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Tokyo Weekender
2 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Visiting Kyoto in an Age of Overtourism
In recent years, as Japan has seen a steady surge in overseas visitors, the issue of overtourism has come to the fore. Kyoto, in particular, is bearing the brunt of it: reports tell of disrespectful tourists crowding streets, hounding apprentice geisha, defiling legendary temples and generally treating the ancient capital like a theme park or a mere backdrop for Instagram photos. By now, the phenomenon is known throughout the world, having been documented in nearly every major media outlet. Kyoto and Tokyo both made Fodor's 'No List' this year, and a recent New York magazine article detailed at length the current state of affairs: swarms of disrespectful tourists treating the historic city like 'an amusement park' or 'a safari.' As a traveler with good intentions and a sense of respect, overtourism creates a difficult conundrum. After all, overtouristed places are heavily visited for a reason — they're beautiful, unique and rich in history. It's hard to fault visitors for wanting to experience the ancient capital's magic; truthfully, when my friends visit Japan, I still highly recommend Kyoto to them. So what's the best way to address this problem? According to locals and insiders, it's still quite possible to plan a trip to Kyoto in a way that honors local culture and doesn't cause a disturbance. You just have to be mindful, conscientious and prepared to forgo some of the most raved-about sites. List of Contents: The Overtourism Problem in Kyoto The Tourist Dilemma The Problem of 'Must-See' Places Traveling With Intention Related Posts The Area Surrounding Kiyomizu-dera The Overtourism Problem in Kyoto I've lived a large chunk of my life in Japan, but I've only gone to Kyoto a handful of times. Admittedly, I find that the packed crowds — particularly in the areas surrounding Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari Taisha and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest — detract from the serene energy these sites are known for. Ironically, though, when I went on a trip to Kyoto with my college friends who were visiting from the States, these were the very spots I took them to — because, well, 'you just have to.' The city of Kyoto has a population of about 1.4 million, and in 2024, Kyoto drew 10.88 million foreign visitors. According to New York , roughly 150,000 people visit the city every day. Most of these visitors crowd the same few places — the ones I mentioned above, plus a few others (Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, etc.). For Kyoto residents, the constant influx of tourists can be incredibly disruptive. Daily life is often affected by overcrowded public transport and large groups of inconsiderate visitors, particularly in popular districts like Higashiyama and Arashiyama, which can feel nearly impassable at peak times. In a survey conducted by Yomiuri Shimbun in fall 2023, around 90% of 5,500 local respondents expressed frustration with the congestion on buses and trains caused by tourism. And it's not just in public places that the disruptions occur. New York describes a phenomenon of clueless tourists 'opening the sliding doors into unmarked machiya on the presumption that anything inside was meant for their entertainment, only to end up walking into someone's living room.' Fushimi Inari Taisha Torii The Tourist Dilemma On a rainy June day, I was visiting the Tokyo National Museum with a friend from the US, catching the temporary special exhibition of modern-day ukiyo-e paintings. As I was struggling to get my umbrella out of its locked holder, my friend offhandedly mentioned that seeing other, conspicuously American tourists — inappropriately dressed, loud and pushy, acting with little regard for Japanese cultural norms — makes him feel embarrassed about his country. 'Tourism inevitably dilutes a place, especially somewhere like Japan,' he said. I hadn't really thought much about tourists in that way. I didn't think much about them at all, beyond being mildly annoyed by the masses filming videos at Shibuya Crossing when I have places to be, dammit . Like a true Tokyoite, I generally have tunnel vision as I walk and think of the people in my path not by country of origin but obstacles I must avoid. I didn't really understand what my friend was trying to say until I went to Milan for vacation the following week. Suddenly, my role was reversed. The ongoing joke is that everyone and their mothers are either going to Japan or Italy right now, but there's some truth to it. I heard more English than Italian on the streets. When I visited Lake Como, I was stunned by its beauty — but also heartbroken by how gentrified