Japan PM Sanae Takaichi Dissolves Parliament, Snap Election Set for Feb 8

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the lower house of parliament, paving the way for a snap general election scheduled for February 8, 2026. The official announcement was made on Friday (January 23), just three months after Takaichi took office as Japan's first female premier.

The move is widely seen as a strategic attempt to capitalize on her high personal approval rating, which reportedly stands at nearly 70%.

Despite Takaichi’s soaring popularity, her party, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), has struggled with various scandals, leading to a dip in public support. The current ruling coalition, comprising the LDP and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), holds only a narrow majority in the 465-seat chamber. The 12-day official campaign period will begin next Tuesday, with Takaichi seeking a stronger public mandate to push forward her agenda on national security and economic reforms.