Japan's Takaichi is poised to expand her power in Sunday's vote

Polls show the Liberal Democratic Party is poised to gain seats in Sunday's lower house vote, driven in part by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's popularity with younger voters and her distinctive public image.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is campaigning ahead of Sunday's lower house vote, and polls cited in the article show her Liberal Democratic Party is poised to make gains. She has become unusually popular, especially among younger voters, and draws attention for a public image that mixes toughness and playfulness. Takaichi was elected prime minister by Parliament in October and the article describes her as the first woman to lead Japan as prime minister. Public interest has also focused on personal details such as her fondness for heavy metal music, motorcycles and playing the drums. Known details: - Takaichi was elected prime minister by Parliament in October. - Polls show the LDP is poised to gain seats in Sunday's lower house vote. - She is especially popular with younger voters and projects a mix of toughness and playfulness. - The article reports she supports conservative positions, including male-only imperial succession and opposition to same-sex marriage and changes to the shared-surname law for married couples. - She has reappointed some of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's advisers and is reported to favor stronger security policies and more conservative stances on gender and immigration. Summary: If the LDP makes gains in Sunday's vote, that outcome would increase Takaichi's ability to pursue policies aligned with her conservative agenda. Official results and the post-vote parliamentary composition will become clear after the election. Observers cited in the piece point to her appeal among younger voters as a significant factor in current polling.