Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura, representative of the Japan Restoration Association, appeared live on ABC’s “Teach us! News Live: Justice no Mikata”. He spoke out against the stance of Yuichiro Tamaki, representative of the Democratic Party of Japan. The program originally booked Yoshimura about a month in advance to summarize the Osaka-Kansai Expo, which closed on March 13, but by a stroke of luck, the timing of his appearance coincided with a major showdown in the Liberal Democratic Party-led coalition talks. Tokihito, who had been in Tokyo until the day before, was asked by MC Koji Higashino, “Are you getting a good night’s sleep? He laughed bitterly and said, “I haven’t slept much. After Komei left the coalition, the Restoration Party suddenly moved closer to the LDP. Yoshimura revealed that it was “the LDP that took action. He and Koizumi Shinjiro, who was in a runoff election with Takaichi for the presidency, “were definitely in close contact. We even discussed it,” he confessed. However, Takaichi was chosen as president. “He is close to the KDP, and I don’t want to interfere with other parties, so I backed off. I was willing to accept his tax cut policy, and I was willing to go ahead with it. After the Expo was over, I thought I’d take it easy for a while. But then,” he said, “Komei left the party and the National Democratic Party of Japan also left the party. And then Mr. Takaichi…” He explained the circumstances of his approach. Because he had been in talks with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party of the People’s Republic of Japan, Tamaki described him as “duplicitous,” but Yoshimura said, “Instead of criticizing other parties, you should focus on how to realize your own party’s policies. This is a great opportunity. You may not become prime minister, but you can do what you promised. I would like to say, “If we don’t make a play for it here, where will we make it?” He questioned the public’s lack of interest in joining a coalition. Mr. Yoshimura played a game with the experienced Liberal Democratic Party and said, “I think there is a risk. But if we don’t take risks, we won’t pave the way. Someone has to take the risk if we are serious about making essential reforms. It cannot be done by shrinking back. As for Mr. Takaichi, he said, “We have never been that close. When he called me this time, I thought he was serious. I thought I had to respond seriously to someone who was serious, so I told him I would go to Tokyo, and that led to our meeting. Mr. Takaichi also has a sense of justice and energy. We have energy as a reform party, and we are clashing with each other. Currently, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Restoration Association do not have a majority in the House of Representatives. The truth is, Mr. Tamaki has to do it,” he said. There is still a chance, even now. It may be risky, but it’s not too late because we don’t have a prime minister yet,” he said, pointing out that “if you come to us after the election, you won’t be there when it’s the hardest.
