View source for Komeito

{{short description|Conservative political party in Japan}}
{{for|the earlier incarnation of this political party|Kōmeitō (1962–1998)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox political party
| native_name      = {{nobold|公明党}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| colorcode        = {{party color|Kōmeitō}}
| logo             = Komeito Logo (Japan).svg
| logo_size        = 220px
| headquarters     = 17 Minamimoto-machi, [[Shinjuku]], [[Tokyo]] 160-0012
| newspaper        = ''[[Komei Shimbun]]''
| leader1_title    = Leader
| leader1_name     = [[Tetsuo Saito]]
| leader2_title    = Deputy Leaders
| leader2_name     = [[Toshiko Takeya]]<br>[[Kazuyoshi Akaba]]<br>[[Shigeki Sato (politician)|Shigeki Sato]]
| leader3_title    = Secretary-General
| leader3_name     = [[Makoto Nishida]]
| leader4_title    = Councilors Leader
| leader4_name     = [[Masaaki Taniai]]
| foundation       = {{start date and age|1998|11|7|df=y}}
| merger           = [[Kōmeitō (1962–1998)|Kōmeitō (1962)]]<br/>[[New Peace Party]]<br/>{{ill|Reform Club (Japan, 1998)|lt=Reform Club|ja|改革クラブ (1998–2002)}}
| ideology         = {{ublist|class = nowrap
| [[Engaged Buddhism|Buddhist democracy]]<ref>{{cite book |editor=George Ehrhardt |editor2=Axel Klein |editor3=Levi McLaughlin |title=Kōmeitō: Politics and Religion in Japan |date=2014 |page=67 |publisher=Institute of East Asian Studies}}</ref>
| [[Social conservatism]]<ref>{{cite book|editor=Lucien Ellington |title=Japan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fox9YR80V7sC&q=social+conservative+Komeito&pg=PA168 |quote= ... Because of this political strength, the Liberal Democratic Party has in recent years included the moderate to socially conservative Komeito Party in coalition governments. |date=2009 |page=168 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=9781598841626 }}</ref>
| [[Welfare state|Welfarism]]{{cref|A}}
}}
| membership       = 450,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=党概要 |trans-title=Party Overview |url=https://www.komei.or.jp/about/outline/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=Komeito}}</ref>
| membership_year  = 2024
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]]{{cref|B|}}<ref>{{bulleted list
|{{Cite web|title=今さら聞けない?! 「保守」「リベラル」ってなんだ？|trans-title=Can't you ask about them now ?! What are "conservative" and "liberal"?|language=ja|access-date=15 May 2020|url= https://asahi.gakujo.ne.jp/common_sense/morning_paper/detail/id=2324}}
|{{Cite web|title= Japan ruling bloc near agreement on security shift |website=[[Associated Press]]|date=27 June 2014|access-date= 15 May 2020 |url= https://apnews.com/f3eefac9b9e14fcbb5e6b63013c82f0c }}
|{{Cite news|title= Coalition partner keeps Japan's Abe in power — and in check|newspaper= Financial Times |url= https://www.ft.com/content/feed704c-b31e-11e7-a398-73d59db9e399 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/feed704c-b31e-11e7-a398-73d59db9e399 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=17 October 2017|quote=Natsuo Yamaguchi, the low-profile leader of the centrist Komeito party|access-date= 15 May 2020|last1= Harding |first1= Robin }}}}</ref>
| religion         = [[Buddhism]] ([[Soka Gakkai]])<ref>{{Citation |first=Daniel A. |last=Metraux |title=The Soka Gakkai: Buddhism and the Creation of a Harmonious and Peaceful Society |work=Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist Liberation Movements in Asia |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=1996 |page=386}}</ref> (''de facto'')
| student_wing     =
| youth_wing       =
| slogan           = ''大衆と共に''{{efn|Taishū to tomo ni}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.komei.or.jp/ |title=公明党 |trans-title=Komeito |website=komei.or.jp |language=ja |access-date=28 July 2019 |quote=...&nbsp;{{lang|ja|結党以来のスローガン『'''大衆とともに'''』の精神こそ、}}&nbsp;...  }}</ref><br />('With the Public')
| colors           = {{ublist
| {{color box|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}} Pink
| {{color box|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}} Blue{{efn|as New Komeito}}{{efn|still used on English website}}
}}
| seats1_title     = [[House of Councillors|Councillors]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|27|248|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| seats2_title     = [[House of Representatives (Japan)|Representatives]]
| seats2           = {{Composition bar|24|465|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| seats3_title     = [[Prefectures of Japan|Prefectural assembly members]]
| seats3           = {{Composition bar|206|2644|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| seats4_title     = [[Municipalities of Japan|Municipal assembly members]]<ref name="local assemblies">Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, [http://www.soumu.go.jp/senkyo/senkyo_s/data/syozoku/ichiran.html party membership statistics for chief executives and assembly members in prefectures and municipalities]: [https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000938138.pdf Prefectural and local assembly members and governors/mayors by political party as of 31 December 2023]</ref>
| seats4           = {{Composition bar|2667|29135|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| country          = Japan
| website          = {{ublist
| '''Japanese'''
| {{URL|https://www.komei.or.jp/}}
| '''English'''
| {{URL|https://www.komei.or.jp/en/}}
}}
| footnotes        = {{cnote|A|Komeito embraces [[market liberalism]] to some extent, but it also emphasizes [[Welfare|social welfare]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=The hidden power of Komeito on Japanese politics|url=https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2021/12/03/the-hidden-power-of-komeito-on-japanese-politics/|date=3 December 2021|access-date=26 January 2022|quote=Observers can expect Kishida to avoid difficult debates over security policy, expand social welfare spending, and consider only limited social reforms to satisfy Komeito.|publisher=[[East Asia Forum]]}}</ref> and officially puts forward "Humanitarian socialism" as its main ideology.<ref>{{cite web |last1=三訂版,世界大百科事典内言及 |first1=デジタル大辞泉,精選版 日本国語大辞典,日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),改訂新版 世界大百科事典,百科事典マイペディア,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,知恵蔵,山川 日本史小辞典 改訂新版,旺文社日本史事典 |title=公明党(コウメイトウ)とは？ 意味や使い方 |url=https://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%85%AC%E6%98%8E%E5%85%9A-63237#E6.97.A5.E6.9C.AC.E5.A4.A7.E7.99.BE.E7.A7.91.E5.85.A8.E6.9B.B8.28.E3.83.8B.E3.83.83.E3.83.9D.E3.83.8B.E3.82.AB.29 |website=コトバンク |access-date=30 May 2024 |language=ja |quote=創価学会を支持母体とした中道政党。人間性社会主義の実現を掲げている。  ［藤井　正・五十嵐仁］}}</ref>}}
