People
across Japan are braving snow to vote in a snap election called by Prime
Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose coalition is expected clinch a decisive win,
according to polls. This is first mid-winter election in 36 years in Japan,
which usually holds polls during milder weather. But Takaichi called an
election to seek the public's mandate soon after winning the party's
leadership race.
Polls show her
Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) coalition with the populist Japanese
Innovation Party could bag up to 300 of the 465 seats in the Lower House.
This is a
turnaround for the LDP, which lost its decades-old coalition ally and
parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.
After two LDP
prime ministers who stepped down as their ratings plummeted, Takaihi has
emerged as a popular candidate with voters.
She appears to
have won them over by offering tax cuts and subsidies. But critics are
sceptical of whether her pledge to spend more will help a sluggish Japanese
economy, given the country's government debt is one of the highest among
developed nations.
Observers say
Takaichi's personal popularity may help boost the LDP's showing in this
election. But snow could disrupt voter turnout, especially in the northern and
eastern regions.
The turnout for
early voting this time, which was reported to be nearly 4.6 million people, was
down 2.5% from the last election in 2024. The drop has been attributed to the
weather.
Several areas,
including Niigata Prefecture in central Japan, reported heavy snow on Sunday.
Japan's transport ministry said 37 train lines and 58 ferry routes were closed
and 54 flights cancelled as of Sunday morning. There was rare snowfall in Tokyo
as people headed out to vote.
An admirer of
former UK leader Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has long pursued the ambition of
becoming Japan's "Iron Lady". A known ally of Japan's late former PM
Shinzo Abe, she advocates similar positions including strong defence and
nationalist policies.
Despite her
traditional views on gender and family, Takaichi has proven especially popular
among young voters between the ages of 18 and 30, polls show. Approval ratings for
her government have mostly hovered above 70% since she first took office in
October.
She has
garnered a strong following on social media, with 2.6m followers on X. The
LDP's campaign video which she fronted was streamed over 100 million times in
less than 10 days.
The 64-year-old
has also become an unlikely fashion icon as "sanakatsu" - which
roughly translates to "Sanae-mania" - has spread. The black leather
tote bag she is often seen carrying has sold out and the pink pen she used at
her first press conference has gone viral.
