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CWA # 1772
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Elections for Japan’s Upper House:
Another setback for the ruling party
The World This Week #321 Vol 7, No 30, 27 July 2025

  Kasvi Batra
27 July 2025

The following note was earlier published in The World This Week #321 Vol 7, No 30, 27 July 2025

What happened? 
On 20 July, Japanese voters cast their ballots in the Upper House elections to decide 125 of the 248 seats in the National Diet (legislature of Japan).

On 21 July, results confirmed that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Komeito coalition lost its majority in the House of Councillors. The coalition secured 47 seats, falling short of the 50 needed to maintain a majority, though it still holds 75 seats, which were not up for re-election.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan remained the largest opposition bloc with 22 seats; The Democratic Party for the People (DPP) won 17 seats, surpassing Komeito as the third-largest party. Sanseito made the most gains, increasing its representation from one seat to 14.

What is the background?
First a brief overview of Japan’s political system.The National Diet, Japan’s bicameral legislature, consists of the House of Representatives (lower house)  and the House of Councillors (upper house). Both houses share powers including electing leadership, forming committees, setting rules, investigating government affairs, and voting on petitions. The 248-member House of Councillors (uses a mixed electoral system. Members serve six-year terms, with half (124) elected every three years. 

Second, a brief note on major political parties.The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan’s dominant center-right party with about 113 seats, is traditionally pro-business and backs the U.S.–Japan alliance, Its junior coalition partner; Komeito is a centrist, socially conservative party rooted in Buddhist-democratic principles, with approximately 27 seats. The main opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP), leans center-left and advocates for social welfare, constitutional pacifism, and expanded civil rights, holding roughly 41 seats. Nippon Ishin no Kai, a reform-oriented, right-leaning regionalist party based in Osaka, promotes federal decentralization and deregulation and has around 18 seats . The left-wing Japanese Communist Party holds around 11 seats and advocates socialism, anti-militarism, and grassroots democracy. Sanseito is also known as the "Japanese First" party, is a far-right nationalist and populist group campaigning on anti-immigration, economic nationalism, and strongly protectionist rhetoric holds 15 seats. 

Third recent elections and party positions. The 2024 Lower House snap election was called by the current PM Shigeru Ishiba. Ishiba dissolved the House on 1 October to leverage his reformist image and regain public trust. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)–Komeito coalition secured only 215 seats, falling short of the 233 needed for a Lower House majority, marking only its second such loss since 1955, the first being in 2009. The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) surged from 98 to 148 seats, becoming the largest opposition party 

Fourth, important key issues in the Upper House elections. It included 3.5 per cent inflation rate, which exceeds the Bank of Japan's two  per cent ceiling, rising prices of essential goods, cost of living concerns, immigration policy and overtourism concerns internal scandals within the ruling party and delays in trade negotiations with the US.; 
 
What does it mean?
First, the  setback to the ruling  LDP.,  Opposition parties such as the Constitutional Democratic Party and the Japan Innovation Party gained significant ground in the current elections. For the first time in recent history, the ruling LDP-Komeito coalition lost its majority in both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors. This dual loss has weakened the government’s legislative power, making it reliant on complex political negotiations to pass laws. The party’s vague campaign, reliance on handouts, and refusal to cut taxes amid inflation further eroded support. 

Second, the weakening of PM Ishiba’s mandate. This election has raised doubts about his ability to uphold international commitments.  Foreign partners may fear that Japan’s trade, security, and diplomatic promises may be undermined by internal instability.

About the Author
Kasvi Batra is a Research intern at National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). 

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