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Authored by Fathan Bariqi Dewangga, 3rd Year International Relations student of UPN Veteran Jakarta Abstract The emergence of right-wing populism is not limited to the West; it is also gaining root in Asian nations such as Japan. One of the most remarkable examples is the formation of the Sanseito Party, which has earned seats in Japan's upper house for 2022. This study examines Sanseito's ideological dynamics and mobilization techniques in light of digital populism, the crisis of representation, and popular disillusionment with liberal democratic institutions. Using Peter Mair and Colin Crouch's conceptual framework, this study examines how Sanseito challenges the dominance of conventional politics through alternative techniques centered on spirituality, social media, and anti-globalist rhetoric. This research concludes that Sanseito reflects an epistemic crisis in contemporary Japanese democracy and is an important indicator of political fragmentation in the post-democratic era. Introduction The Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) dominance in Japanese politics since 1955 has frequently been commended for giving stability and continuity to administration. However, this protracted domination has resulted in political stagnation, popular tiredness, and a growing divide between the people and the political class. The representative system, which is based on a technical bureaucracy, has failed to reflect the social dynamics and ambitions of Japan's younger generation, which is growing more skeptical of globalization, economic disparity, and the deterioration of national culture. In this setting, alternative parties like as Sanseito have regained public interest. Sanseito, created in 2020 by individuals from alternative medicine, entrepreneurship, and spirituality, provides an unusual mix of ideologies: ethnocentric nationalism, Shinto spiritualism, and criticisms of international institutions and contemporary science (Institute of Geoeconomics, 2023). By combining populist rhetoric with modern technology, they want to fill the representative void created by traditional parties. This study contends that Sanseito is more than just a small electoral occurrence, but a structural indication of a representation crisis in Japanese democracy. Sanseito, with its emotive communication style and internet mobilization, is a new kind of populism in direct response to conventional politics' delegitimization and societal alienation (Crouch, 2004). Sanseito Ideology: Nationalism, Conspiracy, and Spiritualism Sanseito's ideological character is complex and multilayered, blending aspects of right- wing populism, traditional spiritualism, and anti-globalist discourse. On the surface, the party offers a democratic veneer by supporting grassroots engagement, public participation in governance, and the slogan of "popular sovereignty." They claim to be a "people's party" that listens to average residents rather than members of the political establishment. This language helps to strengthen their image as a "authentic" alternative to an obsolete political system (Institute of Geoeconomics, 2023). However, underlying this participatory rhetoric, Sanseito advocates considerably more extreme principles. The party promotes an ultra-nationalist program that includes the restoration of "Japanese pride," the rejection of immigration, and opposition to foreign influence, both in the form of Western liberal principles and the involvement of international institutions such as the UN and WHO (BBC News, 2025). This ideology is consistent with a worldwide trend in which right-wing populism blends concerns about national sovereignty with protectionist attitudes and ethnocentric identities (Inglehart & Norris, 2016). Sanseito also promotes a variety of conspiracy theories, which are becoming increasingly popular in today's internet political landscape. They propagate anti-vaccine rhetoric, suspicion of modern medicine, and the myth that Japan is ruled by a global elite intent on undermining the country's morals and identity. Sanseito exemplifies a type of spiritual populism, which uses moral discourse, national mythology, and religious symbols as the basis for political mobilization (Mudde & Rovira Kaltwasser, 2017). These tales not only rely on emotion and nostalgia, but also immerse Japanese national identity in Shinto spirituality and pre-World War II imperial ideals. Sanseito aims to reinstate conservative principles that have been crushed by Japan's postwar democratic system and pacifist constitution. They separate themselves from other political parties by relying on Japan's narrative of divine origin and the idea of "kokutai" (national spirit) for cultural legitimacy. Unlike left-wing populism, which focuses more on economic redistribution and social justice, Sanseito populism is rooted in a crisis of cultural and spiritual identity, similar to patterns also found in right-wing movements such as Hindutva in India and Bolsonaro in Brazil (Mounk, 2018; Chatterjee, 2020). This suggests that populism need not be homogeneous but can vary based on the historical, cultural, and religious contexts that shape a society. Mobilization Strategy: Emotional Politics and Social Media Sanseito's effectiveness in increasing its political influence is intrinsically tied to its capacity to adapt mobilization techniques to the peculiarities of the digital era. The party has abandoned traditional campaign methods focused on print media, television, and established party channels, in favor of internet platforms like as YouTube, Twitter (now X), TikTok, and live streaming sites. Sanseito uses these mediums to transmit emotive, personal, and anti-elite themes, with a communication style that builds closeness between the leader and his followers (Mounk, 2018). The tales tend to shun technical terminology and statistical data. Instead, they highlight tales, testimonials, and moral statements, which are presented in short movies or interactive live broadcasts. This is consistent with what Waisbord (2018) refers to as emotionalized politics, which uses emotion as a main weapon of mobilization and links political correctness to personal experience and moral intuition rather than facts. Sanseito is also known for holding public study sessions. In practice, these meetings resemble ideological cadre gatherings, combining political rhetoric, patriotic mysticism, and conspiracy theories. These programs, which follow a presenting style akin to religious lectures or motivational seminars, promote a sense of intellectual unity and emotional commitment among participants (BBC News, 2025). In this environment, study spaces function as a recruiting tool, a platform for socialization party ideals, and a place to establish unity outside of official institutional frameworks. One critical component of this technique is the use of crowdsourcing. Rather than depending on wealthy contributors or businesses, Sanseito generates donations from individual supporters using digital channels, fostering a feeling of direct engagement and community ownership