On October 21, Sanae Takaichi became Prime Minister of Japan after the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) formed a new alliance with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), a centrist party with roots in Osaka.

The dynamic of the previous coalition, comprising the LDP and the center-left and pacifist Komeito, was that Komeito partially curbed the LDP’s right-wing ambitions to remilitarize Japan, while also promoting social welfare measures and advocating for tax cuts. However, Komeito objected to the LDP’s inaction regarding political funds and the resolution of scandals surrounding them, and withdrew from the coalition.

In response, Sanae Takaichi attempted to find a more accommodating ally that would be less constraining to the LDP while still being popular with the electorate. Recently published statements by both parties allow us to better assess the prospects of a new alliance, which will be discussed in this article.

A Brief Introduction to the Ishin No Kai

The Ishin No Kai is a party formed in 2015 in Osaka following a split in the old Innovation Party. The Ishin No Kai is often described as a right-wing conservative party. However, in a number of positions, it leans more toward the left, and its commitment to reform and change (many of which will be completely alien to Japan) casts doubt on its label as a conservative force.

The party embraces neoliberal ideas, which would typically be considered right-leaning; however, it does so in a rather peculiar manner. The Ishin no Kai advocates free markets and competition, which should strive to create a changing hierarchical environment where the most effective actors win and reap the benefits. At the same time, the party advocates for active social support and the creation of equal conditions for all segments of the population, particularly through a review of the healthcare and pension systems, as well as increasing access to all levels of the education system. The presence of these left-leaning intentions in the neoliberal narrative is explained by the party’s plans to implement them through the privatization of state institutions in the relevant areas.

Furthermore, neoliberalism (at least in Japan) is often associated with support for globalization and multiculturalism. The........

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