The collapse of the political marriage of convenience between Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) co-leaders Toru Hashimoto and Shintaro Ishihara was long in coming, surprised no one, and suggests that, when it comes to Japanese political mergers at least, Rudyard Kipling was correct when he warned East and West could never meet.
It also forces the children of the marriage — the 53 Lower House and nine Upper House Nippon Ishin members — to find new homes, likely in places favored by one of the parents, like Yui no To in the case of Hashimoto, or Your Party, in the case of Ishihara. They will also have the option of forming yet another opposition party, or even joining the ruling Liberal Democratic Party or the Democratic Party of Japan.
For his part, Hashimoto told reporters in Osaka on Thursday he has no regrets about the often stormy relationship.