Komeito Chief Yamaguchi Likely to Be Reelected to 6th Term

August 31, 2018

Tokyo- Natsuo Yamaguchi has decided to file his candidacy for a leadership election of Komeito, the junior partner in the ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party, in September, related officials said Thursday.

With no other prospective candidates to come forward, Yamaguchi is highly likely to be reelected to a sixth term through September 2020.

Attention is now focused on whether the baton will be passed in the party to younger generations from other leaders such as Secretary-General Yoshihisa Inoue.

Komeito will officially accept applications from candidates on Sept. 19. A party convention for voting is scheduled for Sept. 30.

Yamaguchi will be reappointed officially as leader for a two-year term on Sept. 19 if no opponents join the race.

Yamaguchi took the helm of Komeito in September 2009, when the party and the LDP fell from power. He has served as leader since then, winning a total of four leadership elections without contest.

Many party members are hoping for the reelection of Yamaguchi, who has established a reputation for stability and good name recognition, key factors the party needs for the unified local elections in spring next year and the election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, in summer that year.

But, while some believe the continued leadership of Yamaguchi and Inoue is the most plausible choice, others are concerned that the party will fail to nurture successors if no generational changes are made. Jiji Press