At Stake in this Election: 

• All 465 seats in the Japanese House of Representatives. 

Government Structure:   

• Chief of State: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019) 

• Head of Government: Prime Minister Shigeru ISHIBA (since 1 October 2024) 

• Assembly: bicameral National Diet (Kokkai, 国会) with 248 seat House of Councilors (Sangiin, 参議院) and 465 seat House of Representatives (Shūgiin, 衆議院) 

Electoral System:   

• The Emperor is hereditarily appointed and serves for life. 

• The Prime Minister is elected by the National Diet. 

• Members of the House of Councilors are elected to 6-year terms. 148 members are directly elected in multi-seat districts. The remaining 100 members are elected via a nationwide proportional representation system. 

• Members of the House of Representatives are elected to up to 4-year terms. 289 members are directly elected in single-seat districts. The remaining 176 members are elected in multi-seat districts through a party-list proportional representation system. 

Last Election:  

In the last House of Representatives election, the Liberal Democratic Party won 259 of 465 seats. Voter turnout was 56%. 

Information for Voters: 

なるほど！選挙 / I see! Election (in Japanese) 

New/Unique in this Election: 

Following a series of scandals, the Japanese Prime Minister announced in August he would resign. His resignation led to a close leadership race in the Liberal Democratic Party, with Shigeru ISHIBA winning after five rounds of voting. Following this, ISHIBA became Prime Minister and, as required by law, announced snap elections in the House of Representatives. Additionally, in January 2024, the Prime Minister’s Cabinet made minor changes changes to the review process for overseas voter registration and registry modifications.  

Key Deadlines: 

•  Candidate filing deadline: 14 October 2024  

•  Voter registration deadline: not applicable, voter registration is passive.  

Main Parties in this Election:  

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP/Jimintō) / Jiyū-Minshutō   

• • Seats won in last election: 259 out of 465 

• Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP or Minshutō) / Rikken-minshutō   

• • Seats won in last election: 96 out of 465 

• Japan Innovation Party / Nippon Ishin no Kai  

• • Seats won in last election: 41 out of 465 

• Komeito (NKP) / Kōmeitō   

• • Seats won in last election: 32 out of 465 

• Democratic Party of the People (DPP) / Kokumin Minshu-tō   

• • Seats won in last election: 11 out of 465 

• Japanese Communist Party (JCP) / Nihon Kyōsan-tō   

• • Seats won in last election: 10 out of 465 

• Reiwa Shinsengumi / Reiwa Shinsengumi  

• • Seats won in last election: 3 out of 465 

• Social Democratic Party / Shakai Minshu-tō (Shamin-tō)  

• • Seats won in last election: 1 out of 465 

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 124,516,650 (2023 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 104,723,397 (2023) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population:  64,009,039 (2023 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 17 Jul 1980, Ratified 25 Jun 1985 

• Gender Quota:  Yes, voluntarily adopted by political parties. 

• Female Candidates in this election: Yes 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 66 out of 248 (27%) in the House of Councilors and 50 out of 465 (11%) in the House of Representatives. 

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.920, Very High, Rank 24 (2024)  

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization:  32.9 (2023)  

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 28 Sep 2007, Ratified 20 Jan 2014 

• Projected population with a disability: 19,922,664 

IFES Resources: 

• Does IFES have a presence in Japan: No 

• Election Access: Yes 

• ElectionJudgments: Yes, 5 judgements