Restoring the Yamato Spirit - Sanseito’s Nationalism & The Cultural Renewal of Modern Japan

On July 21, 2025, one day after the pivotal elections for the Upper House in Japan, a crowd of devoted supporters went into a frenzy, cheering for Sohei Kamiya, the charismatic leader of the nationalist Sanseito Party. Kamiya managed to gain 14 electoral seats in Japan’s Upper House, sending political shockwaves throughout the nation. The former schoolteacher and YouTube persona wants to restore the Yamato spirit, a term that aims to restore and valorise the cultural values and characteristics of the Japanese people. Kamiya has devoted himself to this goal. However, his westernised approach to politics, copying the MAGA movement in the United States and the unpredictable character of Donald Trump might produce results that will not resonate with Japanese traditionalism. His emergence has sent hopes to millions of young voters who feel abandoned by the ever-growing globalised Japan and the stagnated political elite. Sanseito’s nationalism presents a riddle: Can Japan’s soul be preserved without losing its heart?

To understand the rise of Sanseito’s nationalism, one has to ask what exactly it consists of. Sohei Kamiya draws inspiration from Donald Trump’s erratic political nature, often blending boldness with political bravado. He has transferred this energy to the Sanseito Party which in simple English would be partially translated as the Party of Do It Yourself. The message is simple, yet politically deafening to the ears of first-time voters who feel disassociated with the mainstream political parties in Japan. A return to traditionalism, focusing on the restoration of family values amid a concerning birth rate deficit, protection of the cultural heritage of Japan, and most importantly a halt of the immigration wave in Japan. Although foreigners consist of only 3% of the total population in Japan, Kamiya’s anti-immigration rhetoric seems to be viewed favourably due to the stagnant economic situation in Japan. Years of failed economic policies have resulted in low wages, welfare payments to non-Japanese and an increase in the cost of living for ordinary Japanese who have been hit the hardest. This rhetoric seems to come out of the traditional populist playbook, yet what differentiates Sanseito is the profound focus on the cultural roots of Japan, a homogenous society which takes pride in its people and their way of living. This is where the promotion of the Yamato spirit comes in power, which resonates with the supporters of Kamiya.

The Yamato spirit or Yamato-gokoro (heart), is a term referring to the values and characteristics of the Japanese people. It describes the cultural preservation of Japan and opposes the cultural values of foreign nations. In a way, this term can be interpreted as the soul of Japan. It is this exact soul that the Sanseito Party tries to extract from its supporters. Its campaign focusing on “Japanese First” tackles a variety of issues such as Japan’s declining birthrate, rise of crime in Japan, especially crimes committed by foreigners, economic stagnation etc. Since the foundation of the party in 2020, Kamiya’s political organization has expanded from the online chatrooms and the streets of Japan to its Upper House, positioning itself as a patriotic platform in a globalised Japan. Its first victory came two years after the outbreak of COVID-19. In the 2022 Upper House elections, the party gathered more than 1.76 million votes by promoting an anti-vaccine platform. Three years later Sanseito is promoting an anti-globalist agenda aligned with the MAGA movement in the United States. But here is where the problems start for Kamiya. While he claims his party is focusing on traditional Japanese cultural values that need to be revived, he borrows the same playbook from Donald Trump forcing a western version of pseudo-patriotism into Japan. If he wants any form of success in future political battles, Kamiya needs to abandon the MAGA ideology.

Earlier this month Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, resigned from his role after his party received a major setback in this year’s elections. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost its majority in the Lower House right after losing the majority in the elections for the Upper House. With two major setbacks and inner-party criticism, Ishiba is stepping down after less than a year as Prime Minister of Japan. On top of that, major demonstrations have hit the streets in Japan after the government announced the “JICA Africa Hometown” project, aiming to foster partnerships between four Japanese cities and four partner countries in Africa. With floods of complaints and demonstrations, the initiative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency is under review. Immigration levels in Japan are extremely low, but with a swiftly aging population and one of the lowest birth rates in the world, Japan’s youth has turned to an alternative that resonates closer to them.

However, this alternative of the Sanseito Party is dangerously copying the MAGA movement in the U.S. What started as a supposed patriotic American movement has spiralled into a movement preaching political division in the country. Donald Trump’s failed policies are not something to look up to. Unfortunately, Kamiya dangerously copies his political idol. Japan does not need a short term vision that focuses on things that anger people at that time. Yes, immigration is a major topic across the world, but in a country such as Japan that should be the least of their problems. It is my understanding that the Yamato spirit has not only to do with the revival of cultural values but also with the revival of the common Japanese people. In a country where birth rates are extremely low and the political system fails the common Japanese, anger is easily exploited. If Sanseito wants any chance to actually achieve what it preaches it needs to abandon failed Western pseudo-nationalistic approaches. 

Donald Trump must not be a role model for patriotism. His policies do not prioritise the American people and the ongoing political and societal conflict in the country is proof enough. For Japan to escape its melancholic societal loop it needs to focus on its people. Their anger and frustration must be transformed into an opportunity to build something better and not put more fuel on the fire just to climb up to the polls. Japan is set to pick its fourth Prime Minister in just a span of five years. Many supporters turned their back to the ruling party for not being conservative enough. Sanseito presents an alternative but if that alternative continues its alignment with Donald Trump and his MAGA movement, then the hype will be short-lived. The solution is long-term change and not short-term celebrations. For a country that is exhausted from political stagnation there needs to be change that focuses on the people and their needs not their short-term anger. Anger brings more anger and no change in the system. Whether the party that promises this change is called Sanseito or any other one, the message to follow is simple. Abandon the U.S led false ideologies of hate and political division and focus on the revival of Japan. Perhaps there might not be a better chance than this. 

Image: Wikimedia Commons/Noukei314

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