Japanese general election, 2009 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

For a breakdown of results by district and block, see Results of the Japanese general election, 2009
Results of the Japanese general election, 2009
This article presents detailed results of the Japanese general election, 2009. It lists all elected Representatives in the 300 single-member districts and the 11 regional proportional representation blocks...

A general election in Japan was held on August 30, 2009, for all 480 seats of the House of Representatives

House of Representatives of Japan

The is the lower house of the Diet of Japan. The House of Councillors of Japan is the upper house.The House of Representatives has 480 members, elected for a four-year term. Of these, 180 members are elected from 11 multi-member constituencies by a party-list system of proportional representation,...

of Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, the lower house of the Diet of Japan

Diet of Japan

The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...

.

In the election, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan

Democratic Party of Japan

The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum...

(DPJ) defeated the ruling coalition (Liberal Democratic Party

Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)

The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election...

(LDP) and New Komeito Party

New Komeito Party

The , New Kōmei Party, or NKP is a centre-right political party in Japan founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent...

). The LDP had ruled Japan since its formation in 1955, except for an 11-month period from 1993 to 1994. The DPJ received 42.4% of the proportional block votes cast, taking 308 seats to only 119 for the LDP (26.7% of the block votes).

Under Japan's constitution

Constitution of Japan

The is the fundamental law of Japan. It was enacted on 3 May, 1947 as a new constitution for postwar Japan.-Outline:The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights...

, this result virtually assured DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama

Yukio Hatoyama

is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan between 16 September 2009 and 2 June 2010, and was the first ever Prime Minister from the modern Democratic Party of Japan....

would be the next Prime Minister of Japan

Prime Minister of Japan

The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...

. He was formally named to the post on September 16, 2009.

Prime Minister Taro Aso

Taro Aso

was the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...

conceded late on the night of August 30, 2009 that the LDP had lost control of the government, and announced his resignation as party president. A leadership election

Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election, 2009

A leadership election was held in the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan on 28 September 2009 after the incumbent party leader and outgoing Prime Minister of Japan Tarō Asō announced that he would resign after losing badly in the general election held on 30 August 2009...

was held on September 28, 2009.

The election marked the worst defeat for a governing party in modern Japanese history. It was only the second time the LDP has lost a general election, and was the first time since its formation that the LDP lost its status as the largest party in the lower house.

Developments towards the election

The last general election took place in 2005 in which the LDP, led by popular prime minister Junichiro Koizumi

Junichiro Koizumi

is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...

, received 38.2% of the proportional block votes and 47.8% of the district votes cast (the next largest party, the DPJ, received 31% in the proportional and 36.4% in the district vote). Due to the characteristics of the Japanese election system, the LDP ended up with 296 seats in the Lower House (61.6%), which enabled Koizumi to complete the privatization of Japan Post

Japan Post

was a government-owned corporation in Japan, that existed from 2003–2007, offering postal and package delivery services, banking services, and life insurance. It had over 400,000 employees and ran 24,700 post offices throughout Japan and was the nation's largest employer. One third of all Japanese...

. Since then Japan has had three further prime ministers (Shinzō Abe

Shinzo Abe

was the 90th Prime Minister of Japan, elected by a special session of the National Diet on 26 September 2006. He was Japan's youngest post–World War II prime minister and the first born after the war. Abe served as prime minister for nearly twelve months, before resigning on 12 September 2007...

, Yasuo Fukuda

Yasuo Fukuda

was the 91st Prime Minister of Japan, serving from 2007 to 2008. He was previously the longest-serving Chief Cabinet Secretary in Japanese history, serving for three and a half years under Prime Ministers Yoshirō Mori and Junichiro Koizumi....

and Taro Aso

Taro Aso

) who have come to power without there being a general election.

