Sanae Takaichi wins Japan general election as Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secures supermajority.

Exam-focused facts from the 9 February 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Sanae Takaichi is the Prime Minister of Japan and leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The LDP won 316 of the 465 seats in Japan’s lower house of parliament.
The victory gives the LDP a supermajority, exceeding the 233 seats needed for a majority.
Takaichi called the snap election after three months in office to consolidate political support.
She has pledged to suspend the 8 percent sales tax on food to ease household burdens.
US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Takaichi and announced her White House visit on March 19.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described Takaichi’s win as a 'big victory' for Japan–US relations.
Japan–US trade was valued at $317 billion in 2024, with around 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan.