FILE/JAPAN: New right-leaning party head by nationalistic ex-Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and popular Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto looks for gains in upcoming election

Record ID: 466866

  • Title: FILE/JAPAN: New right-leaning party head by nationalistic ex-Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara and popular Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto looks for gains in upcoming election
  • Date: 11th December 2012
  • Summary: EAST CHINA SEA (FILE - SEPTEMBER 2012) (REUTERS) JAPANESE COAST GUARD SHIP IN FRONT OF DISPUTED ISLANDS VARIOUS OF DISPUTED ISLANDS THAT ISHIHARA ORIGINALLY LOOKED TO PURCHASE
  • Embargoed: 26th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEUPCLCYKBT0CTGDLFVSIQ3GTF
  • Story Text: In Japan's upcoming election the Restoration Party, which only came into existence within the past few months, is looking to become a major force as its Japan-centric policies gain traction with voters.
    Popular Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, 43, formally launched the right-leaning party in September to woo voters fed up with the two main parties.
    His core policies include shrinking the role of the central government, greater market competition, and cuts in corporate and income taxes.
    Last month, the party merged with a few conservative lawmakers led by former nationalist Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara, 80, in an attempt to build an influential "third force".
    Ishihara then became party head after he quit during his fourth term as governor of Tokyo hoping to return to national politics.
    Ishihara, an 80-year-old author-turned politician, who resigned as a lawmaker in 1995 after a quarter century in parliament, co-wrote the book "The Japan That Can Say No" urging Tokyo to stand up to close ally Washington.
    His harsh criticism of mainstream politicians and bureaucrats has won applause from voters, but he has also offended groups ranging from older women to gays with abrasive comments.
    Ishihara's bid for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to buy disputed islets in the East China Sea which are also claimed by China prompted the central government to buy them instead from their private owners, sparking an intense row with Beijing.
    Ishihara has said that he wants to continue to work towards protecting the islands as a parliamentarian as well.
    "So I now I plan to oversee and push forward this project now from parliament," he said when he stood down as Tokyo mayor.
    The party wants to boost defence spending and maritime surveillance in response to a territorial row with China.
    It has flip-flopped on nuclear power after merging with Ishihara's pro-atomic group, and confusion persists.
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