Photo/Illutration Natsuo Yamaguchi speaks to reporters after winning his eighth term as leader of junior coalition partner Komeito on Sept. 15. (Taro Ono)

Natsuo Yamaguchi won an unprecedented eighth term as leader of junior coalition partner Komeito in yet another uncontested election.

“We will stick to our principles and reinforce discipline to win public trust,” Yamaguchi, 70, told reporters on Sept. 15, when the one-man race officially kicked off. “I’m determined to do my best to spearhead that effort.”

He will start another two-year term after Komeito officially elects him at a party convention on Sept. 25.

Yamaguchi said the new Komeito executive lineup would consist of people who can make the maximum use of the party’s potential, but he did not disclose any names.

Komeito has never had multiple candidates in a party leadership election since its foundation in 1964.

The party first narrows down the list of candidates by taking into account the opinion of Soka Gakkai, the lay Buddhist organization that backs Komeito.

But in the end, only one candidate has run.

One senior party official said Komeito identifies itself as a people’s party, and its members all have the same policies.

“It’s no use having multiple candidates identical (in their policies) vying for the top post,” the official said.

Another source close to Komeito also said the party has a limited number of “suitable candidates” for leader, noting that it has only 59 lawmakers in the Upper and Lower houses.

However, some Komeito members have said that running a leadership election with multiple candidates could invigorate the party.

When asked about calls within Komeito for a contested election, Yamaguchi said he appreciates their intention to make the party leadership race more meaningful.

But he expressed reservations about breaking with tradition and possibly jeopardizing party unity.

“We have only a small number of Diet members, and each candidate needs the endorsement of 10 party lawmakers to run for party leader,” Yamaguchi said. “Does having multiple candidates in a leadership election truly serve our cause of fighting with the people for the people? We should also think about whether we can remain united before further discussing the matter.”

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