Japan\u2019s Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition on July 20 lost its majority in the upper house of the country\u2019s Diet, securing only 47 of the 125 seats up for grabs in the 248-member chamber.<\/p>\n
Sanseit\u014d, a right-wing populist party, surged from one to 14 seats, gaining legislative proposal power. Led by Sohei Kamiya, its anti-LGBTQ stance that includes opposition to marriage equality and school discussions, raises concerns for the community\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n
On July 3, a day after Sanseit\u014d\u2019s campaign<\/a> began, Kamiya, its leader and chief spokesperson, criticized Japan\u2019s gender equality policies as \u201cmisguided.\u201d In a speech, he supported a 100,000 yen ($673.80) monthly child allowance to boost birth rates, but opposed diversity initiatives and gender policies, claiming they weaken traditional Japanese culture.<\/p>\n In campaign materials and voter guides, Kamiya opposed marriage equality<\/a>, the 2023 Act on Promotion of Public Understanding of Diversity of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and LGBTQ education in schools. Sanseit\u014d\u2019s platform, detailed in its official 2025 election manifesto published on its website, rejects these policies, a position Kamiya reinforced in a July 3 speech covered by the Asahi Shimbun<\/a>, one of the oldest Japanese daily newspapers, aligning with the party\u2019s \u201cJapanese First\u201d agenda.<\/p>\n The Diet on June 16, 2023, passed the Act on the Promotion of Public Understanding of Diversity of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity<\/a>. The law mandates that the national government, local authorities, businesses, schools, and employers foster understanding of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, to create a tolerant society and prevent unfair discrimination.<\/p>\n The Washington Blade in March reported<\/a> the Nagoya High Court declared Japan\u2019s lack of legal recognition for same-sex marriages unconstitutional. The ruling strengthened advocates\u2019 push for marriage equality in Japan, the only G7 nation yet to grant such rights.<\/p>\n Five Japanese high courts \u2014 in Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Osaka \u2014 between March 2024 and March 2025 ruled the country\u2019s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, citing violations of constitutional guarantees of equality and individual dignity under Articles 13, 14, and 24.<\/p>\n The Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition\u2019s loss of its House of Councillors majority election, the first since 1955, hinders Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba<\/a>\u2019s ability to advance progressive legislation. The coalition\u2019s minority status in both houses of the Diet requires consensus with opposition parties, such as the Constitutional Democratic Party or the Democratic Party for the People, a challenge given ideological divides and Sanseit\u014d\u2019s growing influence.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not believe that the results of this election have a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ movement in Japan. However, we are concerned that the negative claims and misinformation about LGBTQ+ issues spread by right-wing political candidates and their supporters during the election campaign may have had a negative impact on society,\u201d said Takeharu Kato, director of Marriage for All Japan<\/a>. \u201cWe have not yet fully analyzed the reasons behind the gains made by right-wing parties such as Sanseit\u014d in this election.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, we need to be aware that it is becoming easier for populist parties to gain support due to the spread of social media,\u201d added Kato. \u201cTheir arguments regarding same-sex marriage and transgender issues are completely unfounded, but such claims are being spread on social media without any fact-checking.\u201d<\/p>\n Kato noted the proportion of MPs supporting marriage equality legalization dipped slightly from 46 percent to 45 percent. Kato emphasized that while the election outcome does not fundamentally alter the LGBTQ movement\u2019s strategy, it requires tailored lobbying efforts to navigate the evolving political dynamics.<\/p>\n \u201cAt present, we are analyzing the reasons for the rise of right-wing political parties, and no specific action plan has been decided yet,\u201d said Kato. \u201cSupport for populist parties and politicians is growing worldwide.<\/p>\n Their arguments often have commonalities, such as xenophobia and anti-gender equality. Therefore, I believe it is increasingly important to launch campaigns to counter these movements through international cooperation. Domestically, I also think it is important to collaborate with activists and movements for separate surnames for married couples.