JAPAN TODAY



 

Japan's ruling camp is touting national strength heading into Sunday's general election, while opposition parties are focusing on people's daily lives.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party, is seeking a public mandate with a promise to make Japan "strong and prosperous," stressing the need for higher fiscal spending and investment to rev up the world's fourth-largest economy.

Takaichi, a security hawk, is also aiming to bolster the country's defense capabilities amid heightened tensions with China and North Korea.

The Japan Innovation Party, which styles itself as an "accelerator" in the ruling coalition led by the LDP, has adopted the slogan "We, Ishin, will get it moving" for the House of Representatives election. The party is also known as Nippon Ishin.

The JIP, which has a stronghold in Osaka, joined forces with the LDP in October after the Komeito party, which put the brakes on security and other divisive policies, left the ruling coalition.

The newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance, a merger of Komeito and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is seeking to draw a contrast with the ruling camp by vowing to put "ordinary citizens first and their livelihoods at the center."

The opposition Democratic Party for the People is sticking to the core message that boosted its popularity in the House of Councillors election in July, vowing, "We will increase take-home pay even more."

With Japanese households grappling with inflation, measures to address rising prices topped the list of priorities for voters in a Kyodo News poll over the weekend.

The survey pointed to growing support for the LDP ahead of the lower house election in which 465 seats will be up for grabs, with over 42 percent of respondents saying they want the ruling camp to secure more seats.

During the 12-day campaign, the Japanese Communist Party is placing
priority on protecting people's livelihoods, peace and human rights, while Reiwa Shinsengumi's slogan is "Protecting Japan starts with protecting yourself."

With its slogan "I am Japan," the Sanseito party is emphasizing the importance of each individual in building the nation, following the ultraconservative populists' success with "Japanese First" in the upper house election last year.

Among smaller parties, some are focusing on the country's defense, revitalization and independence, while others are raising concern about the country's ballooning defense spending or calling for more investment in growth areas.