Japan's snap election tests Takaichi's Iron Lady gamble
Millions vote in a snap election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as her LDP-led coalition seeks a large win; polls suggest the LDP-innovation party alliance could capture a substantial majority, buoyed by Takaichi's popularity and social-media presence, but critics warn that heavy spending risks Japan's weak productivity and wages. The opposition has unified with Komeito and the CDP to challenge, while foreign-policy tensions with China and ties with the US shape voters' concerns.