it felt. Many longtime residents have been pushed out by soaring prices, their homes replaced by tourists and millionaires. My Japanese instinct for kizukai (consideration for others) kicked in as a tourist in Italy. I was extremely aware of the fact that I was a visitor, taking up space in a city that wasn't mine. I felt bad about my limited Italian vocabulary, stammering my lunch order to a waiter who smiled generously and responded in fluent English. I instantly felt more sympathetic towards foreigners in Japan, where it's much harder to get by with just English. I couldn't help but feel strong parallels between Milan and Kyoto. Both cities draw massive crowds largely because of their deep, tangible histories — steeped into the architecture and embedded in the land itself. The shrines and temples of Kyoto evoke a similar awe to Italy's grand cathedrals. In my mind, the Duomo di Milano and Kiyomizu-dera feel like two sides of the same coin. As a tourist, I felt surprisingly guilty. Guilty for potentially, in a however minute way, changing the landscape of a country with so much history. For being one of the thousands of people visiting the Duomo, contributing to an already packed place that's supposed to be a spiritual refuge. Kinkaku-ji Temple The Problem of 'Must-See' Places Overtourism is, in many ways, fueled by the collective desire to check out a select few 'must-see' spots. It doesn't help that so much of travel has become performative nowadays, fueled by a desire for bragging rights and perfectly posed and filtered Instagram posts. On TikTok, influencers tout 'must-eat' and 'must-visit' items, which their followers bookmark in order to create content of their own. I'm not criticizing this phenomenon — I understand that this is what it is to travel in the modern world. I do the same things myself: When I'm getting ready for a trip, I bookmark travel TikToks and reels, and I commemorate my international adventures with curated photo dumps. But it's important to remember there's much more of a city than what one sees on the Explore Page, and that travel isn't meant to be effortless. It requires thought and planning. 'The thing that gets me is that Kyoto is huge, and there are so many places that are still almost empty,' Joshua Lassman-Watts, CEO of luxury travel company Untold Japan , says. 'The problem seems to be that tourists only want to go to the same spots. What happened to curiosity and adventure?' As we've written before , it's an oversimplification to say that Japan is plagued by overtourism. The real issue is the concentration of visitors in just a handful of well-known spots. As Lassman-Watts points out, even within Kyoto, there are countless historic neighborhoods, shrines, temples and traditional cafes that remain largely untouched by overseas tourists — often just minutes away from the city's most crowded landmarks. Take, for instance, Maru Sankaku Shikaku no Toku , a cafe-gallery located in a renovated 100-year-old house in Enmachi, a quaint neighborhood within walking distance of Kinkaku-ji. The owner, Yoko Tokuji, says she genuinely wants more tourists to stop by, and even tries to advertise to English speakers online. 'Once visitors arrive in Japan, many don't know where to go, so they end up heading to the famous spots by default, leading to severe overcrowding,' she explains. 'We need more people to learn about historical areas like Enmachi, which are not as well-known.' Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Traveling With Intention When traveling to a heavily touristed location, changing the narrative about what you 'have' to see in order to truly experience a city is a good first step. 'The vast majority of people visiting Kyoto for the first time are going to visit the top spots,' Jordan McChesney, a tour guide at Untold Japan, says. 'We typically encourage our guests to explore Kyoto off the beaten path. Kyoto is a lot bigger than people might think, so there is no shortage of sights to see and stories to tell if you know where to look.' It falls on travelers to do their research properly — or enlist the help of expert local guides. It falls on you to anticipate cultural differences, and to properly prepare for them. 'Our network of local guides, comprising both Japanese and long-term international residents, actively helps our guests navigate local customs and etiquette,' says Laura Abril, a project manager at Kyoto Daily Tours. 