Japan is holding parliamentary elections today for the lower house, with polls indicating a clear victory for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who has been in office for just over three months. The LDP, which has been in power almost continuously since 1955, lost its majority in both houses of parliament during previous elections in 2024 and 2025, making this election critical for its political future.

If current polling holds, the LDP, alongside its new partner, the neoliberal Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), could not only regain a majority but potentially achieve a two-thirds majority in the lower house, which consists of 465 members. This outcome would significantly enhance the LDP's legislative power and could lead to easier passage of policies and reforms that align with their agenda.

As Japanese citizens head to the polls, the closing time for voting is set for 8 p.m. local time (12 p.m. Central European Time), after which early media reports based on exit polls are expected. However, the winter weather poses a substantial uncertainty factor regarding voter turnout, which could influence the final results and the overall political landscape in Japan.