In a significant political development, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) have commenced policy discussions to form a coalition government. This move follows the withdrawal of the Komeito Party from the long-standing LDP-led alliance, as reported by The Kyodo News. The talks aim to consolidate political support ahead of the upcoming prime ministerial vote. Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected LDP president, has been actively engaging with leaders of three opposition parties to secure their backing. Hirofumi Yoshimura, JIP leader and Osaka governor, expressed optimism after meeting Takaichi, stating, ‘I was convinced by her passion.’ A potential LDP-JIP coalition would hold 231 of the 465 seats in the lower house, just two short of a majority, bolstering Takaichi’s bid to become Japan’s first female prime minister. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People, have yet to reach a consensus on policy issues, though their combined 210 seats could pose a challenge to the LDP’s dominance. The Diet has announced that the extraordinary parliamentary session to elect the new prime minister will now begin on October 21, 2025.