Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

　
Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lost three successive major elections: a general election of the House of Representatives in December, a Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election in June, and a House of Councilors election on July 20.

In contrast, the LDP led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won successive major elections from the December 2012 lower house election under the slogan of Abenomics and “proactive contribution to peace,” gaining support from a wide range of generations, including the working-age population.

Believing that the LDP’s declining approval ratings may stem from losing sight of the policy line set by Abe, the cross-factional policy group "Sosei Nippon (Create Japan)," which aims to carry on Abe’s legacy, began reviewing LDP policies in May. On June 29, the group’s Secretary-General Seiichi Eto and Director-General Minoru Kihara held a press conference to announce a new policy package entitled “The Path Japan Should Pursue: The Roles of Sosei Nippon.”

Pro-Abe policy group steps forward

Sosei Nippon analyzed that one reason the LDP has seen sluggish approval ratings in recent years and suffered a crushing defeat in last year's lower house election where the ruling coalition lost its majority may be that the LDP has been losing sight of the policy philosophy put forward by Sosei Nippon and the second Abe administration. In response, the group conducted a review of what has been achieved since the second Abe administration and what challenges remain unresolved.

Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi, both candidates in last year’s LDP leadership race, are among those who took part in the policy review meetings. From the standpoint of inheriting Abe’s policy line, Sosei Nippon introduced the following new policy package.

-- The history, tradition, and spirit that have developed around the Imperial Family are the pillars of our country. We will make efforts to rebuild the structure that supports the imperial family and firmly oppose policy proposals that undermine the order of Japanese society, including a proposed system allowing married couples to choose separate surnames.

-- Based on the recognition that “a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency,” we will enhance Japan’s defense and intelligence systems to protect our country on our own, deepen cooperation with allies and partners, and promote a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

-- We will ensure the immediate and collective return of all Japanese abductees in North Korea while their relatives in the generation of their parents are alive.

-- We are determined to achieve constitutional amendments that clearly define the Self-Defense Forces as a military organization and establish provisions for states of emergency.

-- While the Japanese economy is returning to a growth path due to Abenomics, corporate capital investment, personal income, and household consumption are sluggish. In order to further stimulate capital investment (including wage increases), we will mobilize all policy measures, including an increase in the science and technology budget, tax cuts, and regulatory reforms.

-- We will revise a policy on renewable energy such as solar photovoltaics and wind power in a manner to contribute to Japan’s national interests and will promote the expansion of nuclear energy use as part of our political responsibility.

-- While the employment situation has improved in recent years through Abenomics, the burden on the working-age population has increased due to a consumption tax increase and soaring social security expenses. Based on the principles of self-help, mutual assistance, and public assistance, we will rebuild the system in which the people support the management of the nation according to their respective financial capacities.

Leverage the crushing election defeat to revitalize LDP

I hope that the LDP in the face of the crushing defeat in the upper house election will comprehensively rebuild not only its leadership and but policies in line with Sosei Nippon’s new policy package.

Michio Ezaki is a member of the Planning Committee at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and a specially-appointed professor at Reitaku University.