Unfairly dismissed tour conductor reinstated

SHIOTA Takuji, the president of the Hankyu Travel Support (HTS) Local of the National Union of General Workers Tokyo Tobu, returned to work on September 10, 2013. Shiota struggled for the withdrawal of his dismissal for more than four years, and his reinstatement was confirmed after a victorious settlement of this case at the Tokyo High Court. His first assignment after the reinstatement as a tour conductor was a 10-day tour to Turkey. His reinstatement is very significant in the sense that such a worker in a vulnerable temporary position as him succeeded in returning to work when the Japanese Government attempts to ease restrictions on firing workers. We are confident that a trade union can overcome unfair practices of companies. Your support to our struggle is highly appreciated! (Sugano)

* Photo: SHIOTA Takuji

阪急トラベルサポート派遣添乗員・塩田卓嗣さんが職場復帰

東部労組ＨＴＳ支部塩田委員長が本日（9/10）元気に仕事に復帰しました！ 不当な「アサイン停止」の撤回を求め４年以上闘い、東京高裁での勝利和解により職場復帰を確定させた東部労組ＨＴＳ（阪急トラベルサポート）支部塩田委員長が、本日からのトルコ１０日間ツアーで元気に仕事に復帰しました！ 解雇規制の緩和が画策されている中、立場が弱いとされている登録型派遣労働者が職場復帰を現実化させた異議は本当に大きなものがあります。「労働組合で闘えば、企業の不当な仕打ちを跳ね返すことができる」との確信を私たち東部労組は新たにしています。全国のみなさん！この間のご支援、本当にありがとうございました！（菅野存）

Remember the history of the suppression of free speech – 90th anniversary of the Kameido Incident

On September 8, 2013, a ceremony to commemorate the 90^th anniversary of the Kameido Incident was held at Akamon Joshinji Temple in Kameido, Tokyo. The Great Kanto Earthquake hit the region including Tokyo on September 1, 1923, leaving more than 100,000 people dead and injured. Under the Japanese Imperial Government of that time, which took advantage of the chaotic situation after the natural disaster, the police arrested ten progressive union and social activists in this region and massacred them at the local police station. This is called the Kameido Incident. This is a crime committed by the Japanese Government that crushed the stronghold of Japan’s labor movement and its revolutionary spirit, trying to suppress free speech. It is always suppressed under a repressive government. It is very significant to know the truth of the Kameido Incident and swear not to allow the authority to suppress free speech again in this time when the current Abe Administration strives to make it possible for Japan to “commit itself to war” and change the constitution that renounces war. (SATO Kazuyuki)

Photo: Photos of the victims

言論弾圧の歴史を忘れるな～「亀戸事件90周年追悼会」開かれる

9月8日、東京の亀戸にある赤門浄心寺において、「亀戸事件90周年追悼会」が開かれた。・・1923年9月1日、関東地方を襲った大震災が発生し、死傷者 十数万人となる未曾有の災害となりました。戦前の天皇制政府はこの混乱に乗じて、南葛地域（現在の江東区、墨田区）の先進的な労働運動や社会運動の活動家（川合義虎、平澤計七、吉村光治ら）10人を亀戸警察に連行し、虐殺しました。これが亀戸事件です。日本の労働運動の拠点だった亀戸で、その革命的精神を潰し、言論の封殺を狙った権力犯罪です。権力による悪政がすすめられるもとでは、必ず言論弾圧が引き起こされます。安倍内閣のもとで、急速に「戦争する国」づくりや憲法改悪の策動が強まるもとで、亀戸事件の真実を知り、ふたたび権力による言論封殺を許さないとの思いを固めあうことは、非常に意義あることです。（佐藤和之） 

The 90th Anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake: Mourning for Korean victims

On September 7, 2013, approximately 400 people participated in a ceremony of the 90^th Anniversary of the Great Kanto Earthquake to mourn Korean victims at a bank of Arakawa River in Tokyo. The following incidents that happened after the quake were introduced at the ceremony. Soon after the quake hit Tokyo on September 1, 1923, unfounded rumors, such as “Koreans will attack us” and “Koreans will poison wells”, spread, leading to the massacre of Koreans by Japanese citizens. It even worsened after the Japanese Army joined it. The Korean victims’ whereabouts are still unknown.

It was also introduced that a monument to commemorate the Korean victims was built in 2009 and has been together with the community. (OZAWA Kuniko)

関東大震災90周年、荒川河川敷で韓国・朝鮮人犠牲者を追悼する

9月7日（土）、東京・荒川河川敷において「関東大震災90周年 韓国・朝鮮人犠牲者追悼式とほうせんかの夕べ」があり、約400名が参加しました。追悼式では、「1923年9月1日、『朝鮮人が襲ってくる』『井戸に毒を入れる』などのデマが流れ、民衆による虐殺が始まった。2日か3日には軍隊が来て、虐殺はひどくなった。犠牲者の行方は、わからないまま90周年をむかえています」というお話しがありました。また2009年に建立された追悼碑が、地域の方と共にあることが紹介されました。（尾澤邦子）