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Paper short abstract

　The purpose of this paper is to examine the slogan “Japanese First” used in elections and analyze whether it constitutes hate speech. To this end, this paper will analyze the slogan using speech act theory, premised on the concept of the nation-state.

Paper long abstract

　The purpose of this paper is to examine the slogan “Japanese First” and analyze whether it constitutes hate speech. In the national elections held in July 2025, the Sanseito Party (a Japanese political party) ran under the slogan “Japanese First” and significantly increased its number of seats (from 1 seat before the election to 14 seats). This sparked controversy, including claims in the media that “Japanese First is discrimination.”

　To analyze whether “Japanese First” constitutes hate speech, we must first clarify what hate speech is. This paper defines ‘discriminatory’ acts as insults, exclusion, or attacks against a “inferior group” by people who accept rules such as “regard a certain group as inferior.” Viewed this way, discriminatory acts can be carried out using words or without words; the former constitutes hate speech. Therefore, hate speech is the use of words to insult, exclude, or attack a group deemed inferior or its members.

　To analyze whether “Japanese First” constitutes hate speech, we must next decide whether to take the nation-state as a premise for discussion. This paper attempts to clarify facts and thus takes the current nation-state as its premise. If so, the question becomes: Who are “Japanese people”? This paper interprets “Japanese people” as having two meanings. One is “Japanese nationals,” and the other is “bearers of Japanese culture.”

　If “Japanese First” means “prioritizing Japanese nationals,” then this slogan confirms the premise of the nation-state and would fundamentally not constitute hate speech. On the other hand, if the slogan means “prioritizing bearers of Japanese culture,” it would be more likely to be linked to the value judgment that bearers of Japanese culture are superior. And if the speaker intended the statement to imply that Japanese culture is superior in value to other cultures, thereby implying inferiority, it would fundamentally constitute hate speech. Determining what the speaker meant by “Japanese First” requires examining the context of the statement and the speaker's circumstances to identify the specific action being taken (whether it was an insult, exclusion, a proposal, etc.).