[Exclusive] Election God Says Devi’s Party Must Win Two Seats or Shut Down

Mr. Fujikawa positioned Mrs. Devi as the culmination of her life

“As an election professional, I see Devi Fujin as someone who can personally secure a million votes. In the last House of Representatives election, the Sanseito party gained 1.87 million votes, while the Japan Conservative Party secured 1.14 million proportional votes, making significant progress.

Based on my experience of handling 146 elections so far, if a well-known figure capable of gathering a million votes establishes a new party, the combined total of individual and party votes should reach 3 million. In the House of Councillors’ proportional representation system, it’s said that 1 million votes secure one seat. We will win at least two to three seats.”

Election strategist Shinnosuke Fujikawa (71), known as the “Election God,” expressed confidence.

On February 12, TV personality Devi Sukarno (85), widely known as “Devi Fujin,” announced the establishment of a new party, “12 (Wan Nyan) Peace Party,” dedicated to dog and cat protection as the culmination of her life’s work. She assumed the role of party leader and declared her candidacy for the nationwide proportional representation in this summer’s House of Councillors election.

“Japanese people are still unaware of the reality that dogs are being eaten.”

“Korean cuisine’s boshintang is well-known and has already been banned in South Korea, but in Japan, it is still consumed. Some men believe it to be a tonic.”

Devi Fujin claimed that about 50 restaurants in both Tokyo and Osaka serve dog meat and vowed to push for legislation banning the consumption of dogs and cats.

The large media turnout at the press conference was not only due to her fame but also because Fujikawa had taken on the role of election strategy chairman.

“If we don’t get two seats, we’re out of business.”

Fujikawa stirred up the “Ishimaru whirlwind” in the Tokyo gubernatorial election last July and helped former Minister for Economic Security Sanae Takaichi (63) reach the final round in the LDP presidential election last September.

Due to a bacterial infection in his leg, Fujikawa was hospitalized on February 19. However, he granted an interview on the 18th, the day before his hospitalization. He expressed further confidence, declaring, “If we don’t win two seats in the House of Councillors election, I will retire.”

Animal welfare is a broadly appealing cause. At the party’s founding press conference, co-representative and global billionaire Hiroshi Horiike (66) lightened the mood by stating, “Neither right nor left—just harmony.”

“In the Netherlands, there is a political party that advocates for animal rights. Horiike approached me last December, saying he wanted to create a similar party in Japan. There are no existing parties in Japan dedicated solely to dogs and cats, and I felt a single-issue party like this could succeed. The parliamentary group for animal welfare is bipartisan, and a bill to ban the consumption of dogs and cats would likely face no opposition, from the LDP to the left wing of the Constitutional Democratic Party. If submitted as a member-initiated bill, legalization is within reach,” Fujikawa explained.

He also gave a strong endorsement of Devi Fujin’s political potential:

“Through her charity work, she has built an extensive global network. She has visited both North Korea and Ukraine. If she wears the parliamentary badge, she could be an immediate asset in diplomacy. Through Horiike, she could even speak directly with President Trump or Elon Musk. She is an international talent, and I’m excited to see what kind of remarkable politician she will become.”

Though she appears youthful, Devi Fujin is 85 years old. If elected, she would surpass former Prime Minister Taro Aso (84) to become the oldest member of Japan’s political arena. Election campaigning requires stamina—standing on street corners a dozen times a day is exhausting even for candidates in their 40s.

Age is not a disadvantage

“We will consider the number of speeches, but Devi Fujin still handles demanding location shoots and filming as an entertainer and travels the world for charity work. There is no concern about her stamina. As seen in the press conference, she responds to questions smoothly without hesitation. At 85, she is not only energetic but also beautiful, which will likely earn her strong support from elderly voters and those approaching that age group. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (72) has secured strong backing from older women, which has been a key factor in her electoral success. Devi Fujin will likely gain similar support, so her age will not be a disadvantage.”

The party is considering fielding up to 30 candidates in the House of Councillors election, but for now, only three are confirmed: Devi Fujin and two unnamed individuals. The party aims to recruit at least 10 candidates through public applications.

“Even former House of Representatives members have approached us. Recruiting celebrities is challenging due to their sponsorship contracts, but we have some surprising candidates lined up (laughs).”

When our reporter mentioned names like Tetsuro Degawa (61), who has a close relationship with Devi Fujin, or Aya Sugimoto (56), a strong advocate for animal welfare, Fujikawa laughed and avoided giving a direct answer. However, he clenched his fist and declared:

“A single-issue party has a clear mission, which can attract even those who are usually uninterested in politics. I am confident we will be a major force in the House of Councillors election. Ideally, we aim to win five seats. If we secure five seats, we will meet the requirements for an official political party. Given that the LDP has now become a minority ruling party, we could hold the key to political decision-making.”

Known in Nagatacho as a strategist and election god, Fujikawa rubbed his right leg and smiled as he walked away, saying:

“Even from my hospital room, I can still use LINE.”