Sohei Kamiya wasn’t groomed for power. He didn’t come from a political dynasty. He started out managing a supermarket. He taught English. He even worked in his father’s business until it went bankrupt. Politics wasn’t always the plan. But disruption might have been.
Fast forward to now, and his Sanseito party just picked up 14 seats in Japan’s upper house. That’s not a fluke. It’s a signal. People are listening to him. Some are even calling him Japan’s Trump.
Let’s break down why.
He walked away from the establishment
According to BBC, Kamiya’s political journey started with Japan’s ruling LDP (Liberal Democratic Party). But it didn’t last. He called them out for being too focused on money and accused them of corruption. Then he quit.
That move wasn’t just dramatic. It laid the groundwork for something new. In 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, Kamiya founded Sanseito.
He’s not just talking to the fringe
During COVID, while most parties played it safe, Sanseito went after the big issues: vaccine skepticism, distrust of global elites, rising inequality. The party used YouTube to spread its message. It worked. Their channel now has over 360,000 subscribers.
Sanseito isn’t bankrolled by big corporations either. It runs on small donations, which tells you something about its support base.
He channels Trump, but on his own terms
Kamiya openly says he’s inspired by Trump’s bold, unapologetic style. But this isn’t about copying soundbites. It’s about how he connects. He talks directly to the people. He challenges the elite. He doesn’t sugarcoat.
In one rally, he warned that global corporations are reshaping Japan’s policies. His words were blunt: If we can’t resist this pressure, Japan will become a colony.
That kind of talk resonates, especially with younger voters.
He didn’t even run this time and still made waves
Kamiya didn’t contest the recent election himself. But he campaigned across Japan for nearly 70 Sanseito candidates. The result? His party came in third nationwide.
Not bad for someone the establishment once ignored.
He’s tapping into something deeper
Look, this isn’t just about populism. It’s about frustration. A growing number of Japanese citizen, especially young ones, feel unheard, overtaxed, and squeezed by systems built to serve someone else.
Kamiya’s message hits home for them: Japan should serve the interests of Japanese people. Not multinationals. Not global think tanks. Not some elite class.
So what now?
Kamiya’s party isn’t running the country. Not yet. But if you care about political trends, disruption, or the future of global conservatism, you’d be smart to watch what happens next.
Because if Japan ever has a Trump moment, it might already be here.
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