Japan Press Weekly

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2016 May 18 - 24 [JCP]

Fuwa talks about historical meaning of Kakushinkon at its 35th anniversary reception

Former Japanese Communist Party Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo on May 21 delivered a speech in a reception held in Tokyo to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the foundation of the Association for a Peaceful, Democratic and Progressive Japan (Kakushinkon). He said, “The formation of the association was a historical turning point in the history of Japan’s united front movement.”

Fuwa pointed out that until the 1970s, the joint struggle between the JCP and the Socialist Party played a pivotal role in Japan’s united front movement. However, the Socialist Party in 1980 made a deal with Komei Party and declared that it will no longer cooperate with the JCP. The political establishment thought that the united front movement would vanish.

However, in 1981, Fuwa went on to say that, the JCP, people without party affiliation, and many other people who share the goal of creating a peaceful, democratic and progressive change in Japanese politics joined hands to form Kakushinkon. This association has since expanded nationwide, the former JCP chair explained.

Mentioning the recent development of people’s movements to repeal the war laws and to bring down the Abe government, Fuwa said that this public movement has broken down the decades-old wall which had kept the JCP out of the center stage of national politics. He stressed that the development has opened up new prospects for the future.

Fuwa said, “Japan’s united front movement is entering a new historical stage. I hope that Kakushinkon, with its clear vision of the future, will play a role as a driving force of the new movement.”


Past related articles:
> Kakushinkon adopts appeal in solidarity with Okinawans fighting Henoko base construction [November 1 & 2, 2015]
> Progressive forum, the bridge for various actions against Abe’s war bills [June 21, 2015]