On September 1, 2008, Yasuo Fukuda abruptly announced he was retiring as leader. Taro Aso won the subsequent LDP leadership election

Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election, 2008

A leadership election was held in the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan on 22 September 2008 after the incumbent party leader and Prime Minister of Japan Yasuo Fukuda announced that he would resign on 1 September 2008, only 11 months after taking office on 25 September 2007 following a leadership...

, which was held on September 22, 2008. Media sources speculated that, in the wake of a recent change in leadership, Prime Minister Taro Aso might call elections in late October or early November 2008 while his popularity was still high,

There were expectations that the steady decline and numerous scandals of the LDP might lead to the complete extinction of the party and the creation of a new political system, with actual ideologically coherent parties emerging instead of the current system of a shared interest in power with stark ideological differences.

In late June 2009, there were rumours of a planned election date in early August 2009. In prefectural elections in Tokyo

Tokyo prefectural election, 2009

Prefectural elections for the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly were held on 12 July 2009. In the runup to the Japanese general election due by October they were seen as an important test for Taro Aso's ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the New Komeito...

, the LDP again lost a lot of seats and was for the first time since 1965 not the largest party in the prefectural assembly. The next day, Aso confirmed these rumours by calling for an election on August 30, 2009.

As soon as the election was called, a campaign was underway by a group of LDP Diet Members to replace Aso as leader. Fully one third of the parliamentary party (including finance minister Kaoru Yosano

Kaoru Yosano

is a Japanese politician. He was a member of Liberal Democratic Party , the Sunrise Party of Japan and former member of the House of Representatives, serving his ninth term in the Lower House representing Tokyo's first electoral district until his defeat in the Japanese general election, 2009...

) were reported to have signed a petition calling for an urgent party meeting to discuss the issue. The BBC reported LDP critics of Aso asserting that an election with him still as leader would be "political suicide". Prime Minister Aso dissolved the House of Representatives on July 21, 2009. The official campaign started on August 18, 2009.

Former LDP minister Yoshimi Watanabe

Yoshimi Watanabe

is a Japanese politician, formerly of the Liberal Democratic Party and currently of the President of Your Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet...

announced the foundation of a new party, Your Party

Your Party

is a center-right Japanese political party. Led by Yoshimi Watanabe, who split from the Liberal Democratic Party , the party was founded on August 8, 2009 after then-Prime Minister Aso dissolved the lower house. A concept behind the party is to make the government more democratic, and to eliminate...

, on August 8, 2009.

Policy platforms

The DPJ's policy platforms include: a restructuring of civil service; a monthly allowance for families with children (at 26000 yen per child); a cut in the fuel tax

Fuel tax

A fuel tax is an excise tax imposed on the sale of fuel. In most countries the fuel tax is imposed on fuels which are intended for transportation...

; income support for farmers; free tuition for public high schools; the banning of temporary work

Temporary work

Temporary work or temporary employment refers to a situation where the employee is expected to leave the employer within a certain period of time. Temporary employees are sometimes called "contractual", "seasonal", "interim", "casual staff", "freelance", or "part-time"; or the word may be shortened...

in manufacturing; raising the minimum wage to 1000 yen; and the halting of any increase in sales tax for the next four years.

The LDP's policy platforms are similar to the DPJ's. A New York Times article on August 28, 2009 noted both platforms offer little on economic policies.

Pre-election polls

Before the dissolution of the lower house, National weekly magazines had been citing analysts predicting a big loss for the ruling coalition which held two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives. Some (e.g., Shūkan Gendai

Shukan Gendai

is a Japanese weekly magazine published since 1959 by Kodansha. Published simultaneously with Weekly Post , it includes articles about political scandals, sports and celebrities; nude photos; movie information; book reviews; and other articles of interest to middle-aged salarymen...

) warned that the LDP could lose as much as half of that. Many based their predictions on the low approval rating of the Prime Minister Taro Aso and the devastating loss that the LDP suffered in the earlier prefectural election in Tokyo. On August 20 and 21, 2009, Asahi Shimbun

Asahi Shimbun

The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...

and Yomiuri Shimbun

Yomiuri Shimbun

The is a Japanese newspaper published in Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and other major Japanese cities. It is one of the five national newspapers in Japan; the other four are the Asahi Shimbun, the Mainichi Shimbun, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, and the Sankei Shimbun...

