Dissatisfaction with Shinjiro Koizumi Grows Within the Liberal Democratic Party

Unusual frequency of support

On October 27, the 50th House of Representatives election will be held. Shinjiro Koizumi (43), who has been appointed as the chairman of the election strategy committee, is overseeing the election for the Liberal Democratic Party alongside the party’s secretary-general, Hiroshi Moriyama (79). From selecting candidates to leveraging his remarkable popularity, Koizumi is traveling across the country. Amidst numerous requests for his support, there is one district where he has made an unprecedented three visits: Tokyo’s 15th district (Koto Ward).

This is Tokyo’s 15th ward (Koto-ku).

Tokyo’s 15th district is known as the most chaotic district in Tokyo. Former House of Representatives member Tsukasa Akimoto (53) and former Deputy Minister of Justice, Mitsuru Kakizawa (53), both resigned consecutively due to scandals related to politics and money. In the by-election on April 28 of this year, the Liberal Democratic Party refrained from fielding a candidate, leading to a record nine candidates running. Amidst troubles caused by the political group “Tsubasa no To,” Natsumi Sakai (38) of the Constitutional Democratic Party emerged victorious. Now, just six months after the tumultuous by-election, another election is set to take place, with five candidates ranging in age from their 20s to 40s, and an average age of 35.4 years. This freshness is gaining attention, signaling a potential shift from the past troubles.

Among the candidates, the youngest is 25-year-old Kohei Ozora, the chairman of the NPO “Anata no Ibasho.” He is often referred to as a “Z Generation debater” in the media. He has also been appointed to various committees in Tokyo and the government, and has been seen as someone with potential to eventually make his way to Nagatacho, the heart of Japanese politics.

“If I win, it will mark the birth of a 20-something member of the Diet, someone who is not involved in any politics and money scandals. I want to work hard to change the Liberal Democratic Party and change politics,” Ozora stated.

On the 21st, during his third appearance for support, Shinjiro Koizumi made a passionate appeal, declaring, “We absolutely have to win!” as he was heavily guarded by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police. On the 15th, the day of the official announcement, as well as on the 19th at Kameido Station (Koto Ward) and on the 21st at the Oshima district (Koto Ward), Koizumi worked tirelessly to rally support for Ozora.

Ozora himself expressed his determination to this magazine, saying, “By winning as a 25-year-old selected through an open recruitment in a district plagued by politics and money scandals, I want to show that ‘the LDP has changed!'”