Sanseito Leader Calls for Societal Shift to Encourage Stay-at-Home Mothers

Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya addressed a crowd in Tokyo's Chuo Ward on July 3, marking the beginning of his party's Upper House election campaign. The leader of the right-wing minor opposition party advocated for a societal shift that would encourage more women to prioritize staying home and raising children rather than pursuing full-time careers.

Kamiya, speaking in central Tokyo before the July 20 Upper House election, criticized what he described as Japan's "misguided" emphasis on gender equality policies in recent decades. While acknowledging the value of women in the workforce, he argued that Japan had overemphasized pushing women into the workplace, which he believed contributed to the country's declining birthrate.

a monthly child allowance of 100,000 yen per child until the age of 15. He stated that this level of support would make staying home to raise children a more viable option than part-time work or temporary employment.

Founded in 2020, Sanseito has gained support by advocating for tax cuts, nationalist principles, and a "Japanese First" message that calls for stricter immigration controls. The party currently holds five seats in the Diet, including Kamiya's own.

During the speech, Kamiya also discussed the biological limitations of childbirth, stating that only young women can bear children. Although he clarified that he did not intend to marginalize older women, a portion of the speech referencing this topic was later removed from the party's official YouTube video, attributed to a "technical issue." Kamiya later clarified that while medical advancements have enabled women in their 40s to give birth, there are biological limits. He emphasized that encouraging women of childbearing age to have more children is crucial to addressing Japan's population decline.

Sanseito has made family policy a central focus of its election platform, emphasizing that childbirth and parenting are "core national priorities." The election is seen as a test of the current government, which is facing low public approval ratings due to the cost-of-living crisis and other challenges. Sanseito promotes the idea that being a stay-at-home mother should be recognized as a legitimate and honorable choice, which they believe has been overshadowed by career-focused narratives in recent decades.