July 25, 2025
The Japanese Communist Party on July 24 held an online meeting in which Secretariat Head Koike Akira noted that Akahata greatly contributed to relegating the ruling bloc to a minority position in the latest House of Councillors election, and called on all JCP prefectural organization heads to increase Akahata readers.
Koike said that as stated in the JCP Standing Executive Committee’s statement regarding the July 20 Upper House election results, the Liberal Democratic and Komei coalition became a minority force in the Upper House as is the case in the Lower House, which is a positive change for Japan’s politics. He added that the JCP newspaper Akahata played a significant role in bringing about this situation because the Akahata news scoop turned the LDP slush-fund scandal into a major focal point in the election. He appealed for the need to have conviction that now is the time to attract more Akahata readers.
Koike said that between July 3, the first day of the Upper House official campaign period and July 24, the number of people who applied directly to the JCP headquarters for an Akahata subscription reached 947. Half of the new subscribers are adults aged 18-49 years.
Koike listed two features found in reasons given by those signed up as an Akahata reader: provides a serious exploration of policy alternatives to the LDP and a critical understanding of the rising far-right xenophobic sentiments in Japan.
Koike said that during the election campaign, the JCP connected with a broad range of people through various activities, including talking with people about their demands and recruiting campaigning volunteers, and working to build a relationship of trust with the general public. Stating that this provides a possibility to increase Akahata readership, the JCP secretariat head said, “Let us take this opportunity to attract new Akahata readers!”
Koike said that as stated in the JCP Standing Executive Committee’s statement regarding the July 20 Upper House election results, the Liberal Democratic and Komei coalition became a minority force in the Upper House as is the case in the Lower House, which is a positive change for Japan’s politics. He added that the JCP newspaper Akahata played a significant role in bringing about this situation because the Akahata news scoop turned the LDP slush-fund scandal into a major focal point in the election. He appealed for the need to have conviction that now is the time to attract more Akahata readers.
Koike said that between July 3, the first day of the Upper House official campaign period and July 24, the number of people who applied directly to the JCP headquarters for an Akahata subscription reached 947. Half of the new subscribers are adults aged 18-49 years.
Koike listed two features found in reasons given by those signed up as an Akahata reader: provides a serious exploration of policy alternatives to the LDP and a critical understanding of the rising far-right xenophobic sentiments in Japan.
Koike said that during the election campaign, the JCP connected with a broad range of people through various activities, including talking with people about their demands and recruiting campaigning volunteers, and working to build a relationship of trust with the general public. Stating that this provides a possibility to increase Akahata readership, the JCP secretariat head said, “Let us take this opportunity to attract new Akahata readers!”
