Japanese people brave snow to vote in snap election

BBC:

People across Japan are braving snow to vote in a snap election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose coalition is expected clinch a decisive win, according to polls.

This is first mid-winter election in 36 years in Japan, which usually holds polls during milder weather. But Takaichi called an election to seek the public’s mandate soon after winning the party’s leadership race.

Polls show her Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) coalition with the populist Japanese Innovation Party could bag up to 300 of the 465 seats in the Lower House.

This is a turnaround for the LDP, which lost its decades-old coalition ally and parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.

After two LDP prime ministers who stepped down as their ratings plummeted, Takaihi has emerged as a popular candidate with voters.

She appears to have won them over by offering tax cuts and subsidies. But critics are sceptical of whether her pledge to spend more will help a sluggish Japanese economy, given the country’s government debt is one of the highest among developed nations.

Observers say Takaichi’s personal popularity may help boost the LDP’s showing in this election. But snow could disrupt voter turnout, especially in the northern and eastern regions.

The turnout for early voting this time, which was reported to be nearly 4.6 million people, was down 2.5% from the last election in 2024. The drop has been attributed to the weather.

Several areas, including Niigata Prefecture in central Japan, reported heavy snow on Sunday. Japan’s transport ministry said 37 train lines and 58 ferry routes were closed and 54 flights cancelled as of Sunday morning. There was rare snowfall in Tokyo as people headed out to vote.

An admirer of former UK leader Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi has long pursued the ambition of becoming Japan’s “Iron Lady”. A known ally of Japan’s late former PM Shinzo Abe, she advocates similar positions including strong defence and nationalist policies.

Despite her traditional views on gender and family, Takaichi has proven especially popular among young voters between the ages of 18 and 30, polls show. Approval ratings for her government have mostly hovered above 70% since she first took office in October.

She has garnered a strong following on social media, with 2.6m followers on X. The LDP’s campaign video which she fronted was streamed over 100 million times in less than 10 days.

The 64-year-old has also become an unlikely fashion icon as “sanakatsu” – which roughly translates to “Sanae-mania” – has spread. The black leather tote bag she is often seen carrying has sold out and the pink pen she used at her first press conference has gone viral.