Taichi Sakaiya, 78, the man credited with persuading Osaka Mayor and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leader Toru Hashimoto to trade the world of television punditry for the world of politics, has been appointed as an adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration.
The appointment of Sakaiya, a key backer of several now-ailing Osaka-area public works projects, comes ahead of the late-September election of the mayor of Sakai, Osaka Prefecture. The outcome of that poll could decide the fate of a major goal of Sakaiya and Hashimoto: merging the administrations of the city and prefecture of Osaka. The fate of Hashimoto's party may also be in the balance.
Sakaiya, who was named a Cabinet adviser last week, has long been one of the most influential behind-the-scenes political and corporate advisers in Kansai.