Latest news with #JapaneseFirst
Muscat Daily
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Japan's Ishiba vows to stay on after election defeat
Tokyo, Japan – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition has failed to secure a majority in Sunday's election for the 248-seat upper house of parliament, Japan's public NHK TV outlet said. Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), already in a minority in the lower house since last October's snap election, faced mounting public discontent over inflation, political scandals and a surge in anti-immigration sentiment. Why Ishiba won't resign The LDP and its junior partner Komeito needed to win 50 of the 125 contested seats in addition to the 75 they already have. They fell short, winning only 46 of the seats. In recent years, such an electoral defeat has usually led to a prime minister's resignation. Ishiba, however, vowed to stay on to lead Japan through the difficult terrain of striking a trade deal with the US in the face of looming tariffs. 'We are engaged in extremely critical tariff negotiations with the United States … we must never ruin these negotiations,' he told a press conference after vowing to stay on as party leader through the trade talks. The loss is another blow to Ishiba's coalition, which is now a minority in both houses following its October defeat in the lower house election. It is the first time the LDP has lost a majority in both houses of parliament since the party's founding in 1955. The poor performance in the election will not immediately trigger a change of government because the upper house lacks the power to file a no-confidence motion against a leader. Despite his determination to stay on, Ishiba could face calls from within his party to step down or find another coalition partner. Rise of 'Japanese First' party The surge of the right-wing populist Sanseito party complicated the election. Once a fringe movement, spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and global elites during the COVID-19 pandemic on YouTube, the party is now gaining momentum with its 'Japanese First' rhetoric and criticism of immigration, globalism, and foreign capital. Sanseito is expected to win 14 seats in the upper house, appealing especially to young male voters. Its leader, Sohei Kamiya, has drawn comparisons to Trump and Germany's AfD for his anti-establishment stance and social media reach. According to AFP news agency, a Sunday interview by Russia's Sputnik news agency with a Sanseito candidate courted controversy and prompted Kamiya to deny ties to Russia. The European Union has banned Sputnik and other Russian state media for 'disinformation and information manipulation'. DW
Glasgow Times
7 hours ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Japan's PM Ishiba says he will stay in office despite election loss
Mr Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Komeito were three seats short of maintaining a majority in the 248-seat upper house in Sunday's vote. The coalition is now a minority in both houses of the Diet, or parliament, though the LDP is still the leading party. Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo (Philip Fong/Pool Photo via AP) Mr Ishiba said he takes the result seriously but that his priority is to avoid creating a political vacuum and to tackle impending challenges, including the August 1 deadline for a tariff deal with the US. 'While I painfully feel my serious responsibility over the election results, I believe I must also fulfil my responsibility I bear for the country and the people so as not to cause politics to stall or go adrift,' Mr Ishiba said. 'Challenges such as global situation and natural disaster won't wait for a better political situation.' His chief tariff negotiator, economic minister Ryosei Akazawa, is heading to Washington for his eighth round of talks. The prime minister hopes to reach a mutually beneficial deal and meet with US President Donald Trump 'as soon as possible', he said. Sunday's vote comes after Mr Ishiba's coalition lost a majority in the October lower house election, stung by past corruption scandals, and his unpopular government has since been forced into making concessions to the opposition to get legislation through parliament. Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets the media at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo (Franck Robichon, Pool Photo via AP) It has been unable to quickly deliver effective measures to mitigate rising prices, including Japan's traditional staple of rice, and dwindling wages. Mr Trump has added to the pressure, complaining about a lack of progress in trade negotiations and the lack of sales of US cars and American-grown rice to Japan despite a shortfall in domestic stocks of the grain. A 25% tariff due to take effect on August 1 has been another blow for Mr Ishiba. At a news conference on Monday, Mr Ishiba said his LDP and the Komeito have agreed to stick with their coalition while seeking further co-operation from opposition parties. Mr Ishiba resisted calls for his resignation and did not say how much longer he planned to stay on. He is sticking around for the country and the people, not for self-interest, 'to put the pressing issues on a path to a solution', he said. Voters frustrated with price increases exceeding the pace of wage hikes rapidly turned to emerging conservative and right-wing populist parties. The Democratic Party for the People quadrupled its seats by campaigning for higher take-home pay. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, at the party headquarters in Tokyo (Kyodo News via AP) The right-wing Sanseito, running on a 'Japanese First' platform that includes stricter regulations on foreigners and traditional gender roles, surged to number three in the opposition. The LDP has lost support due to the people's discontent over the party's measures for rising prices, foreign residents and other reasons and he will 'quickly analyse the results and learn the lesson', Mr Ishiba said. None of the opposition parties said they were open to co-operating with the governing coalition. CDPJ leader Yoshihiko Noda told broadcaster NHK that his priority is to form an alliance among the opposition. 'Public opinion clearly said 'no' to the Ishiba government,' Mr Noda said. Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya told NHK late on Sunday he is open to co-operating with the ruling bloc on conservative policies. While he said his party did better than expected, he would wait to gain more seats in the other house in the next election and attempt to form a multi-party coalition like in Europe.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
How did a right-wing populist party that began on YouTube win big in Japan's recent election?
