Japanese voters headed to the polls on Sunday (July 20) in a tightly contested upper house election that could unleash political turmoil, with rising prices, immigration concerns and the emergence of a Trump-style "Japanese-first" party threatening to weaken Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's grip on power.

Tokyo

Japanese citizens are casting ballots in upper house parliamentary elections, with major issues such as inflation, the cost of living, and relations with China at the forefront. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party aims to secure at least 50 of 125 seats but is projected to fall short, raising the prospect of the government becoming a minority in both houses for the first time since World War II.

Economic concerns, including rising rice prices and stagnant incomes, are influencing voter decisions. Immigration and nationalism are also significant topics in the campaign. The election is seen as a test for both the ruling party and the far-right Senseido party, which could increase its representation in parliament.

Japan heads to the polls for Upper House elections

Voters in Tokyo are making their voices heard in parliamentary elections. Inflation, the rising cost of living, tensions with China, and nationalism are all on the ballot. And so is the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party. Their goal is to win at least 50 of the 125 seats in the upper house of parliament, but polls show them falling short. In the face of an ever-changing political landscape, the prime minister promised stability during a July 2nd debate. Our party would like to claim the responsibility of this country. We would like to responsibly build a country with a robust economy, prosperous life, and a solid sense of security. But he faces an uphill battle on the economic front. The Japanese public perceives him as clumsily negotiating tariffs with the US Trump administration, which is still planning to set a 25% levy on Japanese goods come August 1st. The price of rice has also skyrocketed due to poor harvests and rising inflation, while incomes have not kept pace. A Japanese diet staple, a sharp rise in cost means that the grain factors directly into voting decisions. But the economy isn't the only issue. Immigration was also hotly debated, even though the group makes up only 3% of the country's population. I think we should accept foreigners who follow the rules and have come to Japan properly. Since Japan is facing a declining birth rate, I think it's better to continue accepting foreigners who can help support Japanese society. In the midst of such chaos, I've come to feel that I want to vote for candidates who won't fuel division, even slightly. If the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party doesn't achieve its goal, the government would become minority in both houses of parliament, a situation unprecedented since World War II that could cause Ishiba to step down. The election is also a test for the extreme-right Senseido party, who could make historic gains. The ultra-conservative, quote, Japanese first group could see their current two seats increase to ten.

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