Nippon Ishin no Kai explained
The is a conservative and right-wing populist political party in Japan.[6] Formed as Initiatives from Osaka in October 2015 from a split in the old Japan Innovation Party, the party became the third-biggest opposition party in the National Diet following the July 2016 House of Councillors election.
The party advocates decentralization, federalism (Dōshūsei), free education,[7] and limited government policies. Arguing to remove defense spending limits, and standing with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on revising the constitution,[8] the party gained conservative support during the 2021 general election, primarily in Osaka.[6]
Nippon Ishin no Kai embodies a unique form of right-wing populism distinct from the traditional far-right populism typically seen. Rather than espousing extreme nationalist and social conservative ideologies, Ishin no Kai opposes the LDP's entrenched control over Japanese politics and bureaucracy, known as the 1955 system.[9] [10] [11]
History
The party was formed in October 2015 under the name by Osaka governor Ichirō Matsui and then-Osaka mayor Tōru Hashimoto after they and their supporters left the Japan Innovation Party.[12] [13] The Japanese name was the same as the Osaka Restoration Association, which was also formed by Hashimoto, but was differentiated by writing "Osaka" in hiragana rather than in kanji .[12]
The first major election contested by the party was the July 2016 House of Councillors election. The party performed well in the Kansai region, winning two of four seats in the Osaka at-large district and one of three seats in the Hyogo at-large district.[14] [15] In the national PR block the party finished fifth with 5,153,584 votes (9.2%), which meant it won 4 of the 48 seats. The majority of its votes were again centred around Osaka; the party received the most votes in Osaka Prefecture (1,293,626; 34.9%)[16] and was second behind the Liberal Democratic Party in Hyogo Prefecture (470,526; 19.5%).[17] The gain in seats made the party the third-biggest opposition in the National Diet.[18] However, after the election Matsui said the poor showing outside of Kansai was unacceptable for a national party, and that the party would adopt a new name that did not include the word "Osaka" in an attempt to broaden its nationwide appeal.[19] At a meeting on 23 August 2016, the party voted to change its name to but did not announce an official English name.[18]
In April 2023 the party made significant gains in local elections, more than doubling its seat totals in various local assemblies to 124.[20] Notably the party also captured the governorship of Nara prefecture through its candidate Makoto Yamashita.[21] Two weeks later the party's candidate Yumi Hayashi took Wakayama 1st district in a by-election.[22]
Ideology, platform and policy
Views on the political position of Nippon Ishin no Kai have been varied. While it has been described as being neoconservative,[23] and right-wing populist by its opponents, the party itself commits to social liberalism, reformism, regionalism and 'self-sustainability' in its party constitution.[24] The party supports the amendment of the Japanese constitution, including the installation of a constitutional court, mandated free education, and increased devolution.[25] The party has not made an official stance on either supporting or opposing the amendment to Article 9 of the Japanese constitution, which prohibits Japan from possessing an offensive military, however has pledged to partake in debate.[26] Economically, the party supports increased economic liberalisation, including deregulation of the labour market and the streamlining of bureaucratic structure[27] and optional separate surnames for married couples.[28]
The party has recently been described as centrist and moderate, being perceived as such by the voter base, according to recent public opinion polls.[29] [30] The party was also referred to as libertarian.
The party manifesto for the 2022 Japanese Councillors election, dubbed "維新八策2022", containing 402 individual policy proposals, and included the following pledges:[31] [32] [33]
- Reform of social insurance and pension system, with the introduction of a universal basic income of ¥60,000 per month, with additional supplements for non-coupled elderly.
- Reform of income tax and social insurance fees, replacing the current system with a two-tiered income tax.
- Reform of the social medical insurance system from age-based subsidy rates to income-based cost subsidies.
- Universal access to free education from preschool to university, written within the constitution.
- Free access to childbirth services through a combination of insurance and voucher system.
- Deregulation of protected industries such as ridesharing, finance and agriculture.
- Legalization of separate surname options for married couples.
- Same-sex marriage legalisation.
- Maintaining current emission reduction targets with implementation of carbon pricing schemes.
- Legislating Osaka as the vice-capital of Japan.
- Push for further devolution with merger of prefectures into states (dōshūsei), while allocating the consumption tax as a regional tax.
- Constitutional amendments including: Universal free education, devolution, and the establishment of constitutional courts.
- Maintaining agnate succession of the Imperial throne while considering re-royalisation of former Imperial household members.
