This is the translated version of the Japanese edition (No.239 dated May 21st, 2016). It is published by Katsuyuki Nara of the New English Teachers Association (or Shin-Eiken, http://www.shin-eiken.com/) and Stuart McLelland. The translation is on our own．
Uploaded on June 2nd English version No. 173
20 million signature campaign highlighted
as big issue of Upper House election
12 million signatures against the war-laws were presented to the National Diet through four opposition parties by the All-out Action Committee and other organizations on May 19th. Heads of the opposition parties (Democratic, Japanese Communist, Social Democratic, and People’s Life parties) addressed the meeting. Representatives of 29 various organizations including a blind people association, and a scholars’ group against war-legislation told about their activities concerning the anti-war laws signature campaign. Lastly, participants unanimously approved an appeal by applause in support of the movement for attaining their 20 million signature goal, repealing the war-legislation, retrieving constitutionalism, and gaining victory in the July Upper-House election. The appeal also referred to fielding joint candidates of opposition parties in 32 single seat constituencies, a tactic which it is hoped will beat the ruling Liberal Democratic and Komei parties’ majority rule in the House. Moreover, it called on civic groups to achieve the signature goal by June 30th without fail.
Some of A9A groups’ activities around the country concerning the above campaign are given below.
Tohoku group
On May 13th municipal heads’ group of the A9A held a general meeting in Aomori, and they adopted an emergency appeal to municipal mayors of cities, towns and villages around the country to abolish the war-laws, and block any constitutional amendment by the ruling parties. They reconfirmed strategies to win the election by using their political experiences as mayors, calling on citizens to “Work hard for the election by uniting “.
Takagi group in Nagano
On May 8th Soga Itsuro, Nakagawa Village mayor, addressed its general assembly on a theme of “Constitution and self-government.” He said, “Local governments responsible for protecting residents’ life and property should voice their demands to the central government when they feel the need to do so.”
Ishikawa group
The group invited Shibata Mirai, the joint candidate of the Ishikawa constituency, to their public lecture. She said that while she was studying in the United States, the 3.11 earthquake and tsunami took place. Americans asked her, ‘Why didn’t thieves there rob empty, devastated houses?” She felt proud of Japan’s good security then. But back in Japan, the Abe Cabinet railroaded the security-related laws. She said finally, “I will never tolerate the Abe Cabinet.”
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