Key Facts
• July 26, 2025: Hiroyuki Kishi appeared on “Dot Connect” to discuss election.
• Kishi, 62, ran for Japan’s House of Councillors under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
• He lost the election, receiving less than half of his target votes.
• Kishi revealed he is battling cancer and struggled with poor health during the campaign.
• Initially, in May 2025, Kishi had no plans to run for office.
• He decided to run after being persuaded by trusted individuals in late May 2025.
• Kishi aimed to repay former leaders Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga by revitalizing the LDP.
• He described the election as facing “unprecedented headwinds” due to LDP’s internal issues.
• Kishi criticized the LDP, stating leadership changes alone cannot resolve its problems.
• Post-election, Kishi received supportive messages, including one acknowledging his efforts.
• He expressed satisfaction in fulfilling his commitment to former leaders.
• Kishi confirmed no contact with Shigeru Ishiba and commented on his lack of popularity.
Summary
Hiroyuki Kishi, a professor at Keio University, shared insights into his unsuccessful bid for Japan’s House of Councillors under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Despite battling cancer and poor health, Kishi decided to run in May 2025 to honor former leaders Shinzo Abe and Yoshihide Suga. He faced significant challenges, including internal LDP issues and public dissatisfaction, which led to receiving less than half of his target votes. Kishi criticized the party’s deep-rooted problems, asserting that leadership changes alone cannot resolve them. Post-election, he received supportive messages and expressed satisfaction in his efforts, though he noted no contact with Shigeru Ishiba. Kishi’s experience highlights the difficulties of political campaigns and the challenges within the LDP.
