Sanseito Achieves Milestone in Tokyo Assembly While Saisei no Michi Fails to Secure Seats

On June 22, Sohei Kamiya, the leader of the Sanseito party, addressed supporters at the party’s headquarters in Tokyo's Minato Ward following the Tokyo metropolitan assembly elections. The Sanseito party, a newcomer in Japanese politics, marked a significant achievement by winning their first assembly seats thanks to candidates Masanori Mochizuki and Sanae Ezaki, who were successful in Setagaya and Nerima Wards respectively. Their campaign emphasized conservative principles aligned with a "Japanese First" ideology, drawing parallels to the "America First" rhetoric of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Mochizuki, reflecting on his victory, attributed the win to the diligent efforts made by party members and emphasized that this was merely a milestone in their political journey as they prepared for upcoming elections. The Sanseito party gained traction by advocating for policies such as a 50% cut in the metropolitan residential tax, public ownership of essential services, and financial assistance to families in need.

In contrast, the newly formed Saisei no Michi, led by Shinji Ishimaru, faced a disheartening defeat, failing to secure any seats despite fielding 42 candidates across 35 districts. Ishimaru, who previously gained notoriety for his respectable showing in the Tokyo gubernatorial race, expressed satisfaction with the party’s goal to participate in the election, even without direct electoral success. The party struggled to present a cohesive policy platform and faced challenges in establishing candidate recognition amongst voters.

The candidates for Saisei no Michi were given the freedom to create their own campaign messages, yet many voters remained unsure about the party's identity and objectives. Ishimaru’s absence from the ballot and last-minute decision-making significantly hindered the party's campaign efforts. Despite a strong initial applicant pool, the party’s lack of concrete policies and clarity ultimately contributed to its unsuccessful bid in the Tokyo assembly elections.