Japan Press Weekly

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2013 April 10 - 16 [POLITICS]

5,000 people in rally resolve to stop consumption tax hike

Braving the rain, 5,000 people from across Japan on April 11 assembled in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park and resolved to achieve a cancellation of the planned consumption tax hike.

President of the Japanese Medical and Dental Practitioners for Improvement of Medical Care Sumie Kenyu on behalf of rally organizers appealed to the participants, saying, “Let’s strengthen public opinion in order to block the government plan to increase the consumption tax rate.”

Utsunomiya Kenji, an initiator of the rally and former president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, in his speech said, “The higher tax rate will further increase poverty and social inequality. What the government should do is to impose heavier taxes on the wealth, to not implement the consumption tax hike, and redistribute wealth in society through social welfare services.”

A representative of a group working to oppose the consumption tax increase in 3.11 disaster-hit Miyagi Prefecture appeared on the stage and said, “Disaster victims are struggling to obtain stable jobs and a secure income. The tax burden on daily necessities is already too heavy for many victims. We will launch a united movement in the three disaster-affected prefectures to prevent the tax rate increase from being implemented.”

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in his solidarity speech said, “Voters have never been asked if they approve or disapprove of a higher consumption tax rate in past elections,” and called on the participants to increase the number of anti-consumption tax seats in the Diet with the coming Upper House election.

A machinery tool shop owner, who came to attend the rally from Kochi Prefecture, said “A heavier consumption tax burden will hurt local economies and local businesses.”

Another participant who runs a construction business in Mie Prefecture said, “If the consumption tax rate is raised, I will have to close my business. I’ll work hard to increase public awareness by collecting signatures demanding the cancellation of the consumption tax hike.”

After the rally, the 5,000 participants marched in demonstration through the government office district of Kasumigaseki to the Diet building.