✶ Japan · 1890 → 2026 · 衆議院議員総選挙
Fifty-one
general elections.
The first House of Representatives was elected on 1 Jul 1890 by 450,872 men who paid enough tax. The 51st, on 8 Feb 2026, had 103,211,224 electors. Since 1958 the Liberal Democratic Party has come first in 23 of 24 elections.
The largest party's share of seats, and turnout
The 50% line is a majority. Hover, tap, or focus a bar and use the arrow keys.
Turnout was highest at the first election (93.91%) and lowest in 2014 ( 52.66%). The LDP won a majority on its own in 15 of its 23 first places. Since 1947 only the 1976 election came at the end of a full term; the other 27 followed a dissolution. Bars are evenly spaced, one per election.
Eras
From the Imperial Diet
to a landslide.
- 1890–1924
The Imperial Diet
The 1889 Election Law gave the vote to men aged 25 or over who paid at least ¥15 a year in direct national tax: 450,872 electors in 1890. The tax bar fell to ¥10 in 1900, with a secret ballot, and to ¥3 in 1919.
Source ↗ - 1928–1942
Votes for all men
The 1925 “universal suffrage” law dropped the tax qualification for men aged 25 or over and brought in multi-member districts. First used in 1928, it took the electorate to 12.4 million. In 1942 candidates endorsed by the Imperial Rule Assistance Association won 381 of 466 seats.
Source ↗ - 1946–1955
Women vote; a new Constitution
A 1945 amendment gave the vote to women and lowered the voting age to 20. In April 1946, 39 women were elected. The April 1947 election chose the first House under the new Constitution, which took effect on 3 May; the Socialists came first and formed the Katayama cabinet.
Source ↗ - 1955–1993
The 1955 system
From 1958 the Liberal Democratic Party came first at every general election, and it held power without a break until the “1955 system” (55年体制) broke in 1993.
Source ↗ - 1993–2009
Reform and realignment
In 1993 the LDP was still the largest party but lost power to a coalition under Morihiro Hosokawa. The 1994 reform replaced multi-member districts with single-member seats plus party lists, first used in 1996.
Source ↗ - 2009–2012
The DPJ years
The Democratic Party of Japan won 308 seats in 2009, the first election since 1958 in which the LDP did not come first, and formed a coalition with the Social Democrats and the People's New Party under Yukio Hatoyama.
Source ↗ - 2012–2024
LDP–Komeito dominance
The LDP came back in 2012 with 294 seats and governed with Komeito under Shinzo Abe and his successors. The voting age fell to 18 from 2016.
Source ↗ - 2024–now
Hung, then a landslide
In October 2024 the LDP–Komeito coalition lost its majority, the first hung parliament in 31 years. Fifteen months later, under Sanae Takaichi, the LDP won 315 of 465 seats (MIC count), the most for any party since the war.
Source ↗
Rules of the game
What changed,
and when.
- 1889
Election Law
Promulgated with the Meiji Constitution: mostly single-member districts; men 25 and over paying ¥15 in direct tax; signed ballots.
Source ↗ - 1900
Secret ballot
Prefecture-wide districts, with cities of 30,000 or more voting separately; tax bar cut to ¥10.
Source ↗ - 1925
Universal male suffrage
The tax qualification abolished for men 25 and over; medium-sized multi-member districts (中選挙区).
Source ↗ - 1945
Women's suffrage
Men and women aged 20 and over; prefecture-wide districts with a limited vote, used once in 1946.
Source ↗ - 1947
Single vote, medium districts
Back to multi-member districts, each voter with a single non-transferable vote, a system that lasted until 1993.
Source ↗ - 1950
Public Offices Election Act
公職選挙法 replaces the Election Law and still governs every public election.
Source ↗ - 1994
Parallel system
小選挙区比例代表並立制: 300 single-member districts plus 200 closed-list seats, elected side by side, first used in 1996.
Source ↗ - 2000
Fewer list seats; voting from abroad
List seats cut from 200 to 180 (480 in all); the first overseas votes, for the party list only.
Source ↗ - 2003
Early voting
期日前投票: vote in person from the day after the announcement, the same as on polling day.
Source ↗ - 2013
Campaigning online
A members' bill (議員立法) allowed campaigning through websites and social media; e-mail stays limited to parties and candidates.
Source ↗ - 2016
Voting at 18
The voting age, 20 since 1945, fell to 18 (law passed 2015). The 2017 general election was the first under it.
Source ↗ - 2017
- 2022
10増10減
Seats re-apportioned among prefectures by the Adams method on the 2020 census: ten districts added and ten removed, and three list seats moved between blocks. First used in 2024.
