The JCP 28th Congress Closing Speech
Kazuo SHII
Executive Committee Chair
January 18, 2020
Atami, Japan
Dear delegates and observers, the Congress has now reached the final proceedings. On behalf of the newly-elected Central Committee, I give my closing speech for the JCP 28th Congress.
1.
This Congress has been held during a uniquely historic time for Japan as well as the rest of the world.
In Japan, we are striving to build a united struggle composed of citizens and opposition parties strong enough to overthrow the Abe administration and establish a coalition government of opposition parties. This is the first opportunity to participate in forming a coalition government in the 98-year history of the JCP.
While the world has contained complex countercurrents, the “structural change” of the collapse of the colonial system has created new hopeful developments for peace and social progress. With the deepening contradictions of capitalism, whether or not this system can or should be continued is now called into question.
During such a special and historic time, this Congress has revised the Party Program outlining the party’s future course into a revised version tailored for the 21st century world. It has also adopted the First Resolution, which clarifies our present political tasks, and the Second Resolution, which provides specific policies for building a stronger and bigger party, by gathering the wisdom of the whole party. This achievement is of major significance.
I would like to heartily celebrate with you the knowledge we have gained that the 28th Party Congress has achieved a historic success thanks to the whole party’s efforts and struggles.
Dear comrades throughout Japan, let us share the revised Program and two Congress Resolutions with all party members without a moment’s delay and utilize them to empower us to achieve the JCP’s stated goals.
2.
The Congress has been joined by many guests from both home and abroad. I share with you their impressions of the Congress.
Guests from three parties and two parliamentary groups who made speeches in solidarity all agreed that the atmosphere of the Congress was very energetic and friendly. One of them said, “The atmosphere of the Congress was wonderful and calm, which made it easy for me to speak.” Another guest speaker said, “I felt the enthusiasm and warmth, and my speaking tone went up an octave unintentionally. It was amazing. The audience eagerly listened to my speech. I was impressed by their positive demeanor. It is hard to believe that they climb up and down the mountain for 5 straight days.”
With the representatives of opposition parties, we have been able to offer each other encouragement filled with respect which further strengthened our ties of mutual trust. I believe this has made an important contribution to further developing the joint struggle of opposition parties.
Here is some feedback by foreign diplomats:
-- Speeches by opposition parties’ representatives were very interesting. While they freely expressed on the stage their differences with the JCP, they also stated that they respect the JCP and that cooperation with it is essential. I think this is because the JCP has confidence in itself.
-- It was completely different from what I had expected. The JCP is indeed a unique party. I think it is good that it has revised the Program as the result of its reevalution of China.
-- The most impressing point in the report was the fact that the JCP is a party with a strong sense of independence which is capable of speaking up against the Soviet Union’s and China’s past actions. I felt strong empathy with its principle of independence in foreign policy making. I gladly participated in the Congress because I was able to learn this point.
-- Because the laughter and applause was spontaneous, I was applauding along with them without noticing. And, the congress was full of diversity.
Although not applauding is generally the common practice among foreign diplomats, many guests applauded.
-- The JCP is not trying to force its way into citizens’ lives. I rather felt its stance of trying to sincerely listen to the opinions of the people. I agree with the JCP on many issues. Honestly, I was surprised to know that the JCP perspective is so different from communist parties found in other countries.
-- I paid attention to the fact that the Congress takes a serious stance on gender equality and fighting climate change, the most pressing tasks facing the world. I thought that the party responds in accord with the needs of the changing world.
It gives us great pleasure to know that honored guests have recognized the positive features of the Congress and given us warm and heartfelt feedback.
I would like to again thank our guests from abroad as well as those residing in Japan.
3.
The Party Congress has elected the new Central Committee which will lead the whole party in its effort to putting into practice the Program and the Congress Resolutions. The new Central Committee has elected its leadership.
The most distinctive feature of the new CC structure is that we have made determined efforts to recruit women in order to live up to the Party Program call for gender equality.
The number of women members in the Central Committee now comes to 61, up 13 from the 48 in the last Congress. The percentage of women in the CC is 27.6%, up from 22.4%. Although it is still inadequate and more efforts are needed, we have achieved this one step forward by renewing the highest number and rate of women CC members.
The Standing Executive Committee, a body tasked to regularly fulfill nationwide leadership responsibilities, has doubled the number of its women members from 4 to 8, and the proportion has exceeded 30% for the first time. We have to make further efforts, but we consider this to be a significant improvement.
Of course, working for gender equality is not a task limited to women. Every member of the new Central Committee is determined to exert efforts to develop party activities and to transform the Japanese society based on a gender equality perspective.
The CC 1st Plenum confirmed the party’s three roles as were introduced. Vice Chair Tamura Tomoko will be in charge of the Policy Commission. Comrade Kurabayashi Akiko, who has been assigned as a new vice chair, will lead the newly-established Gender Equality Commission. I am firmly convinced that they will fulfill their tasks and meet the expectations of the whole party.
As the head of the new Central Committee, I pledge to fulfill my responsibilities with all the strength I have to listen carefully to the opinions of our comrades who are working tirelessly with the people at the grassroots level throughout Japan to understand the opinions of ordinary citizens who are concerned of life and peace.
4.
The success of the Party Congress can be partly attributed to encouragement from the guests from inside and outside Japan, delegates’ and observers’ energy, and the support of many staff members who have worked very hard in various ways. On behalf of the new Central Committee, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone for supporting this Congress.
Dear comrades, let us begin our efforts to fully implement the revised Program and the two Congress Resolutions, the fruit of the whole party’s collective wisdom.
Toward the upcoming general election, let us further develop the united struggle of concerned citizens and opposition parties, achieve the JCP’s progress, defeat without further delay the Abe Cabinet, the most reactionary government since the end of the war, and open the door for the formation of a coalition government of opposition parties.
Let us achieve our goals for building a stronger and bigger party adopted in this Congress, have deep and lasting connections with citizens, and establish a party with warm ties of solidarity.
With this, I conclude my closing speech for the 28th Party Congress.
