Populist Sanseito’s rise is eroding the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s dominance and reshaping Japan’s traditionally staid political landscape, as Maroosha Muzaffar reports

Populist ideals are gaining traction in Japan, spurred by right-wing politicians running rampant elsewhere railing against “elitism”, “globalism” and immigration.

Campaigning under the nationalist slogan “Japanese First,” the party capitalised on growing public frustration with immigration, inflation and the ruling coalition’s performance.View on euronews

Internal rivals and a resurgent nationalist right are jeopardising Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s already precarious position.

The success of Japanese right-wing party Sanseito in Sunday’s upper house election has the potential to unnerve global investors, who have been among the strongest supporters of the nation’s equity markets.

Birthed on YouTube spreading Covid-19 conspiracy theories, the party broke into mainstream politics with its populist campaign.

Sohei Kamiya, a former supermarket manager and English teacher, has created a stir in Japan. His Sanseito (participate in politics) party has won 14 seats in Japan’s Upper House. Kamiya is called the ‘Japanese Trump’ for his penchant to attack immigrant,