On the afternoon of January 4, Acting President Naoto Kan visited the "Village for Contract Worker to pass the New Year" set up in Tokyo's Hibiya Park. Together with other opposition parties, DPJ's strong position was brought forward to tackle the employment problem as a government responsibility during the ordinary Diet session.

Kan declared his determination to hasten debate in the Diet so that-as when twelve to thirteen years ago victims of HIV-tainted blood staged a sit-in protest, some risking their own lives, that finally led to a breakthrough-this New Year's action of those gathered would be the turning point for the employment and correct worker problem.

Kan referred to how appeals by him and his colleagues have already led two currently unused Chuo Ward elementary schools to offer their facilities as emergency shelters, and he expressed his strong resolution to do all in his power to have regional municipalities and the national government form a governmental collaboration to examine labor, employment and social issues.

Accompanying Kan were the Next Cabinet's Vice Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kazunori Yamanoi, National Rallying and Canvassing (NRC) Committee Chairman Sakihito Ozawa and NRC Deputy Committee Chairman Satoshi Takayama.