The Trump-inspired party shaking up Japanese politics

Populist Sanseito's sharp rise is eroding the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's dominance and reshaping a traditionally staid and steady political landscape, says Maroosha Muzaffar

- By Maroosha Muzaffar

The once-fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Sunday's upper house election in Japan, capitalising on voter discontent as prime minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition lost its majority.

The once-fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Sunday's upper house election in Japan, capitalising on voter discontent as prime minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition lost its majority. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito won only 47 of the 125 contested seats in the House of Councillors, missing their goal of 50 required to retain control. Their combined strength in the 248-seat chamber shrank to 122, down from 141 earlier.

Despite this setback, Ishiba says he is not resigning, vowing to focus on trade negotiations with Donald Trump amid rising public frustration over soaring prices and US tariffs.

His position, analysts say, is made more precarious by the fact he has already lost control of the more influential lower house in last year’s election, and the LDP are now ceding ground to traditionally fringe opposition parties campaigning on right-wing messages such as big tax cuts and stricter immigration controls.

Sanseito secured 14 seats in the upper house compared to just one in the last election three years ago. In the more influential lower house, it currently has three seats.

The rapid ascent of the party, modelled on populist movements abroad, marks a dramatic shift in Japanese politics. Its improved strength in the upper house gives Sanseito a louder national platform, which it is likely to employ to push its anti-immigration, anti-globalist agenda more aggressively.