Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has won a decisive victory in snap parliamentary elections, securing a two-thirds majority that strengthens Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s grip on power for the next four years.
Official results released on Tuesday showed the Liberal Democratic Party won 315 seats in the 465-member lower house.
Together with its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, which gained 36 seats, the ruling bloc now controls 351 seats.
The result marks the strongest election performance in the LDP’s history and gives Takaichi, Japan’s first woman prime minister, wide authority to push through legislation.
A two-thirds majority allows the government to override decisions by the upper house, where the coalition does not hold a majority.
In the previous parliament, the LDP held only 198 seats, while the Japan Innovation Party had 34.
The election also reshaped the opposition.
The anti-immigration Sanseito party expanded its presence sharply, winning 15 seats, up from just two. In contrast, the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance—made up of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party and former LDP ally Komeito—suffered a major setback, with its seat count falling to 49 from 167.
Speaking after the results, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the victory carried a heavy responsibility. She said voters had supported her call for major policy changes to strengthen the country.
Takaichi called the snap election last month shortly after taking office in October, becoming Japan’s fifth prime minister in five years. While her leadership has drawn attention worldwide, she has not focused her message on gender issues, even as the number of women lawmakers fell slightly to 68 from 73.
The prime minister has gained popularity, especially among younger voters, but faces serious challenges ahead.
These include rising living costs, efforts to revive the economy without unsettling investors, and managing Japan’s large public debt.
Her government is also under pressure to follow through on pledges to Donald Trump to invest heavily in the United States. At the same time, Takaichi has promised tighter immigration rules amid the rise of populist parties.
Foreign policy is another sensitive area. Relations with China remain tense after Takaichi suggested Japan could respond militarily if Beijing attempted to seize Taiwan by force. China has strongly criticised the remarks and renewed calls for Japan to withdraw them.
Takaichi has also said Japan, a close ally of the United States, should increase defence spending a stance that has drawn warnings from Beijing, which said any “reckless” actions would face a firm response.
With her party’s commanding majority, Takaichi now has the political space to pursue long-term goals, including possible constitutional changes, though challenges at home and abroad are likely to test her leadership.
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