Yukio Edano (L), head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Kenta Izumi, policy chief of the Democratic Party for the People, acknowledge attendees in Tokyo on Thursday, after Edano's victory over Izumi in the leadership election for a new main opposition party to be formed through their merger. Photo: KYODO
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Edano named leader of Japan's new main opposition party

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socrateosToday  04:09 pm JST

They are certainly a small party with only 14 to start. I am not worried about it at all. It's all about quality of its members and messages they convey.

I haven't seen or heard anything to inspire that much confidence in them.

They are the one to pay attention to. And people will notice.

No one will pay attention and no one will care unless they raise enough money to fund candidates in every single seat constituency election and PR vote. The only viable alternative to the LDP is a party with at least a fair chance of winning a majority by itself, and then winning a majority in the upper house too. Right now I don't see any of the opposition parties managing that, least of all Tamaki's.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Simon Foston:

they'll never amount to more than a couple of dozen Diet members

They are certainly a small party with only 14 to start. I am not worried about it at all. It's all about quality of its members and messages they convey. They are the one to pay attention to. And people will notice.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

socrateosToday  06:54 am JST

Simon Foston:

Socialism is not an option.*

No? Do you even know if the CDP actually has any proper socialist policies? The LDP's modus operandi, on the other hand, of propping up the economy with huge, wasteful stimulus spending splurges looks a lot like socialism to me, except of course that the LDP would rather blow all the money on friendly businesses in politically useful areas than on state-run services and utilities. If you're in tight with your local LDP made man you've got socialism already. It's hard capitalism for other poor suckers.

But Japan needs a liberal opposition party.

You think that's Tamaki's lot? Nippon Kaigi members, historical revisionists, Yasukuni Shrine fans and right-wing nationalists? Whatever manifesto they manage to agree on, there won't be anything at all liberal about it.

So Tamaki's party is a real option.

Back in the real world, they'll never amount to more than a couple of dozen Diet members at most and all they'll ever do is vote with the LDP or engage in the usual pointless abstentions and doomed no-confidence motions with the other opposition parties. In a few months hardly anyone will have the first clue who Tamaki is, not that many people do at the moment.

Tamaki's party is a joke.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Simon Foston:

If you don't like "leftist" policies why not just vote for the LDP? Japan only needs one conservative party.

If choices are only between LDP and Edano's party, certainly I will choose LDP. Socialism is not an option.

But Japan needs a liberal opposition party. So Tamaki's party is a real option.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

socrateosSep. 10  10:17 pm JST

Forget about Edano's leftist party.

If you don't like "leftist" policies why not just vote for the LDP? Japan only needs one conservative party.

My eyes are on those who did not join Edano's party - Tamaki and his friends. They will be creating a new opposition party as well. I am more interested in Tamaki's new party.

What do you think they're going to achieve? I doubt anyone in my area will be able to vote for them. Or would vote for them if they could put up a candidate - they're just LDP clones and unfortunately people seem to just tolerate the LDP Diet members they've already got.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In any normal country, the major opposition party is THE potential alternative government in waiting. Here, no matter how poor the performance of the government and regardless of the credentials of those in this new and improved opposition, they’re there purely for cosmetic reasons. It must be hard for those who not only have no chance of ever forming a government, but KNOW they have no chance and yet have to pretend otherwise. Condemned to eternal opposition, content to play the assigned role of dutiful and vigilant tribunes of the people, all the while knowing, and knowing that we know, that the whole thing is a farce.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I thought Edano had already been... hard to tell with all the recycling in this nation.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

So the Minshuto is back again, just in time for an election.

Edano was talking like he is a 16th century medieval warlord today.

Everything was about fighting and front-on confrontation.

Say... don’t you want to propose some policies, rather than hark back to a bygone age?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Forget about Edano's leftist party. My eyes are on those who did not join Edano's party - Tamaki and his friends. They will be creating a new opposition party as well. I am more interested in Tamaki's new party.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Out with the 'Old'!

In with the....erm...'Old'!

*muted banzai.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"He is best known for his work as the top government spokesman in the aftermath of the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis".

He is a bare faced lair , paid professional straight faced lair, same as the media, I would not trust him one centimeter. But cannot trust anyone of these these politicians in any party in any country , they are all paid to lie, cheat and deceive, same as the media.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Look at the photo. They should have unbuttoned their jackets before raising their arms in the air. These men are ill bred.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

vanityofvanitiesToday  06:14 pm JST

As their name of the party tells they are determined to stick to the peace constitution.

Like most Japanese people. There is a reason why Shinzo Abe has never had the guts to put it to a referendum.

