Introduction

Over the past few years, there has been a growing political movement in Japan often referred to by its slogan Japan First. This movement has caught the attention of many because it emphasizes putting Japanese nationals ahead of immigrants, tightening immigration policy, promoting conservative values, and resisting globalism. The rise of Japan First reflects anxieties many Japanese feel about demographics, culture, foreign workers, tourism, and Japan’s economic future.

Origins of Japan First and Its Political Leader

Japan First is most directly associated with the political party Sanseito, a right-wing populist party that gained real traction in the 2025 Upper House elections. Sanseito was founded around 2020 by Sohei Kamiya. 🧍‍♂️He used online platforms like YouTube to build a base. Kamiya has a background as a supermarket manager and teacher. He leveraged discontent—especially during the COVID period—about globalism, public health mandates, immigration, and foreign influence. The messaging often centers around the idea that the interests of Japanese citizens are being undermined by external forces.

Kamiya and Sanseito frequently use the slogan Japan First (often expressed in Japanese as “Japanese First” or Nihonjin First) as a rallying cry. That slogan captures their political identity: economic nationalism, skepticism about immigration, strong notions of cultural preserving tradition, and pushing back on policies they see as “globalist.” Sohei Kamiya is the key politician spearheading the Japan First movement.

What Japan First Means in Practice

Under the banner of Japan First, Sanseito has proposed several policies and political platforms:

• Stricter immigration policies, including stronger screening for foreign workers and non-Japanese residents. (AP News)
• Exclusion of non-Japanese from certain welfare benefits. (AP News)
• Emphasis on protecting domestic workforce rights and reducing reliance on cheap labor. (Tokyo Weekender)
• Pushing back against globalist economic structures and promoting self-sufficiency and traditional values. (Deutsche Welle)
• Skepticism or opposition to gender equality reforms, foreign cultural influence, and in some cases, public health mandates that came out of the pandemic era. (The Economic Times)

Is Japan First a Sign of Xenophobia?

Because Japan First explicitly talks about limiting the influence and presence of foreigners, it is widely argued that it borderlines xenophobia or is openly xenophobic in its rhetoric and proposed policies.

Some of the evidence:

• Foreign residents in Japan have expressed concern that the Japan First slogan is exclusionary and stigmatizing. (The Straits Times)
• Sanseito has been criticized for spreading fear about a so-called “silent invasion” by foreigners, suggesting they are responsible for social, economic or cultural decline. (Deutsche Welle)
• The party’s proposals to exclude non-Japanese from welfare, tighten immigration, reduce foreign worker benefits, or limit citizenship rights are seen by critics as targeting non-Japanese residents in ways that discriminate. (AP News)

At the same time, Sanseito and its leader argue that Japan First is not about hatred or exclusion per se, but about preserving Japanese culture, ensuring that foreign resident policies do not disadvantage Japanese citizens, protecting jobs, and addressing what they see as cultural dilution. (Tokyo Weekender)

So while not all aspects of Japan First might be explicitly hateful, many see a strong overlap between its policies and xenophobic attitudes, especially when language becomes about “foreigners as problems,” “foreigners taking advantage,” or “foreigners changing Japanese society.”

Recent Political Impact and Election Results

The Japan First movement’s rise with Sanseito has had real electoral consequences.

• In the 2025 Upper House election, Sanseito won 14 seats under its “Japanese First” campaign, becoming a significant opposition force. (The Japan Times)
• The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost its majority in the Upper House, partly due to Sanseito siphoning off votes from disaffected right-wing or conservative supporters who felt the LDP was not doing enough on issues like immigration or national identity. (The Japan Times)
• Sanseito’s growth is tied to a strong online presence, particularly among younger voters who feel anxious about rising costs, uncertain futures, globalization, and foreign influence. (Deutsche Welle)

So the Japan First movement is no longer fringe—it is reshaping political conversation, forcing more mainstream parties to address immigration, welfare with regard to outsiders, national identity, and policy around foreigners.

Domestic Criticism and Concerns

Japan First has attracted criticism from other political parties, human rights advocates, foreign resident communities, and some media.

• Leaders from opposition parties like the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) have warned that such nationalism risks creating division and exclusion. (The Japan Times)
• Foreign residents in Japan report feeling uneasy or unsafe as rhetoric around Japan First grows more visibly political. Some fear housing discrimination, harassment, or reduced welfare access. (Reddit)
• Observers warn that Japan First echoes populist movements elsewhere, warning that economic anxiety plus fear of cultural loss tends to lead to scapegoating of outsiders. (Deutsche Welle)

Is This Trend Unique? Comparisons and Global Context

While Japan First is growing, Japan is not alone. Similar movements exist worldwide where nationalist or populist parties use “First” slogans—America First, Britain First, etc. The most striking parallels are:

• Use of online/social media platforms to spread messages. (The Week)
• Mobilizing younger, disaffected voters who feel economic or social stagnation has left them behind. (Deutsche Welle)
• Framing immigrants, globalization, foreign investment, or foreign residents as threats to culture, employment, or resources.

Japan’s version, however, has to contend with its unique demographic situation: rapidly aging population, labor shortages, very low historical levels of immigration in comparison to Western countries, and strong societal norms about homogeneity. All of these make the Japan First movement both powerful (because it touches on real fears) and controversial (because many see it as antithetical to Japan’s future needs).

Potential Risks and Future Trajectories

What might happen if Japan First continues to grow?

• More restrictive immigration policies, possibly even rollbacks on existing rights for foreign workers or residents.
• Changes in welfare legislation to exclude or limit non-nationals’ access.
• More political polarization, where parties either increasingly lean right to appease Japan First supporters or backlash grows among those who support diversity.
• Potential diplomatic friction, especially with neighboring countries or countries whose citizens are immigrant groups in Japan.
• Social tensions: increased xenophobia, harassment, discrimination may become more visible, possibly leading to protests, lawsuits, or social pushback.

Conclusion

The Japan First movement is a major development in Japanese politics. At its heart it is about nationalism, identity, and fear of losing control in a changing world. Sohei Kamiya has led Japan First as a platform with significant electoral gains, tapping into discontent and leveraging social media. While supporters claim it is about preserving Japanese welfare and culture, many critics see it as a sign of xenophobia: an exclusionary politics that may harm foreign residents, multicultural exchange, and Japan’s international standing.

The emergence of Japan First shows that politics in Japan is in flux. As the country faces demographic crisis, economic stagnation, foreign labor shortages, and global change, movements like Japan First will test how open or closed Japan wants to be in the decades ahead.