Overview

• Opinion polls forecast the LDP-Komeito bloc will win fewer than the 125 seats needed to retain its majority in Sunday’s upper house vote.
• Sanseito is projected to capture 10–15 seats on an anti-immigrant platform that echoes far-right movements in the US and Europe.
• Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya has denied any special ties to Russia after a party candidate’s interview with Sputnik state media.
• Yields on Japanese government bonds have climbed to multidecade peaks as the yen weakens against the dollar and euro on political uncertainty.
• A hung upper house could compel Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to forge deals with smaller parties on tax cuts and spending, heightening risks to Japan’s heavy public debt.