{{cnote|B|Komeito is also sometimes described as [[Centre-left politics|centre-left]]{{refn|<ref>{{Cite web|title=公明党は安保法制の「歯止め」か「触媒」か |trans-title=Which is the Komeito party "stop" or "catalyst" in security legislation?|url= https://diamond.jp/articles/amp/70206?page=3&skin=amp&|date=16 April 2015|access-date=23 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Paul |first1=Nadeau |title=Cracks in the Machine: The Future of the LDP-Komeito Coalition |url=https://tokyoreview.net/2023/04/cracks-in-the-machine-the-future-of-the-ldp-komeito-coalition/ |website=Tokyo Review |date=26 April 2023|access-date=16 June 2024 |quote=Komeito has often pushed the LDP towards the center-left, particularly on economic issues like issuing stimulus payments to low-income households during the COVID-19 pandemic or measures to offset the impact of the consumption tax hike. }}</ref>}} or [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]].{{refn|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/world-affairs/article30198969.ece |title=Japan: Return of the Right |quote=The LDP will be ruling in coalition with another right-wing party—the Komeito. |date=11 January 2013|access-date=21 February 2020|publisher=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]}}</ref><ref>Jeffrey Haynes (2020). ''Politics of Religion: A Survey''. "the NKP is a right-wing, conservative party with religious goals."</ref>}}}}
}}
{{conservatism sidebar}}
{{nihongo|'''Komeito'''|公明党|Kōmeitō}}, formerly '''New Komeito''' ('''NKP''') and commonly referred to as simply '''Komei''', is a [[political party in Japan]] founded by members of the Buddhist movement [[Soka Gakkai]] in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Klein|first1=Axel|last2=McLaughlin|first2=Levi|editor1-first=Robert J|editor1-last=Pekkanen|editor2-first=Saadia M|editor2-last=Pekkanen|date=2020-09-02|title=Kōmeitō: The Party and Its Place in Japanese Politics|url=https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190050993.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780190050993-e-5|access-date=2021-02-11|website=The Oxford Handbook of Japanese Politics|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190050993.001.0001|isbn=9780190050993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Matsutani |first1=Minoru |title=Soka Gakkai keeps religious, political machine humming |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2008/12/02/reference/soka-gakkai-keeps-religious-political-machine-humming/ |access-date=11 May 2019 |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |date=2 December 2008}}</ref> It is generally considered [[centrist]] and [[Conservatism|conservative]]. Since 2012, it has served in government as the junior coalition partner of the nationalist and conservative governments led by the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yoshida |first1=Reiji |title=LDP charges back, vows to regain voter confidence |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2012/12/18/national/ldp-charges-back-vows-to-regain-voter-confidence/ |access-date=12 May 2019 |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |date=18 Dec 2012}}</ref>
[[Keiichi Ishii]] has been the president of the party since 28 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ishii to head Komeito in first leadership change in 15 years|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/09/18/japan/politics/komeito-new-head/|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|date=2024-09-18|accessdate=2024-09-20}}</ref> Komeito currently has 24 elected Deputies in the Japanese [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]].
==History==
{{see also|Kōmeitō (1962–1998)}}
===Opposition before 1993===
Komeito began as the Political Federation for Clean Government in 1961, but held its inaugural convention as Komeito on 17 November 1964.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harano |first1=Jōji |title=Kōmeitō Turns Fifty: A History of Political Twists and Compromises |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00145/komeito-turns-fifty-a-history-of-political-twists-and-compromises.html |website=Nippon.com |publisher=The Nippon Communications Foundation |access-date=12 May 2019|date=2014-11-25 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About Us: History |url=https://www.komei.or.jp/en/about/history.html |website=Komeito |access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref> The three 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".<ref>{{Cite web |title=justice - Jisho.org |url=https://jisho.org/search/justice |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=jisho.org}}</ref>{{Additional source needed|date=October 2024}}
Komeito's predecessor party, [[Kōmeitō (1962–98)|Kōmeitō]], was formed in 1962, but it had begun in 1954 as the Kōmei Political League. It lasted until it merged with the NKP in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} About Us {{!}} KOMEITO |url=https://www.komei.or.jp/en/about/history.html#anc04 |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=www.komei.or.jp}}</ref>
In 1957, a group of Young Men's Division members campaigning for a Soka Gakkai candidate in an Osaka Upper House by-election were arrested for distributing money, cigarettes, and caramels at supporters' residences, in violation of election law, and on July 3 of that year, at the beginning of an event memorialized as the "Osaka Incident," [[Daisaku Ikeda]] was arrested in Osaka. He was taken into custody in his capacity as Soka Gakkai's Youth Division Chief of Staff for overseeing activities that constituted violations of election law. He spent two weeks in jail and appeared in court forty-eight times before he was cleared of all charges in January 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.has.vcu.edu/wrs/profiles/SokaGakkai.htm |title=Commitment to Privacy |access-date=2015-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222047/http://www.has.vcu.edu/wrs/profiles/SokaGakkai.htm |archive-date=2014-05-12 }}</ref>
