Japan Press Weekly

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2014 August 13 - 19 [JCP]

JCP Kira calls for true friendship on day of Korean liberation from Japan

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Kira Yoshiko on August 15 said, “I will make efforts to help promote Japan-Korea friendship and in particular develop a relationship with the younger generation,” at an event of Korean residents in Japan.

The Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) on this day held a ceremony in Tokyo to celebrate Gwangbokjeol (return of the light), the day the Korean Peninsula was liberated from Japan’s colonial rule.

Attending this event, Kira spoke on behalf of the JCP and said, “Only by squarely admitting to and sincerely confronting our past, can we build a deep friendship with Korea.”

As for the wartime Japanese military “comfort women” issue, she stressed that she will work even harder to press the Japanese government to make an apology and provide compensation to those who are still suffering from the past tragedy.

The 32-year-old JCP Dietmember referred to the recent movement among Japanese young people and college students against hate-speech campaigns. Their anti-racism demonstrations and rallies have been making a difference, for example, in local governments’ responses.

When expressing her determination to work together with all the people of conscience to improve Japan-Korea relations and to ensure peace in Northeast Asia, she received a warm applause.

Past related article:
> JCP Kasai attends ceremony marking Korean liberation from Japan’s colonization [August 16, 2013]