Komeito
Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox political party Template:Conservatism sidebar Template:Nihongo, formerly New Komeito (NKP) and commonly referred to as simply Komei, is a political party in Japan founded by the leader of Soka Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda, in 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is generally considered centrist and socially conservative. Since 2012, it has served in government as the junior coalition partner of the nationalist and conservative governments led by the Liberal Democratic Party.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Tetsuo Saito has been the president of the party since 9 November 2024. Komeito currently has 24 elected Deputies in the Japanese House of Representatives.
HistoryEdit
Opposition before 1993Edit
Komeito began as the Political Federation for Clean Government in 1961, but held its inaugural convention as Komeito on 17 November 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The three characters 公明党 have the approximate meanings of "public/government" (公 kō), "light/brightness" (明 mei), and "political party" (党 tō). The combination "kōmei" (公明) is usually taken to mean "justice".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Additional source needed Komeito's predecessor party, Kōmeitō, was formed in 1962, but it had begun in 1954 as the Kōmei Political League. It lasted until it merged with the NKP in 1998.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1957, a group of Young Men's Division members campaigning for a Soka Gakkai candidate in an Osaka Upper House by-election were arrested for distributing money, cigarettes, and caramels at supporters' residences, in violation of election law, and on July 3 of that year, at the beginning of an event memorialized as the "Osaka Incident," Daisaku Ikeda was arrested in Osaka. He was taken into custody in his capacity as Soka Gakkai's Youth Division Chief of Staff for overseeing activities that constituted violations of election law. He spent two weeks in jail and appeared in court forty-eight times before he was cleared of all charges in January 1962.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1968, fourteen of its members were convicted of forging absentee ballots in Shinjuku, and eight were sentenced to prison for electoral fraud. In the 1960s it was widely criticized for violating the separation of church and state, and in February 1970 all three major Japanese newspapers printed editorials demanding that the party reorganize. It eventually broke apart based on promises to segregate from Soka Gakkai.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Jeffrey Haynes Routledge Handbook of Religion and Politics Page 17 "Talking to young Japanese people one normally gets very little sense of enthusiasm about Buddhism, and few people seem to take seriously the notion that the New Komeito Party is a Buddhist political party. The Komeito or 'Clean Government Party' ..."</ref>
In the 1980s, Shimbun Akahata discovered that many Soka Gakkai members were rewarding acquaintances with presents in return for Komeito votes and that Okinawa residents had changed their addresses to elect Komeito politicians.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Anti-LDP coalition government: 1993–1994Edit
Kōmeitō joined the Hosokawa and Hata anti-LDP coalition cabinets in 1993 and 1994. After the collapse of the anti-LDP and anti-JCP governments (Template:Nihongo2) and the electoral and campaign finance reforms of 1994, the Kōmeitō split in December 1994: The Template:Nihongo joined the New Frontier Party (NFP) a few days later in an attempt to unify the splintered opposition.<ref>Tun-Jen Cheng, Deborah A. Brown Religious Organizations And Democratization: Case Studies 2006 Page 279 "The demise of the Shinshinto into a variety of new splinter parties, including a revived Komeito (now called "New Komeito"), and increasing public dissatisfaction with the LDP-created political chaos. This situation was compounded by the ..."</ref> The other group, Template:Nihongo, continued to exist as a separate party. After the dissolution of the NFP in December 1997, former Kōmeitō members from the NFP founded two new groups: the Template:Nihongo and the Template:Nihongo in the House of Councillors, but some ex-Kōmeitō politicians such as Shōzō Azuma followed Ichirō Ozawa into the Liberal Party. The Reimei Club merged into the New Peace Party a few weeks later in January 1998. Finally, in November 1998, Kōmei and New Peace Party merged to re-establish Kōmeitō (referred to in English now as "New Komeito" – the party's name is just Kōmeitō as before the 1994 split).
The Japan Echo alleged in 1999 that Soka Gakkai distributed fliers to local branches describing how to abuse the jūminhyō residence registration system in order to generate a large number of votes for Komeito candidates in specific districts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party: 1999–2009, 2012–presentEdit
The current conservative, more moderate, and centrist party was formed in 1998, in a merger of Kōmei and the New Peace Party. Since then it has joined coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which needs Komeito to maintain a majority in the Diet (especially in the House of Councillors which the LDP lost majority since 1989), and did well in the 2000 and 2001 parliamentary elections.
