Renowned Lawyer Haruo Kitamura (69) Announces Candidacy for House of Councillors Election, Joins Japan Conservative Party

Renowned lawyer Haruo Kitamura (69) has announced his candidacy for this summer's House of Councillors election, running from the Japan Conservative Party, a move that has sparked a significant reaction online. Kitamura stated his reason for running was a strong sense of crisis, saying he felt "Japan would be destroyed if things continue as they are." Further details regarding his candidacy are expected to be explained at a Japan Conservative Party press conference on July 1st.

Following this announcement, a flurry of both positive and negative opinions quickly erupted on social media. Supporters lauded Kitamura's decision and expressed high expectations for his political skills, with comments such as: "A true man rises!" "Lawyer Kitamura running for the Japan Conservative Party because their ideals align is incredibly cool," and "Thank you for running with the Japan Conservative Party, you're worth 100 men." Some also praised Kitamura's conviction in deliberately choosing the Japan Conservative Party, noting, "If he just wanted to be a politician, he could easily win by running with a major party that has organized votes."

On the other hand, critical opinions regarding his candidacy were also observed. Some users expressed dissatisfaction with the Japan Conservative Party's origins or distrust in Kitamura, with comments like: "He's running from Hyakuta's Japan Conservative Party, which stole the name from the original Ishihama Japan Conservative Party," and "There's no way I can support Mr. Kitamura." There were also comments highlighting divisions within the conservative camp, such as: "If he's going to run with the Japan Conservative Party, I think the Sanseitō (Party of Consciousness) would still be better," and questions about internal party issues like the "receipt problem" and "suppression of speech."

Kitamura is expected to run on the national proportional representation ballot, and some users have already begun asking about specific voting methods. His announcement, combined with the activities of party leader Naoki Hyakuta, is anticipated to significantly impact the Japan Conservative Party's upcoming election campaign. While there are hopes for the Japan Conservative Party's strengthening, concerns have also been voiced, such as: "I think Mr. Hyakuta makes too many enemies." All eyes are on future developments.

This news has garnered significant public interest, with "from the Japan Conservative Party" ranking high among Yahoo! Japan's trending words. As Kitamura challenges national politics, attention is focused on how Japanese politics will evolve.

The Context

The House of Councillors is the upper house of Japan's bicameral legislature, the National Diet. Elections are held every three years for half of its members. The Japan Conservative Party (Nippon Hoshutō) is a relatively new political party, founded by prominent author and filmmaker Naoki Hyakuta and journalist Kaori Arimoto in 2023. It generally espouses conservative and nationalist viewpoints. Haruo Kitamura is a well-known lawyer and television personality in Japan, famous for his outspoken views. His decision to join and run for a new, smaller party, rather than an established one, indicates a strong ideological alignment and a desire for specific political change outside mainstream parties.