Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2012 May 23 - 29 [JCP]

JCP pledges to build stronger party before general election

The Japanese Communist Party on May 24 and 25 held a national meeting at its head office in Tokyo to renew its determination to make a success of its year-long party buildup campaign toward the party’s 90th anniversary in July.

Presenting the executive committee report to about 600 participants, including party branch representatives, local assembly members, and election candidates, JCP Chair Shii Kazuo called for the establishment of a special period, from May 24 to July 31, for party members to achieve their campaign targets to make a larger and stronger party capable of winning more seats in the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Many participants reported on their local-based daily activities. Speaking on behalf of the party’s district committee in Miyagi Prefecture which was severely hit by the 3.11 major earthquake and tsunami, Watanabe Masaaki reported that the increasing public trust the JCP gained through its disaster-relief efforts has helped the party to win its first prefectural assembly seat at the local district in November as well as to establish 5 party branches among disaster evacuees now living at temporary complexes.

The JCP Fukushima Prefectural Committee chair reported on how JCP members led efforts to promote and establish free medical services for children under 18 years old as well as to set up 4 residents’ groups to urge Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to compensate victims for all damages caused by the nuclear accident.

Majima Shozo, a general election candidate in Fukuoka Prefecture, stated that he has visited smaller business owners at 18 local shopping districts and explained to them the party’s proposal on how to improve social welfare programs without depending on consumption tax revenues. Stating that more than half of them promised their support for him in the upcoming national election, he said, “We can be the ruling party if we can gain public awareness of this proposal.”

Election candidates’ local efforts were also talked about by Matsumura Ryosuke, who will run in a Lower House single-seat constituency in Tokyo. The 31-year-old father reported on how he has developed local ties with young fathers and mothers who are concerned about radiation effects on children’s health. “For the sake of our children, I must not lose this election to those who prioritize large corporations’ profits over children’s lives and their futures,” he said.