- Introduction of the "2:1 rule", requiring two pieces of regulation to be removed per introduction of any new industrial regulation.
- Deregulation of the workforce, allowing for compensated dismissals.
- Repealing the 1% GDP cap on defence spending, aiming for 2% spending and the establishment of a national intelligence organisation.
- Promotion of free trade, especially within the Asia-pacific region.
- Adding hospital capacity for COVID-19 treatment through controls over privately run hospitals.
- Temporary cuts to reduction rate (a 2% consumption tax discount on consumption tax, such as groceries) on consumption tax rate from 8% down to 3%, to counter inflation.
- 30% reduction in diet members, and a 30% cut in member's compensation.
- Contributions reform prohibiting corporate and organisational donation loopholes to political parties and candidates.
- Establishment of a public documents bureau, digitalisation of all public document, and maintaining edit records through utilisation of blockchain technology.
Leadership
Parliamentary caucus leadership
(Source:[34])
Party leaders
| No. | Name | Took office | Left office |
|---|
| 1 | Tōru Hashimoto | 2 November 2015 | 12 December 2015 |
| 2 | Ichirō Matsui | 12 December 2015 | 23 August 2016 |
| 3 | | 23 August 2016 | 27 November 2021 |
| 4 | | 27 November 2021 | 27 August 2022 |
| 5 | Nobuyuki Baba | 27 August 2022 | Present | |
Election results
House of Representatives
| Election | Leader | Constituency | Party list | Total | Position | Status |
|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Seats | +/- |
|---|
| 2017 | Ichirō Matsui | 1,765,053 | 3.18 | | new | 3,387,097 | 6.07 | | new | | new | 6th | |
| 2021 | 4,802,793 | 8.36 | | 13 | 8,050,830 | 14.0 | | 17 | | 30 | 3rd | | |
House of Councillors
| Election | Leader | Constituency | Party list | Seats | Position | Status |
|---|
| Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Votes | % | Seats | +/- | Won | +/- | Total | +/- |
|---|
| 2016 | Ichirō Matsui | 3,303,419 | 5.84 | | new | 5,153,584 | 9.20 | | new | | new | | 7 | 5th | |
| 2019 | 3,664,530 | 7.28 | | new | 4,907,844 | 9.80 | | new | | new | | 4 | 4th | |
| 2022 | 5,533,657 | 10.41 | | 2 | 7,845,985 | 14.79 | | 4 | | 5 | | 5 | 4th | | |
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: http://www.gogo-ichiro.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/fda2dc160700f1dfaff0626d0d92b97d.pdf . ja:機関紙 日本維新 Vol.05 – 松井一郎 . Nippon Ishin no Kai . ja . 8 September 2016 . 27 July 2019 .
- News: Nippon Ishin's political path in focus amid differing party views . . 2023-09-06 . Eric Johnston . ...the center-right party largely concentrated in the Kansai region is polling well against other opposition parties... . 6 September 2023 .
- News: The Struggles of the Nippon Ishin no Kai . . 2022-06-18 . Jio Kamata . The center-right populist party saw marked success in last year's election, but its support base remains limited at the national level. . 18 June 2022 .
- Web site: 日本維新の会 統一地方選挙2023 . Japan Innovation Party Unified Local Elections 2023. o-ishin.jp . ja . 15 April 2023.
- News: 21 October 2017 . ja:日本に定着するか、政党のカラー . Will the colors of political parties settle in Japan? . https://r.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO22461210Z11C17A0000000 . ja . . 29 May 2020 .
- Web site: 2021-11-01. Japan election: rightwing populists sweep vote in Osaka. 2021-11-02. the Guardian. en.
- Web site: 【参院選】党首に聞く 日本維新の会・松井一郎代表「憲法改正で教育無償化」. [House of Councillors election] Ichiro Matsui, Leader of the Japan Innovation Party: "Free education through constitutional amendment". 2019-07-12. Sankei Shimbun. ja. 2020-04-17.
- News: 2021-11-01. Upstart Japanese Right-Wing Party Surprises With Big Election Gains. en. Bloomberg.com. 2021-11-02.
- News: McCurry . Justin . 2021-11-01 . Japan election: rightwing populists sweep vote in Osaka . 2024-07-05 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
- Web site: The Struggles of the Nippon Ishin no Kai . 2024-07-05 . thediplomat.com . en-US.