In 1968, fourteen of its members were convicted of forging absentee ballots in Shinjuku, and eight were sentenced to prison for [[electoral fraud]]. In the 1960s it was widely criticized for violating the [[separation of church and state]], and in February 1970 all three major Japanese newspapers printed editorials demanding that the party reorganize. It eventually broke apart based on promises to segregate from Soka Gakkai.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kabashima |first1=Ikuo|last2=Steel|first2=Gill|title=Changing Politics in Japan |date=17 August 2012 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0801457630 |page=38 |quote=Other smaller parties include Komeito (the party officially became known as New Komeito in 1998), a party that Soka Gakkai formed in 1964 from its precursor, the Komei Political League.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=McCormick |first1=John |title=Comparative Politics in Transition |date=2012 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1111832575 |page=179}}</ref><ref>Jeffrey Haynes ''Routledge Handbook of Religion and Politics'' Page 17 "Talking to young Japanese people one normally gets very little sense of enthusiasm about Buddhism, and few people seem to take seriously the notion that the New Komeito Party is a Buddhist political party. The Komeito or 'Clean Government Party' ..."</ref>
In the 1980s, ''[[Shimbun Akahata]]'' discovered that many Soka Gakkai members were rewarding acquaintances with presents in return for Komeito votes and that [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]] residents had changed their addresses to elect Komeito politicians.<ref>{{cite book|last=Kira|first=Yōichi|title=Jitsuroku: Sōka Gakkai = Nanatsu no daizai|date=1986|publisher=Shin Nihon Shuppansha|location=Tōkyō|isbn=4406013881|edition=Shohan.}}</ref>
===Anti-LDP coalition government: 1993–1994===
Kōmeitō joined the Hosokawa and Hata anti-LDP coalition cabinets in 1993 and 1994. After the collapse of the anti-LDP and anti-[[Japanese Communist Party|JCP]] governments ({{nihongo2|非自民・非共産連立政権}}) and the electoral and campaign finance reforms of 1994, the Kōmeitō split in December 1994: The {{Nihongo|"New Kōmei Party"|公明新党|Kōmei Shintō}} joined the [[New Frontier Party (Japan)|New Frontier Party]] (NFP) a few days later in an attempt to unify the splintered opposition.<ref>Tun-Jen Cheng, Deborah A. Brown ''Religious Organizations And Democratization: Case Studies'' 2006 Page 279 "The demise of the Shinshinto into a variety of new splinter parties, including a revived Komeito (now called "New Komeito"), and increasing public dissatisfaction with the LDP-created political chaos. This situation was compounded by the ..."</ref> The other group, {{Nihongo|Kōmei|公明}}, continued to exist as a separate party. After the dissolution of the NFP in December 1997, former Kōmeitō members from the NFP founded two new groups: the {{Nihongo|"New Peace Party"|新党平和|Shintō Heiwa}} and the {{Nihongo|"Dawn Club"|黎明クラブ|Reimei Club}} in the House of Councillors, but some ex-Kōmeitō politicians such as Shōzō Azuma followed Ichirō Ozawa into the [[Liberal Party (Japan, 1998)|Liberal Party]]. The Reimei Club merged into the New Peace Party a few weeks later in January 1998. Finally, in November 1998, Kōmei and New Peace Party merged to re-establish Kōmeitō (referred to in English now as "New Komeito" – the party's name is just ''Kōmeitō'' as before the 1994 split).
The ''[[Japan Echo]]'' alleged in 1999 that Soka Gakkai distributed fliers to local branches describing how to abuse the ''[[jūminhyō]]'' residence registration system in order to generate a large number of votes for Komeito candidates in specific districts.<ref>{{cite news|last=Endou |first=Kôichi |title=The Kômeitô: A Virus Infecting the Body Politic |url=http://www.japanecho.co.jp/docs/html/260405.html |access-date=28 April 2014 |newspaper=Japan Echo |date=August 1999 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000526004454/http://www.japanecho.co.jp/docs/html/260405.html |archive-date=May 26, 2000 }}</ref>
===Coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party: 1999–2009, 2012–present===
[[File:Komeitô activists canvassing in front of Himezi castle.jpg|thumb|Komeito activists canvassing in front of [[Himeji Castle]]]]
The current conservative, more moderate, and centrist party was formed in 1998, in a merger of Kōmei and the New Peace Party. Since then it has joined coalition with the ruling [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP), which needs Komeito to maintain a majority in the Diet (especially in the House of Councillors which the LDP lost majority since 1989), and did well in the 2000 and 2001 parliamentary elections.
The LDP-Liberal coalition expanded to include the New Komeito Party in October 1999.<ref>[[Politics of Japan#Political Developments since 2000]]</ref> New Komeito has been (and continues to be) a coalition partner in the Government of Japan since 1999 (excluding 2009–2011 when the Democratic Party of Japan was in power). As such, New Komeito supported a (temporary) change to Japan's "[[Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution|no-war constitution]]" in order for Japan to [[Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group|deploy troops]] in support of the [[Iraq War|2003 invasion of Iraq]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kliman |first1=Daniel M. |title=Japan's Security Strategy in the Post-9/11 World: Embracing a New Realpolitik |date=2006 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=0275990591 |edition=Volume 183 of Praeger Security International Series Volume 183 of Washington papers, ISSN 0278-937X}}</ref>
In the [[2003 Japanese general election]] and [[2004 Japanese House of Councillors election]], the NKP did well, thanks to an extremely committed and well-organized voter base coming from Soka Gakkai. The party shares its support base with the LDP, made up of white-collar bureaucrats and rural populations, but also gained support from religious leaders. However, on 27 July 2005, NKP's Secretary-General said that his party would consider forming a coalition government with the [[Democratic Party of Japan]] (DPJ) if the DPJ gained a majority in the House of Representatives. On 8 August 2005, then-[[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] and the president of LDP [[Junichiro Koizumi]] dissolved the [[House of Representatives of Japan|Lower House]] and called for a general election, due to the rejection on some of the members of LDP for efforts to privatize [[Japan Post]]. The incumbent LDP-New Komeito coalition won a large majority in the [[2005 Japanese general election|2005 general election]].
