The news
Pink can be powerful. Taro Yamamoto recognizes this. Yamamoto, the leader of Japan’s anti-establishment, left-wing Reiwa Shinsengumi party, has embraced pink as an aesthetic, wrapping his movement in the color that appears on everything from posters to campaign cars. Why pink? “Because I like it,” he once replied. It’s that simple.
However, Reiwa Shinsengumi is not a simple left-wing party. In another life, Yamamoto was an actor, best known for his starring role in the 2000 historical Japanese thriller film Battle Royale. Yamamoto plays Shogo in the film, one of the students who fight against a sadistic government program to pit school youth against each other in a deathmatch on the island.
One of Yamamoto’s other acting roles was “Shinsengumi!”, a samurai television drama named after the eponymous Ronin (or “lordless samurai”) group that acted as a police force in 19th-century Kyoto. Reiwa is the name of the current Japanese era, since the ascension of Emperor Naruhito.
The Reiwa Shinsengumi therefore try to evoke an image of roguish warriors, fighting for justice in modern times.
And the party is fighting. Yamamoto launched Reiwa Shinsengumi in 2019 after serving as a lawmaker for the Liberal Party. In that year’s House of Councilors election, the first two names on his list, ahead of himself, were Yasuhiko Funago and Eiko Kimura – who became Japan’s “first legislators with severe disabilities.” Their election literally changed the House of Councilors, which was urged to make changes to allow their entry.
Yamamoto then focused on the race for governor in Tokyo. During his 2020 campaign, at the height of the Covid pandemic, he pledged to hand out cash to residents, following a global wave of support for social safety nets as economic turmoil unfolded. He also pledged strong opposition to the Tokyo Olympics, a hot topic in the city. Yamamoto scored 10%, not nearly what was needed to win, but a significant dent in the big vote.
Know more
Much of Reiwa Shinsengumi’s public profile is defined by their bombastic approach to politics and campaigning. Yamamoto has made international headlines, including an incident last year in which he physically tried to stop the passage of an anti-immigration law.
Lately, the party has taken up the cause of Palestine and participated in protests against Israel. One of Reiwa Shinsengum’s lawmakers, Akiko Oishi, has spoken out on the issue, accusing Israel of “violating international law by committing genocide.”
Reiwa lawmakers also know how to attract media attention. Oishi once protested a budget by essentially ‘slowing down’ her vote in parliament.
They also take some positions that are divisive among progressives. Reiwa Shinsengumi has campaigned against the Japanese government’s support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian invasion, prioritizing what they see as a “pro-peace” stance. And the party is known for its support among anti-vaxxers and other science skeptics, as part of their broader distrust of government.
According to the latest forecasts for the Japanese elections, Yamamoto’s party will increase its share of seats in the lower house by double or more. Although the Shinsengumi still have a long way to go on the road to real influence, a rosy foothold in parliament could be consolidated. Considering everything, it’s understandable why pink is Yamamoto’s personal preference. It’s a splash on the wall and impossible to ignore.
Remarkable
Yamamoto is not the only actor to have made a career in Japanese politics. Entertainers and celebrities of all kinds have a long history of political success in the country.
