Voting underway in Japan for upper house race, with focus on majority
The outcome of the election will have a strong bearing on the fate of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's minority government, as failure to retain control of the upper house would make parliamentary deliberations even more difficult and could potentially cost him the premiership.
With 125 seats up for grabs, the ruling bloc led by Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party needs to win at least 50 to keep its majority in the 248-member upper house. It currently holds 75 seats in the other half of the chamber that is not being contested on Sunday.
Upper house members serve fixed six-year terms, unlike those in the House of Representatives, which can be dissolved by the prime minister. Half of the upper house members are replaced in elections held every three years to prevent a complete turnover.
Of the 125 seats, including one to fill a vacancy, 75 will be chosen in electoral districts and 50 through proportional representation. Around 520 candidates are vying for the seats.
Voters cast two ballots -- one to select a candidate for their electoral district and the other for proportional representation, under which seats are allocated based on the total number of votes received by each group and its listed candidates.
Pre-election media polls have painted a bleak picture for the ruling coalition of the LDP and the Komeito party, with smaller opposition forces expected to gain strength. During the campaign period, debate intensified over a possible cut in consumption tax and policies concerning foreigners.
Ishiba spent the 17-day campaign scrambling to secure a vote of confidence in his administration, as Japan faces a myriad of challenges -- from the rising cost of living to defending national interests in tariff negotiations with the United States, a longtime ally.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition force, aims to strip the ruling camp of its majority control of the upper house and inject momentum into its push for a change of government.
Opposition parties, such as the Democratic Party for the People and the Japan Innovation Party, are united in their call to reduce or abolish the politically sensitive consumption tax to support inflation-plagued households.
The populist Sanseito party, which has been using social media to attract younger voters, is seen as a potential game-changer in the election, as media polls suggest the minor group, known for its nationalistic platform, has seen a surge in popularity.
Its "Japanese First" slogan has apparently struck a chord with conservatives, though its hardline stance on foreigners has drawn criticism as being xenophobic.
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Nikkei Asia
6 minutes ago
- Nikkei Asia
Japan election live: Ishiba vows to carry on for now
TOKYO -- The Japanese public voted on Sunday to determine the makeup of the nation's upper house, in a crucial vote for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, whose coalition is fighting to hold on to its majority -- one that it lost in the lower chamber last autumn. The race is set to be very unpredictable, with issues such as inflation, tax and immigration having dominated the campaign. Here are some of our recent articles on this key election: - Japan's ruling coalition set to suffer big loss in upper house poll - What the upper house election means for Japan: 5 things to know - Sanseito brings far-right populism to Japan - Immigration becomes election issue in Japan amid tough economy - Japan's rice price shock exposes PM Ishiba to voter anger as election looms Here's the latest: (Japan time) Sunday, July 20 10:25 p.m. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, speaking to media on NHK, acknowledged that his ruling bloc is facing a tough race. The LDP-leader had set a goal of reaching a simple majority together with its junior coalition partner Komeito. However, Ishiba avoided saying whether he would take responsibility and resign if that goal is not achieved. "Votes are still being counted and we must see what the results are," he said. On why the LDP has struggled to gain seats, Ishiba stated that the party has sought long-term goals such as realizing wage increases that exceed inflation while also trying to react swiftly and help struggling households through cash handouts. Many of the opposition camps have launched promises to cut the consumption tax, but Ishiba argued that "medical and nursing care will become even more important in the future and our fiscal situation will be under pressure. Long-term interest rates rising further and our fiscal conditions becoming even tighter is not ideal." He added: "At present, we are the party with the largest number of seats. We must respond to the nationwide issues we have advocated for during the campaign, such as wage increases that exceed inflation and our critical national security environment. We have responsibilities to fulfill for the nation." 9:57 p.m. Rintaro Nishimura of The Asia Group spoke with Nikkei Asia about the results so far. Some quotes here: "It's a clear rebuke from the voters of Ishiba and his government, and it will be very challenging going forward to see whether the ruling parties can muster a majority, not through a coalition, maybe, but through policy by policy coordination with parties." "There's definitely a sense that these established parties like the LDP, and also even the DPJ, are not really doing what the people want them to do, what they want to see from the parties." "A lot of the younger voters seem to like the Sanseito platform. Maybe because their social media game is better, but I think the large part was that there's a sense that the economy, especially for the younger generations, is not really doing well for them. I think they see that foreign tourists and also immigrants, maybe are having a better life than them." 9:52 p.m. Sohei Kamiya, the leader of the right-wing Sanseito, told an online election results program that "if there are issues that are important to the national interest and must be passed at all costs, we would not hesitate considering cooperating with the LDP or other parties on a topic or bill basis. But we have no intention of nestling up to obtain official posts in the administration." 9:42 p.m. Akira Nagatsuma of the CDP said: "There will be no grand coalition, whatsoever. Changing the structure of national politics is a very high priority, so a grand coalition is not possible." 9:33 p.m. According to NHK, it could be the first time since its formation in 1955 that an LDP-led government loses its majority in both the upper and lower houses. The ruling bloc could secure fewer than 46 seats -- a new low since the formation of the coalition between the LDP and Komeito. 9:30 p.m. As of 7:30 p.m., the national turnout figure stood at 29.93%, down 0.65 percentage point from the previous upper house election. 9:22 p.m. Ryohei Iwatani, the secretary-general of Japan Innovation Party, which has a strong foothold around Osaka, said at a press conference: "We continued to appeal for realistic reforms, including lowering social insurance premiums and that gradually gained the understanding of voters throughout the campaign period." 