Japan Press Weekly

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2017 December 6 - 12 [POLITICS]

DYLJ congress resolves to become larger to influence politics

The 41st annual National Congress of the Democratic Youth League of Japan (DYLJ) on December 10 ended after adopting a special resolution calling for united efforts to protect the pacifist Article 9 of the Constitution and a resolution setting a goal to double the number of DYLJ members.

On the final day of the three-day congress held in Shizuoka Prefecture, DYLJ Chair Koyama Minoru in his concluding remarks pointed out that pro-constitution people’s determination to block any attempt to revise Article 9 took the form of the drive to collect signatures from 30 million people. Koyama called on DYLJ members to work hard for the success of the signature-collection campaign.

Regarding the adopted proposal for the twofold increase in DYLJ membership, Koyama said, “We have entered upon a new era of changing politics with a unified force. Let us achieve the goal through activities to lead young people to take part in the action of political change as a way to solve their urgent demands, find an answer to their philosophical explorations, and use their energy to achieve our goals.”

On the previous day, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo spoke at the DYLJ congress for the first time in 12 years.

Shii encouraged DYLJ members to work to build a stronger DYLJ by citing the youth organization’s role in developing collaboration among young people, its policy of learning ways to enhance social progress, and its active engagement in grassroots movements. Shii said that these points constitute the organization’s attractive features.

Regarding the collaboration among the youth, Shii pointed out that on various political issues such as the war laws, DYLJ always worked hard jointly with the younger generation, which contributed to spreading a voluntary, new type civil movement led by young people. Shii stressed the need to make DYLJ stronger through efforts to develop a joint struggle and a united front with young people.

Shii noted that DYLJ members learn the tactics and strategies to achieve social progress by understanding the JCP policy of democratic revolution and its vision for a future society and put into practice what they learned, which supports their personal growth. This is DYLJ’s unique feature, Shii said.

Shii noted that DYLJ locals across Japan not only participate in grassroots movements to form a majority consensus to protect Article 9 but also organize various activities, including sporting events. “I hope that DYLJ members will respect each member’s motivation, conduct enjoyable activities with young people, and promote organizational buildup,” Shii added.

Shii pointed out that Japan has entered a new era featuring the opposition parties and concerned citizens alliance and that such a trend has started in other countries as well. Shii concluded his speech by saying, “I hope that DYLJ members will gain personal growth as authors of a new era and attract more young people to take action.”

The congress elected a new leadership led by Chair Koyama Minoru.

Past related articles:
> Local assemblies in Nagano adopt DYLJ’s request for better ‘grant-type’ scholarship program [August 10, 2017]
> Protests against forced passage of ‘anti-conspiracy’ bill take place nationwide [May 22, 2017]
> Young people study JCP Program [April 24, 2017]