In last month’s (July 2025) House of Councillors (upper house) elections in Japan, the national vote share of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), fell to 21.6% – its lowest result in the party’s history. Plus Sanseitō, a far right party, made a dramatic advance by securing a 12.6% share of the national vote.
In this No Cold War Perspectives video, Seishi Hinada, in discussion with Anlin Wang, explains this recent election in the context of the history of the LDP. Also discussed is Trumps recent imposition of tariffs on Japan, alongside the stepped up strengthening of Japan’s military – and increasing international operations coordinated with the US and its allies.
Japan’s current militarisation is taking place, despite it not having properly addressed its war crimes prior to its defeat in 1945. It is concerning that it is participating in plans for another war with China, which the Japanese anti-war movement ZENKO is campaigning against.
Hinada, Seishi has been involved in the ZENKO (National Assembly for Peace & Democracy) movement since his student days, participating in peace activism, postwar compensation campaigns, and anti-base struggles in Hiroshima.
Currently, ZENKO is continuing protest and advocacy actions in Japan targeting Israeli partner corporations and the government, to help stop the massacre in Gaza. In particular, it is campaigning to withdraw major Japanese arms manufacturers (such as MHI, IHI, and MELCO) from the international supply chain for the F-35I Adir fighter jets, the main aircraft used by the IDF in bombing Gaza.
It is also running the ZHAP (ZENKO Henoko Anti-base Project) campaign to oppose the construction of a new base in Henoko, Okinawa, and to stop the militarization of the entire East Asia region in preparation for war against China.
By connecting comrades in the U.S. DSA with those engaged in anti-base movements in Taiwan, Korea, and Okinawa, ZENKO aims to build cross-border grassroots solidarity, strengthen dialogue and diplomacy over military deterrence, and raise international public opinion for disarmament and peace—pressuring governments to shift their policies.
Hinada is also a member of the MDS (Movement for Democratic Socialism).
Anlin Wang has been organizing with the Democratic Socialists of America since 2018 and served on the International Committee since 2019, where he currently leads their China Working Group and serves as a liaison to No Cold War.
Anlin is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and remains active in local organizing, where he has served on leadership of peoples’ movement organizations, worked as an organizer for progressive candidates seeking office, and acted as DSA liaison to events and movements in the region.
No Cold War Perspectives #17 Video