Japan's Takaichi dissolves parliament after only 3 months in office, setting up snap election
Associated Press
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, right, and other lawmakers speak before dissolving the lower house, during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, center in blue jacket, bows and other lawmakers cheer after dissolving the lower house, during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)Yoshihiko Noda, right, and Tetsuo Saito, center, of the Centrist Reform Alliance, speak before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolves the lower house, before an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)Lawmakers stand after dissolving the lower house, during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, left, and a lawmaker speak before dissolving the lower house, during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, right, and other lawmakers speak before dissolving the lower house, during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)