Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai (Japanese: 清和政策研究会, lit. Seiwa Political Research Council), often shortened to Seiwa Kai,[3] was a major faction within Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). It was led by Shinzo Abe from 2021 until his assassination in 2022, and hence has been nicknamed the Abe faction. Since Abe's death, it had collective leadership. The faction announced its dissolution in January 2024.
Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai 清和政策研究会 | |
|---|---|
_Emblem.svg) | |
| Leader | Collective leadership |
| Founder | Takeo Fukuda |
| Founded | 24 January 1979 |
| Dissolved | 19 January 2024 |
| Ideology | Japanese nationalism[1] National conservatism[2] |
| Political position | Right-wing to far-right |
| Type | Liberal Democratic Party faction |
| Website | |
| seiwaken.jp at the Wayback Machine (archived 19 January 2024) | |
Seiwakai was the largest faction within the LDP from 2005 until its dissolution.[4]
History
editThe faction was established in 1979 by former prime minister Takeo Fukuda.[5] The faction has its origins on a group formed by Fukuda to oppose prime minister Hayato Ikeda's economic policies.[5]
The faction was led by Shinzo Abe from 2021 until his assassination in 2022.[6][7] Since Abe's death, it has had collective leadership.[8] On 17 August 2023, the faction has agreed to introduce a collective leadership system, with Ryū Shionoya as its coordinator, while leaving the previous chairmanship post vacant.[9]
In December 2023, news about a slush fund scandal involving several Seiwakai ministers and party bosses, including Yasutoshi Nishimura and Kōichi Hagiuda, leaked. According to initial public allegations, dozens of members of the Diet from the Seiwakai were suspected of collecting at least ¥100 million from fundraising and storing the money in slush funds, in violating of Japanese campaign finance and election law.[10] Prime Minister Fumio Kishida responded by removing all Seiwakai ministers from the cabinet.[11] The National Police Agency raided the Seiwakai headquarters later in the month.[12] Amidst the growing scandal, and following Kishida's announcement that he will dissolve his Kōchikai faction, the Seiwakai announced on 19 January 2024 that it will dissolve itself.[13]
Political stance
editSeiwakai is referred to as a nationalist[1] or national-conservative.[2] It has been characterized as right-leaning,[3] hawkish and favoring constitutional revision.[14]
Seiwa Kai faction heads
editFaction heads who became prime minister are in bold.[15]
| No. | Image | Faction head | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Takeo Fukuda | 1979–1986 |
| 2 | .jpg)
|
Shintaro Abe | 1986–1991 |
| 3 | 
|
Hiroshi Mitsuzuka | 1991–1998 |
| 4 | 
|
Yoshiro Mori | 1998–2000 |
| 5 | 
|
Junichiro Koizumi | 2000–2001 |
| 6 |
|
Yoshiro Mori | 2001–2006 |
| 7 | 
|
Nobutaka Machimura | 2006–2007 |
| - | N/A | Caretaker System: Nobutaka Machimura Hidenao Nakagawa Shuzen Tanigawa |
2007–2009 |
| 8 |
|
Nobutaka Machimura | 2008–2014 |
| 9 | 
|
Hiroyuki Hosoda | 2014–2021 |
| 10 | 
|
Shinzo Abe | 2021–2022 (assassinated) |
| - | N/A | Representative: Ryu Shionoya |
2022–2024 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Kindergarten scandal shows Japan's nationalist far-right out of touch". East Asia Forum. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
Politicians of the LDP's nationalist Seiwakai faction are well aware that they cannot win elections based on utopian visions of Japan's...
- ^ a b "Japan goes all in with the West after Russia's invasion of Ukraine but big strategic choices remain". East Asia Forum. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
... it is with the conservative nationalist Seiwakai that Kishida, and his ostensibly liberal Kochikai faction, must forge a consensus. ...
- ^ a b "Bonds between LDP, Unification Church date back half a century | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ "Abe's house of cards: Death leaves largest party faction in limbo". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ a b Taekuchi, Yusuke (9 November 2021). "Abe to lead LDP's biggest faction, cementing role as kingmaker". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "LDP faction to come under collective leadership after Abe's death". Mainichi Daily News. 19 July 2022. Archived from the original on 9 September 2022. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ Bosack, Michael (4 January 2022). "The Evolution of LDP Factions - Tokyo Review". Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ Johnston, Eric (20 July 2022). "Abe's faction faces uncertain future following his assassination". The Japan Times. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ "LDP's Abe Faction to Shift to Collective Leadership". nippon.com. 17 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (8 December 2023). "Japan's leader grilled in parliament over widening fundraising scandal, link to Unification Church". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (13 December 2023). "Kishida says he regrets a ruling party funds scandal and will work on partial changes to his Cabinet". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 10 January 2024. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ Mao, Frances (22 December 2023). "Japan: Corruption scandal threatens PM Kishida's government". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
- ^ "Biggest faction in Japan's ruling party decides to disband". Kyodo News. 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Harris, Tobias (11 October 2016). "Japan's Steel Ceiling". ISSN 0015-7120. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
- ^ "清和政策研究会とは?" (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 April 2023.