
AI-generated summary
Komeito once had the support of nearly 9 million votes through proportional representation, but in recent years the number of votes has decreased due to factors such as the aging of its support base. In the past, the party attempted to join forces with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, but failed, and is currently seeking an independent path.
The New Komeito Party appointed Mitsunari Okamoto as its new representative at its party convention on the 3rd. Continuing to advocate the ``mobilization of centrist forces,'' the party plans to make a fresh start with a lineup of 49 members of both houses of the House of Representatives. However, there are no clear prospects for cooperation with other opposition parties, and no good plan for restoring the party's strength is in sight. It looks like the road will continue to be difficult for the time being.
New Komei-Okamoto system begins, aiming to rebuild into unified election
"It means that he will continue to advocate centrist politics." A party official explained the change in representatives as follows.
Initially, there was an argument within the party for Toshiko Takeya, a member of the House of Councilors who had remained in the party, to remain in the party, arguing that there was no need to replace a woman at the top. However, in order to put the banner of ``centrist'' to the forefront, he once moved to the Centrist Reform Alliance and served as the chairman of the Policy Research Council, and then took aim at Mr. Okamoto, a member of the House of Representatives who had returned to the party.
Mr. Okamoto entered politics after working for the US financial giant Goldman Sachs. Strong in policy and proactive in communicating on SNS. It is said to be popular among members of the Soka Gakkai, which supports the group.
An attempt to join forces with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan during this year's House of Representatives election ended in failure, but the party formed a unified faction in the House of Representatives with the Democratic Party's Democratic Reform Party. The party wants to align itself with the Democratic Party for the People, with whom it has commonalities in terms of policy.
At the party convention on the 3rd, Mr. Okamoto emphasized, ``Our determination to realize centrist politics remains unwavering.'' He declared that the party will work together on a policy-oriented basis, regardless of the boundaries between the ruling and opposition parties, and will "become the axis of political reorganization."
However, the relationship of trust with the Ritsumeikan Democratic Party, which is made up of members of the House of Councilors, has collapsed. Komei did not invite senior Democratic Party leaders to the party convention, showing an attitude of making a break. There are limits to cooperation with the Democratic People's Democratic Party, which wants to express its unique characteristics.
It will not be easy to rebuild Komei itself. The number of votes obtained through proportional representation peaked at nearly 9 million in the 2005 House of Representatives election, but fell to 5.21 million in the 2025 House of Councilors election. A major factor is the aging of supporters.
There is smoldering dissatisfaction with the process from the formation of the centrist party to its split. "It doesn't fit the image of a party that promotes cleanliness." At a Komeito meeting held online in September regarding a system in which one RDP member remains on the centrist party and the party is liquidated using party subsidies, one local lawmaker pointed out the negative impact it would have on next spring's unified local elections. There were voices of approval.
Due to the failure of the merger, the creation of a ``big group'' to oppose the ruling party was delayed, and the opposition party became increasingly weak. Ten days will mark one year since the coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party was dissolved. Some people within the Komeikan are saying, ``Once the Takaichi administration is over, we should regroup.'' (A source)
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Komeito is coordinating its own candidates for unified local elections
Likely · Within months
Policy appeals to young people will be strengthened as a measure to address the aging support base
Possible · Within months

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