January 21, 2026
TOKYO – “I bet my future” on the House of Representatives election. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s declaration of her intention to dissolve the lower house conveys her desire to stabilize her administration’s foundation, to implement measures against rising prices and to strengthen the nation’s defense capabilities.
A dissolution at the start of the ordinary Diet session is a move that surprised everyone. Opposition parties intend to counter it by forming an axis of unity. The Liberal Democratic Party, riding on the high approval rating of the Takaichi Cabinet, was initially seen to have the advantage. But that view may have been too optimistic.
The election will be a critical choice: Will it lead to a stable system for the administration, or trigger a major political change?
At a press conference, Takaichi formally announced her intention to dissolve the lower house at the start of the ordinary Diet session to be convened on Friday. The official campaigning is to start on Jan. 27 with voting and vote counting to be held on Feb. 8.
The prime minister said she wants to seek the people’s mandate. “I want to shift the gears up another notch to realize policies.”
The previous lower house election was held in October 2024. Criticism has emerged of her move to seek the voters’ mandate again only 15 months later.
However, it is also true that the political landscape has changed significantly since then. Takaichi has become the new prime minister, and the coalition framework has shifted to the LDP and Japan Innovation Party. Furthermore, the ruling coalition barely holds a majority in the lower house.
At the press conference, the prime minister expressed her determination to continue the administration’s approach of “responsible and proactive public finance.” Takaichi also stressed the importance of initiatives such as strengthening the base of the defense industry.
The prime minister likely wants to build on a public mandate gained in the general election that will choose the governing parties to steadily deal with domestic and foreign policy challenges.
Both ruling and opposition parties have pledged to cut or even abolish the consumption tax as a measure against rising prices in their election campaign pledges.
The consumption tax is a core revenue source that supports pensions, healthcare and other social programs. How do they intend to maintain social security if this stable source of funding is cut? Both ruling and opposition parties are extremely irresponsible in advocating tax cuts that shift the burden to the future just to gain short-term support.
This is the first time the LDP has pledged a consumption tax cut in a national election. It seems it was dragged along by the demands of its coalition partner the JIP, but this is far too thoughtless.
Meanwhile, the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance between the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito announced its party platform and basic policies.
The CDPJ, which had previously advocated “abolishing unconstitutional parts” of the security-related legislation, has now clearly stated its position that the legislation is “constitutional.” Regarding energy policy, it has dropped the “zero nuclear power” pledge that is in its party platform.
This shift demonstrates how unrealistic the CDPJ’s previous assertions were. However, this policy change could potentially attract support from certain conservative voters, making it crucial to closely watch what judgments the voters will make.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 20, 2026)