Japanese populist Sohei Kamiya’s Sansetto party recently made headlines by securing 14 seats in Japan’s Senate election, which took many by surprise.
Gordon Chan, a senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, remarked on the unexpected success of the 47-year-old Kamiya, saying, “Populism has washed over Japan like a tsunami,” with supporters ranging from supermarket managers to rising political figures.
Although holding 15 of the 248 Senate seats doesn’t allow Kamiya’s party to enact laws, the data indicates a significant influence among younger voters—over 20% of those aged 18 to 40 chose his party.
Kamiya, who draws inspiration from President Donald Trump’s approach, has leveraged social media effectively. He initially attracted followers by opposing blanket mask mandates, mass PCR testing, and vaccine requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic. His party also promises to reinforce Japanese culture, boost birth rates, and strategize around immigration.
Western media often paints Kamiya as far-right or xenophobic. However, Tokyo principal Lance Gatling countered this narrative, suggesting that many within Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) are actually more right-wing than the Sansetto. He described members of Kamiya’s party as “pretty reasonable,” and noted that Kamiya has been refining his messaging for some time.
In response to criticisms of his anti-immigration stance, Kamiya addressed former President Joe Biden’s comments about Japan’s alleged xenophobia, clarifying on social media, “It’s not that we’re xenophobic; we’re cautious after witnessing your mistakes.” He claimed that external interference in Japan’s internal matters is unwelcome.
Gatling emphasized that labeling Japan as xenophobic doesn’t reflect reality, pointing out the country’s rich cultural heritage shaped by both Western influences and a unique historical identity. He observed that Kamiya is striving to return to traditional values while advocating for reduced taxes and increased food self-sufficiency.
Trade relations with the U.S. are important for Sansetto, which aims to reduce U.S. rice imports. This comes amidst a $550 billion trade deal negotiated by Trump that is expected to boost American rice imports by 75%.
However, challenges might arise from Sansetto’s proposal to transition farmers into public sector positions. Gatling acknowledged the agricultural bloc’s significant power within the LDP, questioning how many farmers would actually support such a shift.
Although it’s premature to predict the long-term impact of Sansetto on Japanese politics, Gatling noted that Kamiya doesn’t seem inclined toward forming a coalition government. The party’s future will hinge on its approach to upcoming elections and the demonstration of rational policies.
Chan indicated that Sansetto’s electoral success marks a setback for the LDP, which has been floundering since Shinzo Abe’s resignation in 2020 and assassination in 2022. He described the current prime minister as “weak and unpopular” with the LDP facing its first minority status in both legislative houses since its inception in 1955.
The political landscape is transforming in a way that suggests Japanese society may not fully grasp the changes until they emerge forcefully. Chan expressed that Japan is amidst a significant crisis, hinting at the potential for Kamiya’s influence to grow in light of the large foreign community that struggles to integrate.
“Changes in Japan tend to unfold gradually—until they don’t,” Chan concluded. “We might just be on the brink of something substantial.”
