Overview
- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Jan. 14 formally told LDP secretary-general Shun'ichi Suzuki and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura she will dissolve the lower house early in the ordinary Diet session and outline details at a Jan. 19 briefing.
- Officials and party figures signaled a February general election, with schedules under discussion that center on Jan. 27–Feb. 8 or Feb. 3–15, and Suzuki set the governing coalition’s target at retaining a majority.
- Japan’s Government Earthquake Research Committee raised the 30‑year probability of a major Nemuro‑offshore quake (M7.8–8.5) from about 80% to about 90%.
- President Trump urged Iranian protesters to keep demonstrating and seize public institutions, said all talks with Iranian officials are paused until killings stop, and promised unspecified help; Senator Lindsey Graham interpreted that “support” as potentially military, cyber and psychological in scope.
- Osaka’s fire bureau said two people were transported unconscious after a residential blaze in Nishinari Ward, and Hokkaido police are investigating an SNS-based investment scam after a woman reported losing 1.1 million yen.