Popular novel on Marxism draws young people to communist party

Marxism usually needs a revolution to come about but perhaps that's what Japan needs right now? Something new to strip away the inertia of old ideas and customs.

Workers generally have pretty crappy working conditions in Japan and the salaries are nothing special so if people continue to join the Communist Party perhaps the Liberal Democrats, big business etc will have noone to blame but themselves.

Communist Japan. Sounds cool!

there's 1000 born every month...

a lot of college kids go through the Marxism phase as a "no" vote to the status quo. Once the grow up and get a job they usually move to more mainstream affiliations. We all see how well communism worked for Russia and Eastern Europe.

Irony, Japan went from the world's most staunchly anti-communist country to having a communist party, and now many communist youth. However I highly doubt that this book or anything else is going to lead to some kind of a communist revolution in Japan.

I hope these young people didn't blow all their money on the book. I'd hate to think they didn't have enough left over to go out and buy their Che Guevara t-shirts.

The best advertising to promote the radical left is the radical right. I have to laugh at both sides as they point fingers at each other as the source of their pain - of course they are both correct.

Where would the workers be if they did not have The Man to malign; and The Man would not be where his is if it were not for the constant threats the workers represent.

Globally we are seeing things become harder and harder for workers. Prices rise, salaries do not or decline. People are expected to work longer and harder for no additional pay. When people quit they are not replaced, their jobs are divided to add load to existing workers. Balance with family and life does not exist for a lot of workers. Especially in Japan. And many of these issues are growing worst.

Somewhere along the way we lost faith in the power of labor and in our power to be an catalyst of change. Perhaps the failed State Capitalist systems in Russia and China tarnished the idea of Marxism and power in labor.

I think 20th Century communism was a corruption of leftwing ideas by totalitarian leaders. The real concepts in left wing worker politics are as valid today as they were when written. Workers have power when they are united for change. Greater worker control over resources and production are good for the vast majority of people living on this planet.

But change needs to include broader democratic leadership and a shift to environmentally friendly production and economics. Maybe this starts by having people read books like this and turn to Left wing parties. But it must not become a return to Communism as we knew it. It must be a modern interpretation that empowers workers and consumers to have stronger control over labor, government and their lives. It is time we started to take back the voice we should have had all along. And this book, if it is truly helping, it a good start.

Good post tkoind.

I think communism has a good reputation in certain countries so bad governments (dictatorships) use that term as propaganda. China, North Korea etc. This allows capitalist countries to equate dictatorialism with communism.

The ideas of Marx are still valid.

The Japanese youth is very left oriented. I want to be a member of the communist party too.

Nice balanced post, tkoind.

In my experience, where Japanese young people (18-30 or so) are politically involved, it is usually more on the left than on the right (I don't count participation in gangster-backed extreme right-wing noisemaking "political involvement"), but until now more with a pacifist than a socialist bent.

While conditions for those young people stuck in essentially day labor work (moving companies, trucking, road crews, retail temp work, "event support", etc.) don't even remotely approach the harshness of life on a crab ship, their day-to-day lives are increasingly barren, marked by deep anxiety about housing, daily needs, and their futures. This turn to a more socialist orientation has come as they realize that the larger issues of the once-dominant pacifist movement are luxuries for them, and hold no answers to improving the burden of their own lives. Still, the two are connected in many ways--at the least, by their overlapping presence in this younger age group--and it's possible that, at some point in the future--their interests will begin to merge.

Still, if the JCP is truly interested in making something of this perhaps aberrant rise in membership, it should more aggressively address its traditional responsibility of educating its younger members, rather than weakly wondering if "the new recruits are even aware of Marxism's background." One key plank of any latter-day, post-dictatorialist socialist party must be a focus on education, not for propagandist mass mind control as in the past, but as a powerful tool for developing an intelligent, free-thinking, activist populace.

Social ideas are the most humane, progressive and beautiful. I am glad there are people here who appreciate them.

sk4ek. Wonderful post. I can agree with you whole heartedly.

What a load of rubbish!!! Communism is corrupt fraud idea of nothing but common theft.

People should understand the concept of freedom and free markets instead. But hey, it's a lot easier to sit on your bottom and do nothing while getting freebies from oversized government instead.

Why can't these people quit and look for other job? If people quit, rather than whine, they will create job market with market salaries.

Taking from rich is not the solution. Working hard for your own success is. I oppose everything that communism is all about, as I oppose any kind of social programs, government intervention and government corporations.

Older JCP members wonder if the new recruits are even aware of Marxism’s background.

I am sure most aren't and this is likely yet another "trend" in Japan. There is not much "soul" to be found in modern Japan and I think that is why folks are attracted to cults and fringe groups infused with ideology and propaganda they don't understand. In no way do I mean to take away from the right of workers to organize and bargain, I just don't think many folks get that here on the deeper level. Who knows? Perhaps that will change.

I disagree with nisegaijin. Marx himself said that the point of a communist state was to rid the community of capitalist ways and problems, and once that was done, for the people to liberate themselves from the government body itself, seeing that they have no point to be there anymore. Negri is a better source of communist ideas this day in age. Perhaps communism is just a trend in Japan. Which would make it terrible, and open for another Stalin if was to ever gain power. I'm a member of the Socialist party, myself. I think one of the best things that could happen, is allow capitalism to assimilate communist ideas into business and society. Capitalism could easily survive with no threat if it did this.

Why would you want to be in a socialist party? you don't value what's righfully yours? Or you just want to take anything that belongs to others because you are too lazy to work for yourself?

I value true capitalism. like it was before the 30's because it was required that people look after themselves. Now people rely on governments too much and governments are running huge deficits because of it.

In pure communism people will just not work! why bother if there is no individual reward. Marx's ideas were fraud.

True capitalism? If everything is for sale, it seems that governments are too (donations to parties that support big business). The leads to a vicious circle of donations and corporate welfare and the public end up getting screwed.

Nisegaijin, I'm sorry to tell you, but I think you don't know what you're talking about. As I had said, Marx is.. "out-dated". Antoni Negri is a better source of communist/socialist philosophy for this day in age. People will work in communism, because the survival of the community relies on it. If you don't work, it's not you who gets no food, it's the community aswell. The individual maybe not get the great "matieralistic reward", but what they will have is no worries. Their house burns down, the community helps them rebuild it. They get sick, they take the time off with no fear of "not getting their wages". They want to spend more time with the family, and not have to worry about "getting the paper work done", they can. I am a socialist and I have a good job, a great education, and knowledge that people of "lower economical class" do not have. I do not give because it's demanded, or because I feel quilty. I feel it's the right thing to do. To help one another. As I said though, capitalism would not be so hated, if it adopted a few socialist ideas. Paying more government tax, allowing for works unions, providing cheaper healthcare to staff, infinite sick days (only as long as your contract).

High unemployment rates, bad economy and the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer. Communism will inevitably be flourish.

Some people are so misguided... Communism has a poor track record.

It's a wonder any comsymp can read.