Photo: Anticipating the activities of young leaders. (February 14, Tokyo)

RENGO held its 5th Youth Forum at Ikenohata Bunka Center in Tokyo on February 14, with the slogan "Guide Tomorrow's Labor Movement with Our Hands! Create Exchange and Networking Among Fellow Workers!" Approximately 140 young members involved in youth activities at affiliated organizations and local RENGO gathered at the forum. They got to know each other better by discussing how youth activities ought to be.

Representing the organizers General Secretary Kusano gave a speech reporting on RENGO activities regarding Koizumi's structural reform, medical system reform, the 2002 Spring Struggle, and work sharing. He also expressed his expectations to the attendees saying, "we want you as people supporting Japan's future to work actively."
Following that, a keynote lecture was delivered on a theme of "What We Expect of You, the Young People" by a House of Councilors member Takenori Emoto of the Democratic Party of Japan and a general discussion regarding future youth activities took place.

At the general discussion, RENGO headquarters proposed the "RENGO Proposal on <Youth Activities> (draft)" and from its affiliates and local RENGO, UNYU ROREN (All Japan Federation of Transport Workers' Unions), RENGO Niigata, and RENGO Osaka presented reports on their activities. Also opinions and requests were presented one after another from the attendees in a lively exchange of views that spilled over the allotted time.
A dinner party followed the forum, where attendees deepened relations with each other exchanging information about their everyday activities.