Overview
- Government sources cited by Yomiuri say voting on Feb 8 or Feb 15 is under consideration, with dissolution possibly timed to the Jan 23 opening of the ordinary Diet session.
- Cabinet approval has held above 70% in recent Yomiuri polls, and internal LDP surveys reportedly project sizable gains, including one estimate topping 260 seats.
- The LDP–Japan Innovation Party bloc is described by Yomiuri as holding 233 seats in the 465-seat lower house, the narrowest majority, while remaining a minority in the upper house; some outlets depict the bloc as short of a lower-house majority.
- Takaichi frames an early vote as necessary to deliver price-relief measures, a growth-focused fiscal program and stronger security policy, as relations with China worsen following her Taiwan-related remarks.
- A snap dissolution would trigger an election within 40 days, raising risks for passing the fiscal 2026 budget, and the yen weakened on the report with the dollar rising.