Its leader is a former supermarket manager who created his political party on YouTube in the depths of the coronavirus pandemic and campaigned on the Trumpian message 'Japanese First.' Now Japan's burgeoning right-wing populist party Sanseito has emerged an unlikely winner in parliamentary elections this weekend. Inspired by other populist right-wing groups that have sprung up in recent years, Sanseito bagged 14 seats in Japan's upper house, according to public broadcaster NHK – a dramatic increase from the single seat it had occupied previously. That might not sound like a lot in the 248-seat chamber, but it shows the party's message is resonating with parts of the Japanese public. The surprise success piles pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which after Sunday's elections has now lost its majority in both the lower and upper houses. Ishiba is facing calls to resign, which he has so far resisted. Formed online Sanseito's rise is particularly notable given its unusual origins. Party leader Sohei Kamiya founded the group in 2020 by 'gathering people on the Internet,' then gradually began winning seats in local assemblies, he said in a speech earlier this month. As of Monday, its YouTube channel has more than 460,000 subscribers. It gained traction during the Covid pandemic, during which it spread conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, Reuters reported. But in the run-up to the upper house elections, it became better known for its 'Japanese First' campaign – which focused on complaints of overtourism and the influx of foreign residents. It's been an increasingly sensitive issue. The world's fourth-largest economy has traditionally been strict on immigration, but in recent years worked hard to attract more international tourists and foreign workers to counter a rapidly aging population and plunging birth rates. And it's worked. Japan's population of foreign residents has jumped from 2.23 million to 3.77 million over the past decade, though that still only accounts for 3% of the total population of more than 120 million people. Tourist numbers also keep breaking new records. But that's caused problems in towns overwhelmed with visitors, some of whom behave badly, and depleting resources like the country's famous hot spring waters. Now, some believe there are too many foreigners in Japan – to the point the government recently formed a new task force to address the issue. Sanseito tapped into these frustrations on its 'Japanese First' platform, along with other complaints about stagnant wages, high inflation and costs of living. 'Right now, Japanese people's lives are getting harder and harder,' said Kamiya – a former supermarket manager and English teacher – in his speech in July. He cited a lack of economic growth and widening wealth gap. 'More and more foreigners are coming (to Japan),' he warned. He added that he didn't mind tourists, but claimed that relying on cheap foreign labor would harm Japanese wages, and that foreign workers who can't find a good job would increase crime. The party supports caps on the number of foreign residents in each town or city, more restrictions on immigration and benefits available to foreigners, and making it harder to naturalize as citizens. Sanseito is also pushing for stronger security measures and anti-espionage laws, greater tax cuts, renewable energy, and a health system that leans away from vaccines. It has urged greater defense capabilities, warning that Japan is 'surrounded' by nuclear-armed countries and thus needs a 'deterrent force' while pursuing long-term denuclearization. MAGA comparisons Kamiya also drew comparisons to other right-wing outfits like Donald Trump's MAGA movement in the United States and the AfD (Alternative for Germany) party and Reform UK. 'Sanseito has become the talk of the town, and particularly here in America, because of the whole populist and anti-foreign sentiment,' said Joshua Walker, head of the US-based non-profit Japan Society, according to Reuters. 'It's more of a weakness of the LDP and Ishiba than anything else,' he added. Many have criticized Sanseito's platform as xenophobic and discriminatory. Ahead of the election, he tried to tone down some of the party's more controversial ideas and to attract more female voters, according to Reuters. But he took a triumphant tone after the election results, Reuters reported. 'The public came to understand that the media was wrong and Sanseito was right,' Kamiya said. What's next for Ishiba? The results have left Ishiba's coalition on extremely shaky ground. He'd already lost control of the more powerful lower house in October, with the LDP losing its majority for the first time in 15 years – a stinging rebuke from Japanese voters to the longtime ruling party. In a news conference on Monday, Ishiba called the upper house results a harsh judgment on the LDP and apologized to his party. He said the party would continue to rule with its coalition partner and work with other parties to cooperate on key issues. Earlier on Sunday after polls closed, Ishiba had told NHK he intended to stay on as prime minister and party leader, citing the tariff talks with the US. Japan is among a number of countries that will face a 25% tariff from August 1 onward under Trump's newest measures – unless they're able to strike a deal. At the news conference Monday, Ishiba said he wanted to speak with Trump as soon as possible to find a solution. CNN's Yumi Asada contributed reporting. Solve the daily Crossword
Euronews
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Far-right party emerges as fourth-largest opposition force in Japan
