Prime Minister Takaichi’s ruling party won a two-thirds supermajority in a crucial parliamentary election on Sunday, according to preliminary results reported by Japanese media, achieving a landslide win attributed to her high approval ratings.
In a televised NHK interview after her decisive victory, Takaichi stated she is now prepared to implement policies aimed at strengthening and enriching Japan.
NHK, referencing vote tallies, reported that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had independently won 316 seats by early Monday, easily exceeding the 261-seat threshold for an absolute majority in the 465-seat lower house, the more influential chamber of Japan’s parliament. This result sets a new party record since its 1955 founding, surpassing the previous benchmark of 300 seats set by the late Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in 1986.
At LDP headquarters, a beaming Takaichi fixed a large red ribbon above each winner’s name on a signboard as senior party officials looked on and applauded.
Even without a majority in the upper house, the substantial increase in seats in the more powerful lower chamber will enable Takaichi to advance a right-leaning platform focused on enhancing Japan’s economic and military strength. This push comes amid escalating tensions with China and efforts to strengthen relations with the United States.
Takaichi affirmed she would resolutely advance her policy objectives while attempting to secure opposition backing.
“I will be flexible,” she remarked.
While Takaichi herself enjoys broad popularity, the governing LDP—in power for most of the past seventy years—has been plagued by funding and religious scandals in recent years. She called the snap election after just three months in office, aiming to capitalize on her personal popularity to reverse the party’s fortunes.
leader
The ultraconservative Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister in October, pledged to . Her style has connected with younger supporters who claim they had little prior interest in politics.
The opposition remained too fragmented to mount a serious challenge, despite a new centrist alliance and a growing far-right faction. The new opposition coalition, comprising the LDP’s former partner, the Buddhist-backed pacifist Komeito, and the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is forecast to see its combined seat count halved from its pre-election total of 167.
Takaichi’s gamble in this election was that her LDP, alongside its new ally, the Japan Innovation Party, would obtain a majority.
Akihito Iwatake, a 53-year-old office worker, expressed approval for the LDP’s large win, feeling the party had become too liberal in recent years. “Takaichi’s move back toward conservatism, I believe, led to this good outcome,” he stated.
Takaichi’s policies
The prime minister intends to drive a major rightward shift in Japan’s security, immigration, and other policy areas. Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the LDP’s right-wing partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), said his group would act as an “accelerator” for this agenda.
Far-right populist forces have recently gained traction in Japan, such as the . Exit polls indicated significant gains for Sanseito.
Takaichi’s primary initial task when the lower house resumes in mid-February will be to pass a delayed budget bill to finance economic measures tackling inflation and stagnant wages.
She has promised to revise by December to enhance Japan’s offensive military capacity, including ending the ban on weapons exports and distancing the nation further from its postwar pacifist stance.
She has advocated for stricter policies concerning foreigners, anti-espionage, and other measures popular with far-right constituencies, which analysts warn may infringe on civil liberties.
Takaichi also aims to raise defense spending in reaction to and persuade the finance ministry to increase budgetary allocations.
She now has a lengthy period to focus on these policies, with the next election not due until 2028.
Divisive policies
Although Takaichi said she aims to build consensus for policies considered controversial in Japan, she mostly sidestepped questions about financing the surging defense budget, resolving diplomatic strains with China, and other challenges.
On the campaign trail, Takaichi spoke energetically about the necessity for assertive government expenditure to support “crisis management investment and growth,” including initiatives to bolster economic security, technology, and other sectors. She also aims to enforce stricter immigration rules, such as tighter regulations for foreign property owners and limits on foreign residency.
“Sunday’s election highlights a troubling pattern in Japanese politics where staying in power outweighs achieving meaningful policy results,” commented Masato Kamikubo, a political science professor at Ritsumeikan University. “Whenever the government tries to implement essential but unpopular reforms… the specter of the next election appears.”
Impact of snow
The Sunday election took place as fresh snow fell across the nation, including Tokyo. Record in recent weeks had caused road closures and was linked to numerous fatalities countrywide.