Source ↗
Every election
The table.
| No. | Polling day | Seats | Largest party | Won | Turnout | Cabinet that held it | Called by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 8 Feb 2026 | 465 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 315 68% · majority | 56.26% | 1st Takaichi cabinet 第1次高市内閣 | Dissolution |
| 50 | 27 Oct 2024 | 465 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 191 41% | 53.85% | 1st Ishiba cabinet 第1次石破内閣 | Dissolution |
| 49 | 31 Oct 2021 | 465 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 261 56% · majority | 55.93% | 1st Kishida cabinet 第1次岸田内閣 | Dissolution |
| 48 | 22 Oct 2017 | 465 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 284 61% · majority | 53.68% | 3rd Abe cabinet (3rd reshuffle) 第3次安倍内閣（第3次改造） | Dissolution |
| 47 | 14 Dec 2014 | 475 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 291 61% · majority | 52.66% | 2nd Abe cabinet (reshuffled) 第2次安倍内閣（改造） | Dissolution |
| 46 | 16 Dec 2012 | 480 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 294 61% · majority | 59.32% | Noda cabinet (3rd reshuffle) 野田内閣（第3次改造） | Dissolution |
| 45 | 30 Aug 2009 | 480 | Democratic Party of Japan 民主党 | 308 64% · majority | 69.28% | Asō cabinet 麻生内閣 | Dissolution |
| 44 | 11 Sep 2005 | 480 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 296 62% · majority | 67.51% | 2nd Koizumi cabinet (reshuffled) 第2次小泉内閣（改造） | Dissolution |
| 43 | 9 Nov 2003 | 480 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 237 49% | 59.86% | 1st Koizumi cabinet (2nd reshuffle) 第1次小泉内閣（第2次改造） | Dissolution |
| 42 | 25 Jun 2000 | 480 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 233 49% | 62.49% | 1st Mori cabinet 第1次森内閣 | Dissolution |
| 41 | 20 Oct 1996 | 500 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 239 48% | 59.65% | 1st Hashimoto cabinet 第1次橋本内閣 | Dissolution |
| 40 | 18 Jul 1993 | 511 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 223 44% | 67.26% | Miyazawa cabinet (reshuffled) 宮澤内閣（改造） | Dissolution |
| 39 | 18 Feb 1990 | 512 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 275 54% · majority | 73.31% | 1st Kaifu cabinet 第1次海部内閣 | Dissolution |
| 38 | 6 Jul 1986 | 512 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 300 59% · majority | 71.40% | 2nd Nakasone cabinet (2nd reshuffle) 第2次中曽根内閣（第2次改造） | Dissolution |
| 37 | 18 Dec 1983 | 511 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 250 49% | 67.94% | 1st Nakasone cabinet 第1次中曽根内閣 | Dissolution |
| 36 | 22 Jun 1980 | 511 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 284 56% · majority | 74.57% | 2nd Ōhira cabinet 第2次大平内閣 | Dissolution |
| 35 | 7 Oct 1979 | 511 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 248 49% | 68.01% | 1st Ōhira cabinet 第1次大平内閣 | Dissolution |
| 34 | 5 Dec 1976 | 511 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 249 49% | 73.45% | Miki cabinet (reshuffled) 三木内閣（改造） | End of term |
| 33 | 10 Dec 1972 | 491 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 271 55% · majority | 71.76% | 1st Tanaka Kakuei cabinet 第1次田中角栄内閣 | Dissolution |
| 32 | 27 Dec 1969 | 486 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 288 59% · majority | 68.51% | 2nd Satō cabinet (2nd reshuffle) 第2次佐藤内閣（第2次改造） | Dissolution |
| 31 | 29 Jan 1967 | 486 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 277 57% · majority | 73.99% | 1st Satō cabinet (3rd reshuffle) 第1次佐藤内閣（第3次改造） | Dissolution |
| 30 | 21 Nov 1963 | 467 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 283 61% · majority | 71.14% | 2nd Ikeda cabinet (3rd reshuffle) 第2次池田内閣（第3次改造） | Dissolution |
| 29 | 20 Nov 1960 | 467 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 296 63% · majority | 73.51% | 1st Ikeda cabinet 第1次池田内閣 | Dissolution |
