Risky alliance for Japan's ruling party

A Soka Gakkai member (centre) woos potential voters in a Tokyo park

By Charles Scanlon in Tokyo

Japan's Liberal Democratic party has governed Japan for most of the last 45 years.

But its support base has shrunk and it has been languishing in the polls. To try to shore up support, it brought the Buddhist-backed Komeito party into the coalition last October.

It is a risky strategy because many Japanese are deeply suspicious of the religious sect - the Soka Gakkai lay Buddhist group - that provides the party's electoral support.

Yoshiko Komori belongs to the Soka Gakkai.

Komori: The Komeito party helped her grandmother

She is a volunteer in a private army of housewives who is doing her bit for the cause.

She is taking the party's election video to the homes of friends and acquaintances.

Her recruiting grounds are the parks and living rooms of Tokyo and other big cities.

She is part of the most formidable vote gathering machine in Japanese politics.

The Soka Gakkei sect to which Mrs Komori belongs sponsors the Komeito party, which campaigns on a programme of social welfare, and originally built its power base among the sick and underprivileged.

Mrs Komori says that she had personal reasons for joining the party.

"When I was growing up my grandmother was paralysed with rheumatism and she was always in pain," she says.

"I knew that Komeito provided help and support to people like her and I've supported them ever since."

Soka Gakkai's rapid growth

Soka Gakkai grew rapidly as one of Japan's new religions in the 1950's and 1960's.

Ikeda: Wields influence from behind the scenes

Today, it claims a support base of eight million households in Japan.

However the fervour of the members and the group's rigid hierarchy and political ambitions have made it many enemies.

"Some people are suspicious about the enormous political power and well-organised and effective political machinery with the core as religious solidarity," Professor Kuniko Inoguchi of Sofia University says.

Much of the criticism has focussed on the Soka Gakkai's honorary President Daisaku Ikeda.

Some people are suspicious about the enormous political power and well-organised and effective political machinery with the core as religious solidarity

Professor Kuniko Inoguchi, Sofia University

He has been called one of Japan's most important political figures but he never makes a campaign appearance.

Instead, he prefers to wield his influence behind the scenes.

Rie Tsumura of the Soka Gakkai International says he is the victim of smear campaigns and insists the group's involvement in politics is largely defensive.

"We were almost crushed during World War II," she says.

Tsumura: Sokka Gakkai members are sensitive to criticism

"So for this very reason, I think it's only natural for the members of Soka Gakkai to be quite sensitive and to feel committed to become an active citizen and always keep a vigilant eye on the course of Japanese politics."

The Soka Gakkai's political muscle is beginning to assert itself once again in this election campaign.

The Komeito has traditionally been an opposition voice, but now it is asking its supporters to throw their weight behind the government.

It is at rallies that the party is beginning to mobilise its core support.

Public apathy and disillusionment with the government could mean a low turnout and that means the block vote from Soka Gakkai will be more important than ever.

Endo:The Soka Gakkai has been misunderstood

The Komeito says its structure is independent of the Soka Gakkai although it shares the same goals of social welfare and pacifism.

However, candidates like Otohiko Endo, who are sensitive to criticism of the Soka Gakkai, say they still rely on the group.

"The Soka Gakkai has been misunderstood much," he says.

"Outsiders have pre-conception about Soka Gakkai - fanatic or very closed society? But this is totally untrue."

An early Soka Gakkai rally

In the run up to polling the role of the Komeito in the coalition government has emerged as a key issue.

The governing Liberal Democratic party has taken a gamble.

It badly needs the support of sect members but is risking a backlash from voters alarmed by the group's new found influence.