2025 Upper House Elections: Eight NGOs issue joint-statement against Japanese political parties targeting foreigners on campaign platforms

Japan elections

By Emmanuel Akyereko

(Managing Editor)

Eight Human Rights non-governmental organisations have issued a joint-statement to condemn the alarming uptick in anti-immigrant rhetoric by political parties ahead of the July 20 Upper House election.

The organisation says it the situation is causing major concerns among foreign nationals living in the East Asian country.

In the statement which has been by Jafriq Radio, sound bites such as “Japanese First” and “revision of preferential treatment for foreigners” have been described as examples of the worrisome trend.

The Human Right organisations have warned that if left unchecked, parties that advocate for such discriminatory policies could make huge strides in the Upper House election and eradicate the prospects of creating an inclusive society.

A total of 125 seats are up for grabs in the July 20 election. These include half of the seats in the Diet chamber and one for the Tokyo electoral district that has become vacant.

Elections are held every three years, with half of the seats up for grabs. This time there are 124 seats plus one extra to fill a vacancy.