JCP holds 80th anniversary speech assembly

About 5,000 people on July 8 braved the intense heat of over 30 degrees C. to join a speech assembly in Tokyo to mark the 80th anniversary of the Japanese Communist Party. Many more people all over Japan watched the assembly live via satellite.

Fuwa Tetsuzo, Central Committee chair, spoke on "The two centuries and the JCP," and Shii Kazuo, Executive Committee chair, on "Political issues and the JCP's role."

A 39 year-old woman said, "I was very proud and impressed to hear that in the early 21st Century we will be able to succeed in ending Japan's subordination to the United States."

Oshima Ryojun, a Buddhist priest from Kyoto, congratulated the JCP on its 80 years of struggle for social reforms. 86-year-old Oshima stated his determination to keep working with the JCP for social progress and peace.

Actor Yonekura Masakane expressed his hope for peace. He stressed the importance of the JCP's role in the struggle to protect peace in Japan.

On behalf of ten JCP heads of local governments, Suzuki Toshio, Yuzawa City mayor in Akita Prefecture, gave an address.

Messages from nine professionals of various fields were introduced at the assembly, including the ones from former Tokyo Gakugei University President Abe Takeshi and scriptwriter "James" Miki, who expressed their congratulations to the JCP, which was founded on July 15, 1922.

Fuwa lectures on two centuries and JCP role

In the speech assembly, JCP Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo spoke on two centuries and the JCP.

He said: "The 80th anniversary is when we took a new step fully in the 21st century in an age of new turbulence, from the 20th century also marked by commotion."

The content of Fuwa's commemorative lecture is as follows:

TWO CENTURIES AND THE JAPANESE COMMUNIST PARTY

20th century--What role did the JCP play?

(1) Prewar period-- Indomitably upholding peace and democracy amid despotism

(2) Postwar period--Opposition to Japan subordinating to the United States

(3) Struggle against Soviet hegemonism

21st century--Under what goals and perspectives will the JCP work for?

(4) What will the 21st century be like?

(5)The JCP and social progress in the 21st century

Briefly reviewing the JCP history before and after WW II and the JCP struggle against Soviet hegemonism, Fuwa made clear what role the JCP played in the history of Japan and the world in the 20th century.

He said, "Indeed, the JCP faced adversities and storms not only in the prewar period but also in postwar Japan. Despite all these difficulties, the JCP is now marking its 80th anniversary of dealing with a century of turbulence and change, with rich achievements which it attained through its struggle in the past century. By making the fullest use of these achievements of the JCP, let us advance our undertaking for further social progress."

JCP Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo lectured on the main points of national politics and the JCP role.

The content of Shii's lecture is as follows:

FOCAL POINTS OF NATIONAL POLITICS AND JCP

1. The burst of the "Koizumi political bubble" and the JCP role

2. Living conditions and economy--Failure of "structural reform" policy and the alternative

3. Peace and foreign policy--U.S. new hegemonism and course for Japan

4. For a larger and stronger JCP capable of winning political battles

Shii said that the failure of the Koizumi politics means that the last resort of the Liberal Democratic Party for retaining power has been lost. He stressed that the people's quest for reform in the true sense of the word has begun.

In analyzing how LDP politics went wrong concerning the people's livelihood and the economy, as well as in national efforts for peace and foreign policy, Shii said the JCP's reasonable approach to national and international politics can offer the people the alternative.

Shii's call for popular support for a JCP advance in the general and simultaneous local elections received great applause. (end)