Happiness Realization Party

The Happiness Realization Party (幸福実現党, Kōfuku Jitsugen-tō), abbreviated as Kōfuku (幸福),[3] is a Japanese political party founded by Ryuho Okawa on 23 May 2009 "in order to offer the Japanese people a third option" for the elections of August 2009. The HRP is the political wing of the conservative Happy Science religious movement.

Happiness Realization Party
幸福実現党
LeaderHiroko Matsune (a.k.a. Ryōko Shaku)
PresidentRyuho Okawa
ChairmanHironori Matsushima
SecretaryHironori Matsushima
SpokespersonHiroko Nanami
Secretary generalTadahiko Saito
Founded23 May 2009 (2009-05-23)
Headquarters6th floor of Utopia Activity Promotion Hall, Akasaka 2-10-8, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[2]
ReligionHappy Science
Colours
  •   Blue
  •   Yellow
Councillors
0 / 242
Representatives
0 / 465
Website
en.hr-party.jp
Party headquarters in Akasaka, Minato Ward, Tokyo

Okawa is the current president of the party.[4]

Electoral history

In 2009, the party had 345 candidates, placing it on the ballots of 99% of Japan's 300 constituencies.[3] Many perennial candidates such as Yoshiro Nakamatsu joined the HRP.[5] Despite fielding a total of more than 1 million votes,[6] the party did not win any seats in the election.[7][8]

In 2012, the party again failed to gain any seats.[9]

As of April 2018, the party had 21 elected local councilors.[10]

Manifesto

According to its manifesto, the group's goal is to more than double Japan's population to 300 million through making child-rearing easier for mothers and accepting foreigners as workforce. It also aims to change the pacifist Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution in order to increase Japan's economic and military power.[11]

The group identifies itself as "conservative"[12] and is generally considered a right-wing party.[13] The party advocates a nuclear deterrent for Japan,[14] denies that the Nanking Massacre occurred[15] and has called for China to be expelled from the United Nations Security Council.[16]

The party has formed links to the American right, having attended the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2012, and bringing with them members of the Tokyo Tea Party, supporting low tax.[6]

Administration
Happiness Realization Party car sticker. Kyoto. 2010

Jay Aeba, also known as Jikido Aeba (饗庭直道, あえば直道, Aeba Jikido), was, of May 2012, advisor of the Republican National Committee of the United States in charge of Asia, with Yuki Oikawa as one of the officials of HRP.[6]

President
No.ImageNameTook OfficeLeft Office
1Ryuho Okawa22 July 200912 September 2009
--(Vacant)12 September 200927 December 2012
2Ryuho Okawa27 December 2012Incumbent

Leaders
No.ImageNameTook OfficeLeft Office
1Jikidō Aeba23 May 20094 June 2009
2Kyōko Ōkawa4 June 200929 July 2009
--(Vacant)29 July 20092 September 2009
3Zuishō Motochigawa2 September 200912 September 2009
4Tomoshige Kimura12 September 200915 April 2010
5Sōken Kobayashi15 April 201021 April 2010
6Etsuo Ishikawa21 April 201020 July 2010
7Hidenori Tachiki20 July 201027 December 2012
8Hidekatsu Yanai27 December 201224 July 2013
9Ryōko Shaku24 July 2013Incumbent

Criticism

According to The Japan Times, "for many, the Happies smell suspiciously like a cult".[11] The party has released promotional videos that claim North Korea and China are plotting to invade and colonize Japan after first subduing it through nuclear warfare.

References
  1. McNeill, David (4 August 2009). "Party offers a third way: happiness". The Japan Times. Retrieved 22 March 2021. Those views, and the Happies’ program of radical conservatism and personal self-help, ...
  2. Rydgren, Jens (2018). The Oxford Handbook of the Radical Right. Oxford University Press. p. 772. ISBN 978-0190274559. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  3. "NHKオンライン". Nhk.or.jp. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  4. "幸福実現党｜党役員". Hr-party.jp. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  5. Andrew Joyce (30 June 2010). "Japanese Politics — The Unusual Suspects". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  6. "Can the Tea Party Take Japan?". The Atlantic. 2 May 2012.
  7. "533". Pj News. Retrieved 21 February 2012.
  8. "Pursuit Of Happiness - Happiness Tips". Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  9. "The Happiness Realization Party". En.hr-party.jp. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  10. "HRP Election Information". Happiness Realization Party. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. McNeill, David (4 August 2009), "Party offers a third way: happiness", The Japan Times, retrieved 7 November 2018
  12. "The Happiness Realization Party". En.hr-party.jp. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  13. Molly Ball. "Can the Tea Party Take Japan? - Molly Ball". The Atlantic. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  14. "The Happiness Realization Party". En.hr-party.jp. 16 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2018. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  15. "The Happiness Realization Party". En.hr-party.jp. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  16. "The Happiness Realization Party". En.hr-party.jp. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
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