Communism Now Big in Japan; Still Little in Virtue

By Selwyn Duke

Will the grinding poverty and initiative killing of collectivism soon wear the label “Made in Japan”? Such a prospect is likely a ways off, but it could become a reality if Yoshiko Kira has her way. Kira is one of a slew of Japanese Communist Party (JCP) candidates who won office in her nation’s July elections, which saw the JCP increase its presence in the House of Councilors from 6 to 11 seats — enough representation to propose legislation.

In point of fact, the JCP won more votes in the major metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka than all but Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and the JCP has been on the rise for some time. As the Telegraph’s Danielle Demetriou wrote in 2008, “New [JCP] recruits are signing up at the rate of 1,000 a month, swelling its ranks to more than 415,000. Meanwhile a classic proletarian novel is at the top of the best-seller lists, and communist-themed ‘manga’ comics are enjoying soaring success.”

It isn’t just the Land of the Rising Sickle, either.

Read the rest here.

Comments

[Robert Berger]

Even though I'm a liberal I've never been a Marxist or communist and have always been aware of all the terrible things caused by the rulers of communist China and the former Soviet Union .
But the opposite of communism , pure laissez-faire capitalism , where it's all dog eat dog competition , business and industry are free to exploit working people and make obscene profits while millions are living in misery and there is no safety net for those down on their luck , and ruthless, greedy plutocrats have all the power over government , is no better.
This is what America is at risk of becoming because of the GOP and ruthless ,greedy plutocrats like the Koch brothers . Selwyn Duke is a shill for these .
America is also at risk of losing freedom because of the religious fanatics of the religious right . I'm just s opposed to tyranny of the right-wing kind as I am to tyranny of the left-wing, Marxist and communist kind . There has to be a safe, humane middle way between these two evils .

[Philip France]

Robert the Reprobate believes the things that he believes because Joseph Stalin intended for him to and sent thousands of his agents to infiltrate or college campuses, our media, Hollywood and religious institutions, as well as our Department of State. Robert swallowed the bait hook, line and sinker.

http://vimeo.com/63749370

[Rodion R. Raskolnikov]

its always interesting when we believe in conspiracies which apparently have the ability to completely brainwash us to the point where the victim believes himself to have free will but apparently doesn't. such a conspiracy must also give to the idea that one's own thoughts are also completely artificial and has no free will of his own as well. Thus, the end result is that we ought not say anything because everything is a potential conspiracy and no one can hold undeniable truth, or a method to provide truth. such fun. now to kill whatever things i've said...the article focuses on the idea that the atrocities of communism have been whitewashed from society. that is just completely untrue. the fact is that in america, communism is such an ugly word that you would have more acceptance coming out as a serial killer than as a communist sympathizer. democracy ought to embrace all ideas...its what its built on. if it was built on anything less than subjective reality, we would base our legislation off of a grander form of truth. time to read some thomas hobbes everyone!!

[Rodion R. Raskolnikov]

i also think we can understand the tendency through the lens of disenfranchisement of the youth. the "hikimori syndrome" is a prevalent social problem in japan, and seems to be born out of disillusionment with the world. how can a young person in the modern world really expect to be ideally "competitive" in a global world? just by being in a first world country your job might be subject to loss or reduced wages from outsourcing. and, i don't believe that most people truly seek to become rich...like machiavelli's 2 humors, the latter is desires to live out a day to day life...global capitalism has not done a good job in providing an outlet for that humor...the modern world does not provide it...as its always in fluctuation. anyhow, i beleive you are a relatively smart individual, so i don't mind your comment if you can spare it..