历史性巨变！公明党宣布退出执政联盟，日本首相争夺战再生悬念！

Core Viewpoint - The Komeito party's decision to exit the ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) marks a historic shift in Japanese politics, potentially complicating the path for newly elected LDP president Sanae Takaichi to become the next Prime Minister [1][3]. Group 1: Political Implications - Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito informed Takaichi of the party's decision to end a 26-year partnership, stating that Komeito will not support Takaichi's bid for Prime Minister in the upcoming parliamentary vote [3]. - The dissolution of the coalition will significantly impact Takaichi's chances of securing the Prime Minister position, as Komeito holds 45 seats in the National Diet, while the LDP has 296 out of 713 total seats [4]. - The loss of Komeito as an ally may lead to substantial political uncertainty for Takaichi, despite the possibility of winning the parliamentary vote due to the ongoing fragmentation of opposition parties [5]. Group 2: Market Reactions - Following the announcement of Komeito's exit, the USD/JPY exchange rate experienced a short-term drop of nearly 40 points, although it has since recovered [1]. - Takaichi's election as LDP president has reduced market expectations for a near-term interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan, contributing to a rise in the stock market and a weakening of the yen [5]. - The exit of Komeito could disrupt the so-called "Takaichi trade," which has been driven by investor optimism regarding fiscal stimulus [5].