February 2 & 3, 2026

Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, citing a hand injury, cancelled at the last minute her appearance on a debate program broadcast live on NHK on February 1. As the head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Takaichi was scheduled to debate with leaders of other parties ahead of the February 8 House of Representatives election.

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Tamura Tomoko posted on her X account about this event just before the show started, stating, “I was informed about the absence of PM Takaichi just 30 minutes ago. The NHK staff were in a panicked frenzy.”

PM Takaichi that afternoon made campaign stops in Gifu and Aichi prefectures as planned.

On the following day, the JCP together with the Social Democratic Party submitted to the LDP a written request demanding that the party promptly arrange an opportunity for party leaders to hold a debate with PM Takaichi in attendance.

The JCP and SDP document describes the NHK’s debate program as the only, extremely important opportunity that party leaders can hold in-depth discussions easily accessible by the general public on their election policies and stances regarding key issues in the general election.

The two parties’ document states that the LDP’s slush-fund scandal and the issue of PM Takaichi’s alleged involvement in the LDP’s controversial ties with the Unification Church are a major issues in the general election. The document stressed that Takaichi should fulfil her responsibility to explain the LDP stance in regard to these issues to the public and confront them in a debate with leaders of other parties. It calls on the LDP to schedule a debate without delay.