Overview
- Official campaigning starts Tuesday, with just 16 days from dissolution to voting, the shortest interval in the postwar era.
- The Centrist Reform Alliance, formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito, will make its debut and argues the dissolution lacks justification.
- Economic relief dominates the agenda, with the ruling bloc weighing a temporary suspension of the consumption tax on food and the opposition proposing to scrap it on groceries entirely.
- Security policy is in focus after Takaichi’s pro-Taiwan remarks heightened tensions with China and as President Donald Trump presses Japan to boost defense spending.
- The LDP–Japan Innovation Party coalition is leaning on Takaichi’s roughly 70% approval to expand a slim lower-house majority, with budget enactment likely delayed and a provisional budget under consideration.