Statement by Kengo Sakurada, Chairman of Keizai Doyukai
on Start of Upper House Official Election Campaign

July 4, 2019

Kengo Sakurada
Chairman, Keizai Doyukai

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1. The upcoming Upper House election, to be voted on July 21, marks the start of Japan's national election in the Reiwa era. Facing Japan's domestic and diplomatic challenges, the candidates must promote nationwide debate during the campaign period on a vision of the nation in the new era.
2. In particular, we cannot dodge painful reforms in fiscal consolidation and social security system. We hope all political parties compete with policy measures that will mitigate uncertainties in the future of the public, while presenting concrete agendas backed up by financial resources and a timeline.
3. Our concern is the declining young voter turnout in recent years, particularly in the twenties. Each one of us must have interest in political and policy matters and should vote with responsibility.
4. Doyukai has been requesting its members to disclose their opinions on politics as corporate executives by voting in national elections. This time again, the members are requested to cooperate in raising voter turnout. Young voters, in particular, who are employees of the members' corporations and their families, as well as those of affiliated companies, should be reminded to vote. Considerations for working conditions should allow those employees to cast advance and absentee voting, without difficulty in voting on July 21, of course.

Japanese version