July 23, 2019

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on July 22 held a press conference at the JCP head office in Tokyo regarding the results of the House of Councilors election.

After explaining the JCP view on the election results, Shii answered questions from the media.

Asked about the possibility of developing future relations with the Reiwa Shinsengumi party which was established just three months before the election, Shii said that what the Reiwa party proposes in its election platform pointed in a parallel direction with the JCP election platform, and expressed that the JCP may look for cooperation with the Reiwa party in order to jointly change politics.

In this regard, Shii referred to support from actor-turned-politician Yamamoto Taro, who heads the Reiwa party, in the JCP election campaign. Shii said that Yamamoto delivered speeches in solidarity for JCP candidates in their street speeches in Kanagawa, Kyoto, and Osaka, thanking Yamamoto for his assistance and cooperation.

In the July 21 election, two Reiwa Shinsengumi candidates with severe disabilities won proportional representation seats.

Asked by reporters about the two Reiwa winners, Shii said that the JCP will do everything possible to support them in the Diet.