[[Natsuo Yamaguchi]] became the party's leader on 8 September 2009 after the party and their coalition partner LDP suffered a major defeat in the [[2009 Japanese general election|2009 general election]], become part of the opposition for the first time since 1999. New Komeito lost ten seats, including that of party leader [[Akihiro Ota]] and general secretary [[Kazuo Kitagawa]]. On 8 September 2009, Yamaguchi replaced Ota as president of New Komeito.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ito |first1=Masami |title=Ailing New Komeito taps policy chief as new boss |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/09/08/national/ailing-new-komeito-taps-policy-chief-as-new-boss/ |access-date=8 August 2012 |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |date=8 September 2009}}</ref>
In the [[2012 Japanese general election|general election]] on 16 December 2012, the LDP/Komeito coalition secured a [[supermajority]] and came back into government. The former party chief Akihiro Ota (Ohta) is currently Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/96_abe/meibo/daijin/ohta_e.html|title=Akihiro OHTA (The Cabinet) – Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet|website=www.kantei.go.jp|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> The party also gained seats in the [[2014 Japanese general election|general election in 2014]]. In September 2014 the party changed its English name from New Komeito back to Komeito.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated-->|title=New Komeito drops 'New' from its name |url=https://japantoday.com/category/politics/new-komeito-party-drops-new-from-its-name |work=Japan Today |date=2014-09-28 |access-date=2017-04-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Komeito removes 'New' from party name|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/09/25/national/politics-diplomacy/komeito-removes-new-party-name/#.WUGBWcm1tPN|access-date=2 February 2017|agency=Jiji|publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd.|date=2014-09-25|archive-date=30 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830084523/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/09/25/national/politics-diplomacy/komeito-removes-new-party-name#.WUGBWcm1tPN|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2015, Komeito backed Prime Minister [[Shinzō Abe]]'s push to [[Constitutional reform in Japan|revise the Constitution]] in order to "give Japan's military limited powers to fight in foreign conflicts for the first time since [[World War II]]".{{attribution needed|date=January 2018}} This legislation, supported by the [[United States]], would allow the "[[Japan Self-Defense Forces|Self-Defense Forces]] to cooperate more closely with the U.S. by providing logistical support and, in certain circumstances, armed backup in international conflicts" and "complements guidelines in a bilateral agreement governing how Japanese and [[United States Armed Forces|United States forces]] work together, which was signed by the two nations" earlier in 2015.<ref name="reference to NY times">{{cite news |last=Soble |first=Jonathan |date=16 July 2015 |title=Japan Moves to Allow Military Combat for First Time in 70 Years |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/world/asia/japans-lower-house-passes-bills-giving-military-freer-hand-to-fight.html |access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref>
On March 11, 2019, a project team of Komeito submitted proposals to Foreign Minister [[Taro Kono]] for an international agreement to regulate [[lethal autonomous weapon|robotic weapons]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan's Komeito political party seeks international regulations on robotic weapons |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/11/national/politics-diplomacy/japans-komeito-political-party-seeks-international-regulations-robotic-weapons/ |access-date=21 July 2019 |agency=Jiji Press |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |date=11 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kiyomiya |first1=Ryo |title=Japan to seek global rules on autonomous 'killer robots' |url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201903140039.html |access-date=21 July 2019 |publisher=The Asahi Shimbun |date=14 March 2019 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704184343/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201903140039.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> calling on Japan to build global consensus for a "political declaration or a code of conduct, within the framework of the [[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=Japan's Komeito political party seeks international regulations on robotic weapons |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/11/national/politics-diplomacy/japans-komeito-political-party-seeks-international-regulations-robotic-weapons/ |access-date=21 July 2019 |agency=Jiji |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |date=11 March 2019}}</ref>
==Ideology and policies==
A self-proclaimed party of "humanitarian socialism,"{{cn|date=December 2023}} Komeito's declared mission is to pioneer "people-centered politics, a politics based on a [[humanitarianism]], that treats human life with the utmost respect and care".<ref>(New Komeito, 2002)</ref> On 24 April 2019, joint task force efforts with its coalition partner<ref>{{cite news |date=21 February 2018 |title=LDP, Komeito mull bill to compensate disabled for forced sterilization under old law |publisher=The Mainichi Newspapers |agency=The Mainichi |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180221/p2a/00m/0na/027000c |access-date=21 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=14 Mar 2019 |title=Victims sterilized under Japan's eugenics law to get ¥3.2 million each under state redress plan |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |agency=Kyodo News |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/14/national/victims-sterilized-japans-eugenics-law-get-%C2%A53-2-million-state-redress-plan/ |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=26 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126122954/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/14/national/victims-sterilized-japans-eugenics-law-get-%C2%A53-2-million-state-redress-plan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=31 Oct 2018 |title=Remorse, Apology to Be Clarified in Relief Bill for Sterilization Victims |publisher=Nippon Communications Foundation |agency=Jiji Press |url=https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2018103101356/ |url-status=dead |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721001401/https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2018103101356/ |archive-date=21 July 2019}}</ref> resulted in the passing of a bill mandating reparations and having the coalition government issue a formal apology to sterilization victims of the defunct [[Eugenics in Japan#After 1945|Eugenic Protection Act]], thus to advance human rights awareness in the wake of lawsuits<ref>{{cite news |date=29 June 2018 |title=Lawsuits over Japan's past forced sterilizations prompt ruling bloc to consider compensation ahead of court rulings |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |agency=Kyodo News |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/29/national/ruling-bloc-set-redress-japans-past-forced-sterilizations-ahead-court-rulings/ |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720235554/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/29/national/ruling-bloc-set-redress-japans-past-forced-sterilizations-ahead-court-rulings/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Siripala |first1=Thisanka |title=Japan's Forced Sterilization Victims Hit Back With a Wave of Lawsuits |url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/05/japans-forced-sterilization-victims-hit-back-with-a-wave-of-lawsuits/ |access-date=21 July 2019 |website=The Diplomat}}</ref> related to the history of [[eugenics in Japan]].