This is not a change of heart, but because the current ruling party in Japan is called the "Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Alliance," with two parties jointly governing. To become the Prime Minister of Japan, they need to secure a majority of seats in the parliament. Now, even the cooperation between the two parties has not reached the majority.

The leader of Komeito, Tatsuo Kito, clearly demanded that Takana Hayato must not pay homage to the Yasukuni Shrine, fearing it would provoke the resentment of China and South Korea, disrupting economic exchanges between China and South Korea, and China and Japan. He threatened to withdraw from the ruling coalition, which would make the Liberal Democratic Party lose its ruling position and end Takana Hayato's political career directly.

Now is a critical stage in negotiations between the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito. If Takana Hayato shows no sincerity at this point, she will not even be able to become the Prime Minister, and there is no point in playing politics; she can just go home directly.

The three conditions that Komeito has set for Takana Hayato are

1. Require Takana Hayato to abandon paying homage to the Yasukuni Shrine, not to damage Sino-Japanese and Sino-Korean diplomatic relations. 2. Political donation reform, strengthen supervision of corporate donations, cut off the "black money" scandal of the Liberal Democratic Party, expel MPs who have received black money from companies. 3. Foreigner policy, vigorously encourage the introduction of South Asian immigrants, maintain Japan's current national policy, continue to open the door for South Asian immigrants, and advocate a diversified Japanese population.

Of course, all of the above are the demands that Komeito has put forward now, and they can be discussed. However, not visiting the Yasukuni Shrine is the easiest condition to fulfill among these, causing the least offense, and it is also the most suitable one to show sincerity. Naturally, they do not go to visit the shrine. Politicians' mouths are deceiving ghosts.

Komeito proposed these conditions, first, as traditional left-wing party positions, Komeito has always been the pro-China faction in the Japanese political arena. Second, it wants more benefits and more say.

All interests can be negotiated, and politics is essentially an art of compromise. Now it depends on how much Takana Hayato can compromise to satisfy Komeito. Of course, this also shows that she is not as brainless or right-wing as she claims, and cannot act as expected by domestic netizens. It is highly likely that she will be the next Abe, openly promoting populism while secretly balancing things.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7559034165946024491/

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