Evening Briefing Held on Tuesday
In an unprecedented turn of events, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito have lost their majority in both houses of Japan's National Diet, plunging the country into political instability and uncertainty. This decline culminated in the July 20, 2025 House of Councillors election, where the LDP lost a substantial margin, marking the first time since its establishment in 1955 that it lacks majorities in both legislative chambers[1][2][4].
The rise of Sanseito, a small right-wing, populist, ultra-nationalist party, has significantly contributed to this crisis. Sanseito's success defies expectations: it increased its representation from just a few seats to 15 out of 248 in the upper house and 3 in the lower house, along with numerous municipal seats[2][5]. Its platform features strong xenophobic, anti-globalist, anti-immigration rhetoric, echoing "Trumpism" with slogans like "Japanese First," and channeling public discontent related to economic stagnation, immigration concerns, and distrust in traditional institutions[2][5].
Sanseito's surge symbolizes and intensifies a broader crisis of trust in institutions and a fragmentation of Japan’s political landscape, echoing populist and nationalist trends seen in the US and Europe. Its electoral gains have weakened the LDP's legislative control, impairing stable governance and leading to a likely period of political gridlock or "aimless political drifting" as no party commands a clear majority[3]. The failure to maintain majorities restricts the ruling coalition’s ability to pass key policies, including energy and climate legislation, and complicates Japan's economic policy amid rising costs of living and geopolitical tensions[1][4].
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba remains in office to avoid disruption but is politically weakened and faces pressure amid scandals and electoral setbacks. The political stalemate underscores Japan’s deepening political fragilization, where rising populism and right-wing extremism challenge the long-standing dominance and stability of the LDP, potentially reshaping Japan’s democracy in the coming years[2][3][5].
Meanwhile, in other news, thousands gathered in Emskirchen, leading to police intervention. The Ukrainian government has deployed the First Corps of the Ukrainian National Guard to the area for reinforcement as Russian troops have advanced around 15 kilometers northwest of the city of Pokrovsk in Donbass, threatening an important supply route between Pokrovsk and Kramatorsk[6]. Ukrainian military observers warn of a possible collapse and the loss of large areas in eastern Ukraine.
In Germany, Friedrich Merz was elected Federal Chancellor 100 days ago and has passed tax relief for companies and implemented the promise of rejections at the borders. However, recent surveys show the Union losing support, while the AfD gains. Only 29% of respondents have positive views about Merz's first 100 days according to the RTL/NTV's "Trendbarometer," and only a quarter (23%) of Germans are optimistic that Merz is setting the right course for the future, according to the Ipsos institute[7][8]. Spending on citizen's income continues to rise, while harsher sanctions are not in place, and there were no major reliefs in terms of bureaucracy reduction, and new EU requirements may increase the burden on companies in the near future.
In entertainment news, the 35-year-old US pop star Taylor Swift announced her twelfth studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," with a countdown on taylorswift.com. Rainer Winkler from Emskirchen, Bavaria, is Germany's most famous cyberbullying victim. He disappeared after selling his house in October 2021, but his harassers continue.
Next week, Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with American President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. The advance was made without reinforcement by armored vehicles and in small numbers, but Putin can face Trump with the knowledge that time is running in Russia's favor in the war of attrition with Ukraine. The economy has even shrunk recently, and the Silence E-Ride, an elegant, well-crafted e-bike offering a great riding experience, is not a jack-of-all-trades, and its high price tag might deter some. A Chinese coast guard ship and a Chinese warship attempted to ram a Philippine coast guard ship within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
References: 1. Nikkei Asia 2. The Japan Times 3. The Diplomat 4. Bloomberg 5. Kyodo News 6. Reuters 7. Deutsche Welle 8. Ipsos
- The surge of the populist and nationalist Sanseito party in Japan's politics has led to a significant shift in policy-and-legislation, as the party's anti-immigration and anti-globalist stance has weakened the Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) legislative control, impacting energy and climate legislation, economic policy, and general news related to Japan's political landscape.
- Meanwhile, amid war-and-conflicts in Ukraine and political instability in Japan, the policy-and-legislation developments in these countries, driven by populist and nationalist trends, are reflective of the broader global political climate, highlighting the importance of informed discussions and monitoring in the realm of politics.