, leading national newspapers, and Nikkei Shimbun

Nihon Keizai Shimbun

is one of the largest media corporations in Japan. Nikkei specializes in publishing financial, business and industry news. Its main news publications include:* Nihon Keizai Shimbun , a leading economic newspaper....

, a financial daily, reported that the DPJ was poised to win over 300 of the 480 contested seats.

On August 22, 2009, Mainichi Shimbun

Mainichi Shimbun

The is one of the major newspapers in Japan, published by .-History:The history of the Mainichi Shimbun begins with founding of two papers during the Meiji period. The Tokyo Nichi Nichi Shimbun was founded first, in 1872. The Mainichi claims that it is the oldest existing Japanese daily newspaper...

went further to predict that the DPJ could win over 320 seats, meaning almost all DPJ candidates would win. Mainichi noted that the DPJ appeared to be doing well in the western part of Japan, a traditional stronghold of the LDP, and that the LDP could lose all of its single-member constituency seats in 15 prefectures, including Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Aichi

Aichi Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...

, and Saitama

Saitama Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...

. Also, according to Mainichi, the Japanese Communist Party

Japanese Communist Party

The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism...

will probably retain its previous 9 seats, while the Komeito Party and the Social Democratic Party

Social Democratic Party (Japan)

The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan (abbreviated to SDPJ or SDP in English) is a political party that advocates for the establishment of a...

may lose some of their shares.

According to a poll conducted on August 22, 2009 by the Yomiuri Shimbun

Yomiuri Shimbun

, Japan's largest newspaper, 40 percent said they would vote for the DPJ, while 24 percent for the LDP.

Candidates by party


Party	Number of Candidates	Gender of Candidates		Proportional representation		Holding seats at dissolution
Party	Number of Candidates	Male	Female	Constituencies	Proportional representation	Holding seats at dissolution
Liberal Democratic Party Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) The , frequently abbreviated to LDP or , is a centre-right political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the democratic world. The LDP ruled almost continuously for nearly 54 years from its founding in 1955 until its defeat in the 2009 election... (LDP)	326		299	27		306	37	303
New Komeito Party New Komeito Party The , New Kōmei Party, or NKP is a centre-right political party in Japan founded by members of the Nichiren Buddhist organization Sōka Gakkai. The leadership and financing of the two groups are currently independent... (NKP)	51		47	4		8	43	31
Japan Renaissance Party (JRP)	1		1	0		1	0	1
Democratic Party of Japan Democratic Party of Japan The is a political party in Japan founded in 1998 by the merger of several opposition parties. Its socially liberal platform is generally considered center-left in the Japanese political spectrum... (DPJ)	330		284	46		271	59	112
Social Democratic Party Social Democratic Party (Japan) The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party The Social Democratic Party (社会民主党 Shakai Minshu-tō, often abbreviated to 社民党 Shamin-tō; also known as the Social Democratic Party of Japan (abbreviated to SDPJ or SDP in English) is a political party that advocates for the establishment of a... (SDP)	37		25	12		31	6	7
People's New Party People's New Party The People's New Party is a centre-right, Conservative, Japanese political party formed on 17 August 2005 in the aftermath of the defeat of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Japan Post privatisation bills which led to a snap election.-History:The Kokumin Shinto, headed by Shizuka Kamei, includes... (PNP)	18		17	1		9	9	5
New Party Nippon New Party Nippon The New Party Nippon is a Japanese political party formed on August 21, 2005. The party is headed by the former Nagano governor Yasuo Tanaka, and includes Diet members Kōki Kobayashi , Takashi Aoyama, Makoto Taki, and Hiroyuki Arai, who left the Liberal Democratic Party in opposition to Prime... (NPN)	8		8	0		2	6	0
Japanese Communist Party Japanese Communist Party The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism... (JCP)	171		119	52		152	19	9
Your Party Your Party is a center-right Japanese political party. Led by Yoshimi Watanabe, who split from the Liberal Democratic Party , the party was founded on August 8, 2009 after then-Prime Minister Aso dissolved the lower house. A concept behind the party is to make the government more democratic, and to eliminate... (YP)	15		12	3		14	1

