‘Japanese First’: The deep roots of the rising far right

Japan’s far-right Sanseito party won a record number of seats in the country’s recent upper-house elections, stripping the ruling party of its majority and cementing itself as an outspoken voice against immigration. The “Japanese First” group, which first came to prominence with its strident opposition to Covid-19 health measures, takes inspiration directly from far-right political forces abroad – including France’s National Rally and US President Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.