this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
23 points (96.0% liked)

World News

38029 readers
307 users here now

News from around the world!

Rules:

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
Rumblestiltskin@lemmy.ml
AgreeableLandscape@lemmy.ml
jackmarxist@lemmy.ml
zephyreks@lemmy.ml
OurToothbrush@lemmy.ml
23
'Japanese First' party emerges as election force with tough immigration talk (www.reuters.com)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to c/worldnews@lemmy.ml
9 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

TOKYO, July 21 (Reuters) - The fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Japan's upper house election on Sunday, gaining support with warnings of a "silent invasion" of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending.

Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party broke into mainstream politics with its "Japanese First" campaign.

The party won 14 seats adding to the single lawmaker it secured in the 248-seat chamber three years ago. It has only three seats in the more powerful lower house.

"The phrase Japanese First was meant to express rebuilding Japanese people's livelihoods by resisting globalism. I am not saying that we should completely ban foreigners or that every foreigner should get out of Japan," Sohei Kamiya, the party's 47-year-old leader, said in an interview with local broadcaster Nippon Television after the election.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] glimse@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Obviously I don't agree with any far right party but I can at least why a "Japan First" party would be popular, they've been in a pretty crazy decline since the 90s. And especially with the rice shortages, I can see why the average citizen would feel abandoned by their government

[–] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Western countries fixed their working age shortages by importing immigrants. Japan's population is rapidly aging and there's nobody to replace the workers. By going full DINK-mode Japan has no real option left besides tonnes of immigration to keep their economy afloat.

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I completely agree, Japan is very xenophobic and blocking immigration is the wrong solution to fix their very real problems

[–] 6R1MR34P3R@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

genuine question: why would you say we are xenophobic? im a hāfu trans girl myself and have never experienced xenophobia in Japan, so im curious (no offense or bait intended)

[–] glimse@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

From what I remember from college, Japan's ultranationalism in the 30s and 40s never really went away. I went to verify that and found a wiki page

And then anecdotally: my friend taught in Japan for 5 years and I experienced a bit of it myself. I also have a (white) friend who has lived there for 15+ years and has had plenty of unfriendly interactions - especially when he's with his Japanese wife or son.

I don't think it's unsafe to be a foreigner in Japan but I think it's fair to say Japan is more on the xenophobic side