'This includes speaking softly in public spaces, properly announcing themselves in restaurants, responsibly disposing of garbage and facilitating clear communication through translation of menus and local guidelines.' It's important to remember that, above all, you're a guest in someone else's home, and that calls for humility and flexibility. Being an outsider doesn't exempt you from local rules or etiquette, and not every business will cater to Western tastes. You may come across places without English menus, or staff who can't accommodate non-Japanese speakers. Travelers hoping for a 'truly authentic' Kyoto experience without speaking the language — or doing proper research or hiring a local guide — are likely to be disappointed. Travel can be full of surprises and serendipitous encounters, but stumbling into the perfect hole-in-the-wall with no reservation and a warm welcome isn't a given. This is Kyoto, not Narnia. That said, one of the great joys of visiting Japan is noticing the subtle thoughtfulness and quiet generosity of the people. Locals are often kind, and many are genuinely pleased that their culture is receiving so much interest from abroad. Emulating and understanding culture is a huge part of travel — and leading with respect and consideration is probably the most Japanese thing you could do. Related Posts A Kyoto Itinerary That Skips the Crowds, Not the Culture Alternative, Less Crowded Temples and Shrines in Kyoto Drunk American Tourist Damages Kyoto Temple Tied to Samurai Legend
Tokyo Weekender
2 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Man Arrested After Making 580 Fake Hotel Reservations
In this week's news roundup we report on two separate arrests: one man is accused of making hundreds of fake hotel reservations, while another admits to setting fire to the property of a go-karting company. Also this week, ACT withdraws its $46 billion buyout proposal for Seven & i Holdings. The Japanese government launches a new office to deal with unruly foreigners. Dragon Ball 's website announces that the franchise will be opening a store in Tokyo this fall. And Tokito Oda wins his second Wimbledon title. List of Contents: Japanese Man Makes 258 Fake Hotel Reservations Over Four Days Man Stressed by Go-Karting Company Is Arrested for Attempted Arson ACT Withdraw $46 Billion Buyout Proposal for Seven & i Holdings Japanese Government Launches New Office To Deal With Unruly Foreigners World's First Dragon Ball Store To Open in Tokyo This Autumn Tokito Oda Wins Second Wimbledon Wheelchair Title at 19 Related Posts Japanese Man Makes 258 Fake Hotel Reservations Over Four Days On Monday, a 28-year-old man from Shimane Prefecture was arrested for making hundreds of bogus room reservations at a hotel near Haneda Airport. Junki Sanuki stayed at the hotel in Tokyo's Ota ward last November. He reportedly wasn't satisfied with the staff. The following month — from December 16 to 19 — he was alleged to have made 258 room reservations at the hotel under a false name. That wasn't all of it, though. According to the police, more than 580 fake hotel reservations were found on Sanuki's phone and other devices. It is believed that the bookings totaled more than ¥17 million. He was arrested on suspicion of obstructing business by deception. Sanuki, who worked until last month as a clinical laboratory technician at Shimane University Hospital, denied the allegations against him. Japanese Man Arrested After Attempting To Burn Down Tokyo Go-Kart Business A 28-year-old Japanese man was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted arson after he tried to set fire to the property of a go-karting company, causing damage to three vehicles. The suspect, Yuga Matsuoka, admitted to the crime, saying that the noise of the engines 'stressed' him out. He allegedly set fire to a container used for industrial waste. The flames then spread to three parked go-karts. The incident occurred in the early hours of June 21. Matsuoka had reportedly just finished his shift, working in the warehouse next door. Fortunately, nobody was inside the building at the time. According to NHK , the company, which owns around 70 go-karts, received a letter in English in May from someone threatening to 'set karts aflame if engines are turned on after tomorrow.' ACT Withdraw $46 Billion Buyout Proposal for Seven & i Holdings Following almost a year of negotiations, the Canadian convenience-store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard (ACT) has decided to withdraw its $46 billion buyout proposal for Seven & i Holdings. It said it was pulling out due to 'a lack of constructive engagement' with Seven & i, the Japanese operator of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain. The deal would have been Japan's largest ever foreign buyout. In a letter to the Seven & i Holdings board of directors, ACT said that the Japanese company had 'engaged in a calculated campaign of obfuscation and delay.' Seven & i Holdings replied in a statement saying it disagreed with ACT's 'numerous mischaracterizations,' adding, 'we are not surprised.' The Ito family, founders of Seven & i Holdings, have been opposed to the deal from the start. Image: Prime Minister's Office of Japan Japanese Government Launches New Office To Deal With Unruly Foreigners On Tuesday, the Japanese government held an inauguration ceremony for a new office that has been set up to respond to issues such as crime and over-tourism involving foreigners. Headed by Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Wataru Sakata, the office will serve as a cross agency 'control tower,' with 78 employees, including officials from the Cabinet Office, the Justice Ministry and other bodies . 