Kamiya was born in Takahama, Fukui. In 1996, he graduated from Fukui Prefectural Wakasa High School, majoring in science and mathematics. He then entered Kansai University's Faculty of Letters, Department of History and Geography (now called the Department of General Humanities). He moved to Suita, Osaka after graduating from the same university in 2001. He became a lecturer at Fukui Prefectural Wakasa Higashi High School. In 2002, he became an employee of Kamiya Store, a company run by his parents, and served as a store manager. In 2003, he made a short return as a lecturer at Fukui Prefectural Wakasa Higashi High School. In 2004, he enrolled in Kansai University Law School's Legal Professional Training Course, completing his studies in 2007 and obtaining a Juris Doctor degree.[4]
Political career
Early years
In the 2007 Japanese local elections, Kamiya ran for the Suita City Council and was elected. He was inaugurated as a councilor on May 27, 2007.[5] Kamiya founded the regional political party Suita Shinsengai in the same year. In 2010, he became a representative of the Kansai State Politicians Federation. In June of the same year, he established the Ryoma Project National Association and assumed the position of chairman. In 2011, Kamiya was re-elected as a member of the Suita City Council. He was then elected as the Vice Chairman of the City Council.[5]
In the 2015 Japanese local elections, Kamiya ran for the Osaka Prefectural Assembly as an Independent candidate for Suita's electoral district, but was defeated, placing 6th out of 6 candidates.[4]
Sanseitō era
Kamiya in 2022
In 2019, Kamiya launched an online political organization "政党DIY" (Political party DIY). A year later in March 2020, he formed the political party "Sanseitō" alongside Manabu Matsuda, Yuya Watase, and Tsuneichiro Shinohara, and assumed the position of Secretary General.
On January 30, 2023, five senior members of Sanseitō, including Kamiya, were sued by the NHK Party on the grounds of fraud.[11] At a speech held in Shimonoseki on January 31, 2023, Kamiya criticized the NHK Party, claiming that "The NHK Party has executives who have ties to radical leftist groups and anti-Japan forces." In response, the NHK Party filed another lawsuit on February 2, 2023, claiming 100 million yen in damages against the Sanseitō and Kamiya.[11]
Controversies
Antisemitism
While campaigning for Sanseitō in the 2022 Japanese House of Councillors election, Kamiya told the crowd that "Sanseitō would not sell out Japan to Jewish capital," a remark that was greeted with applause at the time but later resulted in international media coverage and condemnation.[12]
In one of his own publications, Kamiya stated, "The powerful, who aim to create huge profits by selling vaccines and medicines, are actively calling for the wearing of masks through mass media such as newspapers and television in order to excessively inflame fear of the COVID-19 pandemic." He further explained that "the powerful" refers to international financial capital and multinational corporations. In the same book, Kamiya described these financial capital and multinational global corporations as "Jewish". When Kamiya appeared on a televised interview on August 18, 2022 after being elected to the House of Councillors, he said, "It is true that Jewish capital is involved, but I think it was wrong to write it in such a way that it could be misinterpreted as if it were all done by Jews, so I will have to correct it in the future."[13]
Political views
Foreign policy
Kamiya believes that Japanese sanctions on Russia should be weakened.[14][15]
On COVID-19 vaccination in Japan, Kamiya believes that the government has "no affairs on the lives of individuals," opposing public-funded programs to encourage vaccination to the populace.[20]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kamiya asserted, "The people have the right to not wear masks."[21] He further clarified that he adheres to health protocols, stating, "I wear masks on planes."[22]
Personal life
In 2017, Kamiya married Fumi Kamiya, a former staff member of his office while serving as Suita City Councilor. The couple have one son and one daughter.[23]
Publications
Authored publications
Sohei, Kamiya (2013).Turn on Japan's switch – The future can be changed by our own hands![24]
Sohei, Kamiya (2014). Ignite the Yamato Spirit – Switch on Japan 2[25]
Sohei, Kamiya (2016). Learning from Ryoma Sakamoto "The power to make allies"[26]
Sohei, Kamiya (2019). The "Real Japan" that I want to tell my children[27]
Sohei, Kamiya (2020). Japanese Changemakers: 10 Years of the Ryoma ProjectISBN978-4-792-60729-6
_(cropped).jpg)
