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19.01.2026

The Day of the Sixteen-Day Winter Dissolution

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This page is an archive of main headlines from Japan for 19.01.2026.

It displays 53 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

19.01.2026 ⇢ The Day of the Sixteen-Day Winter Dissolution
⌹On January 19, Japanese editorial priority focused almost exclusively on Prime Minister Takaichi’s formal declaration of the House of Representatives' dissolution. Following morning reports of logistical concerns regarding the exam season, the afternoon news cycle shifted to the Prime Minister’s 6 p.m. press conference. Editors highlighted Takaichi’s framing of the February 8 vote as a “Growth Switch” election, emphasizing a high-stakes gamble on her leadership just 16 days before the polls—the shortest campaign period in post-war history.
The ruling LDP countered the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance by promising a two-year suspension of consumption tax on food, a move outlets analyzed as a strategic attempt to neutralize opposition populist platforms. By evening, as the official election calendar was set, media attention turned to the resulting market volatility, with long-term interest rates hitting a 27-year high of 2.23%. Simultaneously, editors monitored a severe cold wave warning, noting the potential impact of record snowfall on the unprecedented winter campaign.
19.01.2026
20.01.2026
09:25
Kyodo News

Japan's ruling LDP eyeing no consumption tax on food as election looms

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will pledge to consider suspending the consumption tax on food in its platform for an expected general election to be called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a senior executive said Sunday.
09:25 (00:25 in your timezone)

09:52 (00:52)⇢The Dissolution Gavel Strikes Today

⌹Japanese media are focusing on Prime Minister Takaichi's formal declaration of the Diet's dissolution today (TBS, NHK, Nikkei). While financial markets price in an LDP victory, conservative outlets highlight the party's strategic pivot toward zero-consumption tax on food to secure a mandate (Kyodo, Nikkei). Conversely, liberal and center-left papers emphasize the deep public skepticism surrounding the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance's ability to challenge the administration (Asahi, Sankei).
09:59
Kyodo News

FOCUS: U.S. rejects majority of U.N. human rights panel resolutions on diversity

The United States, which under President Donald Trump has pursued efforts to roll back "diversity, equity and inclusion" programs, also voted against a majority of the resolutions endorsed by the main human rights committee of the U.
09:59 (00:59 in your timezone)
10:08
朝日新聞

地方で広がる賢く瞮む、6割近くの知事が必芁性認める　朝日新聞調査

■A-stories　8がけ瀟䌚　賢く瞮むデザむン(1)　働き手の䞭心ずなる珟圹䞖代1564歳の生産幎霢人口が今の8割になる「8がけ瀟䌚」に向けお、行政サヌビスを䞊手にスリム化する「スマヌトシュリンク賢く瞮む」が泚目され始めおいる 
10:08 (01:08 in your timezone)
10:16
朝日新聞

地方で広がる賢く瞮む、6割近くの知事が必芁性認める　朝日新聞調査

■A-stories　8がけ瀟䌚　賢く瞮むデザむン(1)　働き手の䞭心ずなる珟圹䞖代1564歳の生産幎霢人口が今の8割になる「8がけ瀟䌚」に向けお、行政サヌビスを䞊手にスリム化する「スマヌトシュリンク賢く瞮む」が泚目され始めおいる 
10:16 (01:16 in your timezone)
10:33
11:05
11:13
Kyodo News

Japan PM Takaichi to hold press conference at 6 p.m.: PM office

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will hold a press conference at 6 p.
11:13 (02:13 in your timezone)
11:13
日本経枈新聞

「西掋なき䞖界」の衝撃米欧分断がもたらす暗黒

就任1幎を迎えるトランプ米倧統領は、デンマヌク領グリヌンランドを手に入れる野心をむき出しにしおいる。グリヌンランドに軍芁員を掟遣する欧州8カ囜にも怒り、2月1日から10%の远加関皎をかけるず公衚した。 欧州偎は匷く反発しおいる。米囜をけん制するため、グリヌンランドで合同挔習に動く。米欧は同盟ずいうよりも、半ば敵察囜に転じようずしおいる。 「西掋なき䞖界」が蚪れる。こう曞くず倧げさに思われるかもし 
11:13 (02:13 in your timezone)

11:14 (02:14)⇢Takaichi's January Dissolution Decree

⌹Japanese editors are concentrating on Prime Minister Takaichi's formal decision to dissolve the House of Representatives on January 23 (Yomiuri, Kyodo, TBS, Japan Business Press). Simultaneously, the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance has released its 'humanist' platform to challenge the LDP (Sankei, Hokkaido). Meanwhile, financial reporting highlights a 27-year high in long-term interest rates, reaching 2.23% (NHK, Yahoo).
11:21
12:11
朝日新聞

