Sohei Kamiya, leader of the Sanseitō party, has gained sudden popularity in Japan’s Upper House elections. However, his past statements and actions have raised concerns. Weekly magazine Shukan Shincho explored his background and uncovered aspects of his persona.
On July 3, during the election campaign, Kamiya spoke in Tokyo wearing the party’s signature orange tie. He commented on biological realities about women, which was criticized for insensitivity. Despite this, the Sanseitō party promotes strict immigration rules, tax reductions, and organic school meals.
Currently, Sanseitō holds one seat in the Upper House. Polls show growing support, suggesting they might secure more seats across regions. Kamiya’s controversial views and alleged conspiracy theories raise questions among observers.
Born in Fukui Prefecture in 1977, Kamiya was popular and influential in school, known for sports and leadership. His rebellious efforts led to changed rules in his high school, showcasing his early leadership skills.
After high school, he studied history at Kansai University and traveled extensively, which was pivotal in shaping his worldview. His travels made him appreciate his Japanese identity and taught him gratitude. Despite his achievements and appeal, his potential ties to conspiracy theories remain a point of contention in his political career.
After returning to Japan, Sohei Kamiya underwent significant changes, urging friends to rethink their lives and eventually deciding to pursue a political career to establish a platform for spreading his messages. Although he had no political connections, he enrolled in a law school in Osaka to become a lawyer. However, Kamiya faced challenges when his family’s supermarket business struggled, and he took on the role of store manager after university. Alongside this, he taught English at a high school to support the business while attending law school on weekends.
Unfortunately, the supermarket couldn’t be saved and closed down. Around the same time, Kamiya’s long-term girlfriend left him for someone else, leaving him devastated. He later wrote about this difficult period, expressing feelings of despair and thoughts of giving up.
Despite these setbacks, Kamiya focused on obtaining various qualifications and passed several exams. Eventually, he chose to join the newly established law school at Kansai University at age 26. During this time, he interned under a city council member, which paved the way for his political career. In April 2007, he ran as an independent candidate in the Suita City Council election in Osaka and was elected at just 29 years old.
The continuation of this story delves into the reasons former aides distanced themselves from Kamiya and their insights into his controversial nature.After returning to Japan, Sohei Kamiya, leader of the Sanseitō party, felt inspired to change his life and pursue a political career—even though he was just a 22-year-old university student with no political connections. He decided to study law and enrolled in a legal prep school in Osaka.
However, he faced significant setbacks. When his family’s supermarket business faced bankruptcy, Kamiya took over as the store manager after graduation to try and save it while teaching English at a local high school to earn needed funds. Despite his efforts, the business ultimately failed, and around the same time, his long-term girlfriend left him for someone else. Kamiya writes in his book about this period, stating that he felt his life was over and had thoughts of despair.
Amidst these struggles, he turned to gaining qualifications, earning a variety of licenses and passing teaching and police exams. At 26, he chose to enter the newly established Kansai University Law School. While in school, he interned under a city council member. Though he didn’t pursue the bar exam, he ran as an independent candidate in the 2007 Suita City Council election and won at the age of 29.
The later part of the article hints at insights from Kamiya’s former aides on reasons for leaving his party and further details on his public persona.
by MagazineKey4532