[Last in a series]
<The upcoming Upper House election focuses mainly on economic policies and less on agriculture and rural villages. What will happen to our food resources under the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement? How did lives in rural areas change under the “economy comes first” policy? These are significant issues that are closely related to the Japanese people. The Japan Agricultural News asked three experts what they think are the issues which need to be addressed in the election.>
Mayumi Taniguchi
When we decide which party or candidate to vote for, we should not forget to check whether they kept the pledges they promised during the previous election campaigns and what they have achieved in the six years after they were elected. For example, in the campaigns for the Upper House election three years ago, the Liberal Democratic Party pledged to double the income of the agriculture industry and rural villages. Is the goal near? The people who voted for the party are responsible for continuing to oversee it.
The same thing can be said about the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. People tend to forget what was bothering them once the problem becomes less of an issue, but that shouldn’t happen with the TPP pact, considering that the government has failed to keep the pledge to protect the nation’s agriculture. Many of the members of Zen Nihon Obachan To are against the TPP pact. Housewives and women who are raising children are highly conscious of the significance of food. They strongly hope that not only their own children but every child gets enough safe food. Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate is already low. Why buy more food from overseas? Isn’t the government aware that food is directly linked to our lives?
All of us will be responsible if the children ask us 20 or 30 years from now: “Why did the world turn out like this?” When we cast our votes, we must think about whether we can build a society in which our children and grandchildren can take over the existing farming business and live proudly and happily. Never think that your vote means nothing.
It is said that Abenomics economic policies are the major focus of the upcoming election, but that’s not all. There are many other points at issue, including the TPP deal, the United States’ bases in Okinawa, shortage of nurseries, empowerment of women, falling birthrate and aging population. You should look for an issue that interests you and get right down to it. Then you find a candidate whom you can support and vote for.
I want young people, including 18- and 19-year-olds who gained the right to vote from this time, to vote no matter what. If they want to live their own lives, they should know that politics are closely related to each of their lives. The security legislation is an issue that directly affects young people. They might have difficulty deciding whom to vote for, but the important thing is to think. It is alright as long as they make their own decision. I don’t want them to pretend they know everything and think nothing would be changed by voting. I really want to tell them that their votes will make a difference.
<Profile> Born in the city of Osaka in 1975, Mayumi Taniguchi currently serves as associate professor at Osaka International University and as part-time lecturer at Osaka University. She established a women’s networking group Zen Nihon Obachan To on Facebook in 2012 to discuss politics from the standpoint of ordinary people and serves as its acting leader.