New party challenges Abe with populist slogans; but few policy differences

Lol,hello new boss same as the old boss.

Wow, Linda, give the party a break! They were just formed yesterday, and that was rushed because of Abe's call for a snap election. I know that they have conservative leanings, but Koike has stated for a long time to rid the country of nulcear power, try and help women and families more, not change article 9 of the constitution. These are things that people can hang their hats on! I think the nuclear issue will be one of the most important ones to differentiate the two groups.

Koike's party is basically another faction of the LDP. Indeed, people in the LDP are already talking about working together. I hope Japanese "journalists" will keep asking them to explain clearly how their policies differ (if these people actually have any policies). I don't expect they will though.

float "populist slogans"? what political party, in which country, doesn't do the very same?

Scrote sums it up well. I remember reading that the Liberal Democratic Party is truly a misnomer being neither liberal nor democratic. In fact, it isn't even a party but a coalition of parties.

Not sure what anyone was expecting TBH, she's always been a heavy ultra-nationalist and conservative so the policies would be similar

Which is about as neat a summary of Japanese politics as you can get.

Her party name was registerd in Febuary this year. JFYI

No one believes they are any different.

Party of Hope... a slightly better name than the Japan New New Party; though perhaps more appropriate for the title of a surrealist painting.

The author doesn't seem to know what a slogan is. 'Yes we can!' is a slogan. Ending nuclear power is a policy.

could attract voters who feel Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has become complacent, even arrogant, after nearly five years in office.

Well then they'll attract ALOT of voters because ALOT of them feel this way.

A vague Party of Hope platform unveiled on Wednesday pledged to be a "tolerant, conservative reform party," break free of vested interests, protect the public, spend tax money wisely and respect diversity.

Sounds better than what we have now..

There's not much daylight between Koike's party and the LDP," said Gerry Curtis, professor emeritus at Columbia University in New York

Not much of a prof are you?

She has suggested freezing a rise in the sales tax to 10 percent from 8 percent, from 2019, and called for an end to nuclear power -

THAT'S ALOT of daylight Professor Curtis. That's still a big step up from what we have now. Raising the sales tax now could land Japan in a depression, so the idea that there is very little difference between the 2 choices is ludicrous. People will FEEL the difference if Abe is reelected,  the tax goes up, prices rise, and we have a depression.

Not to mention the phasing out of a very unpopular form of energy.

She has said debate was inevitable on revising the post-war constitution, but should not be limited to the divisive issue of amending pacifist Article 9, which Abe wants to change to clarify the military's status.

Well of course its inevitable given the fact that that the current twat has spent his whole time in office obsessing over revising it instead of trying to get the economy going.

Promises to reform "vested interest politics" and end governance through back-room deals often resonate with Japanese voters, who periodically long for change from the LDP, which has ruled Japan for most of the past six decades.

As well they should. 6 decades of 1 party rule?? That's longer than most dictatorships last. The LDP is no different.  Its a regime with a disguise of democracy with the state media the NHK dancing to its beat.

Time to get rid of the LDP. ALMOST ANY change is better than what we have now.

All 3 party leaders are Nippon Kaigi. Why waste money?

What is wrong to belong to Nippon Kaigi? At least it. says Nippon, not America or Gaikoku.

All Japanese Diet member participate their agenda discussion that is called Nippon Kokkai Kaigi.