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Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
'Japanese First' party shakes up election with alarm over foreigners
FILE PHOTO: Sanseito Secretary General Sohei Kamiya speaks during a debate with leaders of other political parties at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2025. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo TOKYO - An upstart party is gaining support ahead of elections in Japan by railing against a 'silent invasion' of immigrants, pushing the government to tackle fears about foreigners as it drags into the mainstream rhetoric once confined to the political fringe. Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party, Sanseito, is widening its appeal with a 'Japanese First' campaign ahead of Sunday's upper house vote. And while polls show it may only secure 10 to 15 of the 125 seats up for grabs, it is further eroding the support of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's shaky minority government increasingly beholden to opposition parties as it clings to power. "In the past, anyone who brought up immigration would be attacked by the left. We are getting bashed too, but are also gaining support," Sohei Kamiya, the party's 47-year-old charismatic leader, told Reuters in an interview. "The LDP and Komeito can't stay silent if they want to keep their support," Kamiya added, referring to Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled Japan for most of the past seven decades, and its junior coalition partner. Kamiya's message has grabbed voters frustrated with a weak economy and currency that has lured tourists in record numbers in recent years, further driving up prices that Japanese can ill-afford, political analysts say. The fast-ageing society has also seen foreign-born residents hit a record of about 3.8 million last year, although that is still just 3% of the total population, a tiny fraction compared to numbers in the United States and Europe. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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It remains to be seen whether he can follow the path of other far-right parties with which he has drawn comparisons, such as Germany's AFD and Reform UK. Yet the ingredients are there, said Jeffrey Hall, a lecturer at Tokyo's Kanda university who has studied Japan's right-wing politics, pointing to their online following, appeal among young men and warnings about immigration eroding indigenous cultures. "Anti-foreign sentiment that was considered maybe taboo to talk about so openly is now out of the box," he added. With immigration emerging as a top election issue, Ishiba this week unveiled a new government taskforce to fight "crimes and disorderly conduct" by foreign nationals and his party has promised to pursue "zero illegal foreigners". Polls show Ishiba's ruling coalition is likely to lose its majority in the upper house vote, in a repeat of elections last year in the more powerful lower house. While he is expected to limp on, his government may have to broaden its coalition or strike deals with other parties on policy matters, analysts say. 'HOT-BLOODED' Kamiya, who won the party's first seat in 2022 after having gained notoriety for appearing to call for Japan's emperor to take concubines, has tried to tone down some controversial ideas formerly embraced by the party. His election manifesto, for example, includes plans to cut taxes and increase child benefits, policies promoted by a raft of opposition parties that led investors to fret about Japan's fiscal health and massive debt pile. While Sanseito is the latest in a string of small far-right parties that have struggled for a foothold in Japan's staid politics, its online support suggests it may have staying power. Its YouTube channel has 400,000 followers, more than any other party on the platform and three times that of the LDP, according to There are still hurdles. Like right-wing parties in the U.S. and Europe, Sanseito support skews heavily toward men in their twenties and thirties. Kamiya is trying to widen its appeal by fielding several female candidates such as the single-named singer Saya seen as likely to clinch a seat in Tokyo. Earlier in the campaign, Kamiya faced a backlash for branding gender equality policies a mistake, as they encourage women to work and keep them from having children. "Maybe because I am hot-blooded, that resonates more with men," Kamiya replied to a question on the party's greater appeal to men. REUTERS
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Japan's ruling coalition seen losing upper house majority, polls show
Japan's Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Shigeru Ishiba arrives for a debate with leaders of eight political parties at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2025. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan's ruling coalition will likely lose its majority in the upper house election on July 20, media polls showed on Tuesday, heightening the risk of political instability at a time the country struggles to strike a trade deal with the U.S. Japanese bond yields soared as investors braced for the possible loss of fiscal hawk Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, which could strain the country's already frail finances. Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito will likely struggle to retain the 50 seats needed to defend its majority in the upper house of parliament, the Asahi newspaper said based on voter polls and nationwide reporting by its journalists. Japan's Jiji news agency also reported on Tuesday that the ruling coalition was struggling in the election campaign, and could lose its majority in the upper house. Ishiba's administration has seen approval ratings slide as the rising cost of living, including the soaring price of Japan's staple rice, hit households. "Ishiba's low approval ratings reflect voter dissatisfaction with the status quo," David Boling, a director at consulting firm Eurasia Group, said in a research note, adding he sees a 60% chance of the ruling coalition losing its majority. The political uncertainty comes at a critical time for Japan, which must clinch a trade deal with Washington by the new August 1 deadline to avoid being slapped with 25% tariffs. Ishiba is arranging to meet U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Friday during his visit to Japan to attend the U.S. national day at the World Expo in Osaka, the Yomiuri newspaper reported. Japan's top government spokesperson said on Tuesday that Bessent's schedule was still being arranged. As darkening economic prospects and rising inflation hits households, Ishiba has pledged to deliver cash payouts to cushion the blow to households from rising living costs. But Ishiba has shunned opposition calls to cut Japan's sales tax rate. An election defeat may heighten the chance of a cut, some analysts say. It would also complicate the Bank of Japan's efforts to wean the economy off a decade-long, massive stimulus. The risk of looser fiscal policy pushed super-long Japanese government bond yields to record-high levels. "If the ruling coalition loses a majority, markets will be on the look-out for clues on Ishiba's fate, the new government framework and its fiscal policy stance," said Naoya Hasegawa, chief bond strategist at Okasan Securities. (Reporting by Leika Kihara and Chang-Ran Kim; additional reporting by Kantaro Komiya and Makiko Yamazaki; Editing by Michael Perry)
The Standard
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Standard
Japan's ruling coalition seen losing upper house majority, Asahi reports
Japan's Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party President Shigeru Ishiba arrives for a debate with leaders of eight political parties at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan, July 2, 2025. Tomohiro Ohsumi/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Nikkei Asia
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Japan's inflation election masks a deeper democratic reckoning
Leaders of eight political parties take part in a debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on July 2. (Photo by Marina Inoue) Tobias Harris is the founder of Japan Foresight. He is the author of "The Iconoclast: Shinzo Abe and the New Japan." Japanese party leaders are focusing heavily on pocketbook issues in their appeals to voters at the start of the campaign for the July 20 upper house elections.
