Sohei Kamiya (神谷 宗幣, Kamiya Sōhei, born 12 October 1977) is a Japanese politician who is the founder and Secretary General of the right-wing populist political party Sanseitō. Kamiya has been serving as a member of the House of Councillors since 2022 through the Proportional Representation Block.
Sohei Kamiya | |
|---|---|
| 神谷 宗幣 | |
_(cropped).jpg) Kamiya in 2023 | |
| Secretary General of Sanseitō | |
| Assumed office 17 March 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of the House of Councillors | |
| Assumed office 26 July 2022 | |
| Constituency | Proportional Representation Block |
| Member of the Suita City Council | |
| In office 27 May 2007 – 26 December 2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 October 1977 Takahama, Fukui, Japan |
| Political party | Sanseitō (2020–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2015–2020) Liberal Democratic (2012–2015) Suita Shinsengai (2007–2012) |
| Alma mater | Kansai University (BLitt), (J.D.) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | https://www.kamiyasohei.jp/ |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Ground Self-Defense Force |
| Years of service | 2012–2022 |
| Rank | Sergeant (Japanese: Santō rikusō) |
| Unit | Reserves |
A conspiracy theorist who promotes COVID-19 misinformation and anti-vaccine propaganda,[1] Kamiya gained international media attention while campaigning for the 2022 House of Councillors election due to his antisemitic rhetoric during public appearances and campaign rallies.[2] His party has been described as a cult by his political opponents.[3]
Early life
editKamiya was born in Takahama, Fukui. In 1996, he graduated from Fukui Prefectural Wakasa High School, majoring in science and mathematics. He then entered Kansai University's Faculty of Letters, Department of History and Geography (now called the Department of General Humanities). He moved to Suita, Osaka after graduating from the same university in 2001. He became a lecturer at Fukui Prefectural Wakasa Higashi High School. In 2002, he became an employee of Kamiya Store, a company run by his parents, and served as a store manager. In 2003, he made a short return as a lecturer at Fukui Prefectural Wakasa Higashi High School. In 2004, he enrolled in Kansai University Law School's Legal Professional Training Course, completing his studies in 2007 and obtaining a Juris Doctor degree.[4]
Political career
editEarly years
editIn the 2007 Japanese local elections, Kamiya ran for the Suita City Council and was elected. He was inaugurated as a councilor on May 27, 2007.[5] Kamiya founded the regional political party Suita Shinsengai in the same year. In 2010, he became a representative of the Kansai State Politicians Federation. In June of the same year, he established the Ryoma Project National Association and assumed the position of chairman. In 2011, Kamiya was re-elected as a member of the Suita City Council. He was then elected as the Vice Chairman of the City Council.[5]
In November 2012, Kamiya joined the Liberal Democratic Party and became the head of the party's Osaka 13th district (Higashiosaka) branch,[6] replacing House of Representatives member Akira Nishino. Kamiya then resigned from his seat in the Suita City Council to run for the 2012 Japanese general election,[7] with then-LDP President Shinzo Abe personally campaigning on behalf of Kamiya,[8] but lost to Koichi Nishino from the Japan Restoration Party.
In 2013, Kamiya founded a YouTube channel named "ChGrandStrategy", promoting far-right politics, historical revisionism, and conspiracy theories.[4] As of June 2023, the channel has 338,000 subscribers and over 3,000 videos.
In the 2015 Japanese local elections, Kamiya ran for the Osaka Prefectural Assembly as an Independent candidate for Suita's electoral district, but was defeated, placing 6th out of 6 candidates.[4]
Sanseitō era
edit
In 2019, Kamiya launched an online political organization "政党DIY" (Political party DIY). A year later in March 2020, he formed the political party "Sanseitō" alongside Manabu Matsuda, Yuya Watase, and Tsuneichiro Shinohara, and assumed the position of Secretary General.
On July 10, 2022, Kamiya filed his candidacy for the 2022 House of Councillors election for the Proportional Representation Block and was elected.[9][10] He was inaugurated on July 26, 2022.
