Making the Right Choice: The Political Climate of Japan

CPAC Japan is a place where conservative policymakers, officials, and activists come together to deepen and broaden their knowledge as well as find solutions to current and future challenges. In doing so, they encourage and lead the way for Japan’s conservative values to continue in government and among the people.

Hungarian lawyer, politician, and professor Balázs Orbán–who serves as Hungary’s Political Director to the Prime Minister–gave a poignant message to CPAC Japan emphasizing, “National interest comes first,” the importance of family, and saying no to “liberal foreign policy.” He appeals to many in Japan who agree that preserving “our way of life and sovereignty” is an integral part of maintaining Japan’s conservative government.

Japan has a form of constitutional democracy with a parliamentary government and separation of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Japanese Parliament consists of the House of Representatives with 465 seats and elections every four years, and the House of Councillors with 248 seats and elections every three years for half of the seats. The Parliament, representing the people, then elects the Prime Minister, who appoints all Cabinet members. Japan also has an Emperor, but he is a figurehead with no political power and is primarily the symbol of the State and unity of the people.

Based on the recent conservative victories in the Japanese government, it is clear that the people want to keep them as the foundations of governing practices. Miklós Szánthó, Hungarian lawyer and political analyst, says, “We must champion common sense, our faith, our nation, our past, and our historical heroes” in order to keep conservatives in power.

Mexican activist, actor, producer, and founder of CPAC Mexico Eduardo Verástegui furthers the idea, stating that “a country without patriotism cannot survive.” A patriotic Japan includes national unity, respect for tradition and elders, effort and endurance, and a love of country, all of which are important facets of conservative values as well.

“Conservatism is the ideology that believes that sovereignty resides in the individual, and that’s what brings all of us together here,” says Gordon Chang, American lawyer, political analyst, and conservative author. In order to keep that sovereignty, Balázs Orbán urges that it is time to “bring common sense back to politics.”

Jay Aeba, founder of CPAC Japan, says he is “confident that we can work together” and continue to be the “driving force” creating a "beautiful future” and an “ideal world.” Without that collaboration, a steady invasion of sovereignty could be on the horizon and detrimental to conservative progress.