Key Facts
• Mintsuku Party (formerly NHK Party) withdrew its 2022 Upper House proportional list by Dec 25.
• Party leader Ayaka Otsu announced the withdrawal on Dec 24 via X, stating it was accepted.
• In 2022, the NHK Party fielded 9 candidates, securing 1.25 million votes and 1 seat.
• Top vote-getter Yoshikazu Higashitani (GaaSyy) won but was expelled in 2023.
• Kenichiro Saito succeeded Higashitani but could lose his seat if disqualified.
• Successors in line included Manabu Kubota (Yokoyama Midori), Takashi Nishimura, Shinya Soeda, and Takahiro Takahashi.
• Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the list withdrawal, nullifying any future replacements.
• Saito’s term has 2.5 years remaining, but no Mintsuku Party members can replace him if he loses his seat.
Summary
The Mintsuku Party, led by Ayaka Otsu, officially withdrew its 2022 Upper House proportional representation list, as confirmed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This decision, announced by Otsu on Dec 24, eliminates the possibility of any replacements from the party if current representative Kenichiro Saito loses his seat. The party, formerly known as the NHK Party, had secured one seat in the 2022 election with 1.25 million votes. However, the expulsion of Yoshikazu Higashitani (GaaSyy) in 2023 led to Saito’s succession. With 2.5 years left in Saito’s term, the withdrawal ensures no further candidates from the party, including notable figures like Manabu Kubota and Takahiro Takahashi, can assume the position.
