Japan heads to polls as Takaichi seeks mandate for conservative agenda

Opinion polls suggest Takaichi’s conservative coalition could win more than 300 of the 465 seats in the lower house.Published On 8 Feb 2026Voters in Japan are casting their ballots in a parliamentary election expected to deliver a resounding victory for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s conservative coalition.The snap vote on Sunday comes as Takaichi seeks a new mandate to push through an ambitious agenda, including increased defence spending and tougher immigration measures.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4In Japan’s election, voters hope for relief from rising priceslist 2 of 4Japan snap election: Who’s standing and what’s at stake?list 3 of 4US announces proposed critical mineral trading bloclist 4 of 4Record-breaking snow blankets Japan, killing at least 30 peopleend of listThe coalition of Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, could win more than 300 of the 465 seats in the lower house of parliament, according to multiple opinion polls.The figure would mark a substantial gain from ⁠the 233 it is defending.The opposition, despite the formation of a new centrist alliance and a rising far-right, is seen as too splintered to be a real challenger.Takaichi, 64, is Japan’s first female prime minister and took office in October after being selected as the LDP’s leader. The ultraconservative politician has pledged to “work, work, work”, and her style – seen as both playful and tough – has resonated with younger voters.She has said she will step down if the LDP fails to win a majority.Rising cost of livingVoters on Sunday will select lawmakers in 289 single-seat constituencies, with the remainder decided by proportional representation votes for parties. Polls close at 8pm local time (11:00 GMT), when broadcasters are expected to issue projections based on exit polls.The rising cost of living has taken centre stage in the election.The issue is voters’ main concern, with prices rising while real wage growth lags behind inflation, leaving households worse off. Japan also faces longstanding problems with sluggish economic growth. The economy expanded just 1.1 percent last year and is on track to grow by only 0.7 percent in 2026, according to the International Monetary Fund.