Voting has concluded in Japan’s snap general election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with exit polls indicating a clear victory for her Liberal Democrat Party (LDP). The outcome would give Japan’s first female prime minister a strong public mandate just four months after she assumed leadership of the party.
This projected win marks a sharp turnaround for the LDP, which had suffered heavy losses under Takaichi’s two immediate predecessors amid corruption scandals and rising living costs that eroded public trust. Despite losing its parliamentary majority and seeing its long-standing coalition with Komeito collapse, the party appears to have regained voter confidence under her leadership.
According to projections by public broadcaster NHK, the LDP is on course to secure 274 of the 328 seats in the House of Representatives. Takaichi’s personal approval ratings, which have consistently remained above 70%, are widely seen as a key factor behind the party’s resurgence.
The election took place under challenging weather conditions, with voters across the country braving snow to cast their ballots in Japan’s first mid-winter poll in 36 years. Transport disruptions were widespread, as dozens of train lines and ferry routes were suspended and several flights cancelled. Tokyo itself saw rare snowfall on polling day.
Many voters cited economic pressures as a major concern. Rising prices, housing costs and uncertainty about long-term economic stability featured prominently in public opinion, alongside frustration over past political scandals. While Takaichi’s energetic campaign, promises of increased public spending and nationalist messaging resonated with sections of the electorate, critics remain cautious about her ability to revive the sluggish economy given Japan’s already high public debt.
Questions over immigration policy and labour shortages in the rapidly ageing country have also fuelled debate. At the same time, the prime minister faced a more coordinated opposition, with Komeito aligning with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan to form the largest opposition bloc in the lower house.
Foreign policy and defence spending were also on voters’ minds. Takaichi’s close alignment with former US President Donald Trump, who has openly endorsed her, and her commitment to higher defence expenditure raised concerns among some voters about how such priorities would be financed without further straining household budgets.
If confirmed, the result will consolidate Takaichi’s authority and shape Japan’s political direction at a time of economic uncertainty, demographic challenges and shifting regional security dynamics.
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