New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to dissolve the lower house of Parliament soon to set up for a snap election to seek the public's mandate for her policies, a top party official said Wednesday.

Takaichi was elected in Parliament as Japan's first female prime minister in October. A snap election is seen as an attempt to capitalize her still strong approval ratings of around 70% to help her beleaguered governing party gain more seats.

Shunichi Suzuki, secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters Takaichi told him and other top officials she planned to dissolve the lower house "soon" after it convenes on Jan. 23.

Suzuki did not give dates for a dissolution or a snap election and said T...