New Party Daichi New Party Daichi New Party Daichi is a political party formed on August 18, 2005. The party is headed by former Liberal Democratic Party member Muneo Suzuki. Suzuki resigned from the LDP in June 2002 after being arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes... (NPD)	4		3	1		0	4	1
Happiness Realization Party Happiness Realization Party , abbreviated as 幸福, is a Japanese political party founded by Ryuho Okawa on 23 May 2009 "in order to offer the Japanese people a third option" for the upcoming elections in August 2009. The HRP is the political wing of the Happy Science religious movement.... (HRP)	337		262	75		288	49	0
Essential Party (EP)	2		1	1		0	2	0
World Economic Community Party (WECP)	1		1	0		1	0	0
Freeway Club Party (FCP)	1		1	0		1	0	0
Smile Japan Party (SJP)	1		1	0		1	0	0
Forest Sea Party (FSP)	1		1	0		1	0	0
Independent	70	61	9	70
9
Total	1,374	\|1,145	229	\|1,139	235	\|478

Results

The DPJ swept the LDP from power in a massive landslide, winning 308 seats (out of a total of 480 seats), while the LDP won only 119 seats - the worst defeat for a sitting government in modern Japanese history. This was in marked contrast to the 1993 election, the only other time the LDP has lost an election. In that election, the LDP remained by far the largest party in the House with well over 200 seats, despite losing its majority. However, in the 2009 election the LDP was nearly 200 seats behind the DPJ. Of 83 Koizumi Children

Koizumi Children

is a popular Japanese political term for the 83 LDP members of the House of Representatives first elected in the 2005 general election. The Koizumi Children are loosely organized into a political association called .- Origin of the term :...

who became new LDP representatives in 2005, only 10 were reelected.

The DPJ won a strong majority in the House of Representatives, thus virtually assuring that Hatoyama would be the next prime minister. Under the Constitution, if the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors cannot agree on a choice for prime minister, the choice of the House of Representatives is deemed to be that of the Diet. Hatoyama was nominated as prime minister on September 16 and formally appointed later that day by Emperor Akihito

Akihito

is the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In...

.

However, the DPJ was just short of a majority in the House of Councillors, and fell just short of the 320 seats (a two-thirds majority) needed to override negative votes in the upper chamber. Hatoyama was thus forced to form a coalition government with the Social Democratic Party

Social Democratic Party (Japan)

and People's New Party

People's New Party

The People's New Party is a centre-right, Conservative, Japanese political party formed on 17 August 2005 in the aftermath of the defeat of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Japan Post privatisation bills which led to a snap election.-History:The Kokumin Shinto, headed by Shizuka Kamei, includes...

↓
9	308	7	3	1	1	5	6	21	119
J C P	Democratic Party of Japan	S D P	P N P	N P N	N P D	Y P	I	N K P	Liberal Democratic Party

