Japan
House of Representatives
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
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Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Bicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.
Background
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Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
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31 Oct 2021
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Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
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14 Oct 2021
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Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
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Early elections
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Expected date of next elections
The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
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31 Oct 2025
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Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
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465
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Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
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Full renewal
Candidates
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Number of parties contesting the election
This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
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13
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Total number of candidates
Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
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1,051
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Number of male candidates
Number of male candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
865
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Number of female candidates
Number of female candidates
View field in the data dictionary -
186
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Percentage of women candidates
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
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17.7%
Voter turnout
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Registered voters
Number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
105,320,523
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Voters
Number of people who actually voted
View field in the data dictionary -
58,893,807
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Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
View field in the data dictionary -
55.9%
Results
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About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
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The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), now led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (see note 1), retained a majority in the 465-member House of Representatives. However, the LDP and its coalition partner Komeito lost their two-thirds majority. The new Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (the main opposition party led by Mr. Yukio Edano, see note 2) reduced its share of seats from 110 to 96. By contrast, Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party), led by Mr. Ichiro Matsui, sharply increased its share of seats from 11 to 41 and became the third-largest force in the new legislature. On 10 November, the newly elected House of Representatives re-elected Mr. Kishida as Prime Minister.
The 2021 elections followed the Tokyo Olympic Games in August, which were held without audiences amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. During election campaigning, the major parties focused on the post-COVID economy, including a stimulus package, and lower taxes for middle and lower-income households. The LDP also pledged to drastically strengthen Japan’s defence capacity to deal with China’s military build-up.
Note 1:
The former foreign minister Fumio Kishida was elected as the new LDP leader in September 2021, and succeeded Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on 4 October 2021. Mr. Suga had himself succeeded the former long-serving prime minister Shinzo Abe in September 2020.
Note 2:
The then Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan had won 54 seats at previous elections held in 2017. In September 2020, it relaunched as the new Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan without changing its name. The new party also included former members of the Democratic Party for the People, and some independents. It held 110 seats when the House of Representatives was dissolved in October 2021. Shortly before the 2021 elections, the new party announced a set of joint electoral pledges with three other parties: the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi.
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Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
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8
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Percentage of parties winning seats
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
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61.5%
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Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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55.7%
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Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
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No
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Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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2
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Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
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Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Komeito
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Political group | Total | Majority | Proportional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) | 259 | 187 | 72 |
| Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan | 96 | 57 | 39 |
| Nippon Ishin (Japan Innovation Party) | 41 | 16 | 25 |
| Komeito | 32 | 9 | 23 |
| Democratic Party for the People | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Japanese Communist Party (JCP) | 10 | 1 | 9 |
| Reiwa Shinsengumi | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Social Democratic Party (SDP) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Independents | 12 | 12 | 0 |
Members elected, by sex
- Number of men elected
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420
- Number of women elected
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45
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Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected by the number of seats filled.
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9.7%
- Women Directly Elected
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45
- Other notes on the elections
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Two independent candidates-elect joined the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after the elections, bringing the LDP’s tally to 261 in all.
Note on the timing of election :
The outgoing House of Representatives, elected in October 2017 for a four-year term, was dissolved on 14 October 2021, one week before the normal expiry of members’ terms. Although the 2021 elections were held after the normal expiry of members’ terms, they are considered as early elections following the dissolution of the House. Under article 31.1 of the Public Offices Election Law, elections must be held within 40 days of the dissolution.
- Sources
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House of Representatives (08.11.2021, 09.12.2021)
https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000776531.pdf
BBC Monitoring
BBC
NHK
Reuters
New legislature
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Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
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420
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Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
View field in the data dictionary -
45
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Percentage of women after the election
The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of women in this parliament/chamber by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
9.7%
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First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
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87
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Percentage of first-term parliamentarians
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of first-term parliamentarians by the number of seats at stake in the election.
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18.7%
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Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
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10 Nov 2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
- Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature
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Hiroyuki Hosoda (Male)
Date of birth: 1944 -
Political party
The political party to which the Speaker belonged to at the moment of the election. In some parliaments, the Speaker suspends or relinquishes their party membership during their term in office and is considered as an independent member.
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Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
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Date of election
The date of the election of the Speaker may be different from the date of the first session of the new legislature.
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10 Nov 2021