Japan Press Weekly

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2024 October 9 - 15 [POLITICS]

JCP Koike protests against ‘Reiwa’ candidacy in Okinawa No.1 district

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on October 8 protested against the “Reiwa Shinsengumi” party’s decision to field a candidate in the Okinawa No.1 electoral district of the Lower House where JCP Akamine Seiken is running on the “All-Okinawa” ticket in the upcoming general election.

Koike held a press conference in the Diet building and harshly criticized the fielding of a “Reiwa” candidate for not only being hostile to Akamine’s reelection but also undermining efforts made by the All-Okinawa coalition which has been united in opposing the construction of a new U.S. base in Henoko.

Koike said, “Akamine’s seat is an Okinawan ‘treasure’ beyond the boundary of party affiliations as he has repeatedly raised issues in the Diet regarding U.S. military bases in Okinawa, the deployment of missiles to the Nansei Islands of which Okinawa is a part, and the frequent sexual crimes committed by U.S. soldiers stationed in Okinawa. He has conveyed the anger of Okinawans to Tokyo and has worked hard to defend their livelihoods and boost the local economy.”

Koike revealed that the Reiwa secretary general on October 2 requested the JCP to withdraw the JCP candidates in Tokyo’s No. 14, Kanagawa’s No. 2, and Saitama’s No. 13 constituencies by stating that the Reiwa is preparing to put up its own candidate in the Okinawa No.1 constituency. Koike said he at that time responded, “Are you telling us that if we don’t want the Reiwa candidacy in Okinawa, we should drop our candidates in the constituencies you’ve just raised? We won’t accept such a request.”

Koike also revealed that the Reiwa secretary general in June of last year asked the JCP to pull out from the Okinawa No.1, Tokyo No.20, Kyoto No.1, and Osaka No.5 electoral districts. According to Koike, at that time, he warned, “It is up to you to decide which constituency you put up your candidate, but if you field a candidate in the Okinawa No.1 district, it will be considered an act of hostility targeting the entire All-Okinawa forces.”

“Reiwa” party leader Yamamoto Taro on October 11 announced that the party will withdraw its candidate in the Okinawa No.1 district.