Undaunted by initial setback

NPO Bokuichi pushes “voter nurturing”

―挫折を乗り越え―

「票育」を軸に活躍するNPO「ぼくいち」

A Chuo University student, casually clad in a T-shirt and shorts, lightly replied to questions in an interview with Hakumon Herald. He is Hirokatsu Goto, a fourth grader of the Faculty of Economics. A native of Niigata Prefecture, he was a member of his high school’s rowing club which once qualified to compete in the national championship. He is now enthusiastic about politics. His dream of becoming a politician has brought him to Tokyo. Goto currently serves as president of NPO “Bokurano Ippo ga Nihon wo Kaeru” (Bokuichi for short which literally means “our initial step can change Japan”). It offers voter education lectures targeted at young Japanese people. Hakumon Herald asked him about how he took part in the organization, with particular emphasis on its core “Hyoiku” (voter nurturing) activity.

 

半袖、半パン姿の学生は記者の質問に軽快に答える。中央大学経済学部4年の後藤寛勝(ごとう・ひろかつ)さんだ。彼は新潟生まれで、高校時代にはボート部で全国大会にまで出場した実力もある。そんな後藤さんが今熱中しているのは「政治」だ。高校時代からの夢である政治家を目指して上京。NPO「僕らの一歩が日本を変える(ぼくいち)」(以下、「ぼくいち」)の代表理事を務め、日本の若者を対象に主権者教育を提供している。白門ヘラルドはこの後藤さんに「ぼくいち」参加のいきさつとその活動の軸である票育について話を聞いた。


Faced with sudden challenge

 

突然訪れた試練                                                         

Bokuichi was founded in 2012 by six high-school students and Goto joined it in 2013. He had been trying to find an organization where he can pursue his dream of becoming a politician when a Chuo University professor introduced him to the then president of Bokuichi. Looking back at those days, Goto said, “Our organization was enjoying smooth sailing as the media played up a number of events we had successfully carried out.”

 

 「ぼくいち」が設立されたのは2012年。当時高校生6人が設立。後藤さんが「ぼくいち」に参加したのは翌年13年。政治家になる夢を叶えるために活動先を探していたところ、中央大の教授に団体の代表を紹介されたことがきっかけだ。「多くのイベントを成功に導いたことで、メディアでも取り上げられるようになり、順風満帆だった」(後藤さん)。

 

In 2014, however, Bokuich and Goto came across a major turning point. One member of the group, disguising himself as a fourth grader of an elementary school, set up a website casting doubt over the decision taken by the Liberal Democratic Party, in particular Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to dissolve the House of Representatives to call for a general election. The act of sending messages in false identity drew harsh public criticisms. The member resigned by taking responsibility for tarnishing the organization’s reputation. Goto was appointed interim president of Bokuichi. “Our reputation fell to rock bottom. Our supporters left us one after another,” he said in retrospect. “It was the hardest days in my life. I felt all of my efforts had been denied. I thought of giving up my dream to become a politician.”

 

しかし、14年、組織と後藤さんに転機が訪れる。組織のメンバーが小学4年生を装い、衆院解散を決定した自由民主党、特に安倍晋三首相に疑問を投げかけるウェブサイトを立ち上げた。身分を偽って情報発信していたことが問題になった。該当メンバーはその責任をとって辞任。後藤さんが臨時の代表に就任することになる。「ぼくいちの評価はどん底に落ち、サポートしてくれていた人たちが日を追うごとに、一人また一人と離れていきました。」と、後藤さんは当時の様子を振り返る。「人生で一番つらい時期でした。今までの努力が全否定された気持ちになり、政治家の道もあきらめようと考え始めました」(同)

However, Goto managed to hold on. While asking himself, “Isn’t a single mistake excusable in the world of politics?” he told himself, “Despite our wrongdoing, it should be our responsibility to prove by action that even younger people like us can change society.” He spent the next eight months making a round of visits to all individual and corporate supporters to offer an apology. At the same time, he redefined the principles of his organization’s activities. Its prime aim was upgraded from providing the youth with chances to get associated with politics to changing society through their closer cooperation. The association launched Hyoiku as its core activity.

 

だが、後藤さんは簡単に折れなかった。「たった一度の失敗も政治の世界では許されないのか。」責任を痛感する一方で、「自分たちの責任は、たとえ失敗しても若者が社会を変えることができることを行動で示すことだ」と、逆に使命感が湧いた。まず、援助をしてくれていた個人、企業に8か月かけて謝罪して回った。同時に団体の活動理念を刷新した。若者が政治と触れ合う機会を提供するという活動目標から、若者の力で社会を変えるという理念に移行。その活動の中心として票育を掲げたのである。