<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/19/japanese-first-sanseito-party-goes-into-election-leveraging-unease-about-foreigners>
"A disillusioned Japanese electorate feeling the economic pinch goes to the
polls on Sunday, as a rightwing party promoting a “Japanese-first” agenda gains
popularity, with fears over foreigners becoming a major election issue.
Birthed on YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories
about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party, Sanseito, has
widened its appeal ahead of Sunday’s upper house vote – railing against
immigration and dragging rhetoric that was once confined to Japan’s political
fringes into the mainstream.
Polls show the party may only secure 10 to 15 of the 125 seats up for grabs,
but it is further eroding the support of prime minister Shigeru Ishiba’s shaky
minority government, which is increasingly beholden to opposition parties as it
clings to power.
Analysts say a heavy defeat for the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) will
likely cost Ishiba his job, while a strong showing by the emergent Sanseito
could shake up Japan’s political landscape.
Sanseito’s message has resonated in Japan, where global inflation and a
devalued yen have pushed up costs, particularly for food, after decades of
almost flat prices. Rice prices in Japan near doubled in the year to June,
sparking a political crisis and leading to the resignation of a cabinet
minister.
Wages have failed to keep pace, and the sense of a sluggish economy but
comfortable lifestyle has given way to a cost-of-living squeeze and growing
pessimism about the future. Those on lower incomes are hardest hit, and it is
from there that Sanseito is drawing much of its support."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
