Key Facts
• July 30: Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed intent to legislate ‘Secondary Capital Concept.’
• Proposal aims to decentralize Tokyo and provide disaster backup functions.
• Linked to Ishin’s flagship ‘Osaka Metropolis Concept.’
• July 25: Deputy Leader Hideyuki Yokoyama supported exploring coalition options.
• July 29: Yoshimura denied coalition plans during a press conference.
• Ishin to decide on leadership election via electronic voting post-national elections.
Summary
Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), reiterated his commitment to legislating the ‘Secondary Capital Concept’ during a party meeting in Osaka on July 30. The initiative, a key campaign promise in the Upper House election, aims to decentralize Tokyo’s concentration of functions and establish disaster backup capabilities. Yoshimura plans to align this with Ishin’s ‘Osaka Metropolis Concept.’ While some local Ishin members, including Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama, have suggested coalition possibilities to achieve this goal, Yoshimura dismissed such plans on July 29. Additionally, Ishin announced that decisions on leadership elections post-national elections will be made through electronic voting.
