Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Japan election puts foreign residents in focus
As I've emphasized many times in this newsletter, Nikkei Asia's mission is to report global news from an Asian perspective. Fulfilling that mission requires a diverse team that transcends borders. Our greatest strength lies in the broad range of team members, not only at our editorial headquarters in Tokyo, but also reporting from across Asia and around the world.
Our deputy editor-in-chief, a New York native, often tells me, "I love Japan." And indeed, the nation's image has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past few decades. There was a time when public signs appeared only in Japanese, and navigating the vast Tokyo subway system felt like an impossible maze for foreign visitors. But through steady efforts to make society more welcoming to the world, the number of foreign travelers and residents in Japan has grown significantly. As a result, major cities like Tokyo have become magnets for top global talent, and Nikkei Asia is one of the many beneficiaries of this transformation.
Now, however, these positive trends may be under threat. According to a Nikkei poll and report, the right-wing populist party Sanseito -- known for its "Japanese First" stance and calls for stricter regulations on foreign residents -- is gaining momentum. This political shift is also fueling a wave of similar sentiment on social media. And, as in many other democracies, misinformation and disinformation are spreading in certain corners of the conversation.
For Japanese organizations to strengthen their global presence, embracing diverse talent is essential. More broadly, with Japan's population decline accelerating, foreign talent has already become crucial to sustaining society. Personally, I'm feeling very uneasy heading into the weekend. At Nikkei Asia, we'll be covering Japan's election in real time through our live blog, and we'll follow up with in-depth post-election analyses. Be sure to log on and stay with us for the latest updates.
My suggested reads
1. Nikkei Asia has long chronicled China's attempts to overcome a U.S. clampdown on its tech sector and build its own domestic chip supply chain. The latest installment looks at the final and most complex piece of that puzzle: lithography machines. This visually rich deep dive explores how companies, the government and research institutions are racing to build the country's own answer to ASML.
2. Chinese consumer brands are grabbing ever more market share in Southeast Asia, particularly in home appliances and cosmetics -- markets once dominated by Japanese and South Korean companies. Our writers explain what's driving their rapid rise.
3. After Thailand began issuing same-sex marriage licenses this year, businesses from tour operators and drag shows to boys' love drama producers are looking to capitalize on the "rainbow economy," with much encouragement from the government. The economic boost from last month's Bangkok Pride parade suggests there may indeed be gold at the end of the rainbow.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Akito Tanaka
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Japan Times
30 minutes ago
- Japan Times
Voters in Tokyo reflect shifting political views across Japan
As voters headed to the polls on Sunday for what could be one of the most turbulent elections in recent history, constituents across Tokyo reflected the nation's diverging political beliefs. Amid heightened debate over rising prices, some voters stuck to their usual choices, while others began to seek alternatives, underscoring the fragmentation of Japan's political landscape. Although the rise in popularity of smaller parties has been making headlines in recent weeks, especially given the success of parties like the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) in the Lower House election last year and the far-right Sanseito in the Tokyo Assembly election last month, many — especially among the older generation — continue to vote for the same parties as they always have. '(I voted for) the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan — I always vote for them,' said 84-year-old Goro Hashimoto in Toshima Ward on Sunday morning. 'They care about the people, which is especially important with rising prices.' Another voter in her 80s, Natsuko Hagi, shared that she cast her vote for the Japanese Communist Party, as she always has. 'I want them to make (the country) better for the elderly and children,' she said. Loyalty to the ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), remains intact among some of its supporters. 'I voted for Keizo Takemi,' said 57-year-old Satoshi Kaguragi, referring to the LDP candidate in the Tokyo district who is running for re-election for the sixth time at the age of 73. 'Why? Because he's from the LDP.' On the other hand, many constituents, frustrated with the current state of affairs, have turned away from the LDP and are seeking possibilities in newer and smaller parties. 'I used to vote for the LDP, mainly because when the opposition came into power, they couldn't cooperate in Kasumigaseki and all they did was complain without offering any solutions,' said 63-year-old Ono, who only gave his last name. He cast his vote for Sanseito for the first time after being impressed by their straightforward messaging. 'Right now, (the LDP is) not putting the country first.' 