Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during a press conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Monday, January 19, 2026. Mr. Takaichi formally called for an early election next month and promised a temporary consumption tax cut on food if a new coalition government emerges.
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Less than six months after taking office, Japan’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, called for a snap general election that would dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23 and send voters to the polls on February 8.
“I’m betting my future as prime minister on this election,” Takaichi said at a press conference on Monday, according to a Japanese translation of his remarks.
“I would like the people to directly decide whether it is okay to leave the running of the country to Sanae Takaichi,” he said.
The move comes despite the House of Representatives’ term ending in October 2028, raising questions about why Takaichi sought a new role so soon.
Analysts say the main purpose of the decision is to use Taikichi’s high approval ratings to strengthen the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition’s control of parliament.
Sanae Takaichi is a highly popular prime minister, but her party is unpopular and faces opposition coalitions due to an unexpected alliance between the main opposition party and a former Liberal Democratic Party coalition partner.
Sam Jochim
Economist at Swiss private bank EFG
Since taking office, Takaichi has enjoyed historically high approval ratings. A poll released last week by public broadcaster NHK gave her an approval rating of 62%, but other polls have put her approval rating in the 70% range.
A Japan News Network poll showed his approval rating was 78.1%, and the Nikkei newspaper reported it at 75%.
In contrast, the Liberal Democratic Party’s approval rating was 29.7%, highlighting the gap in approval ratings between the prime minister and the party.
The Liberal Democratic Party, along with its junior coalition partner Nippon Ishin no Kai, currently holds a narrow majority in the House of Representatives.
Of the 456 seats, the two parties have a total of 230 seats, but three independent members voted for the Liberal Democratic Party, giving the ruling coalition a one-seat majority.
Sam Johim, an economist at Swiss private bank EFG, said a stronger majority would allow Takaichi to project a stronger political mission to foreign leaders, including US President Donald Trump. He pointed out that Takaichi may meet with the US president as early as March.
Yochim added that Takaichi is aiming to capitalize on his popularity before tensions with China escalate and begin to negatively impact public sentiment.
The Chinese government has imposed restrictions on the export of military and civilian goods to Japan and advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Japan.
Diplomatic relations cooled after Takaichi said in the Diet on November 8 that Japan’s Self-Defense Forces might intervene if China were to attempt to occupy Taiwan by force.
Calculated or reckless?
Despite Takaichi’s popularity, analysts warn that voter support may not translate into gains for the Liberal Democratic Party.
Yochimu said that Takaichi is “taking a risk” by calling for a general election this time, noting, “Although she is a very popular prime minister, her party is unpopular and faces a joint opposition struggle due to an unexpected alliance between the main opposition party and a former Liberal Democratic Party coalition partner.”
On January 16, the main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party, joined with Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party’s coalition partner for 26 years, to form a new party called the Centrist Reform Alliance.
Together, they control 172 seats in the House of Representatives.
Norihiro Yamaguchi, chief Japan economist at Oxford Economics, said that without Komeito’s organizational support, a significant number of LDP candidates could struggle at the polls.
Other analysts are more optimistic. Jesper Coll, expert director at Monex Group, said Takaichi is an “inspiration” for both older Japanese and especially young people.
She said her personal appeal, rather than economic policy, could be decisive and result in a landslide victory.
“Takaichi is a living example of a woman who had neither money nor Brahmin power, was self-made, came from a normal working-class family background, and fought her way to the top despite all adversity,” Koll said. “But it takes hard work, dedication, passion and a willingness to do the right thing.”