Notable incumbents defeated
Incumbents		Party
Norihiko Akagi Norihiko Akagi is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet .A native of Makabe District, Ibaraki and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he worked at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries from 1983 to 1988...	Former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Seishiro Etō Seishiro Eto is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Kusu District, Ōita, he attended Waseda University as both undergraduate and graduate...	\|Former Defense Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tetsuma Esaki Tetsuma Esaki was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Ichinomiya, Aichi and graduate of Rikkyo University, he was elected for the first time in 1993 as a member of the now-defunct Japan Renewal Party. He later joined the LDP...	Former Senior Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Takashi Fukaya Takashi Fukaya is a Japanese male LDP-politician.Takashi is one of the members of House of Representatives of Japan since Japanese general election, 2005 ,with the political career as minister of state....	Former International Trade and Industry Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Hajime Funada Hajime Funada is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet and a former Minister of Economic Planning. A native of Utsunomiya, Tochigi he attended Keio University both as undergraduate and graduate. He was elected to the House of Representatives...	Former Minister of Economic Planning Agency	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tetsuzo Fuyushiba Tetsuzo Fuyushiba is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . He has been serving as Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as well as Minister of State for Tourism Promotion in Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda's Cabinet.Fuyushiba was born in Shenyang ...	Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister	New Komeito Party (NKP)
Yoshiaki Harada Yoshiaki Harada is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Yamada, Fukuoka and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he jointed Nippon Steel in 1968 and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1970, the year in which he...	Foreign Affairs Committee Chair	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Mitsuo Horiuchi Mitsuo Horiuchi is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Misaka, Yamanashi and graduate of Keio University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1976.- External links :* in Japanese....	Former International Trade and Industry Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yamato Inaba Yamato Inaba is a Japanese politician, who is a member of House of Representatives and Liberal Democratic Party.Born in Chiyoda, Tokyo he graduated from Chuo University in 1966. He was elected for the first time in 1993 after an unsuccessful run in 1990.-External links:*...	Agricultural Committee Chair	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kiichi Inoue Kiichi Inoue was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Kasai, Hyōgo and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 1955. He was elected to the House of Representatives for...	Disaster Management Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Gaku Ishizaki Gaku Ishizaki is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Asahikawa, Hokkaido and graduate of Kyoto University, he worked at Hokkaido Broadcasting, a local broadcast network in Hokkaido, from 1979 to 1996. He was elected to the...	Former Senior Vice-Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kosuke Ito Kosuke Ito is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Takatō, Nagano and graduate of Hosei University, he studied abroad in Berlin and then at Ohio State University...	Committee on Fundamental National Policies Chairman	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Shintaro Ito Shintaro Ito is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Tokyo and graduate of Keio University, he received his master's degrees from Keio University and Harvard University and completed a program at the American Film Institute...	Senior Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tatsuya Ito Tatsuya Ito is the Minister of State for Financial Services in Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet.Born in Tokyo, Ito graduated from Faculty of Law, Keio-Gijuku University and joined Matsushita Institute of Government and Management in 1984...	Former Minister in charge of Financial Affairs	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yukio Jitsukawa Yukio Jitsukawa is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Narita, Chiba and graduate of Hosei University, he had served in the assembly of Chiba Prefecture since 1991. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the first...	Former Senior Vice Minister of Justice	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Toshiki Kaifu Toshiki Kaifu is a Japanese politician who was the 76th and 77th Prime Minister of Japan from 1989 to 1991.- Career :He was born in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and was educated at Chuo University and Waseda University. A member of the Liberal Democratic Party , Kaifu ran successfully for the Diet in 1960 and...	Former Prime Minister of Japan	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yōko Kamikawa Yoko Kamikawa is a Japanese politician, who has been serving as Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs since August 2007 in Shinzō Abe's and Yasuo Fukuda's cabinets. She is a member of the House of Representatives and the Liberal Democratic Party....	Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs of Japan	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kazuo Kitagawa Kazuo Kitagawa was the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Japanese Cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi.Born in Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Kitagawa graduated from Faculty of Law, Soka University and became a lawyer. In 1990, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time and since 2004 has...	Former Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Minister	New Komeito Party (NKP)