'Crimes and disorderly conduct by some foreigners, as well as the inappropriate use of various administrative systems, have created a situation in which the public feels uneasy and cheated,' said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at Tuesday's kick-off ceremony. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, meanwhile, claimed that the establishment of the new office was not an election ploy by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). World's First Dragon Ball Store To Open in Tokyo This Autumn Originally released in November 1984, Dragon Ball remains one of Japan's most popular manga series. It, therefore, shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to hear the franchise is now getting its own store. The news was announced via the company's official website on Sunday. It's all part of Dragon Ball' s 40th anniversary celebrations, which kicked off last November. At the time of writing, few details have been released about the store. What we do know is that it is slated to open in Tokyo this autumn and will feature limited-edition goods that will only be available at the shop, in addition to other must-have items for fans. More information, such as the exact location and opening date, will be announced on the official website soon. Image: Wikimedia, edits by TW Tokito Oda Wins Second Wimbledon Wheelchair Title at 19 On Sunday, 19-year-old Tokito Oda won his second Wimbledon title in the men's wheelchair singles competition. He came from behind to defeat defending champion Alfie Hewett of Great Britain 3-6 7-5 6-2. It was the third time the two men had faced each other in a Grand Slam final this year. Hewett won the Australian Open in straight sets, before Oda took revenge at the French Open . Between them, the two players have won the last 10 Grand Slam titles and have met each other in seven finals. They also faced each other at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, with Oda coming out on top. Following his latest victory over the British player, Oda said , ' Maybe 100% of the people were cheering for Alfie, but I really enjoyed that moment. I'm r eally happy right now.' Discover Tokyo, Every Week Get the city's best stories, under-the-radar spots and exclusive invites delivered straight to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy . Related Posts Sanseito Leader Says 'Japanese First Approach Is Not Based on Xenophobia Nearly 500 Earthquakes Rattle Japan's Tokara Islands Taichi Kokubun of Tokio To Be Suspended for Compliance Violation
Tokyo Weekender
3 days ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Japanese Man Arrested After Attempting To Burn Down Tokyo Go-Kart Business
A 28-year-old Japanese man was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted arson after he tried to set fire to the property of a go-karting company, causing damage to three vehicles. The suspect, Yuga Matsuoka, admitted to the crime, saying that the noise of the engines 'stressed' him out. He allegedly set fire to a container used for industrial waste on the premises. The flames then spread to three parked go-karts. The incident occurred in the early hours of June 21. Matsuoka had reportedly just finished his shift, working in the warehouse next door. Fortunately, nobody was inside the building at the time. A security guard patrolling the area called the emergency services after he noticed the fire. It was quickly extinguished. As well as the damage to the go-karts, nearby walls were also burned. List of Contents: Note Sent to Go-Karting Company a Month Before Arson Attack A Hit with Tourists, a Menace to Locals Related Posts Note Sent to Go-Karting Company a Month Before Arson Attack According to NHK , the company, which owns around 70 go-karts, received a letter in English in May from someone threatening to 'set karts aflame if engines are turned on after tomorrow.' The note was placed on top of one of the parked vehicles. Police are now investigating whether the letter is linked to the arson attack. Street karting tours first appeared in Tokyo around 2011 and quickly became popular with tourists looking for a unique way to see the city. The first company, MariCar, was officially founded in 2015. Two