Can Japan's Takaichi ride on the youth wave to victory in snap polls?

Opinion polls suggest Takaichi is on track for a landslide victory, buoyed in part by strong support among younger voters—a demographic that has traditionally recorded low turnout.

Dr Hoo Chiew Ping, Senior Fellow at the East Asian International Relations Caucus, attributes the popularity of Japan’s first female prime minister to her strong social media presence and ability to connect with younger audiences.

“She does leverage on what used to be the phenomenon owned by (former Prime Minister) Junichiro Koizumi and the late Shinzo Abe,” she told Astro AWANI.

“She's active on YouTube and has tapped into fan culture that has successfully branded not only her, but also her party, as cool and trendy instead of being old and outdated.”

Takaichi, who leads the long-dominant Liberal Democratic Party, is projected to secure around 300 of the 465 seats in the powerful lower house, together with coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party.

On the domestic front, her appeal among younger voters has been driven by promises of higher spending, stimulus measures and tax cuts aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures.

She has pledged a 21 trillion yen stimulus package and vowed to suspend the eight percent food sales tax, policies designed to cushion the impact of inflation and a weaker yen.

However, those proposals have unsettled markets, triggering bond sell-offs and renewed pressure on the currency amid concerns over Japan’s already heavy public debt burden.

Still, a decisive victory would strengthen Takaichi's legislative hand, allowing her to push through ambitious economic plans and potentially pursue constitutional reforms.

Calling a snap election so early in her tenure also reflects confidence and strategic calculation, capitalising on a fragmented opposition and the lack of a clear counter-message from the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance.

However, Hoo cautions that there are under-appreciated risks heading into election day, including low turnout among voters aged 18 to 39.

“They may support her online but may not turn out in person. This is one variable we can watch out for, if there is a potential change in expectation,” she said.