Levi McLaughlin
@levimclaughlin.bsky.social
Professor, Philosophy and Religious Studies, North Carolina State University
For what it's worth, going by my correspondence in recent days with Gakkai member friends, Komeito calling on its supporters to vote for CDP candidates is likely to be greeted with Soka Gakkai adherent approval. Some members wondered why Komeito didn't link up with CDP before splitting with the LDP
October 27, 2025 at 2:57 PM
For what it's worth, going by my correspondence in recent days with Gakkai member friends, Komeito calling on its supporters to vote for CDP candidates is likely to be greeted with Soka Gakkai adherent approval. Some members wondered why Komeito didn't link up with CDP before splitting with the LDP
Or does it? Lots to discover as these new alliances unfold.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Or does it? Lots to discover as these new alliances unfold.
It's a cost these candidates will probably have to pay: even diminishing Gakkai-member vote-gathering power likely beats out the ground game of any other political party in Japan. And this probably includes Ishin and Sanseitō.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
It's a cost these candidates will probably have to pay: even diminishing Gakkai-member vote-gathering power likely beats out the ground game of any other political party in Japan. And this probably includes Ishin and Sanseitō.
In Tokyo, this means LDP Diet members are likely going to continue to curry favor with Komeito to gain Gakkai support. This gives Komeito, and specifically the Women's Division of Soka Gakkai, a lot of clout when it comes to vetting LDP candidates.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
In Tokyo, this means LDP Diet members are likely going to continue to curry favor with Komeito to gain Gakkai support. This gives Komeito, and specifically the Women's Division of Soka Gakkai, a lot of clout when it comes to vetting LDP candidates.
In other words, Japan's most powerful political institution might become the party of local Japan. That is, unless LDP Diet members figure out how to up their vote numbers.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
In other words, Japan's most powerful political institution might become the party of local Japan. That is, unless LDP Diet members figure out how to up their vote numbers.
Losing Gakkai voters could well mean that the LDP loses ALL its seats in Tokyo. And pairing up with Ishin means sacrificing LDP seats in and around Osaka.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Losing Gakkai voters could well mean that the LDP loses ALL its seats in Tokyo. And pairing up with Ishin means sacrificing LDP seats in and around Osaka.
The TV station TBS and other outlets have calculated that, without Komeito supporter (read Soka Gakkai) efforts, the LDP would have won 52 fewer seats in the October 2024 election, putting it behind the Constitutional Democratic Party. This doesn't account for other opposition party wins.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The TV station TBS and other outlets have calculated that, without Komeito supporter (read Soka Gakkai) efforts, the LDP would have won 52 fewer seats in the October 2024 election, putting it behind the Constitutional Democratic Party. This doesn't account for other opposition party wins.
But losing the Gakkai vote -- while perhaps still relying on it -- might be THE story for how the new, strongly nationalist LDP-Ishin coalition shapes up.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
But losing the Gakkai vote -- while perhaps still relying on it -- might be THE story for how the new, strongly nationalist LDP-Ishin coalition shapes up.
Because religion remains a strong taboo in Japan's public discourse, it's not a surprise to me that consequences of making light of Soka Gakkai vote-gathering have been largely pushed off the front page.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Because religion remains a strong taboo in Japan's public discourse, it's not a surprise to me that consequences of making light of Soka Gakkai vote-gathering have been largely pushed off the front page.
There does seem to be a requirement that you could credibly audition for a boy band if you head up Ishin no Kai.
www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
There does seem to be a requirement that you could credibly audition for a boy band if you head up Ishin no Kai.
www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
www.asahi.com/articles/AST...
shin has recently been bleeding Diet members, losing them to a breakaway parliamentarian group and also to the VERY conservative upstart party Sanseitō. The party also has a habit of fighting internally and switching out leaders on the reg.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
shin has recently been bleeding Diet members, losing them to a breakaway parliamentarian group and also to the VERY conservative upstart party Sanseitō. The party also has a habit of fighting internally and switching out leaders on the reg.
Securing this vote comes at great cost to the LDP. To get the votes needed to confirm Takaichi as Japan's leader, the LDP is hammering out a shaky new coalition agreement with Ishin no Kai, a conservative party that maintains an Osaka stronghold but otherwise struggles in national-level races.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Securing this vote comes at great cost to the LDP. To get the votes needed to confirm Takaichi as Japan's leader, the LDP is hammering out a shaky new coalition agreement with Ishin no Kai, a conservative party that maintains an Osaka stronghold but otherwise struggles in national-level races.
we approach Tuesday, when a vote in Japan's National Diet appears set to confirm Takaichi Sanae as the country's first woman Prime Minister.
October 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
we approach Tuesday, when a vote in Japan's National Diet appears set to confirm Takaichi Sanae as the country's first woman Prime Minister.
Of note: Saitō is not only a long-time Diet member colleague but is also Kamei's kōhai (junior) from the same high school. In Japan, these kinds of relationships mean a lot...
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Of note: Saitō is not only a long-time Diet member colleague but is also Kamei's kōhai (junior) from the same high school. In Japan, these kinds of relationships mean a lot...
It's quite something to see the almost 89-year-old Kamei essentially repent to his long-term political rival.
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
It's quite something to see the almost 89-year-old Kamei essentially repent to his long-term political rival.
The LDP politician who vilified Soka Gakkai and Komeito in harsh terms that amplified social stigma of their followers just declared on camera that he was "stupid," that his opinions about religious groups lacked study, and that Japan needs the moderate conservatism of Komeito to unite the country.
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The LDP politician who vilified Soka Gakkai and Komeito in harsh terms that amplified social stigma of their followers just declared on camera that he was "stupid," that his opinions about religious groups lacked study, and that Japan needs the moderate conservatism of Komeito to unite the country.
For details on mid-90s political upheaval and the role Soka Gakkai played in it -- REALLY resonant in many ways with what's unfolding now -- I recommend looking at Axel Klein's excellent 2012 Japanese Journal of Religious Studies article "Twice Bitten, Once Shy": nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/journal/6/is...
NIRC
nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
For details on mid-90s political upheaval and the role Soka Gakkai played in it -- REALLY resonant in many ways with what's unfolding now -- I recommend looking at Axel Klein's excellent 2012 Japanese Journal of Religious Studies article "Twice Bitten, Once Shy": nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/journal/6/is...
Kamei led the assembly of the "April Society" (Shigatsukai 四月会), which comprised a veritable who's who of political and religious opponents of Komeito and its founding lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai.
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Kamei led the assembly of the "April Society" (Shigatsukai 四月会), which comprised a veritable who's who of political and religious opponents of Komeito and its founding lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai.
This really is an amazing meeting. For clarity, in 1994, Kamei Shizuka was at the heart of what was then an embattled Liberal Democratic Party seeking to regain its dominance over Japan's National Diet.
October 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
This really is an amazing meeting. For clarity, in 1994, Kamei Shizuka was at the heart of what was then an embattled Liberal Democratic Party seeking to regain its dominance over Japan's National Diet.
We're looking at a very messy political time.
October 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
We're looking at a very messy political time.
This inspiration may lead to more votes and more electoral successes, at least on the PR level. But success will depend on how agreements with the CDP and other parties translates into political realities.
October 11, 2025 at 2:47 PM
This inspiration may lead to more votes and more electoral successes, at least on the PR level. But success will depend on how agreements with the CDP and other parties translates into political realities.