New Komeito Party
Encyclopedia
The , New Kōmei Party, or NKP is a centre-right
political party in Japan
founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist
organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent. However, many Sōka Gakkai members support NKP powerfully.
The three kanji
characters 公明党 have the approximate meanings of "public/government" (公 kō), "light/brightness" (明 mei), and "political party" (党 tō). The combination "kōmei" (公明) is usually taken to mean "justice or fairness". The word "New" is not a part of the Japanese name, but is used in English to distinguish the party from its predecessor. The NKP was formed as a result of a merger between the Kōmeitō and the New Peace Party on November 7, 1998.
that treats human life with the utmost respect and care". Domestically, the party proposals include reduction of the central government and bureaucracy
, increased transparency in public affairs, and increased local (prefectural
) autonomy with the private sector
playing an increased role. With regard to foreign policy, the NKP wishes to eliminate nuclear arms and armed conflict
in general. In so doing, it hopes to bring about the "dawn of a new civilization of mankind". Although most of the NKP politicians and core supporters are Sōka Gakkai members, NKP platform scarcely remarks on religious issues.
), and did well in the 2000 and 2001 parliamentary elections.
In the 2003 and 2004 Diet elections, the NKP did well, thanks to an extremely committed and well organized voter base coming from Sōka Gakkai. The party shares its support base with the LDP, made up of white collar bureaucrats and rural populations, but also gains support from religious leaders. However, on July 27, 2005, NKP's Secretary General said that his party would consider forming a coalition government with the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan
) if, in a snap election
, the DPJ gained a majority in the House of Representatives. On August 8, 2005, then-Prime Minister of Japan
Junichiro Koizumi
dissolved the Lower House
and called for a general election, due to the rejection of efforts to privatize Japan Post
. The opportunity for a NKP–DPJ coalition did not arise, as the LDP won a large majority in the 2005 general election. The NKP lost about a third of its seats in the 2009 upper house parliamentary election
, and is no longer part of a governing coalition.
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
political party in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism is a branch of Mahāyāna Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th century Japanese monk Nichiren...
organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent. However, many Sōka Gakkai members support NKP powerfully.
The three kanji
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
characters 公明党 have the approximate meanings of "public/government" (公 kō), "light/brightness" (明 mei), and "political party" (党 tō). The combination "kōmei" (公明) is usually taken to mean "justice or fairness". The word "New" is not a part of the Japanese name, but is used in English to distinguish the party from its predecessor. The NKP was formed as a result of a merger between the Kōmeitō and the New Peace Party on November 7, 1998.
Platform
NKP's declared mission is to pioneer "people-centered politics, a politics based on a humanitarianismHumanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
that treats human life with the utmost respect and care". Domestically, the party proposals include reduction of the central government and bureaucracy
Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officials of a governmental or organization who implement the rules, laws, and functions of their institution, and are occasionally characterized by officialism and red tape.-Weberian bureaucracy:...
, increased transparency in public affairs, and increased local (prefectural
Prefecture
A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision in any of various countries and within some international church structures, and in antiquity a Roman district governed by an appointed prefect.-Antiquity:...
) autonomy with the private sector
Private sector
In economics, the private sector is that part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is run by private individuals or groups, usually as a means of enterprise for profit, and is not controlled by the state...
playing an increased role. With regard to foreign policy, the NKP wishes to eliminate nuclear arms and armed conflict
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
in general. In so doing, it hopes to bring about the "dawn of a new civilization of mankind". Although most of the NKP politicians and core supporters are Sōka Gakkai members, NKP platform scarcely remarks on religious issues.
History
The NKP had a predecessor with a similar (though more to the left) ideology, but the current conservative, more moderate, party was formed in 1998, in a merger of the Kōmeitō and the New Peace Party. It supported the ruling LDP (Liberal Democratic PartyLiberal Democratic Party (Japan)
The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
), and did well in the 2000 and 2001 parliamentary elections.
In the 2003 and 2004 Diet elections, the NKP did well, thanks to an extremely committed and well organized voter base coming from Sōka Gakkai. The party shares its support base with the LDP, made up of white collar bureaucrats and rural populations, but also gains support from religious leaders. However, on July 27, 2005, NKP's Secretary General said that his party would consider forming a coalition government with the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan
Democratic Party of Japan
The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...
) if, in a snap election
Snap election
A snap election is an election called earlier than expected. Generally it refers to an election in a parliamentary system called when not required , usually to capitalize on a unique electoral opportunity or to decide a pressing issue...
, the DPJ gained a majority in the House of Representatives. On August 8, 2005, then-Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
Junichiro Koizumi
Junichiro Koizumi
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
dissolved the Lower House
House of Representatives of Japan
The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...
and called for a general election, due to the rejection of efforts to privatize Japan Post
Japan Post
was a government-owned corporation in Japan, that existed from 2003–2007, offering postal and package delivery services, banking services, and life insurance. It had over 400,000 employees and ran 24,700 post offices throughout Japan and was the nation's largest employer. One third of all Japanese...
. The opportunity for a NKP–DPJ coalition did not arise, as the LDP won a large majority in the 2005 general election. The NKP lost about a third of its seats in the 2009 upper house parliamentary election
Japanese general election, 2009
A general election in Japan was held on August 30, 2009, for all 480 seats of the House of Representatives of Japan, the lower house of the Diet of Japan....
, and is no longer part of a governing coalition.
See also
- Sōka Gakkai
- Komeitō
- Clean Government Political AssemblyClean Government Political AssemblyThe Clean Government Political Assembly ' - otherwise known as the Komei Political Assembly, was a political organization in Japan from 1961 to 1964. It was the forerunner of the Komeitō , which in 1998 merged into the New Komeito Party....
- Politics of JapanPolitics of JapanThe politics of Japan is conducted in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, where Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. Japanese politics uses a multi-party system. Executive power exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the Diet, with...
- Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...
- Japanese general election, 2003
- List of political parties in Japan
- Japanese general election, 2005
- Japanese general election, 2009Japanese general election, 2009A general election in Japan was held on August 30, 2009, for all 480 seats of the House of Representatives of Japan, the lower house of the Diet of Japan....