Japan’s Lower House Election Set for Jan. 27: Parties Focus on Household Relief amid Soaring Prices

With Japan’s House of Representatives election officially set for January 27, political parties are centering their campaigns on household relief measures to combat rising living costs. Both the ruling and opposition blocs have unveiled tax reduction proposals, though their approaches differ in terms of scope, timeline, and funding sources.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has pledged to reduce the consumption tax rate on food items to zero percent for two years.

Takaichi announced during a party leader debate on the 26th that the government aims to introduce the tax cut in fiscal year 2026 following discussions at a bipartisan “National Conference” on economic measures.

Other parties have also proposed various forms of tax cuts to ease the financial burden on households, setting the stage for a tight policy-driven election battle focused on economic recovery and support for ordinary citizens.