in the party. According to Gerbaudo (2019), digital populist parties frequently utilize crowdfunding not just as a financial resource, but also to foster trust and symbolic linkages between grassroots and political groups. Sanseito's use of social media, emotional mobilization, and a horizontal participation model enables him to create an affective community, which is defined by emotional affiliation with anti-elite narratives, moral nationalism, and distrust of conventional institutions rather than systematic ideology (Papacharissi, 2014). Within this framework, identifying with a "common enemy" such as global elites, scientists, mainstream media, and technocratic politicians serves as the community's unifying factor. The Crisis of Representation and Post-Political Party Democracy According to Peter Mair (2013) and Colin Crouch (2004), many modern democracies are witnessing a post-democracy phenomena, which occurs when democratic institutions continue to function nominally but public engagement and substantive representation have dramatically decreased. Political parties, which were formerly a connection between the state and society, are today increasingly disconnected from their social roots and more bound to technocratic logic and commercial interests. As a result, many individuals feel unrepresented in the political process. Sanseito formed as a response to the lack of representation. They created new modes of representation that were not based on traditional institutional frameworks, but rather on direct contact, emotive narratives, and a rejection of epistemic authority. By emphasizing the "common sense of ordinary people" above expert opinion or scientific data, they were able to reach populations who felt excluded from dominating public discourse. This narrative is also part of the worldwide populist tendency, which blurs the distinction between fact and opinion and elevates emotion to the level of political reality (Mudde & Rovira Kaltwasser, 2017). Furthermore, digital media has exacerbated the issue of representation by generating echo chambers that strengthen political attitudes while ignoring opposing viewpoints (Sunstein, 2017). In this environment, Sanseito is more than just a party; it is also an emotive community that expresses worries about an elite and opaque political system. If this dilemma is not addressed via institutional reforms and more inclusive public involvement, emotional populism will continue to expand, endangering the deliberative integrity of Japanese democracy. Implications for Japanese Democracy Sanseito won only one seat in Japan's 2022 upper house election, but their political effect extends beyond legislative seats. The party's presence has successfully challenged the boundaries of traditional political discourse by introducing issues that were previously marginalized in mainstream politics, such as conspiracy theories, political spiritualism, and a rejection of scientific modernity and international institutions (Institute of Geoeconomics, 2023). Sanseito's inclusion of these concerns in public discourse has pushed Japanese democracy into a more divided and emotionally charged political phase. Sanseito's effect also indicates the severity of Japan's current epistemic problem. An epistemological crisis occurs when the foundations of common knowledge that allow for democratic deliberation begin to disintegrate. In a digital society rife with tailored algorithms and echo chambers, the information a person gets tends to reinforce their current beliefs rather than challenge them with opposing viewpoints (Sunstein, 2017). Sanseito uses this space to promote counter-narratives that are frequently speculative, anti-intellectual, and anti-pluralistic—all without facing epistemic oversight from the media, university, or government institutions. This phenomena also exemplifies the rise of post-truth politics in Japan, in which emotion, identification, and moral intuition take precedence over reality in decision-making and public opinion formation (Waisbord, 2018). As politics becomes more influenced by emotional affinity than intellectual debate, the deliberative process that supports liberal democracy deteriorates. On the other side, Sanseito's success highlights conventional parties' inability to reach out to disaffected voters. The LDP's and the opposition's failure to address the moral, identity, and spiritual concerns of some segments of society creates a representational gap that populist actors take advantage of. If this gap is not addressed, Sanseito and related groups will continue to flourish as alternative conduits for political expression that are not directed through formal procedures (Crouch, 2004). The ramifications for Japanese democracy are significant. Without systematic attempts to rebuild public faith in science, the media, and political institutions, democracy risks becoming systemically delegitimized. As a result, a long-term plan is required to increase media literacy, deepen civic education, and establish venues for inclusive and deliberative debate. To combat the spread of digital populism, Japan must go beyond procedural stability and toward participatory and reflective democracy. References BBC News. (2025, July 21). The rise of the far-right “Japanese First” party. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly80nnjnv5o Chatterjee, P. (2020). I Am the People: Reflections on Popular Sovereignty Today. ColumbiamUniversity Press. https://doi.org/10.7312/chat19548 Crouch, C. (2004). Post-democracy. Polity Press. Gerbaudo, P. (2019). The Digital Party: Political Organisation and Online Democracy. Pluto Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv86dg2g Inglehart, R., & Norris, P. (2016). Trump, Brexit, and the Rise of Populism: Economic Have- Nots and Cultural Backlash. HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP16-026. Institute of Geoeconomics. (2023). The politics of strategic non-alignment: Japan’s relations with Europe and the Indo-Pacific. https://instituteofgeoeconomics.org/en/research/2024112001-4/ Mair, P. (2013). Ruling the void: The hollowing of Western democracy. Verso Books Mounk, Y. (2018). The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It. Harvard University Press. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv24trckb Mudde, C., & Kaltwasser, C. R. (2017). Populism: A Very Short Introduction, Very Short Introductions. Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/actrade/9780190234874.001.0001 Papacharissi, Z. (2014). Affective Publics: Sentiment, Technology, and Politics, Oxford Studies in Digital Politics. Oxford Academic. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199999736.001.0001 Sunstein, C. R. (2017). #Republic: Divided democracy in the age of social media. Waisbord, S. (2018). The elective affinity between post-truth communication and populist politics. Communication Research and Practice, 4(1), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2018.1428928

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The Rise of Sanseito in Japan: Populism, Alternative Politics, and the Crisis of Representation