Not just unequal, but unfair? Perceived economic inequality, regional disparities, and party support in Japan

Abstract Japan has long been portrayed as a relatively egalitarian society. Yet, growing economic disparities have raised questions about how inequality is perceived and politicized. This study examines whether regional economic inequality shapes individuals’ perceptions of rich–poor conflict and how such perceptions translate into political preferences. Using individual-level data from the SmartNews, Media, Politics, and Public Opinion Survey (SMPP Survey) combined with prefectural indicators of inequality, income, and unemployment, the analysis adopts a multilevel framework to link structural conditions with individual attitudes. The findings show that individuals residing in more unequal regions are significantly more likely to perceive pronounced rich–poor divisions and to develop partisan attachments. Furthermore, perceived rich–poor conflict emerges as a robust predictor of support for equality- and welfare-oriented parties across different regional income contexts. Rather than operating only under specific economic conditions, regional affluence and hardship primarily shape how perceptions of inequality are politically articulated. These results challenge the notion that perceptions of inequality are politically inert in Japan and underscore the role of local economic environments in structuring the relationship between subjective inequality and political behavior.