Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won the majority of the 124 seats at stake in the half renewal of the 248-member House of Councillors (see note 1). The LDP and its coalition partner Komeito, led by Mr. Natsuo Yamaguchi, thereby retained an overall majority. The main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), led by Mr. Kenta Izumi, came a distant second with 17 seats (see note 2) and now holds 39 seats in all. The number of MPs backing constitutional amendments in the Diet (which also includes the 465-member House of Representatives) reached two thirds of all members (see note 3). A record 35 women were elected (28%), up from 22.58 per cent in 2019. In the 2022 elections, 33.21 per cent of candidates were women, also a record high, up from 28.11 per cent.

The 2022 elections followed the global COVID-19 pandemic, and were held against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine that started in February. Prime Minister Kishida promised to boost Japan’s defence capabilities within five years. He also stated that he would work on amending the Constitution. Two days before polling day, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated while campaigning for an LDP candidate. Prime Minister Kishida condemned the act and vowed to defend free and fair elections, which are the basis of democracy.

Note 1:
A total of 125 members were elected in 2022: one at a by-election (under the majority system) and 124 at the regular election. Of the 124 MPs, 74 were elected under the majority system and 50 under proportional representation. The House of Councillors now comprises 248 members as stipulated in the amendments to the electoral law promulgated in July 2018. The new statutory number was applied in two phases: from 242 to 245 after the half renewal in 2019, and then to 248 in 2022.

Note 2:
The figure includes the by-election in Kanagawa prefecture that was won by the CDP’s female candidate.

Note 3:
In addition to the LDP and Komeito, Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) and the Democratic Party for the People support constitutional amendments. These four parties won a total of 93 seats in 2022. Article 96 of the Constitution stipulates that constitutional amendments require "a concurring vote of two thirds or more of all the members of each House" and "a majority of all votes cast thereon, at a special referendum".