Japan’s PM Takaichi dissolves parliament for February 8 snap election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced her decision to hold a snap election on February 8. A united opposition, mobilized against the shifting right-wing tide, has been preparing for this contest for some time.

Takaichi stated she would dissolve parliament on Friday and call a national election to seek a voter mandate for increased spending and a new security strategy designed to accelerate Japan’s defense buildup.

The snap election will decide all 465 seats in the lower house of parliament and serves as the first electoral test for Takaichi since she became Japan’s first female prime minister in October.

Calling a snap election will allow Takaichi to capitalize on strong public support to consolidate her grip on the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and bolster her coalition’s fragile majority.

Departing from her previous stance, Takaichi also revealed she is considering a temporary reduction of the consumption tax on food from the current 8% to 0% for a two-year period.

“At a time when people are struggling with rising prices, we are proposing that food and beverages be exempt from consumption tax for a limited period of two years to alleviate the burden on low- and middle-income households,” Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo. “In the next phase, we will accelerate practical discussions—including how to secure funding and determine an appropriate timeline—within a newly established national council.”

The election will test voter appetite for higher spending at a time when the rising cost of living remains the public’s primary concern.

According to a poll released last week by public broadcaster NHK, 45% of respondents cited prices as their main concern, followed by diplomacy and national security at 16%.

“The only plausible reason for Takaichi to go to the polls after only three months in office must be her confidence that the LDP will emerge with a single-party majority,” said Gerald Curtis, professor emeritus of political science at Columbia University.

Speaking to Nikkei Asia, Curtis added, “Her popularity appears to stem from the uniqueness of being the country’s first female prime minister, her image as a decisive and confident leader, and her ability to capitalize on a shift to the right in Japanese public opinion, particularly among the youth.”

Opposition united

Takaichi’s mission has been complicated by the maneuvering of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP)—the country’s largest opposition group—and Komeito, which departed the ruling coalition just before Takaichi assumed the premiership. Last week, the two parties joined forces to form a new centrist bloc; they will campaign as the Centrist Reform Alliance against Takaichi’s LDP, which has shifted toward a more nationalist and conservative stance on security, social issues, and foreign policy.

CDP Secretary-General Jun Azumi told reporters on Monday that the new party would advocate for “politics that transforms society toward coexistence and inclusivity.” He added that this vision would be distinct from “the society Takaichi is aiming for.”

Should the votes of the lay Buddhist organization—which previously backed Komeito and mobilized support for the LDP—shift to the new party, the races could prove far more contested than anticipated.

Despite this, Curtis remains skeptical that the new party will significantly impact the election. “Its emphasis on a centrist approach does not quite align with the mood of a public that wants to see decisive steps to raise living standards, reform education, accelerate economic growth, and present a future vision that excites people,” he noted.

Cognizant of this dynamic, Prime Minister Takaichi addressed the issue directly at her press conference: “I do not want uncertain politics. I want to clearly demonstrate the direction in which Japan must move and confidently seek a mandate from the people to do so. I made the decision to dissolve parliament with this resolve. Our goal as the ruling coalition is to secure a majority. I am also prepared to stake my own future as prime minister on the outcome.”