Tokyo, February 1, 2026 — The Europe Today: Japanese Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sanae Takaichi, canceled her appearance in a television debate program on Sunday morning after sustaining a hand injury during her campaign for the upcoming February 8 general election, media reports said.
Takaichi was scheduled to participate in a 75-minute debate organized by Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) alongside leaders of other political parties, ahead of the crucial election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan’s parliament.
The LDP informed NHK on Sunday morning that Takaichi would be unable to join the program at 9 a.m. as planned.
Despite the injury, Takaichi continued her campaign, visiting the Tokai region in central Japan later in the day.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Takaichi explained that her injury occurred during recent campaign activities. “When I shook hands with a person who supports me enthusiastically, my hand was pulled hard and I hurt it,” she wrote. Takaichi added that her chronic rheumatoid arthritis caused her hand to swell following the incident.
