Japan is facing a major snowstorm on election day, with heavy snow covering vast areas across the country. This unprecedented heavy snowfall in several regions is raising concerns that it may affect voter turnout.
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications stated that about 40% of polling stations nationwide might have to close earlier than scheduled due to severe weather conditions and safety risks.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a severe heavy snow warning for several prefectures including Tottori, Fukui, and Kyoto, following a strong winter pressure system sweeping the coastal areas from northern to western parts of the country.
In the western part of the Kinki region, snowfall accumulation is expected to reach around 70 centimeters within 24 hours, while the central Kanto region, including Tokyo, has experienced continuous snowfall since Saturday, resulting in about 5 centimeters of snow covering the city.
Earlier, northern Japan had endured weeks of heavy snowfall, causing road closures, transport paralysis, and reports of dozens of fatalities linked to snow-related accidents nationwide.
Nonetheless, despite the severe weather, some eligible voters are braving the snow to cast their ballots, marking the first time in decades that Japan is holding a general election in February amid such heavy snowfall.
As of 14:00 local time, voter turnout stood at 16.05%, down 3.07 percentage points from the previous lower house election in 2024.
However, opinion polls indicate that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) led by Takaichi, which has governed almost continuously for decades, is likely to secure over 233 seats, comfortably maintaining a majority in the 465-seat lower house.
Some polls even suggest the LDP and its coalition partners could win up to 310 seats, granting the government a two-thirds majority—the best result since 2017 during the era of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was also Takaichi’s political mentor.
Despite high popularity, Takaichi faces tough questions regarding fiscal discipline after introducing a $135 billion economic stimulus package aimed at easing inflationary pressures, along with a pledge to suspend the consumption tax on food.
Currently, Japan’s public debt exceeds twice its GDP, while long-term bond yields have reached record highs and the yen has experienced significant volatility.
Source: Associated Press
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