Tomokatsu Kitagawa Tomokatsu Kitagawa is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Neyagawa, Osaka and graduate of Kansai University, he ran unsuccessfully for the House of Representatives in 2000. He ran again in July 2003 and was elected for the first time...	Parliamentary Secretary of the Environment	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kenji Kosaka Kenji Kosaka is a Japanese politician. He was appointed Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology on October 31, 2005.- Biography :Kenji Kosaka worked in London as top level office manager for JAL in the 1980s. Returning to Japan he became secretary to the then Prime Minister, Yasuhiro...	Former Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Saburo Komoto Saburo Komoto is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Aioi, Hyōgo and graduate of Nihon University, he was elected to the House of Councilors for the first time in 1992 as a member of Morihiro Hosokawa's Japan New Party and then...	Senior Vice Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Fumio Kyuma Fumio Kyuma is a Japanese politician who has served in the Diet of Japan since 1980. Kyuma graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1964 and worked for the Ministry of Agriculture...	Former Defence Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kenichi Mizuno Kenichi Mizuno is a Japanese politician of Your Party, formerly of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors, formerly of the House of Representatives in the Diet...	Former Senior Vice-Minister of Justice	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Nobuhide Minorikawa Nobuhide Minorikawa is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Ōmagari, Akita, he attended Keio University and received a master's degree from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in the United States...	Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yoichi Miyazawa Yoichi Miyazawa is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Fukuyama, Hiroshima and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1974, receiving a MPA from Harvard University in the United States while in...	Senior Vice-Minister of Cabinet Office	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Shōichi Nakagawa Shoichi Nakagawa was a Japanese conservative politician in the Liberal Democratic Party , who served as Minister of Finance from September 24, 2008 to February 17, 2009. He previously held the posts of Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the cabinet of...	Former Treasury Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Taro Nakayama Taro Nakayama is a Japanese doctor and politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Osaka he received a Ph.D in medicine from Osaka Medical College in 1960 for the study of infantile paralysis...	Former Foreign Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kyoko Nishikawa Kyoko Nishikawa is a Japanese politician of the Democratic Party of Japan, a member of House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Ōme, Tokyo and graduate of Waseda University she was elected for the first time in 2000.- External links :* in Japanese...	Former Senior Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kosaburo Nishime Kosaburo Nishime is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Chinen, Okinawa and graduate of Sophia University he was elected to the assembly of Okinawa Prefecture for the first time in 1988 and to the Diet for the first time in 2003...	Parliamentary Secretary of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yuya Niwa Yuya Niwa is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a former member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Niihari District, Ibaraki and graduate of Keio University he was elected for the first time in 1979 after working as a writer for Yomiuri Shimbun...	Former Health, Labour and Welfare Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Koji Omi Koji Omi is a Japanese politician, served as Minister of Finance in the cabinet of Shinzō Abe.Omi was born in Numata, Gunma Prefecture and graduated with a degree in Commerce from Hitotsubashi University. He joined the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and later served as consul general of Japan...	Former Treasury Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Akihiro Ota Akihiro Ota is a Japanese politician of the New Komeito Party. He was a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . In 2006 Ota became the president of Komeito Party, replacing Takenori Kanzaki. A native of Shinshiro, Aichi, Ota attended Kyoto University and received a master's degree from it...	Chief Representative of New Komeito	New Komeito Party (NKP)
