Key Facts
• June 27, Renho delivered a speech in Tokyo’s Jiyugaoka for the first time in a year.
• She is running in the nationwide proportional representation for the July 3 Senate election.
• After losing the Tokyo gubernatorial race in 2024, she initially ruled out returning to politics.
• October 2024: Ruling coalition lost its majority in the House of Representatives.
• Renho described feeling “excited” by the opposition’s gains in the lower house.
• Spring 2025: Party member Kiyomi Tsujimoto encouraged Renho to return to politics.
• Renho acknowledged criticism of her “migratory bird” comment but expressed determination to serve again.
• She emphasized her commitment to using her experience to contribute in the Diet.
Summary
Renho, a former member of Japan’s House of Councillors, announced her candidacy for the upcoming Senate election under the Constitutional Democratic Party. After a year-long hiatus following her loss in the Tokyo gubernatorial race, she reflected on her decision to return to national politics. Initially hesitant, Renho was inspired by the ruling coalition’s loss of its majority in October 2024 and encouragement from party members like Kiyomi Tsujimoto. Despite criticism of her earlier “migratory bird” comment, she expressed a renewed commitment to serving in the Diet. Her speech in Tokyo marked her first public address in a year, signaling her determination to re-enter the political arena.
