Nippon Ishin Power Struggle: Former Leader Baba Reveals His Future

Is it the downside of a generational shift?

On the night of January 23, the day before the ordinary session of the Diet was convened, more than 20 men and women gathered at a modest izakaya in Akasaka, Tokyo. A gathering titled “Japan Innovation Party: Informal Discussion between Parliamentary Executives and the Media” was being held.

An invitation email for the gathering, sent from the Japan Innovation Party’s parliamentary office to TV and newspaper reporters, contained the following message:

“Due to various circumstances, this will be a paid event. A fee of 7,000 yen will be collected on the day, so please understand.”

On December 1 of last year, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura (49) was appointed as the new party leader. He named former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara (62) as co-representative and promoted younger members such as Secretary-General Ryohei Iwatani (44) and Policy Chief Hitoshi Aoyagi (46).

Meanwhile, former leader Nobuyuki Baba (59) and former Diet Affairs Chief Takashi Endo (56) were not given any roles. The two had built cross-party connections, personally communicating with figures such as former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (76) and LDP Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama (79). In return for supporting government bills and budgets, they had secured cooperation for Japan Innovation Party policies, such as the Osaka-Kansai Expo. Their efforts had helped the party establish itself as the second-largest opposition force. However, their exclusion has caused divisions within the party.

“The arrogance of the newly promoted Iwaya and Aoyagi has become a hot topic. They are competent, but even assigned reporters can no longer enter their offices. Most Japan Innovation Party lawmakers traditionally keep their doors open, welcoming visitors.

At the gathering on the 23rd, Iwaya was heard complaining, ‘LDP Secretary-General Moriyama won’t meet with me. I’ve never had a one-on-one conversation with him.’ Meanwhile, Aoyagi expressed skepticism about the plan for opposition party primaries aimed at unifying candidates in single-member districts for the Upper House election, saying, ‘It’s realistically difficult.’

Among the new leadership, the only one with a direct line to the Ishiba faction is Maehara. While some privately mock him as a political nomad and an outsider, in reality, they are completely dependent on his personal connections.” (A participating journalist)