[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Conservative Party of Japan head Naoki Hyakuta makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]Campaigning for general election in Japan

TOKYO, Japan, Jan. 28 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

[Breaking News]General election in Japan

OSAKA, Japan, Jan. 27 Kyodo - Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi makes a stump speech in Osaka on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8. (Kyodo)

Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills

Photo taken on Feb. 2, 2026, shows a card placed on a pharmacy shelf in Tokyo for women to buy NorLevo emergency contraceptive pills as Japan begins over-the-counter sales of them without age restrictions.

Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills

Photo taken on Feb. 2, 2026, at a pharmacy in Tokyo shows a package (L) containing a single NorLevo emergency contraceptive pill and cards for buying them as Japan begins over-the-counter sales of the pill without age restrictions.

Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills

Photo taken on Feb. 2, 2026, at a pharmacy in Tokyo shows a package (L) containing a single NorLevo emergency contraceptive pill and cards for buying them as Japan begins over-the-counter sales of the pill without age restrictions.

Emergency contraceptive pills

Emergency contraceptive pills

Photo taken on Feb. 2, 2026, at a pharmacy in Tokyo shows a package of NorLevo emergency contraceptive pills as Japan begins over-the-counter sales of them without age restrictions.

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Japanese citizens cast their ballots at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2026, for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election. Eligible Japanese voters living abroad are allowed to vote at diplomatic missions around the world.

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Japanese citizens cast their ballots at the Japanese Consulate General in Sydney on Jan. 28, 2026, for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election. Eligible Japanese voters living abroad are allowed to vote at diplomatic missions around the world.

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Japanese citizens cast their ballots at the Japanese Consulate General in Sydney on Jan. 28, 2026, for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election. Eligible Japanese voters living abroad are allowed to vote at diplomatic missions around the world.

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Overseas voting begins for Japan general election

Japanese citizens cast their ballots at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Jan. 28, 2026, for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election. Eligible Japanese voters living abroad are allowed to vote at diplomatic missions around the world.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi makes a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan the same day for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a crowd gathering in front of JR Akihabara Station in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

People listen to a stump speech in Hirosaki in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party makes a stump speech, alongside Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026. Official campaigning begins the same day across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura make a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Campaigning for general election in Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura make a stump speech in Tokyo's Akihabara area on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda makes a stump speech in Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Conservative Party of Japan head Naoki Hyakuta makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi makes a stump speech in Osaka on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Tetsuo Saito makes a stump speech in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows people listening to a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.

General election in Japan

General election in Japan

Team Mirai leader Takahiro Anno makes a stump speech in Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2026, as official campaigning begins across Japan for the House of Representatives election on Feb. 8.