Kabukicho Nightlife Residents, Not Just Hosts, Show Support for Sanseitō

Are the hosts enthusiastically supporting it?

With the Upper House election day of July 20 fast approaching, attention is focused on the battle between the ruling coalition, which aims to maintain a majority, and the opposition parties, which are striving for a reversal. Amid this, the Sanseitō — which made significant gains in the Tokyo metropolitan assembly election — has emerged as a potential game-changer.

The party has continued to gain momentum, reportedly topping polls in the Tokyo district in late-stage surveys. However, controversy surrounds its platform: critics warn that its “Japan First” slogan could encourage xenophobia, and one of its candidates appearing on a Russian-affiliated media outlet has raised suspicions of possible foreign election interference by Russia.

Now, reports suggest that Sanseitō is garnering support from the nightlife community of Kabukichō. Social media accounts under host club names have been posting guides on how to vote for Sanseitō or its candidates, noting that proof-of-voting certificates could be used as discount vouchers at certain clubs. A candidate responded to one such post with thanks, sparking debate.

In addition, a host affiliated with a major host club group wrote on social media: “All of us will be voting in the Upper House election. By the way, there are nearly 10,000 votes sleeping just in Kabukichō hosts alone. We have rights too.” The post gained attention, especially as it included hashtags with the party and candidate names.

So is Sanseitō really gaining ground among Kabukichō’s nightlife workers? And if so, why? A visit to the area revealed some unexpected perspectives.

90% don’t even vote

Support for the Sanseitō by influencers in the host world seems to extend beyond the previously mentioned establishments. On X, a post that could be interpreted as instructing employees to vote for the Sanseitō has caused a stir. Mr. T (in his 20s), a host affiliated with the major host group “Fuyutsuki Group,” says he has no intention of supporting any specific party in this election. He added that the comments made by hosts on social media, which drew attention, were likely just performance.

“Our shop is part of the same group as the person who went viral on X, but to be honest, most hosts aren’t interested in elections at all. What’s more of an issue is the revised Entertainment Business Law. They’re saying ‘There are nearly 10,000 votes sleeping in Kabukichō,’ but I think 90% of those people won’t even go vote. They should already know that hosts aren’t interested in politics. At our shop, it doesn’t matter who votes for which party, and we don’t interfere with personal beliefs. It’s just something the person who made the post said,” said Mr. T.

The opinion shared by internal staff from the same group was also very composed.

“What hosts care about is their customers and their sales. Because they have clients and money, they’re able to speak out. Influencers are probably trying to make themselves look bigger in new ways.

I work behind the scenes and I know how much effort successful hosts put in, but even so, I don’t think most people could follow if we suddenly started talking about politics. However, if the revised Entertainment Business Law significantly affects sales, it’s possible that a real organizational voting bloc could emerge in the next election.”

In addition to hosts, people working in the nighttime area around Shinjuku and Kabukichō were asked about the upcoming Upper House election. Only about 20% said they planned to vote, and the majority of young people in their teens and twenties answered that they wouldn’t. It appears most people have little interest.

Some complaints unique to “Kabukicho residents”

A woman in her 20s working at a concept café near Tōyoko who was out soliciting customers was one of the few who said she would go vote. She doesn’t support any specific party but said, “Taxes and everything are high, so I think a party that would lower them would be good. I think the Sanseitō seems nice.” She seems to have some dissatisfaction with the current administration and considers Sanseitō as one of her voting options.

The concerns she shared were unique to someone living in Kabukichō.

“The phrase ‘Japan First’ is easy to remember, and I’d like it to be that way. A lot of foreigners come to Kabukichō, and I often get approached. Maybe because other countries don’t have this kind of concept café culture, some people come up just to tease or mess around, or try to take pictures with me when they’re drunk. They don’t speak Japanese, and it can be scary. If there’s a party that would regulate the disruptive behavior of such foreigners for the sake of Japanese people, then I think that’s a good party.”

Talking to other Sanseitō supporters revealed that many are drawn to the party’s slogans like “Protect Japan” and “Make Japan Prosperous.” But these policies are not unique to Sanseitō. In other words, what seems more important than the content of the policies is how clearly they’re expressed.

A man in his 20s working at a girls’ bar who supports Sanseitō also said the party lowers the barrier to political participation. But there seem to be other reasons as well.

“Other parties talk about things like tax cuts, too, but I don’t really get their policies. Sanseitō makes things easy to understand. Also, most politicians seem condescending, but Sanseitō doesn’t feel that way — they feel more relatable and give off the vibe that they might actually change our lives.

Also, the name sounds cool. Plus, it kind of makes you look like you know what you’re talking about if you support a party that’s being bashed by the public. When a customer asks about politics, it’s convenient because I can give a decent-sounding reply. If I just say something like ‘About the foreigners—’ it makes me seem like I’m watching the news or something.”

Hearing directly from people on the ground revealed that those who say they’ll vote are in the minority, and not everyone is particularly interested. Even among those who support Sanseitō, it seems they each have their own various reasons beyond simply agreeing with policies or identifying with the party’s stance. Above all, it feels a bit strange that hosts would support Sanseitō, which actually backed the revised Entertainment Business Law.

That said, if simple and accessible messages get people interested in politics and lead to those who normally don’t vote actually participating in elections, that in itself is certainly a positive development.