理事䌚なしマンションの萜ずし穎「お金を吞い取られ泥沌」䜏民悲鳎

■連茉「倖郚管理者方匏の萜ずし穎」前線　銖郜圏の郊倖にある築浅の倧芏暡分譲マンション。200戞超の䜏民らで぀くる管理組合は圓初から理事䌚を぀くらず、倖郚の管理䌚瀟に理事䌚の圹割を委ねる「倖郚管理者第䞉者管理」方匏を採甚した。　組合は東京 
12:11 (03:11 in your timezone)
12:12
12:16
朝日新聞

理事䌚なしマンションの萜ずし穎「お金を吞い取られ泥沌」䜏民悲鳎

■連茉「倖郚管理者方匏の萜ずし穎」前線　銖郜圏の郊倖にある築浅の倧芏暡分譲マンション。200戞超の䜏民らで぀くる管理組合は圓初から理事䌚を぀くらず、倖郚の管理䌚瀟に理事䌚の圹割を委ねる「倖郚管理者第䞉者管理」方匏を採甚した。　組合は東京 
12:16 (03:16 in your timezone)
12:16
Kyodo News

PM Takaichi to hold presser at 6 p.m., likely for lower house dissolution

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will hold a press conference at 6 p.
12:16 (03:16 in your timezone)

12:29 (03:29)⇢Takaichi's Winter Dissolution Gavel Falls

⌹Japanese editors are concentrating on Prime Minister Takaichi's 6 p.m. press conference to formally announce a January 23 dissolution of the House of Representatives (Sankei, Yomiuri, TBS, Kyodo). Conservative outlets emphasize the high-stakes political gamble of this 'opening day' dissolution (Sankei), while others focus on the emerging electoral timeline. Simultaneously, the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance has released its five-pillar policy platform to challenge the LDP (NHK, Hokkaido).
12:52
13:08
13:16
13:40
Kyodo News

China's population falls for 4th consecutive year in 2025

Mainland China saw its population decrease for the fourth consecutive year in 2025, government data showed Monday, with no signs of a halt in the graying of the world's second-largest economy even after Beijing scrapped its "one-child policy" in 2016.
13:40 (04:40 in your timezone)
14:12
朝日新聞

若者狙う「埌出しマルチ」　マチアプから消費者金融、あわや加害者に

若者を狙った「埌出しマルチ」ず呌ばれる新手の悪質商法の被害が広がっおいる。たず「もうけ話」を持ちかけられ、損が出たずころでマルチ商法に匕き蟌む手口が特城だ。マッチングアプリから誘い蟌たれ、玄80䞇円をだたし取られたずいう20代女性に取材した 
14:12 (05:12 in your timezone)
14:16
朝日新聞

若者狙う「埌出しマルチ」　マチアプから消費者金融、あわや加害者に

若者を狙った「埌出しマルチ」ず呌ばれる新手の悪質商法の被害が広がっおいる。たず「もうけ話」を持ちかけられ、損が出たずころでマルチ商法に匕き蟌む手口が特城だ。マッチングアプリから誘い蟌たれ、玄80䞇円をだたし取られたずいう20代女性に取材した 
14:16 (05:16 in your timezone)
14:21

14:22 (05:22)⇢The Gavel of Winter Dissolution

⌹Japanese editors are intensifying focus on Prime Minister Takaichi’s formal 6 p.m. press conference to announce the January 23 dissolution of the House of Representatives (TBS, Sankei, Yahoo, Japan Business Press). While conservative outlets analyze the LDP's electoral strategy against the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance (Hokkaido, Japan Business Press), economic reporting shifts toward China's demographic decline and hitting its 5% growth target (Nikkei Asia, Kyodo, Mainichi).
14:45
14:53
日本経枈新聞

猛進トランプ氏「力任せ」の1幎物䟡高で支持䜎迷、䞭間遞挙ぞ焊り

第2次トランプ米政暩の発足から20日で1幎ずなる。倖亀ではベネズ゚ラ攻撃やむラン攻撃など匷硬手段に出た。保守掟に受けがいい公玄の実珟に動いた䞀方、物䟡高察策で有暩者の䞍評をかっお支持率は䜎迷する。11月の米䞭間遞挙を控え、トランプ倧統領には焊りも芋える。 関皎政策など矢継ぎ早に断行 トランプ氏は16日、南郚フロリダ州で支持者を前に1幎を振り返り「数幎かかるず思っおいたこずが、非垞に短時間で実珟し 
14:53 (05:53 in your timezone)
15:35
Kyodo News

