Japan Press Weekly

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2016 June 15 - 21 [POLITICS]

JCP Fujino attends ‘youth summit meeting’

Japanese Communist Party Policy Commission Chair Fujino Yasufumi attended the “summit meeting concerning the voting age of 18” held in Tokyo on June 15, debating with representatives of other political parties.

The upcoming House of Councilors election is the first national election after the legal voting age was lowered to 18 from 20. A youth group organized this event to encourage new voters to learn about each political party’s policies affecting youth.

In the discussion, Fujino said that the JCP had consistently demanded universal suffrage for all people aged 18 and over since the party was founded in 1922 as an underground political party. Noting that the JCP is also calling for lowering the eligibility age to run for political office, the JCP lawmaker stated that he will work to implement policies agreed on with other political parties.

A high school girl said from the floor, “I often cannot understand what politicians are saying as their language is too obtuse.”

In response, a lawmaker from the Komei Party, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, advised her to “study harder”. A representative of the Initiatives from Osaka (Osaka Ishin no Kai) also said, “If you want to understand politics better, you need to study more.”

In contrast, Fujino said, “I’ve fully realized we politicians lack effective communication skills. Listening to young people, I’ll make further efforts so that I can explain our policies in an easy-to-understand manner.”

The JCP policy leader went on to point to the need to respect each person’s individuality in the realm of political education. He stressed that each voice and action of youth will help to bring about a change in Japan’s politics.

Past related article:
> JCP Kira calls on university students to take action for political change [May 30, 2016]