Seiichi Ota Seiichi Ota is a Japanese politician. As of 2008 he is a member of the House of Representatives currently serving in his eighth term representing Fukuoka's Third District. He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party in the Koga faction. Kiyoko Fukuda, who married Prime Minister of Japan Yasuo Fukuda, is...	Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Toshitsugu Saito Toshitsugu Saito is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Fuji, Shizuoka and graduate of Sophia University, he attended Waseda University for graduate study and business school at the University of Washington in the United States...	Former Defence Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Takashi Sasagawa Takashi Sasagawa is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Bunkyō, Tokyo and dropout from Meiji University, he was elected for the first time in 1986 after two unsuccessful runs in 1972 and 1983. In 1993 he left the LDP and...	Former General Council Chairman of LDP	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yoshinobu Shimamura Yoshinobu Shimamura is a Japanese politician and current Leader of the Opposition.Born in Edogawa, Tokyo in Tokyo, he graduated from the Faculty of Politics & Economics at Gakushuin University in 1956 and then entered ENEOS, a Japanese oil company...	Former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Junji Suzuki Junji Suzuki is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Seto, Aichi and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 2003 after an unsuccessful run in 2000. He was defeated in the 2009 election by DPJ candidate...	\|Former Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Shunichi Suzuki Shunichi Suzuki (politician) is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Iwate Prefecture and graduate of Waseda University, he was elected for the first time in 1990....	Former Minister of Environment Agency	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Seiken Sugiura Seiken Sugiura Seiken Sugiura is a Japanese politician. He was named Minister of Justice on October 31, 2005 and served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Being a Buddhist, he imposed a moratorium on executions during his time as Justice Minister...	Former Minister of Justice	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Minoru Terada Minoru Terada is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Hiroshima Prefecture and graduate of the University of Tokyo he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1980, attending Harvard University in United States while in the...	Former Parliamentary Defense Secretary	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tōru Toida Toru Toida is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Edogawa, Tokyo and graduate of Dokkyo University he was elected for the first time in 1996. He is an assenter of "The Truth about Nanjing."-External links:*...	Former Parliamentary Health Secretary	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kisaburo Tokai Kisaburo Tokai is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology under Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda from 2007 to 2008. Tokai, like Fukuda, attended Waseda University.-External links:*...	Former Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tamisuke Watanuki Tamisuke Watanuki Tamisuke Watanuki is a Japanese politician from the Toyama Prefecture. He started his own export-import company at age 28....	President of the People's New Party, Former Speaker of the House of Representatives	People's New Party (PNP)
Akihiko Yamamoto Akihiko Yamamoto was a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Aichi Prefecture and graduate of Nagoya University, he was elected to the first of his three terms in the assembly of Aichi Prefecture in 1987 and then to the House of...	Former Senior Vice Minister of Cabinet Office	Liberal Democratic Party
Akiko Yamanaka Akiko Yamanaka is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Iwate Prefecture and graduate of Tsuda College, she was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 as a member of the New Frontier Party. She later...	Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Taku Yamasaki Taku Yamasaki is a Japanese politician, a member of the House of Representatives of Japan. Born in Dalian, Manchukuo, he is a graduate of Waseda University. He worked at Bridgestone.He lost his vision in one eye in childhood....	Former Vice President of LDP	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Hakuo Yanagisawa Hakuo Yanagisawa was the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan . He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the House of Representatives. His constituency is Shizuoka Prefecture 3rd District....	Former Health, Labour and Welfare Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Okiharu Yasuoka Okiharu Yasuoka is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Kagoshima Prefecture and graduate of Chuo University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1972 as an independent. He later joined the LDP...	Former Minister of Justice	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yoshio Yatsu Yoshio Yatsu is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Tatebayashi, Gunma and graduate of Hosei University, he was elected to the first of his three terms in the assembly of Gunma Prefecture in 1975 and to the House of...	Former Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

