MAGA-style politics arrives in Japan

Populism gains momentum as conservative parties lose appeal amid surge in foreign migrants, writes Kyoko Hasegawa

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Populist ideals are gaining traction in Japan, spurred by right-wing politicians running rampant elsewhere railing against “elitism”, “globalism” and immigration.

While Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s coalition lost its upper house majority in an election on Sunday, the “Japanese first” Sanseito party, created only five years ago, increased its seats from two to 15.

Sanseito’s agenda comes straight from the copybook of right-wing movements such as United States President Donald Trump's “Make America Great Again”, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Nigel Farage’s Reform party in Britain.

This includes “stricter rules and limits” on immigration and foreign capital, opposition to “globalism” and “radical” gender policies, and a rethink on decarbonisation, vaccines and pesticide-free agriculture.

Founded on YouTube, Sanseito will “bring power back to the people”, party leader Sohei Kamiya, a 47-year-old former teacher and supermarket manager, wrote in the Japan Times.

CHEAP LABOUR

Surveys have put immigration far down the list of voters’ concerns, who are much more worried about inflation and the economy.

But for Sanseito, the influx of newcomers into Japan — where the immigration its economy badly needs is far lower than in other developed countries — is to blame for a host of ills from crime to rising property prices to dangerous driving.