Sanseito, a far-right nationalist group founded just four years ago, walked away from Sunday's upper house election with 14 seats, a surprising leap from the single seat it held since 2022. It became the fourth-largest opposition force in the 248-seat chamber, behind the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) and Nippon Ishin no Kai. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered a major setback in October's lower house election, as loyal voters voiced anger over corruption scandals and rising costs. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is struggling to restore trust, and his minority government has had to make compromises with the opposition to pass laws. Alongside food shortages and soaring rice prices, Ishiba also faces pressure from US President Donald Trump's tariff demands. Angry voters are now turning to new, radical parties pushing an anti-immigration and anti-diversity agenda. While Sanseito fell short of its goal of securing 20 seats — the threshold required to submit budget proposals — it now holds enough seats to introduce nonspending bills in the Upper House, which only need 10 votes. Launched in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanseito first gained traction on YouTube with a flurry of anti-vaccine and anti-mask videos. The party's YouTube channel has over 460,000 subscribers. Its message soon shifted to a broader 'Japanese First' platform, warning of the impact of tourism and an increase in foreigners in the country. The number of foreign residents in Japan hit a record 3.8 million in 2024, with tourist arrivals reaching nearly 37 million, according to the National Tourism Organisation. These figures, though still small compared to the overall population, have become a focal point of voter unease. As reported by Japan Times, party leader Sohei Kamiya has consistently denied that the party's platform is xenophobic. 'The notion that people who want to discriminate and kick foreigners out (of Japan) are flocking to Sanseito is, I think, a little wrong. We aren't that kind of party,' he said, noting that the slogan is about 'standing up against globalism and protecting the lives of Japanese citizens.' However, Sanseito's seeks to limit the number of foreign workers and visitors, capping foreign residents at 5% of the population in any municipality, tightening naturalisation and residency rules and banning naturalised citizens from holding public office. While far-right parties have historically struggled to gain lasting traction in Japan's political system, Sunday's results suggest a potential shift. According to the party, around 1,400 people attended a Saturday morning rally in Saitama, with an estimated 20,000 turning out for the final event in Tokyo that evening. Nonetheless, Sanseito's rise has not come without pushback. Protesters have shadowed party rallies, holding placards that read 'There is no first or second to humankind' and 'Japanese First is discrimination.' 'Japan will become a colony' A former member of the LDP, Kamiya lost his 2012 election bid despite then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's support. He later founded Sanseito and was elected to a seat in the upper house in 2022. A former Self-Defence Force reservist, he has been open about drawing inspiration from Trump. 'Under globalism, multinational companies have changed Japan's policies for their own purposes,' Kamiya declared at a recent rally. 'If we fail to resist this foreign pressure, Japan will become a colony.' He also sparked backlash for opposing gender equality policies and suggesting women should focus on motherhood, media outlets reported. When asked about his appeal to male voters, he claimed it might be because he is 'hot-blooded,' adding, 'that resonates more with men.'
UPI
9 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
Japan's ruling coalition gov't loses majority in Upper House
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a press conference at the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday, the day after the prime minister's coalition lost its upper house majority. Photo by Philip Fong/EPA July 21 (UPI) -- Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and his Liberal Democratic Party were projected to lose their majority coalition government in Japan's Upper House of Parliament on Monday, according to reports that show gains made by a far-right, populist party. The election was held Sunday, when 125 of the 248 Upper House seats were up for election to a six year term. Preliminary results on Monday showed LDP and its Komeito coalition party had won 47 seats, three shy of the minimum 50 required for the coalition to maintain its majority, The Asahi Shimbun reported. Together, LDP and Komeito had a total of 75 uncontested seats. The coalition also lost 19 seats from what they had prior to the vote. The election also comes on the heels of the LDP coalition losing its majority in the lower house in October, meaning this will be the first time in the party's 70-year history that it has led a coalition government without holding a majority in either house. The upset comes as the LDP struggles to overcome public distrust following a major corruption scandal involving millions in campaign financing slush funds and the rising cost of living in the Asian nation. Meanwhile, the center-right Democratic Party for the People gained 17 seats. And Japan's far-right Sanseito Party with its "Japanese First" motto -- which is characterized as the Japanese version of the United States' Make America Great Again movement -- earned 14 seats, up from one before the election. The gains for Sanseito make it a more significant party in parliament, and it can now submit a bill without a budget attached. Despite the loss, Ishiba vowed during a Monday press conference that he would remain head of state and head of the LDP, public broadcaster NHK reported. "It is extremely regrettable that many of our capable colleagues from the LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, have los their seats," he said. "As president of the Liberal Democratic Party, I offer my sincere apologies." As a lesson from the election, he remarked, "We must listen carefully to the voices of the people and fulfill our responsibility as the leading party in the Upper House, as well as our responsibility to the people of the country to prevent politics from becoming stalled, or from falling into disarray."