\u201d<\/p>\n Kato told the Blade that with minority rights increasingly threatened, Japan\u2019s courts, viewed as the last bastion for protecting human rights, must take bold action. On marriage equality legalization, he urged the judiciary to not only rule the current ban unconstitutional but also direct legislative changes and limit the Diet\u2019s discretion<\/p>\n \u201cEven after this election, the percentage of Diet members who support the legalization of same-sex marriage has remained almost unchanged from before the election. In other words, even after this election, roughly half of Diet members support the legalization of same-sex marriage,\u201d said Kato. \u201cTherefore, the results of this election should not be interpreted as reflecting a negative or cautious public opinion toward the legalization of same-sex marriage. We would like you to report this accurately.\u201d<\/p>\n Akira Nishiyama, an activist with the Japan Alliance for LGBT Legislation<\/a>, told the Blade that Sanseit\u014d\u2019s seat gains in the House of Councillors are likely to amplify discriminatory rhetoric during Diet sessions, potentially hindering progress on sexuality-related bills and policies.<\/p>\n \u201cThe specific details of the basic implementation plan and guidelines under the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Awareness-raising law will be formulated later, therefore we can\u2019t take our eyes off from how the result of election will affect the process of formulation,\u201d said Nishiyama. \u201cIn any case, we intend to confront fake news that is being spread while avoiding drawing too much attention to right-wing and extreme right-wing groups and refraining from contributing to their propaganda.\u201d<\/p>\n Nishiyama said that while resisting right-wing and far-right attacks domestically is essential, the LGBTQ community must avoid letting these groups dominate attention. Instead, collaboration is needed to reinforce freedom, human rights, and democracy. Internationally, Nishiyama urged overseas media to expose the coordinated nature of anti-LGBTQ attacks, tracing their sources and funding, and to highlight any efforts by hegemonic powers to weaken democratic forces through such campaigns.<\/p>\n Mameta Endo, a transgender rights activist in Japan with Niji-zu<\/a>, one of the most visible organizations that provides service for LGBTQ youth in Japan, told the Blade that while major LGBTQ organizations have not formally addressed Sanseito\u2019s rise, activists have expressed alarm at protests. Endo highlighted Kamiya\u2019s public statements, including \u201cWe don\u2019t need LGBT\u201d and \u201cWe don\u2019t need gender-free thinking. Men should be manly, and women should be womanly,\u201d which Endo said feels like a personal denial of his existence.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile Sanseit\u014d remains a minor political party and is unlikely to immediately influence national politics, its distinctive strategy involves spreading misinformation to stir public anxiety toward minorities such as foreigners, thereby inciting the general public,\u201d said Endo. \u201cAlready, during this protest and recent elections, false information about foreigners has spread widely, forcing the media to devote resources to fact-checking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cRegarding LGBTQ issues, a baseless rumor circulated on social media in Saitama Prefecture, claiming that an anti-discrimination ordinance led to gender-neutral restrooms and changing rooms at a welfare facility, causing mass resignations of staff,\u201d noted Endo. \u201cThis misinformation was spread by an advisor to Sanseit\u014d.\u201d<\/p>\n Endo said Sanseit\u014d\u2019s actions have fueled disruptions, including 300 complaints that prompted Saitama\u2019s governor to hold two press conferences to counter false information. Endo said Sanseito supporters have targeted his organization with campaigns<\/a> claiming it seeks to separate children from parents and endanger them.\u00a0<\/p>\n A Sanseit\u014d-affiliated Shibuya City assembly member has also opposed government-hosted LGBTQ youth spaces, citing lack of parental consent.\u00a0<\/p>\n Endo noted Sanseit\u014d\u2019s spread of unfounded claims in education, including LGBTQ grooming conspiracies detailed in their recent TPATH blog article, <\/a>risks stoking parental fear and disrupting schools.<\/p>\n \u201cSanseit\u014d appears to be modeling its approach on that of Donald Trump, seeking out groups it can target in order to attract media attention,\u201d said Endo. \u201cWhile their current focus is primarily on foreigners, there is a growing fear that LGBTQ people may become their next target.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo counter the stream of misinformation they spread, it is essential to conduct rapid fact-checking, push public institutions to issue accurate information, and educate the media,\u201d said Endo. \u201cSanseit\u014d is a newly formed party with underdeveloped policies and frequently shifting positions, which has led to criticism even from some on the political right. It will be important to work with both the ruling and opposition parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, to ensure that accurate information is being disseminated.