Japan’s House of Representatives Election Begins; LDP Expected to Win Big and Consolidate Its Governing Base | WPN World People News

Voting for the House of Representatives election will take place on February 8. Parties will compete for 289 single-member district seats and 176 proportional representation seats, for a total of 465 seats. Prior to the official announcement of the election, the LDP held 138 single-member district seats and 60 proportional seats (198 in total), while the Japan Innovation Party held 22 and 12 seats respectively (34 in total). The Centrist alliance held 106 single-member district seats and 61 proportional seats (167 in total).

Japan’s House of Representatives election has recently entered its final stage, with the electoral outlook becoming increasingly clear. According to multiple opinion polls and political analyses, the long-ruling LDP is widely viewed as the favorite in this election, expected to secure a significant advantage in seats and further consolidate its governing position, maintaining its dominance in the National Diet.

Analysts point out that the LDP’s continued strength in this election is closely tied to its long-established organizational mobilization capacity, extensive local grassroots networks, and policy continuity in economic and foreign affairs. In the face of multiple challenges—including domestic inflationary pressures, a declining birthrate and aging population, and an increasingly volatile international environment—the LDP has emphasized the appeal of a “stable government,” highlighting policy consistency and governing experience, which has successfully attracted considerable voter support.

On the opposition side, although major opposition forces such as the Constitutional Democratic Party have attempted to center their campaigns on livelihood issues, political reform, and oversight of the ruling party, their overall momentum still falls short of that of the LDP. In some electoral districts, vote splitting has further weakened the opposition’s ability to form an effective united front, which is widely regarded as a major disadvantage in this election.
Political observers note that if the LDP ultimately achieves a landslide victory, it will enjoy greater leadership in advancing key legislation in the Diet, including economic structural reforms, adjustments to defense policy, and long-term measures to address demographic changes. However, some scholars caution that a numerical advantage in seats does not equate to unconditional public support. The ruling party must still take seriously public concerns over rising prices, stagnant wage growth, and political transparency.

In addition, voter turnout in this House of Representatives election has also drawn significant attention. Japan has long faced the issue of low political participation among younger voters, and how to raise overall engagement remains a shared challenge for all political parties. The election results will not only shape the political landscape but also reflect Japanese society’s expectations for the country’s future policy direction.