Liberal Democratic Party

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Governing party; severed church ties in 2022

Tetsuya Yamagami shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a campaign rally in July 2022 with a homemade gun. He built it after his mother's donations to the Unification Church—totaling $720,000—destroyed his family. On January 21, 2026, a Nara court sentenced him to life in prison, rejecting defense arguments that his traumatic upbringing warranted leniency.

Updated May 22

Rule Changes

As of May 2026: Secures postwar-record 316 seats alone, historic supermajority validated February 9

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party called a snap election on January 19, 2026. Parliament dissolved on January 23 for a record-short 16-day campaign ending February 8.

Updated May 22