How did Koizumi Junichiro try to attract unaffiliated urban voters?

To attract unaffiliated urban voters, Koizumi Junichiro implemented significant reforms that shifted the Liberal-Democratic Party of Japan’s traditional strategy. Recognizing that the party’s historical reliance on agricultural households and small shopkeepers was declining, he sought to appeal to a growing demographic of urban voters by promising to modernize the economy.1

His approach included the following key measures:

• Economic Reform: He advocated for deregulation and the privatization of state-run entities, most notably the country's postal system, which included a massive savings bank and insurance business.12
• Fiscal Discipline: He pledged to reduce "pork-barrel" spending, moving away from the traditional LDP practice of funding extensive public works projects in local districts to secure support.1
• Structural Change: By weakening the party's traditional factional structure and prioritizing reformist credentials, he aimed to burnish the LDP's reputation and broaden its appeal beyond its traditional power bases.12

While these reforms alienated some traditional voting blocs, they successfully increased the party's support in urban areas, which had historically been strongholds for the opposition.1