The governing party of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a two-thirds supermajority in a key parliamentary election on Sunday (February 8, 2026), Japanese media reported citing preliminary results, earning a landslide victory thanks to her popularity.
Msz. Takaichi, in a televised interview with public television network NHK following her sweeping victory, said she is now ready to pursue policies that would make Japan strong and prosperous.
NHK, citing results of vote counts, said Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, alone secured 316 seats by early on Monday (February 9, 2026), comfortably surpassing a 261-seat absolute majority in the 465-member lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber parliament. That marks a record since the party’s foundation in 1955 and surpasses the previous record of 300 seats won in 1986 by late Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.
A smiling Takaichi placed a big red ribbon above each winner’s name on a signboard at the LDP’s headquarters, as accompanying party executives applauded.
Despite the lack of a majority in the other chamber, the upper house, the huge jump from the preelection share in the superior lower house would allow Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan’s economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China and she tries to nurture ties with the United States.
Ms. Takaichi said that she would firmly push forward her policy goals while trying to gain support from the opposition.
“I will be flexible,” she said.
Ms. Takaichi is hugely popular, but the governing LDP, which has ruled Japan for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years. She called Sunday’s early election only after three months in office, hoping to turn that around while her popularity is high.
Popular leader
The ultra-conservative Takaichi, who took office as Japan’s first female leader in October, pledged to “work, work, work”, and her style, which is seen as both playful and tough, has resonated with younger fans who say they weren’t previously interested in politics.
The Opposition, despite the formation of a new centrist alliance and a rising far-right, was too splintered to be a real challenger. The new opposition alliance of LDP’s former coalition partner, Buddhist-backed dovish Komeito, and the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is projected to sink to half of their combined pre-election share of 167 seats.
Ms. Takaichi was betting with this election that her LDP party, together with its new partner, the Japan Innovation Party, would secure a majority.
Takaichi’s policies
The Prime Minister wants to push forward a significant shift to the right in Japan’s security, immigration and other policies. The LDP’s right-wing partner, JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, has said his party will serve as an “accelerator” for this push.
Japan has recently seen far-right populists gain ground, such as the anti-globalist and surging nationalist party Sanseito. Exit polls projected a big gain for Sanseito.
Ms. Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defence policies by December to bolster Japan’s offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports and moving further away from the country’s post-war pacifist principles.
She has been pushing for tougher policies on foreigners, anti-espionage and other measures that resonate with a far-right audience, but ones that experts say could undermine civil rights.
Ms. Takaichi also wants to increase defence spending in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure for Japan to loosen its purse strings.
She now has time to work on these policies, without an election until 2028.
PM Modi greets Japanese counterpart on ‘landmark victory’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 8) greeted his Japanese counterpart, Sanae Takaichi, on her “landmark victory” in the elections to the House of Representatives.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s ruling coalition, led by her Liberal Democratic Party, is almost certain to win a single-party majority in the parliamentary election on Sunday (February 8).
“Congratulations, Sanae Takaichi, on your landmark victory in the elections to the House of Representatives,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
The Prime Minister said the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership plays a vital role in enhancing global peace, stability and prosperity. “I am confident that under your able leadership, we will continue to take the India-Japan friendship to greater heights,” PM Modi said.
(With inputs from AP and PTI)
Published – February 08, 2026 05:17 pm IST
