The election was held on the 8th. This vote took place just 16 days after the dissolution of the Diet, the shortest period in the post-war era. What did party leaders have to say? We report the latest updates in a timeline.

In the House of Representatives election, it has become certain that the coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito will significantly exceed the majority threshold (233 seats) of the total seats (465), surpassing 300 seats. The pre-election strength of the LDP and Ishin was 232 seats.

Reformist Coalition Co-Leader Intends to Resign After Certain Defeat in District

The co-leader of the centrist reform coalition, who ran in the Miyagi 4th district, has decided to resign from the co-leadership following a certain defeat in the election. According to sources, the co-leader has submitted a letter of inquiry regarding their resignation to the coalition’s co-representative.

Democratic Party for the People Leader: “We Will Cooperate on Policy-Driven Issues”

The leader of the Democratic Party for the People stated in a radio interview regarding the appeal to “increase take-home pay more,” that “by the latter half of the election campaign, I felt the message was getting through.”

When asked how the party will engage with the ruling party as an opposition force going forward, the leader said, “It’s the same as before. We want to cooperate on policies that should be advanced on a policy-driven basis. Regarding issues that have not progressed sufficiently, such as problems with money and politics, we want to put forward our party’s proposals and countermeasures to move things forward.”

Former Prime Minister Ishiba on Consumption Tax Cut: “It Will Damage Public Finances Without a Funding Source”

Former Prime Minister Ishiba stated in an interview that he cannot support the consumption tax cut on food items, a pledge made by the LDP, unless an alternative funding source is presented. Ishiba argued, “A tax cut without an alternative funding source will damage public finances. That would lead to a weaker currency, higher interest rates, and rising prices. Shouldn’t it be the role of the ruling party to present safeguards to prevent that?”

Defense Minister Kishi stated in a program regarding the explicit mention of the Self-Defense Forces through constitutional amendment, “If answering as a single LDP lawmaker, I believe it should proceed swiftly. Constitutional amendment is a founding principle of the party. We have never put it to a referendum. We should move towards that goal.”

Meanwhile, in a preceding program on another network, Kishi also stated, “We must also consider another election for the environment for constitutional amendment to be ready. It cannot be done in one leap.”

Team Mirai Leader: “We Became a Destination for Those Who Say a Consumption Tax Cut is Unnecessary”

Team Mirai leader Takahiro Yasuno stated in an interview, “It is gratifying that we seem likely to achieve our target of five or more seats.” Regarding the consumption tax cut advocated by various parties, his party maintained a negative stance. Yasuno said, “As I said many times in street speeches, a considerable number of people agreed, saying ‘That’s right.’ There was an aspect of us becoming a destination for those who say a consumption tax cut is unnecessary.”

Sanseito Party Falls Short of Target 30 Seats

Sanseito Party representative Sohei Kamiya…

Diet

“Diet” typically refers to the legislative assemblies in countries like Japan, where the National Diet is the bicameral parliament consisting of the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. Established under the post-World War II 1947 Constitution, it replaced the Imperial Diet and serves as the highest organ of state power, modeled partly on Western parliamentary systems. The term itself originates from the Latin “dieta,” meaning a formal assembly or meeting.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, established by the Constitution in 1789. It is designed to represent the people proportionally, with members elected from districts based on population, and it holds the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills and impeach federal officials.

Liberal Democratic Party

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is Japan’s dominant political party, founded in 1955 through a merger of conservative forces. It has held power almost continuously since its inception, playing a central role in Japan’s post-war economic recovery and modern governance.

Komeito

“Komeito” is not a place or cultural site, but a major political party in Japan. It was founded in 1964 as the political arm of the Buddhist lay organization Soka Gakkai, and it has been a key coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for most of the period since 1999.

Democratic Party for the People

The Democratic Party for the People (国民民主党, Kokumin Minshutō) is a centrist political party in Japan, founded in 2018 through a merger of the Democratic Party and the Party of Hope. It positions itself as a reformist and liberal-conservative force, focusing on issues like constitutional revision and economic revitalization, but it has struggled to gain significant electoral traction against the dominant Liberal Democratic Party.

Self-Defense Forces

The Self-Defense Forces (SDF) are Japan’s unified military establishment, comprising Ground, Maritime, and Air branches. Established in 1954 following the post-World War II Allied occupation, they were created under the country’s pacifist constitution, which renounces war and limits their role to strictly defensive operations. In recent decades, their mandate has been gradually reinterpreted to allow for limited overseas deployments in support of international peacekeeping and security cooperation.

Team Mirai

“Team Mirai” is not a widely recognized historical place or traditional cultural site, but is best known as the professional esports organization from Japan, founded in 2015. It competes primarily in fighting games like *Street Fighter V* and *Street Fighter 6*, and has been significant in popularizing and professionalizing the competitive gaming scene in Japan, contributing to modern digital culture.

Sanseito Party

The Sanseito Party, also known as the “Third Force Party,” was a short-lived but influential Japanese political party founded in 2023. It was established by defectors from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the main opposition, aiming to create a centrist, reformist alternative focused on economic and political renewal. The party dissolved in 2024 after failing to gain significant traction in national elections, with its members largely absorbed by other political groups.