On January 30, 2023, five senior members of Sanseitō, including Kamiya, were sued by the NHK Party on the grounds of fraud.[11] At a speech held in Shimonoseki on January 31, 2023, Kamiya criticized the NHK Party, claiming that "The NHK Party has executives who have ties to radical leftist groups and anti-Japan forces." In response, the NHK Party filed another lawsuit on February 2, 2023, claiming 100 million yen in damages against the Sanseitō and Kamiya.[11]
Controversies
editAntisemitism
editWhile campaigning for Sanseitō in the 2022 Japanese House of Councillors election, Kamiya told the crowd that "Sanseitō would not sell out Japan to Jewish capital," a remark that was greeted with applause at the time but later resulted in international media coverage and condemnation.[12]
In one of his own publications, Kamiya stated, "The powerful, who aim to create huge profits by selling vaccines and medicines, are actively calling for the wearing of masks through mass media such as newspapers and television in order to excessively inflame fear of the COVID-19 pandemic." He further explained that "the powerful" refers to international financial capital and multinational corporations. In the same book, Kamiya described these financial capital and multinational global corporations as "Jewish". When Kamiya appeared on a televised interview on August 18, 2022 after being elected to the House of Councillors, he said, "It is true that Jewish capital is involved, but I think it was wrong to write it in such a way that it could be misinterpreted as if it were all done by Jews, so I will have to correct it in the future."[13]
Political views
editForeign policy
edit- Kamiya believes that Japanese sanctions on Russia should be weakened.[14][15]
- Kamiya believes that the Japanese government should take a "stronger stance" on China regarding the Senkaku Islands dispute and the Taiwan issue.[14]
- To improve Japan–South Korea relations, Kamiya believes that both sides should take mutual concessions on "conflicting issues".[14] However, Kamiya is opposed to the construction of the proposed Japan–Korea Undersea Tunnel.[16]
Defense and security policy
edit- Kamiya is in favour of repealing and abolishing Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution for Japan to remilitarize and establish a standing armed forces.[14][17][18]
- Kamiya believes that Japan's Defense spending should be increased to 2% of the gross domestic product.[14]
- Kamiya is in favor of Japan's Self Defense Forces being permitted to pre-emptively strike enemy forces in an event of "inevitable armed conflict", which is currently prohibited in accordance to the Constitution.[14][17][18]
- Kamiya believes that Japan should possess nuclear weapons.[14]
Economic policy
edit- Kamiya is in support of Abenomics, but believes that reforms are needed for the economic policy to be a success.[14]
- Kamiya believes that the Bank of Japan should return to tightened monetary policy.[14]
- Kamiya is in support of lowering the consumption tax, and is opposed to progressive tax.[14]
- Kamiya believes that nuclear power is necessary for the time being, but should slowly be phased out.[14]
Social policy
edit- Kamiya is opposed to the legalization of same-sex marriage.[14][19]
- Kamiya is opposed to couples adopting different surnames.[14][19]
- Kamiya is opposed to having a female heir in Japan's Imperial Family.[14][19]
- On COVID-19 vaccination in Japan, Kamiya believes that the government has "no affairs on the lives of individuals," opposing public-funded programs to encourage vaccination to the populace.[20]
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamiya asserted, "The people have the right to not wear masks."[21] He further clarified that he adheres to health protocols, stating, "I wear masks on planes."[22]
Personal life
editIn 2017, Kamiya married Fumi Kamiya, a former staff member of his office while serving as Suita City Councilor. The couple have one son and one daughter.[23]
Publications
editAuthored publications