<ref>{{cite news |date=24 April 2019 |title=Diet passes relief bill for the many victims of forced sterilization |publisher=The Asahi Shimbun |url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201904240040.html |url-status=dead |access-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720232858/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201904240040.html |archive-date=20 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=24 April 2019 |title=Diet passes bill to pay ¥3.2 million each to victims forcibly sterilized under Japan's eugenics law |publisher=The Japan Times, Ltd. |agency=Kyodo News |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/24/national/japan-passes-bill-pay-survivors-forced-sterilization-eugenics-law-%C2%A53-2-million/ |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=8 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108005157/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/24/national/japan-passes-bill-pay-survivors-forced-sterilization-eugenics-law-%C2%A53-2-million/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rich |first1=Motoko |last2=Inoue |first2=Makiko |date=25 April 2019 |title=Japan to Compensate Forcibly Sterilized Patients, Decades After the Fact |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/25/world/asia/japan-sterilization-eugenics-compensation.html |access-date=20 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Katz |first1=Brigit |title=Japan Offers Apology and Compensation to Victims of Forced Sterilization |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/japan-offers-apology-and-compensation-victims-forced-sterilization-180972037/ |access-date=20 July 2019 |website=Smithsonian.com |publisher=The Smithsonian}}</ref>
Religious scholar and political analyst Masaru Satō explains that in postwar Japan there were two major parties, the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] representing financial interests and large corporations and the [[Japan Socialist Party]] largely advocating the interests of trade unions and the working class. There was no single party that represented people who belonged to neither, such as shop owners and housewives, among others. Komeito was thus able to capture the support of this constituency.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sato |first=Masaru |title=A Transforming Force |publisher=Daisanbunmei-sha, Inc. |year=2017 |location=Japan |page=30}}</ref>
===Relationship with ''Soka Gakkai''===
Komeito regards the [[Soka Gakkai]] as a "major electoral constituency",<ref name="about view">{{cite web |title=About Us: On Politics and Religion |url=http://www.komei.or.jp/en/about/view.html |access-date=16 November 2016 |publisher=Komeito}}</ref> having formally separated from the religious group and revised both its platform and regulations in 1970 to reflect a "secular orientation".<ref name="Aruga 2000">{{cite book |last=Aruga |first=Hiroshi |title=Global Citizens |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |isbn=0-19-924039-6 |editor1-last=Machacek |editor1-first=David |chapter=Chapter 4: Soka Gakkai and Japanese Politics |editor2-last=Wilson |editor2-first=Bryan}}</ref>{{rp|117}} Observers continue to describe Komeito as the Soka Gakkai's "political arm",<ref>{{cite book |last=Métraux |first=Daniel A. |title=The Soka Gakkai Revolution |publisher=University Press of America |year=1994 |location=Lanham |pages=42, 55}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Corduan |first=Winfried |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yba83tvjvZEC&pg=PA479 |title=Neighboring Faiths: A Christian Introduction to World Religions |date=2012-10-22 |publisher=InterVarsity Press |isbn=978-0-8308-3970-4 |page=479 |language=en |quote=The Komeito severed its organizational ties to SG in 1970, but has nonetheless remaind the political arm of Sokka Gakkai in Japan}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Palmer |first=A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7iLBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA13 |title=Buddhist Politics: Japan's Clean Government Party |date=2012-12-06 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-94-010-2996-4 |page=13 |language=en |quote=even today, the Clean Government Party can hardly be called more than the "political arm" of Soka Gakkai}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1= Rich |first1= Motoko |last2= Notoya |first2= Kiuko |last3= Ueno|first3= Hisako | date= 2024-10-26 |title= For First Time in Decades, Japan Votes in a Knife-Edge Election |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/26/world/asia/japan-election.html |work= The New York Times |location= New York, United States |quote = ...Komeito, a political affiliate of Soka Gakkai, a Buddhist sect. |access-date=2024-10-27}}</ref> however, and critics contend the relationship violates the separation of religion and politics enshrined in Article 20 of the [[Constitution of Japan|Japanese Constitution]].<ref name="Okuyama 2010">{{cite journal |last=Okuyama |first=Michiaki |date=Spring 2010 |title=Soka Gakkai As a Challenge to Japanese Society and Politics |url=http://www.politicsandreligionjournal.com/images/pdf_files/srpski/godina4_broj1/6%20-%20okuyama%20michiaki.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Politics and Religion |volume=IV |issue=1 |page=84 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226023948/http://www.politicsandreligionjournal.com/images/pdf_files/srpski/godina4_broj1/6%20-%20okuyama%20michiaki.pdf |archive-date=2015-02-26 |quote=After its religious orientation was criticized by journalists and questioned in the Diet around 1970, Komeito declared that it would follow the constitutional principle of the separation between religion and state, officially separating Soka Gakkai and Komeito. But this issue continues even today as one of the targets of criticism against Soka Gakkai and Komeito.}}</ref> The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently said to be independent.<ref name="Aruga 2000" />{{rp|123–27}} Both groups report having occasional liaison meetings, characterizing them as informational and "open to the media".<ref name="about view" /><ref>{{cite report |title=Soka Gakkai Annual Report 2015 |date=1 February 2015 |publisher=Soka Gakkai Public Relations Office |page=72 |quote=協議会では、公明党から、党の方針、態度、決定等について説明があり、それに対して学会が意見、要望を述べる。[At the council, Komeito explains the party's policies, attitudes, decisions, etc., and the Gakkai gives opinions and requests.]}}</ref> Numerous Japanese religious groups have established political parties in Japan, but statistics scholar Petter Lindgren states that "None have, however, been more successful than Soka Gakkai."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lindgren |first1=Petter Y. |date=2016 |title=Komeito's security ideals and collective self-defense: betwixt pacifism and compromises |journal=East Asia |volume=33 |issue=3 |page=235 |doi=10.1007/s12140-016-9256-8 |s2cid=148386681}}</ref>
=== Domestic policy ===
