Overview
- Government sources say the prime minister is considering dissolving the chamber at the ordinary Diet’s Jan. 23 opening, with a decision expected after foreign meetings this week.
- Working calendars under discussion point to either a Jan. 27 public notice with a Feb. 8 vote or a Feb. 3 notice with a Feb. 15 vote.
- The Liberal Democratic Party was instructed to accelerate candidate selection in anticipation of a short campaign.
- Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito said the party will quickly decide whether to field single‑member district candidates and whether those would also run on the proportional list.
- CDP leader Yoshihiko Noda formally requested election cooperation from Komeito on Jan. 12, and both sides agreed to explore concrete arrangements with no commitments yet on withdrawals or seat management.