Photo/Illutration Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya speaks to reporters at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on July 20. (REUTERS/File Photo)

The surge in support for Sanseito and the Democratic Party for the People on July 20 was largely thanks to veteran politicians failing to reach large parts of the electorate.

The Upper House election saw both opposition parties significantly increase their presence by appealing to voters dissatisfied with traditional parties.

Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya acknowledged this on July 21 when asked about his party's success.

“We won a considerable number of unaffiliated voters," he said. "The main reason is probably disappointment in the Liberal Democratic Party.”

According to an exit poll conducted by The Asahi Shimbun, 12 percent of voters who support no particular party voted for Sanseito, a sharp increase from the 6 percent in the last Upper House election, in 2022.

By contrast, support for the LDP among unaffiliated voters fell from 22 percent to 12 percent.

PARTIES INCREASE POWERS

Sanseito can now independently submit bills that do not require a budget, while the DPP can independently submit bills that involve fiscal spending.

Among the initiatives Sanseito will now push forward is an anti-espionage bill.

“We should crack down on those who engage in espionage activities with weird ideologies aiming to destroy Japan,” Kamiya said.

However, there are longstanding concerns over a law of this kind.

There was a fierce public backlash when, in 1985, LDP Diet members submitted a bill for a state secrets law. The core concern was that its vague and broad concept of “national secrets” could threaten fundamental values such as freedom of thought and belief.

The bill ended up being scrapped.

Kamiya has also shown enthusiasm for other distinctive policies.

He spoke of “a bill to review COVID-19 measures” during an appearance in an online program on the night of July 20. And when the topic turned to immigration, he said, “I think we should review the technical intern training program.” He gave no details.

EASING TAX BURDEN TO WOO SUPPORTERS

Meanwhile, the DPP is taking aim at the tax burden on lower earners.

On July 21, DPP head Yuichiro Tamaki told reporters that his two priorities are to raise the income tax exemption threshold to 1.78 million yen ($12,100) and to abolish the provisional gasoline tax.

The party hopes to increase its support base by delivering quick results on policies directly linked to people’s daily lives.

But the DPP also seems to be inching toward Sanseito and its “Japanese First” slogan, which taps into unease over rising numbers of immigrants.

Just before the election's official campaigning began, the DPP announced policies on “foreign resident issues,” including a proposed vacancy tax on properties purchased by foreigners with no intention to live there.

“We’ve shifted our policies slightly to the right in response to Sanseito,” sources quoted Tamaki as telling insiders.

(This article was written by Ryutaro Abe and Yuki Minami.)