The LDP-Liberal coalition expanded to include the New Komeito Party in October 1999.<ref>Politics of Japan#Political Developments since 2000</ref> New Komeito has been (and continues to be) a coalition partner in the Government of Japan since 1999 (excluding 2009–2011 when the Democratic Party of Japan was in power). As such, New Komeito supported a (temporary) change to Japan's "no-war constitution" in order for Japan to deploy troops in support of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In the 2003 Japanese general election and 2004 Japanese House of Councillors election, the NKP did well, thanks to an extremely committed and well-organized voter base coming from Soka Gakkai. The party shares its support base with the LDP, made up of white-collar bureaucrats and rural populations, but also gained support from religious leaders. However, on 27 July 2005, NKP's Secretary-General said that his party would consider forming a coalition government with the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) if the DPJ gained a majority in the House of Representatives. On 8 August 2005, then-Prime Minister and the president of LDP Junichiro Koizumi dissolved the Lower House and called for a general election, due to the rejection on some of the members of LDP for efforts to privatize Japan Post. The incumbent LDP-New Komeito coalition won a large majority in the 2005 general election.
Natsuo Yamaguchi became the party's leader on 8 September 2009 after the party and their coalition partner LDP suffered a major defeat in the 2009 general election, become part of the opposition for the first time since 1999. New Komeito lost ten seats, including that of party leader Akihiro Ota and general secretary Kazuo Kitagawa. On 8 September 2009, Yamaguchi replaced Ota as president of New Komeito.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the general election on 16 December 2012, the LDP/Komeito coalition secured a supermajority and came back into government. The former party chief Akihiro Ota (Ohta) is currently Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The party also gained seats in the general election in 2014. In September 2014 the party changed its English name from New Komeito back to Komeito.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In July 2015, Komeito backed Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's push to revise the Constitution in order to "give Japan's military limited powers to fight in foreign conflicts for the first time since World War II".Template:Attribution needed This legislation, supported by the United States, would allow the "Self-Defense Forces to cooperate more closely with the U.S. by providing logistical support and, in certain circumstances, armed backup in international conflicts" and "complements guidelines in a bilateral agreement governing how Japanese and United States forces work together, which was signed by the two nations" earlier in 2015.<ref name="reference to NY times">Template:Cite news</ref>
On March 11, 2019, a project team of Komeito submitted proposals to Foreign Minister Taro Kono for an international agreement to regulate robotic weapons,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> calling on Japan to build global consensus for a "political declaration or a code of conduct, within the framework of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Ideology and policiesEdit
A self-proclaimed party of "humanitarian socialism",Template:Cn Komeito's declared mission is to pioneer "people-centered politics, a politics based on a humanitarianism, that treats human life with the utmost respect and care".<ref>(New Komeito, 2002)</ref> On 24 April 2019, joint task force efforts with its coalition partner<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> resulted in the passing of a bill mandating reparations and having the coalition government issue a formal apology to sterilization victims of the defunct Eugenic Protection Act, thus to advance human rights awareness in the wake of lawsuits<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> related to the history of eugenics in Japan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Religious scholar and political analyst Masaru Satō explains that in postwar Japan there were two major parties, the Liberal Democratic Party representing financial interests and large corporations and the Japan Socialist Party largely advocating the interests of trade unions and the working class. There was no single party that represented people who belonged to neither, such as shop owners and housewives, among others. Komeito was thus able to capture the support of this constituency.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Despite the party's conservative ideology, it supports the protection and expansion of LGBT rights.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Relationship with Soka GakkaiEdit
Komeito regards the Soka Gakkai as a "major electoral constituency",<ref name="about view">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> having formally separated from the religious group and revised both its platform and regulations in 1970 to reflect a "secular orientation".<ref name="Aruga 2000">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Observers continue to describe Komeito as the Soka Gakkai's "political arm",<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> however, and critics contend the relationship violates the separation of religion and politics enshrined in Article 20 of the Japanese Constitution.<ref name="Okuyama 2010">Template:Cite journal</ref> The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently said to be independent.<ref name="Aruga 2000" />Template:Rp Both groups report having occasional liaison meetings, characterizing them as informational and "open to the media".<ref name="about view" /><ref>Template:Cite report</ref> Numerous Japanese religious groups have established political parties in Japan, but statistics scholar Petter Lindgren states that "None have, however, been more successful than Soka Gakkai."<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Domestic policyEdit
Domestically, the party proposals include reduction of the central government and bureaucracy, increased transparency in public affairs, and increased local (prefectural) autonomy with the private sector playing an increased role. Komeito also supports reducing the consumption tax rate, reducing school fees and offering child allowances.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>
In accordance with its public affairs transparency platform, it was reported that since September 2016, the Komeito conducted independent analyses for possible environmental contamination of the proposed Toyosu market site.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Komeito officially raised its environmental concerns later regarding Toyosu market during the 5 October 2016 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Session. In response, the newly appointed Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike, cited possible disciplinary action towards those responsible for the Toyosu project.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Komeito embraces market liberalism to some extent, but it also emphasizes social welfare,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and officially puts forward "Humanitarian socialism" as its main ideology.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Security policyEdit
In contrast with the LDP, Komeito has generally been more cautious about efforts to expand the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF).<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> At its founding, the party adhered to absolute pacifism, rejecting both the constitutionality of the JSDF and the military alliance with the US.<ref name=":0" /> Softening its views later, Komeito backed LDP proposals, such as a 2004 vote to dispatch the JSDF to support allied operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and prime minister Shinzo Abe's revision of the security laws to expand military powers in July 2015,<ref name="reference to NY times" /> although it did manage to moderate the policy on the latter.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Foreign policyEdit
With regard to foreign policy, the Komeito wishes to eliminate nuclear arms and Japanese involvement in armed conflict in general. Komeito supports maintaining the Japan's military alliance with the United States.<ref name=":1" />
The party promotes closer relations between China and Japan. According to a Foreign Policy article in 2021, "Of all parties in the Diet, Komeito enjoys the strongest and most stable relationship with China."<ref name=":0" /> Komeito's then leader Yoshikatsu Takeiri's held negotiations Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai in the 1970s played a critical role in the eventual normalization of relations between the People's Republic of China and Japan in 1972.<ref name=":0" /> The party has advocated for friendlier policies towards China, and has maintained communications with the country even during moments when the relationships between the two countries have been strained.<ref name=":0" />
The party reportedly advocates for improved ties with China and South Korea in light of Japan's historical war crimes in both territories. In 2013, the party's chief representative Natsuo Yamaguchi praised Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision not to visit Yasukuni Shrine, where Japanese war criminals are enshrined.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On the comfort women issue, in 2016 the party reportedly advocated for removing Yoshitaka Sakurada from a leadership position after Sakurada denied that the women were forced to work.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Party organEdit
The party organ of Komeito is the Komei Shinbun. It is published by the Komei Organ Paper Committee,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and has also published a regional Hokkaido edition in the past.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
LeadershipEdit
Current leadershipEdit
Leadership as of 9 November 2024:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Permanent Advisors | Natsuo Yamaguchi |
| Keiichi Ishii | |
| Leader | Tetsuo Saito |
| Deputy Leaders | Toshiko Takeya |
| Kazuyoshi Akaba | |
| Shigeki Sato | |
| Secretary General | Makoto Nishida |
| Chairman of the Central Executive Committee | Kazuyoshi Akaba |
| Chairman of the Policy Research Council | Mitsunari Okamoto |
| Chairman of the Caucus in the House of Councillors | Masaaki Taniai |
| Election Strategy Committee Chairman | Nobuhiro Miura |
| Diet Affairs Committee Chairman | Hidemichi Satō |
Election resultsEdit
House of RepresentativesEdit
House of CouncillorsEdit
See alsoEdit
LiteratureEdit
- Ehrhardt, George, Axel Klein, Levi McLaughlin and Steven R. Reed (2014) (Eds.): Kōmeitō – Politics and Religion in Japan. Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley
- Template:Citation
NotesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Komeito Template:Japan political parties Template:Authority control