Following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Jan. 23 dissolution of the more powerful lower house of Japan's Diet, Japanese voters will go to the polls on Feb. 8 after a record-short 16-day campaign period. Takaichi came into office in the October 2025 leadership election of her ruling conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) by tapping into surging popular support for conservative populism. However, in the process, she lost the LDP's 26-year coalition partner, the center-left Komeito, and gained a new, untested partner in the Kansai-based conservative Japan Innovation Party (JIP). After political horse-trading, she was able to piece together the smallest possible majority in the lower house (233 seats) with the JIP, but opposition parties still chair eight out of 17 powerful lower house standing committees, including the crucial Budget Committee. Riding a honeymoon period of public support following her October election, pledges to cut taxes and a rally-around-the-flag effect from...