'I don't know how far they will go or what power is backing them at the moment, but I think the message they're sending is very respectable,' said Ono, saying that he wanted to cast his vote for the potential he believes Sanseito represents. Takashi Kudo, a 37-year-old father, was spending the three-day weekend with his family in Shibuya Ward but voted early for the DPP in his Miyagi Prefecture hometown. 'Up until now, I used to support the LDP, but after hearing about everything that's been happening, I started thinking that the LDP is no longer the right choice,' said Kudo. 'Child-rearing issues are a top priority for me, but nothing really changes under (the LDP).' Others say they have been committed to the DPP since last year's Lower House election. A 64-year-old man, who asked to go by his last name, Ishii, said he supports the party because of how straightforward and realistic their policies are. 'I feel that the DPP has the casting vote (within the Diet), and that makes me believe they have the ability to influence the government,' he said. 'I'm counting on them.' Messaging from the DPP is also resonating with some members of the younger generation. 'I like their promise to support the working generation,' said Inoue, a 21-year-old college student, who also declined to share his first name. 'I think that's a really good policy, especially when considering Japan's future in the long-term.' Other young people, including 26-year-old Mai Kajikawa, who admits that she isn't as up-to-date on politics as she should be and mostly gets her information from social media, also believes that the current government cannot stay in power — though she hadn't yet decided who to vote for. 'I think (the government) is just stiff and entrenched,' she said, adding that her main interest lies in policies aimed at improving the situation for working women. 'I'm aware it might be cherrypicking to some extent, but because I see so many posts trending on X questioning whether we should trust the people currently in power, I felt like I should cast my vote in this election to help change things.'
Nikkei Asia
2 hours ago
- Nikkei Asia
Japan upper house election live: Voting coming to a close
TOKYO -- The Japanese public is voting on Sunday to determine the makeup of the nation's upper house, in a crucial vote for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose coalition is fighting to hold on to its majority -- one that it lost in the lower chamber last autumn. Voters are casting ballots in what appears to be a very open race, with issues such as inflation, tax and immigration having dominated the campaign. Here are some of our recent articles on this key election: - What the upper house election means for Japan: 5 things to know - Why the bond vigilantes are right about Japan's election - Japanese PM Ishiba has so far failed to resonate with voters - Japan ruling coalition at risk of losing upper house in election: Nikkei poll - Immigration becomes election issue in Japan amid tough economy - Sanseito brings far-right populism to Japan - Japan's rice price shock exposes PM Ishiba to voter anger as election looms Here's the latest: (Japan time) Sunday, July 20 6 p.m. Just two hours now until voting ends. Exit polls and projections by major broadcasters will start coming in at 8 p.m., and will be updated frequently during the course of the evening as votes are counted.
Yomiuri Shimbun
2 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Upper House Election: Voting Underway in Japan's Upper House Election
Tokyo, July 20 (Jiji Press) — Voting is underway on Sunday in an election for Japan's House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, a poll that could affect the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who leads a minority government. The main focus is whether Ishiba's ruling coalition will keep control of the Upper House after the bloc lost its majority in the House of Representatives, the lower parliamentary chamber, in an election in October. About 45,000 polling stations across the country opened at 7 a.m. Voting is set to end at 8 p.m., except in some areas, with a rough outcome expected to be known late at night. Voter turnout as of 2 p.m. stood at 18.51%, down 0.26 percentage point from the previous Upper House election in 2022, the internal affairs ministry said. About 21.45 million people, or some 20% of all eligible voters, cast their ballots for electoral districts by Friday under the early voting system. In the 248-seat Upper House, 125 seats—75 in electoral districts and 50 for proportional representation—are contested in the election, in which 522 candidates—350 in electoral districts and 172 for proportional representation, ran. Ishiba has set a goal of winning at least 50 seats for his ruling coalition, which has 75 uncontested seats in the Upper House. If the bloc loses its majority in the chamber as well, Ishiba, who took office in October, could face pressure to step down. Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, aims to drive the ruling coalition into a minority in the Upper House, eventually leading to a change in government. Major campaign issues included ways to cushion the impact of higher prices on households. Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party pledged cash benefits for people, while opposition parties called for a consumption tax reduction. Policies regarding foreign residents were another major issue. Attention is on how far Sanseito, which advocates a 'Japanese First' policy, will expand its Upper House presence.
