Japan Press Weekly

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2012 June 6 - 12 [ECONOMY]

Shii in Hokkaido discusses ways to improve social welfare and end financial crisis

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on June 9 in Hokkaido’s Sapporo City discussed with people from various fields how to improve social welfare systems and resolve Japan’s financial crisis without using funds from a consumption tax hike.

About 400 people representing wide-ranging areas such as the business world, local governments, medical institutions, and universities participated in the meeting held by the JCP.

Chair of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Association for Welfare and Medical Services, Okuno Iwao, said, “We have the same opinion as the JCP’s that it is necessary to increase the nation’s food self-sufficiency rate and create trade rules that secure food sovereignty.” He also said, “It is the Liberal Democratic Party that decreased the food self-sufficiency rate to 39%. The Democratic Party of Japan intends to further lower the rate to 13% by participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade pact. The JCP is the only political party working to stop Japan’s entry into the TPP and protect agriculture.”

A company chair from the drug distribution industry stated, “As a small business owner, I agree with what the JCP proposes. Higher consumption tax rates would lead to a collapse in local economies.”

An independent lawmaker of the Hokkaido Prefectural Assembly stated, “The JCP proposal gives us a clear future vision. I also understand that the JCP doesn’t take a hostile view of large corporations. I think people can accept the JCP’s views and entrust the party with control of the government.”

Shii in the discussion said, “The people of Hokkaido have reached a consensus on objecting to the government plan to join the TPP which will force Japan to give up its sovereignty. The JCP will do its utmost to spread this consensus throughout the country.”

Shii also stated that development of collaboration among people based on the common ground of protesting against Japan’s participation in the TPP and a consumption tax hike will help to bring together various social movements.