Former Prime Minister Taro Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Wednesday dismissed the party's past electoral cooperation with its former coalition partner, Komeito, as "nonsense." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/japan-aso-blasts-komeito/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #taroaso #ldp #komeito #cra #osaka
Despite little debate on the matter during campaigning, attention is being paid to the fact that parties in favor of constitutional changes may secure two-thirds of Lower House seats, making major revisions possible. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/constitutional-revisions-key-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #sdf #constitution #2026lowerhouseelection #nipponishinnokai #dpp #cra #jcp #reiwashinsengumi #sanaetakaichi
A video message from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, posted on YouTube by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has garnered over 100 million views — a rarity for a political video. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/takaichi-video-message/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #2026lowerhouseelection #youtube #ldp #socialmedia
Ever since Japan’s Lower House election campaigning kicked off late last month, one question has lingered in the minds of many: Where will Komeito’s votes go? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/reportage-hyogo-8-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #cra #ldp #nipponishinnokai #hyogo #amagasaki #2026lowerhouseelection
The new opposition centrist force that was supposed to upend Japan’s political calculus isn’t gaining any ground. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/04/japan/how-unpredictable-is-the-snap-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #ldp #cdp #komeito #cra #dpp #sanseito #jip #china #us #indopacific #eastasia #senkakus #xijinping #sanaetakaichi #2026lowerhouseelection #nipponishinnokai #diet
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
Koichi Hagiuda, an LDP executive who is running in the Tokyo No. 24 constituency, is seeking to fully re-emerge from the party's high-profile slush fund scandal with an election victory. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/lower-house-election-tokyo-koichi-hagiuda/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2026lowerhouseelection #koichihagiuda #ldp #politicalfunds #tokyo #komeito #hachioji
Three months into being Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi is connecting with younger voters in a way her predecessors never achieved. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/sanae-takaichi-young-voters/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp #socialmedia #2026lowerhouseelection
The Japanese parties that best navigate the shortened campaign period will cement their place in the new political landscape. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/04/japan/cheat-sheet-for-japans-snap-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #sanaetakaichi #ldp #cra #jip #2026lowerhouseelection #sanseito #dpp #diet
Japan’s Feb. 8 snap election will test whether Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and the LDP can rebuild a Lower House majority by reclaiming conservative and independent voters as it faces a fragmented opposition. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/03/japan/conservative-voters-returning-to-ldp/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #japan #sanaetakaichi #ldp #cdpj #komeito #cra #jip #dpp #sanseito #sokagakkai #rengo #shinzoabe
Electoral candidates in a Hokkaido district are braving the cold to get their messages out before the Feb. 8 election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/03/japan/politics/hokkaido-4-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #cra #ldp #sanseito #cdp #komeito #hokkaido #2026lowerhouseelection #sanaetakaichi #nuclearenergy #energy #restarts
Japan’s Feb. 8 snap election is less about short-term politics than a pivotal choice among competing coalition paths that will determine whether the country can adapt its domestic politics to shifting voter behavior. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/03/japan/where-japan-goes-from-here/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #ldp #jip #cdp #komeito #cra #dpp #sanseito #china #unitedstates #indopacific #eastasia #senkakuislands #xijinping #sanaetakaichi #2026lowerhouseelection
Despite being coalition partners, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party are facing off against each other in all 19 single-seat constituencies of Osaka Prefecture in Sunday’s general election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/03/japan/politics/japan-lower-house-election-osaka-ldp-jip/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2026lowerhouseelection #osaka #ldp #jip #komeito
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party could secure a two-thirds majority in the Feb. 8 Lower House election, according to an opinion poll conducted over the weekend. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/02/japan/politics/opinion-polls-2026-elections/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #ldp #cra #nipponishinnokai #2026lowerhouseelection
As parties fanned out across the country, Japan’s voters voiced hope for a range of policy measures as the country grapples with a series of challenges — including soaring prices. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/02/japan/politics/japan-voters-voices-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2026lowerhouseelection #japaneseeconomy #inflation #ldp #cra #sanaetakaichi #yoshihikonoda
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi canceled her appearance in a television debate program Sunday morning as she injured her hand during the campaign trail for the Feb. 8 general election. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/01/japan/politics/hand-injury-forces-takaichi-to-cancel-tv-debate/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #nhk #2026lowerhouseelection #ldp
The co-head of Japan's new Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA) has pledged to participate in a multiparty national conference proposed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/01/japan/politics/centrist-reform-alliance-consumption-tax-cut/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #taxes #2026lowerhouseelection #ldp #cra
For the fourth time, two candidates in Tokyo with the surname Suzuki will be fighting for a seat in parliament, this time in the Feb. 8 Lower House election. But a party change could give a needed edge to one of them. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/01/japan/politics/reportage-tokyo-10th-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #cra #komeito #cdp #sanseito #dpp #jcp #tokyo #sokagakkai #2026lowerhouseelection
Japan's social media is abuzz with politics as users air their thoughts on topics ranging from money scandals, immigration and security. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/31/japan/politics/lower-house-social-media-buzz/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #cra #nipponishinnokai #dpp #sanseito #2026lowerhouseelection #socialmedia
China may rethink its escalating pressure campaign on Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi if she delivers a resounding victory in a Feb. 8 snap election, officials and analysts say. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/01/31/japan/politics/takaichi-voter-clout-china-counter/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #japanchinarelations #japaneseeconomy #ldp #2026lowerhouseelection