years later, Nintendo filed a lawsuit for intellectual property infringement against MariCar, which lent character costumes such as Mario, Peach and Luigi to its customers. It was forced to pay ¥50 million in damages. A Hit With Tourists, a Menace to Locals The firm ceased using Nintendo-themed costumes and rebranded as Street Kart. Today, there are several go-karting companies offering tours in Tokyo. Though a big hit with tourists, they are generally unpopular with locals in the city due to several significant concerns. These include safety issues, disruption to traffic and noise disturbances. Between January and August last year, there were seven personal injury accidents and 18 property damage accidents involving go-karts. Last October, a company was charged by the police for renting out karts to unlicensed foreign tourists and letting them drive on public roads. Related Posts Police File Charges Against Go-Kart Company for Renting to Unlicensed Tourists Nintendo Wins Court Case Knocking MariCar Go-Kart Company Off the Proverbial Rainbow Bridge Japan To Ban Foreign Tourists From Converting Foreign Driver's Licenses
Tokyo Weekender
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Tokyo Weekender
Japanese Milk Bread: Where To Find the Best Shokupan in Tokyo
There's nothing immediately flashy about shokupan, also called Japanese milk bread. At first glance, it may just look like your standard loaf of white bread — but it's so much more than that. If you've tried any fruit sando (dessert sandwiches) from any convenience store, you'll recognize it as the pillowy soft and subtly sweet bread used in the sandwich. What started as a Western import is now a fixture of the Japanese breakfast table, and in recent years, it's evolved into a food obsession, complete with specialty shops, long queues and loaves that cost more than ¥1,000. Here's how shokupan rose to prominence in Japan — and where you can find the best in Tokyo today. List of Contents: The History of Shokupan Where To Buy Tokyo's Best Shokupan Related Posts The History of Shokupan Shokupan (literally, 'eating bread') is a soft, fluffy white loaf baked in a rectangular mold — a Japanese adaptation of European breads like the British tin loaf and French pain de mie. Introduced during the Meiji era as Japan began embracing Western food culture, it became more widespread after World War II, when it was served in school lunches during a period of food shortages. What sets shokupan apart today is its impossibly pillowy texture, milky aroma and delicate sweetness. Made with a precise balance of high-hydration dough, often including ingredients like milk, cream or yudane (a gelatinized flour paste), it's bread with a tender chew and rich, cloudlike crumb. Whether toasted with butter, used for sandwiches, or eaten plain, shokupan is all about comfort — simple, soft and nostalgic. Where To Buy Tokyo's Best Shokupan View this post on Instagram A post shared by CENTRE THE BAKERY 銀座店 (@centre_the_bakery) Centre The Bakery (Ginza) This popular Ginza bakery is known as a paradise for shokupan lovers, offering both dine-in and takeout options. It's known for its morning toast set, which includes just three simple options: plain toast with butter and jam, cheese toast and French toast. You can also choose between three types of bread: North American Pullman, the English plain loaf and Japanese shokupan. After breakfast hours, the menu expands to include hearty options like egg and cheese toast, shrimp toast and more. There's also a smaller Aoyama branch that offers takeout shokupan only. Official website (Instagram only) この投稿をInstagramで見る asakusapelicancafe(@asakusapelicancafe)がシェアした投稿 Pelican (Asakusa) Pelican has been baking its signature sliced bread in Asakusa since 1932, just steps from Kappabashi Street. Loyal fans begin lining up before the shop opens at 8 a.m., and loaves often sell out by lunchtime. The shop also runs a small cafe serving breakfast and lunch options like ham and cheese toast, katsu (breaded pork cutlet) sandwiches, fruit sando and charcoal-grilled toast with butter and jam. A second location recently opened in Azabudai Hill s . Official website View this post on Instagram A post shared by 高級「生」食パン専門店 乃が美 (@nogami_official) Nogami (Multiple locations) Selected as one of Japan's Top 10 loaves in 2016, high-end bread chain Nogami reportedly sells over 20,000 loaves a day. Known for its ' nama (raw) shokupan,' Nogami bakes each loaf in-store using a custom-blended flour mix. There's no dine-in, but you can pick up a jam set with strawberry, marmalade or blueberry to pair with your loaf. In Tokyo, you'll find locations in Azabu-Juban, Meguro, Nakano, Tanashi and Ayase. Official website View this post on Instagram A post shared by 俺のBakery_公式 (@oreno_bakery) Oreno