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Hirofumi Yoshimura

Hirofumi Yoshimura

Leader, Japan Innovation Party; Governor of Osaka

Appears in 1 story

Stories

Takaichi bets on snap election to lock in mandate

Rule Changes

JIP coalition partner contributes to supermajority victory

Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, called a snap election on January 19, 2026, dissolving parliament on January 23 for a record-short 16-day campaign ending February 8. Takaichi's personal approval ratings of 60-78% overcame the party's pre-election scandals, leveraging pledges of fiscal stimulus, two-year food tax suspension, and tough China policy. Official results certified on February 9 confirmed LDP's postwar-record 316 seats alone—surpassing the 2009 DPJ high—securing a two-thirds supermajority even without full coalition reliance.

Updated Feb 9