Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party secured a postwar record 316 seats in the February 2026 general election after dissolving the House of Representatives in late January, giving the ruling LDP-JIP coalition a two-thirds supermajority and removing immediate pressure for another vote. The fragmented opposition, including the recent breakup of the Centrist Reform Alliance, has further reduced incentives for a snap election before the standard four-year term ends in 2028. With no reported coalition fractures, leadership challenges, or acute crises requiring a fresh mandate as of mid-September, traders see little reason for dissolution by year-end. A sudden economic shock, sharp approval decline, or major diplomatic development could still prompt reconsideration, though current conditions point to continuity through the remainder of 2026.