Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly considering a snap parliamentary election in early February, with Feb. 8 and Feb. 15 under consideration, the Yomiuri newspaper said. The timing would let Japan's first female PM capitalise on strong approval ratings since October while trying to close a gap that leaves the LDP‑Ishin coalition short of a lower‑house majority. Her tougher stance on China has increased right‑wing support but sparked a serious diplomatic rift, and the report lifted the dollar against the yen.
Takaichi Eyes Early-February Snap Election as China Row Intensifies
Sanae Takaichi, Japan's prime minister, speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS
Tokyo, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is weighing whether to call a snap parliamentary election in the first half of February, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Friday, citing government sources.
Both February 8 and February 15 are under consideration, the Yomiuri said. The timing would allow Takaichi — Japan's first female prime minister — to capitalise on the strong approval ratings she has enjoyed since taking office in October.
Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) governs in coalition with the right‑wing Ishin party; together they remain a few seats short of a comfortable majority in the lower house, making an early poll a strategic option to try to secure a stable mandate.
The report pushed the dollar higher against the yen as markets reacted to the prospect of a quick election.
Diplomatic Fallout With China
Takaichi's tougher posture toward China — including remarks warning that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose an existential threat to Japan — has bolstered support among right‑wing voters but also triggered the most serious diplomatic rift with Beijing in more than a decade.
In response, China has urged its citizens to avoid travel to Japan, cancelled meetings and cultural exchanges, and restricted exports of certain dual‑use items that could have military applications for Japan, among other measures.
Context: China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, a position rejected by Taipei, and tensions over Taiwan's status are a central flashpoint in East Asian security politics.
(Reporting by David Dolan and John Geddie; Editing by Toby Chopra and Kevin Liffey)
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