Bakery (Ebisu) Stylized as '俺のBakery' ('My Bakery'), this upscale shop is located inside Yebisu Garden Place and is known for its premium loaves made with rare Hokkaido wheat and milk sourced from free-range cows at Nakahora Farm in Iwate Prefecture. Each loaf is branded with kanji characters 'fragrance,' emphasizing its sweet and subtle aroma. Beyond its signature shokupan, Oreno Bakery also offers a wide variety of baked goods, including pastries, baguettes and hearty sandwiches. The adjacent terrace — shared with Oreno Italian Beer Terrace — offers fresh bread alongside pizzas and beer in an open-air setting. Official website View this post on Instagram A post shared by こめいちベーカリー (@komeichibakery) Komeichi (Akabanebashi) A must-visit for the gluten-free crowd, Komeichi stands out for its innovative use of rice flour instead of wheat. This takeout-only bakery specializes in rice flour shokupan, available in two types: a classic rice base and a unique umami-rich loaf made with a light dashi broth. The shop also offers a creative menu of open sandwiches with savory toppings like onion, mushrooms and tomatoes, along with sweet pies and French toast. Loaves can be bought whole, and the moist, springy texture of the rice-based bread makes it a satisfying alternative to traditional shokupan. Official website Related Posts Unpacking the Gourmet World of Fruit Sando: Japan's Iconic Dessert Sandwich Where To Eat the Best Kakigori Shaved Ice in Tokyo This Summer Meet the Trio Behind Roppongi's Bricolage Bread & Co.
Tokyo Weekender
3 days ago
- Politics
- Tokyo Weekender
Sanseito, Explained: The Alarming Rise of Japan's Far-Right Movement
As Japan heads into another upper house election, an unexpected political force is gaining ground — and raising alarm bells. Sanseito, a once-obscure party known for its nationalist slogans and conspiratorial rhetoric, is polling unexpectedly high in national surveys. In a recent Kyodo News poll conducted from July 5–6, the party ranked second in proportional representation support, behind only the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). For a group that was initially dismissed as fringe, the rise is both dramatic and deeply concerning to many observers. With rhetoric that echoes Trumpism and European ultranationalism, it has become the most talked-about — and most unsettling — dark horse in Japanese politics. List of Contents: What Is Sanseito? Sohei Kamiya: Sanseito's Conspiracy-Touting Figurehead Behind Its Sudden Rise How Japan Is Reacting to Sanseito Related Posts What Is Sanseito? Founded in early 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to unfold, Sanseito initially gained attention for its divisive and inflammatory rhetoric, as well as its penchant for repeating conspiracy theories. The party vehemently opposed mask mandates, PCR testing, vaccine requirements and other public health measures and was openly anti-immigration. Its official platform prioritizes three pillars: education reform, health and food sovereignty and national defense. These seemingly innocuous issues conceal a far more disturbing worldview — a platform revolving around a hardline rejection of globalism and foreign influence. Under the banner of 'Japanese First,' the party pushes for sweeping immigration restrictions, strict limits on foreign land ownership and policies that frame outsiders as a threat to national security and cultural purity. Sanseito leaders reject internationalism, certain aspects of mainstream medicine, gender equality policies and what they see as the moral decay brought on by Western liberalism. Their COVID-19 stance was an early example of this strategy — their rhetoric at the time mixed pandemic denialism, anti-vaccine messaging and claims that global elites are using medicine and processed food to weaken Japan. Sohei Kamiya: Sanseito's Conspiracy-Touting Figurehead Like many nascent far-right movements, Sanseito has a charismatic figurehead known for divisive and conspiratorial outbursts: Sohei Kamiya, who was elected to the Diet's upper house, the House of Councillors, in 2022 on the party's proportional representation ticket. In the past few years, he's blamed gender equality for Japan's birthrate, dismissed older women as biologically irrelevant and spewed blatant anti-Semitism, to name a few. Before emerging as the head of Sanseito, Kamiya had a brief and largely unremarkable stint in mainstream politics, including a term on the city council for Suita, which is located in Osaka Prefecture, and an unsuccessful run as an LDP candidate in 2012. After his failed candidacy, he created a YouTube channel called Channel Grand Strategy, which quickly gained a following for its hardline nationalist content and conspiratorial tone. Through his channel, Kamiya positioned himself