Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a huge supermajority in the snap election, thanks to her brave call just a few months into her term. NHK exit polls show that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will win 274 to 326 seats in the 465-seat lower house. This is more than the 233 seats needed for a majority, which means that the LDP can work with Ishin to form a coalition.
Takaichi dissolved parliament on January 23, 2026, and the vote on February 8 was held with high approval ratings and plans to strengthen fiscal policies. The gamble paid off, even though it was cold and there were rivals who were in trouble with the law. The LDP is now looking at up to 316 seats, which would be a record for Japan.
- The LDP alone is expected to win between 274 and 326 seats. If it works with Ishin, it could win between 302 and 366 seats.
- The far-right Sanseito party is gaining ground with its “Japan first” platform and could win as many as 14 seats.
- Takaichi promises not to make any big changes to the cabinet, putting fiscal stability first.
This victory gives Takaichi’s conservative agenda on immigration, the economy, and China more power, even though there are problems in the upper house.
