Sanae Takaichi Wins Japan’s General Election

On February 8, 2026, Japan held a House of Representatives election, and the result was a historic landslide victory for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Sanae Takaichi and its allies.

Takaichi’s LDP alone won over 316 seats, far exceeding the 233-seat majority threshold in the lower house, marking the strongest single-party performance since 1955. In alliance with the Japan Innovation Party, the coalition reached—or even exceeded—a two-thirds supermajority, giving the government greater legislative leeway. This victory set a postwar record, surpassing the previous benchmark of 300 seats.

Takaichi’s victory has already drawn close attention from both China and the United States. Her nationalist stance and emphasis on strengthening security policies have heightened tensions between Japan and China, especially after she publicly discussed possible Japanese responses if China were to take action against Taiwan, prompting strong criticism and countermeasures from Beijing. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed her leadership and plans to invite her to the White House, signaling that the U.S.-Japan alliance may deepen further under her administration.