Friends who often pay attention to Japanese politics will notice an interesting phenomenon, that is, different political parties and different titles of leaders. The Liberal Democratic Party is called "president", the Komeito Party is called "deputy", the Japanese Communist Party is called "chairman", the Social Democratic Party is called "party leader", and so on. Among them, the most are called "representatives".
Let's take a look at the names of party leaders who have seats in the House and Senate.
The leader of the Liberal Democratic Party is called the "president"
Yoshihide Suga, president of the Liberal Democratic Party and current prime minister
With the LDP's presidential elections set to take place in September, current Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said he will no longer run, which means that the next Japanese prime minister will also be elected. The LDP's president's term of office is three years, and the term of office of the current president, Yoshihide Suga, expires on September 30, 2021, because he succeeded Abe's former president.
The leader of the Gongming Party is called "deputy"
Natsuo Yamaguchi
Natsuo Yamaguchi is now the 7th deputy. Komeito party deputies are elected for a period of two years, and the next election will be held around September 2022. Natsuo Yamaguchi's tenure was the longest since the reorganization of the Komeito Party in 1998. The Komeito Party often formed coalition governments with the Liberal Democratic Party to govern.
The leaders of the Cadets are called "representatives"
Yukio Edano
The current party representative is the first representative after the founding of the Cadet, and is Yukio Eino. Cadet deputies are elected for a two-year term, and the next election is expected to take place around September 2022.
The leader of the Japanese Communist Party is called the "chairman of the committee"
Kazuo Shihi
It is now the 21st year that Kazuo Shibahi has served as chairman of the committee. The term of office of the Chairman of the Communist Party is 2 to 3 years and is elected by the Congress of the Central Committee. The Communist Party of Japan is now the fourth largest political party in Japan.
The leaders of the Japan Restoration Society are called "representatives" and "co-representatives"
Ichiro Matsui
Ichiro Matsui, who serves as mayor of Osaka, is a party representative, and Senator Katayama Toonosuke is a co-representative. Among the political parties in the Diet, non-members of the Diet are represented only by the Japan Restoration Association.
The term of office of the representatives of the Japan Restoration Association is the earliest in the general election of members of the House of Representatives, the usual election of members of the House of Councillors, and the election of unified local elections since taking office, on the 90th day after the voting day. The next House of Representatives election, scheduled to take place around the fall of 2021, will be held.
The leader of the National Democratic Party is called the "representative"
Yuichiro Tamaki
The current party representative, Yuichiro Tamaki, is the second term. The NDP deputies will be elected on the last day of September, three years after taking office, and the party's elections are scheduled for the fall of 2023.
The leader of the Spondrink Party is called the "party leader"
Mizuho Fukushima
Mizuho Fukushima, a member of parliament of the Spdrine Party, served as the first party leader. Fukushima served as party leader from 2003 to 2013 and again in 2020. The SPD leader will be elected for a two-year term, with the party leadership election expected to be held around February 2022.
The leader of the newly elected group is called "Representative"
Taro Yamamoto
At present, Taro Yamamoto is the first representative of the new selection group. The term of office of the newly elected representatives is the election of representatives in August 2022, the eighth month after taking office three years after taking office.
The titles of the leaders of the various political parties are summarized as follows:
President: Liberal Democratic Party
Representatives: Komeito, Ritsuno Democratic Party of Japan, Japan New Association (co-representative), National Democratic Party of Japan, Shin-Ying
Party Leader: SDP
Chairman: The Communist Party
Elections for members of the House of Representatives are also expected this fall. Don't get confused. In fact, the establishment, reorganization, and dissolution of political parties in Japan are very frequent, and it is not surprising that a new political party will emerge from time to time. But in general, Japan is still under the limousine party, unless there is chaos within the LDP.