Hashimoto, Matsui quit Japan Innovation Party

Hashimoto said he will concentrate on regional politics until the end of the year when his term of office expires.

Hashimoto is so full of crap, he "promised" to quit after the election, he's still there, he talks BS, gets away with guano that would sink other politicians......he should go work with Abe, two peas in a pod!

I guess they ran out of ideas...?

Yubaru

Hashimoto promised to quit after the mayoral election in November, so of course, he is still there. He always said he would serve out his term and then leave politics.

"Innovation Party". Typical of the Japanese penchant for frequent reinventing of anything and everything. And probably soon to disappear (and reappear as something else with a snappy name)

A couple of right-wing revisionists...good riddance...the sooner the better

Hashimoto, who is mayor of Osaka, is the party’s supreme adviser,

Supreme advisor??? Even dear leader sounds less ominous. I wouldn't worry about it too much guys. Hashimoto is more or less out of the picture after he put his foot in his mouth with the whole women and war controversy.

Hashimoto is so full of crap, he "promised" to quit after the election, he's still there,

This seems to be very common with these nationalistic politicians around the world. They just can't keep their word. We've seen this with Nigel Farage of the UK's right-wing, racist homphobic party UKIP. We've seen this with Putin who let Medvedev seemingly becoming the head of Russia only to come back again. And back in Japan again, LDP youngster Muto Takaya saying he'll leave after criticizing student protesters and being accused of involvement in a financial scandal - only to backtrack, even after a third scandal appears (paying for male prostitutes and making use of their services at an official residence).

What happens to a one-man party when the one man disappears?

Two down, one to go...when is Abé--chan going to quit ??? (I am NOT holding my breath...)

Great, except he promised to quit POLITICS completely, not just the party. This will be his excuse to fom a new party, say everyone needs him, and tart up his Osaka merger plan for the third time, and make more promises about quitting if he doesn't get his way, then renege, repeat.

I hope he changes his mind. The Osaka merger plan is a good idea. Get that done and then quit I say.

Supreme advisor = Saikou Komon (a very common position in Japanese organizations), its the opposite of "lost in translation", loaded during translation.

@ Yubaru,

I understand your hate for the guy, but Brainiac is right Hashimoto never once said he was going to quit right after the previous election if he didn't get majority support. You should stop distorting reality where you find it convenient to do so.

You spin me right round, baby right round like a record, baby Right round round round You spin me right round, baby Right round like a record, baby Right round round round

Hashimoto is so full of crap, he "promised" to quit after the election

thats not even taken out of context. it's completely false. he promised to quit but after his current term expired. while his defense of using comfort women is off base, his willingness to take on right wing netizens who taunt ethnic koreans is spot on.

What is with all the Hashimoto bashing?

For anyone who has been following him long enough, you'll find he is one of very few people who isn't a bureaucrat-touting OG. He has tried since the start of his political career to cut down on the wasted money in both Osaka city and prefecture. Osaka used to be on the brink of bankruptcy and he has worked his ass off to cut down on useless levels of government and excessive spending. You can criticize his comments but there is a certain level of sly political maneuvering required to get into political cliques in Japan.

The only thing I will disagree with is the comfort women statement. That was out of line (but again, he said that to get his foot further in the door with the then influential Ishihara)

I reckon it comes from being an ambulance chaser. Then again, Hashimoto did take on the far right fringe and give them both barrels. Like many politicians in Japan, Hashimoto has his mouth firmly affixed to the nipples of the the taxpayer, like a modern-day Romulus and Remus of Roman Myth. Like a junkie he just needs to get that next hit of political power. Blinky Ishihara was another example of this, transferring from national politics to Emperor of Tokyo. The current governor of Tokyo is a fellow traveler. How many times did he switch parties before getting the current gig. The ex-Mayor of Yokohama is still another example, left the city with a sea of red ink but hopped on the good ship Hashimoto-Ishihara as it headed for the ice berg. But hey, who wants to work when you can stuff your face on electoral pork?

Not a real fan of Hashimoto, but will give him kudos for, as Nakanoguy mentioned, taking on the Zaikokutai. He straight tore Makoto Sakurai up.

I do agree with you on that. That was the one very decent thing he did. He did show enough guts to stand up to that pig which no politician has ever done before.

"...his willingness to take on right wing netizens who taunt ethnic koreans is spot on."

By screaming at them on TV? Like an American reality show? Just more amateur hour around here.

Hashimoto promised to quit after the mayoral election in November, so of course, he is still there

No, he said if he lost the referendum he would quit. It was only after he lost the referendum that he said he would serve out the end of his term.

No, that is not correct. We have checked this point and Hashimoto announced that if the referendum did not go in his favor, he would retire from politics after his term as mayor expires at the end of the year.

By screaming at them on TV? Like an American reality show? Just more amateur hour around here.

I really hate to defend him, but he didn't scream at Sakurai. It was that APE Sakurai screaming at Hashimoto. I wish he would have pulled a Jerry Springer on Sakurai, but at least he stood up to him.

Another thread good bye, cant stand the truth against JT's mistakes!

Moderator: It is you who is mistaken. Please lift the level of your contributions and leave your hostile attitude toward Japan off the discussion board.

When is Hashimoto going to quit politics?

Serrano: "When is Hashimoto going to quit politics?"

Well, he promised he would do so after this term as Mayor expired, but given that he has just announced he will form a new party -- the 国政政党 -- I have absolutely no doubt he's about to quit politics when this new party is officially formed in October or November (given his term as mayor finishes in December, I think). Already Hashimoto fans are denying he said he would quit, and this isn't the first time he'll have reneged on promises. So my guess is he's not going to quit politics, despite promising to do so, any time soon. Probably he'll start up on the Osaka merger plan again next year, and say that the people and his new party need him so he cannot step down as it would be 'irresponsible' or some such garbage. Then he'll promise AGAIN to quit if he doesn't get his way, and then he'll say, "I'll quit at the end of my term," then only quit the new party and start a new one, and refuse to quit politics again.