In my view, Takashi's JIBA campaign has fully absorbed Trump's MAGA strategy.
Japan's youth are like the MAGA movement in 2016, neither understand nor care about how politics works. The chaotic reality has jolted them from long-term political apathy, and intuition (rather than experience) tells them they need a political leader who can “make a ruckus.” Don't overestimate Japan's political education. Middle-aged and elderly people in society still cling to a shocking naivety and self-deception about international politics, let alone the youth raised in the Reiwa era.
The LDP's propaganda is overwhelming. Takashi's campaign video quickly reached 100 million views on YouTube, clearly the result of paid promotion. But regardless, some will always believe in herd mentality, especially in Japan. Some of Takagi's statements and actions, which seem inexplicable to outsiders, have been amplified through social media and opinion leaders' dog whistles to their audiences. Interviews already show Japanese youth (especially women) engaging with political issues for the first time, idolizing Takagi like a celebrity. I see no other party possessing the capacity to counter this level of mobilization.
