Japan's PM Takaichi secures landslide election victory

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has secured a historic supermajority in Japan’s 2026 snap election,Backed by "Sanamania," she now holds a mandate for major security and economic reforms

Staff Reporter

Feb 9, 2026, 05:54 AM2 min read

Japan's PM Takaichi secures landslide election victory

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi places a red paper rose on the name of an elected candidate at LDP headquarters in Tokyo during parliamentary elections Sunday / Collected

Japan’s conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has scored a sweeping victory in a surprise snap election, securing a supermajority in the lower house and strengthening her mandate to pursue an ambitious security and foreign policy agenda.

Public broadcaster NHK reported Sunday that Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) crossed the 310-seat threshold in the 465-member House of Representatives, enabling the ruling coalition to override the upper house, where it lacks a majority. An exit poll projected the LDP would win 274 to 326 seats, while the LDP–Ishin coalition was forecast to take 302 to 366 seats, despite low turnout in freezing winter conditions.

Speaking at LDP headquarters, Takaichi said the coalition with Ishin would continue and stressed fiscal discipline, ruling out a major cabinet reshuffle. Red paper roses traditionally marking victories lined the board behind her, underscoring the scale of the win.

lection officials open ballot boxes as they prepare to count the votes in the lower house election in Tokyo, February 8, 2026 / Collected

The far-right Sanseito party, campaigning on a “Japanese first” platform, was projected to win up to 14 seats, quadrupling its presence but missing its target of 30.

According to an NBC report, the snap election gamble driven by Takaichi’s personal popularity and strong backing from younger voters swept up in what has been dubbed “Sanamania” paid off decisively, giving Japan’s first female prime minister a clear public mandate.

International reactions were swift. Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te congratulated Takaichi and praised her commitment to Indo-Pacific security. Relations with China remain strained after her comments suggesting Japan could respond militarily to a Chinese attack on Taiwan, remarks that prompted Beijing to impose new trade restrictions on Japan.

Takaichi, who took office in October, has positioned herself as a strong U.S. ally and enjoys a notably warm relationship with President Donald Trump, who publicly endorsed her ahead of the vote. She is expected to visit the White House next month.

Despite lingering public skepticism toward the scandal-hit LDP, Takaichi’s energetic style and social media presence have resonated particularly with younger voters solidifying her dominance in Japan’s political landscape.

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