What Is Nippon Kaigi? Its New Chair Explains

Founded in 1997, Nippon Kaigi (Japan Conference) is the country's largest and most influential conservative lobby. It promotes constitutional revision, patriotic education, the preservation of traditional culture, and a male-line imperial succession. Known for its connections to politicians and civil society groups alike, it has become a prominent force in contemporary Japanese conservatism.

In an exclusive interview, the new Nippon Kaigi Chairman and former Shinzo Abe Cabinet official Tomohiko Taniguchi offers a rare inside look at the organization. Often maligned in Western media as "ultranationalist" or "far-right," Taniguchi pushes back against what he sees as profound misunderstandings of Nippon Kaigi's purpose.

Misunderstood Labels

"Western media tend to flatten terms like 'far-right,'" he explains. "In Europe, it often signals backlash against immigration. On the other hand, in the United States, it implies hostility to the central government. It is also associated with gun rights and religious fundamentalism. But none of that maps onto what we represent."

Instead, Taniguchi defines Nippon Kaigi using three English terms: royalist, monarchist, and traditionalist. "We don't seek political power. We are not statists. We are here to preserve what has been handed down through generations — the imperial family, cultural heritage, the memory of the nation."

Taniguchi acknowledges Nippon Kaigi has done little to dispel the "shadowy network" image. "We aren't secretive. However, people portray us as if we were part of some shadowy society or mysterious sect. The truth is simpler: we gather signatures, lobby lawmakers, and campaign on a narrow set of issues."

National Identity

At the heart of the group's concern lies the fear that Japan's national identity — rooted in reverence for the emperor and a shared historical consciousness — is being lost. This sense of crisis, Taniguchi says, is what prompted him to accept a leadership role within Nippon Kaigi.

He notes that the uncritical embrace of borderless liberalism has sparked backlash worldwide. "Even Europe is rediscovering the need for cultural boundaries. People need something to belong to. When you erase the national flag or discourage singing the national anthem, you hollow out identity."

This defense of cultural continuity extends to Japan's imperial institution. Taniguchi sees the world's longest unbroken royal line as a moral anchor. "Even when they held no power, Japan's emperors retained a sense of responsibility to the nation. That is unique in human history."

Memory, Heritage, and Cultural Erosion

He likens Japan's intangible heritage to collective memory: "Think of Mount Fuji. A mountain, yes — but above all, a sacred presence. Now, people climb it waving flags for social media 'likes.' That symbolic desecration causes pain."

*Mount Fuji as seen in mid-April, 2025. (©Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture)*

He cites examples like the centuries-old Shosoin treasure house in Nara, an ancient imperial storehouse dating back to the 8th century. It lives on, thanks to the respect passed down through generations. "Japan has preserved things not by force, but by shared memory. That is rare in the world."

This memory is now under threat from domestic apathy. And by what Taniguchi describes as rapid, destabilizing demographic and cultural shifts driven by mass tourism and immigration.

"We need to avoid sudden change. For Japan to remain stable, there must be measured policies on who enters, who stays, and how integration occurs."

Taniguchi is especially candid about the risks posed by China, geopolitically and demographically. Over 25% of Japan's registered foreign residents are from mainland China. "This isn't a generic immigration issue. It's also a China issue. We need a quota system."

He voices concern over Japan's naturalization process, which lacks a civic test or requirements for loyalty to national symbols. "There's no check on whether someone who becomes Japanese respects the national flag or the anthem," he explains. "That's a vulnerability."

National Defense

Currently, the issues Nippon Kaigi focuses on are chiefly twofold: constitutional revision, particularly adding a third clause to Article 9 to explicitly recognize the Self-Defense Forces, and male-line imperial succession. Both, Taniguchi says, are about restoring coherence between national identity and law.

He argues that Article 9's current language, which renounces the maintenance of "war potential," has always clashed with reality. "Japan has one of the most capable militaries in the world, but we pretend it isn't a military. That contradiction damages the integrity of both the country and the troops."

Guardians of Continuity

Asked whether Nippon Kaigi will continue to support the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Taniguchi is hesitant. "With Abe gone and Fumio Kishida dismantling what held it up, we no longer blindly support the LDP. We back individuals who defend royalism, tradition, and the monarchy."

*Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (©Sankei by Takumi Kamoshida).*

For now, those include lawmakers like Haruko Arimura. "They reflect the spirit of what we stand for," Taniguchi says. Ultimately, he believes Nippon Kaigi's mission is about the nation: "We are conservative in the truest sense — we conserve what must not be lost."

In a time of flux and uncertainty, Taniguchi and Nippon Kaigi see themselves as stewards of an ageless order — guardians of memory, identity, and national continuity. "Without memory, a nation forgets who it is," he says. "We're here to make sure Japan never does."

Author: Daniel Manning