Japanese voters will head to the polls on Sunday for a snap election where polls indicate a likely victory for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, but severe winter weather could impact voter turnout.
Japan is set to hold a snap election for the lower house of parliament this Sunday, with polls suggesting that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is poised for a convincing victory. Takaichi, who took office just over three months ago, is leading a party that has dominated Japanese politics since 1955, but which lost its majority in both houses during the 2024 and 2025 elections. Current polling indicates that the LDP might not only regain its absolute majority but could also achieve a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house in coalition with the neoliberal Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), which would strengthen their legislative power significantly.
Despite the promising polls for Takaichi and the LDP, unusual winter weather poses a significant risk to the election outcome. Heavy snowstorms could hinder voter turnout, which is particularly concerning as the LDP relies on solid participation from its base to secure a definitive victory. As the country prepares for the worst of the winter storms, there is heightened uncertainty about how these weather conditions will affect the overall voting process and results. The polls close at 8 PM local time, with the first media reports based on exit polls expected shortly thereafter, which could provide an early indication of whether the weather impacted the election's outcome.
