Her Liberal Democratic party (LDP) was projected to win as many as 328 of the 465 seats in parliament’s lower house, well above the 233 it needed to regain the majority it lost in 2024. There are concerns over her management of Japan’s public finances and her ability to defuse a bitter row with China over the future of Taiwan. Speaking as exit polls showed her party cruising to victory, Takaichi, an admirer of Margaret Thatcher, said: “We have consistently stressed the importance of responsible and proactive fiscal policy. China urged tourists not to visit Japan – advice they have heeded – and young people not to study there, citing “safety concerns”. View image in fullscreen Sanae Takaichi adjusts her earphone before talking to the media at her party’s headquarters in Tokyo.

Source: The Guardian February 08, 2026 22:05 UTC