Sanae Takaichi, Former Economic Security Minister and Potential LDP Leadership Candidate, Signals Openness to Policy Talks with Sanseito and Japan Conservative Party, Sparking Debate on X

Sanae Takaichi, former Minister of Economic Security, who is considering a bid in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership election, has shown a positive stance toward policy discussions with the Sanseito (Political Party of the People) and the Japan Conservative Party, sparking a significant wave of reactions on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

During her appearance on a Fuji TV program, when asked about potential cooperation with Sanseito, Takaichi clearly stated, "It is only natural for us to combine our efforts on policies that the LDP wishes to implement." She further expressed her eagerness for policy discussions with other parties, including the Japan Conservative Party, saying, "It is the overall responsibility of the legislature to cooperate on policies that we can work on together." At the same time, she added, "It would be absolutely rude to pre-emptively state that we will form a coalition with any specific party," indicating her intention to avoid definitive statements about forming a coalition with particular parties.

This statement has ignited both supportive and critical reactions on X. Positive opinions include comments such as, "It's only natural to hold discussions if there are policies that benefit national interests," and "We prefer cooperation with more conservative parties over the current coalition with Komeito." There were also views that lauded Takaichi's stance, warning the LDP about its current state: "The LDP must acknowledge the reality of its major defeat by the 'Japanese-first' Sanseito and steer towards halting immigration; that is the path to the LDP's revival." Some even expressed hope for a consolidation of conservative forces, suggesting that a union of Sanseito, the Conservative Party, and some factions within the LDP could garner "no less than 20 million supporters."

However, numerous negative reactions were also posted. Users who expressed disapproval of potential cooperation with specific parties like Sanseito and the Japan Conservative Party voiced their bewilderment with comments like, "Has it become a world where they don't even need to hide it anymore?" and "Of all parties, these two…" Harsh criticisms also erupted, such as "A hellish scenario" and "Takaichi is completely exposed, lol." In particular, some criticized the policies and statements of Sanseito and the Conservative Party, calling them "businesses preying on the uninformed" and describing the Conservative Party as "denying others' personalities through lookism" and Sanseito as "all talk, no action, despite claiming 'Japanese-first'." Concerns were raised that cooperation with these parties would lead to "ignorant governance." Some views also linked Takaichi's past remarks, such as the false claim about "deer and foreigners not being prosecuted," suggesting she was "revealing her true colors," and concerns about potential internal divisions within the LDP were also observed.

It is pointed out that Takaichi's statement could influence not only the outcome of the next LDP leadership election but also the realignment of conservative forces in Japanese politics, and therefore, it is expected to continue to draw significant attention.

The Context

This article discusses a statement by Sanae Takaichi, a prominent conservative politician within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Takaichi, who has previously run for the LDP leadership and is known for her strong nationalist views, is seen as a potential candidate for the party's next leadership election (総裁選).

The LDP leadership election is a crucial event in Japanese politics. Since the LDP has held a majority in the House of Representatives for most of the post-war era, the winner of this election typically becomes the Prime Minister of Japan.

The controversy stems from Takaichi's expressed openness to policy discussions with two relatively new, right-wing parties: Sanseito (Political Party of the People) and the Japan Conservative Party (日本保守党).

• Sanseito is a populist, anti-establishment party that gained a few seats in the Upper House in 2022. It promotes "Japanese-first" policies, advocates for halting immigration, and is known for its strong criticisms of globalism and sometimes for promoting conspiracy theories.
• The Japan Conservative Party was founded more recently by well-known conservative author Naoki Hyakuta and plastic surgeon Kazuya Takasu. It also champions strong conservative values and often criticizes the mainstream LDP for perceived moderation.

These parties represent a segment of the Japanese conservative electorate that feels the LDP has strayed from traditional conservative values or has not been assertive enough in protecting national interests, particularly concerning immigration and cultural identity. Takaichi's remarks suggest a potential willingness to engage with these fringe conservative elements, which has been met with both enthusiasm from those who desire a stronger conservative front and alarm from critics who view these parties as extreme or unreliable. The LDP currently governs in a coalition with the centrist Komeito party, and some commentators on X expressed a preference for a coalition with more ideologically aligned conservative parties.