Overview
- Ruling and coalition leaders said the dissolution will occur at the opening of the ordinary Diet session on January 23.
- Kyodo reports point to possible campaign starts on January 27 or February 3 with voting likely on February 8 or 15.
- The Liberal Democratic Party and allies currently hold a razor-thin majority in the Lower House and remain a minority in the Upper House.
- Opposition parties warned the plan would slow deliberations on the fiscal 2026 budget, calling the timing unreasonable.
- Markets reacted to the prospect of early polls with pressure on the yen and Japanese government bonds as approval ratings for Takaichi remain about 62–70%.