Far-Right Sanseito Stuns Japan with Election Surge
“Japanese First” party gains 14 seats in parliament.
Japan’s far-right Sanseito party emerged as a major winner in Sunday’s upper house election, securing 14 additional seats to its single existing seat in the 248-member chamber, capitalizing on its nationalist “Japanese First” platform. The party’s rise, fueled by anti-immigrant rhetoric and calls to curb gender equality policies, comes amid a historic defeat for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) coalition, which lost its upper house majority.
Sanseito, founded in 2020 by Sohei Kamiya, a former Self-Defence Force reservist, gained traction through YouTube, amassing nearly 500,000 subscribers compared to the LDP’s 140,000. Initially known for anti-vaccine conspiracy theories during the COVID-19 pandemic, the party has shifted to a populist agenda, warning of a “silent invasion” by foreigners and proposing strict citizenship rules and welfare exclusions for non-Japanese. Despite foreigners comprising only 3% of Japan’s population and welfare recipients, these claims resonated with voters frustrated by economic stagnation and rising costs.
Kamiya, inspired by Donald Trump’s “America First” approach, rejects alliances with the LDP, eyeing coalitions with other opposition parties. His controversial remarks, including blaming gender equality for Japan’s declining birthrate, have sparked protests and accusations of xenophobia. Political analyst Izuru Makihara noted Sanseito’s appeal to young voters via social media, but its inexperience may hinder policy implementation. With three lower house seats, Sanseito aims to expand its influence in Japan’s shifting political landscape.
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