Domestically, the party proposals include reduction of the central government and [[bureaucracy]], increased transparency in public affairs, and increased local ([[Prefecture|prefectural]]) autonomy with the [[private sector]] playing an increased role. Komeito also supports reducing the consumption tax rate, reducing school fees and offering child allowances.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Tobias |last2=McLaughlin |first2=Levi |date=4 November 2021 |title=The Small Pacifist Party That Could Shape Japan's Future |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/04/komeito-ldp-japan-elections-defense-policy-china/ |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>
In accordance with its public affairs transparency platform, it was reported that since September 2016, the Komeito conducted independent analyses for possible environmental contamination of the proposed [[Toyosu]] market site.<ref>{{cite news |date=16 September 2016 |title=Tokyo gov't investigating underground water at Toyosu fish market site |publisher=GPlusMedia Inc. |agency=Japan Today |url=https://japantoday.com/category/national/tokyo-govt-investigating-underground-water-at-toyosu-fish-market |access-date=19 October 2017}}</ref> The Komeito officially raised its environmental concerns later regarding Toyosu market during the 5 October 2016 Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Session. In response, the newly appointed Tokyo Governor, [[Yuriko Koike]], cited possible disciplinary action towards those responsible for the Toyosu project.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 October 2016 |title=Koike vows to punish officials who botched Toyosu market |publisher=The Asahi Shimbun Company |url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201610060075.html |url-status=dead |access-date=19 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019163111/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201610060075.html |archive-date=19 October 2017}}</ref>
=== Security policy ===
In contrast with the LDP, Komeito has generally been more cautious about efforts to expand the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF).<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ryall |first=Julian |date=29 October 2021 |title=Tricky Tokyo-Beijing relations weigh on Japan's political parties as Kishida seeks mandate in lower house election |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3154049/tricky-tokyo-beijing-relations-weigh-japans-political-parties |access-date=7 August 2022}}</ref> At its founding, the party adhered to absolute pacifism, rejecting both the constitutionality of the JSDF and the military alliance with the US.<ref name=":0" /> Later softening its views, Komeito later backed LDP proposals such as a 2004 vote to dispatch the JSDF to support allied operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and prime minister's [[Shinzo Abe]]'s revision of the security laws to expand military powers in July 2015,<ref name="reference to NY times" /> although it did manage to moderate the policy on the latter.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mette Fisker-Nielsen |first1=Anne |date=November 1, 2016 |title=Has Komeito Abandoned its Principles? Public Perception of the Party's Role in Japan's Security Legislation Debate |url=http://apjjf.org/2016/21/Fisker-Nielsen.html |journal=The Asia Pacific Journal: Japan Focus |volume=14 |issue=21, #3}}</ref>
=== Foreign policy ===
With regard to foreign policy, the Komeito wishes to eliminate [[nuclear arms]] and Japanese involvement in [[War|armed conflict]] in general. Komeito supports maintaining the [[U.S.-Japan Alliance|Japan's military alliance with the United States]].<ref name=":1" />
The party promotes closer relations between [[China–Japan relations|China and Japan]]. According to a ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' article in 2021, "Of all parties in the Diet, Komeito enjoys the strongest and most stable relationship with China."<ref name=":0" /> Komeito's then leader [[Yoshikatsu Takeiri]]'s held negotiations Chinese Premier [[Zhou Enlai]] in the 1970s played a critical role in the eventual normalization of relations between the People's Republic of China and Japan in 1972.<ref name=":0" /> The party has advocated for friendlier policies towards China, and has maintained communications with the country even during moments when the relationships between the two countries have been strained.<ref name=":0" />
The party reportedly advocates for improved ties with China and South Korea in light of [[Japanese war crimes|Japan's historical war crimes]] in both territories. In 2013, the party's chief representative Natsuo Yamaguchi praised Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision not to visit [[Yasukuni Shrine]], where Japanese war criminals are enshrined.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yamaguchi: PM Abe true to previous administrations on war, 'comfort women' {{!}} Komei News (October 19 , 2013) |url=https://www.komei.or.jp/en/news/detail/20131019_12477 |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=Komeito |language=en}}</ref> On the [[comfort women]] issue, in 2016 the party reportedly advocated for removing [[Yoshitaka Sakurada]] from a leadership position after Sakurada denied that the women were forced to work.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-01-15 |title=Politicians react to LDP legislator's remark that 'comfort women' were prostitutes |url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20160115/p2a/00m/0na/009000c |access-date=2024-06-24 |work=Mainichi Daily News |language=en}}</ref>
===Party organ===
The party organ of Komeito is the ''[[Komei Shimbun|Komei Shinbun]]''. It is published by the Komei Organ Paper Committee,<ref>{{cite web |title=公明 (Komei) |url=https://ndlopac.ndl.go.jp/F/?func=find-c&ccl_term=001%20%3D%20000008101200&adjacent=N&x=0&y=0&con_lng=jpn |access-date=2 July 2016 |website=NDL-OPAC (National Diet Library – Online Public Access Catalog) |publisher=National Diet Library of Japan}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=公明新聞. Kōmei shinbun. |publisher=OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. |oclc=45443281}}</ref> and has also published a regional Hokkaido edition in the past.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://iss.ndl.go.jp/books/R100000002-I000000098265-00 |title=公明新聞 北海道版 |website=NDL Search |publisher=National Diet Library [of Japan] |year=1996 |edition=Komei Shinbun – Hokkaido |access-date=2 July 2016}}</ref>
==Leadership==
===Current leadership===
Leadership as of 9 November 2024:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.komei.or.jp/about/board/jonin_yakuinkai/ |title=常任役員会  |website=Komeito |language=Japanese |access-date=11 November 2024 }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! scope="col"|Position
! scope="col"|Name
|-
!rowspan=2|Permanent Advisors
|[[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]
|-
|[[Keiichi Ishii]]
|-
!Leader
|[[Tetsuo Saito]]
|-
!rowspan=3|Deputy Leaders
|[[Toshiko Takeya]]
|-
|[[Kazuyoshi Akaba]]
|-
|[[Shigeki Sato (politician)|Shigeki Sato]]
|-
!Secretary General
|[[Makoto Nishida]]
|-
!Chairman of the Central Executive Committee
|[[Kazuyoshi Akaba]]
|-
!Chairman of the Policy Research Council
|[[Mitsunari Okamoto]]
|-
!Chairman of the Caucus in the House of Councillors
|[[Masaaki Taniai]]
|-
!Election Strategy Committee Chairman
|Nobuhiro Miura
|-
!Diet Affairs Committee Chairman
|Hidemichi Satō
|}
===List of presidents===
{|class="wikitable"  style="text-align:center"
!rowspan=2|No.
