Japan’s Takaichi Scores Historic Landslide in Snap Election Gamble
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae‘s wager on a snap election paid off spectacularly Sunday, with her Liberal Democratic Party securing an unprecedented single-handed two-thirds majority in the 465-seat lower house – a feat the party has never previously achieved, according to public broadcaster NHK.
The conservative leader, 64, who took office as Japan‘s first female prime minister in October 2025, dissolved parliament after merely three months in power and staked her political future on the outcome, vowing to step down if her coalition lost its majority. The gambit succeeded beyond expectations, with her party clearing the 310-seat supermajority mark that enables overriding the upper chamber.
NHK exit polling indicated the LDP would capture between 274 and 326 seats, while combined projections for the party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, ranged from 302 to 366 seats. Voters turned out despite sub-zero temperatures and significant snowfall across multiple regions. The ultranationalist Sanseito party, running on an explicit “Japanese first” agenda, appeared poised to increase its representation from two seats to as many as 14.
The outcome represents a dramatic reversal for the LDP, which faced severe headwinds from financial improprieties and sustained losses in both 2024 and 2025 parliamentary contests that stripped the party of its governing majority. Takaichi’s predecessor, Ishiba Shigeru, resigned under mounting internal pressure in September 2025 following approximately one year in office.
The primary opposition formation, the Centrist Reform Alliance, faced substantial losses, with projections indicating the party would retain only one-quarter of its current 167 seats. Party co-secretary general Nakano Hiromasa acknowledged to NHK that the results demanded “humble and serious” reflection.
Takaichi’s diplomatic approach has generated significant international attention. In January, she and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung participated in a joint drumming performance set to K-pop music. Her rapport with U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn comparisons to the relationship Trump maintained with her political mentor, the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
“The Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise Leader, and one that truly loves her Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, announcing he would welcome Takaichi to the White House on March 19.
Beijing relations have deteriorated significantly during Takaichi’s brief tenure. In November, she informed parliament that Japanese military forces could respond to a Chinese assault on Taiwan – a formulation that exceeded the strategic ambiguity typically maintained by Tokyo. China’s government retaliated through flight cancellations, seafood import restrictions, and intensified naval and air patrols in waters adjacent to Japanese territory.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te joined early international congratulations. “May your victory bring a more prosperous and secure future for Japan and its partners in the region,” Lai wrote on X.
Takaichi has cultivated a distinctive public persona that extends beyond conventional political positioning. Known for riding motorcycles and playing heavy metal drums, she has attracted voters seeking a departure from Japan’s entrenched male political establishment, even as she maintains conservative stances on social questions including her opposition to recognizing same-sex unions and permitting female imperial succession. Her campaign slogan “work, work, work, work and work” resonated widely enough to earn recognition as the year’s defining catchphrase.
Speaking with NHK, Takaichi said: “I think the current Cabinet is a good team. It’s still only just over three months since it was launched, but the members have been working really hard and are producing results. So I don’t think I will change it. Most parties are in favor of reducing the consumption tax, such as reducing the tax on food items to zero, or to 5 percent, or reducing the tax on all items to 5 percent. The LDP has also campaigned for a consumption tax cut. I strongly want to call for the establishment of a supra-party forum to speed up discussion on this, as it is a big issue.”
For Japan’s entertainment industry, the political stability comes at an opportune moment. The nation secured Country of Honor designation for the 2026 Cannes Film Market, where officials plan to showcase Japanese animation, genre cinema and co-production opportunities.
The victory comes as Japan experiences a cultural resurgence, with the nation’s box office hitting a record $1.79 billion in 2025 – up 32% from 2024, according to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. The surge was driven overwhelmingly by local productions, led by anime blockbuster “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle – Part 1,” which dominated with $255 million, and Oscar-nominated Kabuki drama “Kokuho,” which earned $127 million to become the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film locally.