Yomiuri Shimbun
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S. Tariffs Keep Ishiba on Back Foot During Leaders' Debate; Discontent with Ishiba over Tariff Negotiations, Other Issues Voiced
During a debate Wednesday ahead of the House of Councillors election, which is just weeks away, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spent much of his time on the defensive over deadlocked tariff negotiations with the United States, as opposition party leaders upped the ante. Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda heaped additional pressure on Ishiba by underlining his party's pledge to reduce the consumption tax rate in a move designed to combat soaring consumer prices. At the start of the party leader debate, which was held at the Japan National Press Club in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Noda lit the fuse by taking a swipe at the state of tariff negotiations between Tokyo and Washington. 'It looks like the government has been doing something, but the goalposts seem to be moving further and further away,' Noda said. Ishiba's expression stiffened at this comment. 'Japan is the world's largest investor nation in the United States, and we are the world's largest creator of jobs there,' Ishiba said, raising his voice. 'Our situation is very different from that of other countries.' U.S. President Donald Trump recently said it would be 'really hard' to reach a deal with Japan during the tariff negotiations and hinted that a levy of 30% to 35% could be slapped on imports from Japan. The issue of U.S. tariffs sparked heated exchanges among the leaders. Ishiba, who is president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, reiterated that Japan is important to the United States and insisted he would continue to 'protect Japanese national interests until the very end.' However, Ishiba did not mention any concrete proposals for making a breakthrough in the negotiations or touch on the prospects of progress on the issue. Ishiba also found himself on the back foot during the second half of the debate when an attendee asked how the government would respond if the United States went ahead and imposed tariffs of 30% to 35% on Japanese goods. 'We must ensure [the United States] understands our position,' was all Ishiba could muster as an answer. A time of 'peril' Opposition parties had previously refrained from lobbing criticism at the negotiations because they had shared the prime minister's position that the U.S. tariffs presented a 'peril for the nation.' However, Trump's ratcheting up of pressure on Japan has unleashed a growing wave of discontent toward and doubt about the prime minister. In February, Ishiba became the second world leader to hold a face-to-face summit meeting with Trump after he returned to the White House. Ishiba also held direct talks with Trump in June on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit meeting in Canada, and the two leaders have spoken on the telephone. Ishiba has played up his personal relationship with Trump. However, during the debate, Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, who is also Osaka governor, suggested that Ishiba had 'failed to build a close relationship' with Trump. Noda expressed skepticism about Japan's negotiation strategy. 'The government did not precisely limit the scope of the talks,' he said. 'It isn't even understood [on the U.S. side] that Japan is the biggest investor' in the United States. The CDPJ leader also called for Ishiba to break the deadlock through directs talks with Trump. 'It's better to resolve this by going straight to the highest level,' Noda said. Defense spending The Trump administration has expressed its view that U.S. allies in Asia, including Japan, need to increase their defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product. When asked about this issue by a member of the audience, Ishiba denied that Tokyo was being pushed around by Washington. 'There's been no demand for 5% or anything else,' Ishiba said. The scope of any such increase is 'a matter that Japan should decide, and we won't simply go along with it just because another nation tells us to.' Ishiba also brought up the CDPJ's pledge to 'abolish the unconstitutional parts' of security legislation that allows Japan to partially exercise the right of collective self-defense and that also strengthens cooperation between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military. 'Which parts are unconstitutional, and why are they unconstitutional?' Ishiba asked Noda. However, Noda did not specify which clauses of the legislation violated the supreme law. 'We will examine that through hearings and other channels with the Defense Ministry and the U.S. government after we assume the reins of government,' Noda said. That response provoked a scoff of astonishment from Ishiba. 'If you're going to claim that it's unconstitutional, you need to show us before the election exactly which parts you mean,' Ishiba retorted.
