Fuwa lectures about Capital

Japanese Communist Party Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo gave a lecture on Marx's Capital to union activists and other workers in Hiroshima (April 5) and Osaka (April 6). Audiences of 680 in Hiroshima and 1200 in Osaka listened to Fuwa discuss how Karl Marx tried to explain the essence of capitalism and the meaning of Capital to the 21st century.

The lectures in the two cities were at the request from local groups for workers' education.

In discussing Capital in the present-day context, Fuwa focused on three contradictions: Capitalism is losing sight of the direction to overcome the current depression; systematically unable to sustain whole human's lives and economies, and devastating the global environment.

Stressing that most people in the world, irrespective of political and other differences, are now feeling that they are affected by these contradictions, Fuwa called on the audience to view the present society from the angle of Capital and live in the 21st century with great expectations.

A 19-year old student said, "I understand that capitalism is not the final social system."

A 26-year old truck driver said, "I thought that capitalism is losing its ability to maintain the earth."

A 24-year old part-timer said, "I was amazed at Fuwa citing a comment that the next Marx is somewhere in the world."

"I am convinced that development of capitalism is preparing the new age to come," said an electrical maker's worker.

A 26-year old welfare adviser said, "I discovered that U.S. hegemonic behavior, poverty in the world, and environmental problems all arise from the contradictions of capitalism." (end)