Japan’s Tamaki Plays High-Risk Game With Weakened Premier Ishiba

Japan’s potential kingmaker Yuichiro Tamaki faces a hazardous path as he looks to remain a power broker well beyond Monday’s vote to decide the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. By quadrupling its support in the lower house election two weeks ago, Tamaki’s Democratic Party for the People has transformed itself from a political grouping on the fringes of parliament to the main prop ensuring Ishiba can win re-election and proceed with policy. If the DPP spoils the likely runoff ballot in that manner, Tamaki will likely ensure the LDP leader stays on, given that Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, doesn’t have the numbers to surpass Ishiba without DPP backing. “If people’s take-home pay increases, consumption will grow and the economy will be revitalized.” Tamaki’s policies found a sweet spot among voters who were disgruntled over the scandal-ridden LDP but frustrated with the CDP’s relentless focus on attacking the LDP rather than presenting ideas, according to Yoshihiro Katayama, who served as internal affairs minister from 2010 to 2011.