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2003 MAY 28 - JUNE 3 NEWS

KOIZUMI NOW PUBLICLY SAYS HE IS IN FAVOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
Japan's prime minister is more blatant than ever in ignoring constitutional limits, stating in parliament, "I would be in favor of revising the Constitution to enable Japan to proudly declare that the Self-Defense forces are armed forces."

LDP OFFICIAL IS UNDER FIRE OVER JAPANESE COLONIZATION OF KOREA
The Liberal Democratic Party Policy Affairs Council Chair, Aso Taro, is under fire from South Korea's government and mass media because of his remarks concerning the history of Japanese colonization of Korea.

JOB HOPPERS ACCOUNT FOR 20% OF JAPAN'S YOUTH LABOR FORCE
A government survey reveals that every fifth young worker is employed as a contingent worker, indicating that companies' employment strategy is aimed at holding down labor costs to make immediate profits.

CONSTITUTION vs. CONTINGENCY BILLS
* Prime Minister Koizumi's hawkish remarks increase (May 28)
* JCP is opposed to sending SDF to Iraq: Shii (May 29)
* Wartime bills force broadcasters to air war reports (May 29)
* No prosperity without peace: Democratic traders and producers lobby against wartime legislation (June 3)
* Public medical workers must support U.S. forces even before armed attack (June 3)

POLITICAL SUBSIDIES
* Townspeople start signature drive to end subsidies to political parties (June 2)

U.S. FORCES
* Drunken U.S. marines arrested in Okinawa (June 2)

NUCLEAR WEAPONS
* Hibakusha take concerted legal action demanding recognition as having A-bomb-related diseases (May 28)
* Association for Non-Nuclear Government calls for more say on peace (June 2)

ECONOMY -Banking and life insurance-
* Withdraw policy of rescuing banks with tax money and destroying small businesses: JCP (May 29)
* LDP received 1.4 billion yen from life insurance companies (May 29)

ECONOMY -Consumption tax-
* Consumption tax rate may go up (May 28)

ECONOMY -Small business-
* 'Government plan' will cause tiny companies to fail (May 31)

LABOR

Stop law change that runs counter to international rules -- Akahata editorial, May 30
* Job hoppers account for 20 percent of Japan's youth labor force (May 31)

EDUCATION
* 80 percent say 'No' to revision of education law (May 31)

WW II
* Former war captives in Siberia demand back pay (May 30)
* LDP official's remarks concerning colonization of Korea distorts history (June 3)

Remarks distorting history of colonization of Korea -- Akahata editorial, June 3

JCP
* Shii lectures on JCP position on international issues (May 31)
* Fuwa speaks on prospects for international peace (June 2)

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