Japanese voters are heading to the polls in an upper house election seen as a key test of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s leadership and his ruling coalition’s popularity.
Polling began at 7 a.m. local time on Sunday and will continue until 8 p.m., according to NHK. The vote comes amid growing public concern over inflation—particularly rising rice prices—alongside issues like population decline and foreign policy.
Polls suggest Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner Komeito may fall short of the 50 seats needed to retain control of the 248-seat chamber. Although the upper house cannot oust a prime minister, a weak result could spark internal calls for Ishiba to resign or seek new allies.
Smaller opposition parties, including right-wing Sanseito, are expected to gain ground with promises of tax cuts, reduced immigration, and rollback of gender equality policies.