Japan’s broader anime industry has reached a valuation of approximately $25 billion globally, cementing the nation’s position as a dominant force in animated entertainment worldwide and contributing significantly to its cultural export economy.
The conservative leader, 64, who took office as Japan‘s first female prime minister in October 2025, dissolved parliament after merely three months in power and staked her political future on the outcome, vowing to step down if her coalition lost its majority. The gambit succeeded beyond expectations, with her party clearing the 310-seat supermajority mark that enables overriding the upper chamber.
NHK exit polling indicated the LDP would capture between 274 and 326 seats, while combined projections for the party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, ranged from 302 to 366 seats. Voters turned out despite sub-zero temperatures and significant snowfall across multiple regions. The ultranationalist Sanseito party, running on an explicit “Japanese first” agenda, appeared poised to increase its representation from two seats to as many as 14.
The outcome represents a dramatic reversal for the LDP, which faced severe headwinds from financial improprieties and sustained losses in both 2024 and 2025 parliamentary contests that stripped the party of its governing majority. Takaichi’s predecessor, Ishiba Shigeru, resigned under mounting internal pressure in September 2025 following approximately one year in office.
The primary opposition formation, the Centrist Reform Alliance, faced substantial losses, with projections indicating the party would retain only one-quarter of its current 167 seats. Party co-secretary general Nakano Hiromasa acknowledged to NHK that the results demanded “humble and serious” reflection.
Takaichi’s diplomatic approach has generated significant international attention. In January, she and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung participated in a joint drumming performance set to K-pop music. Her rapport with U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn comparisons to the relationship Trump maintained with her political mentor, the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
“The Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise Leader, and one that truly loves her Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, announcing he would welcome Takaichi to the White House on March 19.
Beijing relations have deteriorated significantly during Takaichi’s brief tenure. In November, she informed parliament that Japanese military forces could respond to a Chinese assault on Taiwan – a formulation that exceeded the strategic ambiguity typically maintained by Tokyo. China’s government retaliated through flight cancellations, seafood import restrictions, and intensified naval and air patrols in waters adjacent to Japanese territory.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te joined early international congratulations. “May your victory bring a more prosperous and secure future for Japan and its partners in the region,” Lai wrote on X.
Takaichi has cultivated a distinctive public persona that extends beyond conventional political positioning. Known for riding motorcycles and playing heavy metal drums, she has attracted voters seeking a departure from Japan’s entrenched male political establishment, even as she maintains conservative stances on social questions including her opposition to recognizing same-sex unions and permitting female imperial succession. Her campaign slogan “work, work, work, work and work” resonated widely enough to earn recognition as the year’s defining catchphrase.
Speaking with NHK, Takaichi said: “I think the current Cabinet is a good team. It’s still only just over three months since it was launched, but the members have been working really hard and are producing results. So I don’t think I will change it. Most parties are in favor of reducing the consumption tax, such as reducing the tax on food items to zero, or to 5 percent, or reducing the tax on all items to 5 percent. The LDP has also campaigned for a consumption tax cut. I strongly want to call for the establishment of a supra-party forum to speed up discussion on this, as it is a big issue.”
For Japan’s entertainment industry, the political stability comes at an opportune moment. The nation secured Country of Honor designation for the 2026 Cannes Film Market, where officials plan to showcase Japanese animation, genre cinema and co-production opportunities.
The victory comes as Japan experiences a cultural resurgence, with the nation’s box office hitting a record $1.79 billion in 2025 – up 32% from 2024, according to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. The surge was driven overwhelmingly by local productions, led by anime blockbuster “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle – Part 1,” which dominated with $255 million, and Oscar-nominated Kabuki drama “Kokuho,” which earned $127 million to become the highest-grossing live-action Japanese film locally.
Japan’s broader anime industry has reached a valuation of approximately $25 billion globally, cementing the nation’s position as a dominant force in animated entertainment worldwide and contributing significantly to its cultural export economy.