Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has announced plans to dissolve parliament on Friday, clearing the way for a snap general election on 8 February. The move comes just three months after she assumed office and is aimed at converting her strong personal approval ratings into a decisive majority in the lower house.
Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, Takaichi described the decision as “extremely weighty,” saying it would “determine Japan’s course together with the people.”
Japan’s first female prime minister has enjoyed high public approval since taking office last October, with her cabinet also benefiting from favourable ratings. However, her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) continues to trail in opinion polls, making the election a calculated risk.
The vote will be Japan’s second general election in two years and is expected to test public appetite for Takaichi’s proposed increase in government spending at a time when rising living costs dominate voter concerns.
Seeking A Public Mandate
Takaichi was elected prime minister by lawmakers on 21 October and is now seeking a direct mandate from voters in the House of Representatives, Japan’s more powerful parliamentary chamber.
She told reporters that since her first day in office, she has been uneasy about leading a government that has not yet faced the judgment of the electorate.
“I wanted to ask the sovereign people to decide whether Sanae Takaichi is fit to be prime minister,” she said.
Campaigning for the election of the 465 lower-house lawmakers, who serve four-year terms, will officially begin on 27 January.
A Risky Bet For The LDP
The LDP has governed Japan almost uninterrupted since 1955 and currently holds 199 seats, including three held by independents aligned with the party. While it remains the largest party in parliament, its coalition with the Japan Innovation Party gives it only a narrow working majority.
Takaichi, a political protégé of former prime minister Shinzo Abe and a self-declared admirer of Margaret Thatcher, has earned the nickname Japan’s “Iron Lady.”
She entered office pledging to revive economic growth after years of stagnation and has championed aggressive government-led spending, echoing stimulus policies associated with Abe-era “Abenomics.”
Her early months in office have seen personal approval ratings surge, with some polls placing support between 60% and 80%—levels of popularity not seen for a Japanese prime minister since Abe returned to power in 2012.
Defence, China And The US
In December, Takaichi’s cabinet approved a record defence budget of nine trillion yen (approximately $57bn), citing growing security concerns linked to China’s expanding military activity, which Tokyo has labelled its “greatest strategic challenge.”
Relations with Beijing deteriorated further last November after Takaichi suggested Japan could deploy its Self-Defence Forces if China were to attack Taiwan, triggering a diplomatic dispute that pushed bilateral ties to their lowest point in over a decade.
At the same time, Takaichi has strengthened relations with the United States. During US President Donald Trump’s visit to Japan last October, the two leaders exchanged public praise and signed agreements on rare earths, alongside a declaration marking a new “golden age” in US–Japan relations.
High Popularity, Uncertain Outcome
Despite Takaichi’s personal popularity, opinion polls show that the LDP remains broadly unpopular with voters. Analysts say the prime minister is hoping her approval ratings can secure the party a clear, single-party majority, allowing her to advance more ambitious reforms.
“She wants to consolidate her position to make governing easier down the line,” said Dr Seijiro Takeshita, a management professor at the University of Shizuoka, speaking to the BBC World Service’s Asia Specific podcast.
Still, the gamble carries significant risks. Japan has seen four prime ministers in five years, with several forced out by scandals and collapsing public support.
Takaichi’s immediate predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, also called an early election shortly after taking office—an outcome that resulted in one of the LDP’s worst performances and cost the party its parliamentary majority.
Complicating matters further is the emergence of a newly unified opposition bloc. Last week, Japan’s largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, joined forces with Komeito, the LDP’s former coalition partner, to form the Centrist Reform Alliance.
Takaichi said the decision to dissolve parliament was taken only after ensuring safeguards were in place to prevent disruption to economic policy, particularly measures affecting household finances and inflation.
Ultimately, she is betting that voters will place their trust in her leadership.
“She’s hoping people believe she can deliver on her promises,” said Dr Jeffrey Kingston, an Asian studies professor at Temple University in the US.
Her strong approval ratings, he added, are “only likely to fall,” making this an opportunity to secure political capital while the post-election honeymoon still lasts.