Notable candidates defeated in their own districts but who remain in power through the block system
Candidates		Party
Akira Amari Akira Amari is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the lower house. He was the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from 2006 to 2008 and is currently Minister of State in charge of Administrative Reform....	Former Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Motoo Hayashi Motoo Hayashi is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , Yamasaki Faction, and a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet...	Chairman of the National Commission on Public Safety	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Bunmei Ibuki Bunmei Ibuki is a Japanese politician. He is a Member of the House of Representatives serving the constituency of Kyoto Prefecture, 1st district, where, as of October 2006, he has been elected eight times. He was the Secretary General of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party from 2007 to 2008...	Former Secretary General of LDP	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Ichirō Kamoshita Ichiro Kamoshita is a Japanese politician and doctor, who served as Minister of the Environment in Yasuo Fukuda's cabinet.Born in Adachi, Tokyo, he graduated from Nihon University, earning a medical degree. In 1993, he was elected for the first time as a member of the Japan New Party. In December 1997, he joined...	Minister for the Environment	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Jirō Kawasaki Jiro Kawasaki is a Japanese politician who served as Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare under Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.Kawasaki was born in Shiogama, Miyagi. His father and grandfather were both politicians....	Former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Seigo Kitamura Seigo Kitamura is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party , a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Ojika, Nagasaki and graduate of Waseda University, he ran unsuccessfully for the assembly of Nagasaki Prefecture in 1982 but became the assembly of Sasebo, Nagasaki in the...	Senior Vice-Minister of Defense	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Yuriko Koike Yuriko Koike is a Japanese politician, who was the Minister of Defense in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but resigned August 27, 2007 after only 54 days in office...	Former Minister of Defense	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Nobutaka Machimura Nobutaka Machimura is a Japanese politician. He is a member of the House of Representatives of Japan and a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He was Chief Cabinet Secretary in the government of Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda from 2007 to 2008.- Career :...	Former Chief Cabinet Secretary and former Foreign Affairs Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Jinen Nagase Jinen Nagase is a Japanese politician who formerly served as Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Shinzō Abe.He was born in Toyama and obtained his LL.B. from the University of Tokyo. After graduation, he worked in the Ministry of Labour...	Former Minister of Justice	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Hidenao Nakagawa Hidenao Nakagawa is a Japanese politician who is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and the House of Representatives of the Diet . He served Yoshirō Mori as Chief Cabinet Secretary from July 2000 to October 2000. In 2006 he was appointed secretary-general of the party.-References:...	Former Secretary General of LDP	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Seiko Noda Seiko Noda is a Japanese politician. As of 2005 she is a member of the House of Representatives , serving her fifth term and representing the 1st District of Gifu Prefecture; she is also currently the State Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs...	Former State Minister in charge of Consumer Affairs	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Fukushiro Nukaga Fukushiro Nukaga is a Japanese politician and a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1983 and represents Ibaraki's 2nd district. He was Minister of Finance from 2007 to 2008....	Former Finance Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Hideaki Omura Hideaki Omura is a Japanese politician, the governor of Aichi Prefecture. He was a former member of the Liberal Democratic Party, also a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Hekinan, Aichi and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and...	Former Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tsutomu Sato Tsutomu Sato (politician) is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet . A native of Shimotsuga District, Tochigi and graduate of Nihon University, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1996 after serving in the assembly of...	Internal Affairs and Communications and Public Safety Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Ryu Shionoya Ryu Shionoya is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Representatives in the Diet and the current Minister of Education, Science and Technology. A native of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka and graduate of Ambassador College and Keio University, he was elected to the House of...	Minister of Education, Science and Technology	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Tsutomu Takebe Tsutomu Takebe was secretary general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party from 2004 to 2006. He was succeeded by Hidenao Nakagawa.-References:...	Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Naokazu Takemoto Naokazu Takemoto is a Japanese politician serving in the House of Representatives in the Diet as a member of the Liberal Democratic Party. A native of Minamikawachi District, Osaka and graduate of the University of Kyoto he was elected for the first time in 1996.-External links:* in Japanese....	Senior Vice-Minister of Fianance	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)
Kaoru Yosano Kaoru Yosano is a Japanese politician. He was a member of Liberal Democratic Party , the Sunrise Party of Japan and former member of the House of Representatives, serving his ninth term in the Lower House representing Tokyo's first electoral district until his defeat in the Japanese general election, 2009...	Finance Minister	Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)

External links

Japanese Voters Oust Conservative Party - video report by Democracy Now!
Democracy Now!
Democracy Now! and its staff have received several journalism awards, including the Gracie Award from American Women in Radio & Television; the George Polk Award for its 1998 radio documentary Drilling and Killing: Chevron and Nigeria's Oil Dictatorship, on the Chevron Corporation and the deaths of...
Two-headed Monster - analysis by C.B.Liddell Metropolis
Metropolis
A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...