Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has consolidated her power after her conservative governing coalition won a landslide victory in a national election, securing a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, The Guardian reported.
The result was widely viewed as a strong public endorsement of Takaichi’s leadership, following her call for a snap election shortly after taking office in October 2025. Financial markets reacted positively, with Japan’s Nikkei share average surpassing the 56,000 level for the first time at the start of trading. South Korea’s Kospi rose 4.4%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained 1.8% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 climbed 1.9%.
Although Takaichi faces mounting concerns about plans to increase government spending, even as Japan has the highest public debt among advanced economies, her popularity remains high. Many voters appear to support her strong leadership style, including her refusal to back down after sharp criticism from China over comments on Japan’s potential military involvement in any conflict over Taiwan.
In addition, her phrase, translated as «work, work, and work,» adopted as a 2025 catchphrase, struck a chord with Japanese voters, reflecting the country’s strong cultural emphasis on dedication and hard work.