| 28 | 22 May 1958 | 467 | Liberal Democratic Party 自由民主党 | 287 61% · majority | 76.99% | 1st Kishi cabinet (reshuffled) 第1次岸内閣（改造） | Dissolution |
| 27 | 27 Feb 1955 | 467 | Japan Democratic Party 日本民主党 | 185 40% | 75.84% | 1st Hatoyama Ichirō cabinet 第1次鳩山一郎内閣 | Dissolution |
| 26 | 19 Apr 1953 | 466 | Liberal Party (Yoshida) 自由党吉田派 | 199 43% | 74.22% | 4th Yoshida cabinet 第4次吉田内閣 | Dissolution |
| 25 | 1 Oct 1952 | 466 | Liberal Party 自由党 | 240 52% · majority | 76.43% | 3rd Yoshida cabinet (3rd reshuffle) 第3次吉田内閣（第3次改造） | Dissolution |
| 24 | 23 Jan 1949 | 466 | Democratic Liberal Party 民主自由党 | 264 57% · majority | 74.04% | 2nd Yoshida cabinet 第2次吉田内閣 | Dissolution |
| 23 | 25 Apr 1947 | 466 | Japan Socialist Party 日本社会党 | 143 31% | 67.95% | 1st Yoshida cabinet 第1次吉田内閣 | Dissolution |
| 22 | 10 Apr 1946 | 466 | Japan Liberal Party 日本自由党 | 141 30% | 72.08% | Shidehara cabinet 幣原内閣 | Dissolution |
| 21 | 30 Apr 1942 | 466 | Imperial Rule Assistance Association (endorsed) 大政翼賛会 | 381 82% · majority | 83.16% | Tōjō cabinet 東條内閣 | End of term |
| 20 | 30 Apr 1937 | 466 | Rikken Minseitō 立憲民政党 | 179 38% | 73.31% | Hayashi cabinet 林内閣 | Dissolution |
| 19 | 20 Feb 1936 | 466 | Rikken Minseitō 立憲民政党 | 205 44% | 78.65% | Okada cabinet 岡田内閣 | Dissolution |
| 18 | 20 Feb 1932 | 466 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 301 65% · majority | 81.68% | Inukai cabinet 犬養内閣 | Dissolution |
| 17 | 20 Feb 1930 | 466 | Rikken Minseitō 立憲民政党 | 273 59% · majority | 83.34% | Hamaguchi cabinet 濱口内閣 | Dissolution |
| 16 | 20 Feb 1928 | 466 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 218 47% | 80.36% | Tanaka Giichi cabinet 田中義一内閣 | Dissolution |
| 15 | 10 May 1924 | 464 | Kenseikai 憲政会 | 151 33% | 91.18% | Kiyoura cabinet 清浦内閣 | Dissolution |
| 14 | 10 May 1920 | 464 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 278 60% · majority | 86.73% | Hara cabinet 原内閣 | Dissolution |
| 13 | 20 Apr 1917 | 381 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 165 43% | 91.92% | Terauchi cabinet 寺内内閣 | Dissolution |
| 12 | 25 Mar 1915 | 381 | Rikken Dōshikai 立憲同志会 | 153 40% | 92.13% | 2nd Ōkuma cabinet 第2次大隈内閣 | Dissolution |
| 11 | 15 May 1912 | 381 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 209 55% · majority | 89.58% | 2nd Saionji cabinet 第2次西園寺内閣 | End of term |
| 10 | 15 May 1908 | 379 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 187 49% | 85.29% | 1st Saionji cabinet 第1次西園寺内閣 | End of term |
| 9 | 1 Mar 1904 | 379 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 133 35% | 86.06% | 1st Katsura cabinet 第1次桂内閣 | Dissolution |
| 8 | 1 Mar 1903 | 376 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 175 47% | 86.17% | 1st Katsura cabinet 第1次桂内閣 | Dissolution |
| 7 | 10 Aug 1902 | 376 | Rikken Seiyūkai 立憲政友会 | 191 51% · majority | 88.39% | 1st Katsura cabinet 第1次桂内閣 | End of term |
| 6 | 10 Aug 1898 | 300 | Kenseihontō (Constitutional Party) 憲政本党 | 124 41% | 79.91% | 1st Ōkuma cabinet 第1次大隈内閣 | Dissolution |
| 5 | 15 Mar 1898 | 300 | Constitutional Liberal Party 立憲自由党 | 105 35% | 87.50% | 3rd Itō cabinet 第3次伊藤内閣 | Dissolution |
| 4 | 1 Sep 1894 | 300 | Constitutional Liberal Party 立憲自由党 | 107 36% | 84.84% | 2nd Itō cabinet 第2次伊藤内閣 | Dissolution |
| 3 | 1 Mar 1894 | 300 | Constitutional Liberal Party 立憲自由党 | 120 40% | 88.76% | 2nd Itō cabinet 第2次伊藤内閣 | Dissolution |
| 2 | 15 Feb 1892 | 300 | Constitutional Liberal Party 立憲自由党 | 94 31% | 91.59% | 1st Matsukata cabinet 第1次松方内閣 | Dissolution |
| 1 | 1 Jul 1890 | 300 | Constitutional Liberal Party 立憲自由党 | 130 43% | 93.91% | 1st Yamagata cabinet 第1次山縣内閣 | First election |
1942: candidates endorsed by the Imperial Rule Assistance Association. 2024 and 2026 use MIC's final counts; for 2026 that is 315 LDP seats (Wikipedia counts 316, including an independent who joined the party after the vote). Prime ministers' names in English follow Wikipedia's list.