Tokyo, Jan 28 (NationPress) Early voting for Japan's House of Representatives election, which is set for February 8, commenced at Japanese diplomatic missions across the globe and at specific locations within Japan on Wednesday, as reported by local news outlets.

Polling stations have been established in 233 locations abroad, including embassies and consulates, to cater to approximately 103,000 registered overseas voters, according to the Japanese government and Kyodo News. Additionally, voters within Japan can participate in early voting at designated sites if they are unable to cast their votes on February 8.

At the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, graduate student Naoya Maeda shared his hopes that politicians would heed the voices of ordinary citizens. He remarked, "Every time I travel back to Japan, I'm struck by how costly everything has become." Maeda noted that his experience as a foreigner in South Korea heightened his interest in related policies and that he could not support parties with exclusionary views.

Seiji Funamoto, a 74-year-old resident of Sydney, emphasized the importance of policies affecting foreigners, such as land acquisition regulations. While voting at the consulate, he stated, "I want Japan to stand firm without yielding to pressures from other nations, including China."

In the previous lower house election in 2024, around 20.95 million individuals participated in early voting. However, there are worries that voter turnout may decrease this election, as the gap between the dissolution of the lower chamber and the voting date is the shortest in the post-war period, compounded by heavy snowfall affecting some regions, which has led to delays in the delivery of polling station tickets.

On January 23, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap election scheduled for February 8. Takaichi's cabinet approved the dissolution of the 465-member chamber, as reported by Kyodo News. Notably, this is the first time in sixty years that a lower house has been dissolved at the beginning of a regular session.

Takaichi has emphasized her decision to hold the elections stems from her lack of public support since taking office last October. The ruling coalition has proposed suspending the consumption tax on food, while the opposition alliance has suggested eliminating it entirely for such products. Upcoming election debates will address topics like politics and finances, which have garnered attention due to a slush fund scandal involving the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in recent years, as well as issues related to foreign residents and tourists.

Although Takaichi's cabinet enjoys a high support rating, the ruling coalition holds a slim majority in the lower chamber and is a minority in the House of Councillors, necessitating cooperation with opposition lawmakers to pass legislation. Opposition parties have criticized Takaichi for calling an election prior to the parliament's approval of the initial budget for fiscal 2026, commencing in April, accusing her of prioritizing political motives.