed out that Washington’s military strategy has regarded Japan, especially Okinawa, as its “windbreak” in the Far East. She stressed that Okinawans have unyieldingly struggled for the removal of all U.S. military facilities from their land because they do not want to become victims in wars or play support roles in wars.

At the assembly, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Motomura Nobuko gave a speech in solidarity. The rally received messages from many organizations inside and outside the country, including the Liberal Party and the parliamentary group Okinawa Whirlwind.