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Paper short abstract

This paper integrates the case of Japan into the emerging international concern about links between loneliness and political radicalization. Drawing on original survey data, I analyze whether and how subjective loneliness shapes hostile attitudes toward various facets of diversification in Japan.

Paper long abstract

Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly recognized as social and political problems in post-industrial societies. Japan is no exception in this regard. While concerns over loneliness and social isolation as well as related phenomena such as hikikomori (“shut-ins”) or kodokushi (“lonely deaths”) are not new, they gained additional salience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic with the establishment of a designated bureau within the Cabinet Office in 2021 to combat loneliness and social isolation. A growing body of research in behavioral and social sciences investigates causes of loneliness and evaluates public and private responses, often with a focus on particularly exposed risk groups such as children or the elderly. However, the political effects of loneliness and social isolation have so far remained understudied.

In Europe and the US, recent studies point to the links between loneliness and anti-feminist and xenophobic views, support for radical right (populist) parties, anti-democratic and authoritarian attitudes, or increasing social distrust. Japan also has seen the rise of right-wing movements mimicking their rhetoric and talking points, though no study so far has addressed the link between political radicalization and subjective loneliness. To address this gap, we draw on data from a representative survey (n = 5,300) conducted in November 2025, which uses a short Japanese version of the UCLA loneliness scale and extracts attitudes towards various dimensions of social diversity (gender roles, gender identities/sexual minorities, lifestyles, migration), “authoritarian” attitudes and electoral behavior. The analysis aim to validify our assumption that Japan is an important but hitherto understudied case to further understanding of the linkage between loneliness, social isolation and extremist beliefs and opinions.