Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae appears to have decided in favor of an early election, setting the stage for a February contest.
While Takaichi remains popular, the election could still be closely contested – not least because the threat has pushed opposition parties together and sharpened their rhetoric about the prime minister.
The lack of an upper house majority and the government’s worsening standoff with markets over Takaichi’s fiscal policies suggest that the election could be less decisive than she hopes.
