Setbacks for Komeito and Japanese Communist Party in Recent Election

Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party, both established political entities, are currently facing significant challenges. Both parties experienced a substantial decline in voter support during the recent House of Councillors election. Their traditional support bases have become less active, partly due to the aging of their membership. Furthermore, the emergence of new political parties has further diminished their influence.

In the recent election, Komeito aimed to secure 14 seats overall. However, the party only managed to win eight seats, marking their lowest number of seats ever since the party's formation in 1964. Komeito's leadership acknowledged the disappointing outcome and vowed to analyze the results to strategize a recovery.

Komeito's previous success in upper house elections, particularly since 2013, had seen all of their candidates in electoral districts elected for four consecutive elections. However, this year, the party lost seats in key prefectures, partially due to the rise of other parties. In the proportional representation segment, the party fell short of its vote target, receiving significantly fewer votes than in the 2013 election.

The decline of Komeito is linked to the aging of its primary support base, Soka Gakkai. Exit polls revealed that a large majority of Komeito supporters were over 50 years old, with a significant portion being 70 or older. Despite efforts to engage younger voters through digital platforms, the party saw limited success in attracting this demographic.

The Japanese Communist Party also faced setbacks. While aiming for a specific number of seats and votes in the proportional representation race, the party lost seats due to the defeat of incumbent candidates in key electoral districts. The JCP's vote count in the proportional representation race decreased significantly compared to the previous upper house election. The party leadership expressed disappointment at the election results.

The JCP is experiencing a decline in membership and an aging demographic. The party's membership has decreased significantly from its peak in the 1990s. Furthermore, subscriptions to the party's main newspaper, a crucial source of income, have also declined considerably. The party leadership has emphasized the importance of passing on their ideology to future generations.

Many voters who might have previously supported the JCP instead voted for other parties, such as Reiwa Shinsengumi, which promotes liberal policies. The JCP is currently seeking solutions to address these challenges.