Paper short abstract

Using mixed methods, this study re-examines claims of Japan’s "right-leaning youth". By linking young people’s political information sources to socioeconomic traits and political orientations, it identifies political cleavages and provides a basis for assessing the effects of Heisei-era politics.

Paper long abstract

In response to claims of a “right-leaning youth” that circulated widely in Japanese and international media in the early 2000s, subsequent research has shown that this apparent trend is better understood as a reflection of socioeconomic insecurity among young people rather than a clear ideological shift to the right. Existing scholarship has further argued that this trend cannot be readily discussed in comparative terms with the rise of the right in other advanced democracies, owing to fundamental differences in ideological semantics. Despite these contributions, comprehensive knowledge of young people’s political orientations in Japan remains limited. One reason for this gap lies in the inconsistent use of ideological axes in survey research, most notably progressive-conservative, liberal-conservative, and left-right, which makes it difficult to develop an integrated understanding of young people’s political attitudes, let alone to facilitate cross-national comparison. Against this backdrop, this presentation asks: how do young people in Japan orient themselves politically? What factors help explain these orientations? Combining quantitative analyses with qualitative insights, the presentation identifies the location of political cleavages among young people and examines the rationales underpinning them, contributing both to and beyond Japan-focused scholarship. The study makes three main contributions: first, drawing on original survey data, it examines how young people interpret and engage with the three major ideological axes. Second, by linking patterns of political information acquisition to socioeconomic characteristics and political attitudes, it sheds light on how information sources shape young people’s relationship with politics. Third, focusing on individuals who came of age during the Heisei era, the study captures the longer-term effects of political developments during this period, providing a foundation for analysing generational effects. These findings are particularly salient in light of young people’s growing support for the current prime minister, whose robust defence posture and restrictive social policies signal social conservatism and diplomatic assertiveness. Situated within a context of party politics adrift and an increasingly tense security environment, this presentation offers broader insights into the political psychology and political sociology of youth in contemporary Japan.