Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai

Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai (Japanese: 清和政策研究会, lit. Seiwa Political Research Council), often shortened to Seiwakai[3] is a major faction within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). It was led by Shinzo Abe from 2021 until his assassination in 2022. Since Abe's death, it has had collective leadership.

Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai
清和政策研究会
LeaderCollective leadership
FounderTakeo Fukuda
Founded24 January 1979
IdeologyJapanese nationalism[1]
National conservatism[2]
TypeLiberal Democratic Party faction
Councillors
40 / 119
Representatives
60 / 263
Website
www.seiwaken.jp

Seiwakai is currently the largest faction within the LDP.[4]

History

The faction was established in 1979 by former prime minister Takeo Fukuda.[5] The faction has its origins on a group formed by Fukuda to oppose prime minister Hayato Ikeda's economic policies.[5]

The faction was led by Shinzo Abe from 2021 until his assassination in 2022.[6][7] Since Abe's death, it has had collective leadership.[8] On 17 August 2023, the faction has agreed to introduce a collective leadership system, with Ryū Shionoya as its coordinator, while leaving the previous chairmanship post vacant.[9]

Political stance

Seiwakai is referred to as a nationalist[1] or national-conservative.[2] It has been characterized as right-leaning,[3] hawkish and favoring constitutional revision.[10]

Seiwakai faction heads

Faction heads who became prime minister are in bold.[11]

No. Image Faction head Years
1 Takeo Fukuda 1979–1986
2 Shintaro Abe 1986–1991
3 Hiroshi Mitsuzuka 1991–1998
4 Yoshiro Mori 1998–2000
5 Junichiro Koizumi 2000–2001
6 Yoshiro Mori 2001–2006
7 Nobutaka Machimura 2006–2007
- N/A Caretaker System:
Nobutaka Machimura
Hidenao Nakagawa
Shuzen Tanigawa		 2007–2009
8 Nobutaka Machimura 2008–2014
9 Hiroyuki Hosoda 2014–2021
10 Shinzo Abe 2021–2022
(assassinated)
- N/A Representative:
Ryu Shionoya		 2022–Present

See also

References
  1. "Kindergarten scandal shows Japan's nationalist far-right out of touch". East Asia Forum. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2023. Politicians of the LDP's nationalist Seiwakai faction are well aware that they cannot win elections based on utopian visions of Japan's...
  2. "Japan goes all in with the West after Russia's invasion of Ukraine but big strategic choices remain". East Asia Forum. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023. ... it is with the conservative nationalist Seiwakai that Kishida, and his ostensibly liberal Kochikai faction, must forge a consensus. ...
  3. "Bonds between LDP, Unification Church date back half a century | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  4. "Abe's house of cards: Death leaves largest party faction in limbo". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  5. Taekuchi, Yusuke (9 November 2021). "Abe to lead LDP's biggest faction, cementing role as kingmaker". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. "LDP faction to come under collective leadership after Abe's death". Mainichi Daily News. 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  7. Bosack, Michael (4 January 2022). "The Evolution of LDP Factions - Tokyo Review". Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  8. Johnston, Eric (20 July 2022). "Abe's faction faces uncertain future following his assassination". The Japan Times. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  9. "LDP's Abe Faction to Shift to Collective Leadership". nippon.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  10. Harris, Tobias (11 October 2016). "Japan's Steel Ceiling". ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
  11. "清和政策研究会とは?" (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 April 2023.
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