Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi officially dissolved the country’s parliament, the House of Representatives, today (January 23, 2026) to pave the way for early elections on February 8.
According to Japanese media reports, the party led by Sanae Takaichi, along with its main ally, the Japan Innovation Party Nippon Ishin no Kai – JIP, currently holds just over half of the seats in the House of Representatives, and their majority is not very stable.
The prime minister hopes that his cabinet’s high popularity, especially among young people under 30, can lead to a more decisive victory in the election.
According to a joint poll by the Sankei Shimbun newspaper and Fuji TV, support for the Takaichi cabinet among the younger age group has reached around 90%.
However, political experts warn that the personal popularity of the prime minister and cabinet does not necessarily translate into more votes for the ruling party.
