People across Japan have started voting in an important election that will decide the future leaders of the country. On Sunday morning, polling stations opened for millions of people to vote for all 465 seats in the House of Representatives. The vote began at 7 a.m. local time and will continue until 8 p.m. when voting closes and counting begins.
This election is happening after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called for a early vote to try to get stronger support from voters for her leadership and her party’s policies. Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is working with a partner party called the Japan Innovation Party to try to win enough seats to stay in power. The coalition needs at least 233 seats for a majority in the House of Representatives.
Heavy winter weather has hit many parts of Japan, with strong snowfall making voting difficult in some areas. In regions with deep snow, some polling stations reported delays in opening times because of the harsh weather conditions. Officials and weather services warned voters to be careful while going to their polling stations.
Voters across the country are choosing from more than 1,200 candidates who are competing for the 465 seats. Of those seats, 289 are elected by voters in single areas, and 176 are chosen through a system called proportional representation in larger regions.
The choice voters make in this election could affect Japan’s future on issues like the economy, taxes, inflation, and the rights of foreign residents. Many people are talking about how the government should handle these issues and what changes should be made to help ordinary families.
Some people worry that the heavy snowfall could keep turnout lower. Snow has fallen even in central parts of Tokyo, and this has made it harder for some voters to reach their polling stations. Officials said turnout might be lower in the early hours of the vote because of the snow.
Prime Minister Takaichi is Japan’s first female leader and has been in the charge since late 2025 after winning support from members of parliament. She called this early election after some changes in Japan’s ruling parties last year. Many people think she wants a big win to get more support from the public and carry out her plans for the country.
Japan’s voting system uses both local areas and regional lists. Voters choose a candidate in their area and also pick a party. The total number of seats a party gets depends on how many votes it receives across the country. This system makes sure that each vote matters for both the individual candidate and the party as a whole.
Election officials said counting the votes may continue late into the night because of the large number of ballots and the time it takes to collect and arrange them from all over the country. Voters from all over japan will go vote and show their choices in this important election.
Both supporters and critics of the government are paying attention as people vote, hoping their side wins enough seats to shape Japan’s future. The results will show if the current government can keep its policies or if voters want a change in leadership.
The polls will close at 8 p.m. local time, and counting will begin soon after. Millions of Japanese voters went to the polls while difficult winter weather, making this election a key moment in Japan’s political history.