Rising food costs are a top concern for voters ahead of Japan’s national election on Sunday. A Nikkei survey shows about 54% cite inflation as their biggest issue. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party faces risks from frustration over living expenses.
A key issue for voters entering Japan’s national election on Sunday is the rising cost of food. Frustration over soaring living expenses contributed to major setbacks for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the two national elections before she assumed office last October.
Successive governments introduced subsidies to ease utility bills during that period, but sharp increases in food prices curtailed the aid’s impact on household budgets. Keiko Sato, 81, from rural Akita in northern Japan, said she has cut back on non-essential purchases like clothes because “there’s no real breathing room” in her budget anymore. “When I shop at regular supermarkets, things are so expensive that I just pull my hand back and don’t buy anything.”
These pressures tie into broader concerns over consumption tax, the Japanese economy, inflation, and economic indicators. In the 2026 Lower House election, such economic strains could significantly influence voter decisions.
