Japan’s first woman prime minister Sanae Takaichi (AP)

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi said on Monday she will dissolve parliament this week and hold a snap election on February 8— a move that could strengthen her grip on power or deepen political uncertainty at home and abroad.Japan’s first woman PM said the election is meant to put her leadership directly before voters. “Is Sanae Takaichi fit to be Prime Minister? I wanted to ask the sovereign people to decide,” she told a news conference.Takaichi said the lower house will be dissolved on January 23, with campaigning beginning on January 27.“Following the dissolution of the lower house on January 23, the schedule will be set for campaigning to start on January 27 and voting and counting held on February 8.”She was appointed premier in October and her cabinet is currently polling well, even as the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) continues to struggle with low popularity. The LDP has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades, though frequent leadership changes have marked recent years.The ruling bloc — made up of the LDP and coalition partner Japan Innovation Party (JIP) — holds only a slim majority in the powerful lower house. That narrow edge threatens Takaichi’s ability to pass key legislation, including plans for “proactive” fiscal spending and a higher defence budget.“If the LDP can get a majority by itself in the lower house, that’ll help her pursue policies” without concessions to other parties, said Sadafumi Kawato, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo.A stronger majority would give Takaichi more freedom to advance her agenda without relying on smaller partners.

Takaichi’s cabinet has approved a record 122.3-trillion-yen ($768 billion) budget for the fiscal year beginning in April 2026. She said swift parliamentary approval is needed to tackle inflation and support the world’s fourth-largest economy.Opposition parties argue that dissolving parliament risks delaying urgent economic measures. Jun Azumi of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) said the move would “sacrifice livelihoods”.Media reports say the LDP is weighing a campaign promise to cut taxes on food to ease pressure from soaring grocery prices.

The snap election could also reshape Japan’s foreign policy footing, particularly in its increasingly tense relationship with China. Analysts say a strong election win could give Takaichi more leverage by demonstrating solid domestic backing.Relations between Tokyo and Beijing have deteriorated since November, when Takaichi suggested Japan could intervene militarily if China attacked Taiwan, the self-ruled island it claims.However, the risks are significant. Mikitaka Masuyama, dean of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, warned that an election victory could provoke a harsher response from Beijing. China may want to send voters “the message that supporting a hawkish leader could lead to pain,” he said, as quoted by AFP.China has recently announced a broad ban on exports to Japan of “dual-use” goods with potential military applications and has reportedly restricted rare-earth exports vital for industries ranging from electric vehicles to missiles.According to an Asahi newspaper poll, 60 percent of respondents said they were worried about the economic impact of worsening Japan–China relations.

Opposition unites against Takaichi

Japan’s domestic politics remain volatile. Under Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, the LDP and its former long-time coalition partner Komeito lost their majority in both chambers in recent national elections, most recently in July’s upper house vote. That defeat led Ishiba to step down, while smaller parties gained ground, including the populist Sanseito.Komeito has now joined forces with the CDP to challenge Takaichi, hoping their alliance can attract swing voters.As campaigning begins, the snap election will test whether Takaichi’s personal popularity can overcome voter anxiety over inflation, foreign tensions and political instability — and whether her gamble delivers the stronger mandate she is seeking.