Japan's anti-foreigner politics on the rise as right-wing party wins votes online
"It is not about discrimination, it's just like, why don't they notice?" said Kato, who, like many Sanseito supporters, obtains his information from YouTube and other social media sites, a space the party has utilised to amplify its "Japanese First" message. Japan's foreign-born residents account for just 3% of the total population, a fraction of the corresponding proportion in the United States and Europe, but record numbers of tourists in recent years have made foreigners more visible in major cities. While Sanseito largely avoids identifying specific immigrant groups, Romeo Marcantuoni, a Tokyo-based academic who has studied the party, said it taps into latent concerns ranging from badly-behaved tourists to conspiracy theories about sneaking Chinese influence.
Kato said he believes the Chinese, the biggest cohort of foreign residents in Japan and among the largest visitor groups, are quietly taking over the country. Chinese are also often the focal point for anti-immigrant rhetoric propagated online.
Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and other party lawmakers and candidates have raised concerns about Chinese buying up land and resources in Japan. One of the party's policies listed on its website is to "stop the silent invasion of Japan by foreign forces".
Sanseito's rise has sparked a backlash by those who fear the party is normalising xenophobia. A rally on Monday attracted dozens of protesters who tried to drown out the speakers.
"It is people falling for lies and displacing their frustrations - economic hardship, political alienation - onto others," said Miroko Kato, a 42-year-old haiku poet among the protestors. "We're here to say: we're watching you!"
The party did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Kamiya has previously denied criticism that it is xenophobic. Sanseito is most popular among 18 to 39-year-olds, with men favouring the party more than women, according to a poll conducted by public broadcaster NHK, a trend increasingly seen among support for right-wing parties in democracies worldwide. In contrast, support for Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which lost its majority in Sunday's election, is deepest among those aged over 70 with no clear gender divide, the NHK poll showed.
Sanseito's presence online has given them visibility among younger voters that the LDP has struggled to reach, Kato said.
The party's official YouTube channel has three times as many followers as the LDP's, with engagement in their content far higher than other parties, a study by Asahi newspaper found.
"They are the party of YouTube," said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Kanda University of International Studies who has authored a book on right-wing politics in Japan.
YouTube did not respond to emails seeking comment on Sanseito's use of the platform. On its community guidelines page, YouTube says it closely monitors content and removes videos it deems to promote "harmful or dangerous behavior".
Broader appeal
Birthed during the COVID-19 pandemic when they spread conspiracy theories about vaccinations, Sanseito has broadened its appeal with its tough immigration policies and pledges to help households struggling with rising prices. It also wants to scrap Japan's pacifist constitution and restore the Emperor's authority, fringe ideas promoted by other right-wing groups that regularly drive around Japan's cities in black trucks blaring imperial-era military songs. While that megaphone politics has long been largely ignored by the Japanese, Sanseito has set its sights on emulating the successes of other far-right groups in Europe, such as Germany's AfD and Britain's Reform UK.
At a rally held outside Tokyo's bustling Shimbashi train station on Monday, crowds clapped and cheered some of Sanseito's newly elected lawmakers. "They're going to get things done," said Eriko Harada, 47, a housewife wearing a kimono and a headband emblazoned with the words 'Samurai Spirit', who said she voted for the first time this year.
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The Trump admirer who started Sanseito Sanseito, which translates as "Participate in Politics," started in 2020, the year when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its height, and gained prominence with YouTube videos that spread conspiracy theories about founder Sohei Kamiya is a former supermarket manager and reservist of the Self-Defence Force (how Japan describes its army). He has credited Trump as an influence for his "bold political style". He attracted people on social media who were unhappy with conventional parties, gaining support with warnings of a "silent invasion" of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending. And in 2022, Kamiya was Sanseito's only candidate to be elected into the upper a video released on his YouTube channel, Kamiya referred to the "deep state", the idea that the military, police and political groups work secretly to protect particular interests - and rule a country without being elected."There is a deep state everywhere," he said in the video. "Such as in the media, the medical field, the agricultural field and Kasumigaseki [government agencies]."He also made certain contentious remarks on the campaign trail, which spread on social media."Once the election campaign cycle started, every media outlet and online forum was talking about 'Sanseito'… and controversial statements or policy positions," says Rintaro Nishimura, an associate at the Asia Group think tank. Kamiya faced backlash after he branded gender equality policies "a mistake" because, in his view, they encouraged women to work and kept them from having he defended his stance. "The phrase 'Japanese First' was meant to express rebuilding Japanese people's livelihoods by resisting globalism," he said in one interview. "I am not saying that we should completely ban foreigners or that every foreigner should get out of Japan."We were criticised as being xenophobic and discriminatory. The public came to understand that the media was wrong and Sanseito was right." Gusto over policy? Prof Kingston says his success is less about policies and more about gusto. "It wasn't so much the content of the message, but how the message was delivered," he argues."It's the passion, the emotions and the social media. People [in] their 30s and 40s think, 'We want change… we may not buy into everything he is pedalling, but he can change things and address my concerns'."In addition to the swelling youth base, a large number of the LDP's core conservative voters have also turned to Sanseito because they no longer see the ruling party as right-wing enough. The late former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, represented the far-right of the LDP and that kept voters on board. His successors like Fumio Kishida and now Ishiba represent a more moderate wing of the LDP."For voters on the far right, they lost their home. They want a more ardent advocate for their positions. And Kamiya is that passionate advocate," Prof Kingston it is too early to tell whether this populist trend will endure in Japanese politics, say analysts. Though it may be seen as the refreshing agent of change in politics, it has yet to be put through the wringer of close governing LDP may be the weary incumbent but it is still a big beast that has weathered many political storms. It remains the most experienced party when it comes to foreign relations; recently, it had to navigate a volatile global order and an unstable Asia-Pacific the LDP is down but not out. If nothing else, this is because there is currently no alternative considered viable the far-right's success has hammered home a new reality: voters can no longer be taken for granted. And while Japan historically cherished its stability, a new generation is hungry for change - even if its not yet clear what that looks image credit: Reuters BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. And we showcase thought-provoking content from across BBC Sounds and iPlayer too. You can send us your feedback on the InDepth section by clicking on the button below.
Reuters
2 days ago
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