At a press conference on August 9 President Sasamori reported on major demands raised during the 9 month long "Action Route 47" and shared his thoughts on covering approximately 47,300 km (29,397 miles).

 

Photo: Reporting on the sincere voices of local people. (August 9, RENGO Headquarters.)

During "Action Route 47" President Sasamori visited every prefectures himself in order to exchange opinions with various people. Since its start last November through August this year, Sasamori met with governors, local authorities, prefectural administrative representatives, labor departments, and employers' associations. He also talked with union officials/members, part-time and dispatched non-union workers, people from NPO organizations, and labor and management members whose unions are unaffiliated with above organizations. In addition, he held rallies and symposiums, street campaigns, and met with people who had either left jobs or were looking for jobs in various locations.
He stressed that his general impression of his tour was that "unions are 'always on the job site.' We should remind ourselves once again that the starting point for labor movements is at the workplace." He appealed for the importance of RENGO playing a role as a national center over and above understanding not only the opinions of union members but also the circumstances of people who work at firms without unions. He also pleaded for the importance of enforcing a "return to fundamental labor movements."