Japan’s Takaichi Calls Feb. 8 Election, Vows to Cut Sales Tax

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi officially called an early election next month and promised a temporary sales tax cut on food if she wins a fresh mandate for her new coalition.

The premier, who took power in October, is betting that her ruling Liberal Democratic Party can strengthen its slim majority in parliament in a Feb. 8 election. She confirmed the date, which had earlier been reported in the local press, during a briefing on Monday.

Sanae Takaichi on Jan. 19.

Photographer: Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Zuma Press/Bloomberg

“I will put my job as prime minister on the line with these election results,” Takaichi said, adding that a failure to secure ...