!rowspan=2|Name<br>{{small|(Birth–death)}}
!rowspan=2|Constituency / title
!colspan=2|Term of office
!rowspan=2|Image
! colspan="2" style="width:20%;" rowspan="2"|[[Prime Minister of Japan|{{nowrap|Prime Minister}}]] {{small|(term)}}
!rowspan=2|Government/<br>opposition
|-
!Took office
!Left office
|-
|colspan="9" bgcolor="lightblue" | '''New Komei Party (1994–1998)'''
|-
| 1 || [[Kōshirō Ishida]]<br>{{small|(1930–2006)}} || Rep for<br>[[Aichi 6th district|Aichi 6th]] || 5 December 1994 || 9 December 1994 || [[File:Koshiro-Ishida-1.png|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Japan Socialist Party}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Tomiichi Murayama|Murayama]] <small>{{nowrap|1994–96}}</small>
| style="background-color:#FFB6C1" | Opposition
|-
|colspan="9" bgcolor="lightblue" | '''Komei (1994–1998)'''
|-
|rowspan=2|1 || rowspan=2|[[Tomio Fujii]]<br>{{small|(1924–2021)}} || rowspan=2|[[Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly]]<br>for [[Shinjuku]] district || rowspan=2|5 December 1994 || rowspan=2|18 January 1998 || rowspan=2| [[File:Tomio-Fujii-1.jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Japan Socialist Party}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Tomiichi Murayama|Murayama]] <small>{{nowrap|1994–96}}</small>
| rowspan="4" style="background-color:#FFB6C1" | Opposition
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
! rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal"|[[Ryutaro Hashimoto|Hashimoto]] <small>{{nowrap|1996–98}}</small>
|-
| rowspan="2"|2 || rowspan="2"|[[Toshiko Hamayotsu]]<br>{{small|(1945–2020)}}|| rowspan="2" |Cou for<br>[[Tokyo at-large district|Tokyo at-large]] || rowspan="2"|18 January 1998 || rowspan="2"|7 November 1998 || rowspan="2"|[[File:Hamayotsu Toshiko 1-1.jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Keizō Obuchi|Obuchi]] <small>{{nowrap|1998–2000}}</small>
|-
|colspan="9" bgcolor="lightblue" | '''New Peace Party (1998)'''
|-
| rowspan=2|1 || rowspan=2|[[Takenori Kanzaki]]<br>{{small|(b. 1943)}} || rowspan=2|Rep for<br>[[Fukuoka 1st district|Fukuoka 1st]] || rowspan=2|4 January 1998 || rowspan=2|7 November 1998 || rowspan=2| [[File:Takenori Kanzaki 20060926 (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Ryutaro Hashimoto|Hashimoto]] <small>{{nowrap|1996–98}}</small>
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#FFB6C1" | Opposition
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Keizō Obuchi|Obuchi]] <small>{{nowrap|1998–2000}}</small>
|-
|colspan="9" bgcolor="lightblue" | '''Reimei Club (1998)'''
|-
| 1 || [[Kazuyoshi Shirahama]]<br>{{small|(b. 1947)}} || Cou for<br>[[Osaka at-large district|Osaka at-large]] || 4 January 1998 || 18 January 1998 ||
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal"|[[Ryutaro Hashimoto|Hashimoto]] <small>{{nowrap|1996–98}}</small>
| style="background-color:#FFB6C1" | Opposition
|-
|colspan="9" bgcolor="lightblue" | '''New Komeito (1998–2014)'''
|-
| rowspan="5"|1 || rowspan="5"|[[Takenori Kanzaki]]<br>{{small|(b. 1943)}} || rowspan="5"|Rep for<br>[[Fukuoka 1st district|Fukuoka 1st]]<br>(1983–2005)<br>[[Kyushu proportional representation block|Kyushu PR block]]<br>(2005–2010) || rowspan="5"|7 November 1998 || rowspan="5"|30 September 2006 || rowspan="5"| [[File:Takenori Kanzaki 20060926 (cropped).jpg|100px]]
| rowspan="2" style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal" |[[Keizō Obuchi|Obuchi]] <small>{{nowrap|1998–2000}}</small>
| style="background-color:#FFB6C1" | Opposition<br>until<br>5 October<br>1999<br>(Obuchi First reshuffled cabinet)
|-
| rowspan="7" style="background-color:#7FFFD4" | Governing coalition<br>since<br>5 October<br>1999<br>(Obuchi Second reshuffled cabinet)
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| style="font-weight:normal"|[[Yoshirō Mori|Mori]] <small>{{nowrap|2000–01}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| style="font-weight:normal" |[[Junichiro Koizumi|Koizumi]] <small>{{nowrap|2001–06}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
| style="font-weight:normal" rowspan="2" |[[Shinzo Abe|Abe S.]] <small>{{nowrap|2006–07}}</small>
|-
| rowspan=3|2 || rowspan=3|[[Akihiro Ota]]<br>{{small|(b. 1945)}} || rowspan=3|Rep for<br>[[Tokyo 12th district|Tokyo 12th]] || rowspan=3|30 September 2006 || rowspan=3|8 September 2009 || rowspan=3|[[File:Akihiro Ōta 20121227.jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-top:solid 0 gray" |
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
| style="font-weight:normal"|[[Yasuo Fukuda|Fukuda Y.]] <small>{{nowrap|2007–08}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}; border-bottom:solid 0 gray" |
| style="font-weight:normal" |[[Tarō Asō|Asō]] <small>{{nowrap|2008–09}}</small>
|-
| rowspan=4|3 || rowspan=4|[[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]<br>{{small|(b. 1952)}} || rowspan=4|Cou for<br>[[Tokyo at-large district|Tokyo at-large]] || rowspan=4|8 September 2009 || rowspan=4|25 September 2014 || rowspan=4|[[File:Natsuo Yamaguchi.jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal" |[[Yukio Hatoyama|Hatoyama Y.]] {{small|2009–10}}
| rowspan="3" style="background-color:#FFB6C1" | Opposition
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal" |[[Naoto Kan|Kan]] {{small|2010–11}}
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Japan, 1998)}}" |
! style="font-weight:normal" |[[Yoshihiko Noda|Noda]] {{small|2011–12}}
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| style="font-weight:normal" |[[Shinzo Abe|Abe S.]] <small>{{nowrap|2012–20}}</small>
|style="background-color:#7FFFD4" | Governing coalition
|-
|colspan="9" bgcolor="lightblue" | '''Komeito (2014–present)'''
|-
| rowspan=3|1 || rowspan=3|[[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]<br>{{small|(b. 1952)}} || rowspan=3|Cou for<br>[[Tokyo at-large district|Tokyo at-large]] || rowspan=3|25 September 2014 || rowspan=3|28 September 2024 || rowspan=3|[[File:Natsuo Yamaguchi 20220929.jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| style="font-weight:normal" |[[Shinzo Abe|Abe S.]] <small>{{nowrap|2012–20}}</small>
| rowspan="5" style="background-color:#7FFFD4" | Governing coalition
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| style="font-weight:normal" |[[Yoshihide Suga|Suga]] <small>{{nowrap|2020–2021}}</small>
|-
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| style="font-weight:normal" |[[Fumio Kishida|Kishida]] <small>{{nowrap|2021–2024}}</small>
|-
| 2 || [[Keiichi Ishii]]<br>{{small|(b. 1958)}} || Rep for<br>[[Northern Kanto proportional representation block|Northern Kanto PR block]] || 28 September 2024 || 9 November 2024 || [[File:Keiichi Ishii 20230315teigen komei2.jpg|100px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
| rowspan="2" style="font-weight:normal" |[[Shigeru Ishiba|Ishiba]] <small>{{nowrap|2024–present}}</small>
|-
|3
|[[Tetsuo Saito]]<br>{{small|(b. 1952)}}
|Rep for<br>[[Hiroshima 3rd district|Hiroshima 3rd]]
|9 November 2024
|Incumbent
|[[File:Tetsuo Saito 20211004 (cropped).jpg|frameless|133x133px]]
| style="background-color: {{party color|Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)}}" |
|}
==Election results==
===House of Representatives===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ [[House of Representatives (Japan)|House of Representatives]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | Leader
! rowspan=2 | No. of<br/>candidates
! colspan=3 | Seats
! rowspan=2 | Position
! colspan=2 | Constituency votes
! colspan=2 | PR Block votes
! rowspan=2 | Status
|-
! No.
! ±
! Share
! No.
! Share
! No.
