Japanese voters head to the polls with the ruling party as the favorite

Voters in Japan are heading to the polls today for legislative elections, with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) projected to achieve a major victory. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country's first female leader, called for early elections just three months after taking office to secure a parliamentary majority. Polls suggest that the LDP, in alliance with the Japan Innovation Party, could potentially reach a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the opposition's Centrist Reform Alliance is expected to face significant losses according to recent polling data. Despite the political high stakes, heavy snowfall across several regions is reportedly hindering voter turnout at various polling stations.