Japan Press Weekly
[Advanced search]
 
 
HOME
Past issues
Special issues
Books
Fact Box
Feature Articles
Mail to editor
Link
Mail magazine
 
   
 
HOME  > Past issues  > 2015 October 28 - November 3  > Nobel laureate Maskawa expresses support for JCP proposal for ‘national coalition gov’t’
> List of Past issues
Bookmark and Share
2015 October 28 - November 3 [JCP]

Nobel laureate Maskawa expresses support for JCP proposal for ‘national coalition gov’t’

October 29, 2015
Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on October 28 had talks with Nagoya University Special Professor Maskawa Toshihide on the university campus. The Japanese Nobel laureate in physics expressed his support for the JCP proposal to establish “a national coalition government to repeal the war legislation”.

In the talks, Maskawa noted that even though the security legislation was enacted, many people, including students, researchers, and mothers, are thinking about what they should do to abolish the legislation and taking action. “Prime Minister Abe is really ruthless. I want opposition parties to cooperate in order to overthrow the Abe government,” he said.

Shii quoted a female university student as saying at a protest rally held in Tokyo in October, “As long as we are just trying to guess what the mood is around us, we can never change that mood.” Shii went on to say, “Her statement reflects the maturity of Japan’s postwar democracy. The JCP initiative for a new coalition government is a product of people’s fight for peace and democracy.”

Dr. Maskawa’s motto is “Be a human before being a scientist.” This is a favored saying of Sakata Shoichi, a world-famous Japanese particle physicist. Maskawa used to study under Sakata in his youth.

Along with research activities, Maskawa has actively been engaged in peace movements for a long time. “Many researchers have become aware that they have to do something (to overturn the war legislation) as scientists,” he remarked.

The Nobel Prize winner added, “Less and less people have an ‘anti-communist’ bias to the JCP. First, it is significant for an opposition bloc to win the Upper House election slated for July next year.”

Shii referred to the fact that the JCP doubled its seats in the recent Miyagi Prefectural Assembly election, which sent shock waves through the central political world. “Going beyond differences in political stances, we’ll make our utmost effort to unite people’s voices seeking to restore democracy and constitutionalism,” he stressed.

Past related articles:
> Nobel laureates oppose cuts in science budget [November 26 & 27, 2009]
> Nobel laureate speaks on peace at scientists’ circle for Article 9 [March 9, 2009]
> Nobel prize-winners are reminder of the importance of state’s role in supporting basic research [October 10, 2008]
> List of Past issues
 
  Copyright (c) Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. All right reserved