Overview
- At a Jan. 20 cabinet meeting, the government banned political fundraising parties by ministers, vice-ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
- The Liberal Democratic Party postponed its national convention from March 15 to April 12 to preserve time for party business displaced by the snap campaign.
- Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara urged university entrance exam takers to use early voting, and the Internal Affairs Ministry created a snow-response team to safeguard election operations.
- The Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito launched the Chudo Reform Rengō, with CDP official Jun Azumi saying 144 CDP lower house members have signaled intent to join as the bloc readies campaign materials.
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi set the timetable—public notice on Jan. 27 and voting on Feb. 8—and is centering her pitch on conservative priorities including stronger intelligence functions, a spy-prevention law and constitutional revision.