Kenji Eda speaks at "Café Democrats"

On March 8, DP Deputy President Kenji Eda spoke at "Café Democrats", the discussion forum organized by the party for members of the diplomatic corps.  The meeting was held at the Kensei Kinen Kaikan.

At the start of the meeting, DP International Department Director-General Hiroe Makiyama addressed the attendees, thanking them for their participation, and Next Minister of Foreign Affairs Yukihisa Fujita commented on his visit to the United States from the end of January to the beginning of February, as well as expressing his condolences on the death of Lester Tenney, former Japanese POW (Prisoner Of the War) and National Commander of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, who passed away earlier this year.  International Department Vice Director-General Junya Ogawa expressed the opinion that the international situation was changing drastically.

In the subsequent briefing, DP Deputy President Kenji Eda talked about the merger between the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) that created the DP, from his perspective as a former President of the JIP, stating that the concept of “innovation” and JIP policies had been embraced by the DP.  He stated that the party should emphasize the importance of a society that gives sovereignty to the regions, while clarifying its differences with the LDP, saying, “We would like to carve out cutting-edge policies that have a different impact from those of the LDP.”

Eda said that the LDP and the DP stood respectively on the supply-side and the demand-side of the social spectrum, and referred to the importance of having a two-party system before stating that “the DP’s mission [while of course continuing to stress economic growth] is to redistribute wealth, emphasizing investment in education and people.”

In the area of foreign and security policy, Eda referred to North Korea’s missile launches and nuclear tests, while explaining the party’s basic stance in the following way: “In order to protect Japanese citizens, we will ensure the security of our nation in the areas surrounding Japan, with the Japan-U.S. alliance serving as a cornerstone for this.  We will consider with caution actions in areas distant from Japan.”  He also said it was important for Japan to make international contributions in areas where she has expertise.
Eda expressed the party’s resolve for the forthcoming general election, stating, “We will clearly set forth these obvious differences with the LDP in domestic and foreign policy at the next general election, and forge ahead on a difficult path.” 

Following this, diplomats from countries in Africa and Asia expressed their appreciation and expectations for Japan’s contributions to the international community.