The second largest opposition party, the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), decided on Saturday to keep its current leadership, despite the party's poor showing in last Sunday's upper house election.
The party fielded 44 candidates but won only eight seats.
The party held an executive meeting in Tokyo on Saturday afternoon. Afterwards, it said co-leaders Toru Hashimoto and Shintaro Ishihara would stay on, along with Secretary General Ichiro Matsui, Fuji TV reported.
Before the election, Hashimoto had hinted that if the party fared badly in the election, he would step down. After the election, he said that he wanted to concentrate on his duties as Osaka mayor.
Many party members had expressed concern that Hashimoto's remarks about Japan's wartime use of so-called comfort women had a negative impact on the party's chances in the election.
Matsui told reporters that the party will seek to join forces with other smaller opposition parties in order to provide a strong counterbalance to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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gokai_wo_maneku
Great news! This means the party will be dead in a month or two.
CrazyJoe
What a farce!
Thomas Anderson
Oh God, they still think that the Restoration party has any chance...
Citizen2012
Yes, and it started the day a son of a yakuza became elected mayor of one of a major city in Japan.
Ben Snyder
In anticipation of their comeback from the ashes, the Japan Restoration Party has been renamed as "Their Party". Yoshimi Watanabe could not be reached for comment.
Jimizo
They have to stay on. This party gets its support from those who like the outspoken loudmouths in charge of it. Some low profile bigot won't increase its share if the vote.
smithinjapan
Cowards.
highball7
They actually won 8 seats? Jesus Christ, what the hell are the Japanese voters thinking?
K.kawanp
It must be. Japan may need such strong leaders even they are kind of right wing guys.
cramp
apparently 8/44 is not a poor showing by their definition
Serrano
"They actually won 8 seats? Jesus Christ, what the hell are the Japanese voters thinking?"
Apparently the other candidates were even worse.
Michael Craig
At least the Japanese Communist Party did well.
Serrano
If I were Shintaro Ishihara's age, I would be wanting to retire and take it easy.