Sanseito leader says he "respects" the Communists after they back his 5% sales tax bill

Sohei Kamiya thanked the party and said he would work across ideological lines, while warning that opposition parties are playing into the ruling coalition's hands.

By Newsroom7 November 2026, 15:21 JST1 min read

Sanseito leader says he "respects" the Communists after they back his 5% sales tax bill — Candidate of the Sanseito party Kamitani responding to questions from reporters in the Diet on the afternoon of the 6th. (x)

Sohei Kamiya, leader of the populist party Sanseito, said on the 6th that he holds "feelings of respect" and is "grateful" to the Japanese Communist Party for backing his party's bill to cut the consumption tax rate to a flat 5 percent. He was speaking to reporters in the Diet building.

The two parties differ sharply on foreign residents and the Constitution, and Kamiya said he would "realize good policy for the people beyond ideological differences." The remark was carried by Kyodo News.

Kamiya also pointed to plans to cut the number of lower house seats, saying the opposition "cannot fight together and is falling into the ruling party's trap." He said Sanseito would look for opposition cooperation in the Diet deliberations ahead.

The consumption tax in Japan is currently 10 percent, with a reduced 8 percent rate for food and some other goods.