Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of parliament on Friday, paving the way for a snap election scheduled for February 8. The speaker of Japan's parliament read out the dissolution letter as lawmakers shouted the traditional rallying cry of banzai, marking a significant political moment just three months after Takaichi became Japan's first female prime minister.
Takaichi, who was elected in October 2025, has enjoyed strong approval ratings of approximately 70 percent despite her brief tenure in office. The dissolution of the 465-member lower house triggers a 12-day campaign period that officially begins on Tuesday. The move represents an attempt to capitalize on her popularity to help the governing coalition regain ground after suffering major losses in recent years.
The governing coalition, formed by the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party, currently holds only a slim majority in the lower chamber and remains a minority in the House of Councillors. In response to the election announcement, the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has formed the Centrist Reform Alliance with Komeito. Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democrats, declared that now is the opportunity to start the centrist movement.
Key election issues center on rising consumer prices and security concerns amid escalating tensions with China. December inflation reached 2.4 percent year-on-year excluding fresh food, while rice prices surged more than 34 percent compared to the previous year. Political analyst Hidehiro Yamamoto noted that what the public are most concerned about is measures to address inflation.
Japan faces heightened tensions with Beijing after Takaichi made remarks suggesting that Japan could become involved if China takes military action against Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. China has responded with increased economic and diplomatic retribution. If her coalition wins the election, Takaichi has pledged to cut the sales tax on food for a two-year period to alleviate the burden on people struggling with inflation.
The snap election will delay parliamentary approval for a budget aimed at boosting Japan's struggling economy and addressing soaring prices. Analysts suggest the election could prove competitive, though opposition chances remain limited given the coalition's structural advantages and Takaichi's strong public support.
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