The announcement of Japan’s 50th House of Representatives election yesterday marked the official kickoff of the 12-day campaign period, with major media outlets identifying 21 prominent candidates facing potential election crises. Among them is Koichi Hagiuda, a former chairman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council and a close confidant of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In total, 1,344 candidates have registered to run for 465 seats in the elections, which will take place on the 27th. This includes both district representatives (289 seats) and proportional representatives (176 seats).
Notably, 46 candidates linked to the so-called “small fund incident” have registered. Of these, 34 received nominations from the LDP, while 12 officials from the old Abe faction, including Hagiuda, were left without party nominations and are running as independents.
These independent candidates cannot run in both district and proportional representation races, meaning that if they do not succeed in their districts, they will not have another chance. Should any of the non-nominated candidates win, the LDP plans to offer them recognition post-election.
Among the former officials standing as independents are Hagiuda, former Minister of Education Hirofumi Shimomura, former Minister of Economy and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura, and former Chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee Takeshi Takagi.
Taro Uesugi, who withdrew from the proportional representation race, is running as an independent in Fukushima’s 3rd district. Hiroshi Sekō, a former senator who left the LDP due to the small fund scandal, is contesting as an independent in Wakayama’s 2nd district.
The focus of this election revolves around whether the LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, can secure over half of the seats (233). Before the announcement, the LDP held 247 seats, while Komeito had 32, totaling 279.
According to reports by “Nikkan Gendai,” the LDP could lose as many as 58 seats, jeopardizing its majority. Conversely, political analyst Yoshimi Kobayashi estimates a potential loss of 40 to 50 seats, making it challenging to achieve a simple majority alone, but combining seats with Komeito could still enable that goal.
“Fuji Evening News” listed the 21 major candidates at risk of losing, which includes several members of the new Ishihara Cabinet that just launched in early October, such as Minister of Justice Hideki Makihara, Minister for National Security Manabu Sakai, Minister of Reconstruction Yoshihiro Ito, and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yoshihiro Osaki, alongside Hagiuda and others.
At 61, Hagiuda is contesting in Tokyo’s 24th district. Following the campaign’s official start, he began his outreach in front of the JR Hachioji station, aided by prominent LDP figures like former Minister of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Shinji Inoue and former Minister for Women’s Empowerment Haruko Arimura. Apart from the small fund incident, his connections to the former Unification Church have also sparked controversy.
Regarding the small fund scandal, Hagiuda expressed regret to voters, acknowledging the disappointment it caused. In response to the constitutional opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, fielding former senator Yoshifumi Arita in the district, Hagiuda urged voters to be discerning, questioning whether they truly want to elect someone who only comes to Hachioji to criticize.
Hagiuda noted that the small fund incident has undermined public trust in politics. While he recognizes the need for reform based on traditional practices, he emphasized the importance of discussion with constituents. However, he asserted that his office did not intentionally create a slush fund or misuse funds for personal gain.
“I am committed to serving Hachioji and have the determination to be buried in this land,” Hagiuda stated. “Unlike others who effortlessly venture here to run, we cannot leave our beloved Hachioji in the hands of such individuals.”
Hagiuda has an extensive political background, having served as a city councilor in Hachioji, a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, and first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003. His past roles include Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Education and Science, Minister of Economy and Industry, and LDP Policy Research Council Chairman.
