Tokyoites First forms national political party to field candidates in lower house election

TOKYO — The regional political party Tomin First no Kai, or Tokyoites First Party, to which Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike is a special adviser, announced the establishment of the political party First no Kai to enter national politics at a news conference in the capital on Oct. 3.

The new party will be headed by Chiharu Araki, a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly who is also the leader of the Tomin First no Kai.

First no Kai plans to field candidates in the upcoming House of Representatives elections, mainly in the single-seat constituencies in Tokyo, and has begun accepting public nominations for candidates. They say they have not asked Koike to run in the election.

At the news conference, Araki explained the reason for the party making forays into national politics: “In the four and a half years (since the formation of the Tomin First no Kai), I have repeatedly felt frustrated that the voices of the people of Tokyo have not been able to reach the national political scene.”

“If we continue to stay only in metropolitan politics, we will not be able to open up the future of Tokyo and Japan. With a strong sense of crisis, I have made up my mind to stand up,” the party’s head continued. The party’s pledge will be announced in the near future.

Araki said that she consulted with Koike about forming a new party and decided on the party name after discussing it with her. Regarding the relationship between Koike and the new party, Araki said, “Koike has said at a news conference that she has no intention of running (in the lower house election). We haven’t asked her to run, either,” while indicating her intention to continue working with Koike.

The party leader said there are no specific moves to work with other parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People, and only said, “We would like to discuss this with like-minded parties and individuals.”

(Japanese original by Asako Takeuchi, Tokyo City News Department)