To: Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Yanagisawa, who referred to women as “Birth Machines”: Be Our Valentine, and Resign!

On 27 January, at a political meeting in Matsue City, the current Health Minister Yanagisawa made the comment that “because the number of birth-giving machines and devices is fixed” in reference to the low-birth rate issue. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry should be playing the very role of devising policies to deal with this issue, as well as providing a secure environment for children to be brought up in. Yet despite holding the prime responsibility for such issues, its representative made this remark, an utmost neglect of women's human rights. Furthermore, Yanagisawa did not take responsibility for his actions and has remained in his position as minister. We, Peace Boat, strongly voice our opposition to this, and call for his immediate resignation.

On the occasion of Valentine's Day tomorrow, we will deliver giant chocolates and a letter in protest to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. These have been created by young people in their late teens and twenties, in opposition to Yanagisawa's remark. In the centre of this heart-shaped thirty-centimeter tall, fifty-centimeter wide chocolate is written the message, “Health Minister Yanagisawa, we like you for resigning.” We will be visiting the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, with a group including young people who are currently balancing parenting and working outside home at the same time.

This year, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has announced its prediction that due to the falling birth rate, by the year 2050 the working population will fall to 44.7 million, two thirds of the 2005 population. Problems regarding the future of Japan such as policies for tackling the falling birth rate, child-raising and welfare issues are of high interest for the Japanese people. At the current parliament session, the Health Minister, who is responsible for resolving these issues and affecting our future lifestyles, has made the outrageous comparison of women to machines. We consider Prime Minister Abe to hold responsibility for placing a person with such a sense of human rights in the position of minister.

For these reasons, we call for Health Minister Yanagisawa's immediate resignation.

Date: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Time: 12:00pm
Place: Main entrance – Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare,
Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo

Contact: Daini Nakahara, Peace Boat Tel: 03-3362-6307 / 080-3476-8091 (Japanese)
Information in English will be available at the time of the event,
or please call: 03-3363-8047 for more information