The defeat of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito coalition in the House of Councilors’ elections is the result of the people's deep anger at the destruction of their livelihoods. The policy of monetary easing and the weakening of the yen, all to serve the interests of global capital, has driven inflation and devastated everyday life.
While the fall of the ruling parties was inevitable, it was the emerging forces of the Sanseito and the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) that successfully organized and capitalized on public dissatisfaction. Sanseito appealed with its “Japan First” slogan, while the DPP promised to “increase take-home pay.” The former drew significant support from voters in their 30s to 50s, while the latter resonated with many in their 20s.
What these parties share in common is a dangerous ideology of xenophobia, contempt for the elderly, and opposition to the reduction or abolition of the consumption tax. By creating scapegoats—foreigners and the elderly—they tapped into the frustration of those who feel abandoned by the established political order.
Sanseito leader Kamiya has proclaimed, “People are afraid because there are too many foreigners.” Drawing lessons from the far-right in Europe—France’s National Rally (RN) and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)—these forces organize emotion, not facts. Like Donald Trump, they prioritize mobilizing fear and resentment over truth or policy.
In this recent election, the Social Democratic Party managed to retain a single seat and maintain its legal party status by surpassing the 2% threshold. However, the Japanese Communist Party suffered a serious defeat.
What should have been emphasized in the campaign is this: that the root cause of economic suffering lies in global capitalism. We should have stood in firm opposition to the LDP-Komeito coalition's path of military expansion, advocated for cuts in military spending, pushed for stronger taxation on large corporations and the wealthy, and demanded the abolition of the consumption tax.
While far-right forces are indeed gaining ground in Europe and the United States, progressive and democratic movements are also advancing. A recent example is the victory of the DSA-backed candidate in the Democratic primary for mayor of Newark. With the support of over 30,000 volunteers and more than 1.6 million individual voter contacts, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) secured a landmark win by boldly presenting a policy vision rooted in democratic socialism.
The far right and their supporters do not respond to reasoned arguments on social media. What is needed is direct, face-to-face engagement that fosters real change.
The right wing offers no true vision. Expelling foreigners and marginalizing the elderly will not improve people’s lives. Our task is to organize citizens around a hopeful alternative: a society that defends human rights, regulates the excesses of global capital, and builds a future grounded in democracy and socialism. In this lies our path to victory.