So, I’m currently living in Japan and, the place I am is full of either right wing people or “don’t care about politics” people. Is there any community in Japan for lefties?
Also, have a nice day comrades. Times are difficult now, so take care of your mental health and keep fighting!
(Photo is from a random japanese house with Communist Party posters)
I am outside Tokyo now, but I did join the kyousanto while still there and I recommend it. Even if you can’t vote you can participate and organize, they are very welcoming. You don’t have to worry about some kind of associated red scare getting your visa in trouble, they are a mainstream political party with a large amount of public support. There was a red purge thanks to the US when the party was at its most revolutionary, but that was quite a while ago. It’s actually the largest communist party in a non-communist country.
Temper your expectations to some degree as the party leadership as a whole leans more socdem, they tried running to the right as a way of drumming up votes (it didn’t work really) and have even distanced themselved from other AES (they have become very anti-China sadly). They replaced a lot of references to ML ideology with “scientific socialism” and advocate non-revolutionary communism. However, there are people in local chapters with a much more revolutionary mindset and who are often the people coordinating events.
I am not yet a citizen but am in the process, renouncing US passport is obnoxious. Will be able to vote afterwards.
One of their biggest causes in recent years is ending the US-Japanese alliance and removing US military bases from the country. Both of which are things that I support and generally receive a lot of widespread popularity.
interesting, how do the 共産党 view non-white, non-japanese looking people? especially half-japanese people?
I can only speak anecdotally to my group I met with prior to leaving Tokyo, but we did have some minority members, we had a black member, born and raised here but parents weren’t, and he seemed to be treated basically the same as most anyone. Newcomers would often be surprised he spoke Japanese until they found out he was in fact Japanese. We also had a couple half-Japanese returnees but they did look very Japanese. They’re not very keen on US military/soldiers in the country, but they don’t seem to paint all USians with that brush. I myself am from the US, even if I haven’t been back there for 20 odd years.
The party’s public positions are very inclusive as far as Japanese politics go, and, while I realise it isn’t related to your topic, is the most active about feminist and LGBT issues. Which is, admittedly, a very low bar in Japanese politics. They’re against the anti-Korean racism that pervades most of our conservative parties, and are the only party that really seeks to avoid historical revisionism in regards to Japan’s own war crimes. In fact, they want that to be taught more than it already is. They tend to advocate for distancing Japan from the US and partnering more with other Asian countries. Which, until very recently, included China.
I have a lot of issues with the party still, but there’s no denying it is the best of our big political parties. Which is…again, not saying a whole lot.
Damn, thanks comrade. I live nearby Nagoya. Is there any Aichi regional groups? Thank you for your huge advice.
There is an Aichi branch, here https://www.jcp-aichi.jp/
Japanese only, but if you are a student here hopefully you are studying Japanese? You might have a harder time if you don’t speak Japanese, as obviously groups tend to cater towards locals. Not to say that people won’t speak English there, but meetings and literature will all be in Japanese.
Yes, studying japanese with goals to enter higher education. Taking N2 this december. Thank you very much!
What do you think about smaller leftist groups such as Action Faction or Hantenren?