A voter wearing a traditional kimono casts her ballot for a general election at a polling station in Tokyo, Japan, February 8, 2026. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
A voter wearing a traditional kimono casts her ballot for a general election at a polling station in Tokyo, Japan, February 8, 2026 [Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters]

By Urooba Jamal and Umut Uras

Published On 8 Feb 20268 Feb 2026

  • Japanese voters have gone to the polls for a snap election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, just three months after she assumed office.
  • Takaichi is banking on her popularity to help boost the fortunes of the Liberal Democratic Party, which currently governs through a fragile coalition.