Shinji Ishimaru Resigns as Leader of Saisei no Michi Amid Election Defeats

Shinji Ishimaru, the leader of Saisei no Michi, declared during a press conference on August 27 that he will step down from his leadership position and will not involve himself in the party’s operations. His decision comes in light of two disappointing election results—the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election and the Upper House election—where all of the party's candidates were unsuccessful. Despite resigning, Ishimaru expressed that he still has political ambitions, specifically eyeing a potential run for Tokyo governor in three years.

Ishimaru asserted that the leadership change is part of a premeditated strategy to prevent the party from being centered around a single individual. He mentioned that the upcoming election for a new leader will take place in September and that only party candidates from the recent elections will be eligible to run, which means he does not qualify. Although he will no longer take an active role in the party, Ishimaru plans to continue offering support to its members. He had garnered considerable attention in the July 2024 gubernatorial election, earning approximately 1.66 million votes, placing him second to the current governor, Yuriko Koike.

Saisei no Michi was founded by Ishimaru earlier this year, and the party had put forth 42 candidates across various districts for the Tokyo metropolitan assembly and 10 candidates for the Upper House elections. However, all candidates were defeated. While Ishimaru did not run for office himself, he actively campaigned for other candidates, attending numerous rallies. Sources indicate that nearly 40 of the candidates who lost still wish to remain affiliated with the party.