Japan kicks off election campaign with over 1,270 candidates for Feb. 8 vote

Formal campaigning for Japan's general election commenced on Tuesday, setting the stage for a pivotal vote on February 8th that will test the mandate of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. This snap election, the first since Takaichi took office in October, sees more than 1,270 candidates vying for 465 seats in the powerful lower house of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

A transformed political landscape

The election unfolds in a reconfigured political environment. Prime Minister Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) terminated its 26-year coalition with Komeito and has formed a new governing alliance with the Japan Innovation Party. In response, the opposition has consolidated, with the Constitutional Democratic Party and Komeito uniting as the Centrist Reform Alliance, now the primary challenger. The LDP enters the contest weakened, having lost its lower house majority in 2024 and its upper house majority last July.

Key issues and the path to power

Economic policy and tax reforms dominate the debate, as parties grapple with persistent inflation. Proposals to suspend or abolish the food consumption tax are central to discussions, balancing voter relief against concerns over fiscal sustainability. Takaichi’s broader agenda, including fiscal policy, diplomacy with China and the United States, and social reforms like optional separate surnames for married couples, is also under scrutiny. A party or coalition requires at least 233 seats in the 465-seat chamber to form a government and elect the prime minister.

How the electoral system works

The election will be conducted under Japan's dual voting system. Citizens cast one ballot for a candidate in their local single-member district and a second vote for a political party under proportional representation. The 465 seats are divided between 289 local constituencies and 176 seats allocated across 11 proportional representation blocs. The outcome will determine the political direction of the world’s fourth-largest economy.