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[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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Debate by leaders of Japanese political parties

(from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi, Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi attend a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026, a day before official campaigning for the Feb. 8 general election starts.

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Debate by leaders of Japanese political parties

(from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, Prime Minister and Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi, Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi attend a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026, a day before official campaigning for the Feb. 8 general election starts.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, attends a debate with leaders of other political parties at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Japanese political parties' leaders

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C), who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses with leaders of other political parties before a debate session at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo on Jan. 26, 2026. Participants of the debate session set prior to a general election on Feb. 8 are (from L) Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura, Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki, Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda, (from 5th from L) Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya and Reiwa Shinsengumi co-leader Akiko Oishi.

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Party leaders' debate in parliament

Sohei Kamiya, head of the opposition Sanseito Party, asks Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi a question during a party leaders' debate in parliament in Tokyo on Nov. 26, 2025.

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Japan lawmakers visit Yasukuni shrine

A cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, including Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya (foreground L), visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of the Shinto shrine's three-day autumn festival on Oct. 17, 2025.

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Golf: Tokai Classic

Sora Kamiya of Japan poses with the victor's trophy after winning the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament at Shin Minami Aichi Country Club in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

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Golf: Tokai Classic

Sora Kamiya of Japan hits a shot on the ninth hole during the final round of the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament at Shin Minami Aichi Country Club in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

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Golf: Tokai Classic

Sora Kamiya of Japan makes a birdie putt on the ninth hole during the final round of the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament at Shin Minami Aichi Country Club in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

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Golf: Tokai Classic

Sora Kamiya of Japan makes a birdie putt on the ninth hole during the final round of the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament at Shin Minami Aichi Country Club in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

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Golf: Tokai Classic

Sora Kamiya of Japan celebrates after making a winning putt during the final round of the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament at Shin Minami Aichi Country Club in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

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Golf: Tokai Classic

Sora Kamiya of Japan celebrates after winning the Sumitomo Life Vitality Ladies Tokai Classic golf tournament at Shin Minami Aichi Country Club in Mihama, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Sept. 21, 2025.

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Yasukuni shrine visit on end of WWII anniv.

Sohei Kamiya, head of the opposition Sanseito party, visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2025, the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. The populist party gained traction in last month's House of Councillors election with its "Japanese first" banner.

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Yasukuni shrine visit on end of WWII anniv.

Sohei Kamiya, head of the opposition Sanseito party, visits the war-linked Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo on Aug. 15, 2025, the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. The populist party gained traction in last month's House of Councillors election with its "Japanese first" banner.

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Japan: Far-Right Sanseito Draws Large Crowd at Final Rally, Surges in Upper House Election 3

On July 19, the night before Japan’s Upper House election, opposition party Sanseito held its final rally at Tokyo’s Shiba Park, attracting a crowd of over 10,000. While Japanese flags waved in support, counter-protesters also gathered, holding placards that read “No to Discrimination” and waving flags with crossed-out Japanese symbols. The populist far-right party, which previously held just one seat in the 248-member House of Councillors, made major gains by campaigning under the slogan “Japanese First,” winning 14 seats and emerging as one of the election’s biggest winners.

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Japan: Far-Right Sanseito Draws Large Crowd at Final Rally, Surges in Upper House Election 2

On July 19, the night before Japan’s Upper House election, opposition party Sanseito held its final rally at Tokyo’s Shiba Park, attracting a crowd of over 10,000. While Japanese flags waved in support, counter-protesters also gathered, holding placards that read “No to Discrimination” and waving flags with crossed-out Japanese symbols. The populist far-right party, which previously held just one seat in the 248-member House of Councillors, made major gains by campaigning under the slogan “Japanese First,” winning 14 seats and emerging as one of the election’s biggest winners.

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Japan: Far-Right Sanseito Draws Large Crowd at Final Rally, Surges in Upper House Election

On July 19, the night before Japan’s Upper House election, opposition party Sanseito held its final rally at Tokyo’s Shiba Park, attracting a crowd of over 10,000. While Japanese flags waved in support, counter-protesters also gathered, holding placards that read “No to Discrimination” and waving flags with crossed-out Japanese symbols. The populist far-right party, which previously held just one seat in the 248-member House of Councillors, made major gains by campaigning under the slogan “Japanese First,” winning 14 seats and emerging as one of the election’s biggest winners.

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Sanseito party rally

Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya delivers a speech in front of Shimbashi Station in Tokyo on July 21, 2025, a day after the opposition party's strong showing in the House of Councillors election.

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Sanseito party head Sohei Kamiya

Sohei Kamiya, head of the opposition Sanseito party, attaches a rosette to the name of a party candidate assured of victory in the House of Councillors election in the early hours of July 21, 2025, in Tokyo.

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Sanseito party head Sohei Kamiya

Sohei Kamiya, head of the opposition Sanseito party, smiles as he speaks to reporters at the party's election operation center in Tokyo on July 20, 2025, the day of the House of Councillors election.

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