The Day Before the Vote

Israel launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military facilities, completing the operation by early morning. The U.S. expressed understanding of Israel's actions. As tensions escalated in the Middle East, Japan's focus remained on the upcoming House of Representatives election. Party leaders made their final appeals in battleground districts, with the ruling coalition's majority hanging in the balance. The "politics and money" scandal continued to overshadow policy debates. Early voting numbers showed a slight decrease from the previous election. Voting hours were adjusted in 40% of polling stations due to staffing concerns. The election's key issues included economic policies, social security, and diplomacy, though substantive discussions were largely absent. Media coverage highlighted the tight race and potential post-election scenarios.