edit- Sohei, Kamiya (2013).Turn on Japan's switch – The future can be changed by our own hands![24]
- Sohei, Kamiya (2014). Ignite the Yamato Spirit – Switch on Japan 2[25]
- Sohei, Kamiya (2016). Learning from Ryoma Sakamoto "The power to make allies"[26]
- Sohei, Kamiya (2019). The "Real Japan" that I want to tell my children[27]
- Sohei, Kamiya (2020). Japanese Changemakers: 10 Years of the Ryoma Project ISBN 978-4-792-60729-6
- Sohei, Kamiya (2022). Sanseitō Q&A Book Basic Edition ISBN 978-4-792-60720-3
Co-authored publications
edit- Satoshi, Fujii (2014). The Philosophy of politics[28]
- Kurayama, Mitsuru (2016). Take your time and learn! Modern Japanese history ISBN 978-4-908-18226-6
- Yoshino, Toshiaki (2022). Sanseitō: The party that awakens the people ISBN 978-4-792-60720-3
References
edit- ^ "Populist Sanseito party rising through rhetoric seen on YouTube". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ Beck, Atara (2022-07-12). "Japanese politician who railed against 'Jewish capital' wins parliamentary seat". WIN. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "参院選のダークホース「参政党」の正体に迫る 〈#カルトじゃない〉と主張するが実態は？｜日刊ゲンダイDigital". 日刊ゲンダイDigital. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ a b c "神谷宗幣（かみやソウヘイ）の公式サイト". 政治家 神谷宗幣（かみやソウヘイ）の公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ a b "市長・知事・議員の任期満了日等｜吹田市公式ウェブサイト". 吹田市公式ウェブサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "【衆院選】自民大阪府連、泉大津市長と吹田市議擁立へ – MSN産経west". 2012-11-24. Archived from the original on 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ 【2012衆院選】安倍晋三総裁の神谷宗幣への応援演説（安倍さんの神谷さんへの期待や熱い想いが詰まっています！）【東大阪市・若江岩田駅前】【字幕あり】, retrieved 2023-06-17
- ^ "【衆院選】大阪１３区で自民が"無血開城" 西野氏引退で長男の維新府議が出馬へ（1/2ページ） – MSN産経west". 2012-11-29. Archived from the original on 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "参院選2022 比例区の候補者一覧・開票結果". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "参政党が１議席獲得、神谷宗幣氏が初当選". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ a b "参政党「神谷氏」の目前でNHK党が"迷惑運動" JR桜木町駅前で記者が見たおぞましすぎる光景とは". デイリー新潮 (in Japanese). 2023-02-10. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
- ^ "Populist Japanese Politician Who Railed Against 'Jewish Capital' Wins Parliamentary Seat - Algemeiner.com". www.algemeiner.com. 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "参政党・神谷宗幣氏を生直撃 "ユダヤ陰謀論"修正のワケは…【深層NEWS】". 2022-08-21. Archived from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "神谷宗幣｜参政｜比例｜第26回参院選｜毎日新聞". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ 日本放送協会. "[NHK参議院選挙]比例代表 候補者アンケート – 参院選2022 NHK". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "参政党 日韓トンネル 統一教会 笹川一族 自民党別働隊 のウソ". 政治家 神谷宗幣（かみやソウヘイ）の公式サイト (in Japanese). 2022-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ a b "神谷宗幣 参議院選挙・開票結果2022(比例代表)". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2022-06-22. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ a b 日本放送協会. "[NHK参議院選挙]比例代表 候補者アンケート – 参院選2022 NHK". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ a b c 日本放送協会. "[NHK参議院選挙]比例代表 候補者アンケート – 参院選2022 NHK". www.nhk.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "初当選した参政党・神谷宗幣氏、ワクチン接種「任意なのに同調圧力かかるのはおかしい」". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ 日本放送協会. "新興勢力「参政党」 国政政党目指す戦い 初の議席獲得". NHK政治マガジン (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "参政党の神谷宗幣氏「参院選議席獲得は確信」…自民批判票の受け皿に 2023年統一地方選の党勢拡大にも意欲 | 政治・行政 | 福井のニュース". 福井新聞ONLINE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ はっち (2022-12-26). "神谷宗幣の嫁が美人！子供は何人で性別は？【顔画像】馴れ初めまで政治一筋！". はっちちゃんねる (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- ^ "『日本のスイッチを入れる~未来は、自分たちの手で変えられる! ~』｜感想・レビュー". 読書メーター (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "『大和魂に火をつけよう-日本のスイッチを入れる2』｜感想・レビュー". 読書メーター (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "『坂本龍馬に学ぶ「仲間をつくる力」』｜感想・レビュー・試し読み". 読書メーター (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "『子供たちに伝えたい「本当の日本」』｜感想・レビュー・試し読み". 読書メーター (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ^ "『新・政(まつりごと)の哲学』｜感想・レビュー". 読書メーター (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-18.