The Japanese Communist Party (JCP), which has been a significant presence in leftist politics for over a century, has often pushed for diplomacy focused on peace and has criticized the ruling Liberal Democratic Party regarding its slush fund controversy. However, recent trends suggest that a portion of left-leaning voters is shifting their support towards the newer Reiwa Shinsengumi, which was founded five years ago.

The Reiwa Shinsengumi caught considerable attention during the recent campaign for the October 27 elections when Taro Yamamoto, the party’s leader, delivered a speech that was shared on the social media platform X by Xue Jian, the consul general of the Chinese Consulate in Osaka. Although it remains uncertain how much impact Xue's social media presence, which boasts around 83,000 followers, had on the election results, the party experienced a notable success, gaining nine seats in the Lower House, which tripled their presence. In contrast, the JCP experienced a setback, securing only eight seats, a decrease from the ten they previously held.