FEATURE: Russian picture book revisits Japanese displacement from Sakhalin

A picture book published in Russia last year examines the experiences of Japanese civilians who were forced to leave Karafuto, located on the present-day Russian Far East island of Sakhalin, at the end of World War II, a subject that has received limited attention in the country.
15:35 (06:35 in your timezone)
15:43
朝日新聞

【随時曎新】高垂銖盞は今なぜ衆院を解散する知っおおきたい芁点

高垂早苗銖盞が、23日召集の通垞囜䌚の冒頭で衆院を解散する意向を䞎党幹郚に䌝えたした。衆院遞の日皋は、1月27日公瀺、2月8日投開祚ずする方針。　銖盞は今なぜ衆院を解散するのか。野党はどう察応するのか。ポむントをお䌝えしたす。千葉卓朗■ 
15:43 (06:43 in your timezone)
15:51
Kyodo News

TEPCO postpones 1st reactor restart since Fukushima due to alarm trouble

Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.
15:51 (06:51 in your timezone)
15:51

16:09 (07:09)⇢The Stalled Nuclear Spark

⌹Japanese editors focus on TEPCO's abrupt postponement of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear reactor restart following an alarm malfunction (NHK, Kyodo). Simultaneously, media outlets are dissecting Prime Minister Takaichi’s political maneuvers, specifically her impending 6 p.m. dissolution of the House of Representatives and her new diplomatic stance against China’s export controls on critical minerals (Sankei, Asahi, TBS, Japan Business Press).
16:16
朝日新聞

【随時曎新】高垂銖盞は今なぜ衆院を解散する知っおおきたい芁点

高垂早苗銖盞が、23日召集の通垞囜䌚の冒頭で衆院を解散する意向を䞎党幹郚に䌝えたした。衆院遞の日皋は、1月27日公瀺、2月8日投開祚ずする方針。　銖盞は今なぜ衆院を解散するのか。野党はどう察応するのか。ポむントをお䌝えしたす。千葉卓朗■ 
16:16 (07:16 in your timezone)
16:24

17:40 (08:40)⇢Takaichi Explains the Winter Dissolution

⌹Japanese media are focusing on Prime Minister Takaichi's 6 p.m. press conference to justify her January 23 dissolution of the House of Representatives (NHK, Asahi, TBS). Simultaneously, editors are alerting the public to a severe cold wave and 'warning-level' heavy snowfall expected across the Japan Sea coast from January 21, with potential accumulations reaching 100 centimeters (TBS, Yahoo, Chunichi).
17:55
18:03
18:04
18:12
朝日新聞

高垂銖盞、23日の衆院解散を衚明　通垞囜䌚の冒頭解散は60幎ぶり

高垂早苗銖盞は19日倕、銖盞官邞で蚘者䌚芋を開き、通垞囜䌚召集日の23日に衆院解散するこずを衚明した。通垞囜䌚での冒頭解散は60幎ぶりの2回目で、1月召集ずなった1992幎以降では初めお。　銖盞がこのタむミングで解散に螏み切るのは、内閣支持 
18:12 (09:12 in your timezone)
18:12
18:16
朝日新聞

高垂銖盞、23日の衆院解散を衚明　通垞囜䌚の冒頭解散は60幎ぶり

高垂早苗銖盞は19日倕、銖盞官邞で蚘者䌚芋を開き、通垞囜䌚召集日の23日に衆院解散するこずを衚明した。通垞囜䌚での冒頭解散は60幎ぶりの2回目で、1月召集ずなった1992幎以降では初めお。　銖盞がこのタむミングで解散に螏み切るのは、内閣支持 
18:16 (09:16 in your timezone)
18:20

18:22 (09:22)⇢Takaichi's Sixteen-Day Gamble

⌹Japanese editors across the ideological spectrum are focusing on Prime Minister Takaichi's official declaration of a January 23 dissolution of the House of Representatives (Sankei, NHK, Nikkei, Mainichi, Yomiuri, Asahi). Outlets highlight the 'ultra-short' 16-day campaign period, the shortest since World War II, framed as a high-stakes gamble on her leadership (Mainichi, Yomiuri). While conservative sources emphasize national strength, others note the 60-year rarity of an opening-day dissolution (Asahi, Sankei).
18:28
朝日新聞

高垂銖盞、23日の衆院解散を衚明「日本の進路を決めるための決断」

高垂早苗銖盞は19日倕、銖盞官邞で蚘者䌚芋を開き、通垞囜䌚召集日の23日に衆院解散するこずを衚明した。通垞囜䌚での冒頭解散は60幎ぶりの2回目で、1月召集ずなった1992幎以降では初めお。　銖盞がこのタむミングで解散に螏み切るのは、内閣支持 
18:28 (09:28 in your timezone)
18:37
朝日新聞

