The 2024 HR election marks the first general election following the assassination of Abe Shinzō, a strong leader who wielded considerable influence even after his premiership. In his second term, Abe served for more than 92 months and was immensely popular with the public. Succeeding a highly popular and long-serving prime minister is never an easy task, but in the wake of Abe’s death, the Liberal Democratic Party faced two major scandals: its ties to the Unification Church (UC) and the slush fund scandal, both of which can be traced back to Abe or his faction. Furthermore, since early 2022, the Japanese economy has experienced a steady rise in consumer prices, which had remained stagnant since the latter half of the 1990s. These changes in economic conditions have placed an additional burden on the government. The rising consumer prices have not only generated public discontent but have also compelled voters to significantly penalize the governing coalition in response to the slush fund scandals.