Sanseito aims to attract more conservative voters in the Lower House election by presenting itself as both a shield for the hawkish Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi against the Liberal Democratic Party¡¯s left wing and a sword to advance shared policy goals.

Throughout Takaichi¡¯s four months in office, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya has treated her as a right-wing ally, separate from the rest of the LDP ¡ª a catchall party where moderate and conservative lawmakers coexist.

Kamiya has had little choice but to put on a friendly face for Takaichi, because his support base of conservative voters has been doing the same.