Komeito—The First “Third Force”

Abstract

In analyses of Japanese politics Komeito is seldom the center of attention. The party was founded in 1964 by Souka Gakkai, a lay Buddhist organization which claims to have members in eight million households across Japan. This connection still dominates Komeito’s public image and also most of what little academic work has been done on the party. Even during its ten-year stint as part of the national government (1999–2009) Komeito did not attract much scholarly interest.¹ This is surely due to the fact that the LDP outshone its junior partner in sheer size and power. Part of the explanation, however, may also be that Komeito is seldom perceived as fighting for policies different from those of the LDP and appeared to be locked into the coalition. As a result, the party’s image is often reduced to that of a yes-man of the LDP.