Right-leaning group rises in Japan amid voter discontent
The right-leaning fringe group Sanseito and the small opposition Democratic Party for the People made significant gains in Sunday's House of Councillors election, apparently reflecting voter frustration with mainstream parties and rising cost-of-living pressures.
Sanseito, founded in 2020 through YouTube recruitment, has drawn attention with its "Japanese First" slogan and controversial rhetoric, particularly toward foreigners, raising concerns of xenophobia.
"I felt the tailwind blowing stronger in the 17 days (of election campaigning)," said Sohei Kamiya, the 47-year-old leader of the fledgling populist party. He denied having any intention to discriminate against foreigners.
Speaking on a television program, Kamiya, who was first elected to parliament in 2022, said the strong support for his party signaled voter expectations for its push to cut taxes, boost public spending to support the economy and curb the influx of foreign workers into the aging nation, despite acute labor shortages.
"We will raise the issues in the Diet," he said.
Kamiya has claimed that globalization is the "reason behind Japan's poverty," arguing that foreigners are buying up land and company stocks, and criticizing what he views as the unchecked inflow of foreign labor.
Of the 125 seats contested in the 248-member upper house, Sanseito secured at least 13, up from the one it held before the election and surpassing its initial target of six. The DPP won at least 16 seats, up from four.
Including seats not contested in Sunday's election, Sanseito will hold at least 14 seats, including Kamiya's, giving the party enough to propose legislation.
Sanseito appears to have drawn broad support from younger voters, with a Kyodo News exit poll showing that over 20 percent of those aged 18 and 19, as well as voters in their 20s and 30s, backed the party in the proportional representation vote.
Sanseito also made some inroads among unaffiliated voters, with 11 percent saying they cast their ballots for the party -- the fourth-highest share after the DPP, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
© KYODO
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