LDP, CDP, DPP, JCP...

The future of Japanese politics is becoming increasingly uncertain following the last general election where the ruling parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito, lost their majority.  

For the first time in a decade, unfamiliar party names are popping up in foreign media as potential coalition partners.
For small talk in this direction during my interpreting assignments, I’d better refresh my memory on these parties in English:

⬛ Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 自由民主党
🟦 Komeito　公明党
🟨 Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP)　立憲民主党
🟪 Japan Innovation Party　日本維新の会
🟫 Democratic Party for the People (DPP)　 国民民主党
🟧 Reiwa Shinsengumi …　れいわ新選組
🟥 Japanese Communist Party (JCP)　共産党

It is interesting to note that 大阪維新の会, a regional political party in Osaka Prefecture is translated as Osaka Restoration Association. But what are they restoring? To Japanese ears, “Ishin” evokes a strong association with the Meiji Restoration, 明治維新, in 1868 when Japan restored the imperial system.
No wonder that they now prefer to call themselves “Osaka One” and the “Innovation Party” in the national Diet.

And what about Reiwa Shinsengumi? The historical connotation embedded in the party’s name is too long to translate. It comes naturally that their English name is a simple transcription of the original Japanese. Anyway, it is doubtful if the Japanese youth can spot the connection with the historical Shinsengumi just by looking at the party’s logo mimicking a symbolic flag of the real Shisengumi active just before the Meiji Restoration.

If you allow me to make a bold comparison, Shinsengumi was a political group fighting for the losing side (the northern states 奥羽列藩) in the Japanese equivalent (戊辰戦争, 1868 – 69) of the Civil War (1861–65) . Unlike the US, the political system was modernised (維新) in Japan by the southern states like Cho-shu or Satsuma.

The US presidential election is approaching next week. But there, we have it much easier with the parties’ names. Democrats 🟦 and Republicans 🟥, and nothing else - at least at the national political level.

Can you explain the political situation in your country to foreigners in English?
 
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