Japan's Communist Party: Japanese Politics 101

For years, the Japanese Communist Party's (JCP) stated aim was to overthrow the Japanese Imperial System--through any means necessary. Over time, and through distancing themselves from their overseas brethren, the JCP toned-down the rhetoric and (somewhat surprisingly) began working with mainstream opposition parties(!). Together as a coalition, they figured it easier to take-on the Shinzo Abe government by cleverly throwing-in more effective wrenches whenever possible. Join Michael and Timothy as they shed some light on this once-considered rouge and indeed illegal party: it isn’t anymore!

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[Kid_Ikaris]

This was the most objective discussion of a communist party I've ever heard.

[KingJapanPUA]

If you have a chance, you should do the history of anarchism in Japan; there's a LOOONG history with figures like Noe Ito and Sakae Osugi

[mvk]

Very impressed with this video. Astonished to hear two people talk about communism in a rational way and not be anti-communist about it, whether or not the two people here are anti-communist.

[scarletcrusade]

Please continue these politics 101 videos since they're absolute gold! Nobody else gives us this insight into Japanese politics so you guys are doing amazing work, I'd love to see you go through all the Japanese parties then maybe do videos on all the Japanese prime ministers or maybe Japanese elections Post WW2

[HxHDRA]

Japan is in the top 5 countries for science and technological development consistently, especially in robotics. As workers are replace by machines resources will have to be distributed rationally instead of just being used to increase the profits of a wealthy few, there is no way around it.

[平和と繁栄]

Will you guys make a video on the Social Democratic Party?

[thecosmicloaf]

hey, stephen here from ireland. absolutely loved this. to the point and very informative. keep it up

[carljones]

Oh hey thanks for this it is what I always wanted you to cover

[CecilyRenns]

thanks for the video, was afraid the video would dissolve into red scare crudeness but you guys seemed like rational and intellectually honest talkers.

[creamCarnivalJones]

My only complaint is no talk about Kenji Miyamoto and his significant role in the JCP

[fadheelm]

Japanese politics is a bit unique. The ruling party (Liberal Democratic Party) is actually conservative, and the Japanese Communist Party is more progressive. LDP want to keep Japan to the Japanese, meaning if you’re mixed or naturalized, you’re technically excluded from the society.
I personally think that JCP is more align with western ideas of Liberalism.
Some of their main objectives are:
1. Terminating the Japan–United States military alliance and the dismantling of all American military bases in Japan.
2. Abolish Japan Self-defense Force in a long term.
3. opposes possession of nuclear weapons by any country.
4. Peaceful negotiations over military solutions for disputes resolutions.
5. oppose to the existence of the Imperial House, and establish democratic republic.
6. legalization of same-sex marriage.
7. put Asian diplomacy at the center of Japan foreign relations.
8. advocate that Japan issue further apologies for its actions during World War II and has condemned prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine
9. condemn North Korea's nuclear-weapons testing.
And many more…

[thechris]

Oh god, I just saw your last upload was a year ago. I really hope you guys didn't give up. There's something here, you just gotta figure it out.

[aturchomicz]

Truly the only voteable Party in Japan. Go JCP!!✊🏻

[SMGJohn]

Japan historically like most Asian countries have always been HIGHLY collective in nature and culture, in fact Japan have had multiple uprisings and thinkers who hated the oppression of the peasants, Oda Nobunaga is notable for this, but the Ikko Ikki are also known for standing by the peasants against oppression.
Communist thinking actually arrived in Japan quite early already by 1870s. And Socialist thought and idea developed quite rapidly in Japan, in fact in the 30s there was a coup attempt by Japanese Socialist militarists who attempted to overthrow the Far right militarists who took power, the Sakura party as they called themselves failed, however they did in fact have quite a chance of success had they actually taken power the outcome of the Pacific war would been very different, they advocated for defensive expansion and friendly relations with the USSR.
While contradictory, Imperialism and Socialism does not exactly go together regardless what CIA paid right wing papers wants you to believe.
The Japanese Communist Party has seen tremendous growth over the recent years because the more individualistic culture adaption in Japan is not faring well, suicide rates are climbing, economical instability, relationships are falling apart, there increasing unemployment, all of this has been going on since the 90s right when Japan adopted increasingly Liberal policies.
And like every country that have adopted increasingly Liberal economical policies, the same effects are applying except in Japan they are ten times worse because it has always been a collective country unlike the wests which started its Liberalisation already by beginning of 19th century.
Remember that early Industrial Capitalism 1650 - 1950 was very heavily unregulated Laissez Fare style free market. It was only after WW2 that State Capitalism really was implemented well apart from the Soviet Union and its command economy already in 1931

[decim]

Conveniently forget to mention that mcarthy wanted to bomb them into oblivion

[codycurtin]

When I was last in Japan I tried so hard to visit their headquarters but alas it fell through. Next trip I will be going!

[colamola]

The dude on the left reminds me of Earl Browder, kinda sick.

[Andrew-jbiy]

The 日教組 teacher's union is associated with the democratic party, not the JCP. It is the much smaller 全教 union that is associated with the communists

[zurinarctus]

Japan Communist Party is the only party that gives me hope for Japan. The corrupt LDP ruined Japan for years as well as their leaders are American puppets. Additionally, JCP is more like the Democratic Party in USA or Christian Democratic Union of Germany.

[marta]

really good video! it deserves far more views