! Share
|-
| colspan="12"| '''Komei era'''
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[1996 Japanese general election|1996]]
| rowspan="2"| ''Komei faction''
| rowspan="2"| 51
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|42|511|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| {{decrease}} 9
| rowspan="2"| 8.2%
| rowspan="2" bgcolor="lightgrey"|
| rowspan="2" colspan="4"| ''see [[New Frontier Party (Japan)|New Frontier Party]]''
| {{no2|Opposition<br>(until 1998)}}
|-
| {{yes2|Governing coalition<br>(since 1998)}}
|-
| colspan="12"| '''New Komeito era'''
|-
! [[2000 Japanese general election|2000]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Takenori Kanzaki]]
| 74
| {{Composition bar|31|480|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{decrease}} 11
| 6.4%
| {{increase}} 3rd
| 1,231,753
| 2.02%
| 7,762,032
| 12.97%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
! [[2003 Japanese general election|2003]]
| 55
| {{Composition bar|34|480|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| 7.0%
| {{steady}} 3rd
| 886,507
| 1.49%
| 8,733,444
| 14.78%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
! [[2005 Japanese general election|2005]]
| 52
| {{Composition bar|31|480|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{decrease}} 3
| 6.4%
| {{steady}} 3rd
| 981,105
| 1.4%
| 8,987,620
| 13.3%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
! [[2009 Japanese general election|2009]]
| [[Akihiro Ota]]
| 51
| {{Composition bar|21|480|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{decrease}} 10
| 4.3%
| {{steady}} 3rd
| 782,984
| 1.11%
| 8,054,007
| 11.45%
| {{no2|Opposition}}
|-
! [[2012 Japanese general election|2012]]
| [[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]
| 54
| {{Composition bar|31|480|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{increase}} 10
| 6.4%
| {{decrease}} 4th
| 885,881
| 1.49%
| 7,116,474
| 11.90%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
| colspan="12"| '''Komeito era'''
|-
! [[2014 Japanese general election|2014]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]
| 51
| {{Composition bar|35|475|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{increase}} 4
| 7.3%
| {{steady}} 4th
| 765,390
| 1.45%
| 7,314,236
| 13.71%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
! [[2017 Japanese general election|2017]]
| 53
| {{Composition bar|29|465|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{decrease}} 6
| 6.2%
| {{steady}} 4th
| 832,453
| 1.50%
| 6,977,712
| 12.51%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
! [[2021 Japanese general election|2021]]
| 53
| {{Composition bar|32|465|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| 6.8%
| {{steady}} 4th
| 872,931
| 1.52%
| 7,114,282
| 12.38%
| {{yes2|Governing coalition}}
|-
! [[2024 Japanese general election|2024]]
| [[Keiichi Ishii]]
|50
| {{Composition bar|24|465|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{decrease}} 8
| 5.2%
| {{decrease}} 6th
|730,401
|1.35%
|5,964,415
|10.93%
|
|}
===House of Councillors===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ [[House of Councillors]]
|-
! rowspan=2 | Election
! rowspan=2 | Leader
! colspan=2 | Seats
! colspan=2 | Nationwide<br>(PR votes since 1983)
! colspan=2 | Prefecture
! rowspan=2 | Status
|-
! Total{{efn|The Upper house is split in two classes, one elected every three years.}}
! Contested
! Number
! %
! Number
! %
|-
| colspan="9"| '''Komei era'''
|-
! [[1995 Japanese House of Councillors election|1995]]
| [[Tomio Fujii]]
| {{Composition bar|11|252|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|0|126|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| colspan="4"| ''Did not participate in election''
| {{no2|Minority}}
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[1998 Japanese House of Councillors election|1998]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Toshiko Hamayotsu]]
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|22|252|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|9|126|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| 7,748,301
| rowspan="2"| 13.80%
| rowspan="2"| 1,843,479
| rowspan="2"| 3.30%
| {{no2|Minority (until 1999)}}
|-
| {{yes2|Governing majority  (since 1999)}}
|-
| colspan="9"| '''New Komeito era'''
|-
! [[2001 Japanese House of Councillors election|2001]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Takenori Kanzaki]]
| {{Composition bar|23|247|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|13|121|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| 8,187,804
| 14.96%
| 3,468,664
| 6.38%
| {{yes2|Governing majority}}
|-
! [[2004 Japanese House of Councillors election|2004]]
| {{Composition bar|24|242|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|11|121|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| 8,621,265
| 15.41%
| 2,161,764
| 3.85%
| {{yes2|Governing majority}}
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[2007 Japanese House of Councillors election|2007]]
| rowspan="2"| [[Akihiro Ota]]
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|20|242|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|9|121|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| 7,765,329
| rowspan="2"| 13.18%
| rowspan="2"| 3,534,672
| rowspan="2"| 5.96%
| {{partial|Governing minority (until 2009)}}
|-
| {{no2|Minority (since 2009)}}
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[2010 Japanese House of Councillors election|2010]]
| rowspan="3"| [[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|19|242|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| {{Composition bar|9|121|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| rowspan="2"| 7,639,432
| rowspan="2"| 13.07%
| rowspan="2"| 2,265,818
| rowspan="2"| 3.88%
| {{no2|Minority (until 2012)}}
|-
| {{partial|Governing minority(since 2012)}}
|-
! [[2013 Japanese House of Councillors election|2013]]
| {{Composition bar|20|242|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|11|121|{{party color|New Kōmeitō}}}}
| 7,568,082
| 14.22%
| 2,724,447
| 5.13%
| {{yes2|Governing majority}}
|-
| colspan="9"| '''Komeito era'''
|-
! [[2016 Japanese House of Councillors election|2016]]
| rowspan="3"|[[Natsuo Yamaguchi]]
| {{Composition bar|25|242|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|14|121|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| 7,572,960
| 13.52%
| 4,263,422
| 7.54%
| {{yes2|Governing majority}}
|-
! [[2019 Japanese House of Councillors election|2019]]
| {{Composition bar|28|245|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|14|124|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| 6,536,336
| 13.05%
| 3,913,359
| 7.77%
| {{yes2|Governing majority}}
|-
! [[2022 Japanese House of Councillors election|2022]]
| {{Composition bar|27|248|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| {{Composition bar|13|125|{{party color|Kōmeitō}}}}
| 6,181,432
| 11.66%
| 3,600,490
| 6.77%
| {{yes2|Governing majority}}
|}
==See also==
*[[Politics of Japan]]
==Literature==
* Ehrhardt, George, Axel Klein, Levi McLaughlin and Steven R. Reed (2014) (Eds.): Kōmeitō – Politics and Religion in Japan. Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California, Berkeley
*{{Citation |first=Anne Mette |last=Fisker-Nielsen |title=Religion and Politics in Contemporary Japan: Soka Gakkai Youth and Komeito |publisher=Routledge |year=2012}}
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.komei.or.jp/ Komeito official website]
*[http://www.komei.or.jp/en/ Komeito official English website]
{{Komeito}}
{{Japan political parties}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Komeito| ]]
[[Category:1998 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Buddhism in Japan]]
[[Category:Engaged Buddhism]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1998]]
[[Category:Political parties in Japan]]
[[Category:Politics of Japan]]
[[Category:Social conservative parties]]
[[Category:Centrist parties in Japan]]