European Immigration Politics and its mobilization in Japan

Abstract

Anti-migration became one of the most discussed topics during the national elections in 2025 and 2026, and the far-right party surged in the polls. What became notable is the anti-migration rhetoric that mobilized the fear against migrants by referring to Europe as a bad example. While transitional connections of the far right have been documented in the literature, they are limited to transatlantic relationships. Moreover, this research adds to Japanese identity-building in relation to Europe. This research sought to answer the following question: How does the Japanese right-wing mobilize anti- migration sentiments by referring to Europe? This research adopted a qualitative method, conducting thematic analysis of Twitter posts and political speeches. It found that anti-migration rhetoric originating from Europe is adapted to the country's specific political and social conditions to exert its influence.