9:14 p.m. Here are some photos from the evening so far: 9:08 p.m. Itsunori Onodera, the LDP's policy chief, spoke to NHK: "The election results clearly show that our policies did not go down well with the voters. I have to acknowledge this as the party's policy chief." When he was asked about whether the party will go for tax cuts or cash handouts as an economic relief measure, Onodera said, "The consumption tax is an important revenue source for the country's social security programs. We need to discuss with the opposition what it intends to do with these programs." During the campaign, the LDP promised cash handouts as a relief measure for inflation, while opposition parties called for consumption tax cuts, either permanent or temporary. 8:59 p.m. Kiyomi Tsujimoto of the CDP told a radio station that "I think criticism against the LDP was very strong." NHK projects that the CDP, the main opposition party, will likely increase its seats in the chamber. Meanwhile, the DPFP, which held four seats before the election, is also projected to boost its presence in the chamber. Secretary-general Kazuya Shimba said he does not think there will be a grand coalition between his party and the ruling bloc, claiming that the parties have been unable to reach an agreement on the issue of raising the ceiling on the so-called "1.03 million yen wall," where individuals limit their part-time income to avoid certain taxes and social security burdens. 8:45 p.m. Right-wing Sanseito appears to have shaken up this election, and could win more than 20 seats in the chamber. It had just two before today's election. Sanseito candidate Saya, who was elected in the Tokyo constituency, talked on TV about why she thought her party had been successful. "I think us maintaining the 'Japanese First' policy and advocating for the gradual abolition of the consumption tax resonated with voters who are struggling as wage increases stagnate and the cost of living rises." Saya's win comes despite a viral video of her speaking to Russian news agency Sputnik. 8:35 p.m. Hiroshi Moriyama, the LDP's secretary-general, avoided giving concrete comments on TV, saying that "Vote counts are still on going and I would like to refrain from commenting on the nature of responsibility at this time." 8:26 p.m. The ruling coalition is projected to gain between 32~51 seats, according to NHK. Remember they need 50 to keep their majority. The range of seats won for each party is: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): 27~41 Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP): 18~30 Japan Innovation Party: 6~9 Komeito: 5~12 Democratic Party For the People (DPFP): 14~21 Japanese Communist Party: 3~5 Reiwa: 2~4 Sanseito: 10~22 Conservative Party of Japan: 1~3 8 p.m. Voting ends. The ruling bloc is at risk of losing their upper house majority, national broadcaster NHK projected immediately after polls closed. 7:37 p.m. The latest data on voter turnout is out. As of 6 p.m., the national figure stood at 26.65%, down 0.71 percentage points from the 2022 upper house election. 7:13 p.m. Some errors have been made at polling stations, according to national broadcaster NHK. In Tokyo's Ota ward, 25 voters were handed the wrong ballot sheets. In Saitama Prefecture's Kasukabe city, there was a similar error involving ballot sheets for constituencies and proportional representation being mixed up. The affected votes could become invalid. 7:00 p.m. Just an hour to go now. 6:54 p.m. Japan's lead tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa on Sunday told reporters that the election results will not affect talks with the U.S., according to Kyodo News. The upper house vote comes amid Tokyo's continued efforts to reach a trade deal with Washington, which has slapped a 25% "reciprocal" tariff that goes into effect on Aug. 1. 6:30 p.m. Here's a few photos from today: 6:15 p.m. The national voter turnout as of 4 p.m. stood at 22.42%, 0.57 percentage point lower than the previous upper house election three years ago, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. For Tokyo, it was 22.87% -- 2.6 percentage points down. According to government data, an estimated 26.18 million people participated in early voting, a record high and over 6.5 million more than in the previous upper house poll. 6 p.m. Just two hours now until voting ends. Exit polls and projections by major broadcasters will start coming in at 8 p.m., and will be updated frequently during the course of the evening as votes are counted.
The Mainichi
36 minutes ago
- The Mainichi
Political group Team Mirai leader set to secure 1st victory in Japan upper house race
TOKYO -- Takahiro Anno, leader of the political group Team Mirai, is set to secure his first victory in the July 20 House of Councillors proportional representation bloc, in which 50 seats are being contested. Anno, 34, is an artificial intelligence engineer. He gained recognition after garnering approximately 150,000 votes without the backing of any political party in the Tokyo gubernatorial election in the summer of 2024, though he did not win. Team Mirai was founded by Anno in May 2025 with the aim of creating a Japan where "technology won't allow anyone to be left behind." In its first election, the team fielded candidates, mainly IT engineers and entrepreneurs, in various constituencies as well as in the proportional representation bloc. The election campaign was centered around the slogan "Not fueling division." On the policy front, Anno promoted the "digital democracy 2030" project, which aims to use AI and other digital technologies to reflect public opinion in politics and administration. He emphasized the creation of an engineering team in Tokyo's Nagatacho district -- the center of Japanese politics -- using party subsidies to advance digital transformation in the political sphere, with a focus on enhancing child care and social welfare.
an hour ago
Japan Ruling Bloc Struggles to Keep Upper House Majority
Tokyo, July 20 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition is struggling to keep its majority in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, in Sunday's election, according to Jiji Press exit polls. If the ruling bloc, which gave up its majority in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, in last October's election, loses its majority in the 248-seat Upper House as well, Ishiba could face pressure to step down. A total of 125 seats--74 for prefectural constituencies and 50 for the nationwide proportional representation system plus one vacant seat in the Tokyo district--were up for grabs in the Upper House election. Ishiba's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, Komeito, have 75 uncontested seats together, while their 66 seats were up for grabs in the election. The LDP is struggling to hold onto the 52 seats that were contested in the poll, while Komeito may experience a decrease from the 14 contested seats held by the party up until the election. The major opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan will likely see a boost in the number of its seats. The Democratic Party for the People and Sanseito, both opposition parties, are believed to have enjoyed a significant boost in the number of seats. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
