Former pro wrestler-turned Diet member Antonio Inoki, Tully's Coffee Japan founder Kota Matsuda and three others have formed a new political party.
The new party will be called Party to Revitalize Japan (日本を元気にする会), TBS reported after Inoki filed a registration with the election commission on Jan 8.
Inoki was a member of the Party for Future Generations until December, while Matsuda used to belong to Your Party, which disbanded in November. Three other former members of Your Party have joined Inoki and Matsuda.
Inoki said the party will promote administrative reform, TBS reported. However, the party does not have enough lawmakers to be able to submit bills (20 is the required number).
There are now seven opposition parties and two parties in the ruling coalition camp.
© Japan Today
11 Comments
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Samurai84
He is not the FOUNDER of TULLYs coffee. He simply has a license agreement with the TULLYS brand which is owned by Tom O'Keefe from the USA. get your facts right!!!
HollisBrown
Genuine question: What is the point?
Do party 'founders' get a higher salary / allowance / tax write off?
Is it purely for self promotion?
They clearly don't do it based on any fundamental political beliefs. I don't understand how 'forming a new political party' while already a politician is a) so easily and flippantly done; b) accepted by the electorate (I do somewhat understand this one!); c) beneficial to the political process.
Surely anyone doing this (so soon after an election), should be made to resign their seat. I mean, what did Inoki and Matsuda campaign for last month?
smithinjapan
How about "The Let's Not Name It Quite Yet Because We'll All Be Forming A New Party Next Year Party", because let's face it, they're all leaving parties JUST formed within the last couple of years, after leaving parties before that, and will all do exactly the same thing and never change opinions in these 'new' parties where they talk about 'reform'.
Kaerimashita
Inoki should stick to his business and leave politics to the geezers who run the country. his track record in politics is pretty grim.
nath
Inoki gives innocent people a bad back hand.
Laguna
Why is it that all of these third-tier party names sound like boy bands?
HongoTAFEinmate
Not again? Old Inoki has some pretty bad form when it comes to political parties.
Rik314
Call it the "Genki Desu Kaaaaa Cup of Joe" Party, Diane.
Tel Porter
Bom-Ba-Ye Party!
sensei258
How about calling it the "Mocha Choca Lata Yaya" party.
Speed
Maybe they should call it the "Wake Up Party".
I think a lot of these new party founders should understand that political party names shouldn't be sentences and proclamations but short simple titles.