Inside Japan’s High-Stakes Snap Election

February 9, 2026 • 8:00 – 9:00 am EST

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Japan Chair

Less than three months after becoming Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi has called a snap election that will have important consequences for her Liberal Democratic Party and for Japan. Will her high approval ratings propel the LDP to a majority in the Lower House and a new mandate to govern?  Or will the newly reorganized political opposition strengthen its position? How will the election impact the future direction of Japanese domestic politics and foreign policy? Join the CSIS Japan Chair for an analysis of Japan's February 8 general election results with Kristi Govella, Charles McClean, and Nicholas Szechenyi.

This event is made possible through general support to CSIS. 

Event Agenda

Welcoming Remarks

Nicholas Szechenyi, Vice President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Senior Fellow, Japan Chair, CSIS

Discussion

Kristi Govella, Senior Adviser and Japan Chair, CSIS; Associate Professor, University of Oxford  

Charles McClean, Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Japan Chair, CSIS; Assistant Professor, Yale University 

Moderated by Nicholas Szechenyi, Vice President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Senior Fellow, Japan Chair, CSIS 

Tags

Japan, Asia, Geopolitics and International Security, Defense and Security, and Trade and International Business

Hosted By

Contact Information

Charles McClean

Charles McClean

Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Japan Chair; Assistant Professor, Yale University
Nicholas Szechenyi

Nicholas Szechenyi

Vice President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Senior Fellow, Japan Chair

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