Sanae Takaichi has been re-elected as Japan’s 105th Prime Minister following a parliamentary vote on Wednesday. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader secured her position during a plenary session of the House of Representatives. She is set to form her second cabinet today and has decided to retain all current ministers without any changes.

Takaichi first assumed office as Japan’s 104th Prime Minister in late October of the previous year. On January 23, she dissolved the parliament, leading to a general election held on February 8. The LDP achieved a sweeping victory, winning more than two-thirds of the seats, which paved the way for her re-election.

A separate nomination vote was also held in the House of Councillors. As the lower house’s decision takes precedence in case of differing results, Takaichi’s reappointment as Prime Minister was confirmed. Her decision to maintain the existing cabinet signals continuity in her administration’s policies and leadership approach.

Japan’s Coast Guard seized a Chinese fishing vessel in the East China Sea near Kyushu’s Nagasaki Prefecture on February 13, 2026. The vessel, carrying 11 crew members including its captain, was intercepted within Japan’s exclusive economic zone after allegedly attempting to flee when ordered to stop. All crew members are currently in custody, according to a Coast Guard statement.

This marks Japan’s first seizure of a Chinese vessel in four years, the last such incident occurring in 2022. The operation comes at a time of heightened concern between Tokyo and Beijing over Taiwan, a self-governing island that China claims as an inseparable part of its territory. The issue has resurfaced following recent remarks by Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The seizure underscores the fragile maritime relations between Japan and China, particularly as both nations navigate sensitive territorial and political disputes in the region.

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported on Tuesday that continuous heavy snowfall over nearly three weeks has killed 46 people and injured at least 558 across the country. The prolonged snow began in late January, blanketing vast areas of northern Japan and severely affecting daily life.

According to the report, coastal regions facing the Sea of Japan have experienced severe traffic congestion and widespread disruption to transportation and communication networks. AFP noted that the situation is most critical in Aomori Prefecture and other northern areas. Police and local officials said most fatalities occurred when heavy snow collapsed from rooftops or when people slipped while clearing snow.

The Japan Meteorological Agency stated that snow accumulation in Aomori has reached about 1.3 meters, or more than four feet. Authorities have issued warnings that weather conditions could worsen further in the coming days.

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, achieved a landslide victory in the general election held on February 8. According to preliminary results from public broadcaster NHK, the LDP secured 352 out of 465 seats in the lower house, far exceeding the 233 needed to form a government. The official final results have not yet been announced.

Following early indications of victory, Takaichi told reporters that her party would continue to prioritize responsible and proactive fiscal policies, balancing financial stability with necessary investments. Despite recent pressure from political funding scandals and links to religious organizations, Takaichi called the snap election just three months after taking office to reaffirm public trust in her party.

The result contrasts sharply with the tenure of her two predecessors, when the LDP lost its majority amid corruption allegations and rising living costs. Analysts noted that the absence of a strong opposition has long favored the LDP’s dominance, while Takaichi’s personal popularity and approval ratings above 70 percent appear to have driven this decisive win.

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is projected to secure an easy victory in Sunday’s early parliamentary election, according to local media reports. Multiple surveys by Kyodo News indicate that the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance may lose a significant number of seats in the House of Representatives election. The alliance was formed in January when members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito Party joined forces, following Komeito’s split from the LDP last October after a 26-year coalition.

NHK forecasts that the LDP could win between 274 and 328 of the 465 seats in the lower house, up from its current 198. Voting began at 7 a.m. local time despite heavy snowfall in some regions and continued until 8 p.m. Over 104 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots, with more than 20 million participating in early voting between January 28 and February 7.

Analysts suggest the outcome could significantly reshape Japan’s political landscape. A party or coalition needs at least 233 seats to form a government.

Voting is underway in Japan’s interim election on Sunday, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes to turn her early tenure’s momentum into a decisive win. Opinion polls suggest her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partners are on track to secure around 310 of the 465 lower house seats, well above the 233 needed for a majority. Such a result would mark the LDP’s strongest performance since 2017. Analysts note that a sweeping victory could strain relations with China and unsettle Japan’s financial markets.

Takaichi, who became LDP leader in October, has gained popularity among young voters despite her roots in the party’s conservative wing. She has taken a tough stance on immigration, emphasizing strict screening to prevent entry by potential terrorists or spies and ensuring foreign residents meet tax and insurance obligations. Economically, she announced a $135 billion stimulus package to ease inflation and pledged to suspend consumer taxes on food items.

Japan’s public debt remains more than twice the size of its economy, with bond yields at record highs and the yen experiencing sharp fluctuations.

Japan is holding its parliamentary election today, with voting beginning at 8 a.m. local time and continuing until 8 p.m. A total of 1,284 candidates are contesting for 465 seats in the lower house of parliament. The election follows the dissolution of parliament on January 23 by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who also announced the February 8 early election date.

Opinion polls suggest that Prime Minister Takaichi’s conservative alliance, led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party, is expected to win by a large margin. Surveys indicate the coalition could secure more than 300 of the 465 seats in the lower house.

Of the 465 seats, 289 members will be directly elected from single-member districts, while the remaining 176 will be chosen through proportional representation across 11 regional blocs. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, faces her main challenge from the Japan Innovation Party.

Voters across Japan are casting ballots in a snap parliamentary election expected to deliver a decisive victory for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s conservative coalition. The vote, held on Sunday, is seen as a test of Takaichi’s mandate to advance her agenda of higher defence spending, stricter immigration controls, and economic relief measures. Opinion polls suggest the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party could secure more than 300 of the 465 lower house seats, a major gain from the 233 currently held.

Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, took office in October after becoming LDP leader. Her campaign has focused on addressing the rising cost of living, pledging to suspend the 8 percent food sales tax for two years and continuing stimulus measures to ease household burdens. She has also vowed to revise defence policies by December, lifting restrictions on weapons exports and expanding Japan’s military capabilities.

The election takes place amid record snowfall that could affect turnout, though analysts expect little impact on the outcome. Takaichi’s popularity, particularly among younger voters, and her growth-oriented strategy emphasizing AI, semiconductors, and defence spending are seen as key drivers of her coalition’s expected success.

Two days before Japan’s snap election, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly declared his full support for Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi through a message on Truth Social. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, took office in October and is hoping for a major victory in Sunday’s vote. Polls suggest her ruling coalition could secure a supermajority in parliament. Trump praised Takaichi as a strong and wise leader who loves her country and confirmed she will visit the United States on March 19.

Trump said the U.S. and Japan are moving toward an important trade agreement and cooperating closely on national security. His endorsement breaks with the usual U.S. presidential practice of avoiding involvement in foreign elections, though Trump has previously supported leaders such as Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Takaichi earlier welcomed Trump warmly in Japan and supported his Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Polls indicate Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party has regained strength after past scandals and inflation challenges. Analysts suggest a strong mandate could allow her to advance economic and security reforms if her coalition achieves a two-thirds majority.

Japan is preparing to restart the world’s largest nuclear power plant after a long hiatus. Authorities announced that one reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant will be reactivated next week. At a press conference on Friday, Take-yuki Inagaki, head of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), said the reactor is scheduled to start on February 9.

The restart process had been temporarily halted earlier due to an alarm-related fault. Inagaki explained that the issue was linked to alarm settings and did not affect the plant’s operational safety. Last month, an attempt to restart a reactor at the Niigata Prefecture facility was also stopped within hours of initiation.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant has remained closed since Japan suspended nuclear power generation nationwide following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, which caused reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Japan will hold a snap election on Sunday, with opinion polls suggesting a major victory for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The country’s first female prime minister, Takaichi, has seen her popularity rise sharply in recent months, according to an AFP report. The 64-year-old leader, who took office last October as Japan’s fifth prime minister in five years, has gained strong appeal among younger voters and on social media.

Pre-election surveys indicate that the LDP and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), could win more than 300 of the 465 parliamentary seats, securing a two-thirds majority. Meanwhile, the main opposition alliance, formed by the CDP and Komeito under the new Centrist Reform Alliance, may lose about half of its current 167 seats.

Despite her growing domestic support, uncertainty remains over Japan’s relations with China. Takaichi’s past visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and her remarks suggesting possible military intervention if China moves on Taiwan have drawn attention. Economically, her $135 billion stimulus plan has unsettled investors, though experts believe market forces will restrain any risky fiscal moves.

At least 30 people have died in Japan over the past two weeks due to record levels of heavy snowfall, government officials confirmed on Tuesday. Among the victims was a 91-year-old woman found buried under nearly three meters of snow outside her home. The northern Aomori Prefecture has been the hardest hit, prompting the central government to deploy military forces to help manage the situation, as some remote areas remain buried under up to 4.5 meters of snow.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, directing all ministries to take preventive measures against snow-related accidents and fatalities. Authorities said strong cold airflows along the Sea of Japan coast have caused snowfall more than double the usual levels. The Fire and Disaster Management Agency reported that snow-related incidents since January 20 have resulted in 30 deaths.

Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said military assistance was requested to support elderly residents living alone with snow removal. He warned that the risk of roof collapses and snow slides remains extremely high as temperatures fluctuate.

A new Asahi newspaper poll indicates that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is on track for a major victory in next week’s lower house election. The survey, released on February 2, 2026, shows the LDP could secure well above the 233 seats needed for a majority in the 465-member chamber, up from its current 198 seats. Together with coalition partner Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), the ruling bloc could reach as many as 300 seats, strengthening Takaichi’s mandate.

According to Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities strategist Keisuke Tsuruta, such a result would reinforce Takaichi’s authority and allow her to continue her “proactive” economic policies, including boosting consumption and cutting taxes. The main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance faces a potential loss of half its 167 seats amid a tight race.

Takaichi dissolved parliament last month and called the snap election for February 8 to seek public approval for her expansionary economic agenda. Her earlier decision to suspend the 8% food tax for two years triggered a market slump and raised public concern about Japan’s fiscal discipline.

The Afghan Embassy in Japan officially ceased operations on Saturday, marking the end of its diplomatic activities in Tokyo. Afghan Ambassador Shida Mohammad Abdali confirmed the closure in a statement on social media platform X, noting that it was the embassy’s final working day and expressing sorrow as he departed Tokyo.

Before its closure, the embassy served as the formal diplomatic channel between Afghanistan and Japan, providing consular services such as passports and visas to Afghan nationals residing in Japan. The move follows a broader pattern since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, which has led to the suspension or limitation of Afghan diplomatic missions in several countries and the dismissal of diplomats appointed by the previous government.

Japan has not formally recognized the Taliban-led Afghan government and continues to maintain only limited humanitarian engagement. The embassy’s closure has raised concerns about the availability of diplomatic representation and essential consular services for Afghans living abroad.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the country’s parliament ahead of a snap election scheduled for February 8. On Friday, the Speaker of Japan’s parliament formally announced the dissolution of the lower house through an official letter. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, made the decision to seek a fresh mandate from voters before the election date.

According to the report, Takaichi had earlier indicated that an early election might be called. Her decision aims to secure public support for the government’s various plans and spending initiatives. The upcoming election will cover all 465 seats in the lower house and will serve as Takaichi’s first major electoral test since taking office.

Takaichi, who assumed office in October, is expected to use her current popularity to strengthen her position within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The election outcome will reveal how the Japanese public views the government’s spending expansion plans.