Photo/Illutration Nobuyuki Baba speaks on the campaign trail to choose a new leader of Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party). (Taro Kotegawa)

OSAKA--The first presidential election of opposition party Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) ended as expected with Nobuyuki Baba winning by a landslide Aug. 27.

The outcome came as no surprise because Baba, 57, had the endorsement of Ichiro Matsui, who he was replacing. He also had far stronger backing from party members in the fight to become leader than his two rivals, Yasushi Adachi and Mizuho Umemura.

It remains to be seen if Baba will be able to match or exceed Matsui’s efforts to transform what was originally a party based primarily in Osaka Prefecture into a national entity.

Baba’s national name recognition pales in comparison to both Matsui and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, who is party vice president and frequently in the news due to his role of dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic in the western prefecture.

Yoshimura was named as party co-leader to shore up support for Baba, who previously held that post alongside Matsui.

Nippon Ishin is expected to continue its stance of distancing itself from the other opposition parties, while casting a critical eye on the ruling coalition.

Nippon Ishin was formed in 2012 as an offshoot of an Osaka-based local political party called Osaka Ishin no Kai, established by Matsui and Toru Hashimoto, who formerly served as both Osaka mayor and governor.

Baba ran successfully for a Lower House seat in the 2012 election from an Osaka district and served in party executive posts, such as secretary-general.

Baba was instrumental in fielding Nippon Ishin candidates outside of the Osaka area, which was instrument in the party chalking up major gains in both the 2021 Lower House and Upper House election this past July.

As a result, Nippon Ishin emerged as the second largest party in the opposition camp.

However, it has not been a party to the cooperative electoral strategy undertaken by the other opposition parties and has come out clearly in favor of constitutional revision, a position taken by the ruling coalition.

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