JIP Pushes Secondary Capital Plan in Election Pledges

Jiji Press

10:56 JST, January 22, 2026

Tokyo, Jan. 21 (Jiji Press)—The Japan Innovation Party on Wednesday released its pledges for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, featuring plans to realize early passage of legislation to establish a secondary capital to curb Tokyo’s overconcentration.

The JIP, the junior coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, listed Osaka, Fukuoka and Sapporo as candidate locations to set up a secondary capital in the country.

The JIP traces its roots to Osaka Ishin no Kai, a regional political group, and has long advocated the so-called Osaka metropolitan plan for local government realignment.

“We listed regions that have expressed interest in the secondary capital concept,” JIP policy chief Alex Saito told a news conference.

The party also said it would accelerate discussions toward realizing a proposal by Prime Minister and LDP President Sanae Takaichi to scrap the consumption tax on food items for two years.

In its pledges, the JIP positioned a 10 pct cut in the number of Lower House seats as a top political reform priority, seeking the swift enactment of necessary legislation. It also pledged to introduce a total ban on political donations by companies and organizations.

On social security, the party said it aims to cut annual medical costs by more than ¥4 trillion and reduce annual social insurance premiums by ¥60,000 per working-age person.

JIP co-leader Fumitake Fujita said at the news conference that it is his party’s role to advance policies at a rapid pace. “We want to act as an accelerator for the administration,” he added.