• Komeito party withdraws from the ruling coalition, jeopardizing Sanae Takaichi's premiership bid.
• The coalition has governed Japan for 25 years, and its collapse marks a significant political crisis.
• Concerns over political funding scandals prompt Komeito's decision to exit.

Japan's Komeito party announced on October 10 that it would leave its coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), endangering Sanae Takaichi's aspiration to become the country's first female prime minister. Komeito party leader Tetsuo Saito cited the LDP's "inadequate" handling of a political funding scandal as a primary reason for the coalition's breakdown, which has dominated discussions about governance in Japan for the past 25 years, according to South China Morning Post and Channel News Asia.

Takaichi, who assumed leadership of the LDP less than a week ago, faces a challenging path as the coalition's collapse leaves her 37 seats short of a majority in the lower house of parliament. Komeito's departure means she will need the support of other parties to pass key legislation; the situation has thrust Japan into a substantial political crisis, reports Le Monde and The Jakarta Post.

Saito underscored Komeito's dissatisfaction with the LDP's response to the political funding scandals, which included dubious payments concerning fundraising events. The discontent over Takaichi's approach could impact her potential election as premier as opposition parties may rally behind a unified candidate, which could further complicate her situation, according to Channel News Asia and India Times.

Takaichi expressed her regret over the unilateral nature of Komeito's exit, emphasizing the longstanding partnership between the parties. Without Komeito's backing, Takaichi will struggle to gain parliamentary approval, making her path to premiership increasingly precarious, as noted by Al Jazeera and The Jakarta Post.