Thread by @observingjapan

The LDP's campaign website includes the "manifestos" for each of the candidates. Here's a brief guide.

1) Noda Seiko (@noda_seiko93)
Slogan: Politics that can be understood by anyone
She's less a moderate than an outright liberal, particularly in the LDP. Her statement is focused on fostering a "paradigm shift" that accommodates a more diverse society.
…in.jp-east-2.storage.api.nifcloud.com/sousai21/pdf/n…

Her platform is to "trust the experts" on Covid-19; realize child-centered politics; fairness towards women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ (allow separate surnames); endorses decarbonization, focuses on renewables but nothing about nuclear.

On foreign policy, she's particularly vague: values-based diplomacy, "respect" for SDF personnel; grey zone preparations; focus on economic and food security.

2) Kishida Fumio (@kishida230)
His pitch opens with Covid-19, and it's a not-too-subtle critique of Suga (and Abe): says that the crisis requires clear communication to explain to the public about substance, necessity, and process of policies.

Promises more stimulus, vaccine passports, free testing to aid recovery from the pandemic. Calls for the creation of Health Emergency Management Agency to respond to future pandemics.

On foreign policy, stresses the need to defend universal values amidst rise of authoritarianism, calls for working with US, Europe, Australia, India to maintain peace in Taiwan Straits.

Wants more robust defense of territorial waters, airspace. Stronger Coast Guard, more coordination with the SDF; stronger missile defense. Says he will revise the national security strategy.

Calls for Japan to exercise leadership in dealing with global challenges like nuclear proliferation, arms control, climate change.

Without mentioning strike capability, calls for complete end to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, return of all abductees. Says no peace treaty with Russia without resolution of territorial dispute.

"New Japanese-style capitalism": calls for a virtuous cycle of growth and redistribution that breaks with "neoliberalism." Calls for investment in new technologies, promoting start-ups, more focus on economic security.

[NB: that's all continuation from Abe, not a break]

Also wants tighter rules to force companies to treat stakeholders, subcontractors, workers more equitably. More welfare programs to raise up lower-income households.

Wants to use digitalization to move economic activity from Tokyo to countryside (this is a common refrain these days). Calls for new, diverse forms of economic support for rural communities.

Finally, party reform: stresses fixed retirement age of 73; wants to center party on younger members; one-year terms renewable 3x for party executives; more transparency.

Kishida's platform is here: …in.jp-east-2.storage.api.nifcloud.com/sousai21/pdf/k….

3) Takaichi Sanae (@takaichi_sanae)
Slogan: Protect Japan. Open Up the Future.
…in.jp-east-2.storage.api.nifcloud.com/sousai21/pdf/t…

Her statement opens with expressions of remorse for those who have lost their lives or been harmed by pandemic, disasters, etc. Then thanks those who have contributed to maintenance of healthcare, economy.

Top priorities: Strengthening response to the pandemic; "emergency economic policy"
-Wants to reduce deaths and severe cases, need for home care; wants domestic production of vaccines and treatments
-Restatement of the three arrows of Aben--I mean, Sanaenomics

Next section provides bullets that expand on these points. Emphasizes her focus on "crisis management investment" (seen in her book), as part of her growth strategy.

Includes strengthening cybersecurity; new energy research; strengthening defense, intelligence, police, public health, immigration institutions.

Social security for all ages: tax deduction for babysitters and other home childcare providers; more support for women's health; something about more education in certain areas ("investment education," "information security," "disaster preparedness," etc.)

(I'm really struggling with the smaller font her manifesto uses)

Rural assistance: food security and export promotion programs, telework, empty house reuse programs to revitalize regions. Digital transformation for agricultural revitalization.

Economic security + national defense: calls for comprehensive economic security law to prevent technology, data leakage abroad; revise coast guard law in response to China's legal changes; defense against EMP, undersea cable, satellite attacks, drone attacks.

And of course, calls for an entirely new constitution and "Reiwa administrative reform" (Environmental and Energy Ministry, Information Ministry + Cybersecurity Agency, Japan Foreign Investment Committee [a la CFIUS?]).

4) Kono Taro (@konotarogomame / @konososaisen)
Slogan: Move Japan Forward/Change the LDP, Change Politics. Tackle Japan's Crisis with all our power.
…in.jp-east-2.storage.api.nifcloud.com/sousai21/pdf/k…

His opening statement looks back to the LDP's charter to call for democracy as the cure to Japan's ills. Politics, he says, is not in Nagatacho, but out among all the people. The people together will move Japan forward.

Restates the One-Nation Toryism vision of conservatism presented in his book.

More on that here:

https://twitter.com/observingjapan/status/1438606550415945732?s=20

The opening statement is more or less a restatement of the introduction to his book, tbh.

Policies: (1) Protecting lives and livelihoods: complete vaccination program, then provide economic and social support to promote recovery; strengthen border controls for emergency situations; bolster domestic production of vaccines and drugs

(2) Growth strategy for an era of change: protect small businesses and regional economies; promote digitalization and green innovation to create virtuous cycle, new core of growth

(3) Safety net for a new age: continue building social security for all generations; expand educational opportunities at all levels to combat inequality, promote social mobility

(4) Foreign + security policies that lead the world and defend the country: revise national security strategy and defense plans, strengthen deterrent capabilities; build alliances built on defending democracy, human rights, rule of law; maintain Japan's position in int. society

5) The form of the country for a new era: advance constitutional revision appropriate for the new era; promote wider political participation

If I had to summarize, each in one word:
Kono: Democracy
Takaichi: Security
Noda: Diversity
Kishida: all of the above