Japan’s ultra conservative prime minister is set to seize more power after an exit poll had her securing a big majority in the country’s lower house.
Sanae Takaichi’s coalition is expected to win between 302 and 366 out of 465 seats in the chamber, national broadcaster NHK has predicted.
That is well above the 233 needed for a majority.
It comes after she called a rare winter snap election.
Ms Takaichi, 64, became prime minister in October after becoming leader of the struggling Liberal Democratic Party and is credited with transforming its fortunes.
The former heavy metal drummer says Japan is suffering from “foreigner fatigue” from immigration and tourism and has stoked tensions with China with her nationalist rhetoric.
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