Outside a train station near Tokyo, hundreds of people cheer as Sohei Kamiya, head of the surging nationalist party Sanseito, criticizes Japan’s rapidly growing foreign population.
As opponents, separated by uniformed police and bodyguards, accuse him of racism, Kamiya shouts back, saying he is only talking common sense.
Sanseito, while still a minor party, made big gains in July’s parliamentary election, and Kamiya’s “Japanese First” platform of anti-globalism, anti-immigration and anti-liberalism is gaining broader traction ahead of a ruling party vote Saturday that will choose the likely next prime minister.
All developed nations are going to realize they are in a population crisis in the coming decades. It’s no surprise to see bigotry/xenophobia/conservatism hurting the future of a nation, but it’s a bit surprising to see how popular it is across the globe.
I mean, I’m in the US and we are batshit stupid about it too. It’s been the joke all my life about how Social Security won’t be there when I retire one day. So hey instead of adding some of our most efficient workers (low pay, high labor output) to the tax base, let’s commit crimes against humanity! Yeeeeehaw!
We all know the brain drain started in academia, but I’m surprised I don’t hear about it in just about every field.