\u201d<\/p>\n Endo told the Blade that Sanseito\u2019s rise reflects a temporary populist wave, popular among voters under 30, many of whom support marriage equality but may have voted for the party, swayed by TikTok content, unaware of its anti-LGBTQ stance. Citing the Democratic Party for the People\u2019s social media-driven surge six months ago and Shinji Ishimaru<\/a>\u2019s fleeting popularity in the 2024 Tokyo governor election, Endo argued Sanseit\u014d\u2019s support, tied to its anti-foreigner rhetoric amid over-tourism concerns, does not signal a public rejection of LGBTQ policies.<\/p>\n Diego Garcia Rodriguez, a Leverhulme Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham<\/a> and LGBTQ activist, told the Blade that the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition\u2019s loss of its House of Councillors majority likely stems from voter frustration over stagnant wages, rising costs, and trade disputes, rather than a direct rejection of LGBTQ rights.\u00a0<\/p>\n Garcia noted that while 72 percent of Japanese people support marriage equality and all 47 prefectures offer partnership certificates, only four of the Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito\u2019s 79 upper-house candidates backed marriage rights for same-sex couples, reflecting the party\u2019s lag on minority rights. Sanseit\u014d\u2019s pledge to repeal the 2023 LGBT Understanding Promotion Act and its opposition to \u201cexcessive\u201d minority protections could elevate equality debates in future elections, though Garcia believes these were not the decisive factor this time.<\/p>\n \u201cSanseit\u014d\u2019s rise is worrying for many reasons but one of them has to do with\u00a0 long\u2011term equality work obviously,\u201d said Garcia. \u201cBy contrast, progressive reforms are already under way \u2026 So I guess the battle is now between those who want to normalise diversity in classrooms and a fascist noisy group that is determined to roll back that progress.\u201d<\/p>\n Garcia told the Blade that the election has energized queer communities and allies, with Marriage for All Japan and Asuniwa launching a smartphone tool, allowing voters to scan campaign posters to check candidates\u2019 positions on marriage equality, empowering younger voters to hold politicians accountable. Social media sharing of candidate questionnaires has also surged. Garcia, however, noted growing fatigue among activists, campaigning for years, and concern over Sanseit\u014d\u2019s far-right presence in the Diet, shifting advocacy from broad outreach to targeted pressure on lawmakers.<\/p>\n Garcia told the Blade the Act on the Promotion of Public Understanding of Diversity of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is largely symbolic, as its original clause banning discrimination was softened to \u201cthere should be no unfair discrimination\u201d and lacks penalties. Local governments and companies are still adopting training and policies, and more municipalities are enacting ordinances against outing someone\u2019s sexual orientation or gender identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n All 47 prefectures now offer partnership systems. Date, a city in Fukushima Prefecture, for example, providing housing benefits and family recognition.\u00a0<\/p>\n Garcia said the election\u2019s impact on these initiatives hinges on local leadership, as conservative councillors may resist, but many mayors view such measures as ways to attract young residents and investment, regardless of national politics.<\/p>\n \u201cThey should listen to the courts and the people,\u201d he said. \u201cAs I have said before high courts have made it clear that denying same\u2011sex couples the right to marry is unconstitutional, and a large majority of the public supports marriage equality so in my opinion refusing to act not only violates basic rights, but also perpetuates the mental\u2011health crisis documented by ReBit<\/a> if we look at the survey where over half of LGBTQ teens have contemplated suicide in Japan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSo, passing a clear anti\u2011discrimination law and amending the civil code would send a powerful signal that everyone deserves respect and dignity,\u201d added Garcia. \u201cI would also urge lawmakers to protect inclusive education because children should learn that diversity is something they should respect and promote, rather than turning this into a taboo thing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Japan\u2019s Liberal Democratic Party-Komeito coalition on July 20 lost its majority in the upper house of the country\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13929,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[474,8,177,179,2240,180,178,358],"class_list":{"0":"post-13928","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"tag-featured","9":"tag-japan","10":"tag-japans-politics","11":"tag-japanese-politics","12":"tag-liberal-democratic-party","13":"tag-politics","14":"tag-politics-of-japan","15":"tag-sanae-takaichi"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13928","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13928"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13928\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}