Rising Xenophobia fuels Far-Right Rally Near Tokyo
KAWAGUCHI,SAITAMA – A rally led by Yusuke Kawai,president of the far-right Yamato party,drew approximately 200 supporters-primarily women and young adults-to Warabi Station in Kawaguchi,a suburb north of Tokyo,on the evening of September 8,2025. Kawai delivered a message centered on stricter crime enforcement and opposition to immigration.
Kawai, a 40-something Kyoto native wiht a background in humanities, economics, and acting, addressed the crowd from a campaign truck emblazoned with the slogan “Nihonjin First” (“Japanese People First”). He emphasized his commitment to public safety, stating, “I am fighting so that women can once again walk alone in the city at night.”
The gathering took place under heavy police observation as Kawaguchi and the surrounding area have emerged as a key location for increasingly vocal anti-foreigner sentiment in Japan. This surge in xenophobic rhetoric reflects Japan’s longstanding resistance to immigration, deeply held cultural preservation instincts, and growing national anxieties. These factors have contributed to the election of openly xenophobic parties to parliament and increased pressure on the government to implement tighter immigration controls.
