Generations of Japanese politicians and their attitudes toward Russia: the correlation between age and readiness for constructive dialogue

In this article, the author attempts to find a correlation between the political course of various parties in the Japanese parliament and the average age of their members. The subject of the study is Japanese parliamentarians and their age; the goal is to understand whether the views of Japanese politicians on the country's foreign policy and relations with Russia differ depending on the generation to which they belong. The vast majority of political movements in Japan perceive the Russian Federation negatively, but there is an exception – the "Sanseito" party. Its members advocate for traditional values, criticize Western globalism, are willing to give comments to Russian media, and believe that Ukraine and Western countries are partially to blame for the onset of the special military operation. The generational difference between members of "Sanseito" and other Japanese parties deserves attention, analysis, and explanation. To address this task, the author employs quantitative methods. The average age of 465 members of the House of Representatives of Japan (the lower house of parliament) and 247 members of the House of Councillors of Japan (the upper house of parliament) has been calculated. The following criteria are highlighted: year and decade of birth, generation ("Silent," "Baby Boomers," as well as generations X, Y, and Z), and party. The starting point for the analysis is the assumption that representatives of the same generation share similar experiences, hopes, fears, and views on life. Depending on the period of birth and personal development, Japanese politicians view international politics in general and Russo-Japanese relations in particular differently. The quantitative analysis revealed two facts: 1) the average Japanese parliamentarian is a representative of Generation X and was born around 1968; 2) the average member of the "Sanseito" party is almost 10 years younger and was born around 1977. Younger Japanese politicians (on the cusp between generations X and Y) demonstrate a greater willingness for constructive dialogue with Russia. The findings of this study may be useful for diplomats, orientalists, sociologists, political scientists, and demographers. The main conclusion can be formulated as follows: the youngest party in the Japanese parliament has the most adequate attitude towards the Russian Federation. As generations change, relations between Tokyo and Moscow may normalize due to the transformation of Japan's demographic landscape.