Populist Sanseito’s rise is eroding the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s dominance and reshaping Japan’s traditionally staid political landscape, as Maroosha Muzaffar reports

The success of the Sanseito party could reshape Japan’s domestic and foreign policy. It also aligns Japan with political trends in many other parts of the world.

Sanseito, a Japanese populist party that draws inspiration from Donald Trump's politics, is gaining support ahead of Sunday's upper house elections, suggesting a notable shift in the country's traditionally centrist landscape.

The ruling LDP and its junior partner Komeito both suffered significant losses amid widespread concerns over the rising cost of living and hostility to the political establishment as a whole.

Japan’s voters dealt Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) with yet another devastating blow on Sunday, the second electoral loss since coming into office last fall.

Exit polls suggest Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition is likely to lose a majority its majority in the smaller of Japan’s two parliamentary houses in a key election.

Japan’s shaky ruling coalition is likely to lose its majority in the upper house, exit polls showed after Sunday’s election, potentially heralding political turmoil as a tariff deadline with the United States looms.

The era of predictable elections is over, though Prime Minister Ishiba vows to remain in office. Mr. Kirk, based in Seoul and Washington, has been covering Asia for decades for newspapers and magazines and is the author of books on Korea, the Vietnam War and the Philippines.