** Nippon Ishin, a Japanese political party once seen as a rising force, is struggling to get its act together. A string of scandals, high-profile resignations, and disappointing local election results have dented its ambitions—whether that’s overtaking the opposition or becoming a ruling party. With the Upper House election looming, their messy track record on governance isn’t helping.

What This Mean: ** Political parties need credibility to win votes, and right now, Nippon Ishin’s reputation is taking hit after hit. If they can’t clean up their image fast, they risk fading into irrelevance—just when Japan’s political landscape could use a strong alternative. For voters, this means one less viable option in an already narrow field.