BERLIN (AP) — Harry Kane scored two penalties and Luis Díaz grabbed a hat trick as Bayern Munich ended its short winless run with a 5-1 rout of 10-man Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on Sunday.
The first penalty decision overshadowed the game as referee Tobias Stieler sent off Kevin Akpoguma in the 17th minute for bringing down Díaz when TV replays showed the Colombia star had also tugged at the Hoffenheim defender. There was no VAR intervention.
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Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric, center, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, right, and Hoffenheim's Vladimir Coufal in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Cologne's Ragnar Ache is helped off the pitch during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cologne's Marius Buelter, left, and Leipzig's Willi Orban jump for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leipzig's goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saves during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cologne's Eric Martel, left, and Leipzig's Christoph Baumgartner jump for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cologne's Jan Thielmann, left, and Leipzig's David Raum fight for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
“It hurts, because it decides the game in the end,” Hoffenheim midfielder Grischa Prömel said.
That didn’t bother Kane as he sent the penalty past Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
Hoffenheim hit the crossbar and missed other chances before a mistake from Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer allowed Fisnik Asllani to intercept his attempted lob and set up Andrej Kramarić for the equalizer in the 36th.
Vladimir Coufal was the next to bring down Díaz using his arm in the 44th, and Kane dispatched that penalty, too, before setting up Díaz for Bayern’s third before the break.
Bayern had to wait till the 62nd for the fourth, scored by Díaz, and the Colombian wrapped up the scoring in the 89th.
It kept Bayern six points clear of second-place Borussia Dortmund. Bayern's winless run had seen a surprise draw with Hamburger SV and loss to Augsburg – its first league defeat of the season.
Hoffenheim, which was on a five-game winning run, stayed third.
Christoph Baumgartner scored twice and Leipzig held on to beat Cologne 2-1 to move fourth, a boost for its hopes of Champions League qualification.
Cologne made the better start with Said El Mala having two good chances, while Romulo struck the post at the other end.
Baumgartner made the breakthrough in the 29th minute with a header from David Raum’s free kick after Yan Diomande was fouled on the right.
Jan Thielmann replied after the break for Cologne when he scooped the ball inside the far post after Leipzig was unable to clear. The visitors complained that Isak Bergmann Johannesson had pushed Antonio Nusa in the buildup with Leipzig coach Ole Werner getting booked for his protests but the goal stood.
Baumgartner responded almost straight away with a low shot on the turn to silence the home fans.
Baumgartner also inadvertently blocked a goalward shot with his arm, preventing a certain goal in the 77th. Referee Frank Willenborg, who had initially indicated the ball came off the player’s chest, instead announced an offside decision after consulting video replays.
Cologne kept pushing for the equalizer but Leipzig held on to capitalize on Stuttgart’s surprise loss at St. Pauli the day before. After 21 rounds, Leipzig holds the last place for Champions League qualification on goal difference.
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Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric, center, celebrates scoring with teammates during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, right, and Hoffenheim's Vladimir Coufal in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Bayern Munich's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Munich, Germany, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Cologne's Ragnar Ache is helped off the pitch during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cologne's Marius Buelter, left, and Leipzig's Willi Orban jump for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Leipzig's goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saves during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cologne's Eric Martel, left, and Leipzig's Christoph Baumgartner jump for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Cologne's Jan Thielmann, left, and Leipzig's David Raum fight for the ball during a German Bundesliga soccer match between Cologne and Leipzig in Cologne, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
TOKYO (AP) — The governing party of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi secured a two-thirds supermajority in a key parliamentary election Sunday, Japanese media reported citing preliminary results, earning a landslide victory thanks to her popularity.
Takaichi, in a televised interview with public television network NHK following her sweeping victory, said she is now ready to pursue policies to make Japan strong and prosperous.
NHK, citing results of vote counts, said Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, or LDP, alone secured 316 seats by early Monday, comfortably surpassing a 261-seat absolute majority in the 465-member lower house, the more powerful of Japan's two-chamber parliament. That marks a record since the party's foundation in 1955 and surpasses the previous record of 300 seats won in 1986 by late Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.
A smiling Takaichi placed a big red ribbon above each winner’s name on a signboard at the LDP's headquarters, as accompanying party executives applauded.
Despite the lack of a majority in the other chamber, the upper house, the huge jump from the preelection share in the superior lower house would allow Takaichi to make progress on a right-wing agenda that aims to boost Japan’s economy and military capabilities as tensions grow with China and she tries to nurture ties with the United States.
Takaichi said she would try to gain support from the opposition while firmly pushing forward her policy goals.
“I will be flexible,” she said.