as a bold truth-teller railing against globalization, feminism, foreign influence and Japan's political elite. By 2020, he had amassed thousands of followers — followers who would become supporters when he and a group of fellow right-wingers formally founded Sanseito in April 2020. From the outset, Sanseito leaned heavily on YouTube and social media. This remains a core part of its strategy and appeal. The party's online presence serves as both a megaphone and a funnel: Free videos and livestreams draw in viewers with health tips, anti-vaccine rhetoric and nationalist talking points, but the 'real truth' is always said to be hidden behind paywalls. Followers are encouraged to become paying members — at rates far higher than those of traditional Japanese parties — in order to access members-only content, daily updates, regional chat groups and even 'leadership training.' While the Liberal Democratic Party charges around ¥4,000 for a year, Sanseito demands ¥1,000 per month for regular membership and ¥2,500 for premium access. This model accomplishes two things simultaneously. First, it creates a tight-knit ideological echo chamber, giving members a sense of belonging and insider knowledge while isolating them from outside criticism. Second, it generates significant revenue. These membership fees, multiplied across tens of thousands of recruits, have built a war chest that outpaces even established parties, all while maintaining the illusion of grassroots legitimacy. Behind Its Sudden Rise There are several factors behind the rise of Sanseito, many of them familiar-feeling to those who've watched far-right movements mobilize overseas. For decades, Japan's stagnant wages, aging population and growing inequality have bred quiet despair. Conventional parties like the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) are widely viewed as corrupt, stale and incapable of offering real change. Into this void stepped Sanseito. According to international political analyst Yuya Watase , a Sanseito founding member who left the party after becoming disillusioned with its policies, the party's success stems from doing what no other party in Japan bothers to do: actually building a membership base. In essence, Sanseito mirrors the populist playbooks seen elsewhere: Trump's Republican Party, Brexit-era UKIP and France's National Rally. The ideological content varies, but the mechanics — direct communication, emotional narrative and institutional distrust — are strikingly similar. How Japan Is Reacting to Sanseito Sanseito's rise has triggered a wave of nervousness across Japan. Eight major human rights NGOs, including Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, issued a joint statement condemning Sanseito's slogan 'Japanese First' as hate speech. The statement warned that exclusivist politics, which view 'foreign nationals and people of foreign origin as enemies,' are rapidly spreading through society. Over 260 signatories have since signed in solidarity. Public pushback is growing in more creative forms, too. In Shinjuku, activists recently held a protest ' rave against racism ,' where chants of 'don't vote for Sanseito!' rose from the crowd. For now, Sanseito's presence is limited: As of July 2025, it holds just two seats in the 248-member House of Councillors, three in the 465-member House of Representatives and three in the 127-member Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly. Its influence, however, is outsized. The party has shown it doesn't need major representation to shape the political conversation and has, indeed, seen over 140 members elected to prefectural and municipal assemblies. The threat isn't that Sanseito will take control of the Diet overnight; it's that the party is gradually redrawing the boundaries of what's politically acceptable — what can be said, proposed and believed. Its real impact lies in the way its worldview bleeds into the mainstream. And this isn't just about one party. Sanseito didn't emerge in isolation, and its rise may embolden members of larger parties to echo more hardline, nationalist positions. Already, we've seen a shift: mainstream politicians hardening their stance on immigration, leaning into rhetoric around 'traditional values' and 'Japanese uniqueness.' What once sounded fringe is becoming part of the debate. Japan is not immune to the forces behind Trumpism, Brexit or the rise of Le Pen. Sanseito is a reflection of that. The question now is whether Japan's civil society, media and institutions are ready to respond before these shifts become entrenched. Related Posts Why Japanese Leftists Are Using Melonpan to Mock Sanseito Sanseito Leader Says 'Japanese First Approach Is Not Based on Xenophobia' Japanese Government Launches New Office To Deal With Unruly Foreigners
