The Centrist Reform Union has decided to hold a leadership election on February 13th to select successors to Co-Leaders Noda and Saito, who are resigning to take responsibility for the party's crushing defeat in the House of Representatives election. Junya Ogawa and Takeshi Shina, both from the Constitutional Democratic Party, have solidified their intentions to run. Meanwhile, former leader Kenta Izumi indicated he will sit out, saying it should be left to the younger generation. The new leadership will be tested on how to rebuild its presence as a fading 'third force' and how to chart opposition cooperation ahead of the House of Councillors election; voices within the party are also calling for a clearer policy focus.
〜を受けて= Following ~; in response to ~Vることに決定した= It has been decided that ~; to decide to ~〜意向を固める= To solidify/finalize one's intention to ~Vるべきだ= Should ~; ought to ~Nとして= As ~; in the capacity of ~いかに〜か= How ~〜が問われる= To be put to the test; to be questioned〜との声が上がる= There are voices saying ~
Learning Notes
Grammar Patterns
Pattern
Meaning
〜を受けて
Following ~; in response to ~
Vることに決定した
It has been decided that ~; to decide to ~
〜意向を固める
To solidify/finalize one's intention to ~
Vるべきだ
Should ~; ought to ~
Nとして
As ~; in the capacity of ~
いかに〜か
How ~
〜が問われる
To be put to the test; to be questioned
〜との声が上がる
There are voices saying ~
Vocabulary
Word
Reading
Level
Meaning
固める
かためる
N2
to harden; to finalize
若手
わかて
N2
young person; junior member
見送る
みおくる
N2
to skip; to postpone; to see someone off
問う
とう
N2
to question; to ask
中道
ちゅうどう
N1
middle road; centrist
連合
れんごう
N1
union; alliance
立候補
りっこうほ
N1
candidacy; running for office
惨敗
ざんぱい
N1
crushing defeat
引責
いんせき
N1
taking responsibility
辞任
じにん
N1
resignation
後任
こうにん
N1
successor
選出
せんしゅつ
N1
selection; election
意向
いこう
N1
intention
委ねる
ゆだねる
N1
to entrust
出馬
しゅつば
N1
running for office; candidacy
新体制
しんたいせい
N1
new system; new leadership
埋没
まいぼつ
N1
being buried; being obscured
第三極
だいさんきょく
N1
third force; third pole (in politics)
存在感
そんざいかん
N1
presence
いかに
いかに
N1
how; in what way
再建
さいけん
N1
reconstruction; rebuilding
野党
やとう
N1
opposition party
あり方
ありかた
N1
the way something should be; ideal state
政策
せいさく
N1
policy
軸足
じくあし
N1
pivot leg; focus; stance
Language Insights
•The phrase '惨敗を受けて' (receiving a crushing defeat) is a standard journalistic way to explain the catalyst for major political changes.
•'第三極' (the third pole/force) refers to political parties that position themselves as alternatives to the two major dominant parties.
•The term '軸足' (pivot leg) is originally from sports, but in politics, it describes where a party or individual places their primary focus or ideological stance.
•The use of '委ねる' (to entrust) by Izumi carries a nuance of passing on responsibility with trust to the younger members.