Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announces the dissolution of the lower house at a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office on the afternoon of January 19. (©Sankei by Ataru Haruna)
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on January 19 that she will dissolve the lower house of parliament at the opening of the regular Diet session on January 23.
Speaking at a press conference at the prime minister's office, Takaichi said the election would be announced on January 27, with voting and ballot counting to be held on February 8.
The 16-day interval between dissolution and election day marks a notably compressed schedule, compared with the roughly 20 days typically seen in past elections.
The move will trigger a snap election under the shortest campaign period in Japan's postwar history.
Seeking Fresh Mandate
This will also be the first dissolution of the lower house since October 9, 2024, under the previous administration led by Shigeru Ishiba.
Although lower house lawmakers serve four-year terms, Japanese prime ministers have broad discretion to dissolve parliament early to reset political momentum, strengthen their mandate, or seek renewed public backing.
Takaichi said the decision was aimed at seeking voter endorsement for a new policy direction following the reconfiguration of the ruling coalition, which now includes Ishin no Kai in place of Komeito.
She framed the election as a bid to secure public backing for her "responsible and proactive fiscal policy" and a reexamination of the nation's three key national security documents.
"Dissolving the lower house is a weighty decision," Takaichi said, adding that she wanted to determine Japan's future "together with the people, without evasion or delay."
She said the election would effectively place her own political future on the line and called on voters to judge whether they were prepared to entrust her with the stewardship of the country.
Behind the Political Calculus
Takaichi's administration took office in October 2025 and has sought to consolidate support among conservative voters through a more assertive security and foreign policy stance, while emphasizing policy-driven governance.
Speculation had circulated for months over the timing of a possible dissolution. Some political analysts say the prime minister moved sooner than expected to capitalize on her high approval ratings to expand the ruling bloc's parliamentary influence and gain public backing for major policy initiatives.
The House of Representatives has 465 seats, with 233 required for an outright majority. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party currently holds 199 seats and relies on its coalition partner, Ishin no Kai's 34 seats, to cling to a slim majority.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party on January 15 formed a lower-house-only party with Komeito. The grouping, dubbed the Centrist Reform Alliance, aims to consolidate opposition forces ahead of the critical vote.
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Author: Kenji Yoshida
