Party Upholding Japan First

A lawmaker in House of Representatives, Masaru Wakasa, announced that he would establish a new party called Japan First and open a school for the candidates for next election called Kisho Juku in September. Known as a close ally of the Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, Wakasa is preparing for a national party with Koike brand. Existing parties are careful about how the new party affects their campaign strategy.

Wakasa explained that the party had already been established on July 13^th, topped by Wakasa himself. New school would be opened on September 16^th, inviting Koike as a lecturer and select the candidate of national elections from the students. “We realized that the voters demanded another party for receiving their voices, which was not Liberal Democratic Party or Democratic Party,” told Wakasa with his impression of the victory of Tokyoite First in the election of Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, in which Koike’s allies made an outstanding advance and LDP or DP sank in bitter defeats.

So, what do they want to do? They hope to make the third party other than rigorous and obsolete LDP or internally disorganized DP> Such idea was once upheld by others like Japan Restoration Party or Your Party. Expecting next election of House of Representatives as early as October 22^nd, Wakasa and his colleagues accelerated their effort to organize new party within this year.

It is obvious that Koike has deeply been involved in the plan. But, Wakasa refused to explain the relationship between Koike and Japan First. He insisted that Kisho Juku was categorized as different from Tokyoite First, which was organized for regional political agenda in Tokyo. Core policy of Japan First is still not clear. “In the political school, we will promote the concept upheld by Koike to all over Japan,” said Wakasa. In short, the new party is simply a group of supporters of Koike.

Koike has been denying her returning to national politics. “I leave the national politics to Wakasa,” said Koike to the reporters, “ and we share the image of reforming. So, I hope their success.” The pattern that the leader of national party stays in regional politics is similar to that of Japan Restoration Party led by Toru Hashimoto, Mayor of Osaka. It is also the same that JRP and Japan First do not have clear policy. The name of Japan First reminds many people of U.S. President’s campaign slogan, America First. It is still unclear whether the new party will take protectionism in trade or refuse immigrants.

Nevertheless, LDP is concerned with the birth of new party. Koike has been known as a conservative politician and skilled in election strategy. It is likely that certain amount of votes frustrated with LDP politics will go to Japan First. DP is suffering from further division. Some lawmakers with DP are considering leaving the party and joining Japan First.