Japan Press Weekly

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2010 October 13 - 19 [POLITICS]

People share experiences in ‘Kakushinkon’ movement

Takayama Masayoshi from a local Kakushinkon group in Yugawara Town in Kanagawa Prefecture said, “Although our town is known as one of Japan’s major spa resorts, it is economically depressed. We will visit the town mayor, the town society of commerce and industry, and owners of Japanese-style hotels to propose our plan to revitalize the town.”

In order to draw up the plan to revitalize Yugawara town, Takayama’s Kakushinkon group members in September engaged in a two-day study tour in Kiso Town in Nagano Prefecture which is famous for its unique policies for revitalizing the town. Referring to the Kiso town’s experiences, the local Kakushinkon branch drew up a proposal.

“From our neighboring Manazuru Town, five town assembly members, including a Japanese Communist Party member, a former Democratic Party of Japan member, and independents, took part in our study tour. They now plan to inaugurate a local Kakushinkon group at Manazuru Town within this year,” said Takayama.

An airline worker gave a report about the Kakushinkon movement at workplaces of All Nippon Airways.

ANA workers who are interested in the Kakushinkon movement formed a group in 2004 to protect aviation safety and peace because they were shocked by the 9.11 terrorist attacks in which the terrorists used aircraft as weapons.

The reporter stated, “Opposing ANA’s plan to increase the total weekly working hours from the present 37 to 40 in April, we launched a struggle against the company’s plan by appealing to workers that without the improvement of working conditions, a safe service can’t be guaranteed. As a result of our efforts, ANA postponed implementing the plan.”

“We can utilize the Kakushinkon movement as a means to stop corporate attempts to adversely change workers’ working conditions,” added the aviation worker.

Tanaka Katsunori, representing the Kakushinkon group in Yamaguchi City, reported that his group petitioned the vice-mayor of the city to promote a project to make all stations of the JR Yamaguchi Line barrier-free instead of using 18 billion yen for repairing Shin-Yamaguchi Station, and that a local TV station on one of its programs covered this activity.

Tanaka went on to say that after the broadcast, his group was visited by representatives of a local senior citizen’s club who expressed interest in launching a joint effort with them against the city government’s decision to cut services on some bus routes due to financial difficulties.
- Akahata, October 18&19, 2010