Photo/Illutration Shinji Ishimaru explains Saisei no Michi (The Path to Rebirth), the regional political party he established, at a news conference in Tokyo’s Minato Ward on Jan. 15. (The Asahi Shimbun)

Watching a news conference held by Shinji Ishimaru on Jan. 15 in Tokyo, I thought he definitely came across like an entrepreneur, rather than a politician.

Speaking of his plans to establish a local political party called Saisei no Michi (The Path to Rebirth) and to field candidates in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election this summer, Ishimaru gave what sounded very much like a business presentation.

He talked about maximizing profit and cost performance, ensuring efficient use of time and supporting the next careers of party members.

What, exactly, is a political party? I always believed it to be an organization that makes laws and ordinances and implements policies in order to realize the wishes of its supporters.

But Ishimaru’s new party has no policy to uphold and will allow its members to vote at their discretion in the assembly. The only rule, he explained, is that party members who are elected to the Tokyo assembly may serve no longer than “two four-year terms.”

Ishimaru says he is promoting broad public participation in politics, but what he is really after is to secure “work-ready” party members.

And that is why any sitting Tokyo assembly member who applies for party membership will automatically qualify as a candidate in their district. No screening will be necessary, and that also goes for former prefectural governors and deputy governors as well as former mayors and deputy mayors.

The selection of candidates will be a three-stage process, and the results will be made public for those who have cleared the second stage.

The final process will be a 15-minute “one-on-one” interview with Ishimaru himself.

As this will be videotaped and shared online, I’d feel a bit sorry for anyone who fails. But Ishimaru asserted with full confidence, “Getting to the third phase is quite an achievement in itself, and that’s definitely not going to hurt anyone’s reputation.”

While Ishimaru claims that his party’s aim is to nurture and groom successful politicians, he is essentially giving priority treatment to sitting legislators by giving them free passes.

And although he says he has established a new party, he doesn’t mind its members keeping their ties with other parties.

These are just a couple among many glaring inconsistencies I couldn’t help noticing, causing me to wonder if what Ishimaru is starting can really be considered as a political party.

Toward the end of the news conference, Ishimaru explained why he chose Tokyo as the home of his regional party.

“(Tokyo is) where my name—Shinji Ishimaru—is best known,” he said. “And this is where swing votes abound.”

These were the most believable statements of the day.

—The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 16

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

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