Policy Brief No.249: Sanseitō, Moral Education, and the Future of Japan’s Civil–Military Relations

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This policy brief analyses the rise of Sanseitō and the implications of its agenda for Japan’s civil–military relations. It argues that the party’s push to elevate moral education, revise the constitution, and centralize the military command directly threatens the civil–military balance. The convergence of generational change, worsening security perceptions, and rising nationalist sentiment has made large segments of the Japanese public, especially youth, more receptive to Sanseitō’s message. This trajectory risks undermining civil–military relations by eroding civilian control and enabling the militarization of education. The brief concludes by outlining policy recommendations to reinforce civilian supremacy over the military, support civil society’s watchdog role, and mitigate political polarization.