Japan Press Weekly

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2011 February 16 - 22 [ELECTION]

Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Koike expresses his determination to win at rally

The Association for a Progressive Metropolitan Administration on February 17 held a rally in Tokyo, aspiring for the victory of Tokyo gubernatorial election candidate Koike Akira who calls for the realization of “a Tokyo with advanced social welfare systems.”

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Ichida Tadayoshi joined the rally to offer encouragement.

Koike expressed his determination, saying, “I would like to show what a real change of government entails to the citizens of Tokyo who are disappointed and highly incensed by the current policies.”

He reported that Tokyo has a budget of 12 trillion yen, equivalent to the South Korean national budget. He pointed out that if only a 250 billion yen is used for welfare purposes, it would enable free-medical services for the elderly aged 75 and over, the construction of special elderly nursing homes for ten thousand elderly people, the establishment of authorized child-care centers for 20 thousand children, and the building of 1,000 public housing facilities a year.

Then, he declared, “Let us create a new Tokyo with an advanced welfare system! Let us build a very different Tokyo!”

Ichida pointed out that the most important focus of the Tokyo gubernatorial election is whether to change Governor Ishihara’s policies and create a new Tokyo with an advanced welfare system or to allow the continuation of the current metropolitan government policy stance which prioritizes large-scale development projects and cuts the social welfare budget and livelihood support.

Insisting that only Koike is capable of accomplishing this seachange because of his enthusiasm about the importance of medical care, welfare programs, and full employment opportunities, Ichida promised that the JCP Central Committee will make a great effort to help him to achieve a victory.

Secretary General of the Association Nakayama Shin stated, “To address concerns over livelihoods, welfare, and employment can’t be put off any longer. This election campaign will be really exciting.”

Tokyo Young Contingent Workers’ Union Secretary General Kawazoe Makoto, Association for a Progressive Metropolitan Administration adviser Mikami Man, and people from various fields expressed their support for and declared their intent to fight together with candidate Koike to achieve victory.