At around noon on January 12, Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae was at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

She did not respond to questions from reporters about her reported plans to dissolve the lower house for a snap election.

The Japanese leader departed for Nara, where summit talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are set for January 13.

Takaichi is scheduled to host Lee for two days, and after that, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit for three days starting January 15.

S/ Fujieda Mone, NTV Reporter / In central Nara City, strict security measures are already in place ahead of the Japan-South Korea summit starting tomorrow.

The atmosphere in Nara was tense as officials prepared for the leaders’ talks.

Takaichi arrived ahead of the main diplomatic events.

S/ Reporter / Prime Minister Takaichi is entering her home in Nara City.

On her 84th day as the nation’s leader, Takaichi returned to her hometown for the first time since taking office.

She visited a memorial for the late former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was fatally shot in Nara Prefecture in 2022.

At a souvenir shop in Nara City, goods themed on Takaichi were on display.

A woman from Nara Prefecture was seen holding file folders with images of Takaichi on them.

S/ Customer / I strongly support her.

S/ Reporter / There’s talk about whether she will dissolve the lower house.

S/ Customer / Knowing her, I’m sure she’s thinking about various factors.

S/ Customer from Kanagawa / I’m absolutely against (dissolution). They say it’s for the people, but I don’t think it would benefit the people.

Takaichi will have crucial diplomatic meetings this week.

Her plan to dissolve the House of Representatives has suddenly surfaced.

A senior government official said that considering dissolving the lower house is a natural thing.

Another official noted that it is one of the options.

Takaichi is reportedly considering dissolving the lower house when the Diet convenes for a regular session on January 23.

If that happens, voting for the general election would take place either on February 8 or 15.

Under the earlier scenario, official campaigning for the election would begin on January 27.

We visited this shop in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.

Election car rental companies were immediately thrown into a flurry of activity following the reports of dissolution of the Diet.

Election Car Rental Company President: I heard about it on the Saturday morning news, and inquiries began that afternoon, with around 7 enquiries coming in over the last three days.

Election Car Rental Company President: This is sudden, so we haven't had time to prepare. We'll need to start working on preparations now.

The preparations being this equipment.

Election Car Rental Company President: Here is our audio equipment: speakers, amplifiers, microphones...we put them together as a set.

Namiki Moka, NTV Reporter: You certainly have a lot of equipment.
　　　　　　　　　　
Election Car Rental Company President: The number of speakers for the car can be either two or four, so that can also be customized.

Since the sounds systems and signage are set up according to the client's preferences, it takes time to put everything together.

Namiki Moka, NTV Reporter: These are the parts that go on top of the cars?

Election Car Rental Company President: Yes, that’s right.

Namiki Moka, NTV Reporter: How long does it take to prepare one of these vehicles?

Election Car Rental Company President: If we hurry, it takes about 2 days.

Election Car Rental Company President: If we get any more order than we already have, we won’t be able to fulfill all of them.

In regard to the sudden proposed Diet dissolution...

Election Car Rental Company President: This came as a complete surprise.

Election Car Rental Company President: We need the schedule finalized soon. After that, it's simply a matter of us getting it done in time.