They think so long as Japan reveres the peace constitution, Japan is free from threats and invasions by other countries. They are suckers and dreamers.

Better that than a paranoid, racist neo-nazi driving around in a stupid loudspeaker truck blaring out stupid IJA singalongs.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

My congratulations to Edano. Now it is time to act as a leader of the opposition. 

But we must remember that he was chosen solely and exclusively. With the members of the new unified party, in the Diet. And only with the Diet legislators. Using the same election system that Suga will use in the LDP.

I only hope that this choice is temporary. Until a primary election can be organized in the party. And let it be the PDCJ's own grassroots supporters and voters. Whoever decides the new leader. So that you can say that you are a democratic party, and that you really are different from the rest.

For the time being, the election of the PDCJ leader. It is not different from that of the LDP.

This is the sad news.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Edano will be tasked with regaining public support in his party after the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan, which was in power between 2009 and 2012, disappointed voters.

Like the LDP that has been in power like forever have been angels to voters.

They were clearly sabotaged by bureaucrats, don't know why the media doesn't say it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A graduate of Tohoku University, Edano is an avid karaoke singer and a fan of various pop idols, including all-girl band Keyakizaka46.

That's a huge red flag, both for the University and his character. That's his thing?

He is best known for his work as the top government spokesman in the aftermath of the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

so a well seasoned lier, although to be fair Japanese are easily confused so a comefort lier.

I do wish the opposition would field grown up candidates, this parade of self pleasing weirdos does not bode well.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

@azayamagori

Yeah, I also remember Edano after Fukushima. He was either incredibly uninformed or had some serious problems with the truth.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Would you honestly recognize Yukio Edano mask-less, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan if you bumped into him?

May be, probably not.

Could you off the top of your head explain any of his policies?

I bet you would recognize Yoshihide Suga.....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"He is best known for his work as the top government spokesman in the aftermath of the massive 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster that triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis".

Yeah I still remember Edano telling everyone not to worry about Fukushima and everything was under control and stuff even as the reactor was seen blown apart live on TV.

Cannot really trust him

4 ( +6 / -2 )

A graduate of Tohoku University, Edano is an avid karaoke singer and a fan of various pop idols, including all-girl band Keyakizaka46.

What difference does this make? At least the part about the "all girl band"? I mean really?

No wonder why people roll their eyes at politicians here in Japan!

7 ( +8 / -1 )

I can’t look at the guy on the left without noticing that he has proportionally the biggest ear lobes of anyone I have ever seen.

Gentlemen, unbutton you’re suit coats before you raise your arms. You look like someone panted you.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

A functioning democracy needs an effective opposition. We will see.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

I do not buy them. They are radical left. As their name of the party tells they are determined to stick to the peace constitution. They think so long as Japan reveres the peace constitution, Japan is free from threats and invasions by other countries. They are suckers and dreamers.

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

A graduate of Tohoku University, Edano is an avid karaoke singer and a fan of various pop idols, including all-girl band Keyakizaka46.

I need to put similar things in my CV. Let's see if someone hires me.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

And so the circus goes on.

He will disappoint - if you still have any expectations that is.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Get to work!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Ah, a real breath of fresh air LOL!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Whatever the opposition parties merge or not, it’ll be important for them to have clear policies and attract people to be able to defeat the ruling party

9 ( +9 / -0 )

William77Today  04:22 pm JST

Saying that I truly wish all the best to Edano,I will support him and his coalition simply because Japan is in need of a real democratic and moderate party able to contrast the right wings and this mono party semi-democracy from the other side.

Even principled conservatives should welcome that because it might cause the LDP to up their game, stop being so arrogant, corrupt and generally useless, and find some lawmakers to put in charge who might actually be able to govern properly. Then again, it's the LDP. Who am I kidding.

13 ( +13 / -0 )

I always prefered Reno as a leader, simply because she was a more charismatic and open minded leader.

I did too until she picked Noda as her No 2 guy back when she was the main opposition.

Saying that I truly wish all the best to Edano,I will support him and his coalition simply because Japan is in need of a real democratic and moderate party able to contrast the right wings and this mono party semi-democracy from the other side.

Now THAT I agree with 100%

11 ( +11 / -0 )

I always prefered Reno as a leader,simply because she was a more charismatic and open minded leader.

Saying that I truly wish all the best to Edano,I will support him and his coalition simply because Japan is in need of a real democratic and moderate party able to contrast the right wings and this mono party semi-democracy from the other side.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

He will last a year maybe.

That communist party guy has lasted for decades, it's been entertainment watching him get older and older on the roadside billboards.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

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