July 23, 2022

Aomori City Mayor Onodera Akihiko on July 21 announced his decision to implement a free school lunch program in all public elementary and junior high schools starting in October.

Efforts made by the Japanese Communist Party city assemblymembers’ group in collaboration of the citizens’ fight finally bore fruit.

In Aomori City, a civil group demanding free school lunches for students in May 2019 launched grassroots efforts, such as a signature-collection campaign, to increase public support for their demand. In response to the civil group’s efforts, the JCP in the city assembly repeatedly raised this issue.

Group secretary general Wada Tsutomu said to Akahata, “I’m really glad to hear the mayor’s announcement. With the Aomori City’s decision, the number of municipalities that have a free school lunch program has reached 14. We’ll continue to work hard to have the remaining municipalities in the prefecture introduce this program.”