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Komeito Chief Representative Tetsuo Saito said that the LDP “failed to provide sufficient answers regarding political funding issues,” after meeting with LDP President Sanae Takaichi, public broadcaster NHK said Friday.
If confirmed, the split would end a political alliance that has existed since 1999. It comes just days before an Oct. 15 parliamentary vote to select Japan’s next prime minister.
Nikkei reported earlier Friday that Komeito had reservations about the alliance, and that the appointment of Takaichi as Japan’s next prime minister would be delayed to at least Oct. 20.
Takaichi, a hardline conservative, won the LDP leadership race on Oct. 4, defeating farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi to become the first woman to lead the party — and potentially Japan’s first female prime minister.
Takaichi has been widely labeled as an apostle of “Abenomics,” the economic strategy of the late prime minister Shinzo Abe, which espoused loose monetary policy, fiscal spending and structural reforms.
Her victory follows Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation announcement on Sept. 7, after the LDP lost its majority in both houses of parliament in 2024 and 2025, leaving it to govern as a minority.
The LDP and Komeito currently hold 215 seats in the 465-seat chamber, short of the 233 seats needed for a majority.
Komeito’s exit would leave the LDP with 191 seats, though the LDP is still the largest party in the Lower House.
This also means that opposition parties could theoretically block Takaichi’s confirmation as prime minister, although analysts say the risk of that is low.
Her rise comes at a time of economic strain at home and tense relations abroad — and tests whether Japan doubles down on the conservative, pro-Abenomics agenda that defined the past decade.
—This is breaking news, please check back for updates.
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