Japanese voters began casting ballots on Sunday in an election expected to hand Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a resounding win, although record snowfall in parts of the country could keep many voters at home.
The conservative coalition of Takaichi, the nation’s first female leader , could win more than 300 of the 465 seats in the lower house of parliament, according to multiple opinion polls, a large gain from the 233 it is defending.
If the coalition of Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party with the Japan Innovation Party, known as Ishin, wins 310 seats, it would be able to override the opposition-controlled upper chamber.
She has vowed to step down if the coalition loses its majority.
Takaichi, 64, who became prime minister in October after being selected LDP leader, sought a mandate from voters in a rare winter election as she rides a wave of popularity.
With a straight-talking style and an image as a hard worker that have won her support, especially with younger voters, Takaichi has accelerated military spending to counter China, with which she sparked a diplomatic row , and pushed economic stimulus and tax cuts that have rattled financial markets.