Sanseito made history on Sunday when they gained 14 seats in Japan’s Upper House elections from just one when it originally formed on YouTube, becoming a significant force in Japanese politics, according to reports by Reuters and The Guardian.
Sanseito Emerged as a Populist Powerhouse
Sanseito was first launched during the COVID-19 pandemic through a conservative YouTube channel established by Sohei Kamiya, a former supermarket manager and English teacher who also holds political analyst roles with The Guardian, Wikipedia and Reuters.
Through viral videos filled with conspiracy theories ranging from pandemic misinformation to globalist elite exposes, the party created what became known as the DIY movement: an attempt at “creating a party from scratch” amid widespread disillusionment. WikipeDIA +4 The Guardian +4 Reuters =+4.
Under its “Japanese First” slogan, Sanseito adopted hardline nationalist policies characterized by anti-immigration measures such as economic protectionism and tax cuts in return for social welfare increases as well as targeting pandemic-era mandates that discouraged gender policies AP News +15 | Reuters +15 | The Times.
Kamiya, positioning himself as Japan’s version of Donald Trump, moderated previous extremist rhetoric while fielding female candidates like singer Saya for election and curbing antisemitic and controversial statements to broaden his party’s appeal, according to Wikipedia and Reuters (T +5 for both sources).
Sanseito’s Success Reveals Rising Economic Anxiety
Sanseito’s unexpected surge reflects rising voter anxiety about Japan’s slow economy, high inflation rates, and ageing demographics. NHK exit polls revealed that 29 % of voters prioritize social security/declining birth rates as their top concern, while 28 % fear food-price inflation (Al Jazeera/Reuters/Wikipedia).
The party exploited this sense of dissatisfaction to position itself as the outsider challenger to LDP-Komeito leadership.
Political Repercussions and Shifting Policies
Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling coalition lost its upper house majority, forcing it into minority government territory–an unprecedented situation since 1955, according to The Times, AP News and Al Jazeera (in order of importance).
Ishiba pledged its continued participation to resolve trade negotiations with the U.S. before an August 1 deadline; however, internal turmoil threatened its efforts (AP News; The Guardian; Wall Street Journal).
Though immigration only represented a fifth-tier issue in polls (7%) for Japan, Sanseito’s loudest voices led to policy shifts across all fields. Just before voting day, Prime Minister Shiba Ishiba introduced task forces dedicated to cracking down on “illegal foreign nationals”, while tightening rhetoric around immigration (Wikipedia +14; Reuters +14 and The Guardian both contributed significantly).
Sanseito Is Part of Global Populism
Analysts see parallels between Sanseito and other right-wing populist movements from Europe and America–like the AfD in Germany or Trumpism–highlighting its anti-globalist stance, reclamation of national identity and social media-driven outreach, such as this Party (The Times + 2; Reuters + 2, The Guardian+ 2) that draw parallels.
What Comes Next? Its Kamiya now plans to forge alliances with smaller parties rather than join the LDP coalition, hoping to expand his bloc’s influence during future elections. He has set himself the goal of winning 50-60 seats – aiming to convert political momentum into legislative power (AP News/Reuters +3)
Sanseito provides an example of digital campaigning: fringe web platforms have increasingly replaced legacy media outlets in shaping political dialogue.
Policy Tidewaters: With only 14 seats, this party managed to push mainstream parties towards adopting stricter immigration rhetoric and catering to populist anxieties.
Uncertain Future: With its weak government, aggressive minor-party bloc and volatile electorate, Japan appears poised for greater political instability in its near future.
As Japan teeters between traditional governance and populist insurgency, Sanseito’s rise raises important questions: can it sustain momentum in future contests; will its ideologies have an effect beyond organizing rallies; how will LDP respond; these answers could determine Japan’s political trajectory as well as that of populist forces across East Asia.