PRESS CONFERENCE
The Prime Minister's Gambit in the Current Election
Kazuhiro Aoyama, Political Journalist
Takuma Oohamazaki, Election Consultant

14:00-15:00 Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Language: The speech will be in English or Japanese with interpretation. Q & A will be in Japanese with English interpretation.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called a snap election for the Lower House, betting that her sky-high personal approval ratings will translate into votes for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. A decisive victory could make her the most powerful Japanese leader since Shinzo Abe.

Yet support for her party as a whole remains well below the prime minister's ratings, raising doubts about whether the party can secure a majority in the chamber. The LDP is competing for same younger, conservative voters as newcomers like the Democratic Party for the People and the social media-savvy Sanseito. Adding to the uncertainty is the emergence of a new moderate liberal opposition bloc, the Centrist Reform Alliance.

To tell us about the prime minister's gambit and the shifting electoral landscape, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan has invited two leading analysts of Japanese politics. Kazuhiro Aoyama is a former Nippon TV political editor and chief Kantei reporter who covered 17 Japanese administrations and now works as an independent political journalist. Takuma Oohamazaki is an election consultant and CEO of JAG Japan, providing data-driven analysis and strategy for campaigns nationwide.

Please join us a deeper look into the current high-stakes election.

How to attend: 
Please register by emailing front@fccj.or.jp with your name and the name of your media outlet. FCCJ members should also include their membership number. Doors will open 15 minutes before the event.

How to watch online: https://www.youtube.com/c/FCCJchannel/live  

How to ask questions: https://forms.gle/73CSucxT5tJfjh299    

TV crew: Please make a reservation at front@fccj.or.jp. Doors open for TV crews only at 30 minutes before the event. FCCJ will limit live-streaming of FCCJ-hosted press conferences to Club members only. Non-members will no longer be permitted to live-stream these events. However, non-members may still film for reporting purposes and use footage after the press conference.

Professional Activities Committee