Key Facts
• Komeito fielded 22 candidates in the Tokyo Assembly election, with 19 elected.
• This marks the first time in 36 years the party failed to secure full election success.
• Komeito lost in Shinjuku Ward, home to its headquarters and Soka Gakkai’s main office.
• The party also suffered a double loss in Ota Ward, ending an 8-election winning streak since 1993.
• Party leader Tetsuo Saito cited insufficient campaigning and organizational challenges.
• Aging supporters and declining organizational strength contributed to the losses.
• In the 2021 general election, Komeito lost 8 seats, with proportional representation votes dropping to 5.96 million.
• The party faces internal dissatisfaction over its continued support for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) amid scandals.
• Rival parties like the Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito gained momentum.
• With the Upper House election a month away, Komeito is under pressure to recover.
Summary
Komeito suffered a significant setback in the 2025 Tokyo Assembly election, securing only 19 of 22 seats and losing in Shinjuku Ward, home to its headquarters and Soka Gakkai’s main office. This marks the first time in 36 years the party failed to achieve full election success. Party leader Tetsuo Saito attributed the losses to insufficient campaigning and declining organizational strength, exacerbated by an aging supporter base. The party also faced internal dissatisfaction over its alliance with the LDP, which has been marred by scandals. With the Upper House election approaching, Komeito must address these challenges to regain momentum.
