Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae addresses during the LDP lawmakers' meeting ahead of the dissolution of the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, Japan, January 23, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Issei Kato)
Voting and ballot counting will take place on February 8, with official campaigning starting next Tuesday, which means there are just 16 days from dissolution to voting, the shortest in Japan's post-war history.
Political parties in Japan began preparations for campaigning almost immediately after Takaichi announced her intention to dissolve the Lower House on January 14.
Opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito, formerly a partner of the ruling coalition, have announced their plan to merge into a new party, the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA).
This new alliance currently holds 173 seats in the lower house; while the ruling coalition, consisting of PM Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Japan Innovation Party (Ishin no Kai), holds 230 seats.