Japanese voters brave torrid winter weather to vote in general election

Japan's early general elections are currently taking place, one year and three months after the last House of Representatives election.

Recent polls have pointed to a sweeping win by the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which is on track to bag around 300 of the 465 seats in the lower house, a large gain from the 232 it is defending.

But last-minute shifts are possible as a significant share of voters remain undecided, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Tokyo and many parts across Japan recently experienced subzero temperatures, causing minor traffic disruptions.

Residents braved the snow to cast their votes in the snap election of the House of Representatives that began at 7:00 a.m. this morning, the first mid-winter election in 36 years in the country.

Polling stations will close on Sunday night, and ballot counting is expected to last till late.

1,284 candidates are vying for seats in the Lower House, of which 289 seats will be elected from single-member districts and 176 through proportional representation in 11 regional blocs.

The election is putting a conservative coalition between the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its new partner to the test, after LDP's decades-old ally, Komeito, ditched their partnership last October.

Mayuko Ono from the Associated Press said: "465 seats are up for grabs, while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is aiming to win the majority 233 seats with its partner, Japan Innovation Party."

"Recent surveys conducted by Japanese newspaper companies are saying LDP could win as many as 300 seats on its own. Polls close officially at 8 p.m., 11:00GMT. However, it is reported that this weather, it is snowing in Tokyo now, could affect that as well as the turnout."

Takaichi called the elections just three months after taking office as Japan's first female prime minister.

Some analysts called the move a gamble to capitalise her popularity and allow the administration to continue, given the LDP had lost its majority in both houses of parliament in the wake of corruption scandals.

Takaichi has vowed to suspend the 8 percent sales tax on food and revise security and defense policies to build up Japan's offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports.

Takaichi also wanted to make progress on a right-wing agenda including tougher measures on foreigners and anti-espionage, which resonates with a nationalist audience but could spark civil rights concerns.

The Japanese leader has avoided contentious topics such as ways to fix a diplomatic spat with China over her Taiwan remarks as well as other controversial issues.

Ahead of the national election, US President Donald Trump indicated that he gave his "total endorsement" of Takaichi, who said earlier that she would step down if her party fails to win a majority.