earticle

영어

This paper analyzes the Sanseito Party, which gained significant attention by greatly increasing its seats in the 2025 Upper House election, as a far right-wing populist party that claims to be anti-globalist. In Japan, where change of government is rare, independent voters often play a decisive role in election results to change politics. The author first clarify the strategies employed by the Sanseito Party to gain the support of the independent voters and then compares them with far-right parties in Europe and the United States, focusing on France's National Front. Next, this paper will theoretically examine previous studies that discuss what populism is and verify the characteristics common to contemporary far-right parties that oppose globalism. There, prior to discussions on policy, the question of who constitutes “the true people” is a common feature of far-right parties, and it is pointed out that this leads to racism and the exclusion of opponents, posing a threat to democracy. Based on the Sanseito Party's draft constitution and the statements and actions of its politicians, it has become clear that this party, like far-right populists in Europe and the United States, is mobilizing the masses using exclusionary logic.　Moreover, the Sanseito party has grown as a grassroots movement where its new supporters can feel empowered to change politics by being given tasks such as putting up election posters, distributing campaign flyers door-to-door, setting up tables and chairs at rally venues, and providing security at street speeches. As long as elections are held, democracy cannot avoid populism. Although the Sanseito is still a small party, given the success of far-right parties in Europe and the United States, the trend toward support for the far right in Japan should continue to be monitored.