Centrist Reform Alliance
The Centrist Reform Alliance, abbreviated as Chūdō or CRA, is a List of [political parties in Japan|political party in Japan]. It was formed in January 2026 by the merger of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito.
History
The party was announced on 15 January 2026 as a centrist merger of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, amid reports of an early election being called in February 2026. This came after Komeito ended its 26-year coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party in October 2025, citing issues like political funding scandals and discomfort with the LDP's shift to the right under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Its establishment was compared to the New Frontier Party that existed from 1994 to 1997. The Democratic Party for the People had additionally been approached by both the CDP and Komeito to participate in the merger, but DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki refused offers on 15 January.On 16 January, CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda and Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito announced the name of the new party, and subsequently informed the Ministry of [Internal Affairs and Communications|Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications] of its establishment.
CDP member Kazuhiro Haraguchi additionally announced that he would not join the new party, but would instead turn his existing political organization, the, into a political party. On January 24, Haraguchi and Genzei Nippon leader Takashi Kawamura announced the formation of a new political party, Tax Cuts Japan and Yukoku Alliance.
On 19 January, the party announced its manifesto. In concessions to the Komeito side, the CDP abandoned its longstanding position that the Legislation for Peace and Security was unconstitutional, and dropped its unconditional opposition to nuclear power.
On 20 January, the party announced that 144 of the 148 CDP's House of Representatives legislators would participate in the CRA. Two were set to retire, while two others, including Haraguchi, would not join the CRA. Aoyama, in turn, would run as an unaffiliated candidate. Yoriko Madoka, a DPFP legislator, also planned to participate in the party. The party's merged caucus had 172 seats in the House of Representatives at the time of dissolution. Representatives Ryo Tagaya, who left Reiwa Shinsengumi, and Kunio Arakaki, who left the SDP, also joined the party.
Organization
Reports alleged that in the House of Councillors, both parties would continue to caucus as separate factions, while in the House of Representatives they would operate together as a single party; and that CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda and Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito are expected to serve as co-leaders of the new party.Ideology
is the Japanese rendering of the Buddhist term "middle way" and is associated with the religious movement Soka Gakkai. Komeito, which serves as Soka Gakkai's political wing, has proclaimed "middle wayism" in its political platform. Former Komeito leader and CRA co-leader Tetsuo Saito said that the meaning of Chūdō is not to take the midpoint between right and left, but to aim for consensus building among diverse opinions, rather than creating division or conflict.Saito has claimed that support for social security, an inclusive society, doubling per capita gross domestic product, a realistic diplomatic and security policy, and political and electoral reform, will constitute the backbone of the new party's platform. Specifically, the party denoted five policy pillars: sustainable economic growth, a new social security model, an inclusive society by pursuing gender equality and reducing education opportunity gaps, realistic foreign and defense policies centered on the Japan-US alliance and peace diplomacy, and constant reforms. The party will pursue a consumption tax cut as well, permanently reducing the consumption tax for foodstuffs to zero. To make up for the revenue shortfall, the party proposes the creation of a sovereign wealth fund.