Right-wing Sanseito party's 'Japanese First' policy inspires both hope and worry: poll

The Mainichi

19 hours ago

TOKYO -- Some 19% of respondents to a July Mainichi Shimbun public opinion poll said they "have positive expectations" for Sanseito, the right-wing populist party that made significant gains in the recent House of Councillors election. While 46% said the opposite, the figure was notably higher than Sanseito's support rate of 8%, suggesting it is attracting interest even from supporters of other parties. What do voters hope for from Sanseito, and what are the reasons for skepticism? The Mainichi analyzed open-answer survey responses to uncover voters' true feelings.
'Japanese First' policies
The survey first asked whether respondents had positive expectations for Sanseito. Those who answered "yes" were asked to write the party policy they most favored and their reasons. Those who answered "no" were asked to write what points they were against and their reasons.
Among those with positive expectations, the most common responses cited Sanseito's "Japanese First" and foreigner-related policies, which the party emphasized during the upper house campaign. Comments and those who made them included, "They should establish basic policies prioritizing Japanese people" (a man in his 70s), "It's only natural for Japan to put Japanese people first" (a man in his 30s), and "I want to support them because they think about Japanese people" (a woman in her 60s). Many also specifically mentioned concerns about foreign ownership of property, such as, "Japan shouldn't sell land to foreigners" (a woman in her 50s), and "I expect them to address the issue of foreigners buying up land" (a man in his 60s).
Among those who voted in the upper house election and said they "have positive expectations" for Sanseito, 76% said they "considered foreigner-related policies" when voting, far higher than the 30% among those who did not hold a positive view of the party. Sanseito's focus on "Japanese First" played a major part in making foreigner-related policies a key election issue. A man in his 20s wrote, "I have high expectations for (Sanseito's) 'Japanese First' stance. I wonder why no party has ever advocated it before." By highlighting foreigner-related issues early, Sanseito captured the attention of voters concerned about real estate purchases by foreign businesses, rising prices and trouble associated with the post-COVID-19 surge in inbound tourism.
Anti-espionage law
Some respondents also cited "anti-espionage" as a Sanseito policy they appreciated, such as, "I have some hope for the enactment of an anti-espionage law" (a man in his 20s). Sanseito has pledged to introduce an anti-espionage law for economic security, and leader Sohei Kamiya has said the party aims to submit such a bill to the autumn extraordinary Diet session. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) previously submitted an espionage and national secret bill in 1985, but it was scrapped after widespread public opposition over concerns it would restrict the people's right to know, guaranteed under the Constitution, and because the maximum penalty was death.
Other voter appraisals included "supporting tax cuts and reductions in social insurance premiums" (a man in his 70s), "a tax cut-based economic policy" (a man in his 30s), and hopes for the party to "replace the corrupt LDP government" (a man in his 70s) or "serve as a conservative alternative if the LDP can't fulfill that role" (a man in his 40s).
Discrimination and exclusion worries
On the other hand, the most common reason for negative views of Sanseito was also its "Japanese First" and foreigner-related policies. Comments included, "I absolutely cannot agree with the idea of discriminating against foreigners" (a woman in her 50s), "The party has a strong discriminatory tone" (a woman in her 20s), and "From a humanitarian perspective, and given Japan's declining population, calls for excluding foreigners are unacceptable even from a labor standpoint" (a man in his 20s). Many expressed concerns that Sanseito's "Japanese First" slogan could lead to discrimination or exclusion.
Some also pointed out that the party made "statements lacking scientific basis" (a man in his 40s), and, "Their policies lack numerical evidence" (a man in his 50s). Sanseito was the party most frequently targeted for media fact-checking during the election. "Compared to other parties, there were clearly more factually or statistically incorrect statements," said Daisuke Furuta, editor-in-chief of the Japan Fact-check Center, suggesting that candidates' lack of knowledge and preparation undermined trust in the party.
Other concerns included, "Even if it's to protect the country, I can't support conscription" (a woman in her 50s), and "I oppose their pro-nuclear armament policy" (a man in his 30s). Sanseito has not officially pledged to introduce a draft system or arm Japan with atomic weapons, but these worries were apparently fueled by comments from Sanseito's Sayaka Shioiri, who won an upper house seat in the Tokyo constituency campaigning as "Saya." Shioiri has said, "Nuclear armament is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to strengthen security," and has previously spoken positively about conscription.
Sanseito's official website does not mention conscription. On nuclear weapons, it states, "To protect Japan, which is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries, we must face the harsh realities of the international community, set nuclear abolition as a long-term goal, and maintain deterrence so that nuclear countries do not use their weapons." However, in a Mainichi survey of all upper house candidates, six of the 14 Sanseito winners said, "Japan should possess nuclear weapons," further fueling concern about the party's stance.
How will Sanseito respond to voters' expectations and address their anxieties? The party's surge in the upper house election brings with it significant responsibility.
(Japanese original by Daisuke Nohara, Poll Office)