The Asahi Shimbun

Takaichi makes it official: Lower House election set for Feb. 8

XINHUA

Japan PM Takaichi to dissolve lower house on Friday for Feb. 8 election

The Diplomat

Even With High Approval Ratings Is Takaichis Snap Election A Political Gamble

AInvest

Takaichi's Japan Election Gamble Risks Unravelling Without Ally

Reuters

Japan Snap Election Would Stoke Fiscal China Risk 2026 01 12

The Irish Times

The Irish Times view on Japans election: the prime minister takes a gamble

The Japan Times

Takaichi to roll the dice on risky, but potentially rewarding, snap election

East Asia Forum

Takaichi Enjoys Popularity Amid Japans Rightward Turn

The Mainichi

031000C

The Chosun Daily

Prime Minister Takaichi Dissolves House, Calls Election to Test Mandate

EricssenWen

Al Jazeera

Japans PM Takaichi will dissolve parliament, call snap election

Japan News

Japans Takaichi Says She Will Dissolve Lower House, Setting up Snap Election (UPDATE2)

Guardian

Japans prime minister calls snap election as approval ratings ride high

The Times of India

Snap elections in Japan: Why Sanae Takaichi is taking big gamble

Le Monde.fr

Japanese PM calls snap election to seek stronger mandate

clashreport

ABC News

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to dissolve parliament and call snap election for February 8

Elon Musk

Hiroshi Yoshida

Roos van Keulen

Chris Weller

Nippon.Com

Deseret News

Chay Bowes

Aaron Bastani


Jared Taylor

John Davis, LL.M

The Guardian

Japan "could effectively disappear by 2200 as a nation."

In 700 years, "there will be no more Japanese."

"Japan will perish by about 2056 because men are refusing to have intimate relationships with the women."

"The country's population will be just 500 by the year 3000, and just one by 3500."

"Within the next 1,750 years, the Japanese people could be no more."

"Japan may become the first country to become extinct due to the declining birth rate."

Will Japan's Population Go Extinct?

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday for a snap election on Feb. 8. Official campaigning will start on Jan. 27, with only 16 days between dissolution and election day.

Ericssen

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on Monday that she will dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday for a snap election on Feb. 8. Official campaigning will start on Jan. 27, with only 16 days between dissolution and election day.

The election will decide all 465 seats in parliament's lower house and mark Takaichi's first electoral test since she became Japan's first female prime minister in October. “We aim for a majority as the ruling party," Takaichi reportedly stated.

The election will decide all 465 seats in parliament's lower house and mark Takaichi's first electoral test since she became Japan's first female prime minister in October. “We aim for a majority as the ruling party," Takaichi reportedly stated.

Takaichi's ruling coalition with the Japan Innovation Party holds only a slim majority in the lower house. The ruling bloc aims to secure a majority of 233 seats or more in the election, which was previously scheduled for October 2028.

Clash Report

Takaichi's ruling coalition with the Japan Innovation Party holds only a slim majority in the lower house. The ruling bloc aims to secure a majority of 233 seats or more in the election, which was previously scheduled for October 2028.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito have agreed to form the Centrist Reform Alliance to challenge Takaichi. The proposed new party would be the largest opposition force in the upcoming election.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito have agreed to form the Centrist Reform Alliance to challenge Takaichi. The proposed new party would be the largest opposition force in the upcoming election.

A poll by public broadcaster NHK found that 45% of respondents cited cost of living as their main concern, followed by diplomacy and national security at 16%. Takaichi's LDP has continuously governed Japan for decades, although with frequent leadership changes.

A poll by public broadcaster NHK found that 45% of respondents cited cost of living as their main concern, followed by diplomacy and national security at 16%. Takaichi's LDP has continuously governed Japan for decades, although with frequent leadership changes.

The prime minister has said there is "no other way but to let voters decide if I should stay on.” This comes as ties between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated since<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.verity.news/story/2025/japan-stocks-plunge-as-china-issues-travel-warning-over-taiwan"> Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan</a>.

The prime minister has said there is "no other way but to let voters decide if I should stay on.” This comes as ties between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated since Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

Takaichi's snap election gamble is reckless and dangerous; it risks economic chaos, with a weak yen hitting year lows and inflation crushing voters, while her China bluster triggers tourist flight cancellations and rare earth export bans. Her sky-high approval ratings mask deep distrust in the LDP, and rushing a third election in 16 months shows she's chasing power over solving real problems.

Takaichi's snap election gamble is reckless and dangerous; it risks economic chaos, with a weak yen hitting year lows and inflation crushing voters, while her China bluster triggers tourist flight cancellations and rare earth export bans. Her sky-high approval ratings mask deep distrust in the LDP, and rushing a third election in 16 months shows she's chasing power over solving real problems.

Left narrative

Takaichi's decisive leadership and fresh approach as Japan's first female prime minister deserve a strong mandate to tackle inflation and stand firm against China's aggression. Her 70% approval ratings reflect genuine public support for tougher immigration policies and constitutional reform, giving her the legitimacy to pursue bold economic stimulus and hitherto ignored national security measures.

Takaichi's decisive leadership and fresh approach as Japan's first female prime minister deserve a strong mandate to tackle inflation and stand firm against China's aggression. Her 70% approval ratings reflect genuine public support for tougher immigration policies and constitutional reform, giving her the legitimacy to pursue bold economic stimulus and hitherto ignored national security measures.

Right narrative

There is a 50% chance the LDP will lose its status as the largest party in the House of Representatives of Japan by July 2042, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 50% chance the LDP will lose its status as the largest party in the House of Representatives of Japan by July 2042, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Japan's Takaichi Calls for Snap Election

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Metaculus Prediction

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Taylor

LL.M

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Japan's Takaichi Calls for Snap Election

The Spin

Left narrative

Right narrative

Metaculus Prediction

Public Figures

The Controversies

Bastani

Taylor

LL.M

Guardian

Weller

Yoshida

Political split

LEFT

RIGHT

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