On October 9, 2024, Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba dissolved the Lower House of Parliament, initiating the electoral campaign for the upcoming general elections scheduled for October 27.
The dissolution will take effect after the Speaker of the House, Fukushiro Nukaga, reads the Emperor Naruhito's edict in a session at 3:30 PM local time (6:30 GMT) today.
This move comes just eight days after Ishiba was appointed Prime Minister on October 1, succeeding Fumio Kishida, and it marks the beginning of the electoral campaign on October 15.
Ishiba, 67, is from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which holds a significant majority in the Diet. He was elected with 291 votes in favor, defeating eight other candidates in the LDP primaries.
Following his appointment, Ishiba announced his Cabinet, which includes 20 ministers with an average age of 63.5 years, among whom only two are women. Ishiba has previously served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, as well as Secretary-General of the LDP.