Japan's Snap Elections Seen as Giving Prime Minister a Mandate

---

Written by Paul Wiseman for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land Texas)

---

Summary

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democrat Party and its ally, Japan Innovation Party, won control of the lower house of Parliament on Sunday, giving it a strong hand in moving to the right in all policy areas.

---

Right Turn in the Far East

After Sunday's election results, Japanese policies on energy, economics, foreign relations, immigration and other key issues will likely be making a hard right turn across the next two years, as led by popular Prime Minister (PM) Sanae Takaichi.

By winning 316 seats in yesterday's lower house elections, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party rode the new PM's personal popularity to set an all-time record for seat totals by a single party. It has also surpassed the two-thirds majority threshold of 310 seats in the 465-seat body.

When adding the 36 won by new coalition partner Japan Innovation Party, Takaichi's ruling coalition now controls 352 seats. That gives them the ability to successfully push through new laws without negotiating significantly with other parties.

Takaichi called the snap elections on January 23, at which time she--the fifth Japanese PM in five years--hoped to capitalize on her own popularity to improve on what was then a shaky plurality in the lower house.

Energy & Minerals Security

As discussed in this October 2025 IIR News Intelligence story, Takaichi announced from the start her intentions to accelerate restarting nuclear plants that had been destroyed in the Fukushima tsunami in March 2011. Another part of the nuclear push is toward fusion, a technology in which Japan's government is involved in about US$3.2 billion--US$4.5 billion in total public-private funding for future projects.

However, such projects are likely to be at least 10 years from economically producing electricity at scale.

She is also looking to backpedal on some of the nation's climate goals, specifically solar energy. Most solar panels currently in use are imported from China, which is seen as a security threat by conservatives.

Part of the perceived threats from China include the nation's near-stranglehold on the production and processing of minerals critical to both energy transition and data center growth. Estimates are that it controls 60% of production and as much as 85% or more of the processing capacity for those minerals.

In December, Japan was among eight nations invited to a critical minerals conference at the White House, reported in a December 2025 story U.S., Allies Seek to Lessen China's Hold on Critical Minerals.

Hands Across the Water--In Some Directions

Takaichi, whose history includes being a drummer in a heavy metal band, and later an affinity for the late U.K. PM Magaret Thatcher, has looked for close ties with nearby island nation Taiwan, South Korea and U.S. President Donald Trump. The latter posted on Truth Social, "I wish you Great Success in passing your Conservative, Peace Through Strength Agenda."

But the aforementioned distancing from China involves more than just buying fewer solar panels. Takaichi has pledged to increase defense spending, which is in agreement with Trump Administration encouragement. She also said in November that any Chinese attack on Taiwan could be responded to militarily.

"No one will come to the aid of a nation that lacks the resolve to defend itself with its own hands," she has said. Also, "We will steadfastly protect our nation's peace and independence, our territory, territorial waters, airspace, and the lives and safety of our citizens."

On Monday a spokesperson for the Chinese government repeated his nation's calls for Takaichi to retract those kinds of statements.

Will Her Personal Vibe Translate to Results?

Takaichi's personality, considered a mix between humorous and tough-minded, has appealed to many younger voters who previously saw politics as dull. And her opposition was too splintered in this election to offer much resistance. So, unlike the situation in England last summer, her decision to hold snap elections proved profitable.

But combined promises of increasing government spending to stimulate the economy while simultaneously subduing inflation face great challenges in the real world. Will she have the full two-year election cycle to see her policies through? Or is there another round of snap elections in the offing before then?

By the Numbers

• 354: Number of seats in Japan's 465-seat lower house won by Takaichi's coalition
• Two Years: Amount of time to implement conservative actions before next elections

Key Takeaways

• Takaichi's January instincts that moving quickly to leverage her personal popularity would pay off for her party at the polls was proved correct.
• That vote moved her coalition from a precarious plurality to a landslide majority in Japan's lower house, giving it virtual free reign to implement its conservative agenda.

---

About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).