Key Facts
• Upper House election officially began on July 3, 2025.
• Aya Abe, a 31-year-old mother of five, urged for reduced taxes on children’s products.
• Wakaba Matsuoka, 23, highlighted concerns over rising food prices and distribution issues.
• Takashi Shima, 52, called for transparency in political funding after unresolved debates in June.
• Tsukushi Mizuho, 69, expressed safety concerns due to frequent scam calls.
• An 18-year-old high school student plans to vote for the first time with her family.
• Kouta Chiba, 23, noted overwork among teachers during his teaching internship.
• Akari Ogawa, 22, plans to vote despite low turnout among her age group.
• A 20-something male worker expressed skepticism about voting’s impact.
• Social media’s role in elections is growing, with concerns over misinformation and “attention economy.”
• Legal measures for social media content removal during elections remain limited.
• Experts urge voters to seek diverse, reliable information and understand recommendation algorithms.
Summary
The Upper House election has sparked diverse voter concerns, from childcare costs and food price inflation to political transparency and public safety. Younger voters show mixed engagement, with some eager to participate and others disillusioned. Social media’s influence on elections is expanding, raising fears of misinformation and the “attention economy.” Experts emphasize the need for voters to access reliable, diverse information and understand the impact of algorithms. Legal frameworks for managing online content during elections remain insufficient, highlighting the challenges of addressing misinformation in a digital age.