Takaichi is hugely popular, but the governing LDP, which has ruled Japan for most of the last seven decades, has struggled with funding and religious scandals in recent years. She called Sunday’s early election only after three months in office, hoping to turn that around while her popularity is high.
The ultraconservative Takaichi, who took office as Japan’s first female leader in October, pledged to “work, work, work,” and her style, which is seen as both playful and tough, has resonated with younger fans who say they weren't previously interested in politics.
The opposition, despite the formation of a new centrist alliance and a rising far-right, was too splintered to be a real challenger. The new opposition alliance of LDP’s former coalition partner, Buddhist-backed dovish Komeito, and the liberal-leaning Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is projected to sink to half of their combined preelection share of 167 seats.
Takaichi was betting with this election that her LDP party, together with its new partner, the Japan Innovation Party, would secure a majority.
Akihito Iwatake, a 53-year-old office worker, said he welcomed the big win by the LDP because he felt the party went too liberal in the past few years. “With Takaichi shifting things more toward the conservative side, I think that brought this positive result,” he said.
The prime minister wants to push forward a significant shift to the right in Japan’s security, immigration and other policies. The LDP's right-wing partner, JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, has said his party will serve as an “accelerator” for this push.
Japan has recently seen far-right populists gain ground, such as the anti-globalist and surging nationalist party Sanseito. Exit polls projected a big gain for Sanseito.
The first major task for Takaichi when the lower house reconvenes in mid-February is to work on a budget bill, delayed by the election, to fund economic measures that address rising costs and sluggish wages.
Takaichi has pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to bolster Japan’s offensive military capabilities, lifting a ban on weapons exports and moving further away from the country’s postwar pacifist principles.
She has been pushing for tougher policies on foreigners, anti-espionage and other measures that resonate with a far-right audience, but ones that experts say could undermine civil rights.
Takaichi also wants to increase defense spending in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure for Japan to loosen its purse strings.
She now has time to work on these policies, without an election until 2028.
Though Takaichi said that she's seeking to win support for policies seen as divisive in Japan, she largely avoided discussing ways to fund soaring military spending, how to fix diplomatic tension with China and other issues.
Her rightward shift is unlikely to redirect Japan's foreign policy and Takaichi is expected to maintain good relations with South Korea given shared concerns about threats from North Korea and China. But but Seoul would worry about a Japanese attempt to revise the country's pacifist constitution or to further build up military because of Japan's wartime past, said Leif-Eric Easley, professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul.
In her campaign speeches, Takaichi enthusiastically talked about the need for proactive government spending to fund “crisis management investment and growth,” such as measures to strengthen economic security, technology and other industries. Takaichi also seeks to push tougher measures on immigration, including stricter requirements for foreign property owners and a cap on foreign residents.
Sunday's election “underscores a problematic trend in Japanese politics in which political survival takes priority over substantive policy outcomes,” said Masato Kamikubo, a Ritsumeikan University politics professor. “Whenever the government attempts necessary but unpopular reforms ... the next election looms.”
Sunday’s vote coincided with fresh snowfall across the country, including in Tokyo. Record snowfall in northern Japan over the past few weeks blocked roads and was blamed for dozens of deaths nationwide.
Associated Press writers Mayuko Ono and Hiromi Tanoue contributed to this report.
Sanae Takaichi, Japan's prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), receives an interview at the LDP headquarters Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tokyo, (Keisuke Hosojima/Kyodo News via AP)
Sanae Takaichi, Japan's prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), puts pins marking the names of candidates who won lower house elections at the LDP headquarters Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tokyo. (Keisuke Hosojima/Kyodo News via AP)
Yoshihiko Noda, left, and Kenta Saito, right, co-heads of the newly formed Japanese political party Centrist Reform Alliance, attend their press conference Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tokyo, (Yohei Fukai/Kyodo News via AP)
Sanae Takaichi, center, Japan's prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), puts pins marking the names of candidates who won lower house elections, at the LDP headquarters Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tokyo, (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
Sanae Takaichi, center, Japan's prime minister and president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), speaks during an interview at the LDP headquarters Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tokyo. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki and other lawmakers puts pins marking the names of candidates who won lower house elections at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo, Sunday Feb. 8, 2026. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool Photo via AP)
Election officials open ballot boxes as they prepare to count the votes in the lower house election in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Staff prepare to count the votes for the lower house election in Tokyo, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter fills in a ballot in the lower house election at a polling station Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter fills in a ballot in the lower house election at a polling station Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter fills in a ballot in the upper house election at a polling station Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter casts a ballot in the upper house election at a polling station Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
A voter casts a ballot in the upper house election at a polling station Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
