Japan Press Weekly

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2012 May 30 - June 5 [OKINAWA]

LDP and Komei candidates in Okinawa assembly election decide to oppose consumption tax hike

In the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly election campaign, candidates of the Liberal Democratic and Komei parties suddenly began opposing a consumption tax hike, seeing at first hand that Japanese Communist candidates are receiving a favorable response from voters due to its opposition on this issue.

Okinawa ranks the lowest in Japan in income levels and smaller businesses make up 99% of the local economy. It is obvious that an increase in the consumption tax rate will have a devastating impact on the Okinawan economy.

JCP prefectural assembly election candidate Kayo Sogi attracted more voters by explaining that “the JCP is the only political party which has consistently opposed the consumption tax”.

Alarmed by this situation, LDP and Komei candidates started to take a position against a consumption tax increase. On June 2, a conservative independent candidate in a rally said that the consumption tax should be raised in the future but not now.

On Sunday, June 3, every candidate actively took to the streets at various locations to gain support with the election to be held on June 10. Seeking all 6 candidates’ victory, the JCP carried out various activities in order to obtain more votes than the election four years ago.

JCP Policy Commission Chair Koike Akira visited Naha City to take part in street campaigns and give speeches in support of the JCP candidate Maeda Masaaki. Regarding the issue of relocating the U.S. Futenma base within the prefecture, Koike said, “The best way to solve the issue is to tell the U.S. forces to pack up and leave Japan.” He also called on audiences to work together to “create a robust local economy” by opposing the government’s plan to raise the consumption tax rate and join the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade pact.

Okinawa Governor Nakaima Hirokazu joined in street campaigns by LDP and Komei candidates with the hope that they will win the majority of seats in the assembly.