Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has energized voters and strengthened the LDP ahead of a snap election, but her inexperience and ties to the Shinzo Abe faction pose risks for governance and public trust. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2026/02/06/takaichi-ldp-poised-for-big-win/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #sanaetakaichi #ldp #jip #cra #cdp #komeito #shinzoabe #shigeruishiba #upperhouse #lowerhouse #2026lowerhouseelection
In the runup to Sunday's general election, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appears to be avoiding discussing a proposed reduction in the number of House of Representatives seats. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/lower-house-seats-cut-plan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #nipponishinnokai #lowerhouse #2026lowerhouseelection #diet
Food consumption tax cut plans have parties crunching the numbers on reducing the rate to 0% from 8% without having to issue many or any bonds. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/28/economy/consumption-tax-cut-debate/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #economy #japaneseeconomy #consumptiontax #ldp #sanaetakaiachi #lowerhouse #2026lowerhouseelection #taxes
Campaigning for the Feb. 8 Lower House election kicked off Tuesday, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi facing off against a transformed opposition as she seeks a mandate from voters. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/27/japan/politics/lower-house-campaing-starts/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #nipponishin #cra #sanaetakaichi #diet #lowerhouse #2026lowerhouseelection #taxes
Ruling and opposition parties clashed during a Sunday debate, a day ahead of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s widely expected announcement of a February snap election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/18/japan/politics/japan-political-parties-tug-of-war/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #lowerhouse #ldp #jip #komeito #cdp #centristreformalliance #diet #sanaetakaichi
Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition CDP, is likely to be the prime minister candidate of the Centrist Reform Alliance, the new party jointly formed by the CDP and Komeito. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/17/japan/politics/noda-pm-candidate-centrist-reform-alliance/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoshihikonoda #cra #cdp #komeito #ldp #diet #lowerhouse #sanaetakaichi #nipponishin
Former Japanese Communist Party leader Kazuo Shii — who led the party for 23 years until 2024 — has announced that he will not run in the next Lower House election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/17/japan/politics/jcp-kazuo-shii-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #jcp #kazuoshii #diet #lowerhouse
Yen traders are on edge for the risk of renewed volatility in the currency as uncertainty over the nation’s snap election grows with a Bank of Japan meeting approaching next week. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/17/markets/yen-boj-election-uncertainty/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #markets #sanaetakaichi #diet #lowerhouse #yen #currencies #boj #interestrates
Former Prime Minister and veteran lawmaker Yoshihide Suga reportedly won’t contest in the next Lower House election, which is likely to take place in February, and will retire from national politics. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/16/japan/politics/yoshihide-suga-no-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yoshihidesuga #ldp #lowerhouse
The Social Democratic Party is considering postponing its leadership election scheduled for February due to the possibility of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolving the Lower House for a snap election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/14/japan/politics/social-democratic-party-leadership/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #socialdemocraticparty #lowerhouse #diet
The Democratic Party for the People's leader said his party may not approve the government's fiscal 2026 draft budget if the prime minister intends to dissolve the Lower House for a snap election as early as next month. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/12/japan/politics/dpp-election-budget-approval/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #yuichirotamaki #sanaetakaichi #diet #ldp #lowerhouse #dpp
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is believed to be eyeing a snap election as early as next month, with the co-leader of the LDP's ruling coalition partner saying her thinking on the matter had "shifted to a new stage." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/11/japan/politics/japan-takaichi-snap-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #diet #ldp #nipponishinnokai #diet #lowerhouse #dpp #chinajapanrelations #jip #osakaishinnokai
After more than three decades, there is a growing debate in parliament about returning the current Lower House electoral system to what it once was. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/02/japan/politics/election-system/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #diet #lowerhouse #ldp #nipponishinnokai #dpp #cdp
A possible reduction of the number of seats in Japan’s Lower House is unlikely to be implemented in time for the next election, a ruling party official has indicated. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/22/japan/politics/lower-house-seat-cut-unlikely-for-next-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #lowerhouse #ldp #keijifuruya #diet
With parliament set to close on Wednesday, the ruling coalition agreed this week to hold off discussions on a bill reducing Lower House seats by 10% until next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/16/japan/politics/ldp-jip-bill-put-off/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #nipponishinnokai #ldp #hirofumiyoshimura #dpp #cdp #komeito #diet #lowerhouse
After a bumpy negotiation process, the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, submitted a bill that would cut at least 45 Lower House seats by the end of next year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/05/japan/politics/seat-reduction-bill-submitted/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #katsunobukato #hirofumiyoshimura #ldp #nipponishinnokai #diet #lowerhouse
Japan’s parliament has started deliberations on three bills related to the reform of political donations from companies and other organizations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/04/japan/politics/japan-corporate-donation-reform-bill/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #jip #komeito #lowerhouse
A proposed reduction in Lower House seats in a draft bill could affect single-seat constituencies in 20 prefectures, including Tokyo, Osaka, Gunma and Nagano, an estimate by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party found. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/04/japan/politics/lower-house-cut-effects/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #jip #lowerhouse
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura agreed to submit a bill during the current parliamentary session that will reduce the number of Lower House seats by 10%. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/01/japan/politics/seats-reduction-ldp-jip-agreement/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #nipponishinnokai #lowerhouse #diet #hirofumiyoshimura #komeito #koichihagiuda
Dark clouds are hanging over the ruling coalition's plan to cut the number of seats in the House of Representatives. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/01/japan/politics/japan-lower-house-seat-cut-talks-uncertain/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #jip #lowerhouse