Japan Press Weekly

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2025 June 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Tamura: JCP in ordinary Diet session shows clear direction for overcoming cost of living crisis

The Japanese Communist Party held its Dietmembers’ general assembly in the Diet building on June 20, two days before the 217th ordinary session of the Diet was scheduled to close.

JCP Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko in her speech said that while the Ishiba administration failed to take effective action to tackle any critical issues, including rising prices, JCP lawmakers in the Diet discussions made propositions showing concrete ways to reduce hardships in people’s everyday life and achieve a Japan with hope.

Regarding the issue of the ongoing cost of living crisis, Tamura said that the Liberal Democratic-Komei government, out of ideas, only came up with a plan to provide a cash handout of 20,000 yen each to the general public. In contrast, she said that the JCP proposed to lower the consumption tax rate by imposing a fair share of the tax burden on large corporations and the rich, which will be an appropriate solution than the 20,000-yen handout.

As for the skyrocketing rice price, Tamura pointed out that the LDP-led government should be blamed for causing this situation through its deficient agricultural policies, such as forcing farmers to reduce rice paddy acreage and rice production and abolishing the farm income compensation system. She called on JCP lawmakers to make all-out efforts to revitalize Japan’s agriculture with the introduction of a price- and income-support program which will help to raise Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate.

Tamura said that only the JCP argued against the government’s huge military buildup policy tied to U.S. military objectives.

Tamura noted that at a meeting on the previous day with Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan President Noda Yoshihiko, they reached an agreement to work together in the upcoming House of Councilors election with the aim of demoting the ruling parties to a minority position. She said that this is a significant first step in rebuilding a joint struggle of opposition parties working in tandem with concerned citizens.