Tokyo: Riding a wave of personal popularity, Japan's first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has called snap elections for February 8 in a bid to secure a parliamentary majority and consolidate her authority after months of fragile minority rule. Takaichi, 64, became Japan's 104th prime minister last October, breaking with decades of male-dominated leadership in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

According to Anadolu Agency, her decision to seek an early mandate comes despite the ruling party's recent electoral setbacks but reflects what analysts describe as a calculated gamble. Experts say her consistently high approval ratings over the past four months encouraged the move, allowing her to seek a stronger mandate to push through policies ranging from economic reform to a tougher national security posture amid China's rise.

The LDP, which has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, suffered a heavy defeat in the 2024 general election, losing its lower house majority for the first time since 2009. The setback was followed by another blow last July when the party lost its majority in the upper house. With support from the small Japan Innovation Party, Takaichi formed a minority government, an arrangement that has limited her ability to pass controversial legislation.

Despite those constraints, her approval ratings have remained unusually strong compared to her predecessors. A Nikkei survey released January 26 showed public support for her administration at 67%, down from 75% in December but still well above historical norms. "She's more popular than the LDP, which has been losing strength to Sanseito and other opposition parties," Nancy Snow, author of Japan's Information War, told Anadolu.

Not all analysts are convinced the momentum will last. Saul Takahashi, a visiting professor of legal studies at New York University Abu Dhabi, said the prime minister is moving quickly because her political window may be narrow. "It arguably made political sense for her to do this quickly because Takaichi really has very little in the way of real policies," he told Anadolu. "The longer she waited, the sooner the people would realize that and support would drop."

A key factor behind Takaichi's support has been her hawkish stance on national security, particularly toward China. Last November, she warned lawmakers that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening crisis" for Japan - language that would allow Tokyo to deploy its Self-Defense Forces under existing law. The remarks drew swift retaliation from Beijing, including restrictions on tourism and trade, and sharp criticism of Japan's wartime history.

Taiwanese scholar Chien-Yu Shih of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research said Takaichi's snap election reflects broader shifts in global politics, particularly China and the United States "prioritizing their own national interests." When announcing the early polls, Takaichi also argued that passing divisive legislation - including proposals on defense spending, public investment, and consumption tax on food - requires broader support.

Japan's opposition parties have moved quickly ahead of the snap polls. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has joined forces with former LDP ally Komeito under a new "Centrist Reform Alliance." "If the centrists can present a unified front and offer alternatives on taxes and social spending, they could be competitive," Snow said.

However, he said this shift in Japanese political culture also bodes well for Takaichi, who he said "is frank, direct, and speaks her mind." "That is a refreshing change from the usual, restrained style of Japanese politics," he said. "But the problem is people are less attentive to what is actually being said."