After Korea-Japan Summit, Takaichi Decides on Early General Election: "February 8 Most Likely"

Announcement of Diet Dissolution on January 19
Confidence Vote Expected on Coalition with Japan Innovation Party and Economic Policies

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan has reportedly decided to dissolve the House of Representatives (the lower house) early and call a general election, with the plan to be announced at the upcoming regular session of the National Diet scheduled for January 23.

According to Kyodo News and other sources on January 14, Hirofumi Yoshimura, leader of the Japan Innovation Party, a coalition partner, stated that he received this intention from Prime Minister Takaichi during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office earlier that day.

Yoshimura explained that Prime Minister Takaichi intends to seek a vote of confidence on the agreement reached between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party when they formed a coalition government in October of last year. Yoshimura added that Takaichi is expected to personally announce the specific timing and reasons for the dissolution of the House of Representatives on January 19.

President Lee Jae-myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands on the 13th at the expanded summit venue in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Photo by Yonhap News

After completing a summit with President Lee Jae-myung the previous day, Prime Minister Takaichi visited Horyuji Temple with him and then returned to Tokyo, where she informed senior ruling party officials of her intention to dissolve the lower house, effectively formalizing the plan for an early general election.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that if Prime Minister Takaichi dissolves the House of Representatives on January 23, the general election is being coordinated to take place on February 8, taking into account the passage of the fiscal 2026 budget (April 2026-March 2027). The newspaper noted that if the general election is held on February 8, it would be just 16 days after the dissolution of the lower house on January 23, making it the shortest period in the postwar era, and analyzed that this aims to prevent delays in the budget deliberations. However, the report also mentioned that the election date could be postponed depending on the preparations of the election management committee and other factors.

The House of Representatives has 465 seats, and the ruling coalition currently holds just over half, with 233 seats based on parliamentary groupings. Prime Minister Takaichi is believed to be aiming to secure a majority exceeding half of the seats through this general election to strengthen the government's foundation.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Democratic Party, the main opposition, has reportedly begun discussions on election cooperation and candidate coordination with the Komeito party, which has ended its partnership with the Liberal Democratic Party.