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An upstart party is gaining support ahead of elections in Japan by railing against a 'silent invasion' of immigrants, pushing the government to tackle fears about foreigners as it drags into the mainstream rhetoric once confined to the political fringe. Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party, Sanseito, is widening its appeal with a 'Japanese First' campaign ahead of Sunday's upper house vote. And while polls show it may only secure 10 to 15 of the 125 seats up for grabs, it is further eroding the support...

The two parties in the ruling coalition lost 19 seats in the upper house election which is similar to our U.S. Senate with 124 of 248 seats up for grabs every three years. These two parties are the LDP and Komeito. Liberal Democrat Party (LDP), which uses an elephant as its symbol, has ruled Japan for the vast majority of the postwar years. It still holds 100 seats and a strong plurality in the upper house. Komeito is a Buddhist fundamentalist party associated with the Sokka Gakkai sect, which is as annoying to some Japanese as Christian fundamentalist are to...

SummarySanseito, birthed on YouTube, makes election gains Party has also pledged tax cuts and welfare spending Leader says he wants to expand lower house presence TOKYO, July 21 (Reuters) - The fringe far-right Sanseito party emerged as one of the biggest winners in Japan's upper house election on Sunday, gaining support with warnings of a "silent invasion" of immigrants, and pledges for tax cuts and welfare spending.Birthed on YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites, the party broke into mainstream politics with its "Japanese First" campaign.The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides...