Far-right ‘Japanese First’ party gains seats in elections

Full Episode
49:32

A voter looks at an election board displaying posters of candidates for the upper house election near a polling station in Tokyo, July 20, 2025.

Eugene Hoshiko/AP

Japan’s elections on Sunday saw the country’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party lose its longstanding majority, while a far-right nationalist “Japanese First” party gained ground. Also, vaccine rates are stalling, and even declining, around the globe. And, China begins construction on what’s set to be the world’s largest hydroelectric dam, raising concerns from its neighbors and NGOs. Plus, Mexican singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade tours the US and talks about navigating identity and belonging through her music.

Listen to today’s Music Heard on Air.

In This Episode

Far-right ‘Japanese First’ party gains seats in country’s election
7:55
Uyghurs in Kazakhstan practice Islam freely, not far from China
5:47
Exporting vaccine skepticism
8:09
The cost of climate change: The carrots and sticks of climate action
9:57
New Zealand want to be the best place in the world to have herpes
1:52
Natalia Lafourcade talks US tour, immigration protests and new album
Special Coverage
5:42
China begins construction on World’s largest hydroelectric dam
6:01
World’s largest accordion collection goes to auction
1:06