TOKYO, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Campaigning for Japan's Feb. 8 House of Representatives election officially kicked off across the country on Tuesday, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has explicitly tied to her political survival.
Speaking at a street rally on the first day of the campaign, Takaichi reiterated her pledge to step down if the ruling coalition fails to secure a majority. How does the election work, what's at stake, and why has Takaichi chosen to take such a bold gamble?
HOW DOES THE ELECTION WORK?
Japan's House of Representatives is elected through a mixed electoral system that combines both single-seat districts and proportional representation.
Each voter casts two ballots, one to choose a candidate in a single-seat constituency and the other to select a party for proportional representation.
A total of 465 seats are up for grabs in the election, with 289 elected from single-seat districts and 176 from proportional representation blocs.
In single-seat districts, the candidate with the most votes wins. For proportional representation, voters select a party or political group, and seats are allocated according to vote share across 11 regional blocs nationwide. The specific lawmakers elected are determined by the order of names on party lists submitted in advance.
Japan also allows "dual candidacy," meaning a candidate can run simultaneously in a single-seat district and on a proportional list. A candidate who loses in a constituency can still secure a seat by the proportional representation vote if their party wins enough votes.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
The primary focus of the election is whether the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) will secure a majority and allow the Takaichi administration to continue.
Speaking at a street rally on Tuesday, Takaichi said she wishes to "win the public's trust," while reiterating her pledge to resign if the ruling camp fails to win a majority.
Within the LDP, the target is even more ambitious. According to Jiji Press, LDP election strategy committee chairman Keiji Furuya said that the party aims to win an outright majority on its own, arguing that this would allow for quicker decision-making and smoother governance.
Another major variable is the newly formed opposition party, the Centrist Reform Alliance, formally launched earlier this month by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, a former ally of the LDP.
Kyodo News reported that Komeito has the ability to mobilize roughly 10,000 to 20,000 votes in single-seat constituencies nationwide -- support that previously went to LDP candidates.
Analysts suggested that without Komeito's support, dozens of LDP candidates could lose their seats.
WHY TAKAICHI IS GOING ALL IN?
Analysts said Takaichi's decision to dissolve the lower house and call an early election while staking her position as prime minister reflects mounting internal pressures on her administration. If these risks were to surface all at once, her approval ratings could plunge, potentially ending her tenure abruptly.
First, personal scandals are continuing to cast a shadow. Takaichi has recently faced renewed scrutiny over political funding issues and was indicted in December last year on suspicion of accepting a corporate donation that exceeded the legal maximum. Once such matters enter parliamentary debate, they can become sustained lines of attack for opposition parties.
Meanwhile, policy risks are emerging in both economic and diplomatic arenas. Takaichi advocates a proactive fiscal policy, but financial experts argued that her approach relies heavily on issuing new debt, which could push up government bond yields, weaken the yen and fuel inflation -- potentially destabilizing financial markets.
Her recent controversial remarks on foreign policy may also generate economic backlash, with negative effects likely to surface in the near term and weigh on cabinet approval ratings.
In addition, Takaichi's governing base remains fragile. The LDP does not hold a majority on its own in either chamber of parliament. Although it governs with the JIP, policy implementation is constrained by coalition agreements, limiting Takaichi's room for maneuver and making it difficult for her to fully imprint her own agenda. ■