Overview
- Regional polling, including a Mainichi survey in Hyogo, shows the Liberal Democratic Party leading in most districts, though roughly six in ten voters there had yet to declare choices.
- The Interior Ministry reported 4.56 million early votes nationwide in the first five days, about 2% below the previous election’s pace, while Hokkaido logged 225,076 over the same period, roughly flat.
- Campaigns in cold-weather districts such as Hokkaido’s 8th are leaning on social media to reach voters during a midwinter, short-duration race.
- On policy messaging, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the Takaichi cabinet decided to establish a National Intelligence Agency, framing stronger intelligence as key to national resilience.
- Parallel contests show Osaka’s governor and mayor races with Japan Innovation Party figures Hirofumi Yoshimura and Hideyuki Yokoyama reported as leading, and Gifu’s incumbent Masanao Shibahashi projected to secure a third mayoral term.