Japanese premier Sanae Takaichi received U.S. President Donald Trump’s full endorsement on Friday (February 6, 2026), two days earlier than snap elections that polls recommend might even see her coalition romp residence with a super-majority.
Japan’s first lady Prime Minister is relying on Sunday (February 8, 2026) to capitalise on her sturdy recognition since taking the reins of Asia’s number-two economic system in October.
Ms. Takaichi “has already confirmed to be a powerful, highly effective, and clever Chief, and one that really loves her Nation,” Mr. Trump wrote on Fact Social as he introduced she would go to the USA on March 19.
America and Japan have been working to strike a “very substantial” deal on commerce, in addition to collaborating on nationwide safety, Trump stated, providing his “Full and Complete Endorsement”.
“Prime Minister Takaichi is somebody who deserves highly effective recognition for the job she and her Coalition are doing,” he added.
Whereas U.S. presidents have sometimes shunned endorsing candidates in abroad elections, Mr. Trump has performed so repeatedly, together with throwing his backing behind Argentina’s Javier Milei and Hungary’s Viktor Orban.
Ms. Takaichi, 64, pulled out all of the stops to welcome Trump to Japan days after she took workplace, endorsing the 79-year-old for the Nobel Peace Prize and gifting him golf memorabilia.
Commerce officers in July reached a deal that noticed Washington decrease tariffs on Japanese items to fifteen % from a threatened 25 % in return for guarantees of funding.
Mr. Trump has not publicly weighed in on Ms. Takaichi’s spat with China after she advised in November that Japan would intervene militarily if China sought to take self-ruled Taiwan by pressure.
China has by no means dominated democratic Taiwan, however Beijing claims Taiwan and has not dominated out forcibly annexing it.
Polls
Pollsters — with some warning because of undecided voters — level to a convincing win in Sunday’s (February 8) elections for Ms. Takaichi after her honeymoon begin.
She seems to have injected new vim right into a once-mighty however now moribund Liberal Democratic Celebration (LDP) after it was abandoned en masse by voters partially due to inflation and a slush fund scandal.
Regardless of her ultraconservative insurance policies, Ms. Takaichi additionally boasts overwhelming help amongst younger folks, in an ageing nation the place politics has lengthy been decided by older voters.
“Her gamble (of calling elections) pays good-looking dividends as she’s going to achieve a powerful mandate and possibly a standalone majority that may assist her enact an bold array of financial and safety reforms,” stated Jeff Kingston, professor of historical past and Asian research at Temple College Japan.
“Trump will welcome the election of a conservative chief with a powerful mandate… He likes winners and she has come via on boosting defence spending and supporting the funding deal to cut back tariffs,” Mr. Kingston advised AFP.
Surveys forward of Sunday’s (February 8) decrease home election point out — with some warning because of undecided voters — that the LDP will simply win greater than the 233 seats wanted to regain a majority.
A smartphone-based survey of greater than 220,000 folks launched by the Mainichi Shimbun each day on Friday (February 6, 2026) advised that the LDP might win greater than 300 seats out of 465 up for grabs.
Along with seats received by the LDP’s coalition associate, the Japan Innovation Celebration (JIP), this might give Takaichi’s ruling bloc a two-thirds majority, the Mainichi stated.
The brand new Centrist Reform Alliance of the principle opposition Constitutional Democratic Celebration (CDP) and the LDP’s earlier associate Komeito may lose half their present 167 seats, different polls have proven.
Markets anxious
Moreover angering China, Ms. Takaichi has already rattled markets, with yields on long-dated Japanese authorities bonds hitting report highs and the yen seesawing.
This is because of worries about Japan’s colossal debt pile — greater than double the scale of the economic system — from Ms. Takaichi’s $135-billion stimulus bundle and pledges to chop taxes.
Abhijit Surya at Capital Economics stated, nevertheless, that he was not anxious that Ms. Takaichi could be “fiscally profligate”.
“Within the occasion that the federal government did try and play quick and unfastened with the general public funds, we’d anticipate bond markets to place it in test,” the economist stated.
Printed – February 06, 2026 09:02 am IST