高垂銖盞、23日の衆院解散を衚明　27日公瀺、2月8日投開祚

高垂早苗銖盞は19日倕、銖盞官邞で蚘者䌚芋を開き、通垞囜䌚召集日の23日に衆院解散するこずを衚明した。総遞挙の日皋は1月27日公瀺、2月8日投開祚ずする。通垞囜䌚での冒頭解散は60幎ぶりの2回目で、1月召集ずなった1992幎以降では初めお 
18:37 (09:37 in your timezone)
18:37
Kyodo News

Japan PM Takaichi announces plan to dissolve lower house on Friday

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday for a snap general election, the opening day of this year's ordinary parliamentary session.
18:37 (09:37 in your timezone)
18:37
18:45
19:10
19:10
19:16
朝日新聞

高垂銖盞、23日の衆院解散を衚明　27日公瀺、2月8日投開祚

高垂早苗銖盞は19日倕、銖盞官邞で蚘者䌚芋を開き、通垞囜䌚召集日の23日に衆院解散するこずを衚明した。総遞挙の日皋は1月27日公瀺、2月8日投開祚ずする。通垞囜䌚での冒頭解散は60幎ぶりの2回目で、1月召集ずなった1992幎以降では初めお 
19:16 (10:16 in your timezone)
19:16
Kyodo News

Japan PM Takaichi says to dissolve lower house on Fri. for Feb. 8 election

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives on Friday for a snap general election to be held on Feb.
19:16 (10:16 in your timezone)

19:18 (10:18)⇢The Sixteen Day Winter Sprint

⌹Japanese editors are now unified in reporting the definitive election schedule: a January 23 dissolution, January 27 official announcement, and February 8 vote (NHK, Asahi, Nikkei, Yomiuri, Sankei). While conservative outlets echo Prime Minister Takaichi’s 'Growth Switch' rhetoric (Sankei), liberal and centrist media highlight opposition criticism regarding the abandonment of budget deliberations and the logistical strain of a 16-day 'ultra-short' campaign (Mainichi, Chunichi, Nikkei Asia).
19:44
20:00
朝日新聞

「考える暇ない」のに解散　「囜民に決めお頂く」に倉わった銖盞発蚀

「解散を考えおいる暇はない」ず繰り返しおきた高垂早苗銖盞が䞀転、衆議院の解散を決めた。「党内で賛同が埗られない」ず消費皎率の匕き䞋げには消極的だったのに、食料品に限っお2幎間0%にする怜蚎を加速させるずいう。19日の䌚芋ではこれたでの方針を 
20:00 (11:00 in your timezone)
20:16
朝日新聞

「考える暇ない」のに解散　「囜民に決めお頂く」に倉わった銖盞発蚀

「解散を考えおいる暇はない」ず繰り返しおきた高垂早苗銖盞が䞀転、衆議院の解散を決めた。「党内で賛同が埗られない」ず消費皎率の匕き䞋げには消極的だったのに、食料品に限っお2幎間0%にする怜蚎を加速させるずいう。19日の䌚芋ではこれたでの方針を 
20:16 (11:16 in your timezone)
20:25
21:07

21:17 (12:17)⇢Takaichi's Sudden Winter Gambit

⌹Japanese editors are analyzing Prime Minister Takaichi’s tactical pivot following her formal announcement of a February 8 snap election. Liberal outlets highlight her sudden reversal on tax cuts and the abandonment of budget deliberations (Asahi, Mainichi), while conservative reporting focuses on her 'Growth Switch' framing and the LDP's internal target of a solo majority (Sankei, Nikkei). The 16-day campaign is framed as a high-stakes gamble against the new Centrist Reform Alliance (TBS, NHK, Kyodo).
21:58
朝日新聞

「争点぀ぶし」ぞ打ち出した消費枛皎　銖盞がこだわる「遞挙の勝利」

銖盞は䌚芋で、食料品の消費枛皎に぀いお「2幎間に限り消費皎の察象ずしない。連立合意曞に曞いた政策であり、私の悲願でもあった」ずし、瀟䌚保障改革のために新蚭する囜民䌚議で「実珟に向けた怜蚎を加速しおいく」ず述べ、自民の公玄に盛り蟌むず明かした 
21:58 (12:58 in your timezone)
22:16
朝日新聞

「争点぀ぶし」ぞ打ち出した消費枛皎　銖盞がこだわる「遞挙の勝利」

銖盞は䌚芋で、食料品の消費枛皎に぀いお「2幎間に限り消費皎の察象ずしない。連立合意曞に曞いた政策であり、私の悲願でもあった」ずし、瀟䌚保障改革のために新蚭する囜民䌚議で「実珟に向けた怜蚎を加速しおいく」ず述べ、自民の公玄に盛り蟌むず明かした 
22:16 (13:16 in your timezone)
22:58
23:06
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