Japan's House of Councillors election was officially announced on July 3, 2025, with voting scheduled for July 20. The government confirmed the election dates during a cabinet meeting in late June. The election campaign focuses heavily on addressing the ongoing issue of rising prices, with major parties debating policies to mitigate the impact of inflation. The ruling coalition, comprising the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, advocates for direct cash handouts to citizens, while opposition parties push for consumption tax reductions or abolition as a solution. The election is viewed as a de facto referendum on the current administration's handling of economic challenges, including inflation and tariff policies. Both sides aim to secure a majority in the House of Councillors, with the ruling parties seeking to maintain their combined majority. Campaign speeches across Japan emphasize these economic concerns, and social media analysis highlights consumption tax and cash handout policies as key voter issues. Komeito has expressed intentions to pursue a dual approach of both cash benefits and tax reductions to broaden their support base amid concerns about declining votes due to an aging electorate.