Even With a Conservative PM, Sanseitō Refuses to Fade—Miyagi Election’s Photo Finish Stuns Japan

Pushing aside the candidate backed by the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Communist Party

“This was my sixth gubernatorial election, but I have never experienced anything like this before.”

So said Yoshihiro Murai (65), who won the Miyagi gubernatorial election held on October 26, securing his sixth term.

Murai was first elected governor in November 2005. A veteran, he worked tirelessly on the response to and recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, and also served as chair of the National Governors’ Association. This time, however, he faced an intense struggle.

He fought a close battle with Masamune Wada (51), a former LDP House of Councillors member, and the race was only decided after midnight. The margin was a mere 15,815 votes. Voter turnout fell sharply to 46.50%, compared to 56.29% in the previous election.

Murai had the backing of the LDP—the largest bloc in the prefectural assembly—as well as Komeito and Nippon Ishin. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (64) also sent a video message in support.

Wada, on the other hand, entered into a policy agreement with the Sanseitō party.

Sanseitō leader Sohei Kamiya (48), who spoke with reporters during the campaign, emphasized that the party was supporting Wada with its full strength. In fact, Kamiya visited the district four times, including once before the official campaign announcement on October 9, to energize Wada’s campaign.

In the end, the incumbent’s staying power prevailed, but in Nagatachō there is widespread surprise at the unexpected display of Sanseitō power.

“At the time of the campaign announcement, Murai’s opponent was Miyuki Yusami (62), a candidate supported by Constitutional Democratic Party and Communist Party-affiliated prefectural assembly members. Then Wada, backed by Sanseitō, jumped into the race and stole the spotlight. As election day approached, the gap narrowed, and the final difference was only 15,815 votes. Some predicted that with the transition to the Takaichi administration, whose ideology is similar, Sanseitō’s influence would fade. But not at all—the election proved it’s no passing fad.”

So said a political insider interviewed by this site, unable to hide his astonishment.

There is no doubt that Sanseitō has become a new home for conservative LDP supporters who drifted away during the Ishiba administration. In the recent House of Councillors election, the party surged to 15 seats including non-contested seats, marking a major breakthrough.

With the shift to the more conservative Takaichi administration, many watched closely to see how this would affect the party—but judging from the Miyagi gubernatorial race, Sanseitō’s momentum has not slowed at all. A national newspaper political reporter familiar with the party explains:

“The source of Sanseitō’s strength is the local level. They have long focused on local assemblies, where election thresholds are low, sending large numbers of members into office. They created branches across the country and expanded support from the grassroots. Under the liberal-leaning Ishiba administration, they championed ‘Japan First’ and quickly blossomed. The party now has more than 150 local assembly members. With such strong local roots, they cannot be underestimated.”

At the same time, they waged an aerial battle on social media.

Supporters nearly came to blows

Kamiya criticized Miyagi Prefecture for selling the operating rights of its water services to a private corporation, saying it had been

“sold to foreign capital.”

The prefecture countered that although the purchasing corporation includes foreign-affiliated firms, the major shareholders are Japanese companies, and therefore

“there is no fact that it was sold to foreign capital.”

On social media, a flood of unverifiable videos circulated on topics such as accepting foreign residents, mega-solar construction, and burial grounds for traditional earth burials.

“Sanseitō signed a policy memorandum with Wada promoting the re-municipalization of water services and fully backed him. Malicious disinformation targeting Murai also spread, leaving deep scars. During the campaign, their street speeches frequently overlapped, creating situations where supporters from both sides nearly clashed.”

(Local media source)

Although they narrowly lost this time, Sanseitō plans to field candidates in mayoral and gubernatorial races nationwide. After the Miyagi gubernatorial election, Kamiya commented:

“We pushed the incumbent to within one step, and that alone is significant. We want to refine our strategy and carry it into the next battle.”

He seemed to feel more momentum than frustration.

Commenting on Sanseitō’s strong showing in the Miyagi gubernatorial race, political analyst Harumi Arima told this site:

“Some predicted that once Takaichi became prime minister, Sanseitō supporters would return to the LDP. But Sanseitō still has momentum. This Miyagi race gave them even more confidence—‘We can do even better.’ Kamiya’s repeated visits to the region made a huge difference. His personal popularity is extremely strong.”

In the Diet, Sanseitō has clearly opposed the ruling coalition’s move to reduce the number of Diet seats. Although they still share ideological affinity with the “Takaichi LDP,” they appear to be steering toward asserting stronger independence.

As the aforementioned national newspaper reporter put it:

“If a snap general election is called, Sanseitō may emerge as the third conservative force after the LDP and the Democratic Party for the People.”

It seems they can no longer be dismissed as a minor fringe party.