Bikini tragedy gave rise to movement against atomic and hydrogen bombs

By the end of 1954, 34 million people, or more than half of the eligible Japanese voters, signed the petition calling for nuclear weapons to be banned. This movement developed into the 1st World Conference against A & H Bombs in August 1955, which led to the establishment of the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) and the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bombs Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo).

All four JCP candidates elected in Oita City

“It was an important election for residents’ livelihoods. By getting all our candidates elected in the close battle, we could fulfill our responsibility as the residents’ lifeline,” said Hayashida Sumitaka, Japanese Communist Party Oita Prefectural Committee chair, at midnight on the voting day.

Shii calls for struggle to block ratification of agreement on relocation of U.S. Marines to Guam

Pointing out that the United States is moving some Marines out of Okinawa on condition that Japan will build a new base as the substitute for the USMC Futenma Air Station, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo criticized the government for accepting the strengthening and perpetuation of U.S. bases in Okinawa in disregard of residents’ opposition.