The Sanseitō party, which advocates for 'prioritizing Japanese people,' successfully elected Sohei Kamiya, who accepted an interview with ANN media to discuss his political philosophy, key policies, and future direction. As a rising star in the emerging conservative faction, Kamiya emphasized that economic revitalization is the top priority, while also promoting national defense autonomy, digital currency, fiscal reform, and the reconstruction of social values. When Kamiya first entered politics, he was recommended by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, later drifting between several small parties, and finally gaining recognition through his YouTube channel ChGrandStrategy, successfully attracting numerous young votes. Below is a comprehensive introduction and translation of Sohei Kamiya and the emerging Sanseitō party.
The emergence of the Sanseitō party as a new conservative force in Japan
The Sanseitō party was established in 2020, initially focusing on education reform, local autonomy, and sovereignty protection, attracting conservatives and grassroots groups. The party's name means 'all citizens should actively participate in politics,' opposing bureaucratic dominance and emphasizing national spirit and cultural roots.
Although initially overlooked by the mainstream political sphere, as dissatisfaction with the current 'foreign policy' accumulated among the Japanese public, the Sanseitō party entered the national parliament for the first time in the 2022 elections and further expanded its seats in 2025, becoming a new force in Japanese politics.
According to the Sanseitō party's official website, the main policy axes include:
Education reform and reconstruction of historical views
National sovereignty and national defense autonomy
Economic independence and active fiscal policy
Protection of traditional culture and family values
Sohei Kamiya transformed from YouTuber to Member of Parliament
Sohei Kamiya is a key figure in the political party. Since 2013, he has managed the YouTube channel 'ChGrandStrategy,' covering niche topics such as historical revisionism and traditional views on childbirth and parenting. As of 2023, the channel has 487,000 subscribers and a total of 3,326 videos, becoming an important source of conservative online discourse.
Kamiya is adept at using online platforms to accumulate supporters, successfully transforming that into political power. In interviews, he stated that he speaks in simple, understandable language, which is a way to get people who do not care about politics to stop and listen.
Why does prioritizing Japanese people resonate?
The policies prioritizing Japanese people include the following:
Prioritize tax reduction instead of fundraising distribution
Rebuild Japan with winning industries
Oppose excessive acceptance of foreigners
Ensure rice and food safety
Use GoTo Travel to reduce medical costs
Oppose the World Health Organization's pandemic treaty on profit-driven medications
Abolish the regulated education system that emphasizes academic achievement
Provide a monthly subsidy of 100,000 yen for each child
Incorporate philosophy into politics and establish a constitution
In response to the host's question about why the demand for prioritizing Japanese people resonates, Kamiya stated that it is a backlash against excessive globalization. He pointed out that under a globalization-driven economy, the Japanese middle class and families are gradually being marginalized; therefore, the political party's proposal for prioritizing Japanese citizens is a call for social balance. He does not reject globalization but advocates for taking good care of one's own citizens, which is a necessary value balance.
Economic reform: Active fiscal policy and the possibility of cryptocurrencies
Kamiya emphasized that the most concerning issue for the public right now is 'economy and income,' hence the Sanseitō party will promote low taxes and active fiscal measures. He advocates for the government to provide a monthly child-rearing subsidy of 100,000 yen for each child. Regarding Japan's fiscal issues, Kamiya responded: we should view fiscal innovation from an international perspective. Japan's economic scale is large, and we should be in a position to adopt innovative tools, such as the issuance of digital currencies or cryptocurrencies. If we continue to adhere to old rules, it will be difficult to implement new policies. We need a completely new approach to deal with these challenges. This idea aligns with the 'sovereign digital currency' initiative proposed by members of parliament like Matsuda, demonstrating the Sanseitō party's open-mindedness toward fiscal and monetary policy.
Debate on national defense autonomy and nuclear deterrence
Regarding defense policy, Kamiya expressed a strong stance on Japan's sovereignty. He believes Japan should re-evaluate its security agreement with the United States and does not rule out discussions about possessing 'some form of deterrence.' While he did not explicitly support nuclear weapons, he stated that the parliament should engage in such discussions rather than suppress them. He mentioned that this does not mean the US military will withdraw tomorrow but that these topics must be discussed more openly.
Controversy over remarks suspected of discriminating against women
During the campaign, Kamiya was criticized for remarks such as 'high-income women not having children' as gender discrimination. He stated on the program that he had no intention of apologizing but merely pointed out social trends; however, he is willing to further explain and communicate if misunderstandings arise. He emphasized that politicians cannot speak the truth if they completely avoid controversy; sometimes, they must take risks to bring about change.
Japanese version of Trump? Stirring up populism?
Regarding comparisons to US President Trump, Kamiya acknowledged that he agrees with some of Trump's policy positions, especially concerning national interests and economic priorities. When asked about the populist label, he responded: if it means the voice of the people, he does not reject it. However, he hopes everyone listens carefully to what he says instead of just labeling him.
Sohei Kamiya and the Sanseitō party represent a new political force 'from the ground up.' They use the internet as their stage, appealing to dissatisfied young voters with clear language, specific policies, and a strong sense of crisis. However, this direct style and extreme claims are often accompanied by controversy, as extreme right ideologies have risen globally, with many supporters being young people, which is worth noting.
This article discusses the emergence of an extreme right political party! Advocating for prioritizing Japanese people, party leader Sohei Kamiya proposed issuing cryptocurrency, first reported by Chain News ABMedia.