- Web site: Why Does the Japanese Left Hate Nippon Ishin So Much? . 2024-07-05 . thediplomat.com . en-US.
- Web site: Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's new party debuts . Japan Times . 31 October 2015 . 4 November 2015.
- Web site: Abe meets ex-Osaka Mayor Hashimoto on heels of resignation . 20 December 2015 . 22 December 2015 . Nikkei Asian Review . https://web.archive.org/web/20151224002228/http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Abe-meets-ex-Osaka-Mayor-Hashimoto-on-heels-of-resignation . 24 December 2015 . dead .
- Web site: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/sangiin/2016/kaihyou/ye27.html . ja:開票結果・速報(選挙区・大阪府)【参議院選挙2016】. Results (Osaka District) [House of Councillors Election 2016] . ja . Yomiuri Shimbun . 21 July 2016.
- Web site: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/election/sangiin/2016/kaihyou/ye28.html . ja:開票結果・速報(選挙区・兵庫県)【参議院選挙2016】. Results (Hyogo District) [House of Councillors Election 2016] . ja . Yomiuri Shimbun . 21 July 2016.
- Web site: http://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/senkan/date/H28san/San_Top_Main.htm . ja:比例代表選出議員選挙 政党等別得票数（大阪府計）. National Block Election – Votes by Party (Osaka Prefecture Total) . ja . Osaka Prefecture Electoral Commission . 11 July 2016 . 21 July 2016.
- Web site: http://150.60.172.46/uploads/2-2hikk09.pdf . ja:参議院比例代表選出議員選挙 開票結果（総括表） . House of Councillors National Block Election Results (Compilation Table) . Hyogo Prefecture Electoral Commission . ja . 1 . 11 July 2016 . 21 July 2016 .
- Web site: In bid to go national, Osaka Ishin no Kai changes its name . Johnston . Eric . Japan Times . 23 August 2016 . 1 September 2016.
- Web site: Osaka Ishin to drop 'Osaka' from name in bid to boost appeal, taps Watanabe as deputy . Japan Times . 13 July 2016 . 21 July 2016.
- Web site: 日本放送協会 . 奈良県知事選 統一地方選挙2023 NHK選挙WEB . 2023-04-24 . www.nhk.or.jp . ja.
- [Japan Today]
- Web site: Johnston . Eric . 2023-04-24 . Kishida rules out snap poll after LDP wins big in Sunday by-elections . 2023-04-24 . The Japan Times . en-US.
- 48614455. Japan's Model of Immigration Without Immigrants. Current History. 118. 809. 215–221. Chung. Erin Aeran. 2019. 10.1525/curh.2019.118.809.215 . 219979892 .
- Web site: 綱領・基本方針｜日本維新の会について｜日本維新の会 . 2022-03-11 . 日本維新の会.
- Web site: 憲法改正への取り組み｜政策｜日本維新の会 . 2022-03-11 . 日本維新の会.
- Web site: 9条改憲の是非、与党内部や野党勢力の間でも温度差＜公約点検＞：東京新聞 TOKYO Web . 2022-03-11 . 東京新聞 TOKYO Web . ja.
- Web site: 徹底した行革｜政策｜日本維新の会 . 2022-03-11 . 日本維新の会.
- Web site: 選択的夫婦別姓、性的少数者の差別解消…政党で違い鮮明に＜公約点検＞：東京新聞 TOKYO Web . 2022-03-11 . 東京新聞 TOKYO Web . ja.
- Web site: 日本維新の会は、左派なのか右派なのかそれとも中道なのか（大濱崎卓真） – 個人 . 2022-03-11 . Yahoo!ニュース . ja.
- Web site: Company . The Asahi Shimbun . 「中道」の日本維新の会と国民民主党が令和の政治で目指すもの～2022年展望 – 吉田貴文｜論座 – 朝日新聞社の言論サイト . 2022-03-11 . 論座（RONZA） . ja.
- Web site: 停滞か、維新か。 – 日本維新の会 衆院選2021マニフェスト . 2022-03-11 . 停滞か、維新か。 – 日本維新の会 衆院選2021マニフェスト . ja.
- Web site: 政策｜日本維新の会 . 2022-03-11 . 日本維新の会.
- Web site: 2022-06-16 . 政策提言 維新八策２０２２ . 2022-07-06 . 日本維新の会.
- Web site: Tweet by otokita . 2022-03-11 . Twitter . en.
