Photo/Illutration Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Oct. 4 after meeting with Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected president of coalition partner Liberal Democratic Party. (Tetsuya Kasai)

Sanae Takaichi’s election as the president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has sparked concern within coalition partner Komeito over her stance on political funding scandals, historical issues and plans to expand their alliance.

Her positions are viewed by some as a threat to Komeito’s influence and core values.

“I frankly conveyed our supporters’ deep concerns,” Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said following his first meeting with Takaichi on Oct. 4. “Without resolving these concerns, there can be no coalition government.”

His stern demeanor stood in stark contrast to the celebratory mood typically accompanying such political transitions.

The key issues Saito highlighted include the LDP’s handling of factional slush fund scandals and the lack of transparency surrounding corporate and organizational donations.

He also voiced concern over Takaichi’s hard-line stance on immigration policy and her regular visits to Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial war memorial in Tokyo. 

When asked whether unresolved concerns could jeopardize the coalition, Saito replied, “Exactly. A coalition government only works when policies and principles align.”

Saito’s remarks reflect growing discontent within Soka Gakkai, the powerful Buddhist organization that serves as Komeito’s support base.

“There are voices within the Gakkai calling for a break from the coalition,” a senior party official said. “Some feel Takaichi doesn’t care about their concerns.”

The Gakkai is particularly sensitive to the LDP’s money scandals. Komeito suffered a historic defeat in the recent Upper House election in securing its lowest number of seats since its 1998 reformation.

Internal reviews blamed the endorsement of LDP lawmakers implicated in the scandal, framing the situation as a “crisis of survival” for the party.

Despite this, Takaichi brushed off the scandal, saying it “will not affect personnel decisions,” and plans to give senior roles to Koichi Hagiuda and other key figures tied to the controversy.

“Our views are fundamentally different,” a Komeito executive warned. “If we don’t take a strong stand, our supporters will abandon us.”

Takaichi’s willingness to expand the coalition has also raised alarms that a broader alliance could dilute Komeito’s influence within the government.

“Expanding the coalition isn’t something that should be done lightly,” Saito cautioned.

Komeito has partnered with the LDP since 1999, with its center-left stance serving as a counterbalance to the LDP’s more conservative posture.

Although Komeito holds far fewer seats in the Diet, LDP lawmakers often benefit from the coalition partner’s backing in constituencies where Komeito does not field candidates—an arrangement that ensures the two parties never compete directly.

A veteran Komeito member lamented the lack of personal ties between Saito and Takaichi.

“Under Shinzo Abe’s (similarly conservative) administration, Komeito acted as a moderating force,” the member said. “But with Takaichi, we lack a communication channel to play that role. We risk being swept away by the tide.”

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