The July election has brought a serious reality in the House of Councilors as is the same as in the House of Representatives: those who want to rewrite the Constitution occupy the majority. Everyone is required to answer what the constitution means: the existing constitutional system formulated after the WWII is on the verge of collapse in terms of a living and working life of people.


A critical condition is regarded as an opportunity to struggle. Let's create a common front to realize the constitutional principles.


JAPAN FACES TURNING POINT OF HISTORY


The election resulted in a severe loss of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which allows the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and New Komeito to come back as a stable coalition. Simultaneously that enabled to go forward the Minna-no-to and the Ishin-no-kai which openly advocate more neo-liberal 'reforms' and declare a will to amend the Constitution.


Media report that state-level elections will not be held in coming three years and the Yomiuri newspaper regards the situation as 'golden three years'. In the both Houses of parliament political forces that defend the principles of Constitution represent an extreme minority. Under the circumstances a perilous trend is anticipated to prevail in which the Abe-ist politics will gain power to revise the constitution to seek for 'an exit from the post-war regime'.


Pre-emptive Strike against People's Resistance


Global rivalry has been staged by capitalists who dare to beat others in the survival competitions. Thus, gaps expand between the rich and the poor among the nations and regions where neo-liberal contradictions further grow and deepen. A fundamental question was raised: Does a traditional practice work in today's politics? At the same time every one of the voters was made to think over what kind of society should be sought for. This was the vital contention of the election but was concealed.


According to Prime Minister Abe, economic revival means survival of Japanese big business. For this reason it was necessary for him to implement nationalistic diplomacy against China and South Korea by agitating superiority of Japanese values and enhance external commerce policy through encouraging export of nuclear plants. Meanwhile domestically, his government decides on re-operation of nuclear power stations and commits in TPP, or trans-pacific partnership arrangement, talks.


The government, taking advantage of a weak way of thinking of Japanese that people depend on big employers and workers depend on employers, compels working people to endure: it presses people to live without public services like pensions and health care. That is a copy of the wartime saying that the imperial government forced people, making them declare 'until victory in the war we do not want anything'.


The Abe government has gained confidence in the election and is intended to intensify the constitution amendment trend. Thus it is anticipated that the society will be divided further, contradictions will deepen, and people's resistance will emerge. The government is to stage a preemptive strike against people's rebellion in the course to amendment. If you read a draft constitution compiled by the LDP, you are well aware of the intention.


The draft emphasizes duties of people, like 'family members should help each other', and priority of 'public benefits and orders'. The idea is to renounce constitutionalism which obliges the state power to guarantee the fundamental human rights.


A Critical Situation is an Opportunity


The voting rate was low in the election. Voters probably noticed dubious practices of the LDP. Betrayal of the DPJ has led to profound distrust in politics. Under the circumstances individual persons, left separated and isolated, face harsh realities in which a traditional way does not work.


Have we, working people, succeeded in presenting reliable choices to voters and organizing trustworthy social movements and discussions? After the collapse of the Socialist Party of Japan and the Sohyo (=General Council of Trade Unions of Japan) we have not been successful in establishing alternative movements and organizing workers.


However, a critical situation is regarded as an opportunity. Daring attempts of the government to destroy the post-war constitutional system will test every person how to think of the realities.


A new era has come which urges us to have a broader mind. Which type of society should we seek? The idea must be shared together with many.


July 30, 2013