How Japan’s would-be kingmakers lost their edge

When the current parliamentary session began five months ago, nationalist Sanseito and the centrist Democratic Party for the People (DPP) appeared poised to become kingmakers in parliament.

Both made strong gains in last year’s Upper House election, and with the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), with which the ruling party formed a coalition after the exit of long-time partner Komeito, being five seats short of a majority, either of the opposition parties had a deciding vote to pass legislation.

Their momentum also carried into February’s Lower House election. Even as the largest party in the opposition — the Centrist Reform Alliance — suffered a crushing defeat, the DPP retained 28 seats. Sanseito meanwhile grew its presence in the lower chamber of parliament and became the third-largest opposition force.