Party of Life (formerly Reiwa Shinsengumi)

Reiwa Shinsengumi (2019-2026), Party of Life (2026-)

Reiwa Shinsengumi was founded in April 2019, led by Taro Yamamoto, a former actor and member of the House of Councillors. Yamamoto established the new party after choosing not to join the Democratic Party for the People (国民民主党) when the Liberal Party (自由党), to which he belonged, merged with it. The party has advocated policies including the abolition of the consumption tax, an increase in the minimum wage, a ban on nuclear power, reduced burdens from student loans, protection of the rights of people with disabilities, and stronger legal protections for animal welfare. It has also emphasized support for people facing social and economic difficulties.

In the 2019 House of Councillors election, two candidates with severe disabilities, Yasuhiko Funago and Eiko Kimura, were elected. Their election led to improvements in accessibility and facilities in the National Diet Building to enable them to participate in parliamentary activities. The party has sought to create a society in which everyone, including those who have been marginalized, can feel that “it was good to be alive.” It has also criticized the 2012 draft Constitution proposed by the Liberal Democratic Party as granting excessive power to the state and opposed constitutional revision efforts under the Abe administration.

In January 2026, Taro Yamamoto resigned from the House of Councillors for health reasons, and in July he stepped down as party leader and announced his retirement from politics. Subsequently, a number of members left the party, and a new leader was elected at the end of July. In August, the party began procedures to change its name to the “Party of Life” (abbreviated as “Inochi”) and has been transitioning to a new organizational structure.